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KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic School District Facilities Director Russell Peck, Wednesday, provided an annual report to the School Board on Operations and Maintenance of those facilities.
The rooms to be carpeted were also painted prior to the installation of carpet, and a preschool room which needed painting. He also spoke about HVAC projects.
He said they had some Capital Project Plans, which included a maintenance truck.
He said they also got another snowblower, sweeper and blower in a good deal.
Peck said they’re going to have to address removing the District’s 15 or so Ash Trees, which are susceptible to the Emerald Ash Borer, and a potential liability. A majority of the trees are around the Middle School. They’ll save money, he said, if they purchase a dump trailer (new or used) to load the trees. The only alternative would be to hire someone for the project.
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Business Council (IBC) has released its final quarterly Economic Outlook Survey (EOS) for 2023. The report measures IBC member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. If the index measures above 50, sentiment is positive. The fourth-quarter survey’s overall economic outlook index is 59.65, a decrease of 0.27 index points from the 2023 third-quarter report.
The fourth-quarter survey reveals minimal changes in the overall outlook index although several categories experienced larger shifts. IBC members retain a positive sentiment regarding Iowa’s overall economy. Q4 sales expectations among IBC members decreased 4.01 to a value of 57.89. Capital spending expectations increased by 6.40 to 67.11, while employment expectations decreased by 3.19 to a value of 53.95.
Concerns relating to workforce attraction and retention remain the number one concern with 74% of surveyed IBC executives listing it as a primary business challenge. Tied for second at 53% were an unfavorable business climate (national supply chain, infrastructure, and regulations) and the cost of products and service inputs. From a workforce perspective, 85% of IBC executives surveyed report that it is somewhat to very difficult to currently hire employees, down from 90% from the third-quarter survey. “Iowa’s economy is in a strong position as we enter 2024,” stated Phil Jasper, President of Raytheon, and Chair of the Iowa Business Council. “Our members remain optimistic about the future growth prospects here in Iowa that will lead to high-quality jobs and innovations throughout our state.”
“With the start of the legislative session, we look forward to working with members of the Iowa General Assembly and Governor Reynolds as we all work towards creating a more prosperous state for everyone,” said Iowa Business Council President Joe Murphy.
The Economic Outlook Survey has been completed by IBC members on a quarterly basis since 2004. The report provides insight regarding the projected trends for the state of Iowa, which can be used for business and economic planning. The reported trends have a state-wide impact, especially when considering that IBC companies have a presence in all 99 counties. To review previous Economic Outlook Surveys, please visit www.iowabusinesscouncil.org/news/eos.
(Radio Iowa) – This week will end much as it started, with a whopper snowstorm. Forecasters say a Winter Storm Warning is posted for 98 of Iowa’s 99 counties from tonight (Thursday) through tomorrow night, with near-blizzard conditions likely. National Weather Service meteorologist Kristi Carter says it’ll be another doozy. “Our snow amounts for much of central Iowa are going to range from around five to 10 inches,” Carter says, “and that is also going to be combined with on Friday afternoon into early Saturday, winds that are going to be gusting over 40 miles an hour.” While the snowstorm that ran Monday into Tuesday dropped up to 15 inches of heavy, wet snow on the state, she says this approaching storm will produce a lighter type of snowflake.
“That snow is going to be very fluffy and blowable,” Carter says, “and those gusty winds, we also already have snow on the ground from the storms we’ve had already this week, that’s going to lead to a significant blowing snow threat especially later Friday into Saturday.” That could mean white-out conditions and a very unsafe recipe for motorists, particularly if there’s icing on the roads. She notes this next storm will be much colder than the one earlier in the week.
“Temperatures will be falling into single digits by early Saturday,” Carter says. “Our wind chills are going to be falling well below zero tomorrow night into Saturday, and then will continue to fall Saturday night into Sunday with wind chills of negative-20 to around negative-40.” The forecast calls for the -high- temperatures on Sunday to only be in the negative single digits, with lows approaching 20-below. Our furnaces will be working overtime as it doesn’t appear that there will be much of a change for days.
“We are looking at a small warm-up towards the middle of the week, around the Wednesday timeframe, where we’re looking at temperatures that start to reach the teens again,” Carter says, “so that’s at least better than the single digits but certainly looking pretty cold through the week.” Keep up with the changing forecast at weather-dot-gov and stay informed about road conditions by visiting 5-1-1-i-a-dot-org.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Community School District Technology Director Roger Warne, Wednesday, provided the School Board with his annual review of technology improvements in the district, and a cost estimate of the anticipated new tech and improvements this year. Warne said last Summer, they installed 16 new cameras and systems at Washington Elementary.
He said the original camera system, which is still in use, is a great system, but there are things Warne doesn’t like about it due to the costs associated with the system. Other cameras and systems were added to the Middle School office over the Christmas break, as well as at the EOC office. At the High School, access point (AP) nodes were replaced because they were coming to the end of their useful life. The improvements were made possible in-part because they were “E-Rate” eligible.
Warne said there are 26 AP’s at Washington and Schuler that will need to be replaced this Summer. The current AP technology is no longer supported by the company who supplied the devices. The District’s share of cost for the Access Point devices will run about $5,000-to 10-thousand dollars. Roger Warne said last summer they went around and replaced the point of entry control boxes and software, because they were out of date.
Roger Warne
He said one of the big things as far as the District’s Capital Improvement Projects Plan (CIP) is to rollover all the rest of the certified staff laptop computers.
He said he also needs to start replacing Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) [battery back-up power] for computers – which is also E-Rate eligible. The current UPS batteries are losing their power memory
He says his goal is to be able to keep everything running, especially when the power flickers, which causes some computers to “blurp” their displays. The district could look into generators, but those are very costly. He also plans to replace some of the computers switcher units, which are more than 10-years old.
Another thing Roger Warne says he’s working on, is “Event response.”
He said they will use a company to train their staff on how to respond to potential e-mail viruses and cyber threats. Warne said it’s also a good time to consider replacing student Chrome Book laptops, because the costs are only going to go up.
Board President Kristy Pellet said the district should probably plan for $500,000 in technology expenditures in the future. Warne’s current expenditures amount to approximately $300,000.
(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say a vehicle that was parked in an alley in the 200 block of W. Mills Street, was struck by an unknown vehicle at around 7-a.m.,Tuesday. The vehicle left the scene. The vehicle that was hit, a 2017 VW Jetta registered to a man from Creston, sustained $4,000 damage.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic reminds residents and business owners, to keep your sidewalks clear of snow. Snow must be removed within 24 hrs AFTER the snow stops. City officials say Code Enforcement personnel are out AND writing citations for those sidewalks not cleared.
The National Weather Service is predicting anywhere from 5-to 10-inches of snow will impact the area between Thursday night (Tonight) and Saturday morning. There will be an extended period of drifting snow and near-blizzard conditions beyond the cessation of snowfall.
Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Des Moines International Airport, Wednesday, announced a significant milestone in its history, surpassing the unprecedented mark of serving 3 million passengers in a given year. This achievement is a testament to the airport’s commitment to growing air service and its pivotal role in connecting communities. The Des Moines Airport Authority served 252,219 passengers in December, a 11.7% increase over 2022, totaling 3,097,006 total passengers served in 2023. The remarkable accomplishment of surpassing 3 million passengers reflects the trust and confidence travelers place in the services provided by the airport, the airlines, and all the tenants who strive to make the travel experience convenient and pleasurable.
Airport officials credit this achievement to strategic collaborations with airline partners to offer desirable service to business and leisure travel destinations, continuous infrastructure enhancements to sustain growth, and a steadfast commitment to providing a seamless and enjoyable travel experience. The Des Moines International Airport team thanks passengers, airlines, and the community for their unwavering support in reaching this historic milestone.
DsM International Airport
Kevin Foley, Executive Director of the Des Moines Airport Authority, said “We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion and express our gratitude to the passengers who have chosen Des Moines International Airport as their gateway to the world. This milestone is a testament to the collective efforts of our dedicated team, the enduring support of our community, and the appetite for air travel in our market. We remain committed to elevating the travel experience with the terminal expansion and contributing to the growth and prosperity of our region.”
The Des Moines International Airport, he said, looks forward to building on this success with ongoing initiatives to enhance infrastructure, expand services, and strengthen connectivity to and from Iowa. As the airport continues to play a vital role in connecting people and places, it remains dedicated to providing world-class service to the growing number of travelers choosing Des Moines as their preferred gateway.
To commemorate 2023’s passenger record, the Des Moines Airport Authority is celebrating publicly in the terminal on January 11 with giveaways and a chance to win a $500 flight voucher on the airline of their choice. They will draw three winners from a chance drawing shared on social media, one for every million passengers served last year. The lucky individuals drawn will be announced on the Airport Terminal intercom and will be notified via phone. Additionally, the airport’s flagship restaurant, Portermill will offer a food and drink special to celebrate reaching 3 million passengers.
No purchase, payment, donation, or account is required to enter or win the prize. A new winner will be drawn if the winner cannot be reached within 24 hours. The winner will receive a $500 flight voucher on an airline offering commercial service at the Des Moines International Airport.
(Radio Iowa) – We’re 11 days into the new year now and while some Iowans resolved to lose weight, save money or travel more, certain resolutions can have the critical, long-term benefit of reducing your risk of developing dementia. Lauren Livingston, spokeswoman for the Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says the list starts with having your blood pressure checked by a medical professional — and taking action if it’s too high.”People who have a blood pressure with that top number of 120 versus 140 were almost 20% less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, which is a stage before you develop Alzheimer’s disease,” Livingston says. “That goes in line with what’s good for your heart is also good for your brain.”
In addition to having your B-P checked, Livingston suggests you take a hearing test. In adults over the age of 60, studies find 65-percent of them have hearing loss, but many of them decide -not- to get hearing aids. “People who are at higher risk for cognitive decline, if they did wear a hearing aid, they were able to cut their cognitive decline in half,” Livingston says, “and that’s likely due to just being able to hear and understand and process information more than if they weren’t wearing a hearing aid, just to keep themselves able to engage in conversations.”
Alzheimer’s disease ranks second only behind cancer as the diagnosis people most fear as they age, but she says with lifestyle changes, Iowans have the ability to lower the risks. Another big help is keeping up with your shots. “Getting an annual flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccine was associated with a 40% decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease over the next four years,” Livingston says. “Every year that you’re getting one of those vaccines, you are reducing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”
In people who were isolated during the pandemic, Livingston says they saw a huge decrease in cognitive health and faster progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia. She says it’s very important to stay social. “Get together with your friends, go to family get together s,” Livingston says. “Even if you’re noticing some changes in your cognitive health, if you’re forgetting things and are feeling embarrassed, it’s still really important to get together and stay social. That will keep your mind more active and help your cognitive health.”
There’s no certain way to prevent Alzheimer’s, but Livingston says there is much to be gained by living a healthy lifestyle and adopting brain healthy habits. It’s estimated there are 66,000 Iowans living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, and another 98,000 Iowans are their caregivers.
(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowans who volunteer their time is growing, and college students in northeast Iowa are a big part of that. The Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley pairs potential volunteers with some 250 area organizations and engages with multiple colleges nearby. Executive director Lauren Finke says since the pandemic, she’s seen a serious re-commitment from college students. “I think they’re staying and wanting to be a part of things,” Finke says, “which has been a really cool twist on seeing students who really connect to their community.” The center has paired about 95-hundred individuals with volunteer opportunities in the past year, up from five-thousand during the pandemic. Finke says talking to students about volunteering in the wake of COVID has helped spur that growth.
“Really having the opportunity to allow students to understand the impact they’re having as a volunteer has definitely made their follow-through, their commitment, and their desire to continue serving even after their assignment’s done for class,” Finke says. The volunteer center is regularly reaching out to at least four area colleges to recruit students, including a standing office at U-N-I. An AmeriCorps study ranks Iowa 4th in the nation for number of volunteers, and more than 40-percent of Iowans have formally donated time over the past two years.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center. The Board received annual updates from Russell Peck, Facilities Director, and Roger Warne, Technology Director.
Following the District Principal reports, the Atlantic School Board heard from Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen, who said the fatal shooting incident in Perry last week was once again “An awakening on the safety of our kids, our most important things that we have.” Dr. Johnsen extended her appreciation of, and “prayers” for, the Perry community and school district, with regard to the tragedy and what they are going through. The incident was “Horrendous. It’s a parent’s worse nightmare,” she said.
When it comes to the Atlantic CSD, Dr. Johnsen said “We’re gonna work hard to make sure that our kids are safe, give parents the peace of mind that we are going to protect and take care of our kids, no matter what the situation.” She also thanked officers with the Atlantic Police Department who were in the building when the events began to unfold in Perry. “We didn’t ask them, they just showed-up because they knew just their presence gives us that peace of mind that they’re always there to be part of who we are as a school district, to support our families and our kids, and staff.” She said administrators are working on the district safety plan and crisis review, by updating the plans, policies and procedures.
Dr. Johnsen said the district is “sitting good,” with regard to Snow Days and student attendance hours, but considering this upcoming second round of snow storms, there’s less than two days left to miss before hours will have to be made up. Staff however, are going to have to make up some days, regardless of any further time-off for missed days. Those hours could be made-up at the end of the year.
The Board then proceeded to discuss: A Review of the scope of needs for facilities study; Next year’s school calendar, and a change of date for February’s Board meeting. Dr. Johnsen said the Winter (Christmas) break was very long, and staff have said they prefer to have a longer Spring break, which would also align with Iowa Western Community College. She asked the Board to consider how the calendar affects families, when it comes to putting together the 2024-25 District Calendar, and a public hearing on the matter. Board member Josh McLaren was concerned with the lack of “wiggle room” the District would have when it comes to meeting the requirement for student instructional hours, given the 15 hours lost so far this week, due to the snowstorm.
They also discussed and concluded moving their February, 2024 Board meeting to Feb. 7th instead of the 14th, would work out better, taking into account a leadership conference and other matters. Board Secretary Lisa Jones was concerned the Board packet and financial information and bills may not completely available that soon. The Board will hold a Work Session 5:30-p.m. January 24th, at the Central Office Conference Room.
With regard to the Consent Agenda, in the Atlantic School Board approved:
And, the following fundraising Requests: I-Jag Fundraiser; Speech & Debate Club Fundraiser.
During the Action Items portion of the agenda, the Atlantic School Board approved:
a. An Out-of-State Trip for Speech team
b. A Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) for Dropout Potential Prevention, At-Risk Students, of $539,871.
c. And the first reading of certain 400 through 700-series Board policies.
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