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Bus inspection reforms stall in Iowa legislature

News

May 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Most Iowa lawmakers agree that changes need to be made to the state’s system for inspecting school buses, but it’s unlikely a bill will pass this year because lawmakers can’t agree on what should be done. A bill that would help close loopholes in the inspection system by requiring buses with serious problems to be re-inspected before returning to service passed the Iowa Senate on a 46-2 vote.

The Des Moines Register reports some lawmakers now want to shift bus inspections out of the Education Department and into the state Transportation Department. Republican Rep. Kevin Koester, of Ankeny, says school buses should get the same inspections commercial vehicles receive. But former lawmaker Mike Cormack, who works for the Education Department, says moving the inspections would only delay needed improvements.

Drug-related arrest Sat. night in Red Oak

News

May 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County report a joint effort between the Red Oak Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Saturday night, resulted in one person being arrested on drug charges. Authorities executed a search warrant at 1010 Broad Street in Red Oak and arrested 49-year-old Kurtis Jay Davidson, of Red Oak.

Davidson faces charges that include possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, gathering where controlled substances were unlawfully used, and, possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also taken into custody on a Montgomery County warrant.

During their search of the home, officials took into evidence a small amount of methamphetamine, marijuana scales, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. Davidson was being held at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $50,000 bond.

Western IA authorities deal with tense situation in Menlo

News

May 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Stuart Police Department report officers with the department were called to Menlo, Saturday, to assist rescue unit members who had allegedly been threatened by a man who claimed to possess a firearm.

Photo of the scene near Menlo Saturday (from the Stuart P-D’s FaceBook page)

The situation began to unfold after the rescue unit was called to the man’s home in response to a medical situation. Stuart Officers, Guthrie County Deputies and State Patrol Troopers responded and were able to quickly resolve the matter. No other details were provided.

Wainwright leads Cards to a 3-0 victory over the Rockies, Saturday

Sports

May 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning in a 3-0 Cardinals victory over the Colorado Rockies yesterday. The Rockies had been hitless in 49 consecutive at-bats before Nolan Arenado lined a hit to center field. The 49 at-bats is the longest hitless stretch since a 50 at-bat streak against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981.

Longtime head of girls athletic union dies at 90

Sports

May 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The longtime head of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has died at age 90. The organization announced that E. Wayne Cooley died Saturday. Cooley became executive secretary of the athletic union in 1954. Over the next 48 years, he led an expansion of interscholastic activities from the single sport of basketball to include track and field, cross country, softball, golf, swimming, tennis, volleyball and soccer.

Much of the expansion came before federal Title IX rules were implemented, expanding opportunities for female athletes. Cooley was born Sept. 16, 1922, in Mercer, Mo. He married Gertrude “Gerry” Konkol in 1944 and they had two children. After his wife’s death, he married Wendy Wykoff in 1987. He graduated from Buena Vista University and was a naval officer during World War II.

Mother’s Day forecast for the KJAN listening area

Weather

May 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

(NWS/Des Moines/8:15-a.m. update)

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 40S. SOUTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AROUND 5 MPH AFTER  MIDNIGHT.

MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. WARMER. HIGH IN THE MID 70S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. WARMER. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 90S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S.

WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S.

Saturday Girls Regional Team Tennis

Sports

May 12th, 2013 by Jim Field

Results from Glenwood:

First Round:

Glenwood 5, Harlan 0

Atlantic 5, St. Albert 3

Atlantic results:

Singles:

#1 Joni Thomas 12 (SA) over Leah Tjepkes 11 (A) 6-3 7-6(1)
#2 Lexi Allen 11 (A) over Julienne Johnson 12 (SA) 6-3 6-3
#3 Lisa Gearheart 11 (A) over Maddy Punteney 12 (SA) 6-1 6-3
#4 Ava Pavlik 9 (SA) over Hope Bowker 12 (A) 4-6 6-4 1-0(6)
#5 Libby Gifford 12 (A) over Victoria Kragscow 10 (SA) 6-1 6-2
#6 Mollee Welter 10 (A) over Tess Puntney 10 (SA) 6-0 6-0

Doubles:

#1 Thomas/Johnson (SA) over Tjepkes/Allen 4-6 6-4 1-0(8)
#2 (play suspended due to dual being decided — Punteney/Pavlik won first set 6-4)
#3 Bowker/Gifford (A) over Kragscow/Puntney 6-1 6-1

2nd Round:

Glenwood 5, Atlantic 0

Singles:

#1 Ons Souissi 12 over Leah Tjepkes 6-2 6-0
#2 Rachel Tucker 12 over Lexi Allen 6-3 6-0
#3 Grace Newman 12 over Lisa Gearheart 6-1 6-2
#4 Montana Crow 12 over Hope Bowker 6-0 6-1
#5 Jana King 10 over Libby Gifford 6-1 6-1
#6 (play suspended due to dual being decided — Maggie Fineran 10 was leading Mollee Welter 6-2 4-1)

Glenwood advances to Third Round May 18

Coach Shawn Petersen comments:

Tough day conditions-wise for the girls today — chilly and steady brisk wind out of the north — but I thought our girls for the most part handled it well; It was nice getting a win today — the first of the year for us; I was very happy for the team — the girls have worked awfully hard and have played all of the best teams around — even though I know they’ve shown improvement, it’s tough to keep grinding when the losses are piling up. We played Glenwood earlier in the year and got blown off the courts — even though the scores look lopsided against a very talented Rams team, our girls really played well and competed very hard — I was proud of their efforts today. Atlantic travels to Carroll for the H10 Conference Tournament Monday, before competing in Individual Regional competition on Thursday at Shenandoah.

This is Your Nishna Valley 05-11-2013

Podcasts, This is Your Nishna Valley

May 11th, 2013 by admin

w/ Jim Field and Stacie Linfor

Play

TROY M. WHEELOCK, 51, of Anita (Svcs. 05-15-2013)

Obituaries

May 11th, 2013 by admin

TROY M. WHEELOCK, 51, of Anita died Saturday, May 11th at Caring Acres in Anita.  Funeral services for TROY M. WHEELOCK will be held on Wednesday, May 15th at 10:30am in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita.  Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, May 14th from 5-7pm at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita.  Prayer service will be held at 5pm that evening.

Burial will be held in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

TROY M. WHEELOCK is survived by:

Parents: Art and LaRue Wheelock of Anita.

Brothers: Bart and Tim Wheelock.

Changes Proposed for Child Neglect Case Handling in Iowa

News

May 11th, 2013 by admin

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Human Services is on the verge of taking a less-confrontational approach toward adults accused of minor acts of child neglect.

The state Legislature has approved a bill creating the new process, and it’s now awaiting Gov. Terry Branstad’s signature.

The new approach allows for “family assessments,” in which caseworkers can work with families and let them describe their situation without fear of being placed on the state child abuse registry.

Agency spokesman Roger Munns says the change would better balance the rights of adults with the need to protect children. Cases involving sexual, physical and substance abuse will still require a traditional investigation.

Some child advocates back the change but say the state needs to ensure quick evaluations if there is any risk to a child.