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(Podcast) 7-a.m. News/Funeral Announcements, Tue., 12/17/13

News, Podcasts

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A podcast of the latest area news and current obituary report from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Tue., Dec. 17th 2013

Podcasts, Weather

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Freese-Notis weather forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, and weather data for Atlantic from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.  (Precip: We received a trace of snowfall overnight in the form of some snow pellets here in Atlantic.)

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Area divers’ search for body to resume at central Iowa lake Tuesday

News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) – A search is scheduled to resume Tuesday for the body of a man whose ATV broke through the ice at Lake Ponderosa.  Montezuma Fire Chief Chris Widmer told The Des Moines Register that members of the Midwest Regional Dive Team searched from noon until 5 p.m. Monday.

Rescue crews have drilled holes in the ice and inserted cameras. They’ve found the ATV and fishing hut of 57-year-old David Hartke, but not his body.  Widmer says Hartke, of Grundy Center, and a friend were ice fishing on Saturday evening when Hartke and his vehicle broke through the ice. Lake Ponderosa sits west of Montezuma in central Iowa.

JOAN “JO” LOHAFER, 81, of Walnut & formerly of Avoca (Svcs. 12/20/13)

Obituaries

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

JOAN “JO” LOHAFER, 81, of Walnut (& formerly of Avoca), died Mon., Dec. 16th, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. Funeral services for “JO” LOHAFER will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., Dec. 20th, at the Peace United Church of Christ in Walnut. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

Frfiends may call at the funeral home from 5-to 8-pm Thursday (12/19), with the family greeting friends from 6-to 8-pm.

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.

Joan “Jo” Lohafer is survived by:

Her son – Brian (Tina) Lohafer, of Basehor, KS.

Her daughter – Jill (Darrell) Stamp, of Walnut.

Her brother – Dennis (Ann) Kaven, of Ankeny.

5 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and her sister-in-law.

Bluffs woman arrested for terroristic threats on social media

News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs woman faces charges of Terroristic Threats and Harassment in the 1st degree, after she allegedly post on a social media website a comment that her son would be justified in shooting up the Lewis Central High School, following repeated incidents of alleged bullying. According to Council Bluffs Police, 39-year old Teri Pallat was arrested Monday following an interview with investigators.

Officials say on November 18th, Meredith Pallat reported her juvenile son was the victim of ongoing bullying at the Lewis Central High School. The incidents began in Sept. 2012 and continued through Dec, 16th 2013. At around 7:25-p.m. Monday, a uniformed officer was sent to the Lewis Central High School to meet with the Principal, in reference to a post that appeared on Facebook, allegedly by Teri Pallat (The wife of Meredith Pallat).

The post was dated Dec. 16th at 3:30-p.m. and said quote “And they ask why do people shoot up schools, well this is exactly why and when our son does it cause I know he will have nobody to blame but the administration and I promise everyone he will only get the ones that caused this. He is an excellent marks men.”

An incident report was filed with the Council Bluffs P-D in mid-November regarding an assault on Pallat’s juvenile son. The case remains under investigation, along with an investigation into the alleged threats.

Atlantic Parks Dept. may use Trail Cams to catch 4-wheelers at Sunnyside Park

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department may purchase or borrow a Trail cam to try and catch persons who are using 4-wheel off-road machines on the grassy areas at Sunnyside Park and tearing-up those surfaces. Speaking at Monday night’s meeting of the Parks and Rec Board, Director Roger Herring said that while the roads to the park are closed, the park itself is still open to various activities, but there are limitations.

He said there is no 4-wheeling on the grassy areas, but someone is doing that. It’s happening in the same spot but Herring says they don’t know right now what time of day the damage is occurring. By installing a trail cam in an undisclosed location nearby, it’s hoped they can catch those persons in the act and take legal action against them.

Herring says a “decent quality” trail camera would cost about $150 and be used anywhere there is a problem in the park system with vandalism, since it is portable. Some of the units have a “Black flash,” which is useful at night and doesn’t alert the perpetrator to the fact their picture is being taken. Those types of cameras usually cost about $200 more. Herring said also the Cass County Sheriff’s Office has offered the temporary use of its high tech trail cam, if necessary.

The Parks and Rec Board Monday tabled a decision on finalizing a Tobacco Free Ordinance for Sunnyside Park that they can forward to the City Council for its review and approval, because there was still some language that needed to be cleaned-up, and appeared to have been contradictory. The Board will reconvene prior to the January 22nd meeting of the City Council, when the Ordinance is set to be on the agenda, to make sure the final draft has gone through the legal approval process with the City Attorney.

And, Parks Director Roger Herring reported a successful Gizzard Shad kill occurred at the Schildberg Recreation Area’s Lake number One on Dec. 3rd. The DNR applied Rotenone to try and control the invasive fish species and help the more desirable species survive. Herring said the timing of the chemical application was “perfect,” because the weather was cooperating. He said within 24-hours there was a good fish kill of the gizzard shad and a few days later the lake iced-over, which means the dead fish will sink to the bottom and become food for other species and help keep the lake alive throughout the winter.

There was some “collateral” damage to other species of fish (Including the killing of game fish such as some of the small bluegill, one crappie, and one catfish), but Herring said that was to be expected. None of the bass in the lake were killed, though. He said because the fish kill was successful, it will be exciting to see how the desirable game fish population explodes over the next two- to-three years at Lake number One.

Atlantic Parks and Rec Director makes his Christmas wish list

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Members of the public, private entities or corporations who are still looking for areas they can make worthy tax deductions before the end of the year, may want to consider donating new or used equipment to the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department. Director Roger Herring presented the Parks and Rec Board Monday night, with a “Holiday Wish List” of items his department could use.

He says items don’t need to be new. The wish list includes: A sliding compound mitre saw; small-to medium sized skid loader; air compressor and pneumatic tools; a multi-drawer shop tool chest; router; welder; gas-powered auger; hammer drill; refrigerator; micro-wave oven; garden roto-tiller; 3-point tractor sprayer, and a transfer pump.

He said those are things they’d love to have, but are not currently in the budget. If you are able to donate any of those items and receive a receipt for their value to be used as a tax deduction, contact the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department at 712-243-5466.

NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area: 12/17/13

Weather

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

339 AM CST TUE DEC 17 2013

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 40S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW AROUND 30. SOUTH WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

THURSDAY…CLOUDY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AND LIGHT FREEZING RAIN IN THE MORNING…THEN A CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AND LIGHT FREEZING RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. COLDER. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 30 PERCENT.

THURSDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW. BREEZY…COLDER. LOW AROUND 15.

FRIDAY…CLOUDY…COLDER. HIGH 15 TO 20.

Iowa News Headlines: Tue., Dec. 17th 2013

News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press …

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The $586 million Mega Millions jackpot is currently the fourth-largest in U.S. history and could grow by Tuesday night’s drawing. Experts say what drives people to play is the same thing that drives people to gamble: the fantasy of quickly improving your life amid financial anxieties and uncertainty. But the huge Mega Millions prize stems from a major game revamp in October that dramatically reduced the odds of winning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman was taken to jail after a neighbor told police she was standing on her front porch with a drawn bow and arrow aimed his way and could be heard saying, “Should I shoot? Should I shoot?” The Des Moines Register reports the neighbor said he was taking groceries out of his car’s trunk when he saw and heard the woman, so he went inside to call police. Officers seized the bow and arrow and took the woman to the Polk County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines Fire Department says there has been a surge in fires in the past week, including eight in one 24 hour period. The department said the fires could be tied to extremely cold temperatures that have settled over central Iowa. The city’s fires included 15 in homes, one in a business and two in vehicles. The department says 11 of the fires appear related to heating appliances and furnaces.

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Romance writer and Iowa native Janet Dailey, whose books sold more than 325 million copies worldwide, has died at her southwest Missouri home. She was 69. Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home in Branson, Mo., says Dailey died Saturday in the music resort town. The cause of death was not released as of Monday. The funeral home reports the family said Dailey died “peacefully.”

Iowa State stays at 17 after beating Iowa, Niang, player of the week

Sports

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State remained ranked 17th in the A-P basketball poll after their 85-82 come-from-behind win over Iowa Friday, while the Hawkeyes fell from 23 to 25. The Cyclones have a week off to enjoy the big win before they get back to business in Hawaii where they will play George Mason Sunday. Cyclone coach Fred Hoiberg said the comebacks are exciting — but he’d rather see the team take the lead and hold it. Hoiberg says they have come back four times from double-digit deficits and he told the team he’d like to the quit making a habit of that and see them get some double-digit leads.

“We’ve got three huge games coming up in Hawaii, come back for one more, and then go into conference play,” Hoiberg said. The come-from-behind win moved I-S-U to 8-0 on the season. “We’re right where we want to be right now as far as the record is concerned, but we still have some work to do,” Hoiberg said. “That’s the positive about this team, is that there is still room to grow, we can still get better. And that’s the thing I am excited about.” Cyclone sophomore forward Georges Niang was name the Big 12 player of the week for his performance against Iowa.

Niang had a career high 24 points, including the winning layup with 18 seconds to go, and also had five assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Teammate Melvin Ejim talked about Niang’s ability after the Iowa game. “You know Georges is just a smart, smart player, he just has super control over his body and knows how to create space. And that’s one of the talents he has over any person — whether you are seven foot or you are very small — he can make that space and get his shot up all the time,” Ejim said. “And if you take that away, he can step out and take a shot. He is just an offensive nightmare.”

Ejim said it was not surprising to see Niang play so well against a good Hawkeye team. “Day in and day out he is coming in, he’s working hard, he’s playing well for us… Georges is a tough player to guard for anybody,” Ejim said. Niang is the fourth Cyclone to earn player of the week honors, joining Ejim, Dustin Hogue and Naz Long. DeAndre Kane has twice been named the league’s newcomer of the week.

(Radio Iowa)