A very busy year is drawing to a close for the American Red Cross chapter that covers western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Agency spokeswoman Danelle Schlegelmilch says they were on their toes all through 2011. “We responded to over 400 disasters in our area and we also sent 200 local volunteers out throughout the country to help out with the 137 big disasters that we had,” Schlegelmilch says. “Tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes and a little bit of everything under the sun this year.” She says by far, the largest and longest disaster they had to deal with was the four-month Missouri River flood which socked the region.

“That really did hit us hard,” Schlegelmilch says. “We had 11 shelters open. We served over 23,000 meals and snacks and gave out 13,000 clean-up kits and clean-up items so it definitely kept us busy this summer.” The Red Cross provided nearly 300 people with overnight lodging at the shelters during the flood. Also during the year, Schlegelmilch says they responded to several tornadoes that plowed through neighborhoods and towns.

“We had volunteers respond to Mapleton, Iowa, Alabama, Arkansas, pretty much all over the South wherever those tornados hit, we had local volunteers who stepped up and put on their Red Cross vests and went out and served,” she says. “We really want to thank everyone for all of their hard work and dedication this year.” Schlegelmilch says the region is very fortunate so many people volunteer their time to those needing assistance. The Omaha-based chapter has more than one-thousand active volunteers.

(Radio Iowa)

Republican Presidential contender Ron Paul today (Thursday) called for a full audit of the Federal Reserve system as part of his plan to overhaul the U-S economy and reduce Federal Government spending by $1-Trillion during his first year in office. Speaking before an overflow crowd in Atlantic at the Cass County Community Center, the Congressman from Texas also said a new monetary system is needed in this country.

Ron Paul (R) - TX speaks at the Cass County Community Center

He says there is no oversight of the Fed. Congress, according to Paul can spend Trillions of dollars and hundreds of millions, but the Fed spent $15-trillion on the bank and mortgage company bailouts without any oversight by Congress. That errant spending, he says, is what contributed to the current financial crisis, and why he wants an audit of the Fed Reserve. Paul said one of the ways we could reduce spending is by eliminating the Education Department. Another, is reducing the role our military plays overseas. He says he would start by cutting spending overseas first, which can be accomplished by changing foreign policy.

His policy would include stepping back from being the world’s policeman, and nation building. The money that would be saved by reducing those roles, he says, would allow a strengthening of our country’s defense at home. He says he would bring all of our troops home, from wherever they may be. He says he sees no purpose for troops to be maintained overseas, when they could be here at home and spending money here. He said also, there needs to be changes in the tax code to bring U-S companies who have moved their operations overseas, back to America.

That would also include an elimination of the inheritance tax. Paul said he would protect Social Security however, and keep the checks coming to those who need it most, such as the elderly and poor who are dependent on it for medical care. Paul spoke for about 45-minutes before answering a few questions, and moving on to Council Bluffs.

The Cass County Conservation Service has teamed up with a local store to help feed the Trumpeter swans at the Schildberg Quarry Recreational Area, in Atlantic. Officials say when you buy a bag of Whole Cleaned Corn at the Atlantic Orscheln store at the cash registers, the store’s staff will set it aside for the Trumpeter Swans. Four bags will fill the swans’ feeder. Your opportunity to buy the corn for the large-winged birds is available now through Jan. 31^st, 2012. And, don’t forget, you can join the Cass County Conservation Staff at Atlantic’s  Schildberg Quarry on Saturday, January 7^th 2012, when staffers will be giving ten-minute presentations about the Trumpeter Swans every half-hour beginning at 11:00 a.m., with the last one being presented at 2:00 p.m.  

The Schildberg Quarry is located on the northwest edge of Atlantic, on the north side of Highway 83. If the weather is bad, or the swans are not at the quarry, the program will be held at the Atlantic Public Library from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., with a light lunch available. The “Soiree with the Swans” event is sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Atlantic Public Library.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Authorities in western Iowa say a rural Denison man apparently fell down a well to his death last night (Wednesday).  56-year-old Randall Allen Lilleyholm was attempting to climb into a well when the ladder he was using broke and he fell 10-to-12 feet. Lilleyholm was pronounced dead at the scene by Crawford County EMS.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Republican presidential contender Ron Paul is back in Iowa, running strongly in the polls and questioning why the U.S. needs troops in former Cold War hot spots. In an appearance Wednesday in Newton, the Texas Congressman strongly suggested U.S. forces be withdrawn from South Korea, Japan and Germany. The 76-year-old obstetrician also drew laughs when he said that American troops have been in Korea since he was in high school. Paul GOP presidential rivals have attacked him this week for allegedly not caring whether Iran obtains a nuclear weapon.

Ron Paul will campaign in both Atlantic and Council Bluffs today. He’s scheduled to hold a town hall meeting at the Cass County Community Center, beginning at 3:00 p.m.  Afterward, Paul travels to the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs,  for another town hall meeting, at 7:00 p.m.

Here’s the Skyscan Weather forecast for the KJAN listening area….

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Police in Red Oak report three young people were arrested early this morning for being in possession of alcohol. 19-year old Brian Axl Schooling and 18-year old Natacia Raynae Houston were cited for Possession of Alcohol Under the Legal Age, while 17-year old Dillon Makenzie Terry was cited for being a Minor in Possession of Alcohol. All three are from Red Oak. They were taken into custody at around 3-a.m., cited and released, with Terry being released to the custody of a parent.