712 Digital Group - top

Higgins Named Sporting News Preseason All-American

Sports

August 14th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa fifth-year senior Jay Higgins has been named a 2024 Sporting News Preseason All-American, the publication announced Wednesday.

The preseason honor is Higgins’ fourth. The Indianapolis native was also selected as a preseason first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation, Phil Steele and Athlon. Higgins was also named the Phil Steele Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Higgins earned All-America distinction from eight different outlets a season ago, including Sporting News. He was Iowa’s Roy Carver Most Valuable Player on defense for a unit that ranked fourth nationally, surrendering 14.8 points per game.

Higgins started all 14 games in 2023, leading the team with 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists). The figure tied an Iowa single season school record, led the Big Ten and ranked third nationally. He finished with 15+ tackles in three games and 10+ tackles in 10 contests.

Former Hawkeyes Cooper DeJean and Tory Taylor were Sporting News Preseason All-Americans a year ago.

The Hawkeyes open the 2024 season Aug. 31, hosting Illinois State at 11 a.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium.

Nevada fire chief part of national effort to prevent deadly oxygen fires

News

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The fire chief of a central Iowa town hopes a solution is getting closer that would stop deadly fires involving people who use oxygen.

Nevada Fire Chief Ray Reynolds. (Nevada FD photo)

Nevada fire chief Ray Reynolds says he started pushing for thermal fuses on oxygen devices after oxygen fires there that killed two people and left two others badly burned.

“Kind of got looking at this, and when we did the math, we figured out that Medicare paid one-point-two million dollars to keep those two people alive, and they could have purchased 239,000 thermal fuses that would have wiped out about ten percent of our country’s oxygen fires,” he says.

Reynolds now leads the national Home Oxygen Therapy (H.O.T.) working group that’s trying to cut the number of oxygen fires. He says the thermal fuses are inexpensive and keep the oxygen from feeding the fire and making it worse. “We just think for $4.45 cents stopping the secondary fires of clothing, couches and you know, different fuel loads that are inside homes, it might give us an opportunity to avoid some of these disasters,” Reynolds says. Reynolds says a majority of oxygen fires are started by people who smoke while using oxygen, and there’s some who say installing the fuses just encourages smoking. But he says it’s not as simple as telling someone not to smoke.

“I tell anybody, if you think you and I are going to change any smoking behavior over a four-dollar engineered solution, we’re sadly mistaken because addiction and nicotine goes way beyond what we’re doing,” he says. Reynolds says he knows from experience that people would like to stop smoking after they get sick, but struggle with it. “I’ve had a lot of people that I’ve gone in their homes to put thermal fuses in, and they’re embarrassed. They’re embarrassed they smoke. There’s social stigma to smoking. We are seeing a 50 percent reduction in smoking, but yet the same number of fires, if not more. So that tells me that we’re smoking even more unsafe,” he says.

Reynolds says another issue is the oxygen machines are a certified medical device and it takes federal approval to add the thermal fuses. “One of the things we realize is that this is going to have to be a policy decision of our country. And so we’ve actually met with the senior administrators of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in April in Washington, D.C, and we presented a case on implementing mandatory thermal fuses for all people on oxygen,” he says. Reynolds says the meeting went well and their case is under consideration.

Reynolds says it could be a big change. “We think it’ll reduce our U.S. fire deaths by 15 percent. It’ll certainly save Medicare about $500 million that they’re currently spending on burn care,” Reynolds says. “And we’re seeing some state success. Iowa was the first state to reimburse thermal fuse installation on the Medicaid side, which is the state side of Medicare.”

The state of Washington also pays for the thermal fuses and the Department of Veterans Affairs requires their use. Reynolds says he is optimistic the issue will eventually be addressed on the federal level.

Gov. Reynolds announces relief to disaster-impacted homeowners with first awards through Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program

News

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – Governor Reynolds today (Wednesday) announced that conditional awards are beginning to be approved for disaster impacted Iowa homeowners through the state-funded Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program (DRHAP). The awards will allow homeowners to begin rebuilding or be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred.
“Fast-tracking relief for disaster-impacted Iowans has been my priority, and I’m pleased to announce that funds have started being awarded to homeowners,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Those receiving conditional awards today, and in the days and weeks to come will be able to take another step towards recovery.”
The program addresses unmet housing recovery needs outside the scope of insurance coverage or FEMA Individual Assistance. Eligible homeowners can receive up to $50,000 for the repair or rehabilitation of their disaster-impacted home.
Applications are being reviewed as they are received and if deemed preliminarily eligible, are referred to a local administrative partner who will be the homeowner’s point of contact for inspections, feasibility for repair determination, scope of work and payment of eligible expenses. Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain available until funds have been exhausted. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first submitted, first ready to proceed basis.
Eligible homes must be located in a county approved for FEMA Individual Assistance following the three presidentially declared natural disasters this spring and summer. These counties currently include Adair, Adams, Buena Vista, Cedar, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, Humboldt, Jasper, Lyon, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Sioux, Story Union and Woodbury.
Before applying for the state Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program, homeowners must first be registered for FEMA Individual Assistance and have been awarded some form of FEMA Housing Assistance, which may include home repairs or temporary housing. Homeowners must also have filed a claim with their insurance company, if they have coverage for disaster-related damages, and have received final approval or denial of their claim. Repair work must be completed by contractors who are registered to work in the state of Iowa to be eligible for payment under the program. Homes located in the Special Flood Hazard Area (100-year floodplain) and rental properties are ineligible.
More information about the DRHAP program, including an eligibility precheck is available at iowafinance.com/DRHAP. For information on other disaster-related programs and resources, visit disasterRecovery.iowa.gov.
Iowans are encouraged to be on the alert for disaster scams. State of Iowa disaster recovery programs do not charge a one-time or monthly fee to apply for assistance. To report a disaster recovery scam, contact the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa’s Consumer Protection Division at 888-777-4590 or by visiting iowaattorneygeneral.gov.

Updated candidate filing for the General Election in Cass County (IA), & Public Measure info.

News

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns today (Wednesday), released an updated list of candidates who have filed to run for county offices in Cass County, as well as the Public Measures that will be on the ballot for all Cass County residents, and one Public Measure for patron of the CAM Community School District.

County Office candidates (I= Incumbent, R= Republican, D= Democrat)

Supervisor – District 1

Stephen S. Green (I); R – from Atlantic

Supervisor – District 4

Steve Baier (I); R – Griswold

Supervisor – District 5

Bernard Pettinger (I); R – Anita

Phyllis Stakey (D) – Massena

County Auditor

Kathy Somers (I); R – Atlantic

County Sheriff (vote for 1)

John Westering (R) – Atlantic

Non-Party Political Organization (NPPO)

Cass County Ag Extension Council (Vote for 4)

Marcy J. Dorsey (R) – Atlantic

Soil & Water Conservation District (Vote for 3)

Terry Langan (R) – Griswold

Hospital Board (Vote for 3)

Leanne Pellet (I) (R) – Atlantic

Linda L. Pelzer (I) (R) – Griswold

Ned Brown (I) (R) – Atlantic

Union Township Trustee

Delmar South (R) – Cumberland

PUBLIC MEASURE A: EMS FUNDING via Local Option Income Surtax & Assessed property valuation tax

Shall the Cass County Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation by the Cass County EMS Advisory Council, for the purpose of funding emergency medical services in Cass County, including, but not limited to, ambulance service, personnel, and equipment, be authorized, for a period of 15 years, to 1) levy and impose a local option income surtax of one percent upon the state individual income tax of each individual taxpaper who is a resident of Cass County on December 31 for each calendar year commencing with the calendar year 2025, and 2) levy and impose an ad valorem tax not exceeding seventy-five cents per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation on all taxable property within Cass County commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026?

PUBLIC MEASURE B: CAM CSD General Obligation Bond issuance

Shall the Board of Directors of the CAM Community School District in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, and Cass, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $22,500,000 to provide funds to construct, furnish and equip a classroom addition to the High School building; to remodel, repair, improve, furnish and equip exterior and interior portions of the existing High School building, including mechanical, electrical, and fire systems improvements, secure entry improvements, and technology and security improvements; and improve the site?

Due to recent legislation and House File 718 public notice is required for any question of issuing bonds or other indebtedness.  The Cass County Auditor’s office will be sending out these notices on Public Measure B to all registered voters in the CAM School District.  The notice will have the full text of the public measure and will be sent out in October (10-20 days before the election).

Both Public Measures need 60% to pass.

U-I says Domestic Violence Intervention program will be ready in September

News

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa’s sexual assault support service will close in a month and a half and the Iowa City-based Domestic Violence Intervention Program says its new sexual assault support division be fully operational. The services changing hands caused an initial outcry as U-I Vice President of Student Life Sarah Hansen says news of the change was leaked before plans were ready to be announced.

“When that announcement came out, and like the telling of the staff, was not handled the way that we would have wanted that to happen,” she says. Hansen says details are nearing completion and D-V-I-P has secured federal victim services funding. She says the university plans to directly fund D-V-I-P at a similar level to what it gave to the original provider.

“From the University we’re funding two campus advocate positions. We’ve also, on campus added a prevention position to the sexual assault prevention team, so there’s three positions there now,” Hansen says.

The Rape Victim Advocacy Program’s final day of operation is September 30.

Temporary housing now available for Spencer area flood victims

News

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Temporary housing for flood victims is now available on the Clay County fairgrounds in Spencer. Kevin Robinson, the deputy city manager in Spencer, says R-Vs have been set up in the camping area of the fairgrounds. “There’s one complete row of trailers in there right now — RV trailers,” Robinson says, “and then once all of those fill up, there’s room to put another row to the east of that.”

In mid-July, federal officials approved Iowa’s request for FEMA’s Temporary Housing Program, which can provide assistance to residents in Iowa counties that have been declared presidential disaster areas. Some of those property owners may be waiting to see if their home might be part of a buy-out program. FEMA provides 75 percent of the money to buy homes and businesses in floodplain areas — and the state and city must provide the rest.

“The city will go through a process of determining which areas make sense to acquire from a maintenance standpoint, from an adjacency standpoint to the river,” Robinson says. “There’s lots of different variables.” The program has been used in several other Iowa cities in the past 30 years. Officials in Cedar Rapids approved the first batch of 28 property buyouts 18 months after flooding in 2008 wrecked many areas of Cedar Rapids. Ultimately 14-hundred properties in Cedar Rapids that were flooded in 2008 were voluntarily sold, cleared and cannot be redeveloped.

Historic Cedar Rapids restaurant burns down

News

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A restaurant that’s been operating in Cedar Rapids for more than 100 years was destroyed by a fire this (Wednesday) morning. Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner tells K-C-R-G T-V that a fire was reported at the Lighthouse Inn Supper Club on the southeast side of the city around 5:15 a-m when someone noticed smoke and flames coming from the roof.
There was no one inside at the time.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is trying to determine the cause of the fire. The Lighthouse Inn celebrated its 112 year anniversary in July. The restaurant’s website says it was a common stop for Chicago-based mobster Al Capone and bank robber John Dillinger during the prohibition era.

As of Wednesday evening, the GoFundMe has raised a little more than $3,000 for the Lighthouse Inn. You can find the link to donate here.

Adair County Supervisors meeting recap

News

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday (today), approved a request from County Treasurer Brenda Wallace, to open a Certificate of Deposit (CD) at Farmers and Merchants State Bank, but there are some guidelines she must follow.

The Board also passed a Resolution naming Depositories for incoming funds.

The Adair County Supervisors received an update from Jayne Lents, with Don Carlos Insurance, with regard to ICAP (The Iowa Communities Assurance Pool) insurance changes. They also received a report from representatives of Crossroads Behavioral Health, and agreed to allot $45,000 from the Opiod fund for Crossroad school projects.

County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented a Resolution, which was approved by the Board, with regard to Bridge Weight Limit Postings. Kauffman also provided a report on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

MARILYN JOYCE LUKE, 84, of Anita (Celebration of Life 8/24/24)

Obituaries

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MARILYN JOYCE LUKE, 84, of Anita, died August 13, 2024, at her home. A Celebration of Life and luncheon for MARILYN LUKE will be held from Saturday, Aug. 24th, from Noon until 2-p.m., at the Anita Community Building. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Anita has the arrangements.

A family graveside service will occur at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the Anita Food Pantry in memory of Marilyn Luke; they may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA, 50022.

MARILYN LUKE is survived by:

Her sons – Kevin (LuAnn) Myers, Mark Luke , and Rex (Kerri) Luke, all of Anita, and Mike (Stacy) Luke of Adair.

Her sister – Shirley Schmitt, of Marne.

Many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other relatives.

Central Iowa man escapes injury in a Guthrie County rollover accident

News

August 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A man from Boone County escaped injury during a rollover accident early this (Wednesday) morning, in Guthrie County. According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, 19-year-old Kolby Fogarty, of Madrid, was driving a 2009 Nissan Titan pickup truck westbound on Highway 44 at around 2:15-a.m., when he swerved to avoid a deer on the road. The pickup entered the north ditch and rolled-over before coming to rest on its wheels.

Fogarty complained of pain but was not transported to the hospital. His pickup sustained $15,000 damage according to the report, and was declared a total loss. Fogarty was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and OWI/1st offense.