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Midwesterner’s spot a fireball meteor streaking across sky early Friday morning

News

August 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Reports from some Iowans and others across the Midwest, Friday morning, say they saw an unexpected spectacle in the sky. A fireball meteor streaked through the atmosphere around 6:15 a.m. The meteor itself was located over southwestern Wisconsin but was visible from hundreds of miles away.

NASA’s Meteor Watch reports that “over 70 eyewitnesses in the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota have filed reports on the American Meteor Society website of a bright fireball seen this morning (August 23) at 6:13 AM Central Daylight Time. An analysis of these accounts indicates that the meteor was first seen at an altitude of 50 miles above the Wisconsin town of Fairchild, moving slightly east of South at 36,000 miles per hour. Traveling 39 miles through the atmosphere, it brightly flared twice before breaking up 29 miles above the town of Shamrock.”

Meteors often break up as they enter the atmosphere and can explode, which is just what Meteor Watch says happened: “The fireball broke apart with an energy of approximately 60 tons of TNT and the flares were easily detected by the Geostationary Lightning Mappers on the GOES 16 and GOES 18 satellites. The available data indicate that the meteor was produced by the atmospheric entry of a small asteroid 3.5 feet in diameter and weighing roughly 4000 pounds.”

Week 0 High School Football Scores

Sports

August 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic 48, Council Bluffs Jefferson 30

Boyer Valley 54, Moravia 21

Baxter 58, Springville 49

Colo-Nesco 60, Twin Cedars 0

Murray 74, Melcher-Dallas 26

Skyscan Forecast for Saturday, August 24, 2024

Weather

August 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 100. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind 7 to 9 mph.
Sunday: HEAT ADVISORY FROM 1-UNTIL 8-P.M. Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 113. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Friday’s high was 80 degrees, our low this morning is 62. We received .10″ of rain last night (around 1-a.m. today) in Atlantic. Last year on this date the high was 98 and the low 72. The record high for August 24th in Atlantic is 105 degrees set in 1936 and the record low is 37 set in 1908.

Trojan Football run through Council Bluffs Jefferson for a Week 0 Victory

Sports

August 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

(Atlantic) — Atlantic Football started the season off strong with a focused rushing attack against the Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson Yellow Jackets winning 48-30 in their season opener. A key part to their win was the commitment to the run game amassing over 300 rushing yards.

Atlantic came out in the first quarter aggressive and ready to establish a tone early. The run game immediately clicked as the Trojans committed to the I-Formation for the majority of the evening. Which methodically drove them down the field allowing Gavin McLaren to push his way through the goal line for a 3-yard touchdown score.  The Trojans were then up 7-0 and they held onto the lead for the rest of the night.

The rest of the ball game a pass first versus run first philosophy between the two teams. The second quarter brought another McLaren touchdown score after a 4th and out from T.J. in the redzone and 43-yard pass from quarterback Tristan Hayes to Jarrett Hansen putting the Trojans up 13-0. Before the end of the second quarter the Yellow Jackets did score off a 4-yard touchdown throw from Jayden Fujii to Mayson Kramer making it 13-6 at halftime.

Coming out of halftime the Trojans immediately received a shot of adrenaline from a 72-yard kick return by Hansen to set Atlantic up at the goal line. McLaren would once again plunge his way into the endzone creating a 20-6 lead for the Trojans. Towards the end of the third quarter Atlantic threw in sophomore running back Ethan McNeal who took a pitch play and turned it into a 40-yard touchdown run. The Trojans lead then turned into 27-6 and the ball game seemed over.

Before the end of the third quarter the Yellow Jackets did manage to gain another score from a 65-yard touchdown pass from Fujii to Braxton Parks off of broken coverage and with a 2-point conversion successful the game was at 27-14. The fourth quarter would turn into a slug-fest for both sides as each side continually exchanged scores. The top of the fourth quarter saw Tyson O’Brien rush his way down into T.J. territory and collect a one-yard touchdown score to put Atlantic up 34-14. T.J. then had a sharp 23-yard touchdown pass from Fujii to Jimmy Ross-Cotton slashing into the lead for a 34-22 score.

Atlantic took control for the rest of the game on both sides of the ball scoring on back-to-back drives from a 5-yard O’Brien touchdown run and 4-yard score by McLaren to put them up 48-22. The Yellow Jackets final score of the game was by backup QB Daulton Garrison to Mayson Kramer on a 40-yard seam route for a final score of 48-30.

The victory was not the smoothest with some work needing to be done by the Atlantic secondary. But, Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer was pleased with his offensive line and rushing performance.

Atlantic finished the night with 324 total rushing yards. 204 of those yards were by leading rusher Tyson O’Brien who had 2 touchdowns of his own. McLaren had 4 td’s and 78 yards on the ground from 78 attempts. Ethan McNeal’s lone touchdown carry accounted for 40 yards on its own. Coach Brummer liked the way his team shared the ball throughout the evening.

Atlantic’s next game will be against the Clarke Indians, a team they beat 47-33 a year ago. It’s a matchup that Coach Brummer is not taking lightly.

Kickoff for the Trojans battle against the Indians is set for 7:00 PM, with the pregame on KJANTV beginning at 6:30 PM.

Iowa Man Charged with Distributing Videos Depicting Monkey Torture and Mutilation

News

August 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(U-S Dept. of Justice Press Release) – An indictment was unsealed today (Friday), in which an individual was charged based on his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

Philip Colt Moss, of Iowa, was charged with conspiracy to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos,” and with distributing animal crush videos. According to court documents, in March and April 2023, Moss allegedly conspired with Nicholas Dryden and Giancarlo Morelli to create and distribute videos depicting acts of sadistic violence against baby, adolescent and adult monkeys. Dryden and Morelli were previously indicted and are awaiting trial.

The videos alleged to have been created as part of the conspiracy included depictions of monkeys having their genitals burned, having their genitals cut with scissors, being sodomized with a wooden skewer and being sodomized with a spoon.

If convicted, Moss faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for the charges related to the creation and distribution of animal crush videos. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio made the announcement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Congresswoman Hinson criticizes Democrat nominee’s border plan

News

August 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is speaking out against Kamala Harris’s southern border policy outlined in her acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination. Hinson’s comments came after Vice President Harris said she would approve the bipartisan border security bill the Donald Trump opposed.
Hinson says the bill simply wouldn’t do enough.

Hinson made her comments during her weekly conference call with reporters and says Harris’s stance on the southern border had been virtually nonexistent before the convention.

Hinson, who represents Iowa’s second district, went on to criticize the Vice President for not yet having met with the head of the Border Patrol Union so close to the election.

Home prices and number of homes on the market up

News

August 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The latest data from the Iowa Association of Realtors shows home prices are up by more than six percent last month compared to July of last year. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

(As said) – From July of 2023 to July of this year, there was a two-point-seven percent increase in the total number of homes sold in Iowa and the median price was 15-thousand dollars higher. However, from June to July, pending home sales declined about two percent. The president of the Iowa Association of Realtors says inventory is the bright spot in Iowa’s housing market. There was a nearly five percent increase in the number of homes LISTED for sale in July of this year compared to July of 2023. A TOTAL of 77-hundred Iowa homes were on the market in July. That’s 22-point-six percent more than July of last year.

Lloyd & Sharon Roberts Inducted into Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 23rd, 2024 by Jim Field

Lloyd & Sharon of Cass County were inducted into the 2024 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 18. Ninety-three Iowa

Lloyd and Sharon Roberts photo submitted for Iowa 4-H Foundation Hall of Fame Nomination

counties participated this year and selected 125 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members were presented a certificate by the Iowa 4‑H Foundation President, Jeff Murphy, and State 4-H Program Leader, Mitchell Hoyer, as they were introduced on stage.

The commitment, passion, and contributions that Sharon and Lloyd Roberts have left in Cass County have made an indelible mark on the lives of many people and the community. For over 30 years, they have been active 4-H parents, with all four of their sons participating in Cass County 4-H. Lloyd served as a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Rabbits, and as a night guard at the Cass County Fair. Sharon volunteered in the 4-H Exhibit building and assisted with check-in during judging. Along with these volunteer opportunities they also became a host family for a 4-Her from North Dakota.

Counties select inductees for their exceptional work in contributing to the lives of 4-H members and the overall 4-H program, said Katie Bateman, Cass County Youth Coordinator. Many inductees serve as club leaders, youth mentors, fair superintendents or fair board members, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach County council members, county youth council members, fair judges, financial supporters, chaperones or ISU Extension and Outreach staff members. The inductees have demonstrated dedication, encouragement, commitment and guidance to Iowa’s 4-H’ers through the years.

“We are honored to recognize these special individuals, for their advocacy and dedication to the Iowa 4-H program,” shared Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director, Emily Saveraid.

“This is a great way to honor the volunteers and staff across the state of Iowa that generously give their time and talents to foster positive partnerships with our 4-H youth,” said Tillie Good, Iowa 4-H staff and volunteer development manager.

Kurt Roberts (Lloyd and Sharon’s son) accepting the honor at the Iowa State Fair August 18th at the 4-H Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was initiated in 2002 to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of 4-H. A summary of previous honorees was on display at the 2022 Iowa State Fair in the 4-H Exhibits Building.  These summaries are also available at the Iowa 4-H Foundation office in the Extension 4-H Youth Building at Iowa State University. Information about previous inductees to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame also is available on the Iowa 4-H Foundation website, organized by year and by county. Go to www.iowa4hfoundation.org/ and under the heading “What We Do” select “Recognizing Service” then “Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.”

Trojan Preview – Week 0 – 08/23/2024

Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win?

August 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

KJAN Sports Director Asa Lucas’ weekly discussion with Atlantic Head Football Coach Joe Brummer. We get you introduced to the 2024 squad and talk about the Week 0 match-up with the Council Bluffs Jefferson Yellow Jackets.

Play

Karl Gollan Joins Softball Staff as Assistant Coach

Sports

August 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Karl Gollan has been named an assistant coach for the University of Iowa softball team, head coach Renee Gillispie announced Friday.
“I am grateful to Renee and the entire selection committee for trusting me to help move the program forward,” said Gollan. “Iowa is my home, and I have a genuine love for the Hawkeyes. I am beyond excited for the opportunity to help grow a program that driven players want to be a part of and Hawkeye fans are proud to support.”

Gollan comes to Iowa after one year at Ole Miss where he served primarily as the pitching coach. He helped the Rebels to a 31-27 record and their eighth straight NCAA Regional appearance. The Ole Miss pitching staff finished with a 2.86 ERA and held hitters to a .249 batting average against. Gollan had four pitchers with sub 3.00 ERA in SEC Conference play with 339 team strikeouts.

Prior to Oxford, Gollan served as the head coach for the Augustana softball program. He helped turn around the program that was picked to finish last in the conference and guided them to a third-place finish. Winning over 20 games, three Vikings earned all-conference honors, including Nadia Ranieri, who was named CCIW Pitcher of the Year. Under Gollan, the pitching staff flourished, tying the conference single season strikeout record with 264 punchouts.

Gollan has over 25 years of international playing experience. A former member of New Zealand’s national team from 2004-2017, he helped his country remain at the top spot in the WBSC/ISF and ISC rankings. He is a four-time world champion and 10-time national champion. As a coach, Gollan assisted the NZ Black Sox and still serves as an advisor for the national team. As an advisor, his duties included player evaluations and scouting for the No. 1 ranked men’s fastpitch team in the world.

While playing professionally, Gollan coached numerous junior club teams, including Auckland United and Miramar Softball Club from 2009-13. He worked to help develop athletes as well as manage the in-game lineups and strategy.

Gollan also opened the K2 School of Fastpitch in 2006. As the owner and lead instructor for over 100 clients, he was responsible for creating all training programs and helping a majority of his athletes get recruited to play college softball at every level, ranging from JUCO to Division I.

Prior to opening his own business, Gollan worked as the co-lead pitching and lead hitting instructor with DG Softball Academy from 2003-05. One of only two training facilities approved for the USA National and Olympic teams at the time, he designed and implemented hitting and pitching programs for all students. Gollan also helped lead camps and coaching seminars.