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Atlantic School Board to hold a Special Meeting Wed. eveing

News

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Wednesday evening (Oct. 25th)**  in the Central Office Conference Room (1406 SW 7th St).  The meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., and includes discussion on: Policy Primer updates regarding Board Members and Social Media Use; A New Policy with regard to the discipline of students who make threats of violence, or causing incidents of violence; They will discuss information with regard to a Vulnerability Assessment, Aviation Program Offerings, a request from the City of Atlantic for a small park by the High School, and, a Middle School Wrestling Practice Room.

Action items on the Atlantic School Board’s agenda include:

  • Approving out-of-state trips for the Speech Team (to Omaha), and FFA National Convention.
  • Recommendations to hire approve the resignation of Alyssa Barber, Preschool Paraeducator; and the hiring of Corrine Risen, Paraeducator and Chuukese translator.
  • And, the Board will act on an Early Retirement Incentive Plan.

Their next regular meeting will take place November 8th at 5:30-p.m.

**The meeting will be available live, via YouTube.

Cass County Supervisors to receive reports from: the Library Assoc.; IA Mormon Trails; Veterans Affairs Dir., & Access Systems

News

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County (IA) are expected to receive and Annual Report from the Cass County Library Association during the Board’s meeting at 9-a.m. Tuesday. The Board will then conduct a Public Hearing on a proposed amendment to the Cass County FY24 Budget, and act on a Resolution approving Amendment 1 of the FY 24 Budget, and appropriating funds for the budget.

In other business, the Board will hear a presentation from Diane Schultz, former president of the Iowa Mormon Trails Association, with regards to the replacement of 12-to 14-trail signs in Cass County. They’ll also hear from Jim Harrison with Access Systems, with regard to the courthouse telephone system, and they’re expected to receive a Quarterly Report from Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes.

The Board will also receive a weekly report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken, before discussing a Five-and 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

The Board’s meeting will be held in-person, electronically, and over the phone:

Electronically
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09
Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064
Call In
312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

Montgomery County Supervisors to discuss BOS recordings; bridge replacement bid

News

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County will meet 8:30-a.m., Tuesday (Oct. 24th), in their courthouse Board Room. The Board is set to discuss recordings for the Board of Supervisors regular meetings, with action as necessary. They will also discuss/act on passing a Resolution to accept a bid from A.M. Cohron, for the replacement of a bridge (GR 1903), and discuss a Resolution to Extend the Existing Moratorium on C-WECS (Wind Energy Conversion Systems) construction permits, with action as necessary.

The Board is expected to discuss also, railroad bridges at K, L, Q and Redwood Avenues, with action as necessary. Their final order of new business is to discuss and approve the destruction of files letter from Ahlers & Cooney, P.C.

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors meeting will be held in-person, and electronically via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86185141628

Meeting ID: 861 8514 1628

BY PHONE: Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 If you are calling in, Press *9 to raise your hand if you wish to speak.31

2 Creston women arrested Sunday

News

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say a woman was arrested Sunday evening on an Assault charge. 24-year-old Kimberlyn Calie Bakerink, of Creston, was arrested at around 5:14-p.m., at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). Bakerink was taken to the Union County Jail where she was later released on $300 cash or surety bond.

And, a woman from Creston was arrested late Sunday night. Creston Police report 24-year-old Alley Ray Butler was arrested at the Creston Union County LEC at about 11:21-p.m. She was taken into custody on a Des Moines Police Department warrant for Damage to Property/Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. Butler was extradited by Des Moines Police officers to the Polk County Jail where she is being held without bond.

Chocolate and other Halloween candies can be poison for pets

News

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans are already stockpiling Halloween treats, and while they know gobbling down mounds of candy can leave kids with a tummy ache, too much sweet stuff can be dangerous, and even deadly, for pets. Jessie Phillips, director of development at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and while rarely fatal, it can result in significant illness.

Phillips says it will depend on the size of the animal and how much was ingested. There’s a Pet Poison Help Hotline at 800-213-6680. Some Iowans already have a big bowl of treats on the counter, ready to go for trick-or-treat night, while kids may leave their sacks of candy laying around after they’ve had their fill. Both types of candy stashes should be hidden away from pets.

Also, Phillips says keep your pets away from carved pumpkins as those jack-o-lanterns could be full of bacteria after sitting outside.

Rain this week could help with drought

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – There’s still hope that the remainder of the fall will bring heavier moisture than normal that can help cut back the ongoing drought in Iowa. D-N-R hydrologist Tim Hall says recent rains weren’t enough to make a big dent, but did erase the areas of D-4 or extreme drought. “Areas of Benton and Tama County that were previously in the D-4classification saw enough rain to improve to D-3. But improvement to D-3 is still D-3,” he says. The D-3 designation is extreme drought compared to the D-4 exceptional drought designation. There is only a small sliver of the state that has no drought. Hall says late fall has not been the best time to make up a moisture deficit, though there have been exceptions.

” By the time we get to November, we see less than two inches of rain over the entire month. However, a couple years ago, we saw a very wet October, we’ve seen very wet fall months before,” Hall says. “So there’s certainly the opportunity to see noticeable and really helpful rainfall.” He says warmer temperatures would help, as they keep the ground from freezing and shutting out water. “The first thing that happens when it rains is you get water into the soil matrix and you improve soil moisture. And after that, the water can move down into shallow groundwater. That all sort of comes to an end with the ground freeze up. You tend to get very rapid runoff in ground freeze up and not as much benefit,” Hall says.

The short term forecast has the potential for some rains in the coming week.”There could be widespread rain in the one to two inch rain across a lot of the state. So there’s there’s some optimism that between now and the end of the month we could see another inch plus of rain which would certainly be great,” he says. ” I mean at now, anything we get over about three quarters of an inch in a week is above normal. So we’d love to see that.”

Hall says any rain we get before the ground freezes is a bonus in helping build up of the groundwater that has been way behind for months.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Monday, Oct. 23, 2023

Weather

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny & breezy, with a high near 78. S/SW winds 15-25 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy & windy, with a low around 66. S @ 15-30 mph.

Tuesday: P/Sunny & windy, w/a 50% chance of showers & thunderstorms. A high near 75. S/SW @ 15-30 mph.

Tuesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 60. S @ 10-25 mph.

Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 73. S @ 10-20 mph.

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Breezy. High near 67.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 65. The low was 32. We received a few sprinkles late Sunday afternoon, here at KJAN. Last year on this date, the high in Atlantic was 84 and the low was 58. The record high for Oct. 23rd in Atlantic was last year’s High of 84. The record Low was 13 in 1895. Sunrise is at 7:40. Sunset is at 6:27.

Miller-Meeks says she won’t be intimidated by critics of her vote for House speaker

News

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s first district congresswoman is firing back at those who’ve criticized two of her votes for House Speaker. Republican Congresswoman Miller-Meeks supported Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan on the first round of voting on the House floor last week, but not during the other two rounds and she has reported receiving death threats.

“I am never going to quit fighting for Iowa and I am never going to quit fighting for this country and if you think you can intimidate me…suck it up, buttercup,” Miller-Meeks said, to applause. Miller-Meeks hosted a campaign fundraiser in Coralville on Friday night. Miller-Meeks did not mention Jordan by name, but she referred to the pressure campaign Jordan allies waged against her.

“I am not a Democrat. I am a proud Republican. If anybody thinks that I’m going to give up and I’m going to lay back…they’ve got another thing coming,” Miller-Meeks said. Miller-Meeks told reporters she’s confident House Republicans will come together and elect a speaker.

“Most of us are there to govern, to legislate, to pass bills. We’ve got important appropriations bills to pass,” Miller-Meek says. “The important thing about those bills is not the level of spending, it’s also the policy priorities.” Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart — who lost to Miller-Meeks in 2018 by six votes — says Miller-Meeks should have stayed in D-C to elect a speaker rather than host a party in Iowa Friday night.

Seven G-O-P presidential candidates attended and spoke at the Miller-Meeks fundraiser.

Foreign policy at forefront of Iowa Caucus campaigning now

News

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Foreign policy is front and center of the conversation as Republican presidential candidates campaign for votes in Iowa’s Caucuses. During weekend events, though, candidates offered a variety of responses to what’s happened in Israel, in Gaza and in the United States. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley served as President Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. She says Hamas committed flat out torture of Israelis in the October 7th attacks and President Biden should be wary of both Iran and Qatar — even though Qatar helped negotiate the release of two American hostages.

“They will do this to try and get you to back off. They are doing this to keep Israel from going into Gaza,” Haley said. “…Support Israel. Whatever they want, whatever they need — we need to be there for them.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says President Biden should be blocking humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, because it will wind up in the hands of Hamas.

“You see students demonstrating in our own country in favor of Hamas terrorists. Some of them are foreigners on student visas, When I’m president (and) you’re making common cause with Hamas, I am cancelling your visa and I am sending you home.” South Carolina Senator Tim Scott says there should be consequences for American colleges and universities that allow anti-Semitic protests.

“As president of the United States, I would sign the bill…that takes away the Pell Grants from any college or any university that says: ‘It’s o.k. to spread terrorism on our campuses…It’s o.k. to be anti-Jewish. I say, ‘No!'” Scott said. Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy says Israel needs to learn the lessons of the mistakes the U-S made after the 9/11 attacks — and the trillions Ramaswamy says was wasted on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I am deeply worried about the wisdom of this ongoing, potentially imminent ground invasion to Gaza which I do not believe is going to be good for Israel,” Ramaswamy said, “and do not believe it’s going to be good for the United States.” North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley also campaigned in the state this weekend.

UTV driver hurt responding to a fire in NE Iowa

News

October 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Chickasaw County, Iowa) – The operator of a UTV was injured Sunday afternoon, responding to a fire in northeast Iowa, near Ionia. The crash occurred on Exter Avenue, north of 215th Street.

The Iowa State Patrol says a 2004 Polaris Ranger converted into a firefighting vehicle  and 2009 Fire Truck, both owned by the City of Ionia, were responding to a fire at around 4-p.m., when the operator of the UTV attempted to pass a slower moving tractor. The driver of the fire truck attempted to pass the tractor as well.

The fire truck struck the UTV, causing it to lose control. When the UTV rolled over, the operator was ejected. They were transported by Aircare helicopter to the Mayo Clinic, in Minnesota. Names of those involved were withheld, pending notification of family.

The crash remains under investigation.