712 Digital Group - top

Nelson: Cap farm payments to mega-farms

Ag/Outdoor

March 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) says he and a bipartisan group of senators will seek to cap federal farm payments to large farming operations. Nelson said Wednesday that the group plans to introduce a measure to limit payments to so-called mega-farms. Nelson says that with farm income booming and the national deficit soaring, “the time has come to rein in these payments.” Nelson, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is sponsoring the proposal with Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin, of Iowa; Tim Johnson, of South Dakota; Sherrod Brown, of Ohio; and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York; and Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, and Mike Enzi, of Wyoming, Nelson says he hopes the measure will be included in the federal farm bill being crafted by Congress.

IOLA M. NELSON, 87, of Exira (Svcs. 3-26-12)

Obituaries

March 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOLA M. NELSON, 87, of Exira, died Mon., March 19th, at the Exira Care Center. Funeral services for IOLA NELSON will be held 10:30-a.m. Mon., March 26th, at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family visitation is from 2-4pm Sunday, March 25th.

Burial will be in the Exira Cemetery.

Iola Nelson is survived by:

Her husband – Willis Nelson, of Exira.

Her sons – Larry (Claudia) Peppers, of Creston; Mark Peppers & friend Sharon Scott, of Glenwood; & Kris Nelson, of Exira.

Her brother – Donovan (Jean) Christensen, of Eau Claire, WI.

9 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, her in-laws, other relatives and friends.

KARLA BRUNER, 69, of Atlantic (Svcs. 3-26-12)

Obituaries

March 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

KARLA BRUNER, 69, of Atlantic, died Wed., March 21st, at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, NE. Funeral services for KARLA BRUNER will be held 1:30-p.m. Mon., March 26th, at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation is open at the funeral home from: 8am-5:30-pm Friday (3/23); 8am-Noon Saturday; and 1-4pm Sunday, with the family meeting friends from 5-7pm Sunday.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Karla Bruner is survived by:

Her sister – Barbara Bruner, of Atlantic.

Early morning forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA

Weather

March 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

359 AM CDT THU MAR 22 2012 National Weather Service/Des Moines

EARLY THIS MORNING...SHOWERS. SOUTHEAST WIND AROUND 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SHOWERS 80 PERCENT.

TODAY…CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN PARTLY SUNNY IN THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE MID 60S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY BEFORE MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. COOLER. PATCHY FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE MID 40S. EAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. HIGH IN THE MID 60S. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 40S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 70S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE UPPER 40S. HIGH IN THE MID 70S.

SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 50S.

 

NCAA Womens Regional Basketball Ticket Sales Picking Up in Des Moines

Sports

March 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

With the pairings set ticket sales have picked up for the NCAA womens basketball regional which begins in Des Moines on Saturday. Nationally top ranked Baylor plays Georgia Tech and Tennessee will play Kansas in Wells Fargo Arena. Chris Connolly, general manager of the Iowa Events Center says sales have been strong despite not having a local team in the field. Top ranked Baylor enters the “sweet 16” with a record of 36-0. Connolly says the city of Des Moines has developed a strong relationship with the NCAA and that should help attract future events. Saturday’s winners meet Monday night for the right to advance to the Final Four.

Iowa early News Headlines – Thu., March 22nd 2012

News

March 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Cities using cameras that automatically ticket motorists for running red lights or speeding would be banned in Iowa under a bill advancing through the House. The House Appropriations Committee passed the bill 14 to 11 making it available for debate on the floor this year. Its fate in the Senate is unsure but Governor Terry Branstad has said he’d consider signing it if it reaches him.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plan by a nation’s governors group would keep F-16 fighter jets at the Des Moines-based Air National Guard unit. The Des Moines Register reports the plan has been submitted to the U.S. Air Force by President Barack Obama’s Council of Governors, which is co-chaired by Governor Terry Branstad.

GRANVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A 56-year-old man has been injured in a crash while chasing a suspected gasoline thief near Granville in northwest Iowa. Peter Heidesch of Remsen was injured Saturday when his car rammed a utility pole about a quarter-mile north of Granville. Heidesch was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Des Moines apartment complex employee has been accused of stealing more than $31,000 from rent payments. The Des Moines Register reports that 34-year-old Bobbi Jo Ritchie is charged with theft and has bonded out of jail. She’s accused of pilfering cash from rent payments at the Bell Avenue Apartments.

Atlantic Airport Manager says business is good & Hangars are in demand

News

March 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Business is good at the Atlantic Municipal Airport. Airport General Manager Barry Reid said at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, that fuel sales over the past year amounted to 49,600 gallons, which is 17,300 gallons more than 2010, but not as much as in 2009, during which 63,000 gallons were sold. The City realized a profit from the sale of aviation fuel over the past year, amounting to $13,000. He says that’s because crop dusters were able to get out more often and spray the fields.

Reid said also that all of the hangars at the airport are full, and there is a waiting list of at aircraft owners and operators hoping to shelter their planes. He says 28 planes are based out of the Atlantic Airport. Of those 28 planes, 18 are owned by 15 separate businesses. If the City decides to erect additional hangars, he says  it could apply for a grant from the State, which would pay 80-percent of the cost. The City would have to pick up the remaining 20-percent. And, pending a Federal grant approval, it’s hoped work can begin soon on the taxiway grading.

Reid said this will be a busy year out at the airport, for public events. There is the annual “Flight Breakfast” this summer, the “Fly Iowa” Aviation Promotion Group will be in Atlantic September 15th – details will be available as the event draws near on the group’s website www.flyiowa.org – but, Reid says there will be a 90-minute airshow, sky divers and stunt pilots.  And, just like last year, there will be a circus held on the airport grounds. Additional details on those events are forthcoming.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council Wednesday: Approved amendments to the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget; Passed a resolution authorizing bids for improvements to the Street Maintenance Building; Approved the purchase of an asphalt paving machine from Puckett Equipment, Incorporated for $44,365; and, approved resolutions establishing fund balance policies that protect the Volunteer Fire Department’s funds, and amended a section of the City’s Personnel Policy pertaining to its health insurance plan.

Atlantic’s Yard Waste Site Hours changed – Mayor says time to spruce up your property

News

March 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The recent warm weather and official beginning of Spring have property owners in Atlantic chomping at the bit to spruce up their land by removing tree branches and other yard debris. That point was driven home during Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, by Mayor Dave Jones. Jones says property owners need to get back in the habit of trimming their trees and mowing their lawns.

The City is making it easier to get rid of lawn clippings and and other such debris, by opening the Yard Waste Site earlier this year. During the Winter, the site was only open on Saturdays, but the days and hours were officially changed on Monday, which means property owners or tenants have more hours to take advantage of the Yard Waste disposal site.

Effective immediately, the days and hours are as follows:
Tuesday-12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Thursday-12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Saturday-9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday-1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

The City of Atlantic reminds citizens that only trees, branches, grass, garden waste, and leaves are accepted at the Yard Waste site.

Cardinals Beat the Mets Wednesday 2-1

Sports

March 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Johan Santana cleared another hurdle in his comeback from shoulder surgery. The New York Mets left-hander pitched six innings in his longest outing of spring training in a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. Santana allowed a run on six hits in six innings with six strikeouts. Santana worked six innings for the first time since Aug. 28, 2010 against the Astros. The lone run came on an RBI single by Lance Berkman in the sixth. Mets Manager Terry Collins is optimistic about Santana return to major league action. He’s lined up to start the April 5 opener at home against the Braves. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook was even stingier, working six scoreless innings while allowing three hits. Westbrook has allowed one earned run in 15 innings. Westbrook is the first St. Louis pitcher to go six innings. The Mets are a major-league worst 4-12 this spring, while the Cardinals are 10-4.

Senate approves stillborn birth certificate bill lobbied for by Clarinda woman

News

March 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has unanimously passed a bill that allows parents of stillborn babies to request a birth certificate. The measure has passed the House and now goes to Gov. Terry Branstad for his signature. Iowa is the 33rd state to pass a bill, says Mandy Ford, a 34-year-old mother from Clarinda who lobbied lawmakers to pass the measure. Ford’s daughter Melody was stillborn last August. She says the state acknowledges a stillborn baby’s death but not the birth. She says for many grieving families, it will make a big difference. Since 1939 Iowa has issued only a certificate of fetal death. Under the new law, parents requesting it will receive a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. There are no date limits, so parents with earlier stillborn children may apply.