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Tips so cutting the grass doesn’t become hazardous to Iowans’ health

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – It’s a chore many Iowans tackle every week without a second thought, but mowing the lawn can be hazardous, especially for a teenager who’s just taken over the job. Kelly Hilsabeck, the trauma injury prevention coordinator at Gundersen Health System, says there are 85-thousand lawn mower injuries every year nationwide. “They can range from very minor, like a small burn or a cut, to very major like an amputation, broken bones,” Hilsabeck says. “A lot of that can result from blade contact, so we really want to take some safety precautions to avoid that. First of all, we should know how to operate our lawn mower before using it.”

You also need to dress for the job, including long pants, eye and hearing protection, and good shoes — no flip-flops. One of the biggest risks with lawn mowing is accidentally coming into contact with the spinning blade. “The big thing with blade contact is if we need to clear out any debris, any grass under the mower, make sure it’s off, but go ahead and take that extra step and disconnect that spark plug,” Hilsabeck says. “That’s just going to prevent that blade from spinning quickly around in a rare event that once you do clear that debris, that it would do that and cause a serious injury.”

The mower blade is also a hazard, in that it could launch — at a high rate of speed — anything you run over. “We really want to be aware of projectile hazards when going to mow,” Hilsabeck says. “Look over your lawn before mowing. Remove any rocks, twigs, toys that might be outside, because in the event that you do run it over, a lawnmower can spit it out at over 100 miles per hour and cause an injury to yourself or anybody close by.” Add gas to the mower before starting it up, and she suggests if you need to refill the tank during the job, let it cool off first so there’s no risk of spilling fuel on any hot parts.

Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Tue., Aug, 6, 2024

Weather

August 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy & breezy. High near 75. North winds 15-25 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. E/SE winds 5-10 mph in the morning.
Tom. Night: A partly cloudy w/a 20% chance of showers & thunderstorms late. Low around 61.
Thursday: Mo. Cldy w/a 20% chance of showers & thunderstorms before 1pm. High near 78.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 94. Our Low this morning, 63. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 74 and the Low was 64. The Record High here on Aug. 6th, was 105 in 1930. The Record Low was 46 in 1974 & 1997. Sunrise today: 6:19-a.m.; Sunset: 8:32-p.m.

Iowa’s DNC delegates have voted for Harris electronically

News

August 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The 49 Iowans who are delegates to the Democratic National Convention have voted electronically for Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee. C-J Petersen is one of those delegates and the designated “whip” to round up votes in the group. “We were all elected as Biden delegates, but we knew that we had to make a decision and the moment we unanimously voted to unite behind Vice President Harris felt historic to me,” Petersen says. “because not only were we doing something we were not obligated to do — we could vote for anyone that we wanted to — but it was unprecedented in modern history.”

Petersen made his comments last (Monday) night during an online gathering of Iowa Democrats.  “Giving up power willingly after a lifetime of service is a stunning act of selflessness and patriotism and I want to say, ‘Thank you,’ one more time to Joe Biden for passing the torch.” Sue Dvorsky of Coralville – a former chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party — says Iowa Democrats still have muscle memory from when Iowa voted twice for the Obama-Biden ticket and can spur turn out for Harris and the person she picks as a running mate.

“We have a chance here to remember who it is that we are,” Dvorsky said. “…We don’t need permission to lead and we are behind her and whoever it is 100%.”

The online event lasted about 90 minutes and raised about 25-thounsand dollars for Iowa Democrats running in local races.

John Deere top 2023 recipient of Iowa’s R and D tax credit

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans for Tax Relief president Chris Hagenow is optimistic Iowa lawmakers will be open to making changes next year in a tax break for big corporations. It’s called the “research activities” tax credit and it’s refundable. That means the state is required to cut the corporation a check for any amount above what the company owes in taxes. Hagenow says the latest data from the state of Iowa shows John Deere received over 19 million dollars in tax credits for research activities last year.

“The conditions are ripe for a new conversation about these credits,” Hagenow says, “and not even necessarily because of this one particular example with regards to John Deere.” John Deere was the state’s largest recipient of Iowa’s research activities tax credit in 2023. Hagenow says Iowans may find that worrisome given recent layoffs at Deere facilities in Iowa, as well as the company’s plan to build a plant in Mexico.

“We generally support a flatter, fairer tax code for everyone without carve outs for anyone,” Hagenow says. “With regard to John Deere, then, being the biggest recipient of those credits, it really makes it much more difficult to take.” In tax year 2023, about 350 corporations filed for the state research activities tax credit — with claims totaling 77 million dollars. Hagenow, a former Republican lawmaker, says he hears from small business owners who cannot qualify for this kind of a lucrative subsidy.

“I think Iowans instinctively know a lot of these incentives are there and they’re not always fairly applied,” Hagenow says.

The 1984 Iowa legislature created the research activities credit. Businesses may receive a credit worth up to six-and-a-half percent of the company’s annual budget for research. Backers of the credit say it keeps companies in Iowa that are doing high value research — with highly paid staff. According to a state report, the salaries paid to employees who do research accounted for over 56 percent of the total amount of the tax credits awarded last year.

1 teen dead, another injured in northern Iowa crash Monday afternoon

News

August 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Clear Lake, Iowa) – A crash this (Monday) afternoon north of Clear Lake resulted in the death of one teenager and injuries to another. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened at around 2:20-p.m. on Hickory Avenue, north of 275th Street, when a 2008 Subaru Outback driven by 15-year-old Jannali Bear-Dont-Walk, of Clear Lake, went out of control as the car was traveling northbound on Hickory Street.

The vehicle cross the road into the path of a southbound 2024 GMC 3500 pickup. After the vehicles collided, the driver of the Subaru and a passenger, 16-year-old Aali Martinez, of Clear Lake, were transported to Mercy Hospital in Mason City, where Jannali Bear-Dont-Walk died from injuries suffered in the crash. Both teens were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Clear Lake Police, Clear Lake Fire/EMS, Mason City Fire, and Mercy Air Med.

(UPDATE) UI physics professor killed, 4 injured in eastern Iowa accident

News

August 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – In an update to our previous report, authorities say a  77-year-old University of Iowa physics professor was killed and four others were injured following a four-vehicle crash in eastern Iowa early Sunday evening.

The accident happened on Highway 1, near Solon. According to the Iowa State Patrol’s accident report, the driver of a Jeep Cherokee failed to stop at a stop sign, crashed through a camper and hit an S-U-V on the driver’s side. Dr. Usha Mallik, an emeritus professor of physics at the University of Iowa, was driving that third vehicle and died at the scene.

Dr. Usha Mallik (U of I photo)

A fourth vehicle was hit by debris from the camper. The driver of the first vehicle was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals. A one year old child, a woman from Cedar Rapids and a man from Paris, France, were taken by ambulance to the same hospital in Iowa City.

The professor who died in the accident has been involved in research at CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. In 2020, Dr. Mallik received a University of Iowa award for being a mentor to students and faculty as well as her service to the global “high energy physics” community.

Atlantic City Council to act on: street closings for AtlanticFest; ROW resolution; 3rd reading of Rezoning Ordinance

News

August 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic is set to meet at 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, August 7th, at City Hall. On their agenda is action on approving an Order to close certain streets in Atlantic on Saturday, Aug. 10th, for AtlanticFest. If approved, the following streets would be closed from 5-a.m. until 6-p.m.:

  • Chestnut Street (both lanes), from 6th to 7th St.
  • Chestnut (both lanes), from 2nd to 6th.
  • 6th Street (Both lanes) from Walnut to Chestnut.
  • 6th Street (Both lanes) from Chestnut to Poplar.
  • 5th Street from Chestnut to 1/2 block east of the alley before the Post Office.
  • 5th Street from Chestnut to Poplar.
  • 4th Street from Chestnut to 1/2 block east, right before the alley.
  • 4th Street from Chestnut to Poplar.
  • 3rd Street from Walnut to Poplar.
  • Walnut Street will remain open.

The Council will act on passing a Resolution “Setting the date for a Public Hearing on a proposed Ordinance vacating the 66-foot wide street Right-Of-Way (ROW),” beginning west of the ROW line of Laurel Street extended, then west to the east property line of the Iowa Interstate Railroad (a parcel approx. .7″ of an acre). The request (Which was previously heard during the Council’s meeting on May 1st), comes from property owner Rob Stamp, who wishes to have an additional access to his property to the north, by means of cutting the curb on the vacated area, and pouring a driveway, and maintain it as another entrance.

Atlantic City Hall building

The City’s Engineer recommends the Council approves the request, CADCO’s Executive Director reports there is no economic development purpose for the City to maintain ownership of the ROW. AMU’s Exective Director says there is no water or electric infrastructure below the parcel in question, and Atlantic’s Public Works Director said the ROW has no current or future value to the City. The Planning and Zoning Commission will issue their recommendation to the Council during the meeting Wednesday evening.

The Atlantic City Council will also hold the 3rd and final reading of an Ordinance that rezones the Camblin Hills Subdivision from R-2 (Low Density/Single Family) residential to R-4 (Multifamily) residential. The first reading was passed during the Council’s meeting on July 10th.

In other business, the Council will act on an Order to approve a bid from Tim Beadle, for 411 Birch Street, in the amount of $5,350. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee has endorsed his bid. The final order of business is action on a proposal to move the Sept. 18th City Council meeting to Sept. 16th, due to the Annual Iowa League of Cities Conference.

Enneking is a United Soccer Coaches Player to Watch

Sports

August 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa graduate student Macy Enneking was named a United Soccer Coaches Player to Watch on Tuesday, the organization announced on Monday. Enneking is the first Hawkeye player to earn this preseason distinction.

“For a goalkeeper, there is no place to hide,” said Assistant Coach J.P Valadares. “Macy has proven to be a winner. With hard work, she has consistently developed every area of her game. The recognition of being included in this list is a great acknowledgement of all she has done, is doing and will do, both at Iowa and at the next level.”

The list is compiled by the Division I All-America Committee and released by position. The list includes returning All-Americans and first or second-team all-region players from the previous season. Enneking became one of four players in Iowa history to be recognized first-team All-North Region in 2023.

Enneking set a program individual record for goalkeeper shutouts last season (12.5) and helped lead the Hawkeyes to one of the top statistical defenses in program history. Iowa combined for 13 shutouts and a 0.76 goals-against average, which were both school records.

Last season, Enneking was named a Big Ten Player to Watch in the preseason before ending the season with all-region honors and an All-Big Ten Tournament Team nod. As a freshman in 2020, Enneking was Big Ten Tournament Defensive MVP and a unanimous All-Big Ten Freshman selection. The Hilliard, Ohio, native has started in goal for each of Iowa’s two Big Ten Tournament Championships in program history, as well as both of the program’s NCAA Tournament victories.

Enneking and the Hawkeyes open the regular season against Oregon State on Aug. 15 at the Rumble in the Rockies in Missoula, Montana. Iowa opens the home slate on Aug. 29 against Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m. (CT).

Fannon Adds Seulgi Lee to 2024 Roster

Sports

August 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – ISU head soccer coach Matt Fannon has announced one final addition to the 2024 soccer team in Seulgi Lee.

Lee, a 5-8 senior midfielder, arrives in Ames after a pair of stops across her four-year college career. She began collegiate play at Barton Community College before spending a pair of years with Michigan Tech.

At Barton CC, Lee became the school’s first two-time NJCAA All-America recipient and was named as her region’s MVP in 2021. At Michigan Tech, Lee played in just one game her junior year due to injury before coming back strong as a senior. Following a medical redshirt, Lee was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Second Team in 2023 and also earned First Team All-Conference honors as she helped Michigan Tech make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.

“It’s unusual to bring someone in so late in the process but we’ve been keeping an eye out for last minute midfielders to provide cover in that area specifically,” says coach Fannon. “When Lee became available, I was able to speak with her and very quickly realized she is exactly the person and player that will be able to seamlessly slip into our team with minimal fuss. We expect big things from her, as she is a talented player.”

A native of Seoul, South Korea, Lee owns six career goals from her time at Michigan Tech.

Lee joins a four-member transfer class, and will integrate in with fellow transfers Morgan Furmaniak, Adelaide Wolfe, Yira Yoggerst and Ella Zimmerman for the 2024 season.

The Cyclones are set to kick off the 2024 season this Wednesday, August 7, with an exhibition contest against Minnesota at the Cyclone Sports Complex at 6 p.m. The season officially begins next week on August 15 against Western Illinois at 6 p.m. As a reminder, admission to the Cyclone Sports Complex is free.

Ernst calls on Biden Administration to maintain commitment to Israel

News

August 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the U-S must maintain its ironclad commitment to Israel as it faces a possible attack from Iran.  “Because Israel took out a terrorist leader in Tehran — right in Iran, then the Iranians feel like they need to do something to exact retribution equal to what the Israelis did,” Ernst says. A Hamas leader attending an event in Iran was killed last week. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility. Six days ago, an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killed a senior commander of Hezbollah, a terrorist group backed by Iran.

Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, is a member of the U-S Senate Armed Services Committee. She says if Iran or Hezbollah send missiles toward Israel, the U-S must be prepared to support counter measures. “As we saw in April with the United States and a number of our Arab friends in conjunction with Israel, we were able to defend from those rocket attacks,” Ernst says, “but what we don’t want to see is a wider scale war in the Middle East.”

Ernst and nearly all the other Republicans in the U-S Senate, including Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, signed a letter Friday that calls on the Biden Administration to ensure all congressionally-approved ammunition and weapons systems are delivered to Israel. The G-O-P senators accused Biden of imposing a partial arms embargo on Israel.

A State Department spokesman says the U-S has delayed a shipment of 35-hundred bombs out of concern the bombs would be used in densely populated urban areas, but nothing else has been stopped or paused.