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Iowa’s Highway 2 to reopen Monday

News

October 21st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A main highway that connects Nebraska and Iowa is scheduled to reopen next week after being closed by the flooding on the Missouri River.  Iowa Highway 2 between Nebraska City and Fremont County, Iowa, is scheduled to open at 4 p.m. Monday. The entrance and exit ramps connecting the highway to Interstate 29 also will reopen. Iowa transportation officials say traffic on Iowa Highway 2 will be limited to two-way traffic on the eastbound lanes. The westbound lanes will remain closed.

Company announces 131 jobs for Underwood

News

October 21st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) — A snack company has announced plans to build a distribution center in the western Iowa community of Underwood. Link Snacks plans creating 131 jobs with the center. Link Snacks is a meat snack manufacturer that sells products in more than 40 countries. The company is getting financial assistance and tax incentives to acquire a building in Underwood to establish its second distribution center in Iowa. Link Snacks is investing more than $9 million in the project.

Link Snacks, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is based in Minong, Wisconsin.

State AARP official urges Iowans to speak out against cuts in benefits

News

October 21st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Anthony Carroll State Director for Advocacy at AARP in IA

The Associate Director for the AARP in Iowa was in Council Bluffs earlier this week, and will be in Sioux City next week. Anthony Carroll is urging residents to call Iowa’s members of Congress, in hopes they will influence the “Supercommittee” members in Washington, D-C, who are considering proposals for cuts in Medicare and Social Security benefits. He told KJAN News the “Supercommittee” has to come up with 1.2-trillion dollars in budget cuts. Carroll says everything is on the table, including Social Security and Medicare benefits.

He says it’s important to make your voice heard, because once the final proposal is presented, it can‘t be changed. He says the proposal must be completed by November 23rd, so the time to get involved in the process, is now. Carroll says since the “Supercommittee” meetings are taking place behind closed doors, it’s difficult to know what’s being discussed, but there are some parts of the proposal which are in place that would affect those persons over 50. One pertains to Social Security.

For instance, he says the organization is concerned about a proposal to “chain” the Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA, which is being adjusted upward in January, for the first time in three-years. That’s because the formula used over the past two-years for figuring the amount was based on data showing a lack of inflation, and therefore no need to increase the COLA.

He says on the contrary, the Cost of Living has gone up, for senior citizens and all Americans. Carroll says if the COLA is “Chained downward,” those adjustments would happen less often, and would be smaller than those Social Security recipients currently receive. Another proposal would raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65, to 67. Carroll says that’s something the AARP opposes.

He says two-thirds of persons ages 65-to 66 would pay more out-of-pocket, to the tune of about $2,200 more per year. It would also impact benefices of those over the age of 67, because 65-to 66-year olds tend to be healthier, and have less expenses. When those persons are removed from the Medicare pool, an estimated Medicare Part-B and Part-D premiums would increase for all remaining beneficiaries by about 3-percent.

Carroll says the group understands that adjustments to Medicare and Social Security need to be made, if those programs are to remain solvent and workable, but they need their own “stand-alone” proposal the public would have time to react to. He says seniors in Iowa should call 1-888-722-8514 to contact their representatives in Congress to voice their concerns, or sign a petition on-line at www.aarp.org/protectseniors.

Survey suggests slow growth in Midwest, Plains

News

October 21st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new monthly survey of bankers suggests the economy in rural areas of 10 Midwest and Plains states continues to grow, but at “an anemic pace.” The overall Rural Mainstreet index for the region improved to 52.9 in October from last month’s 52.2, suggesting weak economic growth. Anytime that index, which ranges from 0 to 100, is above 50, it suggests the economy will grow. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says this month’s results were helped by companies linked to agriculture that continue to experience healthy growth. Bankers in rural parts of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are surveyed.

NADINE MARIE NIELSEN, 85, of Avoca (svcs 10-25-11)

Obituaries

October 21st, 2011 by Jim Field

NADINE MARIE NIELSEN, 85, of Avoca died Friday, Oct. 21st, at the Avoca Nursing & Rehab Center.  Funeral Services for NADINE NIELSEN will be held 10-a.m. Tue., Oct. 25th, at  the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

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Visitation at the funeral home is from 9-a.m. to 9-pm Mon., Oct. 24th, with the family greeting friends from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca

Nadine Marie Nielsen is survived by:

4 Sons:  Gregg & Charles, both of Omaha, NE.; Gary, of Ralston, NE., & Phillip, of Houston, TX

1 Daughter:  Kriselle Lindgren, of Omaha, NE.

6 Grandchildren & 4 Great-Grandchildren

Fire reported at Menard’s Distribution Center in Shelby

News

October 21st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Fire Chief in Shelby says three area fire departments were called to the Menard’s Distribution center outside of Shelby yesterday (Thursday) morning. Brian Anderson says the Shelby Fire Department was the first to respond at around 11-a.m., Thursday. Anderson says a spark in a dust collector located in one of the buildings was to blame for the incident. Shelby Fire requested and received mutual aid from the Minden and Avoca Fire Departments to fight the blaze, which was kept under control beforehand, thanks to the Menard’s maintenance team, which Anderson said does a good job keeping the equipment clean. That, in-turn, helped keep the fire contained to one specific area. 

The damage was caused mostly by smoldering embers and smoke. Firefighters were on the scene for about three hours. No injuries were reported, and there was no dollar amount of the damage, available.

(courtesy: Joel McCall at KNOD in Harlan)

No. 17 Texas A&M to Face Struggling Cyclones

Sports

October 21st, 2011 by Jim Field

     AMES, Iowa (AP) – Texas A&M’s offense appears to be hitting its stride, scoring 100 points in its last two games.  That’s bad news for struggling Iowa State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12), which hosts the Aggies on Saturday.  The Cyclones have given up 37, 49 and 52 points in successive league losses to Texas, Baylor and Missouri, which have wiped out a
promising 3-0 start.  Iowa State will need to shut down Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill to pull off the upset. But Tannehill was at his best in last week’s 55-28 win over Baylor, throwing for 415 yards and a career-high six touchdown passes – four to Ryan Swope.  Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1) still believes it is the mix for the Big 12 title before it shoves off to the SEC in 2012-13.

Iowa Wary of Hapless Hoosiers

Sports

October 21st, 2011 by Jim Field

     IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Even bad Indiana teams usually find ways to give Iowa problems.  Indiana visits Kinnick Stadium on Saturday with a 1-6 record.  The Hoosiers haven’t beaten an FBS opponent yet, and last week they were blown out by Wisconsin 59-7.  Still, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is wary of Indiana. The Hawkeyes (4-2, 1-1 Big Ten) survived a year ago when Damarlo Belcher dropped a TD pass with 28 seconds left, and they needed a 28-point fourth quarter to turn back the Hoosiers in 2009.  The Hawkeyes bounced back from a tough loss at Penn State by beating Northwestern last week in Iowa City.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21st

Trading Post

October 21st, 2011 by Jim Field

FOR SALE: METAL LOFT BED WITH DESK.  FULL SIZE.  VERY HEAVY, STURDY, GOOD QUALITY.  250.00  243-7711  WILL INCLUDE BEDDING (CAMO) IF DESIRED!

FOR SALE: 1950’s style 42″ diameter chrome table with 4 matching chrome chairs, like new condition.  Atwood 22 foot V-Haul boat cover, new in box.  Also 64 tall, 32 wide curved glass light oak curio cabinet with mirror and glass shelves.  $160 on each of the items.  712-792-9447.

Trojan Preview 10-21-2011

Podcasts, Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win?

October 21st, 2011 by admin

Jim Field speaks with Atlantic Head Football Coach Tim Duff before the Trojans face off against Red Oak.

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