United Group Insurance

Public Hearing tonight on the rezoning of a subdivision in Atlantic

News

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Public Hearing this evening (Tuesday) at City Hall, with regard to a proposed rezoning of the Southern Heights 2 housing subdivision, between 22nd and 19th Streets, west of Redwood Drive. The developer wants the area re-zoned to accommodate multi-family housing. The Commission discussed the proposal during their meeting on Jan. 8th.

The discussion included the future of Plum Street, versus Southern Heights Drive, along with storm water runoff and drainage issues. City Councilman Shaun Shouse said the developer provided ample information about why the developer thought the project was needed, and representatives from the Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO) were on-hand to offer their support.

Shouse said some residents in the area also offered their input, which included their support for the project, and concerns about traffic flow from 19th to 22nd.   During this evening’s meeting of the P-and-Z, the Commission will hear a report on issues concerning 19th Street, prior to holding a public hearing on the rezoning. After the hearing, the Commission will vote on the Conformance to the Comprehensive Plan, and on forwarding their recommendation to the City Council, for or against rezoning.

The meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

7AM Newscast 01-29-2013

News, Podcasts

January 29th, 2013 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

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Highs early this morning were near 60. Lows tomorrow will be near 0. Oh, and 4-6″ of snow…

News, Weather

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

More big changes in the weather are coming. After an ice storm Sunday and an about-face with highs yesterday in the 50s and 60s, thunderstorms rolled over Iowa last night. The daytime high in Atlantic Monday was 47, but overnight, the temperature rose to 57 before falling back to 35 degrees by 5-a.m.  The 24-hour high of 57 was just one-degree shy of tying the record high for Jan. 28th.  The temperature rise overnight caused Red Oak to set a new 24-hour high of 61-degrees.

Forecasters say temperatures will drop today and a Winter Storm Watch is now posted for counties from southwest to central to northeast Iowa. Meteorologist Aubrey Wilkins, at the National Weather Service, says make sure your snowblower is full of gas. There’s the chance of heavy snow, with four to six inches possible across parts of central Iowa. Wilkins says the topsy-turvy weather will continue tomorrow as an arctic blast will make its way toward Iowa.

Wilkins says lows by tomorrow night will be in the single digits or below zero, a turnaround in two days of 60 degrees. High temperatures by the weekend will likely be back in the 20s and 30s, more the norm for the season.

(Radio Iowa & KJAN’s Ric Hanson contributed to this report)

DNR says Iowans may see more cougars in 2013

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Iowans may see more mountain lions in their back yards and fields this year, as cougar populations are rising in their natural habitats — like Colorado and Oklahoma. Chuck Gipp, director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says cougars are solitary and territorial so a growing population means some are forced to strike out on their own. Some will make it to Iowa, he says, which is how a big cat came to be shot in Des Moines last fall.  “As these young males get kicked out of their home area and they can travel significantly per day to get here,” Gipp says. “How it wound up in the middle of Des Moines is an interesting concept.”

While humans aren’t usually at risk, he says mountain lions prefer to prey on small mammals like rabbits and stray cats. “You’re going to see more and more of these types of things coming to Iowa because we’ve got a food source,” he says. Gipp says the rise of mountain lions in Iowa should balance itself out in the next few years. As more hunters in other states kill mountain lions, fewer shunned young males will wander into Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

No injuries reported following Shenandoah house fire

News

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Fire officials in Shenandoah say no injuries were reported following a house fire Monday afternoon. According to reports, the fire took place at 106 South Avenue in Shenandoah, at around 4:30-p.m. The home sustained considerable damage and resulted in the family being displaced. Their names were not immediately available. The Red Cross was assisting the family in finding shelter. The cause of the blaze was believed to be faulty wiring.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Tue., Jan. 29th 2013

Podcasts, Weather

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the (podcast) Freese-Notis forecast for Atlantic and the KJAN listening area, and weather data for Atlantic, along with the latest Winter Weather Watches or advisories…..

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National Weather Service forecast for Cass & area Counties: Tue., Jan. 29th 2013

Weather

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CASS, ADAIR, ADAMS, GUTHRIE, DALLAS, UNION, TAYLOR & RINGGOLD COUNTIES FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WED. MORNING.**A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 7-PM TUE. TO 7-AM WED., FOR MILLS, MONTGOMERY, FREMONT & PAGE COUNTIES.

Today: Cloudy. A slight chance of light rain until late afternoon…then a chance of light rain…light snow and light sleet late in the afternoon. High in the lower 40s. North wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Tonight: Snow and rain likely in the evening…then snow likely overnight. Breezy…colder. Snow accumulation of 4 to 5 inches. Low in the lower 20s. North wind 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Breezy…colder. Scattered flurries. High in the mid 20s. Northwest wind 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy through midnight then becoming partly cloudy. Colder. Low 5 to 10 above. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny. Colder. High around 15. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.
Thursday Night And Friday: Partly cloudy. Not as cold. Low zero to 5 above. High in the mid 20s.

Iowa Boys Basketball Prep Poll – released Mon., Jan. 28th 2013

Sports

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Class 4A
Record Pts Prv
1. Iowa City, West (18) 15-0 180 1
2. Bettendorf 15-0 159 2
3. Epworth, Western Dubuque 17-0 127 4
4. Dubuque, Senior 14-1 122 3
5. Sioux City, East 16-0 121 5
6. Sioux City, North 14-1 66 7
7. Valley, West Des Moines 12-3 52 10
8. Ankeny 11-3 42 6
9. North Scott, Eldridge 14-2 37 NR
10. Urbandale 12-4 33 9

Others receiving votes: Des Moines, Roosevelt 25. Des Moines, Hoover 22. Cedar Falls 4.

Class 3A
Record Pts Prv
1. Vinton-Shellsburg (15) 16-0 177 1
2. Dallas Center-Grimes (2) 16-0 157 2un
3. Assumption, Davenport (1) 12-3 130 3
4. Atlantic 15-1 129 4
5. Centerville 13-1 101 7
6. Creston 13-2 98 8
7. MOC-Floyd Valley 14-3 47 5
8. Waverly-Shell Rock 12-4 33 NR
(tie) Crestwood, Cresco 13-2 33 10
10. Grinnell 13-3 20 NR

Others receiving votes: Solon 19. Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 17. Carroll 8. Nevada 6. Fort Madison 4. Iowa Falls-Alden 4. Le Mars 3. Mount Pleasant 2. Chariton 1. Anamosa 1.

Class 2A
Record Pts Prv
1. West Fork, Sheffield (12) 17-0 170 1
2. Western Christian, Hull (6) 16-1 160 2
3. Cascade,Western Dubuque 17-0 139 3
4. Nodaway Valley 16-1 127 4
5. Sheldon 17-1 102 T5
6. IKM-Manning 17-1 91 T5
7. PCM, Monroe 16-1 60 8
7. West Branch 15-1 60 7
9. Des Moines Christian 17-2 40 10
10. New Hampton 12-3 12 9

Others receiving votes: Notre Dame, Burlington 8. St. Edmond, Fort Dodge 6. North Cedar, Stanwood 6. West Marshall, State Center 3. MFL-Mar-Mac 3. Sioux Center 2. Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 1.

Class 1A
Record Pts Prv
1. Danville (16) 18-0 178 1
2. Lone Tree (1) 18-0 146 3
3. Lawton-Bronson 19-0 127 4
4. St. Mary’s, Storm Lake (1) 15-1 125 2
5. Harris-Lake Park 15-1 92 5
6. Boyden-Hull 14-3 77 6
7. North Tama, Traer 18-1 55 10
(tie) Murray 18-1 55 7
9. Dunkerton 17-0 53 9
10. Riverside, Oakland 16-1 47 8

Others receiving votes: Preston 16. Iowa Mennonite, Kalona 8. Ankeny Christian Academy 6. Woodbury Central, Moville 2. Lamoni 2. North Iowa, Buffalo Center 1.

Monday High School Basketball Scores

Sports

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
Essex 58, Craig-Fairfax, Mo. 38
Glidden-Ralston 52, Orient-Macksburg 38
Red Oak 73, Fremont-Mills 41

Western Valley Conference Tournament
Consolation
Boyer Valley 59, Ar-We-Va 48
Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 67, OA-BCIG 64 (3OT)
Ridge View 49, Westwood 43
River Valley 62, Siouxland Community Christian 54
West Harrison 97, Charter Oak-Ute 72
Woodbine 56, Whiting 45

Semifinal
IKM-Manning 63, West Monona 58
Lawton-Bronson 67, Woodbury Central 57

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Harlan 53, Red Oak 51

INF Ronny Cedeno, Cardinals agree to $1.15M deal

Sports

January 29th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Infielder Ronny Cedeno has agreed to a $1.15 million, one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Cedeno can earn an additional $850,000 in performance bonuses under Monday’s deal: $170,000 each for 200, 250, 300, 250 and 400 plate appearances. The 29-year-old .259 with four homers and 22 RBIs last year for the New York Mets. An eight-year big league veteran, he has a .247 career average for the Chicago Cubs, Seattle, Pittsburgh and the Mets.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals designated left-handed pitcher Barret Browning for assignment. St. Louis also agreed to minor league contracts with catchers Rob Johnson and J.R. Towles and outfielder Justin Christian, and hired former catcher Bengie Molina as assistant hitting coach. He is the older brother of Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.