w/ Ric Hanson

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Bell Ringer’s in Cass County collected more than $8,240 during the campaign held this year at three sites in Atlantic. According to Bell Ringing Chair Mark Wedemeyer, the donations, which benefit the Salvation Army’s local chapter, amounted to $8,241.91. Donations were down more than $2,360 from last year. Bell Ringing Co-Chair Teresa Kanning said donations in 2012 amounted to $10,608. In 2011, they were $8,605. Donations in 2010 amounted to $5,827 and in 2009, $5,264. Kanning said residents of Cass County have always been very supportive of the Salvation Army, and they are always grateful for every penny and dollar they receive.

Mark Wedemeyer told KJAN News he really doesn’t know why donations are down, except to say that there was one less weekend for fundraising this year, and that farmers may have been less inclined to contribute due to the decline in the price they are getting for their corn. Two years ago, corn was selling for about $7 per bushel. This year, it’s down to $4 per bushel. Kanning added that colder weather may also have contributed to the reduced number of people getting out to drop funds into the kettles.

Bell Ringing Chair Mark Wedemeyer (right) and a volunteer bell ringer. (Teresa Kanning/photo)

She said they had plenty of volunteers to ring bells this year, and several brought unique aspects to their shifts, bringing smiles to many people. Last year’s donations were used to: Aid stranded motorists with their basic needs; Assist low income families with the purchase of athletic shoes; Donate money to the Shop with a Cop and Family Dream Christmas programs, and donate supplies to the Parents as Teachers program.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Vision Iowa Board awarded 23 projects around the state with Community Attraction and Tourism — or “CAT” — grants this year, including those located in Harlan, Coon Rapids, Templeton and Winterset, Board spokesperson Jessica O’Riley says the CAT program reached a big milestone in 2013. “The total CAT project costs, from the very first CAT award to this year, topped one-billion dollars,” O’Riley says.

The CAT program was launched 14 years ago. In 2013, the total CAT project costs topped 42-million dollars ($42 million). The Vision Iowa Board awarded just over five-point-five million dollars ($5.5 million) to those projects.

The smallest CAT grant award this year was 25-thousand dollars ($25,000) toward the construction of a park pavilion in the small northwest Iowa town of Moville. The largest awards went to massive projects in Des Moines and Pella. The Vision Iowa Board awarded a one-million dollar grant to the Pella Sports Park project, which carries a total price tag of nearly $7.5 million. Officials in Pella believe the facility, once opened in 2015, will draw regional tournaments.

Locally: The Merrill Field Renovation Project in Harlan and the Templeton Community Center Project each received $200,000 from Vision Iowa; A project that incorporates the construction of 35 miles of state-of-the-art “soft trails” through a seven-square-mile landscape at Whiterock Conservancy near Coon Rapids, received $400,000, and the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset also received $400,000 from Vision Iowa.  

The biggest CAT grant awarded in 2013 was $1.1 million for the renovation of a 35-year-old public space in downtown Des Moines formerly known as Nollen Plaza. The $9.7 million project, called Cowles Commons, will include gardens, a new water feature, and a new stage for Des Moines Performing Arts programs.

(Radio Iowa)

Assuming there’s snow on the ground, the Hitchock Nature Center in Honey Creek will hold its annual guided snowshoe hike through the Loess Hills on Jan. 11th. The Omaha World-Herald reports the event is scheduled to start at 10-a.m. and 1-p.m., and will allow visitors to learn about winter ecology, the animals and migrant birds.

Each hike averages about 15-to 20-people. The event is designed for those 12 and older, and costs $5 per person. The price includes the hike, refreshments and use of snowshoes. Pre-registration and pre-payment is required by Jan. 10th. You can call 712-242-1197 to register.

There must be at least 4-inches of snow on the ground in order for the event to take place. If there’s no snow, the Hitchcock Center will cancel the event and return your registration fees.

For more information, go to www.pottcoconservation.com/parks-and-habitat-areas/hitchcock-nature-center/

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) is developing a website that will list available rental properties throughout the state. It’s free for landlords to post a listing and a dedicated call center makes sure that available listings are kept current. IFA spokesperson Ashley Jared says they expect ‘Iowa Housing Search dot org’ (www.iowahousingsearch.org) to go live in mid-January. She believes it will fill a need in the state.
“There is not one current listing of rentals in the state of Iowa. Our office gets calls daily from renters and people who would like to rent, asking what’s available,” Jared says.

The IFA can direct people to some listings, according to Jared, but they often are not updated to show which properties are actually available. “This website is going to be different…it tracks units that are actually vacant and we have a call center that’s dedicated to following up with landlords on an every two-week basis to make sure the information is up to date and accurate,” Jared says. In the coming weeks, Jared says the IFA will be reaching out to landlords to post available properties on the website.

Statewide, she estimates over 13-thousand (13,000) units have already been listed. Thirty-four other states have similar websites, including Colorado, which has used their site to help flood victims find affordable housing quickly.

(Radio Iowa)

A man from central Minnesota was struck and killed by a car late Wednesday night on Interstate 35 in south central Iowa. The State Patrol reports 74-year old Lawrence Anderson, of Marine on St. Croix, MN, was chasing a dog that had gotten away from a stranded vehicle on the shoulder of I-35 in Warren County, when he was hit in the left lane of the interstate by a southbound SUV. Anderson died at the scene. The driver of the SUV was not injured.

Officials say the accident happened near the St. Charles Exit (Mile marker 52) at around 10:30-p.m., Wednesday. The driver of the 1997 Chevy Suburban that struck Anderson was identified as 34-year old Shelton Short, of Osceola. The Patrol says Short did not see Anderson on the road and was unable to avoid the collision.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

ST. CHARLES, Iowa — A man from central Minnesota was struck and killed by a car late Wednesday night on Interstate 35 in south central Iowa. The State Patrol reports 74-year old Lawrence Andserson, of Marine on St. Croix, MN, was chasing a dog that had gotten away from a stranded vehicle on the shoulder of I-35, when he was hit in the left lane of the interstate by a southbound SUV. Anderson died at the scene. The driver of the SUV was not injured.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines-area police want people to know that leaving your car out in a snowstorm can cost you. The Register reports that police in Des Moines and the surrounding communities issued more than 1,400 citations to people who didn’t follow snow removal ordinances over the weekend. Under those rules, drivers typically can’t leave vehicles on the street after an inch of snow has fallen. These rules make it easier to clear the streets.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman with an ongoing feud over a doormat has been accused of attacking her neighbor on Christmas Eve. Des Moines police say 40-year-old Dana Allen was arrested Tuesday night following an incident at an apartment complex on the city’s east side. The Register says Allen is charged with assault.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have identified a woman killed in a Christmas Eve shooting. Police said yesterday that 34-year-old Johnita Clemons of Des Moines was found Tuesday night inside a home on the city’s north side. Gunshots had been reported earlier in the area. Police say four witnesses were taken in for questioning. Additional information about them has not been released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has begun its late muzzleloader deer season. The state Department of Natural Resources says the season began Monday. Hunters are required to wear blaze orange, and party hunting is prohibited. The late muzzleloader deer season runs through January 10th.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa-based whiskey company has shot to success since becoming a licensed brand eight years ago.  Sioux City television station KTIV reports that Templeton Rye whiskey became an officially licensed brand on Christmas Eve of 2005. The company, based in the small town of Templeton, has gained national recognition since then and is now shipping bottles to 40 states.

Templeton Rye whiskey was first made during prohibition in the 1920s and has been produced since then, but was never a legal brand. Company president Scott Bush is a great-nephew of some of the original producers of the whiskey. He says he wanted to preserve a piece of history.