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Heartbeat Today 12-12-2017

Ag/Outdoor, Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

December 12th, 2017 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Amanda Van Steen Wyk of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation about the “Take Root” program.

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 12/12/2017

Podcasts, Sports

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

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

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Creston Police report, 12/12/17

News

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department says a woman residing in the 500 block of W. Montgomery Street reported Monday afternoon, that sometime between Dec. 5th and 11th, someone went through her vehicle and broke a door handle. The incident, which happened while the vehicle was parked outside her residence, resulted in damage amounted to about $100.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 12/12/2017

News, Podcasts

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

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

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Tanker truck crash causes leak of 1,500 gallons of ethanol

News

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DUBUQUE COUNTY, Iowa (AP) — The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office says a tanker truck rollover crash caused about 1,500 gallons of ethanol to leak from the truck’s tanker. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the crash happened just after 1 p.m. Monday near Epworth. Investigators say the 54-year-old driver was traveling east on Old Highway Road when he lost control while rounding a curve, causing the tanker to roll over.

Epworth Firefighters built a containment dike in a field to keep the ethanol from entering any waterways, and the sheriff’s office called in a hazmat crew from Ankeny. The truck driver was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries.

Officials: 2 convicted of murder attacked officers in jail

News

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two men recently convicted of murder in high-profile cases were among inmates who attacked two officers at the Des Moines County Correctional Center in Burlington, seriously injuring one. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office tells the Des Moines Register that 23-year-old Jorge Sanders-Galvez, convicted last month of first-degree murder in the killing of a gender-fluid Burlington teen, and 24-year-old Earl Booth-Harris, convicted of killing a Burlington man, attacked a guard Sunday.

Des Moines County Sheriff’s Lt. Brett Grimshaw says two sheriff’s officers were looking for homemade alcohol when a male deputy was attacked. His female partner tried to intervene, but was held back by another inmate. Responding officers were able to pull the injured deputies from the cell. The female officer was treated for minor cuts and bruises. The male officer was hospitalized with severe injuries. Their names have not been released.

DELIA ARLENE BENTON, 98, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 12/14/17)

Obituaries

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DELIA ARLENE BENTON, 98, of Guthrie Center, died Monday, Dec. 11th. Funeral services for DELIA BENTON will be held 2-p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14th, at the First United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the Twigg Funeral Home IN PANORA on Wed., Dec. 13th, from 5-until 7-p.m., with the family present during those hours.

Burial will be in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

Online condolences may be left at www.twiggfuneralhome.com.

NORA MARDELLE SCHECHINGER, age 27 days, of Panama (Mass of Christian Burial 12/13/17)

Obituaries

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

27-day old NORA MARDELLE SCHECHINGER, of Panama, died Saturday, Dec. 9th, at Children’s Hospital in Omaha. A Mass of Christian Burial for NORA MARDELLE SCHECHINGER will be held 11-a.m. Wed., Dec. 13th, at St. Mary’s of the Assumption in Panama. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends this evening (Tuesday, Dec. 12th) at the funeral home, from 6-until 8-p.m.

Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery at Panama.

NORA MARDELLE SCHECHINGER is survived by:

Her mother and father – Jennifer and Matthew Schechinger, both of Panama.

Her brother, Grahm Schechinger and Sister Gretta Schechinger, both of Panama.

Her Maternal Grandparents – Gary & Becki Petersen, of Muscatine, and Paternal Grandparents Robert & Norene Schechinger, of Panama.

Official says housing tax credit program should be competitive

News

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The administrator of the state’s economic development agency there’s a big need for more housing in Iowa and she’s proposing a change in the way state tax incentives are awarded to “workforce housing” projects. State income tax credits and sales tax rebates are currently awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for new or renovated housing projects. “I just don’t think that’s how you run a program and we want to go to the legislature where they would let us make it competitive and we’d do a scoring process.”

That’s Iowa Economic Development Authority director Debi Durham. Each year, the state awards 20-million dollars worth of tax incentives to developers building housing aimed for working-age Iowans. Durham says the waiting list for these tax credits stretches to 2021. In the future, Durham says the projects should be prioritized and awarded in areas with the most critical housing shortages. “And then we can be a little bit discerning about how we can distribute it around the state and so that’s one of the changes we want to make,” Durham says. “…If we’re not going to get more capacity in the program, then we need to make sure we’re putting the dollars where they really need to be.”

Iowa’s housing shortage is magnified in smaller cities, where few new houses are being built. Durham’s agency has set aside five-million dollars in its 20-million dollar yearly tax incentive package for housing projects in “small cities.” “Places like Tama or Wright County where you’re seeing Prestage go, I mean they’re really, really needing houses up in those areas,” Durham says. “…That $5 million, I think it’s too low. If we had the capacity, I think we need to do a stronger carve-out.”

But given state spending constraints, Durham has presented a “status quo” budget plan to the governor for the coming year. Many business owners cite the shortage of single-family homes and apartments in Iowa as an impediment to hiring new employees.

(Radio Iowa)

Plan to spend some cash to go to bowl games for ISU and Iowa

Sports

December 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Cyclone and Hawkeye football fans who plan to cheer on their teams in bowl games this month will spend many hundreds of dollars for airfare, lodging and tickets, with Iowa fans shelling out the most. Travel agent Jeanenne Tornatore says game tickets will run 63-dollars, minimum, to see the University of Iowa play Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York’s Yankee Stadium on December 27th. “Not bad compared to a lot of the other bowl games,” Tornatore says. “If you compare this to some of the huge bowl games, like the Cotton Bowl is $145 and median ticket prices to the Sugar Bowl are $375. So, think of it that way and you’re getting a bargain.”

It’s a long drive to New York, but also it’s an expensive flight. She ran the numbers to fly from Des Moines to New York, leaving December 26th and returning on the 29th. “Non-stop out of Des Moines to New York City was $838 while one-stop flights out of Des Moines were a little bit cheaper at $636,” Tornatore says. “If you happen live somewhere in Iowa that may be the same distance to get to Chicago, that’s going to be your best bet. Non-stop flights from Chicago to New York were just $304 so that’s definitely the way to go.” As you’d expect, hotel rooms in the Big Apple don’t come cheap. “They’re a bit pricey. It’s the week of Christmas,” Tornatore says. “Also, with these big games, four-star hotels in the city are starting at $250 per night. Three-star hotels from $165. Nothing crazy. I’ve seen them a lot higher in New York with different events going on. This is about the average any time of year you’d be paying to stay in New York City.”

Iowa State University is headed to Memphis, Tennessee, to play Memphis in the Liberty Bowl on December 30th. Tornatore says Cyclones fans will have to pay more for game tickets but they can likely find cheaper hotel rooms in Memphis than Hawks fans in New York. “Game tickets are starting at $85, so they’re actually a little bit pricier than what folks going to the Pinstripe Bowl will be paying,” she says. “Flights out of Des Moines, one-stop flights are $698 and flights out of Chicago are around $300.”

While Iowa fans will be paying big bucks to stay overnight in New York, I-S-U’s fans will be able to find much cheaper places to stay during their bowl game. “Hotels in Memphis are definitely where you’re going to be able to save,” she says. “Three-star hotels are starting at $127. Plenty of options, plenty of availability. Four-star hotels coming in just under $200, so Memphis is definitely more of a bargain when it comes to your lodging options.” Iowa State was allotted 15-thousand tickets for the game and they’ve all been sold, but Tornatore says reputable secondary-market ticket outlets still have plenty of Liberty Bowl tickets available.

(Radio Iowa)