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Slick roads cause numerous minor accidents, Tuesday

News

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A light dusting of snow and freezing road surfaces contributed to numerous, minor accidents Tuesday evening along Interstate 80 in Cass and Pottawattamie Counties. The accident reports starting coming in to the Cass County Communications Center in Atlantic, at around 5:50-p.m. Within minutes, two separate accidents were reported. Other accidents included a semi that tipped over near on or about exit 54 (The Elk Horn exit). Despite the various mishaps, no injuries were reported. Cass County Sheriff’s deputies transported some of the motorists whose vehicle became stuck, to “The Valley,” at exit 71, where they obtained lodging or were able to seek other assistance.

Snowfall in Atlantic amounted to two-tenths of an inch late Tuesday afternoon and evening. That melted into just One one-hundredth of an inch of liquid precipitation.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast for Wed., Feb. 8 2012

Podcasts, Weather

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the Freese-Notis 4-day forecast for the KJAN listening area, & the weather stats for Atlantic…

Play

Another gun bill pending in Iowa House, this one about gun bans

News

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Iowa cities and counties would not be allowed to ban firearms in government-owned buildings if a bill gun rights advocates are pushing for becomes law. The legislation would establish a fine of as much as five-thousand dollars for city and county officials who would let such gun restrictions stand. Representative Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, says he’s aware of at least 13 localities in Iowa that have some type of ban on firearms in public places. “A lot of people think that if we put restrictions on firearms that all of a sudden that’s going to make our city streets safer. Really? There’s criminals out there that don’t abide by the law right now,” Windschitl says. The bill cleared an initial, three-person panel Tuesday and now awaits action in a House committee.

Kate Carlucci, of the Iowa League of Cities, says communities should be able to decide whether public places should be weapons-free zones, as many businesses are making that call. “A city should have the power to exercise that same right as a private business owner,” Carlucci says. Windschitl also would like to let gun owners bring their weapons inside the statehouse.   “I’m appalled that they’re not allowed to, and that’s actually an administrative rule and I’ve looked at trying to change that for years,” Windschitl says. “But I know in the current climate there’s people that wouldn’t want to see that changed.”

After the 9/11 attacks metal detectors and security guards were stationed at the public entrances to the statehouse.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

JOHN JOSEPH WATERS, 89, of Atlantic (2-10-12)

Obituaries

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JOHN JOSEPH WATERS, 89, of Atlantic, died Tuesday, February 7th at the Heritage House in Atlantic. Services for JOHN WATERS will be held Friday, February 10th at 10:30 am in the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic.  Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

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Open visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.  A scriptural wake service will be held at 6:00 pm followed by family visitation from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Catholic Cemetery.

John Joseph Waters is survived by:

Wife: Martha

Son: Michael Waters of Omaha

Daughter: Teresa (Carey) Noland of Adair

3 Grandchildren

Walleye tagging helps DNR manage fish population

Ag/Outdoor

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A system for netting and tagging walleye is helping Iowa Department of Natural Resources biologists track and study population trends of the fish that is one of the most popular game species in North America. For 21 years the DNR has netted walleye in Northern Iowa lakes during April to tag them. It has built a database of about 24,000 walleyes. The database allows biologists to track annual abundance, survival and growth rates It also is used to support research projects aimed at improving walleye fisheries.

DNR Biologist Jonathan Meerbeek says the agency bases management decisions, like regulations or stocking rates, on several years of data to maintain adequate fishing supplies. The state’s record walleye catch was 14 pounds, eight ounces, caught in September 1986 in the Des Moines River.

NWS Forecast for Cass & area Counties, Wed. 2-8-12

Weather

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

335 AM CST WED FEB 8 2012

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 20S. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 10. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. COLDER. HIGH 15 TO 20. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. LOW ZERO TO 5 BELOW.

SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. HIGH AROUND 15. LOW NEAR ZERO.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 20S.

Iowa News Headlines, Wed., Jan. 8th, 2012

News

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The lawyer for seven court reporters who claim their layoffs were illegal says she’s considering an appeal of a federal judge’s dismissal of the workers’ lawsuit. Judge Mark Bennett upheld the Iowa Judicial Branch’s decision to lay off dozens of court reporters as a cost-saving move in 2009.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Three people face murder charges in the shooting of a Marshalltown man who later died. Marshalltown police say 41-year-old Benjamin Benda was shot in the head at an apartment Monday night. He died yesterday at an Iowa City hospital.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man who drove his SUV into a house last year, killing a 73-year-old woman, will be sentenced February 20th on a vehicular homicide while under the influence charge. A Polk County jury found Loren Bishop guilty yesterday in the death of Mary Miller.

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say a 75-year-old man in Wisconsin fought off two Iowa teens who tried to steal his car. Sheriff’s officials in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, say one of the teens is from Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and the other from New London, Iowa. Both are 19. They’re accused of pulling into the man’s driveway and saying they were out of gas and later trying to attack him and take his car.

Riverside bond issue fails again/Glenwood & Sidney RPS approved

News

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Patrons of the Oakland-Riverside Community School District apparently were not convinced the district needed to replace three separate, aging buildings, with one brand new building south of Oakland, that would house all of the districts students. For the second time in less than a year, a bond issue referendum that would have helped to pay for the $21.6-million project, has failed.

Unofficial results from the Pottawattamie County Auditor’s Office indicate the $13.3 million dollar bond issue received roughly 54 percent of the vote–925 “yes” votes to 758 “no” votes. A 60-percent super majority was necessary in order for the measure to pass. A similar, previous referendum failed last April, when it received only 53 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, patrons of the Glenwood and Sidney Community School District have overwhelmingly approved the renewal of a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS). Unofficial results showed the referendum garnered 406 “Yes” votes to 54 “No” votes, in Glenwood, and 91 “Yes” and zero “No” votes, in Sidney. A simple majority was needed for the measure to pass in both districts.

Illness Sidelines Drake’s Simons.

Sports

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Drake will be without second lead scorer Ben Simons tonight (Wednesday), when the Bulldogs visit Illinois State. The junior forward missed Saturday’s loss to Missouri State after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. Drake coach Mark Phelps expects the Bulldogs to play better without Simons now that they have had a few days to adjust. His absence is a tough blow to the Bulldogs who stand 6-7 in the Valley and 13-11 overall. Drake beat Illinois State in the first matchup in Des Moines. The Redbirds are 7-6 in the league race.

Recovery officials call on Missouri River flood victims to check to missed aid

News

February 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Officials in the Project Recovery Iowa office are trying to ensure that those who were hit by the Missouri River flooding have been able to get all the state and federal recovery aid they’re due. Spokesperson Karen Hyatt says you don’t have to do it all yourself. She says there are staff in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona and Pottawattamie County to help you out. “Staff can make sure that they have applied for everything that they are eligible for, they can offer resources, referrals, guidance, stress management and emotional support if that’s needed,” Hyatt says. The P-R-I staff have been on the ground since the flooding began, but Hyatt says they still haven’t reached everyone that might need some help.

“We are finding people who didn’t apply for federal funding because they didn’t think they met the requirements,” Hyatt says. “The Missouri River flooding was a little different this time, because a lot of people evacuated, but they didn’t have flooding to their homes. There are resources available to people who fit into that category, and that’s not typical, so we want to be sure that people explore all opportunities while the window is still open.” Anyone who lives or lived in the counties hit by the flooding can check with the Project Recovery Iowa office by calling the Iowa Concerns Hotline. That line is open 24-hours-a-day.She says just call 800-447-1985 and asked to be connected with Project Recovery Iowa staff. You can also go on-line to; www.projectrecoveryiowa.com, or search for the P-R-I page on Facebook. Hyatt says the Missouri River flooding was unlike any other recent disasters because of how long the water remained before the recovery efforts started.

Hyatt says, “It went on for months, and people are still recovering from that, financially, emotionally, physically. And so we certainly want people to realize that it’s normal at this point, even though it’s been months since the flooding started in the summer, there are still reasons that people may need to connect with services.” Hyatt says if you work in Iowa but live in Nebraska, they can direct you to the appropriate help in Nebraska if you call the Iowa Concerns Hotline.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)