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NW IA ethanol plant builds cellulosic addition

Ag/Outdoor

July 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

GALVA, Iowa (AP) — Quad County Corn Processors in northwest Iowa’s Ida County, has launched a construction project to build onto its existing ethanol plant a facility that can make additional ethanol from corn kernel fiber. The $8.5 million project uses newly developed cellulosic ethanol science to convert additional parts of corn into ethanol at the company’s Galva plant. The project will add about 6 percent more ethanol from the same amount of corn. The plant currently makes 35 million gallons of ethanol a year.

General Manager Delayne Johnson says the process also will add several jobs. It also improves the protein content of the animal feed byproduct the plant sells to livestock farmers by about 40 percent. Construction is expected to be completed by next April.

Iowa has 41 ethanol refineries.

West Nile virus detected in Pottawattamie County

News

July 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The mosquito spread West Nile virus is appearing in the area, and the threat for persons to become infected is spreading. According to the Daily NonPareil, human cases have been reported in Shelby County, and now a sentinel chicken in Council Bluffs tested positive for the virus, which means human are susceptible to coming down with the it.

This year’s first human case in Iowa was announced on July 3rd by the Iowa Department of Public Health. It was in a middle-aged man from Linn County, who was not hospitalized. The Shelby County case was reported a couple weeks later. Health officials say in that particular case, the patient was a women age 18-40 who also did not need to be hospitalized.

Approximately 20 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have mild to moderate symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and vomiting. Less than 1 percent of people infected become seriously ill and, rarely, someone dies. There is no vaccine or medical treatment for the illness. Since West Nile virus first appeared in Iowa in 2002, it has been found in every county in the state, either in humans, horses or birds. In 2012, there were 31 human cases of West Nile virus and no deaths.

The Iowa Dept. of Public Health recommends Iowans take the following steps to reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus:

• Use insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products on children. For example, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old and oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years old.

• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks whenever possible outdoors.

• Eliminate standing water around the home. Empty water from buckets, cans, pool covers and pet water dishes. Change water in bird baths every three to four days.

 

NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area: Tue., July 30th 2013

Weather

July 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

344 AM CDT TUE JUL 30 2013

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS. WARMER. EAST WIND AROUND 5 MPH. CHANCE OF SHOWERS 50 PERCENT.

TODAY...CLOUDY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SHOWERS 30 PERCENT.

TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. AREAS OF FOG OVERNIGHT. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. EAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

THURSDAY...PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. LIGHT WIND BECOMING WEST UP TO 5 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 60 PERCENT.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH AROUND 80.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S.

State Baseball Tournament Results from Mon., July 29th 2013

Sports

July 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

CLASS 2A Quarterfinals at Principal Park in Des Moines:

Beckman Catholic, Dyersville 3, Columbus Catholic, Waterloo 2
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 5, Spirit Lake 1
North Polk, Alleman 2, Albia 1 (13 innings)
Roland-Story, Story City 2, Mount Vernon 1

Liriano, Pirates crush Cardinals 9-2

Sports

July 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Francisco Liriano allowed one run over seven dominant innings, Pedro Alvarez hit his NL-leading 27th home run and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-2 Monday night. Liriano struck out eight and walked just two to win his fifth straight start. The Pirates kicked off the key series at PNC Park by sending the Cardinals to their fourth straight loss to pull within a half-game of the lead in the NL Central. Clint Barmes doubled twice and drove in two runs for Pittsburgh. Andrew McCutchen added two hits and an RBI.

Jake Westbrook continued to struggle against the Pirates. He fell to 1-8 against Pittsburgh in his career after surrendering four first-inning runs. Matt Carpenter and Shane Robinson hit RBI singles for St. Louis, which has scored just four runs during its longest losing streak of the season.

Hunt open to extending Chiefs’ stay in St. Joseph

Sports

July 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt says he’s pleased with setup of training camp at Missouri Western State University and would be in favor of extending the team’s stay beyond next season. The Chiefs are in the fourth year of a five-year deal to stage training camp in St. Joseph, Mo., about a 90-minute drive north from Arrowhead Stadium.

Many teams have eschewed going away for camp as they build gleaming new practice digs, but Hunt said he appreciates the camaraderie that is built through players living in dorms. Hunt said it would be possible to have camp in Kansas City, but there would be hurdles to overcome. Dining facilities are limited and there’s less room for fans. Hunt said the Chiefs will evaluate their future in St. Joseph after this year.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., July 30th 2013

News

July 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa man has been accused of disciplining his 12-year-old son with a dog shock collar. Knoxville Police Chief Daniel Losada says 35-year-old Daniel Hardwick was arrested Thursday after the state Department of Human Services contacted authorities. The department says it’s not commenting on the investigation.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) — The Monona County auditor has been released on a promise to appear in court after her arrest on charges of possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says in a statement that 27-year old Brooke Kuhlmann scheduled a methamphetamine buy and pickup from an undercover Iowa State Patrol officer yesterday who had seized a dealer’s cell phone the day before. Kuhlmann, a Democrat, is serving her second term as auditor.

LA PORTE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Volunteers pulled out plenty of trash from the Cedar River last weekend during a 26th annual cleanup. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports about 30 people joined Saturday for the Cedar River Cleanup, which this year focused on a stretch of the river in southern Buchanan county and northern Benton County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Newark Mayor Cory Booker will not be making an appearance in Iowa next month. The University of Iowa’s website says that the Democratic candidate for Senate from New Jersey will be giving a lecture on the Iowa City campus on August 29th. But Booker campaign spokesman Kevin Griffis said yesterday that Booker will not give the speech.

Tuesday Boys State Baseball Schedule

Sports

July 30th, 2013 by Jim Field

CLASS 3-A Quarter-Finals: @ Principal Park, Des Moines

12:00 pm – Boone vs. Davenport Assumption

2:00 pm – Bishop Heelan Catholic vs. Williamsburg

6:00 pm – Chariton vs. Clear Lake

8:00 pm – Harlan vs. Dallas Center-Grimes

 

Authorities: FL man killed in IA fiery semi crash

News

July 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs late Monday evening identified the man who died in the fiery crash of a semi tractor trailer Sunday afternoon. Officials say the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny confirmed the victim of the crash was 54-year old Samil Meskic, of Jacksonville, FL. The ME’s office said Meskic died as the result of internal injuries, and not from the fire. All other aspects of the crash, including the cause, remain under investigation.

Authorities say Meskic was driving a 2005 Volvo semi northbound on Interstate 29 at around 3:30-p.m., Sunday, when for reasons unknown,  the rig crashed through the guardrail separating the north and southbound lanes of traffic on I-29 at Avenue G, before going airborne across Avenue G. The truck came to rest after hitting an embankment between the bridges, and burst into flames.

Firefighters contained the blaze and fuel spill in about 10 minutes. Meskic’s body was discovered after the flames were extinguished.

Speakers express support for health care expansion

News

July 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa residents are largely expressing support for a plan to expand low-income health care, although there are still questions about some of the details.  About 75 people attended a public hearing Monday in Des Moines on the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan.

Under the plan the state will accept federal dollars offered to states that expand Medicaid under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. That funding will be used to provide health coverage for as many as 150,000 low-income residents by putting some on a new state-run program and to pay the premiums for others to get private insurance on the new health care exchanges.

Attendees questioned how proposed health incentives would be structured in the plan and why transportation for non-emergency appointments is not covered. Another hearing on the health care expansion plan will be held 11:30-a.m. Tuesday, in the Looft Hall Auditorium at Iowa Western Community College (2700 College Road), in Council Bluffs.