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Monday Softball Results

Sports

June 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Hawkeye 10:

  • Creston 10, Shenandoah 0
  • Harlan 14, Kuemper Catholic 1
  • Glenwood 13, Red Oak 0

Western Iowa:

  • Treynor 13, Audubon 3
  • Tri-Center 2, Missouri Valley 1
  • Underwood 8, A-H-S-T 0

Others:

  • Charter Oak-Ute 15, West Harrison 4
  • Des Moines Christian 15, Guthrie Center 1
  • Earlham 12, Coon Rapids-Bayard 0
  • IKM-Manning 5, River Valley 2
  • Madrid 6, Panorama 4
  • Wayne 11, Nodaway Valley 0
  • West Monona 7, Boyer Valley 6
  • Westwoodn 8, Ar-We-Va 1
  • Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 4, Logan-Magnolia 7
  • Dallas Center-Grimes 4, Carroll 0
  • Nishnabotna 9, Bedford 4

Maximum unemployment benefit is going up

News

June 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The state will increase the maximum benefit paid for unemployment at the start of the new fiscal year on July first. Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson, Kerry Koonce, says the amount paid is going up about three percent.”Every year we do a review of what they call the average annual wage for Iowans across the state, and that affects any changes that would take place in what an individual could receive for maximum weekly benefits on unemployment,” Koonce explains. “And since Iowa’s average annual wage increased for calendar year 2011, that means for our fiscal year that starts July first of 2012, the average weekly benefit for unemployment will also increase.” The average annual wage now used to calculate unemployment benefits is 38-thousand-949 dollars. The change will result in just over 10 dollars more each week for those who earn the maximum unemployment benefit.

“You know it’s not a large change, for example, if you are a family that has two dependents lets say, it goes from 415 to 426 a week. However, if you’re on unemployment, every little big extra you get each week helps out greatly,” Koonce says. Workforce Development figures show about half those who are eligible for unemployment benefits have enough earnings to qualify for the maximum benefit. There’s also a change for those who become disable and can’t work. Koonce says the change for temporary total disability rises weekly to one-thousnd-498 dollars ($1,498) and the amount for permanent partial disability, the maximum increases to one thousand-378 dollars ($1,378). Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped to five-point-one percent (5.1%) in April, and has dropped every month this year.

(Radio Iowa)

JAMES R. PERKINS, 51, of Rembrandt (Svcs. 6-7-12)

Obituaries

June 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JAMES R. PERKINS, 51, of Rembrandt, died Sun., June 3rd, at the Bryan Lincoln General Hospital in Lincoln, NE. Funeral services for JAMES PERKINS will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., June 7th, at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, west of Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where a family visitation will take place from 6-8pm Wed., June 6th, along with a Masonic service at 7:30-p.m.

Burial will be in the Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery, west of Audubon.

JAMES PERKINS is survived by:

His wife – Sylvia Perkins, of Rembrandt.

His sons – William (Susan) Perkins, of Linden, NC; & Patrick Perkins, of Ames.

His daughters – Heather and Jennifer Perkins, both of Ames.

His parents – James H. & Annette Perkins, of Audubon.

His brother – Joel (Melissa) Perkins, of Nevada, IA.

His sister – Jayne (Fred) Gibson, of Ft. Lewis, WA.

1 granddaughter, his brothers-and-sisters in-law, other relatives & friends.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: June 5th 2012

Podcasts, Weather

June 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the (Podcast) Freese-Notis forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, and the weather data for Atlantic…

Play

Primary election to be held today

News

June 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Voters across Iowa are heading to the polls today (Tuesday), to cast their ballots in the Primary Election. Winners in the Primary will have their names appear on the ballot for the November 6th General Election. The polls opened at 7-a.m., and will close at 9-p.m. In Cass County, there are no contested local races.

In Audubon County, five men, four Republicans, including one incumbent (Todd M. Nelson), and one Democrat, are vying for two seats on the Board of Supervisors. One seat was left open by the announcement by Vernie Venteicher that he is not running for re-election. Facing-off against Nelson for one of the seats is Duane Deist, Monte L. Dreher, and Roger Merk. Jerry R. Carter is unopposed on the Democratic ticket. Also in Audubon County, Democrat Blake Asberry is running against incumbent Todd Johnson, a Republican, for the title of Sheriff. It’s the first time in more than a decade there is a race for the Sheriff’s job, in Audubon County.

There are no contested races in Adams County, where the Republican incumbents for County Supervisors in Districts 2 and 5, along with Sheriff Alan Johannes, County Attorney Duane Golden and Democrat Auditor Nancy J. Carmichael, are unopposed. In Guthrie County, there are two Democrats on the ballot for Board of Supervisors in District 1: Jerome F. Caraher, of Bayard, and John Milhollin, , of Yale. Only one will be elected, and move on to meet Republican, James Carroll, in November. Carroll is unopposed in the Primary. In District 5: Democrat David Guisinger is unopposed on the ballot, while Republicans Mike Dickson, of Stuart, and Robert Schemmel, of Dexter, are squaring-off, each with hopes of moving on to face Guisinger in the November election.

In Montgomery County, incumbent Republican Sheriff Joe Sampson faces a challenge from fellow Republican, Chris Stephens. In Pottawattamie County, incumbent Sheriff Jeff Danker faces a challenge from fellow Republican John Hitchcock. The man who wins today’s election will likely be the next Sheriff, as no Democrat has filed to run.

There’s a six-person Republican race in Shelby County for the Board of Supervisors. Scott Burchett, Delbert Hull (who is seeking re-election), Steve Kenkel, Randy Nelson, Charles Parkhurst and David Yamada are all on the ballot. On the Democratic ticket men are in the running: Herb Christensen, LaVon Christensen and Jerry Henscheid. There is also a State Representative Race in District 18 on the Democratic side, with Kasey Friedrichsen and Bernard Murphy vying for a win. The biggest race in Shelby County though is the Republican Sheriff’s position. Since there isn’t a candidate running on the Democratic side, it’s down to current Sheriff Mark Hervey and Nathan Dee Christensen.

Other races to watch include those for State Senate in District 10 (which includes parts or all of Audubon, Guthrie, Adair, Dallas & Cass Counties), featuring Republicans Jake Chapman and Matthew T. Mardesen, and, Senate District 6 (parts or all of Audubon, Carroll & Crawford Counties), where Republicans Matthew Biede (a Sac County Sheriff’s Deputy), Adam Schweers (The Mayor of Carroll) and Mark Segebart (a farmer from Vail & member of the Crawford County Board of Supervisors) are in the running, with only one in each district moving on to the November General Election, where they will face Democrat Mary Bruner. Incumbent legislator, Greg Forristal, is being challenged by Clint Fichter for the GOP nod in the new 22nd district, which covers most of Pottawattamie County.

If you are not sure where your voting precinct is, call your County’s Auditor’s Office, or go the the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx We’ll have the results of the election for you Wednesday morning, on KJAN and on the web at kjan.com.

Iowa gets rain but needs more

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

June 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Much of Iowa has received some rain, but the state could use some more to help ease the dry spots.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday’s crop report that corn conditions declined slightly for the second consecutive week. The report shows 75 percent of the corn is rated good to excellent. That’s down from 77 percent a week ago and 81 percent two weeks ago. The first soybean rating puts the crop at 71 percent in good to excellent condition.  The USDA says 46 percent of Iowa’s topsoil and 45 percent of the subsoil is dry.  Last week’s rain totals ranged from 0.35 inches at Bloomfield to 3.7 inches at Akron. The statewide average was 0.84 inches. In Atlantic, rainfall from May 27th through June 2nd amounted to .43″.

NWS Forecast for Cass & area Counties in Iowa: June 5th 2012

Weather

June 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

(updated 4-a.m. via National Weather Service in Des Moines)

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 60S.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE MID 80S.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 60S. HIGH AROUND 90.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 70S. HIGH AROUND 90.

Iowa early News Headlines – Tue., June 5th 2012

News

June 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — Iowa’s congressional hopefuls plan to keep working for votes through primary election day by making calls, meeting voters and giving media interviews. The races in the eastern half of the state will narrow the GOP field to one candidate in the two districts, and determine whether Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack can seek a fourth term. Loebsack faces a primary challenger, Davenport state Sen. Joe Seng.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with running a nationwide sex trafficking ring that used Backpage.com to solicit customers will be detained pending trial. U.S. District Judge James Gritzner rejected Johnelle Bell’s request for release Monday.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Locked-out union workers at American Crystal Sugar Co. are heading to the negotiating table. The two sides are set to resume talks Friday after the union asked a federal mediator to call the meeting. It has been more than 10 months since the lockout started and more than four months than the two sides last met.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are seeking a 40-year-old man who escaped from a residential work release facility in western Iowa’s Sioux City. The Iowa Department of Corrections says Cletus Antonio Armell failed to return to the facility Sunday from a shopping pass.

Woman rescued from Missouri River

News

June 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

An unidentified woman was rescued from the Missouri River near Council Bluffs this (Monday) morning. Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Patrick Norris says Officer Chad Selander found the woman near a boat dock at Lake Manawa, along the river, around 8:15 a.m. As he approached her, she then jumped into the river and swam to about the center of the river and then started floating down,” Norris said. Selander called for rescue boats.  “The whole time, (Selander) kept a visual on her and talked to her while running through the shrubs and the trees. It was pretty taxing,” Norris said. Selander ran about three miles along the riverbank as the water carried the woman downstream. He was then able to direct the rescue boats to her location.  “It is almost like a needle in a haystack. He did a great job,” Norris said of the officer. “He did a bit more investigating than maybe some would do. She jumped in and luckily he kept a good eye on her and could keep up with her.” Norris said the woman was “combative” when she was pulled from the water. She was then taken to a hospital for an evaluation. Norris said he believes Officer Selander’s actions saved the woman’s life.

(Radio Iowa)

Kansas LB Farley Transferring to Northern Iowa

Sports

June 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Linebacker Jake Farley is transferring from Kansas to Northern Iowa, where the sophomore will play for his father. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Farley has been a scout squad player at Kansas, where his father Mark was an assistant coach from 1997-2000. Mark Farley is now the head coach at Northern Iowa. Kansas coach Charlie Weis met with Farley on Friday and said in a statement Monday that he wished him “success and happiness as he returns home to be with his family.” Farley said in the same statement that he’s been impressed with the job Weis has done since taking over for the fired Turner Gill after last season, but that the opportunity to play for his father and have his family watch him play was too good to pass up.