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School officials in Lenox, Perry & Norwalk respond to social media threats

News

September 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Lenox, Iowa) – Lenox Community School District Superintendent Dave Henrichs, Monday, released a statement (See below) on the District’s social media site with regard to his and other district’s having received screenshots of purported threats of school violence. Henrichs said the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was notified at around 5:45-p.m., Monday (Sept. 16) by the Governor’s School Safety Bureau, of a concerning social media threat that was re-posted in the Lenox CSD’s boundaries. The Superintendent said the post copied a picture from an online clothing equipment shop from CANADA, along with a vague threatening statement. After identifying the source of the re-posted post, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Henrichs said, notified district officials about the post, at around 7:30-p.m., Monday.

Henrichs said the district takes ALL threats of school violence “incredibly seriously, and will continue to do so.” He reminds citizens it is a crime for any person to create and share electronic communication with the intent to intimidate or alarm others, and that district staff will continue to implement their safety protocols. There will be a law enforcement presence in the district this week. Please report social media threats to your local law enforcement agency, the school, or through the Safe and Sound Iowa website.

An arrest has been made following an investigation into a threat made toward a Norwalk elementary school, last week. According to the Norwalk Police Department, a potential threat to Oviatt Elementary School was reported on Sept. 10. An investigation and response was coordinated with the NPD and Norwalk School District staff. On Monday, the NPD said Margaret Anderson, also known as Maxwell Anderson, made a threat to harm students at the school district. Officials say Anderson was removed from the public at that time and has been charged with a threat of terrorism. Anderson has been booked into the Warren County Jail and is being held without bond.

And, the Perry Police Department, Monday, announced that two teens have been charged for allegedly joking about planning a school shooting at Perry Middle School. In a Facebook post the police department said Perry Middle School staff notified the school resource officer and police department Monday morning about information regarding a potential school shooting threat. An investigation was conducted and it was determined that the threat was not credible.

According to a letter from Perry Middle School, last Thursday two middle school students were discussing how to get class canceled, and allegedly jokingly discussed plans for a shooting at the school. Nearby students overheard the conversation and became alarmed. The middle school said it wasn’t informed of the threat until Monday morning when the students who overheard the conversation told school staff. The police department said the two 14-year-old students have been charged with threats of terrorism in connection to the incident. Both have been referred to Juvenile Court.

U-I turns to A-I to help doctors overcome paperwork burnout

News

September 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Artificial Intelligence software is being used to reduce paperwork — and headaches — for healthcare professionals at the University of Iowa, and now a pilot A-I program is being rolled out statewide. Dr. Charles Blum, chief health information officer at U-I Health Care, says some physicians were having to spend two hours doing administrative work for every hour they spent with patients. “Those that have started to use the technology have dramatically reduced the administrative burden that they’ve been faced with,” Blum says. “We’ve gotten lots of emails that have said things like ‘game changing,’ ‘life changing,’ ‘I’ve never been able to be done with my work before I went home, and now I’m able to do that. Thank you,’ so we’ve just got fantastic feedback.”

Excessive paperwork can lead to physician burnout, which can translate to reduced job satisfaction and decreased quality of patient care. One study found 42-percent of clinicians are actively considering leaving the healthcare industry due to burnout. Blum says the U-I started testing the A-I program with a small number of providers and they saw very promising results. “People have seen somewhere in the neighborhood of anywhere from a 50 to 80% reduction in their time spent with paperwork and other administrative burdens associated with documentation in the record,” Blum says. “It’s dramatically reduced the amount of time that people are spending after-hours and what we would call ‘pajama time,’ time at night, where people are sitting there on the computer, trying to wrap up their work for the day.”

U-I-H-C has more than one-hundred offices across Iowa and this new technology is now being offered to professionals in all of them. “The vast majority of our providers are here in Iowa City, but we have clinics throughout the state, and it’s available to not just doctors, but our advanced practitioners, our dietitians, our physical therapists, our nurses, it’s available to everyone,” Blum says. “Ultimately, I think that number of people that are using this technology is going to be well above 3,000.” With every encounter, Blum says patients are asked if they’re comfortable with the use of the technology. Of some 65-hundred patents so far, he says only one refused.

“We’re very happy to accommodate whatever the patient’s wishes may be in terms of using this technology,” Blum says. “I think it’s indicative of the fact that our patients in Iowa have really embraced technology, much more than I think they get credit for, and are willing to use things that are going to help their providers lead better lives and provide better care.” Anyone using the software is forced to do a full review of the report before it’s finalized, which Blum says should help improve accuracy. The A-I is referred to as Ambient Listening and it’s being developed by a company called Nabla.

2 arrested in Red Oak, Monday (9/16)

News

September 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report two people were arrested on separate warrants, Monday. 34-year-old Michael Todd Archer, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. His cash-only bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $2,000. And, at around 4:30-p.m., Red Oak Police arrested 47-year-old Chrystal Rush Stewart, of Red Oak, on a Montgomery County felony warrant for Gathering where marijuana is used. Stewart was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Tue., Sept. 17, 2024

Weather

September 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: A slight chance of showers early this afternoon, otherwise partly sunny. High near 85. South winds 10-25 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. S/SE winds 10-20 mph.
Tomorrow: A slight chance of showers or thunderstorms. High near 85. S @ 10-20 mph.
Tom. Night: A 40% chance of showers & thunderstorms late. Low around 66.
Thursday: A 40% chance of showers & thunderstorms. High near 89.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 76.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 86. The Low was 64. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 77, and the Low was 42. The All-time Record High in Atlantic for Sept. 17th, was 97 in 1925. The Record Low was 31 in 1980. Sunrise today: 7:01-a.m.; Sunset: 7:26-p.m.

It’s National Voter Registration Day

News

September 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Tuesday) is National Voter Registration Day and Secretary of State Paul Pate has a check list. “If you’ve already registered, is it up to date? Is it the right address? Do you know where your polling location is?” Pate says. “But for those folks who have moved this a chance for them to get it updated and, of course, there are still a few folks out there who haven’t registered.” Pate says a national day dedicated to this issue is a little like civics 101.

“It is to instill some civic pride and to get people thinking about what the mechanics are of an election so that they’re successful,” Pate says. “We want you to know the deadlines. We want you to know where you vote at. Know you have options, you know, if you want to vote by mail, if you want to vote early at the courthouse, whether you want to vote in person — you need to know what those are.”

The period for REQUESTING an absentee ballot is underway. October 16th is the first day election officials can mail absentee ballots to voters. October 16th is also the first day Iowans can vote in person at their county auditor’s office. There was a delay in printing ballots in Iowa’s first, third and fourth congressional districts this year — until the Iowa Supreme Court issued its ruling last Wednesday that Libertarian candidates in those districts had not qualified to be listed on ballots. Saturday, September 15th was the federal deadline for mailing ballots to Iowans in the military who’re serving out of state or to Iowa residents living overseas and Pate says county election officials met that deadline.

“They were prepared because we kept them informed and we also made sure they had almost all the other pieces,” Pate says, “so once we got the last one resolved they could just fit it in and away they went.”

More than two-point-two MILLION Iowans are registered to vote. About 40 percent of them did not vote in the 2022 election.

Iowa Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches Rankings (Sept. 16th)

Sports

September 16th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

CLASS 1A

1. Lili Denton, St. Albert

13. Adyson Lapel, Woodbine

16. Karson Oberender, Martensdale-St. Marys

18. Anne Miller, Treynor

19. Macclaine German, Martensdale-St. Marys

22. Allysen Johnsen, Logan-Magnolia

CLASS 2A

16. Riley King, Clarinda

CLASS 3A 

3. Lindsey Sonderman, Harlan

4. Grace Berglund, Glenwood

7. Addison Bertrand, Bishop Heelan

20. Ashlyn Rau, Harlan

24. Breckyn Petersen, Glenwood

CLASS 4A 

3. Ava Bussey, Lewis Central

12. Delayna Reese, Lewis Central

21. Madelyn Hoss, Lewis Central

 

BOYS 

CLASS 1A 

5. Gunner Wagner, Woodbine

10. Alex Davis, Ankeny Christian

12. Parker Heisterkamp, St. Albert

13. Dawson Henderson, Riverside

16. Brody Henderson, Riverside

22. Dane Gorham, Boyer Valley

23. Brennan Boden, Tri-Center

CLASS 2A

14. Kyle Wagoner, Clarinda

CLASS 3A 

15. Dayton Wiederin, Kuemper Catholic

CLASS 4A 

16. Evan Lillie, Lewis Central

17. Kuma Gutema, Sioux City North

27. Marshall Arkfeld, Lewis Central

High School XC Results from Monday at Ballard

Sports

September 16th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class A Girls                        
PLACE       TEAM          POINTS        PLACES OF FINISHERS          AVG. TIME SPREAD

  1 Winterset                52    2    3    6    7   34   46       21:38.5  3:49.0
  2 Adm                      66    5   11   12   13   25   27   29  22:00.3  2:37.5
  3 North Polk               74    1   16   18   19   20   22   30  22:16.7  2:30.8
  4 Ballard                  76    4    9   14   23   26   28       22:18.5  2:53.4
  5 Indianola               159   21   31   33   35   39   41   45  24:17.6  1:47.9
  6 Atlantic             169    8   32   37   43   49   52   55  24:43.9  6:18.2
  7 Bondurant Farrar        170   15   24   40   44   47            24:37.5  4:35.2
  8 Boone                   174   10   36   38   42   48            24:45.2  5:45.5
  9 Webster City            225   17   50   51   53   54            28:15.0  8:47.4

6. Atlantic
    8  Katrina Williams, 11     21:21.5  
   32  Hailey White, 10         24:22.1  
   37  Ella Brummer, 11         24:53.6  
   43  Bella Brock, 11          25:22.6  
   49  Allison Middents, 10     27:39.7  
   52  Claire Comer, 11         29:52.0  
   55  Cadence Kinzie, 10       31:49.0

Class A Boys                         
PLACE       TEAM          POINTS        PLACES OF FINISHERS          AVG. TIME SPREAD

  1 Adm                      41    2    7    9   11   12   16   18  18:06.9  0:55.6
  2 Bondurant Farrar         52    1    6   13   15   17   20   29  18:12.1  1:34.4
  3 North Polk               96    8   14   19   24   31   35   37  18:51.9  1:18.6
  4 Ballard                 113    5   10   21   36   41   48   51  18:57.9  2:05.9
  5 Winterset               127    3    4   38   40   42   46   58  19:04.6  2:23.9
  6 Indianola               149   26   28   30   32   33   39   44  19:27.7  0:11.5
  7 Webster City            185   22   23   43   47   50   57   62  20:08.8  2:20.5
  8 Atlantic              217   27   34   49   52   55   60   63  20:41.7  2:23.7
  9 Boone                   233   25   45   53   54   56   59   61  21:02.5  2:35.3
8. Atlantic
   27  Luke Irlmeier, 12        19:22.9  
   34  Vincent Meisinger, 10    19:34.7  
   49  Anthony Akers, 10        21:15.8  
   52  Hadin Thompson, 12       21:28.4  
   55  Preston Williams, 11     21:46.5  
   60  Caleb Andersen, 10       22:06.5  
   63  Nolyn Kinney, 10         23:01.6  

Class B                          
PLACE       TEAM          POINTS        PLACES OF FINISHERS          AVG. TIME SPREAD

  1 Des Moines Christian     18    1    2    3    4    8   12   14  17:31.8  1:21.9
  2 Nevada                   60    5    6   15   16   18   25   57  18:32.6  1:23.2
  3 Pella Christian          86   10   11   20   22   23   29       19:08.0  1:18.0
  4 Roland-Story            126    7   19   30   31   39   51   62  19:38.3  2:12.0
  5 Van Meter               149   17   24   32   35   41   42   49  19:56.2  1:33.2
  6 Madrid                  158   13   26   33   36   50   59   63  20:03.9  2:56.2
  7 Nodaway Valley          179    9   27   40   48   55   65       20:27.2  3:43.2
  8 Woodward Granger        208   21   43   45   47   52   58   64  20:54.1  2:18.1
  9 Ifa-Agwsr               210   28   38   44   46   54   56       20:53.5  2:02.3
 10 Eagle Grove             245   34   37   53   60   61   66       21:32.0  2:43.6

7. Nodaway Valley Boys
    9  Gabe Winkelmann, 9       18:20.0  
   27  Luke Kading, 10          19:51.5  
   40  Paul Kading, 10          20:31.5  
   48  Cheribum Mercado, 9      21:29.9  
   55  Haden Colton, 10         22:03.1  
   65  Dominic Breheny, 9       25:14.1

Legendary Pomeroy bar back in business

News

September 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A legendary small-town music venue in northwest Iowa’s Calhoun County has found a new home. Byron’s Bar on Main Street in Pomeroy closed at the end of July due to structural issues. Owner Byron Stuart originally planned to build a new venue, but the city sold Stuart the community center.

“The crowds have been better because it’s been a bigger place, and it sounds really good there, so I’m excited. I’ve got I’ve got music lined up every Sunday to the end of the year,” he says. Stuart says support for his bar has been overwhelming and greatly appreciated. GoFundMe donations that helped him pay 100-thousand dollars for the new location.

“I just want to thank all my supporters. The love that has been sent towards me is overwhelming and greatly appreciated,” Stuart says. “Live music only happens once you have to be there.”

The bar located about 35 miles northwest of Fort Dodge hosts everything from Iowa entertainers to national acts. Customers have to bring their own alcohol to listen to concerts while Stuart waits for a liquor license for his new venue.

State office building shut down over suspicious package

News

September 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Part of a state office building was evacuated this (Monday) morning over a concerns about a package. The spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol says they were called to the Lucas State Office Building at 11 this morning about a suspicious package within the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.

The first floor was evacuated and the Des Moines Fire Department’s Hazmat Team was contacted. The State Patrol spokesman says the package was determined not to be threat.

The origin of the package is being investigated.

Adair County Attorney’s Office employee faces a felony charge

News

September 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – An employee with the Adair County Attorney’s Office was arrested Monday (Sept. 16th), on a warrant for a felony offense allegedly committed in Fontanelle on Sept. 11th. According to Iowa Courts Online, a criminal complaint filed Sept. 13th by the Fontanelle Police Department accuses 52-year-old Donnell M. Griffith, a paralegal in the Attorney’s Office, of Going Armed with Intent, which is a Class-D Felony charge.

The warrant was issued Friday and returned today (Monday). Griffith posted a $5,000 bond. Judge Michael Huppert has ordered a Special Prosecutor to be appointed in her case.

Additional details concerning Griffith’s arrest are currently unavailable.