LaVon Eblen talks about pears and shares a recipe for pear butter.
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LaVon Eblen talks about pears and shares a recipe for pear butter.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.4MB)
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DES MOINES, Iowa – The unofficial end to summer this weekend is expected to draw thousands of Iowans out to their state parks and waterways. The weekend weather forecast appears to be favorable for various outdoor activities so the DNR reminds users to abide by all safety measures in order to have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday weekend.
BOATING SAFETY: Boaters headed out to a lake, river, pond or any other waterway should adhere to the following safety tips:
BEACH & SWIMMING SAFETY: Wherever you choose to swim this Labor Day weekend, whether it’s a backyard pool, a pond or lake, or a public pool, please follow these safety tips:
Because the beaches are busier this summer, staff are encouraging visitors to utilize the non-peak times and days. For the busier beaches/parks, the non-peak days usually include Sundays through Thursdays, and Fridays before 5:00 pm. If you plan to go to the beaches on Saturdays, the non-peak hours are usually before noon. Parks staff may temporarily close parking lots when they become full and limit the number of visitors at that point. The DNR recommends visitors go to another nearby park or beach that is not as heavily populated. Visitors are reminded to only park in designated parking spaces. All violators will be cited by staff.
STATE PARKS/CAMPGROUNDS SAFETY: This weekend will be another very busy one if you plan to visit a state park and campground, use these safety tips to ensure an enjoyable time:
PADDLING SAFETY: Whether it be tubing, kayaking or canoeing, paddlers are enjoying the splash of the water, scenic views, and wildlife viewing from Iowa’s rivers, rapids and streams, stay safe each time you paddle with these simple safety tips:
Brian Harris, President of the Atlantic Rotary Club, today (Friday) announced that the Annual Rotary Auction, originally scheduled for Saturday, November 21st, 2020, has been canceled for this year. According to Harris, “This decision was made at the monthly club Board of Directors meeting, amid continued uncertainty surrounding COVID – 19. We anticipate guidelines for gatherings will change often over the next several months, and the preparations and financial commitments for the auction take place for many months prior to the event. Another consideration was the fact that so many area businesses and individuals who have given generous donations in the past have been financially impacted by COVID – 19, and the club did not feel it was appropriate to ask these people for donations this year.”
Harris said also, “The health and well-being of our community is a priority for our club and we do not want to take an unnecessary risk by holding the event, nor do we want to have to limit attendance, thus reducing the effectiveness of the event as a fundraiser and celebration of our community’s giving spirit.”
Brian Harris closed with: “The Atlantic Rotary Club is grateful for the generosity the members of Atlantic and surrounding communities have shown us over the years through their time and donations to the Rotary Auction. For over 35 years, the Rotary Auction has been a signature event for our club, raising more than a million dollars that have been invested back into our local communities. Our hope is that in 2021 we will be able resume this annual event and continue to use those proceeds to support community projects in the Rotary spirit of Service.”
Iowa’s recently completed annual pheasant survey is great news for hunters – A DNR report released today (Friday) – says statewide, Iowa averaged 20.2 birds per 30-mile route, up significantly from 2019, with six of the nine survey regions averaging more than 20 pheasants per route, the most since 2007. Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), says “Pheasant hunters should expect significantly better pheasant numbers in 2020. Pheasant hunting this fall could be some of the best the state has seen in a decade.”
Bogenschutz credits the 2020 winter with its mild temperatures and little snowfall that led to higher hen survival and coupled with a dry spring to more successful nesting and an increase in the population. The southeast region led the way with a 163 percent increase, followed by the northeast region with a 115 percent increase and east central region with a 55 percent increase. While those numbers are very good, the statewide numbers would have likely been better if not for the drought conditions impacting much of the state.
“In the western and central regions where we counted fewer birds, we struggled to get good survey conditions so the results are not likely representative of actual numbers,” Bogenschutz said. “Pheasant populations in these regions appear higher than last year, according to casual staff reports, even though the survey says the population is essentially unchanged. “Given this year’s statewide index of 20 birds per route Iowa, pheasant hunters should harvest approximately 250,000 to 350,000 roosters this fall,” he said.
Iowa’s quail population was essentially unchanged from 2019 with the highest quail numbers coming from southwest Iowa. While the counts were unchanged, it is still double the number of quail counted from a decade ago. Hunters can expect to harvest more than 20,000 quail this year. Iowa’s partridge population was up slightly over last year with higher counts coming from northcentral Iowa. Iowa’s rabbit population was nearly identical to 2019 with better populations across southern and east central Iowa. “Cottontail hunters can expect excellent hunting across most of the state this fall,” Bogenschutz said.
COLLEEN [KERR] SHUMAKER, 61, of Des Moines (& formerly of Atlantic), died Thursday, Sept. 3rd, at Broadlawns Medical Center, in Des Moines. Visitation for COLLEEN SHUMAKER will be held on Thursday, from 10:30-until 11:30-a.m. at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic, followed by graveside services at Noon, Thursday, in the Atlantic Cemetery.
(online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com)
COLLEEN [KERR] SHUMAKER is survived by:
Her sons – Matthew (Jennifer) Steffens, of Atlantic, and Joshua (Linda Merez) Green-Kerr, of Des Moines.
Her daughters – Lindsey (Kenneth) Manderson, of Des Moines, and Natalie (Jeffry) Saltzman, of Omaha.
and 11 grandchildren.
Jim Field talks about some tips from the Iowa DNR on how to safely enjoy the Labor Day Holiday weekend.
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Adair-Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf today, reports “All of Adair and Guthrie Counties will be under a Burn Ban effective at Noon today 09-04-2020.” Previously, a Burn Ban was put in place for the City of Stuart, Cass, Audubon and Pottawattamie Counties. The Adair-Guthrie County ban means there should be no burning of yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set-asides or other items during the ban. Also, do not toss cigarettes out the window of a moving vehicle!
Small recreational patio or camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.
More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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(Radio Iowa) – Iowa has received a federal grant of nearly 18 million dollars to address deaths from opioids and methamphetamine. The Opioid Initiatives Director at the state health department, Kevin Gabbert, says opioid deaths are still a concern here. “We did see a decline in 2018 — however in 2019, those numbers have increased again. And for 2020 — it looks like those numbers are going to pass what we had in 2019,” Gabbert says. The number of opioid deaths in Iowa increased from 137 in 2018 to 157 in 2019. Gabbert says they have a variety of ways to address the issue. “We are going to be adding a prevention staff person in every one of our 19 service areas across the state. Our service areas represent all 99 counties,” Gabbert says. “We will continue to fund medication assisted treatment services for individuals. In addition, we’re going to be providing recovery support services — things like transportation, dental services, housing.”
Methamphatamines are what’s know as psychostimulants, and Gabbert says they continue to remain a problem. “For the first time, psychostimulant-related deaths have passed opioid-related deaths. It’s Not by much, but none the less it has passed it,” Gabbert says. “And when you start to look at the number of individuals who have experienced an overdose death and had both psychostimulants and opioids in their system — that number has quadrupled in the last decade.” Gabbert says the coroanvirus pandemic has had some impact on the use of these drugs. “We don’t know the full impact as of this time — but some of the things that we know are issues in regards to COVID-19 are things like isolation. There could be many reasons for this, we’ve got many people who are practicing social distancing,” Gabbert says.
He says there is key health link they do know about between the use of these drugs and COVID-19. “COVID-19 can have a significant impact on an individual’s normal ability to breathe. For those individuals who experience an opioid overdose, respiratory depression is the primary cause of death,” according to Gabbert. “So if you have an individual who has COVID-19 and uses opioids — there’s a possibility that the two issues combined could cause an increased risk of experiencing a respiratory issue.”
Gabbert says the two year grant is from the federal department of Health and Human Services.
(Radio Iowa) – Fewer than one-percent of Iowans live in nursing homes, but the state director of A-A-R-P Iowa says 50-percent of all coronavirus-related deaths in the state are in residents of long-term care facilities. Brad Anderson says Iowans living in nursing homes are in “grave danger” with more than 540 dead from the virus statewide this year, and he says many measures to protect those residents are still not in place. “We have Iowans dying in nursing homes at an unacceptable rate, that needs to be addressed,” Anderson says. “Secondly, we’ve got residents and families that are suffering greatly from social isolation. You can’t deal with that second crisis until you deal with the first crisis.”
The organization is calling on the governor to enact new rules like requiring regular testing for COVID-19 and providing easier access to personal protective gear. Also: “We need to insure adequate staffing levels,” Anderson says. “Nursing homes weren’t really adequately staffed prior to the pandemic and the situation has only gotten worse.” In addition, AARP wants regulations that would require virtual visitation in long-term care facilities, to put a bandaid on the challenges of social isolation. “What that means is training residents and family members on how to use things like FaceTime and iPads and Skype to allow them to connect virtually until we can get back to safe, regular, in-person visitation,” Anderson says, “which is what everyone wants but we’re still very far from achieving that.”
The nonprofit, nonpartisan AARP is also calling for the creation of a state task force to address the crisis in nursing homes. Anderson notes, there’s all kinds of discussion about Iowa schools during the pandemic, and rightly so. “How do we deal with virtual learning and how do we get to a path for in-person learning? These conversations are happening at all levels related to schools,” Anderson says, “yet we have had 50% of the deaths related to COVID in Iowa nursing homes and there seems to be next-to-no public conversation about this crisis.” Anderson says the enacting of common-sense policies will save lives.