(Radio Iowa) – One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, and Iowans who are now looking into health club memberships are warned to read everything carefully before signing a contract. Consumer protection advocate Mike Domke says it’s essential to do your research on the gym before signing anything.

“Look at the fine print on what their agreements are, what that particular promotion is, understand the cancellation policy,” Domke says, “so if you get to June, you find out you’re not going, do you have an opportunity to cancel it.” It’s important to give a gym a trial run for a week or two before signing the contract, Domke says, and that’s something most reliable gyms will offer you.

“You don’t want to pay and end up at a gym where you do a few exercises or workouts and realize this isn’t for me,” he says. “So understanding what your goals are and then finding a facility that matches that.” If you’re not careful, Domke says, you could be on the hook for an expensive, lengthy contract, so know what questions to ask first.

“Is there an initial signup fee? What is the monthly fee? What is the cancellation? What is the term?” he says. “All of these are going to be really important in case you find out that something happens that you don’t want to go anymore.” A recent study found about 80% of resolutions fail by the second week in February, while different research shows that on average, it takes about 66 days for a new habit to become automatic.

(Radio Iowa) – Where would you rather spend the winter, Iowa or Hawaii? For most people, it’s an easy call, but not if you plan to do much driving.  A survey by the credit reporting website Wallethub, says Iowa is the best state in the nation for driving, while Hawaii came in last. The study is based on 31 different criteria, things like rush hour traffic, road conditions, safety records, and the cost to maintain a car, including gas prices.

Iowa ranked seventh for ownership costs and ninth for its infrastructure. Full car insurance coverage in Iowa averages 12-hundred-60 dollars a year, more than 400-dollars below the national average. Commute times for Iowans average about 19 minutes, one of the lowest in the country, while New York’s commute is longest at more than 33 minutes.

(Bridgewater, Iowa) – Dave Nichols of Nichols Farms, near Bridgewater, was honored with induction into the American Angus Association’s Heritage Foundation at the 2022 Angus Convention held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in November 2022. AAA created the Heritage Foundation in 1983 to honor the contributions of individuals who have gone above and beyond for the Angus Breed.

Nichols was selected for his groundbreaking work in data collection. Nichols Farms was one of the first herds to incorporate computer performance records to intricate feed intake and measurement systems, and has continuously adapted and extended the limits of performance records. Today, Nichols Farms collects and maintains more than 70 fields of data on each animal.

Officials with the Foundation say Nichols’ immense interest in data led to his heavy involvement in the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR), and Beef Improvement Federation (BIF), along with partaking in numerous research projects to improve technology, placing him at the forefront of today’s EPD program. The farm’s latest research project focuses on feed efficiency, collecting data beef producers can utilize in breeding decisions.

Dave Nichols (Photo & story submitted by Terri Queck-Matzie.

In making the award announcement, officials with the Foundation said “Inductees of the Heritage Foundation depict the type of individuals who built a reputation with their drive, ambition and forward-thinking attitude. From his leadership and accolades, to his dedication to providing customers with a firm handshake and the best genetics possible, Nichols’ investment in the breed and its success is evident in all he does.”

In addition to Nichols, the 2022 Heritage Foundation inductees include: Jim and Sue Coleman of Modesto, California; Leo and Sam McDonnell of Columbus, Montana; and Becky and the late Arlen Sawyer of Bassett, Nebraska.

The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 22,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports three arrests from the past week. On Wednesday (Jan. 11, 2023), 44-year-old Michael Ross Waddingham, of Orient, was arrested on a Department of Corrections warrant for Violation of Parole. He remains held without bond in the Adair County Jail.

On Jan. 10th, 29-year-old Matthew Ray Garcia, of Macksburg, was arrested in Red Oak on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was released the following day on bond. And, on January 8th, 31-year-old Jon Rubin Stewart, of Waterloo, was arrested in Stuart, on a warrant out of Bremer County. He was released to Bremer County Deputies the same day.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill introduced in the Iowa House would set up a state licensing process for “rural emergency hospitals.” Federal rules now let small rural hospitals discontinue in-patient care and just provide an emergency room and outpatient services. Representative Martin Graber of Fort Madison says this could be a financial lifeline for more than 30 small Iowa hospitals where very few patients are being admitted for an overnight stay. “This is the first step in the process,” Graber says. “We’ve got to get the state to say: ‘It’s o.k. to license one.'”

Keokuk’s hospital closed in October and Graber says a stand-alone E-R would be a viable alternative in the community. “Blessing Hospital has said they’d be interested in it,” Graber says, “and they’re the logical ones.” Blessing Health, based in Quincy, Illinois, closed its 49-bed Keokuk hospital September 30th due to operating losses and low demand for in-patient care. The Rural Emergency Hospital license Graber and others are working on would increase the government’s reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid patients treated in an emergency room.  “To make sure we have a place so that if one my constituents down in Keokuk shows up and they’ve had a stroke or they’re having a heart attack or some major problem, we can get them treated,” Graber says.

Once a critical patient is stabilized in a Rural Emergency Hospital’s E-R, Graber says they’d be transferred to in-patient care elsewhere, while patients with less acute emergencies could be quickly treated and discharged.

(Durant, Iowa) – A car traveling in the wrong direction crashed head-on into a semi tractor trailer, Saturday morning, resulting in the death of the car’s driver. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2020 Honda driven by 46-year-old Rebecca McClaine, of Bettendorf, was traveling east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 north of Durant, in Cedar County, when her vehicle struck a 2014 Kenworth semi head-on near mile marker 277.  The accident happened at around 3:08-a.m., Saturday.

McClaine died at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the semi was not injured. He was identified as 65-year-old Stuart Anderson, of Northwood, Iowa. Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest in the median. The crash remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – The Chickasaw County Sheriff says a man is facing multiple charges for a fatal accident in September. Thirty-eight-year-old Curtis Williams was charged with vehicular homicide, eluding, operating while under the influence, driving with a revoked license, reckless driving, operating a non-registered vehicle, failure to maintain control and speeding. Authorities say Williams led authorities on a chase in the early morning hours of September 26th, lost control of his vehicle, the vehicle rolled and the impact killed an 18-year-old passenger.

Williams is being held on a 32-thousand dollars bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A former Iowan is being released from a Minnesota prison after spending nearly 25 years behind bars. Sixty-three-year-old Thomas Rhodes was accused of the 1998 murder of his wife. The Minnesota Attorney General on Friday vacated Rhodes’ conviction of first- and second-degree murder for a lesser conviction of second-degree manslaughter. Rhodes was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree intentional murder after Jane Rhodes fell overboard and drowned during a nighttime boat ride on a lake at Spicer, Minnesota in July of 1998.

The new examination found that Jane Rhodes’ death was not inconsistent with an accidental fall. The Minnesota Conviction Review Unit decided the medical evidence used in the Rhodes conviction was flawed. The state says there is sufficient evidence to support Thomas Rhodes’ conviction of second-degree manslaughter. Rhodes is a native of Duncombe and graduated from Webster City high school in 1977.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9-a.m. Tuesday, in their Boardroom at the Adair County Courthouse. On their agenda is approval of the Lee Township Trustee’s resignation and appointment(s) for the position. The Board will discuss the FY 2022 5th Judicial District Annual Report, and a Safety Meeting Lunch.

County Treasurer Brenda Wallace will present to the Board a 28-E Agreement, and her Semi-Annual Report. County Auditor Mandy Berg will present FY 24 Budget requests for the Supervisors, Data Processing, Medical Examiner, Clerk of Court, Social Services and DHS.

Alan Carr will discuss with the Adair County Supervisors the upgrading of Kent Avenue to a Level A road from 300th to 310th Street. Area Service Level A Roads are those with the highest level of service constructed, and maintained in conformance with applicable State Statutes. The type of surfacing varies, based on Federal Functional, State, and Local Classifications; terrain and traffic count.

And, County Engineer Nick Kauffman will request approval for a material bid with regard to the N-33 Orient bridge project, before providing his weekly report on maintenance and activities.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. There were two separate arrests on Friday: 49-year-old David Joy Anderson, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested at Sarpy County (NE) Corrections, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $20,000; And, 19-year-old Seven Latayia Barrett, of Glenwood, was arrested Friday evening for OWI/1st offense, with bond set at $1,000.

Early Saturday morning, 45-year-old Shannon Don Spangler, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested for Eluding and having no valid driver’s license. His bond at the Mills County Jail was set at $2,300. Early Sunday morning, 60-year-old Clifford John Bonacci, of Omaha, was arrested at I-29 and Highway 34, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Contraband/Weapon in a Correctional Facility. Bond was set at $5,300.