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Firefighters keep busy Sunday with field & other fires

News

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Western Iowa firefighters were kept busy, Sunday, battling a variety of field/brush and other fires. Crews from the Creston Fire Department responded at around 11:42-a.m. to a request for mutual aid from Adams County, to provide water and manpower to fight a field fire near Vanilla and Highway 34. Other crews at the scene include those with the Lenox, Corning, Clearfield, and Prescott Fire Departments.

Last week, Creston Firefighters responded also, to a structure fire 1310 E Howard St, White River (formerly known as Benson Hill). Crews worked with White River staff to locate and extinguish fire on three floors of the production facility. The fire was contained to the production pipelines. Mutual aid was received from the Afton Volunteer Fire Department and Lenox Iowa Fire Department. Medics from Greater Regional Hospital in Creston were also on-hand. The call went out at around 3-p.m. On Feb. 29th.

At around 12:36-p.m., Sunday, crews from the Red Oak, Elliott and Stanton Fire Departments were dispatched to 1301 E Cherry St in Red Oak for a dumpster on fire next to a residence. Fire crews arrived a short time later and were able to contain the fire to the dumpster. The residence was checked for extension and none was found. The dumpster belonging to Batten Sanitation sustained some damage from the fire. It appears minimal to none to the residence itself. The residence was not occupied at the time. The incident is being investigated by the Red Oak PD and Red Oak FD at this time. The property belonged to Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church. No injuries reported. Montgomery County 911 assisted in the handling the incident.

At around 3-p.m., Sunday (March 3rd) the Missouri Valley Fire Department was called to a field fire that was rapidly escalating. Modale Fire was dual paged to assist. “Ironically,” officials said, “ Logan and Magnolia had their own wildfire at the same time.” The wind and smoke obscured the true size of the fire so Mo. Valley Fire also requested Mondamin and Crescent to respond. After reassessing the scene and having crews work the fire it was decided to cancel Mondamin and Crescent. Modale and Mo. Valley F-D crews handled the bulk of the fire with the assistance of two tractors with disks (these made a HUGE difference in keeping the fire from spreading more quickly and were greatly appreciated).

An estimated 5-to 6 acres were burned. Authorities believe the cause of the fire was from two fuses that blew on a nearby power pole. Officials say to put in to context how quickly the fire spread in the high winds: the call was at 3pm; crews were on the scene within 12 minutes, but by then the fire had spread across approximately 4 acres- that’s how dry it is and how the wind can push a fire. The Department says “If the fire would have made it to Willow Creek that would have been very detrimental. Examples like these are why we are asking for no burning until we get moisture.” In addition to the aforementioned fire departments, Deputies with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri Valley Police assisted at the scene with traffic control.

On Sunday, multiple agencies spent the afternoon fighting a fire in central Iowa, off Interstate 80 in Jasper County, just north of Mitchellville. The call of a grass fire came in around 1 p.m., according to Jasper County Emergency Management. High winds caused the fire to move quickly and crews to work even harder to contain it. The cause of the fire is not immediately known.

Q&A Panel session, re: Local Office, Boards, and Commissions set for March 9th

News

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – If you’ve ever wondered what people serving on county boards and commissions do, and how you can serve in those types of positions, an event taking place this Saturday, March 9th in Atlantic, will help to answer your questions. Cass County Democrats are hosting “Local Office, Boards, and Commissions Panel and Q&A” from 10-until 11-a.m., March 9th,  AM at the American Legion Memorial Building (201 Poplar St., in Atlantic. While the event is being hosted by the Democrats, all people, regardless of party affiliation are encouraged to attend. The event is free and open to the public. Panelists scheduled to share their experiences will include Wendy Richter, Todd Weppler, Phil Hascall, and Sandy Sothman.

Richter was elected to the Cass County Board of Supervisors in 2022. In this role, she serves as a liaison to the following boards and commissions: Cass County Board of Health, Cass County Local Food Policy Council, Healthy Cass County, Cass County Tourism, Boost 4 Families Board, and West Central Community Action Board. She also serves as an alternate liaison to Nishna Valley Trails and the Southwest Iowa Planning Council. Cass County Supervisors serve four-year terms.

While Richter is just two years into her term, the following Board members are up for reelection this November: Steve Green (District 1, representing rural Atlantic), Steve Baier (District 4, representing the south and southwest portion of the county, including Griswold), and Bernard Pettinger (District 5, representing the north and east portion of the county, including Wiota,
Anita, Massena, and Cumberland).

Todd Weppler was last elected to the Cass County Agricultural Extension Council in 2022. Members of this board serve four-year terms. Sandy Sothman was appointed to the Cass County Conservation Board in 2021. Members of this board serve five-year terms. Phil Hascall is currently appointed to both the Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Cass County Zoning Board of Adjustment. Members of these boards also serve five-year terms.

LaVon Eblen, retired Extension leader in Cass and Audubon Counties and former host of KJAN’s Backyard and Beyond program, will moderate the panel. LaVon herself has previously served on county boards including the Cass County Local Food Policy Council and Healthy Cass County.

Doors will open at 9:45-a.m., Saturday. Light breakfast refreshments will be provided.

For more information on the Cass County Democrats, or to join the Cass County Democrats email newsletter, contact casscountyiadems@gmail.com or follow the Cass County Democrats on Facebook @CassCountyIADems.

Early Spring Can Be Problem For Conifers

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

An early spring it could make things difficult for some of the state’s trees. D-N-R Forestor Tivon Feeley says conifer trees in particular may have some problems. He says wind and the ground that still a little bit frozen so roots can’t take up water leads to something called winter desiccation. Feeley says the symptoms may not appear until well into spring and then they are going to brown up. You will notice that the greenery turns brown and Feeley says the winter desiccation often kills the trees.

Iowa paddlers need to be patient and wait for consistent warm weather

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s been on a weather rollercoaster lately, with record high temperatures in the 70s along with subzero wind chills and snow. While the forecast calls for more above-normal temps this week, most Iowans should keep their kayaks and canoes in the shed for now. Todd Robertson, the river programs outreach coordinator for the Iowa D-N-R, says paddlers ought to wait for steady warmth to allow water temperatures to rise, and it could be April — or longer. “The problem is, we haven’t had enough of these warm, consistent days to heat up the water. This is going to take several weeks,” Robertson says. “So between now and then, it’s not that people can’t go paddling, it’s that you have to know your skill level. You have to be fully prepared for immersion. You have to wear the right gear. You have to know how to read a river.”

That also means never paddling alone. He says water temperatures in most areas of Iowa are in the low to mid 40s right now. “When the temperature of the water is 60 degrees or below, you are automatically at risk for hypothermia if you become wet,” Robertson says. “That’s a ways off before that water reaches a safe level. That’s why if I go out and paddle, I’m at least bare minimum wearing my full-body wetsuit, because I need that extra protection to buy me time to get out of the water.”

Air temperatures have been all over the map lately, but large bodies of water take time to warm up, so it may be at least a month before it’s safe for lesser experienced paddlers to load up their boats. “We may have this rollercoaster for a while,” Robertson says. “I would say, especially if you’re not experienced out on the water, just wait a little while. We’ve got plenty of time. It’s great weather to go ride your bike and then you can go paddle later, but we got to let that water heat up.”

Robertson says he recently spotted some paddlers on a central Iowa river. “I’m not sure what they were wearing, but my fingers were crossed that they wouldn’t hit the water,” he says, “because it’s just so ice cold that it is a danger.”

Cold water shock and hypothermia can set in quickly, Robertson says, if you fall into the water at current temperatures. Whatever the weather, he recommends paddlers always wear a life jacket, let a friend or loved one know where you’re going and when you’ll be back, and bring a dry bag with extra clothing to change into should you get wet.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies arrest a Red Oak man Sunday afternoon

News

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest at around 1:17-p.m. Sunday, of 45-year-old Joshua Duane Mohn, of Red Oak, for Driving While Barred. Mohn was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Red Oak man arrested Sunday night on an Assault charge

News

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Red Oak was arrested late Sunday night, on an Assault charge. Authorities say Officers arrested 31-year-old Matthew Allen Boyce at around 11:15-p.m., in the 1100 block of N. 3rd Street. Boyce was charged with Assault causing bodily injury – a Serious Misdemeanor. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

JOYCE ANN KENKEL, 78, of Panama (Mass of Christian Burial 3/6/24)

Obituaries

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JOYCE ANN KENKEL, 78, of Panama (IA), died Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, at home. A Mass of Christian Burial for JOYCE KENKEL will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., March 6th, at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church, in Panama. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at St. Mary’s Parish Center is on Tuesday (March 5th) from 5-until 8-p.m., with a Rosary at 7-p.m.

Burial is in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Panama.

JOYCE ANN KENKEL is survived by:

Her husband – David Kenkel, of Panama.

Her sons – Allen (Tracey) Kenkel, and Scott Kenkel, all of Panama; Curtis (Natalie) Kenkel, of Olathe, KS; and Richard (Anita) Kenkel, of Joplin, MO.

Her daughter – Tina (Peter) Laskie, of LeMars.

Her sisters – Lyn Schneider, and June Foxhoven, both of Millard, NE

13 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; and her sister-in-law Betty Foxhoven, of Earling.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Monday, March 4th, 2024

Weather

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy & breezy w/a 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms. High near 55. NE winds 15-25 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low around 30. N/NE winds @ 10-25 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.
Thursday: A 50% chance of rain. High near 57.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 74. The Low was 33. We received .02″ rain this morning (as of 6-a.m.). Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 51 and the Low was 25. The Record High for March 4th was 78 in 1921. The Record Low was -17 in 1978. Sunrise: 6:50. Sunset: 6:14-p.m.

6.2% pay raise for Iowa judges means they still lag pay in every surrounding state

News

March 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa district court judges are paid less than judges in every state that touches Iowa. While the Iowa Supreme Court’s chief justice has recommended a more than six percent salary hike for Iowa judges, that still won’t bring their pay in line with any surrounding state. In January, Chief Justice Susan Christensen told lawmakers Iowa district court judges have gone without pay raises in 10 of the last 15 years and they now make 16-thousand dollars less per year than South Dakota judges and 38-thousand dollars less than judges in Nebraska.

“Being appointed by our governor should be the pinnacle of a lawyer’s career, not a deep financial sacrifice,” Christensen said. Bob Gast, the state court administrator, says the number of applicants for district court judgeships has declined 61 percent in the past 20 years. “Fewer of those applicants are coming from the private practice of law,” Gast says. “There has been a 65% decline from 2009 to 2023.” State Representative Brian Lohse, a Republican from Bondurant, is chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that drafts a budget for the the state’s court system. He says raising the salaries of district court judges is a goal he hopes to achieve this year, but lawmakers haven’t settled on a number yet.

“Being a judge is a difficult job, but it’s also not the most lucrative when compared to the private sector,” Lohse says. “If we’re going to really move forward in the law and have the kind of decisions we want and good, good justice, we need to be able to put bright legal minds in the benches and, as a lawyer myself, you want a good person sitting in that judicial seat, making the decisions for your case.”

The annual salary for a district court judge today is just over 158-thousand dollars. The average salary for an attorney in Iowa’s capitol city of Des Moines is four-thousand dollars higher.

Saturday High School Girl’s State Basketball Championship Scores

Sports

March 3rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 4A

#1 Clear Creek Amana 43, #2 Waverly Shell Rock 25

Class 2A

#1 Dike-New Hartford 48, #2 Panorama 46

Class 1A

#1 North Linn 67, #2 Newell-Fonda 51