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RAMONA M. [Bintner] JOHNSON, 84, formerly of Exira/Kimballton (Celebration of Life Mass 10/21/23)

Obituaries

October 19th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

RAMONA  M. [Bintner] JOHNSON, 84, of St. Cloud, FL (formerly of the Exira/Kimballton areas), died Aug. 22, 2023. A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass for RAMONA JOHNSON will be held 10:30-a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, in Exira. Kessler Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

Burial is in the Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery, east of Exira.

RAMONA JOHNSON is survived by:

Her daughter – Cindy (Bill) Tebbetts of Jacksonville, FL.

Her brother – Arnold Bintner, of Exira.

6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, her daughter-in-law Brenda Johnson; other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Ag Department working with counties on batch and build water quality projects

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 19th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture is trying a new approach called “batch and build” to address runoff that impacts water quality. Ag Secretary Mike Naig says it involves doing several water quality projects together. “It’s an innovative approach to really grouping together and installing practices more efficiently,” he says. Naig says it brings more people in to get more done. “Historically, we might have built one or two at a time and worked with individual landowners or farmers to do that,” Naig says. “What we’re doing is working with counties and other partners to group those together, you might do 20, 30,40 or 50 at one time.” He says there is more efficiency in the work.

“Contract with one land improvement contractor, you pay the bills, once it’s very efficient, you can group them together and get them built. And so this is all part of our effort to scale up and really accelerate the adoption of practices like bio reactors and saturated buffers in the state of Iowa,” Naig says. “And really an innovative program that’s not really being done anywhere else. We’ve created it here in the state of Iowa, very proud of that, and really proud of the partners who are working together on that.”

The bioreactors and buffers at the edge of fields help remove nitrates from the water that comes off tile lines. The Ag Department is working with the Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District on the first phase of the Boone River watershed project with a goal of installing more than 25 edge of field conservation projects. Other similar projects are in Calhoun, Jasper and Boone County.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Report: Iowans have COPD at a rate higher than the national average

News

October 19th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – About five-percent of all Americans have the lung condition known as C-O-P-D, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but new research shows the rate in Iowa is higher than the national average at about six-point-six percent. Pulmonologist Dr. Bobby Mahajan, at the American Lung Association, says about 15-percent of Iowans smoke, and that’s one of the leading causes of C-O-P-D. “Unfortunately, Iowa still has a grade of a ‘D’ in smoking cessation services,” Mahajan says. “The best way to reduce the incidence of COPD is to diagnose it, but once we’ve diagnosed it, we want a way to stop that smoking and smoking cessation is an important part of that where Iowa could do better.”

C-O-P-D, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, though some people try to ignore the symptoms. “Most individuals will say, ‘Yeah, well, I’m just getting older and that’s why I get more short of breath,’ but in many cases, they need to be able to get checked out by their primary care physician, because that might not just be deconditioning or getting older,” he says. “It might be COPD.” The latest figures show about 161-thousand Iowans have been diagnosed with C-O-P-D, while about 16-hundred die from it each year. Diagnosis comes through specialized lung tests.

“Typical symptoms that we see are shortness of breath at rest, or on exertion and doing daily activities, like walking to the bathroom, going to the grocery store, getting dressed,” Mahajan says. “Additionally, people can sometimes have chronic bronchitis associated their COPD where they cough a lot and produce a lot of sputum.” The American Lung Association report shows the annual cost of treating C-O-P-D in Iowa is 391-million dollars, while Iowans lose more than 235-thousand work days to the disease each year. There is no cure, but once identified, C-O-P-D patients do have several courses of action which can improve their lives.

“They can be treated with a number of different options,” Mahajan says. “Sometimes, medications like inhalers can improve their functionality and their breathing significantly. Other things like pulmonary rehabilitation, where we actually strengthen the breathing muscles, is associated with not only improvement in symptoms but it improves survival as well.” Learn more at lung.org.

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023

Weather

October 19th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Today: Patchy drizzle this morning; Partly sunny, with a high near 67. West/Northwest wind 10-20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 75. W/SW @ 5–15 mph w/gusts to near 20.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. W/NW @ 10-20 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 65. N/NW @ 10-20 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 68. The low was 52. Last year on this date, the high in Atlantic was 55 and the low was 12. The record high for Oct. 19th in Atlantic was 88 in 2003. The record low was 12 in 1972 and 2022. Sunrise is at 7:36. Sunset is at 6:33.

Posted in Weather |

Miller-Meeks says she’s getting death threats after voting against Jordan for speaker

News

October 19th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she’s received credible death threats after she switched her vote for House speaker.

Miller-Meeks voted for Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan for House Speaker on Tuesday, but she said her “initial concerns” about “threatening tactics” from other Republicans in congress and Jordan supporters elsewhere increased. Miller-Meeks supported the chair of the House Appropriations Committee during today’s second round of voting. Miller-Meeks, in a written statement issued early this evening, said her office is cooperating with “the proper authorities” after she received a barrage of threatening calls and death threats following that vote. Miller-Meeks said she will “not bend to bullies” and is looking to support a “consensus candidate” for speaker.

Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who has voted for Jordan twice, issued a video statement late Wednesday, calling the eight Republicans who engineered the ouster of Kevin McCarthy “chaos agents” who “should be ashamed of themselves.” Hinson said it’s time to end to “drama and infighting” among House Republicans.

Posted in News |

Experts says drought hasn’t had much impact on fall foliage show in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 19th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Experts say many Iowa trees are showing some brilliant colors right now due to recent cool temperatures. Mark Runkel is a forest health technician with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He says you don’t have to venture far to see nature’s autumn show. “Drive around your neighborhood. You can drive around your city parks. You can walk around some hiking trails,” Runkel says. “There are a lot of opportunities right near everybody’s home to just see some of these amazing color changes.”

For tree experts like Runkel, the colors of the leaves are a clue to what type of tree it is. “You can definitely tell which species based on what colors you’d be seeing,” Runkel says. “It can get a little bit challenging in a forest, if you’re looking at a forest from a distance, and just seeing all these vibrant colors,” Runkel says. Sugar maples, for example, often turn orange in the fall.

“I’m particular to the hard maples. I think that’s a really cool color,” Runkel says. “A lot of the oak species, as well, they kind of play off one another. Especially if you’re looking at a bluff full of trees, you can really see the differences between them really quickly.” Oak trees in Iowa are the last to show their fall color. The timing of this year’s show of fall foliage in Iowa is pretty typical, according to Runkel.

“We’re pretty much seeing it act normally as it would in year’s past,” Runkel says. “The drought conditions that we’ve had can sometimes really impact the fall color, but this year we haven’t really seen any significant impacts.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has a webpage that offers daily updates on the best viewing for fall colors in Iowa. Find a link at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Fall-Color

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Regional Volleyball Scores Class 1A and 2A

Sports

October 18th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A – Region 1

Boyden-Hull 3-Trinity Christian 0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-18)
River Valley 3-Audubon 1 (25-14, 25-21, 11-25, 25-20)
Glidden-Ralston 3-Boyer Valley 1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-14, 26-24)

Class 1A – Region 3

Stanton 3-Lamoni 0 (25-5, 25-8, 25-7)
East Mills 3-Sidney 2 (18-25, 25-17, 11-25, 26-24, 15-9)
St. Albert 3-Bedford 0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-13)
Lenox 3-Griswold 1 (18-25, 25-18, 27-25, 25-23)

Class 1A – Region 4

Ankeny Christian 3-Twin Cedars 0 (25-10, 25-6, 25-11)
CAM 3-Exira-EHK 1 (25-11, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21)
Riverside 3-Earlham 1 (21-25, 25-10, 25-10, 25-14)

Class 2A – Region 2

Kuemper Catholic 3-MVAOCOU 0 (25-6, 25-12, 25-18)
South Central Calhoun 3-Westwood 0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19)
Ridge View 3-Missouri Valley 0 (25-11, 25-7, 25-9)
West Monona 3-East Sac County 0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-23)

Class 2A – Region 3

Underwood 3-Treynor 0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19)
Tri-Center 3-Shenandoah 1 (24-26, 27-25, 25-23, 25-22)
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 3-Pella Christian 0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-19)
Pleasantville 3-North Mahaska 0 (25-17, 27-25, 25-21)

Class 2A – Region 4

Dike-New Hartford 3-Woodward-Granger 0 (25-6, 25-8, 25-5)
Ogden 3-South Hamilton 1
ACGC 3-Panorama 0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-11)
Southwest Valley 3-Nodaway Valley 1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-19)

Posted in Sports |

Lenox advances to Volleyball semi-final over Griswold

Sports

October 18th, 2023 by admin

The Lenox Tigers outlasted the Griswold Tigers in what was a unbelievable game and environment. From the first points of set number one you could tell it was going to be a back-and-forth game all night long and that’s exactly how it played out. The Griswold Tigers would prevail in set number one and take it 25-19 led by Gabbie Greiman who completely owned the net defensively as her and the Griswold Tigers combined for seven key blocks to take the set.  In set number two the momentum flipped early as junior Sadie Cox and senior Gabby Robles took the match over on the outsides. The duo of Cox and Robles would help Lenox have 10+ kills in all four of the sets. Head Coach Jesse Cox said both girls know when they need to make big plays.

Lenox would take set two 25-18 and would out dual Griswold in the third and most pivotal set 27-25. In a set of runs by each team Lenox battled back from a four-point deficit Coach Jesse Cox took a timeout with the score at 22 a piece and gave his girls one message to win the set.

Coach Cox was very quick to tip his hat off to the Griswold Tigers who gave Lenox everything they could handle. Coach Cox said the serving and defense played by Griswold gave his team fits.

Lenox took the match three sets to one and advance to the semi-final on Monday evening where they will travel to St Albert to take on the Falcons who defeated Bedford in three sets. Winner of that on Monday night will advance to the Class 1A Region 3 Championship match.

 

Posted in Sports |

Gold Team Sweeps Black & Gold World Series

Sports

October 18th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Gold team used a three-run fifth to rally and knock off the Black team, 5-4, in Wednesday’s seven-inning exhibition at Duane Banks Field. The win clinched the Black & Gold World Series for the Gold team.

Both left-handed starters dazzled on the mound with sophomore Cade Obermueller striking out seven batters in two and 2/3 innings for the Black team. The southpaw issued three walks and two hits, but only gave up one run. Freshman Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue worked three and 2/3 innings for the Gold team, allowing three runs on four hits.

Junior Connor Hennings began the scoring with an RBI single in the first to give the Black team a 1-0 lead. After a bases loaded walk to sophomore Gable Mitchell tied the game in the second, Hennings delivered again – this time with a two-run home run off the batter’s eye in center field.

The Gold team drew two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the fifth to load the bases. Senior Andy Nelson drove home pinch-runner Ryan Brosius on a sacrifice fly to center before sophomore Blake Guerin gave the Gold team the lead with a two-out, two-RBI single. Sophomore Ben Swails added insurance in the sixth with a solo blast to left field to put the Gold team on top, 5-3.

The Black team threatened in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with one out. Senior Will Mulflur brought home a run on a sacrifice fly to bring the Black team within one, before senior Ben DeTaeye worked out of the jam.

Bullpen arms redshirt junior Reece Beuter (2.1 IP, 3 K) and DeTaeye (1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H) sealed the victory for the Gold team.

Junior Sam Hart (2.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 K) and sophomore Ganon Archer (1.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 K) saw action out of the bullpen for the Black team.

Each team registered five hits and committed one error.

UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes have concluded their fall slate. Iowa opens its spring season at the Swig & Swine College Classic on Feb. 16 against Seton Hall in Charleston, South Carolina.

Posted in Sports |

Two Trojan Runners Qualify for State at Winterset

Sports

October 18th, 2023 by admin

Two cross country runners from Atlantic, Claire Pellett and Bennett Whetstone both qualified to head to state from their impressive efforts at the Winterset State Qualifying Meet on Wednesday evening.

It was a tough course to run on for Pellett as she had to continually push herself against top runners in the State like Grace Berglund from Glenwood who took the individual title and Avelyn Lace from Ballard in second.

Pellett credits the examples and teammates she’s had around her throughout her team in high school. All of which helped her qualify for state three separate times.

The rest of the Atlantic girls’ team ran well with Katrina Williams in 21st, Belle Berg in 27th, Makenna Schroeder in 39th, Megan Birge in 40th, Elynor Brummer in 41st, and Hailey Huffman in 42nd.

Girls Team Results:

  1. Glenwood (47)
  2. Ballard (52)
  3. Lewis Central (72)
  4. Winterset (115)
  5. Atlantic (121)

On the boys’ side Atlantic runner Bennett Whetstone qualified for state at 14th place nearing the cutoff point. It was a difficult run for Whetstone and he had to dig within to make it.

Looking ahead to state, Whetstone doesn’t have high expectations for himself. He is just going to enjoy the atmosphere of such a competitive event.

The top boy runner at the qualifier was Ethan Eichhorn from Lewis Central, then Andrew Smith at second and Bryant Keller at third both runners from Glenwood.

The rest of the Atlantic boys’ team had Alex Sonntag at 24th, Luke Irlmeier at 41st, Tyrell Williams at 45th, Rickie Fields at 46th, Christian Thompson 47th, and Devon Fields at 73rd.

Boys Team Results: 

  1. Lewis Central (39)
  2. Glenwood (57)
  3. Winterset (62)
  4. North Polk (108)
  5. Kuemper Catholic (117)

Coach Vargason had pride from the grit his boys team showed at the qualifier.

On the topic of Claire Pellett coach Vargason explained how continually impressed he is by her and the impact that she has had on his coaching.

The 3A State cross country meet begins Saturday October 28th at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Posted in Sports |