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Gov. Reynolds extends Harvest Proclamation

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES— Gov. Kim Reynolds today signed a proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.
The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through November 8, 2024. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.
This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

Iowans with smoke alarms in their homes may be twice as likely to survive a fire

News

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being reminded about the life-saving potential of smoke alarms as part of National Fire Prevention Week. Levi Kinnison, the fire prevention specialist with the Red Oak Fire Department, says smoke alarms can provide crucial time for residents to get out of a house or building if there’s a fire.

“Make sure you have smoke alarms, make sure they’re working, and make sure the batteries have been replaced,” Kinnison says. “Test your smoke alarms once a month, but if you can do it every six months to make sure they’re doing good, that’s perfect. When you change your clocks, change your batteries. That’s what we want to stress this year, just having working smoke alarms throughout the house.”

Studies find smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half. Also, roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working alarms. Through a partnership with the American Red Cross, Kinnison says Red Oak is among many Iowa fire departments offering free smoke detectors.

“Usually a fire department person can come and install them for you, especially the elderly, we don’t want them climbing up on ladders trying to put in a new smoke alarm, so we’ll come out and do those,” he says. “Also, most local fire departments also have a smoke alarm program they can help with as well.” He recommends installing smoke detectors in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a home.

Kinnison says strobe light or bed shaking alarms are available for people with sensory or physical disabilities. He also suggests a few other general fire safety tips. “If your smoke alarms are going off and your house is filling with smoke, we want you to ‘get low and go,’ where we crawl below the smoke and the heat and get outside,” Kinnison says. “Also, ‘get out and stay out.’ We never want anybody to go back inside a house or building that has smoke and fire as that’s what the fire department is there for. We’re trained professionals, so we’ll be the ones that go back inside that ‘not ideal’ environment for you.”

The Iowa Fire Marshal’s office says 24 Iowans have died in fires so far in 2024. Last year, there were 37 fire deaths statewide.

G.G Harris Resigns as AHSTW Head Football Coach

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Christian Adams

(Avoca, IA) – G.G Harris resigned from his role as the head football coach of the AHSTW Vikings this afternoon. Harris was a member of the Vikings staff in a number of roles including the defensive coordinator before he was hired as the head coach in May of 2019.

A call was made to the school administration but has not yet been returned.

Stay tuned to KJAN for further developments.

Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel on handling the spotlight

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State receiver Jaylin Noel believes the Cyclones can handle the spotlight. The 11th ranked Cyclones look to go 6-0 for the first time since 1938 on Saturday night with a victory at West Virginia.

Noel says the Cyclones need to stay focused on the next game and think about what could happen down the road.

Noel says the rankings only matter at the end of the season.

Noel says the Cyclones do enjoy the attention they are receiving in a 5-0 start.

Iowa’s Cade McNamara previews Washington

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara says the Hawkeyes quickly shifted their focus to Washington. Iowa is 3-2 after a 35-7 loss at second ranked Ohio State and get ready to host a Husky squad that is coming off a win over three time defending Big Ten champ Michigan.

After a solid first half at Ohio State McNamara had two fumbles and an interception in the second half as the Buckeyes broke the game open.

Even at 3-2, McNamara says the Hawkeyes feel good about what is ahead.

Iowa’s Jermari Harris on needing a complete effort

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa corner Jermari Harris says the Hawkeyes will need a complete effort to beat Washington. After trailing 7-0 at halftime the Hawkeyes were steamrolled at second ranked Ohio State 35-7.

Playing one bad half has been a theme for the Hawkeyes in their 3-2 start.

Harris says this will be a different challenge against a Washington team that averages more than 32 passes per game.

Man arrested in Page County for alleged indecent contact w/a child

News

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Clarinda, Iowa) — Sheriff’s officials in Page County report a man from Maine was arrested early Sunday morning, for alleged indecent contact with a child. 54-year-old Timothy Alan Groves of Etna, Maine, was taken into custody at around 2:15-a.m.  His arrest occurred at a residence in rural Page County. Groves is being held in the Page County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Iowa State basketball Media Day

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The expectations are sky high for the Iowa State men heading into a new basketball season. The Cyclones return their top four scorers from a team that won the Big 12 Tournament and made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. They expect to enter the season ranked in the top 10.

That’s ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger who says the Cyclones never focused on expectations when they were low and they won’t know.

The guard court is experienced but there will be several new faces along the front line.

The guard combination of Keshon Gilbert, Tamin Lipsy and Curtis Jones combined to average more than 37 points per game.

The Cyclones open on Monday, November fourth against Mississippi Valley State.

LINDA PURDY, 78, of Orient (Celebration of Life Svc. at a later date)

Obituaries

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

LINDA PURDY, 78, of Orient, died Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at her home.  A Celebration of Life Service for LINDA PURDY will be held at a later date. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is assisting the family.

LINDA PURDY is survived by:

Her husband – Bill Purdy, of Orient.

Her daughter – Theresa (Travis), of Cottonwood, AZ.

Her sons – Jeremy (Katie), of Bedford; Josh (Brandi), of Princeton, MO., and Chad, of Orient.

Her brothers – Randy (Sinva), of Mason City; Butch (wife Bobbie), of Land O’Lakes, FL; Daryl (Jonna), of Colfax, CA; and Kevin (Dawn), of Mason City.

Her sister – Debbie (Veryl), of Loveland, CO.

15 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com

Red Oak family escapes injury when their home catches fire

News

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with the Red Oak Fire Department report that at around 4:21-a.m. today (Wednesday), the Montgomery County Communications Center took a 911 call reporting a house fire at 104 B Street. Red Oak Fire crews responded and upon arrival, found a single-story residential structure with the front of the building fully involved with fire. The residents (two adults and one child) were quickly accounted for and had self-evacuated prior to emergency crews arrival. The occupants were examined by EMS, but did not require transport to the hospital.
Red Oak firefighters received automatic Mutual Aid the Stanton and Elliott Fire Departments. Additional mutual aid came from the Emerson and Essex Fire Departments. Other responding agencies included Red Oak Police, MidAmerican Utilities, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. (photos from the Red Oak Fire Department’s Facebook page)
The blaze was  deemed under control by around at 5:30-a.m., with fire ground operations being terminated at 7:21 a.m. Officials say the family was placed in contact with the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.