United Group Insurance

Superintendent gets backing on sex offender volunteer

News

May 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

WELLMAN, Iowa (AP) — A superintendent who let a convicted sex offender volunteer at an eastern Iowa school district has been given another year on the job. The Mid-Prairie school board renewed Superintendent Mark Schneider’s contract Monday, saying he was not at fault for the lack of a district policy about volunteer suitability. Schneider had said he’d resign without a vote of confidence.
Volunteer Trent Yoder had pleaded guilty to exploiting a minor at an Anita school, by videotaping a high school athlete changing her clothes in 1998.

He was removed from the sex offender registry after 10 years. The district, which is based in Wellman, granted him special permission to volunteer, after receiving letters of support. Schneider has said he informed school principals that Yoder must be with another adult at all times.

Bluffs man arrested Monday morning in Pott. County

News

May 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop at around 11:45-a.m. Monday in the area of Cottonwood and 235th Street in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Tyler Robert Warnke, of Council Bluffs. Warnke was pulled over after a deputy observed the man was not wearing his seat belt. A check of his ID revealed Warnke was Driving While Barred. He was arrested on the charge, and cited for no seat belts, and expired plates.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 5/15/2018

News, Podcasts

May 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

Play

Hasselback Potatoes (5-15-2018)

Mom's Tips

May 15th, 2018 by Jim Field

  • 4large potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • sea salt
  • pepper &/or herbs to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Scrub and dry potatoes, leaving skin intact.  Melt the butter and mix with the olive oil.  Place 2 knives on each side of the potato so when you slice down the potato you don’t cut all the way through – make thin slices.  Place in a pan and drizzle each potato with 1/2 teaspoon of butter – bake 30-40 minutes.  Drizzle with remaining butter.  Then bake another 30 minutes.  Sprinkle with pepper and herbs of choice.

Some additional ingredients:  place thins slices of ham or bacon, cheese sauce, spring onion or Sirachi sauce.

Serve with lettuce salad.

Serves 4.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 5/15/2018

Podcasts, Sports

May 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

Play

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 5/15/2018

News, Podcasts

May 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

Play

17-year old suffers gunshot wound in Stuart Tue. morning

News

May 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Stuart Police report that at around 1:30-a.m. today (Tuesday), Officers responded to the South Summit Apartment Complex, located in the 600 block of SW 7th St. in Stuart, for a reported shooting. Upon arrival Officers discovered a 17-year old male suffering from a non-life threatening gun shot wound to his leg. The juvenile male was transported by Stuart Rescue to Des Moines for treatment. It appears the shooting was accidental. Authorities say no names will be released due to the victims age.

TUESDAY, MAY 15th

Trading Post

May 15th, 2018 by Jim Field

FOR SALE:  A green long skinny table with drawer in middle for a hallway or behind a couch.  Asking price is $25.00 Firm, contact # is 712-249-7699. SOLD!

FOR SALE:  Larson 36″x 80″ white storm door.  It is vinyl covered wood core and is a left swing door.  Frame and hardware included.  Asking $15. Full Size older mattress and box springs – $7.50.  Also have two or three boxes of kindling wood (odd pieces of boards) that can be used to start a camp fire or in a fire pit. – $3.  All items are in Exira.  Call 515-681-5997.

Summer Games of Iowa Special Olympics to open Thursday

News, Sports

May 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A few thousand athletes with intellectual disabilities from across Iowa will be gathering in Ames this week for the 34th annual summer games of the Special Olympics. Games spokeswoman Stephanie Kocer says the opening ceremony will be held Thursday night at Hilton Coliseum. “We have just over 2,800 athletes this year and 2,000 volunteers and about 1,500 coaches that come,” Kocer says. “They’re all coming to Ames and the Iowa State campus.”

The competitions run through Saturday and are the highlight of the year for many hundreds of the participants. “It’s three days of a ton of different sporting events,” Kocer says. “We have six sports: swimming, athletics — which is track and field, bocce, cycling, soccer, tennis and developmental events.”  This year is a special one as the games are marking their 50th anniversary. “We’re doing a few different things to celebrate the 50th here in Iowa,” Kocer says, “and there’s also going to be a big 50th celebration in July in Chicago, which is where the first games were held.”

Special Olympics was started by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968. Today it is the largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

http://www.soiowa.org

University of Iowa freezes most pay increases

News

May 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa has frozen pay increases for teachers and other staff members until January. The Des Moines Register reports that it’s not certain whether the freeze will be lifted then. University administrators blame the freeze on uncertainty about revenue there will be from tuition, fees and state allocations. In April the university announced a moratorium on building projects and a review of whether to close some centers.

University of Iowa Health Care employees will receive average salary hikes of 1 percent beginning July 1. Also, workers covered by bargaining agreements will receive their scheduled pay hikes. Coaches and sports staff are paid through the athletic department’s budget and won’t be affected by the freeze. The university has more than 18,000 employees.