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Significant Weather Advisory for parts of Harrison, Shelby & Pott. Counties

Weather

July 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

1105 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN  SHELBY…SOUTHEASTERN HARRISON AND NORTHEASTERN POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 AM CDT

AT 1105 AM CDT…DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER PERSIA…OR 29 MILES NORTHEAST OF OMAHA…MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
HARLAN…AVOCA…WALNUT…SHELBY…MINDEN…PERSIA…PORTSMOUTH…
TENNANT…ELK HORN CREEK RECREATION AREA…
PRAIRIE ROSE STATE PARK AND NISHNA BEND RECREATION AREA.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS…
HIGHWAY 59 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 61 AND 73.
INTERSTATE 80 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 27 AND 48.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY…SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR KJAN FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

IA Communities Recognized for Fluoridation: Six communities honored for 50 year commitment

News

July 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced six Iowa communities have been awarded fluoride certificates by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Dental Association (ADA). Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to an optimal level for preventing tooth decay.

Among the six communities receiving the 50 Year Award for maintaining continuous community water fluoridation from 1965-2016, is Elk Horn Municipal Water Works.

Fluoride is a natural mineral present in almost all water. Its benefits for teeth were discovered in the 1930s. Dental scientists found low tooth decay rates among people whose water supplies contained natural fluoride. Today, approximately 75 percent of Americans and 91 percent of Iowans served by community water systems have access to optimally fluoridated water. Even with the availability of other fluoride-containing products, fluoridated water prevents approximately 25 percent of tooth decay in children and adults.

The CDC has recognized community water fluoridation, the process of adjusting the fluoride concentration in water to the optimal level for preventing tooth decay, as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th Century. It is supported by the U.S. Surgeon General, American Dental Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Public Health Association as a safe, effective, and inexpensive method of preventing tooth decay. Both Healthy People 2020 and Healthy Iowans have set goals to increase the number of people receiving fluoridated water.

IDPH is a strong supporter of fluoridation programs. The IDPH Bureau of Oral and Health Delivery Systems monitors the fluoride levels of Iowa communities and provides information and assistance to water supply professionals, healthcare professionals, and the public. To see the fluoridation status of Iowa counties and towns, visit https://nccd.cdc.gov/DOH_MWF/Default/Default.aspx.

Former Iowa teacher gets probation for sex with student

News

July 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – A former teacher in northwest Iowa has been given five years of probation and a suspended 10-year prison term for having a sexual relationship with a student. Court records say Chad Osler, of Manchester, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse after prosecutors dropped two related charges. At his sentencing Monday he also was fined $1,000.

Court documents say Osler was a physical education teacher in Cherokee when he had sex with the student in July 2013. The relationship continued through 2014 and early 2015.  Osler took a job with the West Delaware Community School District, where he was put on administrative leave after he was arrested in April 2015. He’s no longer listed in the district staff directory.

(Update) – MO. trucker injured, 60 hogs die in semi rollover accident near Exira

News

July 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County today (Tuesday) released details about a tractor-trailer rollover accident that took place Monday afternoon, northeast of Exira. Authorities say the driver of the semi, 32-year old Shawn David Irvine, of Clearmont, MO., was transported by private vehicle to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, following the accident that took place at around 3:30-p.m. on Pheasant Avenue, near 280th Street, or about three-miles northeast of Exira.

The Sheriff’s Dept. says Irvine was traveling south over the posted speed limit in a 2013 Peterbilt tractor-trailer registered to Sioux Valley Transport, L-L-C, of Estherville, when he entered a curve in the road. A load of market hogs shifted in the trailer, causing the semi to roll over onto the shoulder of the road. About 60 hogs died in the crash.

The semi sustained an estimated $100,000 damage. Irvine was charged with Failure to Maintain Control. The Iowa State Patrol and Exira Fire and Rescue assisted at the accident scene.

Update: Rain forces cancellation of Tuesday State Softball Schedule

Sports

July 19th, 2016 by admin

Thuderstorms in the Ft. Dodge area today have adjusted the schedule of play for the State Softball Tournament.  Atlantic’s game with Davenport Assumption has now been postponed until Wednesday. No official schedule has been announced yet for Wednesday’s games.  The games below are the ones that were scheduled today.

Class 1A: Logan-Magnolia vs. Central Springs – BVU Field

Class 1A: North Union vs. Iowa City Reginga – Mittera Field

Class 3A: Davenport Assumption vs. Atlantic – BVU Field

Class 4A: Carlisle vs. Charles City – Mittera Field

Class 3A: Solon vs. CMB – BVU Field

Class 4A: Boone vs. Bishop Heelan – Mittera Field

Class 3A: Mount Vernon vs. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley – BVU Field

Class 4A: Fairfield vs. Creston – Mittera Field

Class 3A: Benton vs. Estherville-LC  – BVU Field

Class 4A: Oskaloosa vs. Perry – Mittera Field

Class 5A Consolations have been moved to Wednesday morning.

Ag group donates $150K to help NW Iowa counties fight DM Water Works lawsuit

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Soybean Association’s board of directors has voted unanimously to spend 150-thousand dollars to help Sac, Buena Vista and Calhoun counties defend themselves against a federal lawsuit brought by the Des Moines Water Works. Association C-E-O Kirk Leeds says the organization supports the three northwest Iowa counties because the suit could impact farmers statewide and this will bring a quicker end to the case.

“We ultimately think we’re going to be successful in throwing this case out,” Leeds says. “If you look around the country and certainly look around Iowa and the work we’re doing in Cedar Rapids, for example, it’s a great example of farmers and urban folks working together.” He says the court action takes away from the cooperative and proactive approach farmers have taken on water quality and nutrient management.

Leeds says, “It’s unfortunate because it certainly has distracted many of us from the work that was going on before and that continues but certainly at a distracted pace as relates to cleaning up the water and and improving nitrogen management.” He says the suit is also hurting efforts by farmers and the utility itself from implementing programs and practices to address water quality.

“It has taken dollars away from those programs, not only for farmers and farm organizations and the counties but also Des Moines Water Works,” Leeds says. “Before this is said and done, this first round in the lawsuit will have over $3-million invested in legal fees.” That’s money he says could have been invested in improving the water works’ facilities and in helping farmers to make the needed changes.

The lawsuit filed in March of 2015 charges the county supervisors allegedly allowed nitrates coming from 10 drainage districts to pollute the Raccoon River, a primary water source for 500,000 customers in Des Moines. The case is scheduled to go to trial in June of 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

Backyard & Beyond 7-19-2016

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

July 19th, 2016 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen talks about Bok Choy and Kohlrabi.

Play

Feds charge Iowa woman with fraud in Super Bowl ticket scam

News, Sports

July 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman who duped dozens of people into buying non-existent tickets to the Super Bowl and other high-profile events has been charged with fraud. The federal charges of mail and tax fraud against Ranae Van Roekel of Boyden, Iowa come four years after her alleged scheme became public. A document filed Monday charges Van Roekel with fraudulently obtaining more than $531,000 from customers between 2008 and 2012.

Prosecutors say Van Roekel falsely claimed to have access to tickets, hotel rooms and VIP passes at deep discounts due to personal connections, once claiming she was on the Super Bowl planning committee. After collecting money, she told customers she couldn’t fill most of the orders. She often targeted customers that she had contact with through youth sports.

Clarinda woman injured in MO. crash, Saturday

News

July 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Missouri State Patrol says a woman from Page County was injured during a crash Saturday night, in Nodaway County, MO. 19-year old Carrie L. Beason, of Clarinda, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Maryville, MO., following the single-vehicle accident that happened at around 11:30-p.m., Saturday.

Officials say Beason was traveling west on 330th Street in a 1999 Ford Escort, when her car left the north side of the road and began to slide. The car then struck an embankment and rolled over, coming to rest on the driver’s side, facing north.

Clarinda man dies in northern MO. crash

News

July 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A man from Page County died following a crash Monday afternoon, in northwest Missouri. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, 52-year old Todd M. Pedersen, of Clarinda, who was wearing his seat belt, died in a collision with a semi in Nodaway County, MO. The accident happened at around 12:10-p.m. on Highway 71.

Authorities say Pedersen was traveling south in a 2005 Chevy Impala, when for reasons unknown, his car cross the center line of the road, into the path of a northbound 2013 International semi, driven by 55-year old Donald Root, of Punkhannock, PA.  Root was not injured in the crash.

Following the impact, the car skidded off the north shoulder of the road and came to rest in the ditch. The semi came to rest on its wheels off the south side of the road.