United Group Insurance

Ag industry looking to veterans to fill labor shortage

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Agricultural industry officials in Iowa who are struggling to find workers are being encouraged to reach out to veterans. Lori Culler, founder of the company Ag Hires, says there’s a shortage of farm-related labor across the country and veterans can fill many of those open positions.

Lori Culler

Lori Culler

“We are seeing a huge trend for farms and agribusinesses wanting and looking for military…veterans who have the skills and abilities they’re looking for. There’s a big match here,” Culler said. Veterans who are looking to work in agriculture need to value what they learned during their service, according to Culler.

“I think often, for veterans, maybe they don’t put as much value on what they learned for leadership, communication skills, structure and process. All of those great things about the military are so applicable,” Culler said. Culler encourages employers to have an open mind about applicants who may not have past experience in agriculture but want to be part of the industry.

Culler made her comments this past week at the National Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference in East Lansing, Michigan.

(Reporting by Nicole Heslip, Brownfield Ag News)

Fairgrounds improvement project in SW Iowa in line for $500,000 gift

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Planned improvements to the Union County Fairgrounds, in southwest Iowa, received a big boost this week. Ben Adamson, Vice President of the Union County Fair Board, says the Dekko Foundation has pledged up to half-a-million dollars in support for the construction of two new buildings and other facelifts to fairgrounds in Afton. The money is contingent on a successful fundraising campaign.

“If we’re successful in raising the first $100,000, then they will award us $100,000. Then, we need to raise the remaining funds of about $1 million and they will kick in the remaining $400,000 to finish the project,” Adamson said. The Indiana-based Dekko Foundation was launched in 1981 by Chet Dekko, who made his fortune with a manufacturing business. The foundation has a strong focus around the education of youth and Adamson says one of the biggest reasons for the fairground upgrades is growing participation in the county’s 4-H and FFA programs.

“They liked our proposal, so they’re willing to step up with a pledge,” Adamson said. “Now it’s up to the fair board to go out to the community and raise the funds needed.” The total budget for the entire project is $1,545,000. Adamson is hoping construction will start after the 2017 Union County Fair. Dekko has given the fair board until December 31, 2017 to raise the funds in order to receive the full pledge funding.union-county-fair

(Radio Iowa)

Crescent man arrested on drug charges in Fremont County

News

December 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop late Friday night into early this (Saturday) morning in Fremont County, resulted in the arrest on drug charges, of a Pottawattamie County man. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports Sheriff’s Deputies and the Fremont County K9 Unit conducted a narcotics investigation on Western Avenue and 155th Street, west of Thurman, and as a result arrested 33-year old Benjamin Foote, of Crescent.

Foote was investigated on suspicion of distributing methamphetamine. Authorities found that he had allegedly delivered over an ounce of meth on Western Avenue, by Thurman. During the traffic stop, Foote was found to be in possession of more Meth, and was operating a motor vehicle while suspended. He was also driving a BMW sedan with Iowa Dealer plates registered to Cardinal Auto, out of Clarinda, without the proper paperwork.

Foote was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where he was being held on $100,000 bond. An investigation into the BMW and Dealer tags continues. The Iowa State Patrol assisted in the original investigation.

Benjamin Foote

Benjamin Foote

7AM Sportscast 12-03-2016

Podcasts, Sports

December 3rd, 2016 by admin

w/ Chris Parks

Play

7AM Newscast 12-03-2016

News, Podcasts

December 3rd, 2016 by admin

w/ Chris Parks

Play

DARRELL E. JENSEN, 83, of Audubon (Svcs. 12/05/2016)

Obituaries

December 3rd, 2016 by admin

DARRELL E. JENSEN, 83, of Audubon died Thursday, December 1, 2016 at the Friendship Home in Audubon. Funeral Services for DARRELL E. JENSEN will be held Monday, December 5th at 10:30am in the Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Family visitation will be held Sunday, December 4th at 5:00pm at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

DARRELL E. JENSEN is survived by:

Children: Brian (Kathy) Jensen of Hamlin. Julie (Robin) Roberts of Cedar Rapids. David (Deb) Jensen of Hamlin. Craig (Shannon) Jensen of Audubon.

Brothers and Sister: Jerry (Rosalie) Jensen of Exira. Paul (Mary) Jensen of Harlan. Marilyn Jensen of Exira.

Sisters-in-law: Dorothy Jespersen of Rogers, AR. Harriet Lewis of Des Moines. Margaret Evans of Audubon. Jane Davis of Audubon. Charlene Jespersen of Exira. Janet Berger of Bella Vista, AR.

Dear Friend: Shirley Esbeck of Elk Horn.

6 Grandchildren

3 Great-Grandchildren

Nieces, Nephews, Other Relatives and Friends.

Public Intox arrest in Red Oak

News

December 3rd, 2016 by admin

The Red Oak Police department reports the arrest Friday night of a Council Bluffs man for Public Intoxication.  At 8:58pm Officers arrested 25-year-old Devon Keith Hale of Council Bluffs in the 1300 block of North Broadway Street.  He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held.

Atlantic/CAM Grapplers take crown at Joe Fitch Invite

Sports

December 3rd, 2016 by admin

The Atlantic/CAM Wrestling team won the Joe Fitch Invitational on Friday in Humboldt. The Trojans scored 287.5 points and had five individual champions on their way to the team win.

Carter Cox (120), Chase McLaren (126), Drake Roller (170), Zac Stork (195) and John McConkey (285) all claimed championships in the tournament for the Trojans. Austin Mills also took gold at 220 but was wrestling as a non-scoring contestant in the tournament.

The Trojans got second place finishes from Aybren Moore (106), Kole Hansen (113), Mitchell Williamson (160) and Nate Moen (220).

Fellow Hawkeye 10 member Kuemper Catholic took 4th place in the team scoring. The Knights got titles from Benjamin Schmitz (106) and Tim Sibbel (145) with Sibbel also earning his 100th career win during the tournament.

Team Scores

  • 1. Atlantic 287.5
  • 2. Humboldt 266
  • 3. Emmetsburg 186
  • 4. Kuemper Catholic 159
  • 5. Pocahontas Area 150
  • 6. Sheldon-South O’Brien 118
  • 7. Forest City 94
  • 8. Aplington-Parkersburg 79

High School Basketball Scoreboard Friday 12/03/2016

Sports

December 3rd, 2016 by admin

BOYS BASKETBALL
Atlantic 66, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 49
A-H-S-T-W, Avoca 78, Riverside, Oakland 26
Ar-We-Va, Westside 79, Charter Oak-Ute 61
Audubon 82, Griswold 58
Bedford 65, Lenox 51
Boyer Valley, Dunlap 67, Woodbine 40
Carroll 62, Perry 44
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 75, Sioux City, West 57
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 51, CAM, Anita 42
Fremont Mills, Tabor 69, Essex 38
Glenwood 64, Creston 44
Glidden-Ralston 48, Coon Rapids-Bayard 43
Harlan 71, Shenandoah 48
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 78, South Page, College Springs -Clarinda 20
Lewis Central 58, Red Oak 22
Nodaway Valley 69, East Union, Afton 68, OT
Ogden 52, AC/GC 36
Sioux City, East 73, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 44
Southwest Valley 74, Mount Ayr 59
Treynor 57, IKM-Manning 46, OT
Tri-Center, Neola 89, Logan-Magnolia 65
Underwood 68, Missouri Valley 50

GIRLS BASKETBALL
St. Albert, Council Bluffs 74, Atlantic 50
A-H-S-T-W, Avoca 49, Riverside, Oakland 29
Audubon 50, Griswold 29
Boyer Valley, Dunlap 66, Woodbine 7
Charter Oak-Ute 50, Ar-We-Va, Westside 48
Creston 55, Glenwood 46
Essex 39, Fremont Mills, Tabor 36
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 58, CAM, Anita 39
Glidden-Ralston 47, Coon Rapids-Bayard 15
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 67, Clarinda 41
Lenox 48, Bedford 37
Lewis Central 68, Red Oak 35
Logan-Magnolia 73, Tri-Center, Neola 34
Mount Ayr 73, Southwest Valley 58
Nodaway Valley 71, East Union, Afton 28
Ogden 45, AC/GC 26
Orient-Macksburg 48, Melcher-Dallas 25
Panorama, Panora 60, West Central Valley, Stuart 49
Perry 60, Carroll 46
Shenandoah 77, Harlan 48
Sidney 72, Heartland Christian 15
Sioux City, East 52, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 35
Sioux City, West 54, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 48
Stanton 59, South Page 26
Treynor 49, IKM-Manning 34
Underwood 72, Missouri Valley 27

Skyscan Forecast Saturday 12-03-2016

Weather

December 3rd, 2016 by admin

Skyscan Forecast  Saturday, December 3, 2016  Richard Garuckas

Today: Increasing clouds. Light and variable winds increasing to 5-10 out of the SE. High 42.

Tonight: Cloudy. Snow likely. SSE @ 5-10. Low 36. Snow accumulations of a trace to 1/2 inch expected.

Sunday: Rain and snow showers in the morning then partly sunny in the afternoon. WSW @ 5-10. High 43. Little to no accumulation expected.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low 30.

Monday: Mix of sun and clouds. High 47.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and clouds. High 38.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. High 27.

Play