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211 to Assist Vaccine Appointment Scheduling for More Iowans

News

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, IA) Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said Tuesday, “Effective immediately, Iowans with barriers to scheduling a vaccine appointment or who do not have internet access who are 65 and older, or 64 and younger with an underlying health condition as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  here, can call 211 or (800) 244-7431 and a vaccine navigator will assist them with scheduling a vaccine appointment. Translation services are available.

Vaccine navigators are available 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by dialing 211 or (800) 244-7431 and selecting the vaccine prompt number 9.”

The IDPH continues to urge all Iowans to continue practicing the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

  • Wear a mask or face covering
  • Practice social distancing with those outside your household
  • Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
  • Stay home if you feel sick
  • Get tested if you are exposed to, or have symptoms of COVID-19
  • Get a COVID-19 vaccine when you are eligible
  • If you have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, review CDC guidelines here.

New law impacts boat operators on federal waterways beginning April 1

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR News) – A new federal law goes into effect on April 1, that requires the operator of a boat with an installed Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS) to use the ECOS link while operating on all federally navigable waterways. In Iowa, that means the four flood control reservoirs: Coralville, Rathbun, Red Rock and Saylorville; and the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

The link is usually a coiled bungee cord lanyard clipped onto the operator’s person, personal floatation device or clothing and the other end attached to the cut-off switch, but there are plenty of variations on the market, including electronic wireless devices.

When an operator is wearing a link while underway, the engine will cut-off if the operator is separated from the operating area, an occurrence that can happen if the operator is ejected from the vessel or falls within the vessel.  The shutdown of the engine is essential for safety reasons. If the operator is ejected from the vessel, the shutdown may prevent the operator from impacting the vessel’s spinning propeller, and may aid the operator in safely returning to the drifting vessel.

The intent of these new laws is to improve safety for all recreational boaters by reducing the potential for propeller injuries to recreational vessel operators, other users of the nation’s waterways, and marine law enforcement officers responsible for responding to runaway boats. Boats with motors less than 3 horsepower are excluded from the law.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authority to enforce federal law on the federal reservoirs, the U.S. Coast Guard patrol has the authority to enforce federal law on the border rivers.

Depleted sports, music and other student activity budgets may get a boost

News, Sports

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The budgets for Iowa high school sports, music and other activities that have taken a hit during the pandemic may get a boost. Many schools had dramatically fewer ticket sales for games, reduced student fees and cancelled fundraisers. A bill ready for debate in the Iowa Senate would let school boards shift money from a district’s general education budget to cover deficits in extracurricular programs or co-curricular activities like speech competitions. The options would be available for last year — when there were no springtime music concerts or track and golf meets — and for the current school year as well as the next.

Senator Tim Goodwin of Burlington, a former teacher and coach, explains the details.

The proposal has already won unanimous approval in the Iowa House. Representative Ras Smith of Waterloo says school activities outside of the classroom are an important part of a student’s experience.

Some of Iowa’s largest schools lost tens of thousands of dollars in ticket sales as attendance at football and basketball games was often limited to parents and siblings of the players. Governor Reynolds set statewide restrictions on fans in the stands in mid-November as Covid cases surged in Iowa, but lifted those limits in December.

A far cry from RAGBRAI, Iowa’s Ride will be a weekend event this year

News, Sports

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The statewide bicycle ride that was initially designed to compete with RAGBRAI is finding it can’t compete with COVID-19. Iowa’s Ride is being modified and this year will be Iowa’s Ride Weekender. Organizers had hoped to go from Iowa’s eastern border to the west, the opposite direction of RAGBRAI, but several overnight stops have pulled out due to the pandemic.

A post on the Iowa’s Ride Facebook page says it’ll now just be July 16th through the 18th in Eldora. There will be a designated 40 to 50-mile bike route on Saturday and several riding options on Friday and Sunday. RAGBRAI will start the following weekend and runs July 25th through the 31st, pedaling 454 miles from Le Mars to Clinton.

Atlantic Police report, 3/30/21

News

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports four arrests. On Sunday, 33-year-old Receiver Berdon, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication, and, 28-year-old Renson Berdon, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

On Saturday, 19-year old Rachael Stanley, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. And, on March 25th, 18-year old Dante Watkins, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for two counts of Probation Violation.

All four subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail, where Watkins and the Berdon’s remained, as of Tuesday.

Hawkins savoring another championship at Northwest Missouri State

Sports

March 30th, 2021 by admin

Atlantic native Ryan Hawkins is soaking up the joy of a third NCAA Division II National Championship with the Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team. The Bearcats finished off an incredible season this past Saturday with an emphatic 80-54 win over West Texas A&M in the title game. The Bearcats stormed through three wins during four days at the Elite Eight in Evansville, Indiana. Hawkins said he enjoys the quick turnaround format of the Elite Eight setup.

Hawkins has always had a strong support system behind him and he loves seeing all the familiar faces that come to his games. That aspect was especially tough this year with COVID restrictions in place for the team.

Hawkins is very grateful they got the chance to get the season in and finish out unlike last year but he did miss the atmosphere that larger fan capacity brings to the game.

Ryan was named Most Outstanding Player at the Elite Eight. He scored a game-high 31 points and pulled down 18 rebounds in the championship game. He has now accumulated 2,098 points and 948 rebounds for his career. He intends to return next season and take advantage of his added year of eligibility. We’ll have more on that next week on KJAN.

Adams County Sheriff’s report (3/30): Corning woman arrested for assault; MN man arrested on assault warrant

News

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested on assault charges, last week. On or about March 26th at around 3:50-p.m., Adams County Deputies were dispatched to 404 Loomis Avenue in Corning, for a civil complaint. Upon further investigation, Kimberly Bloom, of Corning, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury. She was transported to the Adams County Jail.

And, at around 9-p.m. Saturday, Deputies in Adams County conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle. The driver, 40-year old Joshua Prine, of Minnesota, was discovered to have had a warrant for his arrest out Polk County, for Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness. After the warrant was confirmed, Prine was transported to the Adams County Jail and held for Polk County authorities.

Garbage truck hit-and-run in Cedar Rapids

News

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The driver of a garbage truck in eastern Iowa was arrested Monday on suspicion of drunken driving, after the truck struck a car and failed to stop. According to KCRG, the truck’s driver, 61-year-old Robert Truax, of Marion, was arrested after deputies pulled him over when he left the scene of the accident. Truax was charged with a second-offense operating while intoxicated, and following too closely.

The incident took place on Highway 30 in Cedar Rapids when the car that was hit, slowed down for a funeral procession.

Red Flag Warning until 8-p.m. (3/30) for parts of western Iowa

Weather

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie Counties
1005 AM CDT Tue Mar 30 2021

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY

* Winds…Northwest 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidity…As low as 15 percent.

* Impacts…Any fires that ignite may spread rapidly and exhibit extreme fire behavior.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

For the rest of the area: Brisk Winds and Elevated Fire Danger Again Today. Although not as windy as Monday, northwest winds will still gust from 25 to 40 mph at times today. It will be cooler as well, but these winds will still combine with drying grasses and low humidities, as low as 25 to 35 percent by afternoon, to produce another day of elevated fire danger.

These winds may blow around unsecured objects and affect high profile vehicles. Also, conditions will be favorable for fires to develop and spread quickly, so avoid outdoor burning.

Adair County Supervisors to hear from County Atty., re: a Solar Panel Ordinance

News

March 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to meet 9-a.m. Wednesday, March 31st, in an electronic session. The meeting will be conducted via teleconference (see dial-in number & access code at the end of this story). During the session, the Board will hear from Chris Whitaker, Local Assistance Director with the Region 12 COG (Council of Governments). He will speak with regard to floodplain information.

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman will talk about a New Hire (followed by Board action on approving the hire), as well as wage rate progressions for two Secondary Roads Dept. employees. At around 9:35-a.m. Wednesday, Conservation Director Dominic Johnson was talk about the Mormon Trail shower house and have an update on Conservation Dept. Activity.

The meeting wraps up with Adair County Attorney Melissa Larson discussing a Solar Panel Ordinance. The subject of Solar Farms in Adair County has been discussed in previous meetings the past couple of months, with some rural residents voicing their concerns and objections over proposed plans by MidAmerican Energy to take more land out of production, in favor of large solar farms.

(Dial-in number: 605-313-6157,    Access Code: 526272# )