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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says the Atlantic Downtown Beautification Group, in association with the City of Atlantic’s Community Promotion Commission (CPC), will plant more than 5,000 petunias during the sixth annual “Atlantic: A Great Place to Put Down Roots” event on Tuesday, May 15th, from 4 to 7 p.m. Officials say hundreds of volunteers will beautify Downtown Atlantic and City Park by planting flowers provided by Hy-Vee, and reviving the many flower beds.
Funds to purchase the flowers come from the City through the Local Option Sales Tax. A team of workers gather to plant and maintain the beds over the course of the summer. Volunteers will receive a free meal at the Rock Island Depot following the planting in appreciation for their time and efforts.
In order to participate, volunteers must sign up by May 11th at 5 p.m. by calling the Chamber at 243-3017. Former volunteers are encouraged to wear their planting t-shirt from previous years to celebrate the longevity of the Spring Planting event. Businesses, service organizations and families of all ages are encouraged to take part. To register for the event, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com, with the name of your volunteers.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is narrowing down plans for a new high-speed passenger railway linking Chicago and Omaha.
A two-million dollar study looks at possible routes across Iowa, with stops in the Quad Cities, Iowa City and Des Moines. The DOT’s Amanda Martin says the project is a long way from completion and it’s uncertain where the money will originate. “We do have the funding in place for the study,” Martin says. “We’re just in the study mode right now and that was the two-million dollars I mentioned earlier.” One-million of that is coming from Iowa, with another million matched by the federal government. Martin says since the chosen route goes through populated areas and uses already-laid track, it will be affordable and profitable.
Martin says this train would -not- be like the one Amtrak runs through the southern part of the state. “The service is very different from the service we are studying now,” she says. “The service we’re studying now is inner city passenger rail service, typically between two urban areas.” She says this train would run a lot more often and go much faster, making it a viable alternative to driving. The project is still in its infancy, but the DOT is hosting public forums on-line and in person. In-person meetings are planned in Des Moines tomorrow (Wednesday) and in Council Bluffs on Thursday.
Learn more at: “iowadot.gov”.
(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)
The American Legion of Iowa family will host a dedication ceremony commemorating the Legion monument at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, a project which has been in the works for nearly two years. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 5th, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
Guests and speakers include The American Legion National Vice Commander Milton Heifner (Woodward, Iowa); Department (State) Commander Dennis J. Soppe (West Union, Iowa); and, Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Executive Director Jodi Tymeson (BG, Ret). Department (State) Vice Commander Theodore Hall will be the Master of Ceremonies and served as chairman of the committee responsible for fund-raising and design of the monument.
The cost of the project, nearly $12,000 was raised through donations and raffles held at American Legion events between 2010 and 2012, giving its members the opportunity to be part of a great tribute to veterans from all branches of service. The funds included construction, placement, and the required 10% fee for ongoing maintenance and upkeep by IVC groundskeepers.
The monument was designed by West Union High School senior, Sara Biver, who will also be present at the dedication ceremony.
Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County say a Mills County woman was responsible for a hit-and-run accident with a Red Oak Fire Department pickup Sunday night. Authorities Monday afternoon said an investigation determined 45-year old Lisa Annette French, of Pacific Junction, was the owner and operator of a dark colored sedan which struck the right side of a pickup driven by 24-year old Rudee DeMarce, of Red Oak, at around 9:30-p.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported following the collision. French left the scene of the accident. She was cited for Failure to have insurance (accident related), and following too closely. She was released from custody on those citations.
Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report also, 32-year old Renee Marie Owns, of Corning, was arrested at around 2:25-p.m., Monday, on a charge 5th degree theft, in association with an alleged shoplifting incident at the K-mart Store in Red Oak. Owens was released from custody on $300 cash bond.
Despite reports the economy is improving, more people are being forced to seek out charities to feed themselves and their families. Brian Barks, spokesman for the Omaha-based Food Bank for the Heartland, says a new report shows a growing number of people in the 93 counties the agency serves are looking for help with hunger. “The statistics show there’s just over 208-thousand people who would be considered food insecure,” Barks says. “This represents about 12% of the people who live in that 93-county area, which encompasses 77 counties in Nebraska and 16 in western Iowa.”
The food bank distributed ten-million pounds of food in 2011 — a ten-percent increase from 2009. Both Iowa and Nebraska have relatively low unemployment rates, but Barks says that doesn’t begin to tell the full story. “What we have a problem with here in Nebraska and western Iowa, along with the rest of the country, is under-employment,” Barks says. “We have folks who may’ve had a couple of jobs, now just have one. We have folks who may’ve lost a job that have taken a job but are making far less money than they did previously.” He says a recent trip to the Nebraska communty of Grand Island shows there is a need for services in the more rural areas of the state.
“We weren’t sure exactly how many people were going to show up,” Barks says. “Four-hundred-and-fifty showed up and we took somewhere in the vicinity of 10-thousand pounds of food and we ran out of food and actually had to turn some people away.” Learn about how you can donate food, funds or time at the website: “omahafoodbank.org”.
(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Ankeny police are looking for suspects who fired on the police station over the weekend, hitting the building with several rounds. Police Chief Gary Mikulec says shots were fired from a street Saturday night into early Sunday. No one was injured. Mikulec says building video tapes are being reviewed to determine the exact time of the shooting. Bullets were recovered in the second-floor lobby of the police station, which is occupied around the clock. Mikulec says the trajectory and pattern of the gunfire show it was clearly aimed at the building.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Federal prosecutors are being defensive about their use of an obscure law to indict two recreational Iowa pilots whose low flying may have disturbed thousands of resting migratory birds. Paul Austin and Craig Martin are charged with violating the Airborne Hunting Act. Prosecutors say they flew separate small planes 20 feet above Saylorville Lake last November, causing a large group of waterfowl and white pelicans to take flight. Prosecutors say they violated the law, which prohibits using an aircraft to harass animals. Austin and Martin are asking a judge to dismiss the indictment.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad wants lawmakers to approve changes to Iowa’s property tax system. He says if lawmakers adjourn without passing a property tax bill, it would be a “tragic disservice” to Iowans. The governor is proposing an across-the-board cut of 40 percent in business property taxes over eight years, while Senate Democrats wanted a much smaller reduction aimed at small businesses. Lawmakers were scheduled to end the session on April 17.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state is balking at funding the removal of small dams that are in place on rivers throughout Iowa and have been blamed for the deaths of 18 people since 1998. The Des Moines Register reports that since 2008, the state has spent from $200,000 to $1.8 million a year to replace or lower such dams. Governor Terry Branstad vetoed a spending measure last year. Lawmakers haven’t approved any money for the task this year.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A woman convicted of stealing more than $537,000 while working in the Black Hawk County Clerk of Courts office has been given parole. That after serving about 70 days of her 10-year prison sentence. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says the prison release of Tina Zieser surprised Black Hawk County’s chief prosecutor. Parole officials say Zieser is considered a low risk to reoffend and poses no safety threat to the public. She remains on parole until August 2016.
Persons attending the Bike and Trails Expo in Atlantic Monday night heard some exciting news with regard to a trail around the Lake Anita State Park. Wendy Wittrock, with the group “Friends of Lake Anita State Park,” said work is about to begin on paving the trail. Wittrock said the contractor is on site, and will be completing the paving of the trail, which will mean 3.3-miles of the trail will be paved altogether, with another seven-tenths of a mile on a roadway. Wittrock encourages everyone to bring their bikes to the Lake area soon, because “you’re really gonna like the new trail.”
Another trail under development is the “Little Mermaid Trail,” which will connect Elk Horn and Kimballton. Bob Mortensen, co-chair of the Little Mermaid Trail Committee, said their current project includes paving of the “Friendship Walk,” which leads from the Bedstemor’s House in Elk Horn, to the Danish Immigrant Museum. Mortensen said they’ll be opening bids for the project this week. He says as part of the fundraising effort for the project, on Monday, May 7th, they will hold an all-you can eat mexican taco bar, for your free will donation. He says “You’ll have to go see the Mermaid for the margaritas.” The cost of the drinks are extra. For more information, go to www.danishvillages.com.
And, Debbie Copic, Chairperson of the 4th Annual “Tour de Tivoli” bike ride May 27th (Memorial Day weekend), announced that there will be two routes this year for that event. The standard route is 26-miles, and will pass by Prairie Rose State Park onto Highway 44 into Kimballton. The longer route is 50-miles, and includes a loop to Hamlin on the T-Bone Trail into Exira and then into Elk Horn. The event coincides with the Annual Tivoli Fest celebration, May 27th and 28th.
The pre-registration deadline for a one-of-a-kind jersey, or t-shirt on the day of the ride, is this Friday, April 27th. For more information, call Deb Copic at 712-249-7257, or e-mail debbiecopic@gmail.com. The registration fee prior is $20 for the ride alone, or $30, which includes a t-shirt, SAG stations & refreshments, chances to win door prizes, and a meal, along with free entertainment at the Danish Windmill. $60 registers you for the ride, and includes the jersey, which features the 2012 Tivoli Fest logo and theme, “A Burst of Tivoli Fest.” The jersey will cost $65 on the day of ride.
A crowd of more than 115-people packed a section of the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic Monday evening, during the Bike and Trails Expo. Those in attendance learned about bike trail development in the area, along with the potential for economic development and wellness benefits.
Mark Wyatt with the IA Bicycle Coalition speaks in Atlantic
The evening began with guest speaker Mark Wyatt, from Iowa City, Executive Director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Wyatt said bicycling has a huge economic impact on the state, as determined by a study conducted with the assistance of the University of Northern Iowa.
The study found bicycling has a $364.6-million dollar impact on spending in Iowa, which Wyatt said is three-times the impact of the wine industry, four-times the impact of snowmobiling. The numbers he said are “conservative,” and didn’t account for out of state travelers, and it even rivaled golf, as a leisure time activity. The study also collected health information from bicyclists, and by comparing the health of those bicyclists to insurance data, it showed a $73-million dollar health care cost savings. Wyatt said there’s still more work to do though, in the area of bicycle safety.
Ed Kail with the Nishna Valley Trails group, said to encourage bicycle safety, especially among young people, the Atlantic Police Department under the direction of Chief Steve Green, is offering rewards young people who wear a helmet. Kail said during the month of June, Officers with the A-PD who catch a young person wearing a bike helmet will stop them, and offer reward ticket for ice cream. The reward is partially funded by the Trevor Frederickson Foundation. In addition, the Police Department is conducting a “Safe Riding” reward program, because the Chief has been disappointed at the number of kids who are not wearing a helmet. When an officer catches a young person riding safely, that persons name will be taken down and handed in to Chief Green, who will draw two names at the end of the summer. Those two persons will win a new bike, purchased with funds from the Police Youth Fund.
In other developments, NVT President Dave Chase announced progress is being made on the efforts to link-up the Schildberg Quarry Recreation Area in Atlantic with the Atlantic Baseball Complex just east of the KJAN Studios on North Olive Street. Chase said despite some “bumps” last year in getting permission from a local land owner to connect the trail, they have since agreed to allow that to proceed. The trails group Chase said, has re-instituted a study to establish a pedestrian bridge across Troublesome Creek. Sndyer and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm reminded the audience that the City of Atlantic and Nishna Valley Trails combined forces, and were the recipients of a enhancement grant from the Iowa Dept. of Transportation, for the preliminary and final design phases of the pedestrian bridge across Troublesome Creek. He says those plans are now back on track. Sturm says they should receive authorization later on this Summer to proceed with the design, which includes the hydrology of the creek, and the expected level of traffic on the bridge. That study should be completed in the Fall, and from there Sturm says, “It’s hurry up and wait for more grants” until it can be built.
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