Midwest buying spree lifted US new-home sales in November

December 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — A buying spree in the Midwest spurred new U.S. home sales last month to the fastest pace since July. The Commerce Department says new-home sales in November rose 5.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate 592,000. It was the fastest pace since July’s 622,000. Sales were up 16.5 percent from November 2015.

Sales in the Midwest shot up 43.8 percent, the region’s biggest monthly increase since October 2012. Sales were up 7.7 percent in the West, flat in the Northeast and down 3.1 percent in the South.

Demand for new homes has been strong this year, helped by a healthy job market and low mortgage rates. But cheap loans may be vanishing. Long-term mortgage rates have risen since the election and this week hit the highest level since 2014.

Posted in News |

Small town utilities seek state money for water quality projects

News

December 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Utility officials who serve small town Iowa are lobbying legislators to keep money for their towns in any water quality plan that may emerge in 2017. Tim Whipple, the general counsel for the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, say “With all the talk about farmers and drainage districts, lawsuits and nitrates, it’s easy to forget that our state also has a multi-billion dollar municipal infrastructure problem as well and right now that burden is falling squarely on rate-payers and taxpayers in our small, rural communities.”

The plan to finance water quality projects that was approved by House Republicans nearly a year ago included money to help small communities finance required improvements to sewage systems and water treatment plants. “As the legislature moves forward with water quality funding, I hope you will remember that small communities need funding assistance every bit as much as farmers for the costly infrastructure upgrades that they need to remain attractive places to live and work,” Whipple says.

Whipple grew up in rural Franklin County. He went to elementary school in Hampton. In addition to lobbying for more state money to city-owned water treatment plants, the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities has been seeking more options in how cities are allowed to finance waste-water projects.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Iowa inventory of hogs and pigs reaches record 22.4 million

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the number of hogs and pigs on Iowa farms has reached a new record high. As of Dec. 1 Iowa had 22.4 million hogs and pigs, the largest inventory ever reported. That is up 1 percent from the previous quarter and 7 percent higher than the same date a year ago.

Iowa is the nation’s leading hog producer by far. North Carolina had 9.3 million head, Minnesota was at 8.3 million and Illinois had 5.1 million as of Dec. 1. The national inventory was 71.5 million, 4 percent higher than a year ago.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Winter Weather Advisory cancelled for all of western Iowa

Weather

December 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

147 PM CST FRI DEC 23 2016

SNOW WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST THIS AFTERNOON….SNOW IS BEGINNING TO DIMINISH AND WILL END DURING THE AFTERNOON…WITH LIGHT ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS BEFORE SUNSET.

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED. SOME ROADS MAY REMAIN SLICK HOWEVER.

Posted in Weather |

EDWARD FISHER III, 60, of Harlan (12-28-2016)

Obituaries

December 23rd, 2016 by Jim Field

EDWARD FISHER III, 60, of Harlan died December 15th at his home. A memorial service for EDWARD FISHER III will be held on Wednesday, December 28th at 1:30 pm at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

——————————————————————————

EDWARD FISHER III is survived by:

Wife: Maggie Fisher of Harlan

Mother: Catherine Grace Crothers of San Diego, CA

Son: Edward Herbert (Caroline) Fisher IV of Santa Monica, CA

Daughter: Millie Christina Fisher of Birmingham, AL

Step-Son: Ryan Swift of Birmingham, AL

Step-Daughter: Megan Swift of Birmingham, AL

Brothers: David (Mardy) Fisher of San Diego, CA & Arthur Fisher of San Diego, CA

Aunts: Margery Vanderpool of San Diego, CA & Claudia Allen of San Diego, CA.

2 Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

Winter Weather Advisory (Update 10:45-a.m.)

Weather

December 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM. (12/23). MONONA-HARRISON-POTTAWATTAMIE & SHELBY COUNTIES: A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1-P.M.

* TIMING…SNOW WILL PERSIST INTO THE AFTERNOON…THEN END FROM
WEST TO EAST BEFORE SUNSET.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…3 TO 5 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE COUNTIES NORTH OF I-80.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…SOUTH AT 15 TO 25 MPH AND GUSTY. VISIBILITIES
WILL BE REDUCED AT TIMES TO LESS THAN ONE HALF MILE IN SNOW AT
TIMES. SOME PATCHY BLOWING SNOW IS ALSO EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS…SLICK…SNOW-COVERED ROADS. REDUCED VISIBILITIES.
TRAVEL WITH CAUTION. REDUCE YOUR SPEED AND INCREASE THE SPACING
BETWEEN YOU AND THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF YOU. HOLIDAY TRAVELERS
SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO ROAD CONDITIONS BY CHECKING THE LATEST
ROAD REPORT PRIOR TO HEADING OUT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES, AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

Posted in Weather |

Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Team Rankings

Sports

December 23rd, 2016 by Jim Field

IWCOA Class 1-A Dual Team Rankings, 12/20/2016

School Record through 12/17/16 Overall Ranking

Lisbon 14-3 1

Don Bosco, Gilbertville 11-3 2

Sibley-Ocheyedan 9-0 3

Missouri Valley 10-1 4

Logan-Magnolia 12-1 5

Lake Mills 11-2 6

Westwood, Sloan 13-0 7

Wapsie Valley, Fairbank 9-1 8

Dike-New Hartford 5-0 9

Sigourney 9-0 10

MFL MarMac 9-2 11

Maquoketa Valley, Delhi 15-2 12

Central Springs 7-1 13

Southeast Warren, Liberty Center 4-2 14

Alburnett 4-6 15

North Linn, Troy Mills 8-3 16

IWCOA Class 2-A Dual Team Rankings, 12/20/2016

School Record through 12/17/16 Overall Ranking

New Hampton 5-0 1

Solon 8-1 2

Atlantic 7-0 3

Creston 5-1 4

Assumption, Davenport 9-4 5T

Washington 16-0 5T

Sergeant Bluff-Luton 6-1 7

Crestwood, Cresco 9-4 8

Denver 6-0 9

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 6-0 10

Mount Vernon 4-2 11

West Liberty 7-0 12

Spirit Lake Park 5-3 13

South Tama County, Tama 8-1 14

Central Lyon George Little Rock 7-0 15

Webster City 6-3 16

IWCOA Class 3-A Dual Team Rankings, 12/20/2016

School Record through 12/16/17 Overall Ranking

Valley, West Des Moines 8-1 1

Southeast Polk 6-0 2

Fort Dodge 4-0 3

North Scott, Eldridge 10-1 4

Waverly-Shell Rock 12-2 5

Epworth, Western Dubuque 14-4 6

Indianola 8-2 7

Johnston 3-0 8

Prairie, Cedar Rapids 8-3 9

Dubuque, Hempstead 10-2 10

Glenwood 6-1 11

Waukee 10-3 12

Dowling Catholic, WDM 4-4 13

Linn-Mar, Marion 9-2 14

Ankeny Centennial 8-3 15

Iowa City, City High 6-4 16

Iowa City, West 5-5 17

Norwalk 8-0 18

Cedar Rapids, Kennedy 3-2 19

Cedar Rapids Jefferson 3-2 20T

Clinton 2-2 20T

Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 4-1 22T

Mount Pleasant 7-1 22T

Ankeny 5-3 24

Posted in Sports |

Holiday weather frightful for some, with snow and storms

News, Weather

December 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – The weather outside will be frightful for some holiday travelers this weekend, with snow stretching from the Rocky Mountains to the upper Midwest on Christmas Eve and possible severe weather in the middle of the U.S. on Christmas Day. Forecasters cautioned travelers to keep alternate routes in mind and prepare for possible delays.

There is a blizzard watch posted for much of the Dakotas and a winter storm watch in effect from Montana to Lake Superior. The Storm Prediction Center cautioned that warm, humid air would bring possible severe weather to the Plains states on Sunday – reaching as far north as Omaha, Nebraska.

A lesser threat of severe weather extended southward into Arkansas and Oklahoma, where the atmosphere would be warm but more stable.

Posted in News, Weather |

RFA leader not overly concerned with Trump administration posts

Ag/Outdoor

December 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Many ethanol industry officials are concerned that President-elect Donald Trump has selected people who have strong ties to “Big Oil” to fill key administration posts. Those include former Texas Governor Rick Perry for energy secretary, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for EPA administrator, and ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. But, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says he’s not overly concerned. He says all that really matters is who is in charge.

Bob Dinneen

“While these people may not be strong ethanol advocates themselves, it is not the Scott Pruitt administration. It is not the Rick Perry administration. It is not even the Rex Tillerson administration. It is the Donald J. Trump presidency,” Dinneen says. Iowa is the nation’s top producer of ethanol. Dinneen is confident the Trump administration will be pro-ethanol.

“He wants to see ethanol being used. He sees renewable fuels as a part of our nation’s energy future. It’s going to be Scott Pruitt’s responsibility to implement Donald Trump’s agenda,” Dinneen says.

Earlier this month, Governor Terry Branstad also expressed confidence the new Trump administration will be pro-ethanol. Branstad said while he’s “concerned” about the fact Pruitt is from an oil-producing state, the governor was “reassured” about the appointment in a meeting with Trump. “First thing Trump told me is, ‘don’t worry about (Pruitt), he’s going to be for ethanol,'” Branstad said.

(Reporting by Ken Anderson, Brownfield Ag News)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |