712 Digital Group - top

Branstad touts his administration’s achievements during a stop in Atlantic

News

October 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

During his stop in Atlantic Tuesday afternoon, Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad touted the achievements of his time in office since being re-elected to an unprecedented sixth term during the Nov. 2013 elections. If he completes his four-year term, it will have broken the record for a person serving as governor, in U-S History. The old record was held by George Clinton of New York, who served 21 years from 1777 to 1795, and from 1801 to 1804.

Gov. Terry Branstad speaks at an Atlantic Town Hall 1020-15. Ric Hanson photo

Gov. Terry Branstad speaks at an Atlantic Town Hall 10-20-15. Ric Hanson photo

Branstad said looking back at when he was recruited to run for Governor in 2010, “The State was facing some really big challenges. The previous administration [Democrat Gov. Chet Culver] had use of bad budgeting practices, overspent, made promises they couldn’t keep and used one-time money for ongoing expenses and we were faced with a projected $900-million deficit.”

Branstad said his administration cut costs of government by eliminating 1,500 state employees, put together a two-year budget, looked at ways to make government more efficient and more accountable and restore the “rainy day” fund. He says the rate of unemployment is lower now than it was when he took over. As an example, he pointed to numbers showing the unemployment rate in Cass County as 8.2-percent when he became governor again, and the rate now, which stands at 2.9-percent, or a 65-percent reduction in unemployment.

Branstad fielded a question though, about his decision to close the Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mt. Pleasant, eliminating jobs from those two, unaccredited facilities and shifting care to the two remaining facilities in Cherokee and Independence, both of which are accredited and have psychiatrists on-staff. Other clients were transferred to private care facilities or are being served more on the local level. Branstad said the new system is more efficient and brings Iowa up to par with neighboring states.

Branstad said what Iowa is doing now, is what Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois have been doing for the past 20-to 30-years. On the topic of Education, Branstad was asked about what it’s going to take to legislature to set funding levels for K-through 12 education in Iowa in-time for districts to set their budget. The legislature went into an extended session this year and eventually reached a bi-partisan agreement on funding, but in July, the Governor in a line item veto, erased the $55.7 million in additional funding they had approved for the FY 2015-16 school year. Branstad however approved a 1.25 percent increase in per pupil spending.

He said he’s going to work to bring both sides to the table earlier and get the funding level set for next year, but he warned it won’t be easy. He says his recommendation will come out as soon as the legislature is in session, and he’ll ask them to decide “this thing” in the next month. But he concedes, he ‘Can’t force ’em” to come to a decision on k-12 funding.

Touching photo shows TCU quarterback, with Iowa State fan, 7

Sports

October 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A touching photo of TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin greeting a 7-year-old Iowa State fan who uses a wheelchair has drawn praise for the player. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram photo was snapped Saturday before No. 3 TCU beat Iowa State 45-21 in Ames. Boykin took a moment, before the pregame coin toss, to speak to Abby Faber. She wore an Iowa State jersey as Boykin leaned down and asked, “What’s your name?”

Jenny Faber said Tuesday, in a phone interview from Ankeny, Iowa, that she was unfamiliar with Boykin but now her family will “be following him the rest of the season.” Faber says her daughter was so excited to get to shake a player’s hand.

The girl has a form of cerebral palsy.

Branstad signs Lights on Afterschool proclamation in Atlantic

News

October 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad stopped in Atlantic this (Tuesday) afternoon, where he held a Town Hall meeting at the old Rock Island Depot, home of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the public forum, the Governor signed a proclamation recognizing Thursday, Oct. 22nd, as “Lights on After School” day.

Gov. Branstad (Left) reads the Lights on Afterschool Proclamation, w/Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones to his right.

The proclamation read: WHEREAS, the Atlantic Community, stands firmly committed to quality afterschool programs and opportunities because they:
· Provide safe, challenging, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.
· Support working families by ensuring their children are safe and productive after the regular school day ends.
· Build stronger communities by involving our students, parents, business leaders and adult volunteers in the lives of our young people, thereby promoting positive relationships among children, youth, families and adults.
· Engage families, schools and diverse community partners in advancing the welfare of our children.

WHEREAS, First United Methodist Church, Zion Lutheran Church, Atlantic Public Library, ISU Extension, and Nishna Valley Family YMCA has provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement in the education and well-being of our youth, grounded in the principle that quality afterschool programs are key to helping our children become successful adults.

WHEREAS, Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs on October 22, 2015, promotes the critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

WHEREAS, more than 28 million children in the U.S. have parents who work outside the home, and 15.1 million children have no place to go after school.

WHEREAS, many afterschool programs across the country are facing funding shortfalls so severe that they are being forced to close their doors and turn off their lights.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Mayor Dave Jones urges the citizens of Atlantic Iowa and Governor Terry Branstad urges the citizens of Iowa to ensure that every child has access to a safe, engaging place where the lights are on after school; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Mayor Jones and Governor Branstad enthusiastically endorses Lights On Afterschool and is committed to innovative afterschool programs and activities that ensure that the lights stay on and the doors stay open for all children after school.

Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool (LoA) is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.

The Atlantic program takes place from 4:30-until 6:30-p.m. Thursday at the Nishna Valley YMCA, and features burgers and hot dogs donated by the Afterschool Alliance and prepared by the Cass County Beef Producers, water from the Atlantic Coca Cola Bottling Company, all sorts of fun events for kids, such as obstacle course competitions, pumpkin painting, glow-in the dark goo, magnet making, coloring, spider web building, a paper airplane competition, and information from Beth Olsen, Hy-Vee Dietitian.

Programs during the event will come from the YMCA, ISU Extension, Atlantic Public Library, Zion Lutheran Church, the 1st United Methodist Church, and Iowa Public Television.

Backyard and Beyond 10-20-2015

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

October 20th, 2015 by Jim Field

Lavon Eblen speaks with Tova Brandt with the Museum of Danish America about upcoming brown bag lunch programs.

Play

JUANITA KATHRYN FORCHT GILMAN, 85, of Stuart (no services)

Obituaries

October 20th, 2015 by Jim Field

JUANITA KATHRYN FORCHT GILMAN, 85, of Stuart died Sunday, October 18th at the Taylor Hospice House in Des Moines.  Per her wishes, cremation has taken place and no services are planned for JUANITA KATHRYN FORCHT GILMAN.  Johnson Family Funeral Home, Stuart Chapel is handling arrangements.

Familiar faces ready to star (again) in Big 12 this season

Sports

October 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas is the preseason pick to win its 12th consecutive Big 12 title. All-American forward Perry Ellis opted to return for his senior season, and he’ll be joined by talented guards Wayne Selden, Frank Mason and Devonte Graham, all players who logged crucial minutes as the Jayhawks rolled to another conference championship last season.

But there is plenty of talent around the league. Oklahoma returns All-American guard Buddy Hield, who may have been a first-round pick had he declared for the draft after last season. He’ll be joined by fellow seniors Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler, who also started all 35 games for Oklahoma a year ago.

Iowa State may have a new coach in Steve Prohm, but Georges Niang, Jameel McKay and Naz Long are seniors with high expectations.

 

DAVID JOHN TURNER, 61, of Harlan (Svcs. 10-22-2015)

Obituaries

October 20th, 2015 by admin

DAVID JOHN TURNER, 61, of Harlan died Sunday, October 18th at his residence.  Graveside services for DAVID JOHN TURNER will be held Thursday, October 22nd at 2:00pm at the Branson Cemetery in Loveland, IA.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 22nd from 11:00am-1:00pm at the funeral home prior to services.

DAVID JOHN TURNER is survived by:

Sons: David (Jennifer Kuesar) Turner Jr. of Chicago, IL.  Cody Turner of Alton, MO.

Daughter: Sarah Turner of Atlantic.

Brother: Chuck Turner of Council Bluffs. Tim Turner of Harlan.

Sisters: Sue Boruff of Harlan.  Carol Turner of Harlan.

2 Grandchildren

IA Unemployment rate goes down in September

News

October 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson, Courtney Greene, says the September report out today (Tuesday) shows the lowest unemployment rate in Iowa since 2006.  “Iowa’s unemployment rate is down another tenth of a percent to three-point-six percent in September, and a year ago we were standing at four-point-three percent,” Greene says.

The unemployment rate in August was three-point-seven percent. July has been the only month this year where unemployment did not drop or stay the same. It went up a half percent in July to three-point-eight. The U-S unemployment rate remained at five-point-one percent in September. The state did lose 21-hundred non-farm jobs in September, but those losses were offset by the gains.

“Leisure and hospitality added the most jobs in September at about 15-hundred, and that was also bolstered by growth and accommodations in food service which added about 500. Education and health care also added 600 jobs. However, there were some losses in September — with the largest being in manufacturing. Just one of Iowa’s 99 counties went against the trend of falling unemployment in September.

“Cherokee was the only Iowa county to see unemployment rise from three-point-nine percent a year ago to four-point-four percent this September. And that rise is due in part to the closing of the Tyson plant in Cherokee last fall, and the nearby Denison Tyson plant that closed its doors in August,” Greene says. The total number of working Iowans was 26-hundred higher than August, and 27-hundred more than one year ago.

(Radio Iowa)

IA Hwy 92 west of Treynor to close Oct. 22nd for bridge project

News

October 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluffs Construction Office says the DOT is replacing the Iowa 92 bridge over Little Silver Creek one mile west of Treynor using  accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques. The project requires closing the roadway to traffic beginning Thursday, Oct. 22nd, until Wednesday, Nov. 11th, weather permitting.
During the three-week construction closure,  motorists will be detoured around the construction zone using Pottawattamie County Road L-55 north for four miles to U.S. 6, then U.S. 6 west for nine miles to the I-80 interchange, and then traveling southwest on Interstate 80 to Interstate 29 and south to the Iowa 92 interchange.
Eastbound Iowa 92 and northbound I-29 traffic will also be impacted by the northbound ramp closures at the I-29/Iowa 92 interchange. These motorists are required to use the existing detour on Iowa 192/South Expressway in Council Bluffs.

The ABC process uses numerous innovative technologies that makes the project safer and significantly shortens the construction schedule so the road is closed for fewer days, saving travelers time and money by not having to use a detour around the site for an extended period.  Using traditional techniques, this bridge replacement could have resulted in a closure of six months or more.

Injury accident NE of Atlantic Tue. morning

News

October 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Authorities say two people suffered minor injuries during a single vehicle rollover accident this (Tuesday) morning, northeast of Atlantic. The accident at 650th (Highway 71) and Fayette Road, was reported just after 11-a.m.

Authorities say the Dale Pauley was driving a Cadillac SUV was traveling southbound on Highway 71 and attempting to pass a tractor and grain wagon, when the SUV made contact with the tractor, entered the west ditch and rolled over. Deputies on the scene said Pauley, and his passenger, Ila Pauley, both of Atlantic, suffered from minor lacerations and were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance. The driver of the tractor, William Wilson, of Exira, was not hurt.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene.