BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska utility has decided to hire outside expertise to run its troubled nuclear power plant. At a meeting in Blair on Thursday, the Omaha Public Power District directors voted to contract with Exelon Generation LLC to run the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station.
The nuclear plant about 20 miles north of Omaha is under close scrutiny by regulators. Fort Calhoun was initially shut down for routine refueling maintenance in April 2011, but flooding along the Missouri River and the safety violations forced it to remain offline. Exelon Generation says it operates 17 reactors at 10 nuclear power plants situated in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Chalk up another “W” for Cathy Carter. The Council Bluffs woman captured her 31^st Class A Iowa State Women’s Horseshoe pitching Championship earlier this week, in Des Moines. The Omaha World-Herald reports Carter, a former Class-B Champion who moved up to Class-A this year, won the title 30 years in a row before being sidelined last year by a broken ankle. Her victory during Sunday’s competition came over last year’s winner, Shirley Fletcher, who placed second in the event.

Carter, a lifelong resident of Council Bluffs, owns cleaning business in the community. She’s a winner in another area, as well. Two weeks ago, Carter became engaged to Joe Jones.

An obstructed view was listed as the cause of an accident Thursday afternoon near the Stanton Community School Building. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened as a pickup truck driven by 48-year old Ronald Meier, Jr., of Villisca, and car driven by 44-year old Brenda Lynn Dickerson, of Emerson, were parked on the southeast corner of the school building at the intersection of Halland Avenue/Elliott Street in Stanton, while Meier Jr. & Dickerson were waiting to pick up children.

Officials say when Meier, Jr. backed up to leave, he didn’t see Dickerson’s 2006 Lincoln, because of the height difference in the vehicles. The pickup hit the car in the right front side. The Lincoln sustained $3,000 damage, while damage to the pickup was estimated at $500. There were no injuries, and no citations issued.

(used during 5-p.m. News, Thursday)

(corrects date of hearing to Sept. 4th)

A judge in the case of a former Anita Community School District teacher charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, has set a plea and sentencing date for September 4th, at 9-a.m.  Fourth District Court Judge Kathleen Kilnoski made the decision on Monday, during a Pre-Trial conference.  The trial for 65-year old William Glenn Foulkes had been scheduled to take place on July 10th, but on June 11th, Judge Jeffrey Larson agreed to extend the date until September 25th, at 9:30-a.m. in the Cass County Courthouse. Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner said the extension allowed attorney’s for both parties to continue any necessary review, preparation and discussions associated with the case.

Foulkes pled Not Guilty in March, to charges he sexually exploited a minor female over a period of 13-months. A former long-time Math teacher at the Anita High School, and Anita Elementary School, Foulkes was arrested March 15^th on a felony warrant for Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee, and 49-Aggravated Misdemeanor counts of Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee. If convicted on all of the charges, he faces a maximum time of 103 years in prison and fines of more than $300,000. Foulkes resigned from his teaching position in November 2010. He’s accused of engaging in sexual conduct on numerous occasions with a minor female while teaching the student in a math program from August 2009 until November 11, 2010.

While we’ve seen a few breaks from the hot, dry weather, the worst drought in decades is stressing some of us out and calls to the Iowa Concern Hotline are rising. The service offers information referral, a friendly ear and legal advice, if necessary. Hotline director Margaret VanGinkle says questions lately are about how to handle household finances as prices rise due to the drought. “What happens if we have to pay more for milk and groceries and then the price of gas has gone up, too,” VanGinkle says. “Where am I going to find funds to pay for that when my budget is already pretty tight now?”

Forecasters don’t expect a break from the current weather pattern until October, but some fear the drought could continue well beyond this fall and into next year. Van Ginkle says callers are worried about the potential for a prolonged drought. She says, “If there is a shortage of rural water and they’re being asked to cut back on water with their livestock, how does that effect the operation especially on those really hot days, just a concern that might happen.”

Once known as the Rural Concern Hotline, the service was launched by the Iowa State University extension in 1985 to offer advice to struggling farmers during the Farm Crisis. As the name now implies, VanGinkle says the Iowa Concern Hotline is not exclusive to the agriculture community. The number is 800-447-1985. Phone calls are free and confidential.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman said today his office received some calls this (Thursday) morning with regard to an Outdoor Warning Siren that was activated last night during the Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Red Oak. Hamman says the siren was not activated by the Communications Center and was potentially struck by lightning or received an electrical surge at the pole.

Hamman says the City of Red Oak has contacted the sales rep for the siren and they will be investigating the cause of the activation. The sirens can be activated during Severe Weather if there is an immediate threat to property and life due to strong winds or extremely large hail.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – A 28-year-old Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of vehicular homicide stemming from a crash last November. Lenley Schofield Jr. filed the written plea on Tuesday in Monona County District Court. Prosecutors say Schofield was driving on Iowa Highway 141 near Mapleton on Nov. 21 when his car ran into an oncoming truck. Schofield’s passenger, Robert Palmer, died later.   Court documents say Schofield was driving recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

(12-pm News)

A company headquartered in Adair that produces a variety of products, some of which cater to  the delicatessen industry, has been featured in a trade industry video. Owner Revolution Inc. (www.ownrev.com) officials say its subsidiary, Schafer Solutions Incorporated, in Adair, has been featured in the August 9th, 2012 issue of Deli Market TV. (The video is available through this link: https://www.filesanywhere.com/FS/v.aspx?v=8a71648758637375ad6c)

Schafer Solutions is a high quality supplier of unique and exciting custom fabricated plastic products for point of purchase displays and dispensers at convenience stores, restaurants, delis, bakeries and dairy stores. Company officials say compared to most displays and dispensers, Schafer Solutions’ products are unmatched for their brilliance, innovative design, fit, finish and customizability. The company is an expert in high volume customization.

Since its inception, Schafer Solutions has exhibited at five major trade shows, including The 2011 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show and the 2011 and 2012 National Restaurant Association (NRA) Shows, all took place in Chicago. Schafer Solutions will be exhibiting in booth at the 2012 NACS Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center this October 8-10, as well.

Iowans who plan to grill up some summer sausages will want to take note of a recall before taking a bite. The recall is from Johnsonville Sausage on 13-and-a-half ounce packages of Turkey Sausage with Cheddar Cheese. The Wisconsin-based company is recalling nearly 49-thousand pounds of the sausages in Iowa and 21 other states. The packages in question have a “best by” date of August 20th. The company says there’s a risk they may contain foreign material — namely, pieces of gloves. There are no reports of injury or illness. For more details, see the company website at johnsonville-dot-com.

(Radio Iowa)