United Group Insurance

IWD leader reflects on end of year

News

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Workforce Development Director, Beth Townsend says one of the accomplishments of her agency this year has been to help people who lose their job get a new one faster. “We started the year in January with the new re-employment case management system. And that was a process where we started contacting individuals who filed for unemployment, the very first week that they that they filed. So we’ve helped almost 30-thousand Iowans,” she says. Towsend says they can’t point to specific numbers yet, but believe it has helped the state recover from the post-pandemic workforce crisis

“It’s too early to tell you know what impact that’s had on on the number of weeks that people stay on unemployment,” Townsend says. “But we know anecdotally we’ve heard over and over again about how this has really helped people kind of expand their horizons in terms of their work search.” Unemployment did inch up slightly in the last four months — but Townsend says there’s an indicator that people are finding new jobs.

“What we’ve seen in 2022, is people are not staying on unemployment as long as they previously had — which which is reflected in the low amount of unemployment benefits that we’ve paid, even though the unemployment rate itself or I mean, the unemployment benefit itself goes up every year to keep up with inflation. The amount, the total amount is less so fewer people were drying it for shorter periods of time,” according to Townsend. She says the cut in the number of weeks people can draw unemployment benefits that started in July does not figure into the equation yet. Townsend says it looks like it looks by the end the year the state will pay about 260 million dollars in benefits, when that is about 400 million dollars.

“That’s a really good indication that we’re helping people get back to work faster, that they’re taking advantage of all the opportunities that had been available during this time where we’ve had, you know, high number of job openings and fewer people available to fill those jobs,” Townsend says. She says they will continue working in 2023 to get those who haven’t returned to work after dropping out of the job market during the pandemic back into jobs.

Snowplow crews prep for challenge of approaching winter storm

News, Weather

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Strong winds, heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures are expected to start hitting Iowa later today (Wednesday) and it’s coming as the Iowa Department of Transportation is still clearing last week’s snow. Craig Bargfrede, the D-O-T’s winter operations administrator, says the forecast wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour will make it even harder to clear the roads. “With the amount of snow that they’re talking and the wind that they’re talking, it’s very possible that we could see some road closures,” Bargfrede says, “especially up in the northern part of the state and northeastern part of the state.” He says they’ll work with state patrol staff on whether to make road closures.

(File photo) I 80 W Mile Marker 70. IA DOT Snowplow View 5:14-pm 2/1/15

He advises holiday travelers to watch the weather forecast closely. Bargfrede says given the cold, they’ve lost one important snow-fighting tool. “A lot of times ahead of a storm, we’ll go out and we’ll put down brine, so we have material out on the pavement or ahead of the storm so that when the storm starts, it can get activated and start doing its job,” he says. “With the temperatures the way they are, that’s not going to be a viable solution for us.” Bargfrede says strong winds will also create visibility issues.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

Food donations decline at food banks

News

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The head of the Food Bank of Iowa says donations from grocery stores and other retailers have decreased and, in the first nine months of the year, her organization’s budget for BUYING food soared 650 percent. Michelle Book is president and C-E-O of the Food Bank of Iowa. “As we go out to procure food, we’re seeing increased prices, a lack of what we need in the marketplace, but then also we have to contract for people to get it to us,” Book says, “so freight costs have also risen extraordinarily.”

The Food Bank of Iowa is BUYING more food because the major food retailers and food processors that typically donate food are donating less because their inventory is down. “People have gotten more comfortable with shelves being cleaned off at the end of the day, there’s just less food to rescue to get back into our food pantry network.” A retired Arizona businessman who volunteered at a soup kitchen came up with the food bank concept after a homeless woman told him she found edible food in the garbage behind a grocery store, but had nowhere to store it. Book says the concept is called food rescue.

“Keeping food out of landfills, working with food retailers to take that food that’s not sellable, but edible and putting it back into the system and so we so that via our smaller, frontline partners — our food pantries,” Book says. The Food Bank of Iowa supplies food pantries in 55 Iowa counties. Book made her comments during a recent appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

Iowa men host Eastern Illinois this afternoon

Sports

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Kris Murray will not play this afternoon when the Iowa men close out non-conference action against Eastern Illinois. With Murray out senior center and reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Filip Rebraca has averaged better than 20 points and nine rebounds.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. Under second year coach Marty Simmons Eastern Illinois is 3-9.

Tip off has been moved to 2:30.

No. 13 Iowa women host Dartmouth Wednesday afternoon

Sports

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder wants her team to win and look good doing it this (Wednesday) afternoon. The 13th ranked Hawkeyes take a 9-3 record into a game against Dartmouth.

The Hawkeyes will be heavily favored against a Dartmouth team that is 2-10 on the season.

After today, the Hawkeyes will have a four-day break before returning to practice.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Wed., Dec. 21, 2022

Weather

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Today: Cloudy w/light snow this afternoon possibly mixed w/freezing rain or sleet this evening. High 25. E/SE @ 10-20. Wind chill values as low as -10. **Winter Storm Warning in effect at Noon**
Tonight: Mixed precipitation changing to snow/blowing snow. Low -10. N/NW @ 20-40. Wind chill values as low as -30.
Tomorrow: Snow ending in the morning (2-4” total). High -5. NW @ 20-50. Wind chill values as low as -35.
Friday: P/Cldy. Blowing snow. High -2. .
Saturday: P/Cldy. High 5.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 12. Our Low this morning, 0. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 43 and the Low was 11. The Record High on this date was 58 in 1941. The Record Low was -22 in 1989.

Davis County Atty. issues a statement w/regard to an officer-involved shooting

News

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Bloomfield, Iowa) – Davis County Attorney Rick L. Lynch, Tuesday, issued a statement concerning an officer involved shooting that occurred near Blakesburg on December 7, 2022.  35-year-old Charles Hall led officers on a high-speed chase through several counties on Dec. 7. Officers finally stopped Hall near Blakesburg. They say he got out of his car with a weapon and was shot by Iowa State Patrol Trooper Jeremy Cole. Hall was released from a Des Moines hospital, Tuesday, and charged with Attempted Murder.

Attorney Lynch says his investigation determined that “The use of force by Trooper Cole in shooting Charles Hall, was “Objectively reasonable under the circumstances in order to protect his own life, and therefore, legally justified under Iowa law. Consequently, no charges against Trooper Cole are warranted by the evidence, and none will be filed.”

Stuart man seriously injured in a Guthrie County accident Tuesday evening

News

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Stuart, Iowa) – A collision in Stuart Tuesday evening resulted in one person injured and the roadway blocked for at least a couple of hours.

The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1992 Dodge pickup driven by 74-year-old Jimmie Lee Easley, of Earlham, was traveling east on Front Street in Stuart at around 7:30-p.m. A 2004 Chrysler Sebring was disabled on the south shoulder of Front Street, facing east, just west of Adair Street, and a 2019 Chevy Equinox was parked on the south shoulder of Front Street, facing west, assisting with the disabled vehicle.

The Patrol says 44-year-old Shane Martin Wells, of Stuart, was between the Sebring and Equinox, when Easley’s pickup struck the rear of the Chrysler, when then hit the front of the SUV. Wells suffered serious injuries and was transported by LifeFlight helicopter to Mercy Hospital, in Des Moines.

Stuart Police assisted at the scene.

2 men arrested in Fremont County on charges connected w/a vehicle theft

News

December 21st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that on Dec. 8th, the Tabor Police Department received a report of a stolen vehicle from a residence in Tabor. Deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and Mills County Sheriff’s Office made contact with the suspect, 40-year-old Jeffrey Dale Hankins, of Malvern, at a residence in Mills County. Authorities allege Hankins, who was on probation, fled from deputies on foot, resulting in two Fremont County deputies suffering from minor injuries. A warrant was issued in that case.

On Dec. 14th, Hankins allegedly made a false report to 911, resulting in additional warrants being issued.

Ronnie Hankins

Jeffrey Dale Hankins

At around 9:10-p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office made a traffic stop near the intersection of Elm Street and Main Street in Tabor. Jeffrey Hankins s fled from the vehicle and after a short foot pursuit was apprehended by deputies.

The driver of the vehicle, 66-year-old Ronnie Hankins, of Tabor, was arrested for: Accessory After the Fact, an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Possession of Methamphetamine, a Serious Misdemeanor. His cash or surety bond was set at $3,000.

Jeffrey Dale Hankins was being held in the Fremont County Jail on charges that include: Interference with Official Acts, a Simple Misdemeanor; False Reporting, a Serious Misdemeanor; Harassment 3rd Degree, a Simple Misdemeanor; Theft 2nd Degree, a Class D Felony, and Violation of Probation. Additional charges are pending. Bond was set at $11,300.

Treynor sweeps past Riverside on Tuesday

Sports

December 20th, 2022 by admin

The Treynor basketball teams blitzed their way to a Western Iowa Conference doubleheader sweep on Tuesday night over Riverside in Oakland.

In the girls game Treynor blew the game open in the second half with a 23-2 advantage in the third quarter and won 73-21. The Cardinals held the Bulldogs to just 5 points in the entire second half to steam their way to the win.

Clara Tiegland led the Cardinals with 18 points and Alexa Schwartz added 10. The Class 2A 4th Ranked Cardinals stayed unblemished heading into the holiday break at 10-0.

Riverside got 8 points from Sophia Taylor and they fall to 4-4 on the season.

In the boys contest the Cardinals built a lead from the outset with a 19-6 edge in the first quarter and a 37-19 lead by half. The Cards continued to pull away in the second half, taking advantage of 18 Riverside turnovers on the night.

Jace Tams led Treynor with 23 points, Ethan Konz added 14 and Ethan Dickerson tossed in 12. The Cardinals improved to 6-2 on the season.

Riverside was led by a hot 3-point shooting night from Aiden Bell. He connected on 7 threes in the game for his 21 points. The offense was limited outside of that with Grady Jeppesen adding 9 points. The Dawgs fall to 2-5.