Iowa school pleads with voters for new school

March 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CARSON, Iowa (AP) — The Riverside School District in Carson, is making a desperate plea to local voters for a new high school. School officials tell Omaha, Neb., television station KETV that the current high school is falling apart, but two bond measures to fund a new building have failed. In February, 55 percent of Riverside patrons said yes to a new school, but the initiative needed 60 percent to pass. Some patrons have said it would be cheaper to renovate the current building, but district Superintendent Jim Sutton says putting more money into such an outdated building would be a waste. The bond that failed in February would have raised $13 million. District officials say building a new school would cost $21 million.

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Cardinals’ Carpenter to miss start with stiff neck

Sports

March 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter will miss his next scheduled spring training start because of stiffness in his neck. Carpenter left Friday’s practice session with a sore neck. He was supposed to pitch Monday, but has been scratched. The Cardinals didn’t provide any additional update on Carpenter’s condition Saturday. Carpenter turns 37 next month. He was 11-9 last year, then went 4-0 in the postseason, including a win over Texas in Game 7 of the World Series.

Posted in Sports |

MARY L. (Chester) NEBOLA, 94, of Cumberland (No services planned)

Obituaries

March 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

MARY L. (Chester) NEBOLA, 94, of Cumberland, died Sat., March 10th, at the Colonial Manor in Anita. Per her wishes, cremation has taken place. No services are planned for MARY NEBOLA. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita assisted the family with arrangements.

Mary Nebola is survived by her daughter: Mary Ann Coffin, of Atlantic.

Posted in Obituaries |

Iowa Health Dept. says RSV cases on the rise

News

March 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Health says cases of respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, are on the rise in central Iowa. Department media relations specialist Amy Varcoe tells Des Moines television station KCCI that her infant has even had the virus. RSV doesn’t cause serious problems for older children and adults, but it can cause life-threatening respiratory infections in some infants. For children under a year, it’s the most common cause of pneumonia and an inflammation of the small airways.

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Special Weather Statement for West Central/Central IA

News, Weather

March 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

(issued 9:54-a.m. Sat., March 10 2012)

The National Weather Service in Des Moines says there is a very high fire danger today across parts of west central/central and south central Iowa. In our area, this includes: Crawford, Carroll, Audubon, Guthrie, Cass, Adair, Adams, Madison, Dallas, Union, Taylor and Ringgold Counties.

Officials say the combination of strong gusty winds, warm temperatures and low humidity, along with already dry vegetation, will result in a very high fire danger today. That means fires can quickly get out of control and spread rapidly.

Avoid burning outdoors if at all possible, today. If you must burn, notify your local fire department, manage fires very closely and do not leave fires unattended. When finished with your intended burn, make sure the fire is completely out, to avoid the possibility of smoldering embers reigniting a blaze.

As a reminder, the Grassland Fire Danger Index for Monona, Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont and Page Counties, is in the EXTREME category today.

Posted in News, Weather |

Meeting to be held Monday in South Sioux City, NE, on MO River Flooding

News

March 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Western Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King and other officials will hold a Town Hall meeting Monday afternoon in South Sioux City, NE, to discuss last year’s flooding on the Missouri River, and legislation King has proposed which affects the Army Corps of Engineers. The meeting, which is open to the public, takes place 2-p.m. Monday, in the Cardinal Room at the Marina Inn Conference Center (385 E. 4th St.).

Joining King for the town hall meeting, is South Sioux City, Nebraska Mayor William McLarty. A bill proposed by King would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to increase the amount of storage space in the Missouri River’s Reservoir System that’s dedicated to flood control. If passed and enacted into law, King says the bill would provide protection against future episodes of significant downstream flooding.

The flooding in 2011 caused significant damage throughout the Missouri River basin. The Congressman from Kiron says his legislation is intended to prevent a repeat in the future of the widespread and costly destruction experienced last year.

Posted in News |

Shenandoah teen arrested on drug charge

News

March 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Police in Shenandoah say a Shenandoah teen was arrested Friday on a drug charge, following a reported disturbance in the 900 block of West Summit Street. Officials say 18-year-old Trent Brammer faces a Possession of drug paraphernalia charge. Brammer was cited into court, posted bond, and released.

Posted in News |