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Rain slows planting progress

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Farmers got the rain they’d been hoping for last week, but it cut down on the time they could be planting. The U-S-D-A crop report shows there were only three days suitable for fieldwork due to the weather. Corn planting hit 13 percent complete by the end of the week — up from four percent last week. That is three days ahead of last year and the five-year average. Eight percent of the bean crop is now in the ground, which is four days ahead of last year and six days ahead of the five-year average.

Almost one-third of Iowa food bank’s stockpile is ‘rescued’ food

News

April 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A new study by the Iowa Food Bank Association finds more than 27-million pounds of food was “rescued” last year by the six Feeding America food banks that serve Iowa. Annette Hacker, spokeswoman for the Des Moines-based Food Bank of Iowa, says an astounding amount of food is wasted and chucked into landfills daily, so they work with grocery and convenience stores, manufacturers, growers and restaurants to rescue that food and get it to people who need it. “It might be a pasta manufacturer who says, ‘These pasta noodles are just an eighth of an inch shorter than we normally make to put on the shelf and sell, so we’re going to donate this pasta,'” Hacker says. “It might be a dairy that says, ‘This particular batch of cottage cheese had slightly less salt in it than meets our standards,’ but it’s still perfectly good.”

A report from the U-S-D-A says up to 40-percent of the U-S food supply is wasted every year, so Hacker says food banks rely on retail rescue to meet the growing, record need for food assistance.  “We have recently had pallet after pallet of Triscuits marked organic, but guess what? They weren’t organic,” Hacker says. “So that was a great volunteer project, to go through every Triscuit box and mark out the word ‘organic,’ still perfectly good, fresh crackers inside that box, but they were not able to be sold because they were not labeled correctly.” Hacker says food banks strive to divert perfectly good food from landfills and get it onto dinner tables for Iowans who face food insecurity.

Food rescue visit at Catholic Charities in Des Moines, Iowa on February 7, 2024.

“Food Bank of Iowa distributes more than 22-and-a-half million pounds of food every year, so our portion, a little over seven-million pounds, about a third of what we’re distributing is food that has been rescued from retailers, manufacturers, grocery stores,” Hacker says. “It’s absolutely critical. Food rescue is the reason food banking began in the first place.” Many Iowans will throw out food just because it’s past the “best by” date on the label, which Hacker says is something that’s largely misunderstood.

“There really are no such things as expiration dates, except for baby formula and baby food,” she says. “Other than that, the dates that you see on food are often either a ‘sell by,’ a ‘best by’, or a ‘use by’ date and those dates speak to optimal quality, not food safety.” Hacker says food banks adhere to very strict guidelines for food handling, temperature and storage of rescued food.

foodbankiowa.org

Tri-Center Girls track update with Coach Lexi Cochran

Sports

April 23rd, 2024 by admin

The Tri-Center girls track team has had themselves a great start to their season. They have won two out of nine of their events with only six events left on the season.

Coach Lexi Cochran says the team has been a part of few meets this year but the weather has been bit of challenge for her team this season.

The Trojans have been trying a lot of different combinations and relays to help find the right fit for her team.

Coach Cochran commented on a few of her individuals that are doing well this season.

The Trojans have had success in the jumping events this season, despite not having her full roster for the majority of the year due team sharing athletes with other trojans sports programs but she hopes to have the team together when they get to the bigger meets.

The next Tri-Center girls track meet will be (today) Tuesday April 23rd in Audubon. That track meet will get started at 4:30 p.m.

AHSTW Golf Update with Coach Aaron Allspach

Sports

April 23rd, 2024 by admin

The AHSTW Vikings Boys golf team has now hit the midway point of the season. The Vikings have won a total of two golf meets, with only three golf events left.

The AHSTW Boys currently has 3-5 overall record and 3-5 conference record in the Western Iowa Conference.

Many of the Vikings events have been dual meets this season but coach Aaron Allspach has been pleased that his team has faced tough competition this year.

The Vikings top golfers competed well at a recent meet against IKM-Manning, according to coach Allspach.

Coach Allspach commented on a few of his team’s individual leaders and the example they have set.

The Western Iowa Conference has some really good competition this season and coach Allspach said his team has already played four out of the six teams in Western Iowa Conference in the midway part of the year.

 

The next golf meet for the Vikings will be Monday April 29th in a Triangular meet against Griswold and Essex for a non-conference meet at the Griswold Country Club. That meet will start at 4:00 p.m.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024

Weather

April 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Early this morning: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 52. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Today: Mostly cloudy w/a 30% chance of showers before 7am. Gradual clearing, with a high near 68. NW @10-20 w/gusts this afternoon to near 30 mph.New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 10-20 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind around 10 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.
Wed.Night: A 20% chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Thursday: A chance of showers & thunderstorms after 4pm., otherwise Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 75. Windy.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 73. The Low was 41. We received a Trace of rain this morning. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 52, and the Low was 24. The All-Time Record High on April 23rd in Atlantic, was 88, in 1950. The Record Low was 19, in 1893. Sunrise: 6:29. Sunset: 8:09.

Drake Relays pole vault at the mall

Sports

April 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

American record holder KC Lightfoot kicked off Drake Relays week by winning the pole vault at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines. Lightfoot cleared 19-feet, four and a quarter inches. It was the second best vault of the year, second only to a world record mark set over the weekend by Sweden’s Mondo DuPlantis at a meet in China. For Lightfoot it was his first competition in two months.

Lightfoot on the unique setting of competing in a mall.

Bridget Williams won the women’s pole vault. The 2023 Pan American Games gold medalist cleared 15-feet, four and a quarter inches.

Williams feels its a good way to promote the sport.

Bill sets up work related driving permits for teens between 14 and a half and 16

News

April 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Teens as young as 14 and a half could get a permit to drive to and from work if a bill headed to the governor becomes law. It would be similar to school permits that let 14 and 15 year olds legally drive to and from school as well as to school activities. If the bill becomes law, any teen under the age of 16 with a permit for work, school or farm work who’s caught driving elsewhere would lose their driving privileges for three months — and when they turn 16 they won’t be able to get an intermediate permit for three months.

Senator Adrian Dickey, a Republican from Packwood, led development of the bill.  “Some real teeth to the permits to highly discourage youth from operating on these permits outside of their allowed designations,” Dickey says. A 14 or 15 year old with one of these “special minors restricted licenses” would only be able to drive an hour before work or a school event and get home within an hour of their work shift or the end of the school activity. Once they’re at work, they won’t be able to drive. Dickey says that means they cannot be asked to be delivery drivers.

“Mechanisms put in place to make the roads safer for the people and these youth,” Dickey says, “so they’re not driving to the mall or to a friend’s house, but they’re driving within the certain criteria that’s in the permit.” Teens under the age of 16 who have a permit for farm work will have a little more driving freedom as current rules are preserved, letting them drive to pick up parts, for example. Senator Todd Taylor, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says having young teens drive for work early in the morning or late at night isn’t a good idea.

“We are talking about 14 and a half year olds driving,” Taylor said. “That’s kind of my problem with it. Some are ready, sure. Some are not ready.” Representative Mary Madison, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says letting inexperienced drivers drive themselves to work increases the likelihood they’ll be involved in an accident. “Child driving is not the solution to our workforce shortage,” Madison said, “and it never will be.”

Representative Elinor Levin, a Democrat from Iowa City, says letting 14 and 15 year old drive to and from work as well as school will increase the number of very inexperienced drivers on the road.  “In Iowa, our teen drivers are already among the youngest and the least experienced in the U.S.,” Levin says, “with independent driving allowed at 14 and a half and no minimum hours of supervised driving practice.”

Representative Brent Siegrist, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says the proposed 25 mile radius for each trip made by young drivers going to work or school makes sense. “Having less veteran drivers drive has some risks with it, but I don’t that its enough that we shouldn’t provide this opportunity for our students to get to school activities, work activates or farm activities,” Siegrist says.

A temporary 10-member conference committee was convened to resolve an impasse between House and Senate Republicans on some sections of the bill and the committee’s agreement won final legislative approval at 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

Trojans Soccer loses in PK’s to East Sac County

Sports

April 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Atlantic Trojan soccer team lost in overtime over Penalty Kicks to East Sac County on Monday night 2-1. The match started even for both teams with neither team managing to move ball down past the defensive back lines. Then halfway through the first half Tucker Freese managed to slip through and have a shot go in to put the Raiders up 1-0. Coming out of halftime, the Trojans committed to their attack continually putting pressure on East Sac County. Their new strategy finally paid off when Kyler Edie had a strong kick to even things up at 1-1. Both overtime halves saw respectable saves by each keeper and the night would end with penalty kicks. Atlantic’s Caleb Andersen would be the first one to shoot for the Trojans and his shot went in. Yet, he would be the only Trojan to score as Atlantic would go on to miss three consecutive shots and the Raiders made their last three. The nail for the Trojans was an impressive quick shot from Sam Schmitt. The final penalty kick score would be 3-1.

Atlantic Head Coach Mark Andersen was proud of the defensive effort he saw from his squad throughout the match.

Even with a loss, Coach Andersen explained how the defeat gave his team more confidence.

East Sac County bumps up t0 3-2 with the victory and head to Carroll on Thursday. The Trojans fall to 3-6 and will stay at home to take on St. Albert in Atlantic.

Atlantic Girl’s Soccer falls at home

Sports

April 22nd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

In windy conditions, the Atlantic Trojans girls soccer team lost 3-0 at home against the East Sac County Raiders on Monday evening. The game stayed relatively completive throughout the initial kick in midfield. Then five minutes in Kenna Meyer managed to find the net and put her team up 1-0. After that shot, the Atlantic defense tightened up and headed into halftime only being down one goal. Midway through the second half, Meyer found herself in Trojan territory and connected on another shot to put her team up 2-0. Still the Raiders weren’t done there as they had one last goal come in at the fourteenth minute from Chloe Bieret to solidify their win and make the final score 3-0.

Atlantic Head Coach Jesse McCann noted that while the loss stung, the Trojans can still take away a few positives from the match.

Heading into their next match, Coach McCann wants his team to focus on communicating with one another more.

With the win East Sac County improves to 4-4 and head to Carroll on Thursday. The Trojans now sit at 1-7 and travel  to St. Albert on Tuesday afternoon.

Public Hearing Wed. evening on Atlantic CSD Certified Budget

News

April 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) [updated 4/23] – The Atlantic Community School District has scheduled a Public Hearing on the proposed 2024-25 Certified Budget. The hearing kick’s-off the School Board’s meeting at 5:30-p.m., on Wednesday, April 24th in the High School Media Center. During the hearing, the Board will accept objections/comments on the budget. Action on passing the budget and a Resolution levying a tax for FY 2024-25, for the future optional redemption of General Obligation School Bonds, will take place later on in the meeting.

During the Board’s meeting on April 10th, ACSD Director of Finance Lisa Jones, said she had some revised numbers with regard to the proposed property tax levy (rate) of $12.51/$1,000 valuation, which was down from 12.91524 announced during the March 27th meeting. Last year, it was $13.00/$1,000.

In other business, the School Board in Atlantic will act on the resignation of Jesse McCann, HS Special Education teacher (at the end of the 23-24 school year), and approving contract recommendations for:

  • Taylor Vargason, Elementary Special Education Teacher
  • Lindsey Roberts, ELL Teacher
  • Cayleigh McBee, HS Student Council Sponsor
  • Alexandra Griffen-Uren, HS English Language Arts Teacher
  • Jesse McCann, HS School Student Support Coordinator contract.

The full agenda can be seen here: PUBLIC AGENDA 04242024