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Expert advises Iowans to consider flood insurance

News, Weather

August 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowa home owners are seeing their insurance premiums rise and some companies are refusing to insure some properties altogether. Sonya Sellmeyer, a consumer advocacy officer in the Iowa Insurance Division, says there have been a series of rate increases since the derecho that hit Iowa in August of 2020.

“It just seems like ever since then we’ve just continued to get hit by storms. It costs a lot of money to repair that damage, for many different reasons — inflation, material costs have gone up,” Sellmeyer says. “The reinsurance that the companies themselves have has gone up for them.”

Reinsurance is basically insurance for insurance companies. Sellmeyer says Iowans facing a significant hike in homeowners insurance could consider a higher deductible — if it’s an amount they can afford. Sellmeyer is encouraging Iowans to have a discussion with their licensed insurance agent, to ensure their policy would cover the cost of replacing their home and its contents.

“You don’t want to be paying something, espeically as it becomes more expensive, that’s not going to give you what you really need to replace your home in case something would happen,” Sellmeyer says. “…And understand your riders that you have, too, on your policy or that you may need…Sump pump and sewer riders are very important.”

Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U-S. There’s been a federal flood insurance program since the 1960s for property in a flood plain and a federal rule change in 2019 encouraged private companies to sell flood insurance policies. Sellmeyer says you can buy private flood insurance in Iowa even if your property is not in a flood plain. “I spent a weekend in Spencer, shortly after the flooding happened, with those survivors there and I strongly suggest all Iowans need to sit down with their insurance agent and see if this is something that they need,” Sellmeyer says.

According to the National Association of Realtors, home insurance premiums in the U-S are expected to rise about six percent by the end of the year.

Posted in News, Weather |

No Iowa school will start the school year with armed staff

News

August 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) -UPDATED – The first semester of this school year will be well underway before the rules are in effect for a law designed to help Iowa districts get insurance if school staff are armed.

A Department of Public Safety spokesman told Iowa Public Radio it’ll be two months before the review process for those rules is completed.

Two years ago school boards in Cherokee and Spirit Lake voted to have armed staff members, but dropped the policy after their insurance carrier said it would not renew their coverage. The new law spells out the requirements for a professional permit to carry a weapon at school and school boards may vote to allow teachers and staff who get a permit to have a gun on school grounds. The law is written so school employees would be shielded from liability if they use reasonable force, but it’s still not clear if the insurance company that covers most school districts will issue policies to districts if teachers and staff who are armed. An EMC Insurance spokesperson says the company is reviewing the law and analyzing its options.

Next Tuesday is the deadline for public comments on the proposed state rules to implement the law.

Posted in News |

2024 Tournament of Champions – Round 1 Tee Times, Friday, August 9, 2024

Sports

August 9th, 2024 by Jim Field

Atlantic Country Club

8:00 am

  • James Reynolds (Griswold)
  • Austin Yoakum (Colfax)
  • Blake Perrin (Grimes)

8:12 am

  • Ryan Clark (Ankeny)
  • Carter Trewet (Ankeny)
  • Jeff Gude (Atlantic)
  • Zach Christianson (Atlantic)

8:24 am

  • Jordan Schuler (Atlantic)
  • Lucas Mosier (Atlantic)
  • Nathan Ross (Atlantic)
  • Alex Bireline (Adair)

8:36 am

  • Arnie Leistad (Atlantic)
  • Kirk Nelson (Atlantic)
  • Jim Simmelink (Adair)
  • Barry McGinn (Council Bluffs)

8:48 am

  • Jared Koch (Waukee)
  • Nathan Koch (Denison)
  • Easton Emery (Denison)
  • Nolan Jackson (Mt Vernon)

9:00 am

  • Bill Matzdorff (Ankeny)
  • Marcus Lunning (Ankeny)
  • Chris Nelson (Atlantic)
  • Shane Burmeister (Exira)

9:12 am

  • Tanner Walker
  • Jackson Tennis
  • Seth Hensley (Massena)
  • McKinley Leonard (Lamoni)

9:24 am

  • Daryl Armstrong (Anita)
  • Kyle Rock (Avoca)
  • Bret Taylor (Booneville)
  • Bob Franke (Ankeny)

9:36 am

  • Spencer McCosh (Atlantic)
  • Cooper McCosh (Granite Falls, MN)
  • Wes Dahlhauser (West Des Moines)
  • Troy Pedersen (Treynor)

9:48 am

  • Ron Calhoun (Anita)
  • Rich Ward (Anita)
  • Perry Paulsen (Exira)

10:00 am

  • Jeff Morenz (Atlantic)
  • Rick Thompson (Fairfield)
  • John Willmore

10:12 am

  • Tom Leiferman (Ankeny)
  • Mitch Leiferman (Ankeny)
  • Seth Christensen (Ankeny)
  • Travis Olsen (Anita)

10:24 am

  • Drew Thompson (Lenox)
  • Eric Brown (Mt Ayr)
  • Joe Schafer
  • Ryan Muldoon (Atlantic)

10:36 am

  • Darby Mclaren (Atlantic)
  • Eric Boehlert (Ankeny)
  • Barry Smith (Knoxville)
  • Evan Smith (Knoxville)

10:48 am

  • Matt Haley (Indianola)
  • Michael West (Creston)
  • Trevor Schweers (Corning)
  • Jake Oathoudt (Corning)

11:00 am

  • Rob Langfelt (Walnut)
  • Cooper Langfelt
  • Matt Gross (Atlantic)
  • Andrew Martin (Atlantic)

11:12 am

  • Richard Pendegraft (Elkhorn, NE)
  • Ron Pendegraft (Creston)
  • Roger Fisher
  • Steven Montgomery (Des Moines)

11:24 am

  • Kim Peters (Adair)
  • Mick Lee
  • Merlin Bell (Leon)
  • Paul Huddleson (Atlantic)

11:36 am

  • Alex Snyder (West Des Moines)
  • Matt Wynne (Norwalk)
  • Tanner Dunn (Norwalk)
  • Chase Jahde (Anita)

11:48 am

  • Kamron Brownlee (Griswold)
  • Hogan Hook (Griswold)
  • Steven Martin (Shenandoah)
  • Kywin Tibben (Stanton)

12:00 pm

  • Mitch Burg (Atlantic)
  • Phoenix Shadden (Atlantic)
  • Brody O’Brien (Atlantic)
  • Derek Jacobsen (Omaha, NE)

12:12 pm

  • Chad Buresh (Clive)
  • Troy Finestead (Granger)
  • Jeff Heckroth (Grimes)
  • Steve Valline (Grimes)

12:36 pm

  • Evan Schuler (Altoona)
  • Elijah Block (Jefferson)
  • Ross Martens (Jefferson)
  • Giani Chiodo (Des Moines)

12:48 pm

  • Jaxson Armstrong (West Des Moines)
  • Colby Burg (Creston)
  • Brennan Sefrit (New Market)
  • Cyle Renaud (Atlantic)

1:00 pm

  • Darron Baker (Eagle Grove)
  • Del Miller (Eagle Grove)
  • Tim Dooley (Eagle Grove)
  • Rick Carter

1:12 pm

  • Matthew Gearheart (Waukee)
  • Avery Fuhs (Webster City)
  • Alec Fuhs (Webster City)
  • Jess Marlow

1:24 pm

  • Jake Olsen (Atlantic)
  • Ben Renaud (West Des Moines)
  • Hank Weresh
  • Cole Burmeister (Exira)

Posted in Sports |

RAMONA “MONIE” NEWBURY, 81, of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 8/19/24)

Obituaries

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

RAMONA “MONIE” NEWBURY, 81, of Greenfield, died August 6, 2024. Celebration of Life services for RAMONA NEWBURY will be held 1-p.m. Monday, August 19th, at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is on Sunday, Aug. 18th, from Noon until 5-p.m., with the family greeting friends from 3-until 5-p.m.

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow the burial at the Greenfield United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be directed to the family. Memorial contributions will be distributed at a later date.

RAMONA “MONIE” NEWBURY is survived by:

Her husband – Larry Newbury, of Greenfield.

Her daughter – Donna Ray (Paul Owen), of West Des Moines.

Her sons – Terry (Christina) Newbury, of Des Moines, and Paul (Katie) Newbury, of Granger.

Her sister – Shirley (Tom) Fuhs, of Webster City.

11 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

JOHN SULLIVAN, 78, of Bridgewater (Celebration of Life 8/13/24 * Not Aug. 19th)

Obituaries

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JOHN SULLIVAN, 78, of Bridgewater, died Thursday, August 8, 2024.  A Celebration of Life service for JOHN SULLIVAN will beginning at 11-a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13th (2024), at the Trinity Christian Church, in Bridgewater. Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the arrangements.

The family will greet friends at the church one hour prior to the services on Aug, 13th.

A luncheon will follow the Celebration of Life.

Burial will be in the Witt Cemetery, south of Bridgewater following the luncheon. 

Memorials may be made to the John Sullivan Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

JOHN SULLIVAN is survived by:

His wife – Merline Sullivan.

His son –  Todd (Lisa) Sullivan, of Broken Arrow, OK.

His daughter – Jodee (Dave) Nelson, of Colorado Springs, CO.

His sister – Janet (Doug) McDermott, of Jefferson.

4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Makers of hemp-infused beverages have adjusted their products, dropping lawsuit

News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa businesses that make two beverages infused with a chemical derived from hemp are dropping their lawsuit against the state. A new state law that took effect in July lowered the amount of T-H-C from hemp that is legally allowed in a single serving. That made the companies’ products illegal.

The businesses sued, arguing Iowa’s law did not follow standards set by a 2018 federal law that legalized the commercial sale of hemp and hemp-based products. A federal judge refused to block Iowa’s law from going into effect, so breweries in Des Moines and Solon re-calibrated their “Climbing Kites” sparkling water and a North Liberty brewery that makes “Day Dreamer T-H-C seltzer changed that recipe to comply with Iowa’s law.

Posted in News |

BECHT NAMED TO DAVEY O’BRIEN AWARD WATCH LIST

Sports

August 8th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Rocco Becht has been named to the Davey O’Brien Award preseason watch list, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Thursday. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top college quarterback.

The 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and a Second-Team Freshman All-American by the Athletic, Becht turned heads in his first season under center. He set ISU freshman records for completions (231), passing yards (3,120) and passing touchdowns (23). Last season, Becht had the third-most passing touchdowns and fourth-most passing yards among Big 12 quarterbacks.

The Wesley Chapel, Fla. native started all 13 games and accounted for 26 total touchdowns (23 passing, three rushing), the second-most in a single season in school history. Becht owns two of the five games in school history with 300+ passing yards, 3+ touchdowns and zero interceptions in a game.

Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.

The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa to Face WAZZU in Quad Cities Hoops Showdown

Sports

August 8th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team will play Washington State in the Quad Cities Hoops Showdown on Nov. 15 at Vibrant Arena in Moline, Illinois. It will be the Hawkeyes’ first game in the Quad Cities in 26 years.

Tickets for the event will go on sale in September. Game time and television information will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans interested in presale access for tickets and other event information can visit www.vibrantarena.com. Intersport, a marketing and events agency based in Chicago, will manage the event.

“We are looking forward to playing in the Quad Cities against a strong Washington State team,” said Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. “We’re excited to be able to bring our program back to the venue for the first time in 26 years. I am thrilled for Brock and Owen to be able to play a college basketball game in their hometown.”

Sophomores Brock Harding and Owen Freeman prepped at Moline High School, leading the Maroons to a state title in 2023. Harding was the Illinois Mr. Basketball, while Freeman was an Illinois all-state selection.

The game will be Iowa’s first in Moline since 1998 – a neutral site victory over Western Illinois. It will be the program’s fourth game in the Quad Cities; Iowa faced DePaul in the National Invitation Tournament in 1995. Iowa is 3-0 all-time in Moline.

It will be the program’s second meeting against Washington State. The Hawkeyes won the previous matchup, winning 74-66 in Pullman, Washington, on Dec. 30, 1963.

Posted in Sports |

No Parking Update During AtlanticFest

News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – AtlanticFest, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, will be held this Saturday, August 10th rain or shine and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is asking for the public’s cooperation with street closures. Chestnut Street, along with several side streets and city parking lots, will be closed for parking beginning at 5 AM this Saturday, Aug. 10th, for AtlanticFest activities. The Chamber asks residents to have their vehicles removed from the following areas or the vehicle will be towed at the owners’ expense.

Below is a list of street closures approved by the City of Atlantic.

Chestnut Street (both lanes) from 2nd Street to 7th Street until 6:00 PM
6th Street (both lanes) from Walnut to Chestnut until 6:00 PM
6th Street (both lanes) from Chestnut to Poplar until 6:00 PM
5th Street from Chestnut to ½ block east of the alley before the Post Office until 6:00 PM
5th Street from Chestnut to Poplar Street until 6:00 PM
4th Street from Chestnut to ½ block east right before the alley until 6:00 PM
4th Street from Chestnut to Poplar Street until 6:00 PM
3rd Street from Walnut to Poplar until 6:00 PM
Walnut and Poplar will remain open

“We are thankful for cooperation and partnership amongst residents and businesses that occupy downtown. We know it’s a bit of an inconvenience, but it helps make this one-day event run a lot smoother when we all work together to welcome a few thousands guests downtown,” Kelsey Beschorner, Program Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce stated.

AtlanticFest will include free entertainment, car show, motorcycle show, road race, bags tournament, food vendors, crafters and family games. To register for any activity, visit www.atlanticiowa.com, email chamber@atlanticiowa.com, or call the Chamber office at 712-243-3017.

The Chamber thanks their partners: First Whitney Bank & Trust, A.M. Cohron & Son, Gregg Young- Atlantic, Atlantic Municipal Utilities, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling, Armour Insurance, Brocker, Karns & Karns, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Camblin Plumbing & Heating, Downtowner, McAtee Tire, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Roland Funeral Home, Rolling Hills Bank, Rush, CPA & Associates, Salute Gymnastics, and Wiota Steakhouse

Posted in News |

Twins and more in State Fair Competition

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – There are “multiple” sightings at the Iowa State Fair today (Thursday). Hundreds of twins and triplets of all ages have entered in the annual competition. Twenty-six-year Macey Mitchell and her twin sister Morgan are from Winterset — and Macey has three-year-old twins named Magnolia and Kimber. Macey spoke for her quad — all clothed in pale purple. “We come every year and we’re always matching and we’ve come since we were kids every year,” she said. “This is just something we do every summer and we love it.”

According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, women who are fraternal twins have a one in 60 chance of having twins. The chance is even greater for an identical twin. “I don’t know the odds. We were told it skips a generation, but that may or may not be true,” Macey Mitchell said, with a laugher. Morgan says she notices her nieces have the same kind of connection she and her twin did when they were young. “We have tried to figure out all the tricks they pull on us, since we were doing it first,” she says, “but they surprise us.”

Macey Mitchell and her twin sister Morgan, with Macey’s twins: Magnolia and Kimber.

This year’s blue ribbon twin babies at the State Fair are Edith and Ida, the children of Barbara Rodrigues and her husband Andrew. The twins are wearing matching outfits and head scarves today (Thursday). “It’s a design of sunflowers and sunshine,” Barbara said. “They are sunshine for us.”

There are two types of winners in the State Fair competition for multiples — for those who do not look much alike AND for those who do. Edith and Ida are identical twins. “I have always wanted a State Fair blue ribbon and I knew I would not get one,” Barbara says, “so I’m living vicariously through my children.” The twins will turn one in a few weeks.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |