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Alliant Energy offers gas safety tips as temperatures drop

News

November 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Madison, WI.) – It’s that time of year when we ride a temperature rollercoaster  – in the 40’s and 50’s by day, and down into the teens at night. With the arrival of cooler weather, Alliant Energy encourages customers to be safe around natural gas. Adam Marxen, manager of gas integrity and standards for Alliant Energy, says “Safety is our top priority. As customers begin to turn on their furnaces to stay warm as temperatures drop, there are some precautions they can take to keep their families and communities safe.” 

Alliant Energy offers the following tips: 

1. Know the signs of a gas leak and what to do.

  • Signs include an odor like rotten eggs; a hiss, roar or whistle near a gas appliance, meter or pipeline; or blowing dirt, bubbling water or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area. Leave the premises immediately. From a safe location, call 911.
  • Symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, confusion, nausea and fainting can also be signs a furnace or gas appliance has malfunctioned and exposed you to natural gas or carbon monoxide. Leave the premises immediately. From a safe location, call 911.

2. Install carbon monoxide and natural gas detectors.

  • Detectors help identify odorless threats like carbon monoxide and are especially important for those with a known loss of smell. Additionally, certain soil conditions can strip the rotten egg odorant out of natural gas, making it more challenging to detect without proper equipment. If your natural gas detector goes off, move quickly to a safe location and call Alliant Energy at 1-800-255-4268. 

3. Prevent snow and ice from blocking gas vents. 

  • Once winter arrives, snow and ice can damage gas meters and pipes. Use a broom to keep gas service equipment clear. You must clear vents for gas appliances following a major snow or ice storm to enable proper venting and prevent carbon monoxide accumulation.  

4. Dig safely.

  • In addition to increased potential gas and carbon monoxide risks when the weather turns cooler, there’s also an increased risk of gas pipeline damage as homeowners rush to finish yardwork. Digging incidents are the most common cause of underground natural gas leaks. If you plan to dig, including constructing a fire pit, visit call811.com at least three days ahead of time. This will initiate a free process for utilities to locate and mark underground lines so you can dig safely.
  • Even minor damage to a gas pipeline such as nicks, scratches, cuts, scrapes, dents and gouges can result in pipeline failure or a major incident in the future if not properly assessed. Call Alliant Energy at 1-800-ALLIANT if your digging equipment or tools contact underground pipelines. 
  • Finally, never place a fire pit above a buried line. If the fire gets too hot, it could cause the gas pipeline below to leak or melt. 

Adam Marxen says “We urge customers to install natural gas and carbon monoxide detectors for greater security. Customers should replace batteries regularly and get into a routine of practicing their emergency plans annually.” 
  
For more information about gas safety, please visit alliantenergy.com/gas. 

Posted in News |

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Trading Post

November 25th, 2024 by Lori Murphy

WANTED: Used pickup ball hitch with 2″ receptacle. Can be straight or have 4″ drop. Also looking for a nut splitter (for getting tight nuts off bolts). Call 712-249-3978

FOR SALE: Bush mower for a skid loader for $3900 obo or trade. 712-355-1566 for information.

FOR SALE:  I have 4 golden retriever lab mix male puppies for sale. Born Aug 1st ,2024. For more info please call or text 712-310-7919.

Posted in Trading Post |

Iowa State Men Capture Runner-Up Finish at NCAA Championships

Sports

November 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

MADISON, Wis. – For the second time in four years, the Iowa State men are NCAA Cross Country Runners-Up. The Cyclones had four runners earn All-America status, the most since 1994.

Iowa State, ranked fourth nationally entering the 10K Championship race, got out to a solid start as Robin Kwemoi Bera and Joash Ruto both ran with the top five runners through the first 3K. ISU was third as a team at the checkpoint, as Said Mechaal, Sanele Masondo and Gable Sieperda ran between 24th and 86th to keep the Cyclones within striking distance.

Between the 4K and 5K checkpoints, Ruto was tripped up and fell 70 spots from 13th to 83rd place. Kwemoi Bera and Mechaal remained in the top 20, but ISU needed runners to step up with key finishes behind its leaders to ensure a podium finish.

Ruto rallied, surging from 83rd at 5K, to 51st at 6K and 36th at the 8K check. Masondo also steadily climbed from 40th at the halfway mark to 26th at 8K. With 1K to go, the Cyclones had four runners in the top 30 and Sieperda, ISU’s fifth scorer, was gaining as well, picking off over 20 runners between 7K to 9K to move into the top 60.

But the nation’s top-ranked team and Big 12 foe, BYU, held its team lead to the end and kept Iowa State from its first team title since 1994. The Cougars claimed two top 15 finishes and bested ISU by 13 points, 124-137.

All seven Iowa State runners finished in the top 100 while Mechaal, Masondo, Ruto and Kwemoi Bera earned All-America honors. It is the first All-America awards for Mechaal, Ruto and Kwemoi Bera and the second for Masondo after his 16th-place finish in Charlottesville a year ago.

Team Results
1. No. 1 BYU, 124; 2. No. 4 Iowa State, 137; 3. No. 3 Arkansas, 202; 4. No. 7 Wisconsin, 212; 5. No. 6 NAU, 237; 6. No. 10 North Carolina, 246; 7. No. 14 Wake Forest, 256; 8. No. 2 Oklahoma State, 256; 9. No. 5 New Mexico, 272; 10. No. 13 Notre Dame, 337; 11. No. 17 Syracuse, 342; 12. No. 9 Stanford, 356; 13. No. 19 CBU, 376; 14. No. 15 Oregon, 387; 15. No. 16 Villanova, 416; 16. No. 12 Washington, 436; 17. No. 24 Furman, 462; 18. No. 8 Alabama, 467; 19. No. 28 Colorado, 477; 20. No. 21 Butler, 481; 21. No. 11 Virginia, 487; 22. No. 23 Utah State, 554; 23. No. 25 Georgetown, 571; 24. No. 18 Princeton, 587; 25. No. 27 Ole Miss, 593; 26. No. 26 Virginia Tech, 597; 27. No. 21 Harvard, 598; 28. No. 30 Tulane, 691; 29. No. 19 Eastern Kentucky, 698; 30. No. 29 Wyoming, 707; 31. Tulsa, 754

Individual Results
1. Graham Banks, Harvard, 28:37.2; 10. Said Mechaal, Iowa State, 28:59.8; 23. Sanele Masondo, Iowa State, 29:16.8; 34. Joash Ruto, Iowa State, 29:22.4; 37. Robin Kwemoi Bera, Iowa State, 29:23.9; 49. Gable Sieperda, Iowa State, 29:31.7; 93. Devan Kipyego, Iowa State, 29:51.9; 94. Tim Sindt, Iowa State, 29:52.4

Posted in Sports |

Creston Police report 5 arrests; 2 on drug charges

News

November 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports five people were arrested over the weekend, two of them were arrested on drug, burglary & theft charges. Saturday morning, 51-year-old Jason Allan Lohoff, of the Trails End Camp Ground, was arrested at 118 Manor Drive in Creston. Lohoff was charged with Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a controlled substance, Marijuana/1st offense, Theft in the 2nd Degree, and Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Lohoff was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $11,300. Also in connection with that same incident, 35-year-old Jennifer Ann Self, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a controlled substance/Marijuana-1st offense, Intent Manufacture/Deliver Meth, Theft in the 2nd- and Burglary 3rd-Degree. Self was taken to the Union County Jail where she is being held on a bond of $25,000.

At around 2:25-a.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 24-year-old Ronan Francis Noeth, of Creston, for OWI/1st Offense and Carrying a Weapon – While Intoxicated (OWI). Noeth was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $2,000.

Just before Noon, Saturday, 24-year-old Louis Riley Lumbard, of Creston, was arrested for Driving Suspended. Lumbard was cited and released from the scene on a promise to appear. And, late Sunday morning, 69-year-old Michael Dennis Seddon, of Creston, was arrested on an Assault charge. Seddon was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $300.

Posted in News |

Hawkeyes Win Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Dual, 21-15

Sports

November 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – For the 20th straight meeting between the two, the second-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes were victorious over #12 Iowa State, 21-15, in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Dual on Saturday night.

The Hawkeyes won six matches: four by decision, one by major decision and one by technical fall.

“Gutsy performance,” said head coach Tom Brands. “When everything doesn’t quite go that way. It was too quiet upstairs, and Terry was up there breathing fire. We had a bad thing happen at the break. We have got to get ready to go. Then you got Caliendo, Kennedy, Ferrari and Buchanan. Kueter had the guy right where he needed him, he worked hard to get him in that position. That is where you have got to capitalize.”

Iowa State got on the board first as Adrian Meza won a 5-1 decision at 125 pounds over No. 27 Kale Petersen. Iowa evened the score at 133 with an upset win from ninth-ranked Drake Ayala over No. 5 Evan Frost, 11-7.

Iowa state won at 141, as Zach Redding defeated No. 31 Ryder Block, 5-4. Iowa responded again by evening things up with a win at 149 as No. 4 Kyle Parco collected a ranked win over No. 7 Anthony Echemendia, 4-3. Parco trailed three to one going into the third, but two penalty points and an escape earned him the win.

Iowa State led, 12-6, at the break after No. 1 Jacori Teemer injury defaulted against tenth-ranked Paniro Johnson at 157 pounds.

The Hawkeyes won the first four weights coming out of the break to clinch the dual.

Second-ranked Michael Caliendo won at 165 defeating Connor Euton via a 12-7 decision. Caliendo used two third period takedowns to pull away.

Patrick Kennedy made his season debut for the Hawkeyes notching bonus points for the Hawkeyes at 174 pounds with a tech. fall over Aiden Riggins, 19-4

True freshman Angelo Ferrari made his Carver-Hawkeye Arena debut at 184 with an upset win over No. 15 Evan Bockman, 8-2. No. 2 Stephen Buchanan clinched the dual for the Hawkeyes with a major decision over 20th-ranked Christain Carroll winning 10-0.

“I felt ready,” said Ferrari. “I have the best partners in the country all around me. I am wrestling better guys than this guy every single day. How can I not dominate out there.”

Fourth ranked Younger Bastida won a decision over No. 13 Ben Kueter to close out the dual.

#2 Iowa 21, #12 Iowa State 15
125 – Adrian Meza (ISU) dec. #27 Kale Petersen (IA), 5-1
133 – #9 Drake Ayala (IA) dec. #5 Evan Frost (ISU), 11-7
141 – Zach Redding (ISU) dec. #31 Ryder Block (IA), 5-4
149 – #4 Kyle Parco (IA) dec. #7 Anthony Echemendia (ISU), 4-3
157 – #10 Paniro Johnson (ISU) inj. default #1 Jacori Teemer (IA), 3:32
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (IA) dec. Connor Euton (ISU), 12-7
174 – Patrick Kennedy (IA) tech. fall Aiden Riggins (ISU), 19-4
184 – Angelo Ferrari (IA) dec. #15 Evan Bockman (ISU), 8-2
197 – #2 Stephen Buchanan (IA) major dec. #20 Christian Carroll, 10-0
285 – #4 Yonger Bastida (ISU) dec. #13 Ben Kueter (IA), 7-2

Attendance: 14,847
Officials: Curt Frost, Derek Lark

Posted in Sports |

DENNIS L. EUKEN, 87, of Red Oak (No services)

Obituaries

November 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DENNIS L. EUKEN, 87, of Red Oak, died November 14th (2024), in Red Oak. No services are planned for DENNIS EUKEN. Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements.

DENNIS EUKEN is survived by:

His brother – Craig Euken, of Red Oak.

1 grandson, other relatives and friends.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.sldfuneralhome.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Iowa’s turkey production down about 25%, prices up nearly a dollar

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Ag News) –  Thanksgiving remains one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States, with over 90% of Americans observing the tradition each year. For many, it ranks as a favorite holiday, bringing together family and friends around a meal that often centers on one iconic dish: roast turkey. Yet, few people consider the agricultural effort behind this holiday staple. Each year, an estimated 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving alone, with production largely concentrated in a handful of states. More than 85% of U.S. turkey production takes place in just 13 states, with North Carolina and Minnesota leading as the top producers. Together, these two states contribute more than 30% of the nation’s total turkey output.

Outside of North Carolina and Minnesota, Indiana is a major producer, contributing 11.9% of U.S. turkey production by weight, followed by Arkansas at 7.8% and Iowa at 7.3%. In general, turkey production is largely concentrated along or east of the Mississippi River, although California stands out as a notable exception. To determine the top turkey producers, researchers ranked states based on 2023 total turkey production, measured in pounds. Some national and Iowa statistics:

  • The rise and fall of turkey production in the U.S.: Since 1960, per capita turkey production rose sharply and peaked in 1996 at 26.8 pounds per person. However, in 2022, annual production had dropped to just 20 pounds per person—a decline of approximately 25%.
  • Rising prices and shifting consumer demand: Health concerns and changing dietary preferences play a significant role, with more Americans choosing plant-based diets and reducing meat consumption. Rising turkey prices, which increased from $0.80 per pound in 2018 to $1.40 per pound in 2023, also impact consumption.
  • Larger birds soften the decline: The average size of turkeys raised in the U.S. has nearly doubled since the 1960s—averaging 32 pounds per bird compared to around 18 pounds in the 1960s. This trend has helped maintain relatively high production levels even as the total number of turkeys raised has declined (a peak of approximately 303 million birds annually in 1996, but an estimated 218 million birds in 2023).
  • Iowa produces 7.3% of America’s turkey by weight: In 2023, Iowa raised 11.5 million turkeys, with an average weight of 44.2 pounds per bird. In total, Iowa produced over 500 million pounds of turkey last year—the 5th most in the nation.

Here is a summary of the data for Iowa:

  • Turkey production (pounds): 508,300,000
  • Turkey production value (dollars): $477,802,000
  • Turkeys raised: 11,500,000
  • Average turkey size (pounds): 44.2
  • Share of U.S. turkey production: 7.3%
  • Share of U.S. turkeys raised: 5.3%

The analysis was conducted by Trace One—a company specializing in regulatory compliance for the food and beverage industry—using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Weekend Atlantic Rotary Auction & Raffle raises over $25k for community initiatives & SRO program

News

November 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic) The 41st Annual Atlantic Rotary Club Auction Saturday night, raised $25,300. All of the proceeds from the event will be reinvested into local community initiatives. Net proceeds from the raffle will benefit the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. The auction and raffle were held at the Atlantic Community Center.

Rotary leaders says since its inception, the Atlantic Rotary Club has raised over $1.3 million to support various community non-profit projects, underscoring their commitment to making a positive impact in the region.

Posted in News |

Field fire reported in Montgomery County early Sunday afternoon

News

November 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Montgomery County, Iowa) – Fire fighters from Red Oak and Stanton were dispatched to the scene of a field fire Sunday afternoon at 2343 J Ave. In a post on social media, Red Oak fire officials said crews responded to the site south/southeast of Red Oak at around 12:34-p.m. In addition to the two fire departments, neighboring farmers responded with their tractors and disks. (Photos are from the Red Oak FD’s Facebook page)

Authorities say debris from a burn pit near a residence is believed to have started the fire. No injuries were reported and the incident command was terminated a little more than an hour later.

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Johnson family (with their tractors and disks) were on the scene. Montgomery County Communications coordinated emergency response efforts.

Posted in News |

Grassley praises Trump’s new nominee for A.G.

News

November 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley says President-elect Trump’s second pick to serve as attorney general is well-regarded and experienced. Grassley will be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2025 and will oversee the confirmation hearing for former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Grassley says senators will learn more about her in the coming weeks, but Grassley says he worked with Bondi on criminal justice reform during Trump’s first term.

Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination to be Trump’s attorney general last Thursday, and Trump announced he’d nominate Bondi for the job.

Posted in News |