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Master Gardener Course Registration Deadline Approaching

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 27th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

If your New Year’s resolution has something to do with gardening, don’t miss your chance to become a trained Iowa Master Gardener in 2013! Classes start Tuesday, January 15 at the Cass County Extension Office, but you must have your registration form turned in by noon on Monday January 7 to avoid a late fee, according to Extension Program Coordinator, Kate Olson.

“We need to have all our names turned in to campus by January 7 so course materials can be sent out prior to class starting on the 15th,” says Olson. “It is a fantastic program and I would encourage anyone to sign up if they have a love for gardening, a desire to learn more about the world of gardening, and a commitment to being a positive part of their community!”

Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in any type of gardening and have a desire to share their knowledge through education and community involvement. Master Gardener trainees attend 40 hours of classes taught by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach staff and specialists on topics including lawn care, flower and vegetable gardening, ornamental trees and shrubs, fruit crops, and houseplants, insect, disease, and weed control, soil and plant nutrition, and pesticide safety.

In exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer 40 hours of service in their local communities. The service opportunities are wide-ranging, from public educational activities to assisting with public garden spaces. Master Gardeners speak to local groups, teach youth about gardening, plant/maintain community gardens, staff plant clinics or displays, provide horticulture therapy activities for the elderly, and assist with county fair horticulture activities as judges or project coordinators, to name a few. Cass County also has an active Master Gardener group that meets regularly to coordinate volunteer and educational opportunities for members.

Classes will be held at the Cass County Extension office, located at 805 W. 10th Street in Atlantic. The first session will be Tuesday evening, January 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, and will continue on consecutive Tuesday’s through March 19.  There will also be three Thursday evening sessions held locally, and one Saturday in February spent on the ISU campus for hands-on training in the horticulture department.  The cost for the entire program, including reference materials and all training, is just $150 per person.

Registrations must be in the Cass County Extension office by noon on January 7 to have materials available for the first training session. A $25 late fee will be charged to anyone signing up after this date. Persons interested in becoming a trained Master Gardener in Cass County are encouraged to contact the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass for information on signing up for the winter certification classes, or to learn more about Iowa Master Gardeners.

(Press Release/Cass Co. Extension)

NWS Forecast for the KJAN listening area: 12/27/12

Weather

December 27th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

406 AM CST THU DEC 27 2012

TODAY…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW BEFORE NOON. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 20S. EAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 30 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…NOT AS COLD. LIGHT SNOW LIKELY THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN LIGHT SNOW AND PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH. NO ICE ACCUMULATION. LOW 15 TO 20. TEMPERATURE STEADY OR SLOWLY RISING AFTER MIDNIGHT. EAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NEAR 100 PERCENT.

FRIDAY…CLOUDY. LIGHT SNOW LIKELY AND PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE IN THE MORNING…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. LITTLE OR NO SNOW ACCUMULATION. A LIGHT GLAZING EXPECTED. HIGH IN THE MID 20S. NORTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 10 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SATURDAY...PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 20S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 10. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S.

Iowa officials offer advice on ice fishing

Ag/Outdoor, Sports

December 27th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials are reminding ice fishing enthusiasts to be careful with newly developed ice caused by a major snowstorm last week. The state Department of Natural Resources says a minimum of four inches of quality ice is recommended for ice fishing. At least five inches of ice is recommended for snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. DNR officials also recommend using small baits and a light line for capturing finicky fish.

A major snowstorm dumped several inches of snow around the state last week. It also ushered in cold temperatures that covered most area lakes with a layer of ice.

Berkshire Hathaway sells 2 short-line railroads

News

December 27th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett’s company has sold off the two short-line railroads it discovered owning this fall to satisfy regulators who might have reviewed Berkshire Hathaway’s 2010 acquisition of the BNSF railroad. Berkshire told the Transportation Department’s Surface Transportation Board earlier this month that it had recently completed the sale of both short-line railroads ahead of schedule.

If Berkshire had reported owning those railroads when it acquired Burlington National Sante Fe Corporation, the Surface Transportation Board would have scrutinized the deal. Berkshire sold the 12-mile-long WCTU railroad that serves an industrial park near Medford, Oregon to RVTR Rail Holdings in December.

The 6-mile-long CBEC railroad that serves one of MidAmerican Energy’s coal plants near Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sold to its two other co-owners in November.

Iowa couple with limousine business helps homeless

News

December 27th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Council Bluffs couple with a limousine business says they want to offer services every year to homeless people in the area. The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports Jim Kelley and his wife, Christine, offered party buses to nearly 70 homeless people this month as part of a holiday present. Many of the participants were children. Other local businesses provided dinner and dessert before the buses and a limousine took the participants to a train museum. Guests were then taken on a city tour to view holiday lights.

The couple says it was their first time organizing the service, and they plan to make it an annual event.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., Dec. 27th 2012

News

December 27th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Light snow is expected to hit most of Iowa and parts of Nebraska tonight and tomorrow as both states recover from a powerful storm last week. Temperatures are expected to be in the 20s in both states today.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A powerful storm system that affected the Gulf Coast and parts of the Midwest on Christmas Day could cause some flight delays for people traveling through Iowa and Nebraska for the holidays. Des Moines International Airport reported some cancellations and delays from regions affected by the storm yesterday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Electric cars often are seen as the future of the U.S. car industry, but their presence in Iowa remains small. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reported yesterday there are only 41 “pure” electrics registered in Iowa. Engineers say the state needs infrastructure like additional battery charging stations that will make the vehicles more available. The newspaper reports there are only 33 public charging stations in Iowa.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Preservationists in Waterloo are hoping to save the 84-year-old Wonder Bread bakery building that closed last month. The Waterloo Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously last week to support the preservation of the historic character and facade of the downtown building. The building has been closed since Texas-based Hostess Brands Incorporated moved ahead in November with plans to sell off its assets in bankruptcy court.

Storm system causes flight delays in Iowa, Neb.

News, Weather

December 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A powerful storm system that affected the Gulf Coast and parts of the Midwest on Christmas Day could cause some flight delays for people traveling through Iowa and Nebraska for the holidays. The Des Moines Register says Des Moines International Airport has reported some cancellations and delays from regions affected by the storm. Airport workers in Dallas are removing ice as below freezing temperatures forced cancellations. Flights arriving and departing from Denver and Chicago also have been delayed.

Omaha’s Eppley Airfield says some airlines have pushed back a handful of arrival and departure times, but its website shows no cancellations. Post-Christmas travelers are bracing for flight delays and driving warnings after a rare storm brought tornadoes to the South and snow to states like Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Light snow expected to hit Iowa, Neb.

News, Weather

December 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Light snow is expected to hit most of Iowa and parts of Nebraska as both states recover from a powerful storm last week. The National Weather Service says up to 3 inches of snow is possible in Iowa between Thursday night and Friday morning. The snow is expected especially along and north of Interstate 80. Between 2 and 4 inches of snow could hit northeast Nebraska between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The snow is expected mainly along and north of Highway 30. Less than an inch of snow is expected south of Lincoln and Plattsmouth. Temperatures are expected to be in the 20s in both states on Thursday. A powerful snow storm last week dumped several inches of snow across parts of Iowa and Nebraska.

USDA says Iowa has about 1.2M cattle on feed

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal authorities say the number of cattle and calves in large Iowa feedlots is unchanged from last year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the number of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head totaled about 1.2 million on Dec. 1. That means inventory is unchanged from the same period last year. Cattle and calves for slaughter in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million on Dec. 1. That’s six percent below inventory from the same period last year. Another USDA report shows the number of cattle in Nebraska feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head contained 2.53 million on Dec. 1.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26th

Trading Post

December 26th, 2012 by admin

FOR SALE:  A Sears refrigerator. White w/textured exterior & ice maker. 30-inches wide, 33″ front-to-back, including handle & coils. 67″ tall. $150/obo. Call 254-9107.

FOR SALE: 8-foot heavy duty step-ladder/work ladder. $75; Hamilton Beach roaster w/3 side dish pans. Like new, still has the original box. $17. Call 243-7025.

FOR SALE: Antique wood burning stove, round oak, excellent condition. $750; buzz saw for cutting firewood, mounts on a tractor, works fine. $250; porta-heat burns kerosene or diesel. $75. 712-304-4998

WANTED: Set of 4 tires, either 285’s, 75’s or 17’s. A used set with half or quarter there. Need them to be reliable. Please call 712-304-4262

WANTED: If you have dead trees that are easily accessible, I’d like to cut them down for firewood. Please call 778-4672.

WANTED:  We are relocating to Atlantic and need a home to rent. Please call 319-461-6191 or email pmkitty@netins.net.

WANTED: Looking for a gas stove. Call 712-243-2880.

FOR SALE:  Mens red,down filled winter coat size 2 XL,never been worn.Sells new for $140. Asking $50; 2 rose colored stuffed swivel rockers- no visible wear, tears or stains. They Look like new chairs. Asking $40 each.Please call 712-773-2326.