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(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 4/9/2020

News, Podcasts

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police: 2 injured in workplace shooting in eastern Iowa

News

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police in Cedar Rapids say two people have been injured in a workplace shooting at an exterior siding manufacturing plant. Police say the shooting happened around 5 a.m. Thursday when a person entered Associated Materials, shot two people and fled the property. Police say the two victims appear to have suffered wounds not believed to be life-threatening. Police say investigators don’t believe the shooting was random and believe they know who the shooter is. Police say the shooter is still on the run and has not yet been found.

Myrtue Medical Center Update (4/9)

News

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan report the Harlan Rural Health Clinic will close daily at 5 p.m. The clinic will not be open evening hours until further notice. Also, the Elk Horn, Earling and Avoca Clinics are now closed and will remain closed until further notice.

The Shelby Clinic will continue to operate according to their normal schedule as follows:
· MONDAY: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
· TUESDAY: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
· WEDNESDAY: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
· THURSDAY: 8:00 am – 11:30 am
· FRIDAY: 8:00 am – 11:30 am

Iowa Speedway to host IndyCar twinbill

Sports

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Speedway will be hosting an IndyCar Series doubleheader in July as part of a revamped scheduled. The July 17th and 18th races will be under the lights. Mark Miles is president of Penske Entertainment which operates the series.

The Iowa Speedway is one of two venues to be awarded two racers and Miles calls it an efficient way to rework the schedule.

Miles says all sports are working with their broadcast partners in hopes of putting together a new schedule.

The first IndyCar race is scheduled for June sixth at Texas and Miles says there are no plans to run races without fans.

Iowa’s Tom Brands named national coach of the year

Sports

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands has been named the national coach of the year. Brands was honored by the National Wrestling Coaches Association after leading the Hawkeyes to a 13-0 dual record and the Big Ten Tournament title. They were favored to win the national crown before the NCAA Championships were cancelled.

Brands says this team was successful on the mat and in the classroom.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: 4/9/2020

Weather

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly cloudy & windy. High 51. NW @ 15-30+. **Wind Advisory from 9-a.m. until 7-p.m.**

Tonight: Clear. Low 22.

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High 54. SW @ 5-10.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy w/a chance of rain. High 54.

Sunday: Cloudy w/rain possibly changing to wet snow. High 40.

Wednesday’s High in was 72. Our Low this morning was 31. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 70 and the Low was 38. The All-time Record High here on April 9th was 85 in 1977. The Record Low was 14 in 2016.

Winnebago to resume production in Forest City Monday, other Iowa facilities in early May

News

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Winnebago Industries is planning to restart production of specialty trailers at its plant in Forest City on Monday. Chad Reece, Winnebago’s director of corporate relations, says the company’s plans align with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and from state public health officials.

“We have a lot of different things going on and there are parts that would necessitate coming on sooner than others,” Reece says, “but everything that we are doing is based on the safety of our employees, our business partners, and our communities.” Production of motorhomes at facilities in Lake Mills, Forest City, Waverly and Charles City plants is currently scheduled to start back up the week of May 4th.

“And what I would point out on that is that what we all believe at this point, but as we know conditions are fluid around this country and the world, basically,” Reece says. Winnebago employees will undergo daily health checks and the company is taking additional precautions, like having employees practice social distancing where appropriate. Winnebago’s president said in a written statement these are uncertain times and his top priorities are the health of employees and the company’s financial stability.

ERNIE SPIKER, 89, of Malvern (Svcs. Private; Visitation 4/10/20)

Obituaries

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

ERNIE SPIKER, 89, of Malvern, died Tuesday, April 7, 2020.  An open visitation for ERNIE SPIKER will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2020 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern. After Federal and State restrictions have been lifted due to COVID-19, the family will hold a celebration to honor Ernie’s life.

(Please note the family will not be present during the visitation but invite friends and family to please stop by the funeral home and pay their respects. The funeral home will follow guidelines of 10 people in the funeral home. Please check with staff when you arrive.)

Private family funeral services for ERNIE SPIKER will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2020 at the Malvern Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed Malvern Volunteer Fire Department

Condolences may be shared on his tribute page at www.loesshillsfuneralhome.com

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, April 9, 2020

News

April 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Some workers at a large corn processing plant in eastern Iowa have been told to stay home after four of their colleagues have tested positive for coronavirus. Archer Daniels Midland spokeswoman Jackie Anderson said Wednesday that operations at the plant in Clinton are continuing but with staffing changes. The company said that the four workers who have tested positive are in quarantine and recovering at home. In addition, ADM said that it has asked all colleagues who worked “in close proximity” to the infected individuals to self-quarantine at home. Anderson would not say how many workers are currently at home due to their exposure.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa public health officials say that 97 more Iowans tested positive for coronavirus infection, increasing the state total to 1,145. One person died in Linn County, where the highest number of cases are reported. The virus has now claimed 27 lives in the state and infections have now been found in 79 of Iowa’s 99 counties. The data also shows increase hospitalization in recent days with 122 people now in hospitals, up 17 percent from the day before. Public health officials say Wednesday that the increase is due to changes in how the state gathers the information.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service says flooding remains a concern in several states along the Missouri River, even though the weather has been kind so far this spring. The agency says the flood risk is high in eastern South Dakota, eastern North Dakota, eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, eastern Kansas and Missouri because the soil remains wet. However, a lack of rain and the warm temperatures this spring have allowed snow to melt gradually across the Plains without increasing the risk. Officials have trimmed their forecast for how much water will flow down the Missouri River in 2020, but it is still expected to be a wet year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials at the state’s largest school district have announced plans for completing the school year without having students return to the classroom. Starting on Monday with seniors, Des Moines Public Schools will begin teaching courses online. Other high school students will begin online courses April 20 and students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade will do so starting April 27. The district has surveyed students to determine those who don’t have computer or internet access. Staff will distribute equipment this week to seniors and to other students later. Printed material will also be distributed to students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade.

Former Denison-Schleswig athlete dies from gunshot wounds in Omaha

News, Sports

April 8th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say a large gathering for a barbecue in an Omaha park — despite an order that limits crowds to fewer than 10 people — ended in a fatal shooting at around 9:30-p.m. Tuesday. One of the victims was a former Denison-Schleswig athlete, 18-year old Waw Gach. Gach, whose family came to the U.S. from Sudan, died at a local hospital. Gach was member of the football and track and field teams during his year at Denison-Schleswig High School, in Denison.

The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in Benson Park, where police say three people were wounded. The victims were found in the park’s parking lot and were taken to area hospitals. The other victims, including a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Police say they had been called earlier to the park to break up the gathering of about 100 people.