More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Corrects location of blood drive to YMCA)

Atlantic welcomes the Christmas season with a Grand Lighting ceremony this evening, beginning at 5. The event takes place at the Historic Rock Island Depot on North Chestnut Street, and features entertainment, as well as hot dogs. Santa will arrive on his helicopter (weather permitting), for his first official visit of the year, also at the Depot. Santa’s cabin will be open in the Atlantic City Park (between 6th/ 7th Streets and Chesnut/Poplar), from 6-until 7:30-p.m.

There’s also a Blood Drive today (Thursday), from Noon until 6-p.m. at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. This Saturday, it’s the 2016 Atlantic Rotary Auction beginning at 5:30-p.m., also at the Cass County Community Center.

For more on Christmas season events in Atlantic, go to www.christmasinatlantic.com

Data collected from schools across the state shows some ups and downs in the reporting of bullying in the last several years. The State Board of Education got an update Wednesday from Amy Williamson, who leads the Department of Education’s Bureau of School Improvement. “We collect what protected category the bullying and harassment falls in —  there at 17 categories identified in the law — what bullying method it was, what location it occurred in the bullying type… and the consequence of the action,” Williamson says.

Williamson says they’ve been collecting bullying data since 2007, but changed the categories used in 2012, so that is where they begin looking at trends in the number of reports. “In 2012-13 we had over 25-hundred. In 13-14 we go to just over 400. The next year we go to around 15-hundred, and then we climb up to around 17-hundred,” Williamson says. “And the big puzzler for us is what’s going on.”  

She says there are likely a couple of reasons for the swings in reported cases. “One is trying to get some common understanding of what actually is bullying or harassment — especially according to this law,” Williamson explains. “And when do I put it in this data system. When am I supposed to report it to the state and when do I handle it myself.  That has been difficult.”

Another reason for the changes in reporting incidents could be due to more focus on the issue. “After 12-13 we had a ton of media coverage on bullying and harassment. I am not suggesting that people artificially started deflating their numbers — I am suggesting they started paying attention to it. And started thinking hard about so what is it we are supposed to report?,” according to Williamson. “And they really started watching the webinars, we got more attendance. People started actually reading more of the guidance and we got a lot more attention on the subject.”

Williamson went on to show what prompted the reports of bullying and harassment. “By protected category, we see a lot more in the physical attributes category, and then sex, physical-mental abilities, and then there is a ton of these  in the ‘other.” Because you can see, even with 17 categories, we are not capturing everything,” Williamson says.

She detailed the top methods for bullying. “Our most frequent is verbal, then physical, very few others here,” Williamson says. She says they track bullying and harassment by teachers against students, but says there have only been a couple of those cases which happened in 2012.  Williamson also says it appears the bullying cases may be leveling off, which she says is a good indication that the educational efforts on how to report are working.

The Board of Education discussed the bullying statistics as a continuation of its discussion in August of possibly changing the deadline for allowing students to open enroll to another school if they felt they were being bullied, but that bullying wasn’t covered under state law. A bill passed by the legislature and signed into law by the governor went into effect in July that allows students who transferred to another school after a confirmed report of bullying to immediately be eligible to participate in sports at their new school.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department says a resident of the 400 block of N. Poplar Street, Wednesday evening, reported that sometime between Sunday and Wednesday, someone entered the residence and stole numerous items including furniture, electronic games and televisions. A dollar amount of the loss was not available. And, early Wednesday morning, a Creston resident living in the 400 block of New York Avenue, reported that sometime during the overnight hours Tuesday into early Wednesday morning, someone slashed the tires on his vehicle while it was parked
in front of his residence. The damage was estimated damage at $100.

Creston Police said also, an Eagleville, MO., man was arrested early this (Thursday) morning, on an OWI charge. 20-year old Jacob Gryder was arrested following  a traffic stop on New York Ave. He was charged with OWI/1st offense and held in the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The long-time leader of Democrats in the Iowa Senate is cleaning out his capitol office after 34 years in the legislature.  Mike Gronstal, of Council Bluffs, said “I’ve had a great run at this, great fun, learned a lot.” Last week, Gronstal was defeated in his bid for another term in the state senate. Gronstal says he has no real regrets.

“Obviously I wish I would have won and I wish I’d still be here making policy…but when one door closes, another one opens,” Gronstal says. “I will find some other way to do what I’ve always been about and that’s leaving the world a better place. Both my wife and I, growing up in the ’60s, that became our goal in life…and I think in a hundred different ways, I can point at things and say: ‘Yes, I left the world a better place.'”

Gronstal points to increased state investments in public schools and community colleges as achievements.”For me, it’s always been about growing Iowa, growing our economy, making things better, strengthening the middle class…and I have loved every minute of this,” Gronstal says. Gronstal also cites his refusal to allow senate debate of proposals that would have banned same-sex marriage in Iowa. Gronstal took that stand after the 2009 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. Republicans spent thousands to try to defeat Gronstal in 2012, but he won another term. Republicans targeted Gronstal again this year and he lost.

“Really kind of amazing, so a fundamentally Republican seat, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, it took the Republicans 10 tries to try to defeat me,” Gronstal says. “I’m kind of proud of that as well.” As for the next chapter in his life, the 66-year-old Gronstal simply says: ‘We’ll see. I haven’t fished in 30 years, I wouldn’t mind doing that,” Gronstal says. “Who knows what comes up next.”

In 1992, the president of the Iowa Senate resigned amid a scandal. Gronstal briefly took over as senate president, but a few months later Gronstal’s Democratic colleagues selected someone else to be their leader. But then, in 1996, Gronstal’s fellow Democrats selected him as their floor leader. It means Gronstal holds the record for the shortest tenure as president of the senate and he’s also the longest-serving floor leader ever in the Iowa legislature. “I have had a great, fascinating life with a whole lot of twists and turns and if that door hadn’t closed in 1992, the door in 1996 never would have opened,” Gronstal says.

Gronstal sat beside a table piled with memorabilia as he spoke with Radio Iowa late Wednesday afternoon. In January, 38-year-old Dan Dawson, a military veteran who is currently an agent with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, will represent the Council Bluffs area in the state senate.

(Radio Iowa)

CARTER LAKE, Iowa (AP) – The former Carter Lake city clerk has filed a lawsuit challenging her firing earlier this year and complaining that the city failed to honor her severance agreement. The Daily Nonpareil reports Doreen Mowery filed the lawsuit seeking her $108,809.56 severance and other damages. Carter Lake officials have not yet responded to Mowery’s lawsuit.

Mowery says she believes she was fired improperly in January because of her stance that city council member Mary Schomer couldn’t continue working for the city’s library and serve on the council. Mowery, who worked for the city for 24 years, says she believes previous disagreements with Mayor Gerald Waltrip contributed to her firing.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday night, addressed efforts by persons on a social media site, “Connect Atlantic,” to bring high-speed internet to the community, through means other than MediaCom and Century Link. Jones said he’s been “Getting ambushed” by “Connect Atlantic” in efforts to work with Mediacom to bring 1 gig service to more customers in town. (click on the left side of each audio bar to listen)

High-speed internet is in-place in the community, but it’s not as wide-spread as many would like. Jones said many would prefer the City to build its own fiber-optic infrastructure and run the system, but the Mayor says that would be too costly.

He said in speaking with City Administrator John Lund, Jones said even if Atlantic had 40-percent of the market, 75-dollars of every 40-percent would go to pay the debt for the internet system.

Councilman Gerald Brink said having a City-operated internet service can be a huge financial burden that may be difficult to recover from.

Jones said right now, it appears the best use of tax dollars in the City of Atlantic, is to work with Mediacom to get the best deal, and keep on top of the company if problems crop up. He said many of the problems people are experiencing are internal (due to old wiring in their homes or an old router). He said he’s been asked why it’s taken so long to bring high-speed internet to town, when other, smaller communities nearby have, or are in the process of getting, the service.

He says that’s because they have their own, local phone companies that have applied for and received, grants. Atlantic doesn’t have a telephone company.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of drivers facing tickets issued by Iowa Transportation Department officers want a judge to order the agency to stop issuing those citations. The Des Moines Register reports the group filed a motion Tuesday asking for an injunction. The drivers are trying to capitalize on a ruling last month where a Polk County judge said the agency didn’t have authority to enforce most moving violations. Transportation Department spokeswoman Andrea Henry says the agency plans to fight the motion.

GRANDVIEW, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in southeastern Iowa have rescued a worker from more than 200 feet up inside a 620-foot industrial chimney at a MidAmerican Energy plant. The Muscatine Journal reports that rescue workers were called to the Louisa Generating Station in Grandview late Tuesday afternoon to save an employee trapped 230 feet up. Rescuers climbed interior ladders and skywalks and used ropes to lower the employee down in extreme heat and low visibility inside the chimney.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A former Burlington City Council member has been sentenced to up 20 years in prison after entering an Alford plea to three counts of third-degree sexual abuse involving teenage girls. The Hawk Eye reports that Chris King entered the pleas Tuesday. An Alford plea is one in which a defendant maintains innocence but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence for conviction.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in control of the Iowa House have chosen the same top leaders to run the chamber for the next two years. The GOP announced Wednesday that Rep. Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake will continue as House speaker. Rep. Chris Hagenow of Windsor Heights will serve as majority leader.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – November 17, 2016 – Iowans preparing to shop for their annual family Thanksgiving dinner feast can be glad the efficiency and diversity of today’s livestock farmers is working in their favor to keep their traditional meal affordable.  According to the annual American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey, a holiday meal today comes in at just under $5 a serving for a family of 10; that means the entire family can feast for a total of $49.87, compared to last year’s cost of $50.11.

The AFBF price survey of the classic staples of a Thanksgiving meal showed a 24 cent decrease from last year. “Prices for turkey spiked last year because turkey farmers were hit hard by the Avian Flu virus, which devastated flocks and reduced fresh and frozen turkey stocks nationally.  That’s not the case this year,” says IFBF Director of Research and Commodity Services Dave Miller.  “In addition to turkey, ham is also quite a bargain this time of year since inventory is robust nationwide.”

Turkeys in all sizes, cuts and choices line grocery store shelves today, for less than 50 cents a pound, thanks to improvements in farming, livestock nutrition and crop science.

It wasn’t always that way; back in 1915, farming challenges meant turkeys were much smaller and not as readily available, which meant that adjusted for today’s prices, they would’ve cost customers $6.59 a pound! But, it’s not just the Thanksgiving turkey that’s a bargain today. This year’s survey revealed price relief for consumers for pumpkin pie mix, milk, a veggie tray and miscellaneous items needed to make the meal.

The continued affordability of the Thanksgiving staples is a testament to the advances and ingenuity of the American farmer.  “We see that in nearly every aspect of farming today,” says Miller.  “From 1860 to 1930, there was very little change in yields or technology, but now, with the advent of enhanced seed technologies, better equipment and knowledge, Iowa farmers today can produce substantially more, on substantially less land.  For example, today’s modern combine can harvest 150 times more than farmers of the turn of the last century.  Back in those days, bringing in a corn harvest meant someone was out there, pulling a horse-driven wagon, hand-picking a crop.  Today’s corn crop is 600 percent more productive and labor is probably 100 times more productive than when the gathering of this kind of data began.”

The survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of celery and carrots, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, in quantities sufficient to feed 10 people.  The average cost of turkey this year is $22.74 for a whole bird, or $1.42 per pound, which is a decrease of 30 cents per whole bird.  Turkey production is up about 8 percent this year nationally, rebounding from the Avian flu crisis.  Rolls increased the most in this year’s holiday meal, up 9 percent, (21 cents from last year).

This year’s Thanksgiving survey was the 31^st annual study conducted by AFBF.  Every region of the country was represented in the annual AFBF Thanksgiving Price Shopping Survey, with 148 volunteer shoppers participating in 40 states.