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ISU Coach Grateful for Big Tackle

Sports

August 23rd, 2011 by Jim Field

     AMES, Iowa (AP) – In the Nigerian homeland of Kelechi Osemele’s family, his first name translates as “Thank God.”  Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads certainly can relate. He says he is glad to have 6-foot-6, 347-pound offensive tackle playing for the Cyclones.  Osemele became part of Gene Chizik’s first recruiting class at Iowa State, signing in February 2007. He didn’t start until eighth game in 2008, and hasn’t missed a start since. When the Cyclones open the season against Northern Iowa on Sept. 3, Osemele will
start his 31st consecutive game.

Former Chiefs RB Larry Johnson Signs with Dolphins

Sports

August 23rd, 2011 by Jim Field

     DAVIE, Fla. (AP) – Veteran running back Larry Johnson has signed with the Miami Dolphins after sitting out most of last season.  Johnson gained 2 yards on five carries in two games before he was released by the Washington Redskins last September.  The 31-year-old has rushed for 6,221 yards and 55 scores in his career, but has played in just 16 games in the past three seasons.  In 2009 Johnson was released by the Kansas City Chiefs in November and finished the year with Cincinnati. His time in Kansas City was marred by off-field problems, including two suspensions in his final 12 months with the team.  Johnson’s best years were in 2005-06 with the Chiefs, when he had consecutive 1,750-yard seasons.  The Dolphins waived running back Kory Sheets.

CCMH BHU stays open for now

News

August 23rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A conference room at the Cass County Memorial Hospital was packed this (Tuesday) morning, with onlookers and persons voicing their concerns over the possible closure of the Behavioral Health Unit at CCMH. A special meeting of the CCMH Board of Trustees had been called to discuss the future of the unit, which reportedly cost the hospital nearly one-half million dollars last year, due to un-reimbursed Medicare and Medicaid expenditures. After nearly two-hours, no decision was made on closing the facility. Instead, the board will look into other options, including downsizing costs associated with remodeling of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to accommodate the BHU.

CCMH Administrator Pat Markham said architects who are working on the current remodeling project, also drew-up a draft for remodeling the ICU to make room for a downsized BHU unit. She says it wouldn’t be an ideal situation, but it would be functional. It would have four beds instead of the current eight. Rough estimates put the cost at $240- to $250,000.

That doesn’t include mechanical and electrical costs. Markham says they didn’t look at having a separate building on the CCMH campus for a Behavioral Health Unit when they came up with the original remodeling plans, because they anticipated losses associated with the unit. The prospect of downsizing the BHU instead of eliminating it entirely, was a bit easier for the board to accept, but they reached a stalemate, when a vote was taken on a motion to reduce the number of beds from eight-to four.

Board Members John Molgaard, Steve Sisler and Leanne Pellet voted against the motion, while members Ned Brown, Phyllis Stakey and Lois Casey voted in favor. The board was short one member due to a vacancy. Pellet said she voted against the motion, because she doesn’t know where the funding would come from to keep the unit functioning.

After the meeting, Cass County Supervisor Chuck Rieken said the reason the CCMH Board of Trustees reached a stalemate, is because they want the hard numbers crunched on how much a remodeling of the ICU would cost, and the possible revenue alternatives that are available, before any decision is made. He says the Board is on the right track, but both the CCMH Board, and the Board of Supervisors need to know the hard numbers before any consideration can be given to funding or not funding the BHU in the future.

One option that was raised to fund the BHU, involved an increase in the hospital’s tax asking, which is currently at 46-percent. Rieken said the county can’t pursue that, and neither can the CCMH Trustees, without sound legal advice.

CCMH Trustee Ned Brown said during the meeting, that if they should eventually increase the tax asking, it would have nothing to do with the current construction project. Instead, it would only be to keep the BHU “alive.”

Backyard and Beyond 8-23-11

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

August 23rd, 2011 by admin

Lavon speaks with Kate Olsen, the program director of Cass Co. Extension about the master gardeners program.

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Three from NE injured in Shelby County crash

News

August 23rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Four people, two adults and two teens were injured, one of them critically, during an two-vehicle accident Monday afternoon, in Shelby County. Sheriff’s officials say the driver of one of the vehicles, 50-year old Scott Sholtz, and his passengers 16-year old Olivia Sholtz and 17-year old Rhett Sholtz, all from Hampton, NE, were hurt in the crash. All three were transported to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. Olivia Sholtz was later transferred by helicopter to Creighton Hospital in Omaha. The driver of the other vehicle, identified as 70-year old Carol Schimerowski, of Earling, was also hurt and treated for her injuries at the hospital in Harlan.

Authorities say Scott Sholtz’ 2008 Saturn was traveling south on Highway 59 at around 3:30-p.m., when a northbound 2007 Ford Taurus driven by Schimerowski, attempted to turn left onto Highway 37. The resulting collision totaled both vehicles.

The accident remains under investigation.

9AM Newscast 08-23-2011

News, Podcasts

August 23rd, 2011 by admin

w/ Jim Field

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Posted County Prices for August 23rd

Ag/Outdoor

August 23rd, 2011 by admin

Cass County: Corn $7.09, Beans $13.25

Adair County: Corn $7.06, Beans $13.28

Adams County: Corn $7.06, Beans $13.24

Audubon County: Corn $7.08, Beans $13.27

East Pottawattamie County: Corn $7.12, Beans $13.25

Guthrie County: Corn $7.11, Beans $13.29

Montgomery County: Corn $7.11, Beans $13.27

Shelby County: Corn $7.12, Beans $13.25

Oats $2.91 (always the same in all counties)

Across Oceans Across Time 08-23-2011

Across Oceans Across Time, Podcasts

August 23rd, 2011 by admin

From the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn.

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8AM Sportscast 08-23-2011

Podcasts, Sports

August 23rd, 2011 by admin

w/ Jim Field

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Heartbeat Today 08-23-2011

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

August 23rd, 2011 by admin

Jim speaks with Mike Moreno, the director of Operation Barnabas, who is having an event at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic on Wednesday.

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