United Group Insurance

Interim Superintendent appointed for the Iowa School for the Deaf

News

June 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Board of Regents has named an interim superintendent for the Iowa School for the Deaf. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Assistant Administrator John Cool will take over July 1 and is expected to serve for about a month. The regents on Wednesday approved paying him an annual salary of $121,978.

Steven Gettel was appointed superintendent effective Aug. 1st. He will make an annual salary of $180,000 to oversee the Council Bluffs school as well as Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the regents’ other special school, in Vinton. Gettel, director of the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind, will move to Council Bluffs this summer.

Superintendent Patrick Clancy retires June 30th.

Storm damages western Iowa recreation area

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resource says storm damage will delay the reopening of a western Iowa recreation area. The DNR announced Thursday that the Wilson Island State Recreation Area won’t reopen until mid-summer because of severe storms that hit the northwest Pottawattamie County park Tuesday. The storm included baseball-sized hail, high winds and 4 inches of rain.

Damage included 11 broken windows in the park office, which also had damage to its siding and roof. About 30 cottonwood trees also were uprooted. The park has been closed since flooding in 2011 caused extensive damage.

5 injured during collison near Onawa on I-29 Thursday

News

June 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol reports five people were transported to Burgess Hospital in Onawa, following a collision about 4-miles north of the Onawa exit on Interstate 29, late Thursday morning. Officials say a 1997 Toyota Camry driven by 29-year old Abdirahman Awad, was traveling northbound at mile marker 116 at around 11:50-a.m., when for reasons unknown, the car went out of control, crossed the median, and collided head on with a southbound FedEx delivery truck, in the southbound lanes of travel. Both vehicles came to rest on the Interstate.

The driver of the semi, 38-year old Jimmy Ring, Awad, 41-year old Corey Dwight Zautke, and two unidentified passengers in the Toyota, were all transported to the hospital for treatment of what were described as non-life threatening injuries.

The accident remains under investigation.

 

Atlantic to begin spraying for mosquitoes next week

News

June 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

John Lund, Assistant to Atlantic City Administrator Doug Harris, reports Street Department crews will begin spraying for mosquitoes next week. The weekly activity takes place on Thursday’s and Friday’s throughout the community, and is usually done early in the morning.

Ventura leads Royals to 3-2 win over Cardinals

Sports

June 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordano Ventura threw six innings in his return from a sore elbow, and the Kansas City Royals rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 Thursday night and end a string of eight straight home losses to their in-state rivals. Ventura was skipped his previous time through the rotation because of minor elbow pain, but he looked sharp in his return. He pitched to contact and took advantage of some sharp defense, which helped him to limit the damage whenever he ran into trouble.

The Royals rallied for three runs off Michael Wacha to take the lead in the sixth inning, and Francisley Bueno and Wade Davis each pitched a perfect inning in relief of Ventura.

********

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina drilled Royals leadoff hitter Nori Aoki in the helmet in the first inning Thursday night while trying to throw the ball back to his pitcher. Aoki had just taken a pitch inside and was bent a bit over the plate when Molina wound up and fired the ball back to Cardinals starter Michael Wacha. The ball traveled about two feet before it ricocheted off Aoki’s helmet and toward the third base dugout.

Aoki dropped to the dirt in a heap in the batter’s box and Molina immediately bent over to see whether he was OK. Royals manager Ned Yost and several other personnel also ran out from the dugout to check on Aoki, who eventually stood up and resumed his at-bat. He grounded out moments later.

NWS Forecast for the KJAN listening area: 6/6/2014

Weather

June 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Updated 3:45-a.m. CDT, Fri., May 6, 2014

EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY FOG. SOUTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. PATCHY FOG THROUGH MID MORNING. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EARLY IN THE MORNING. LOW IN THE MID 60S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 40 PERCENT.

SATURDAY…A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE MID 70S. EAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHEAST 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 70 PERCENT.

SATURDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE MID 50S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 70S. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S. HIGH IN THE MID 70S.

Many show interest in Sioux City casino jobs

News

June 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials at a Sioux City casino estimate that more than 1,000 people applied for jobs at the new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino during the first day of a job fair. The job fair began Wednesday and was continuing Thursday as the casino moves to hire more than 500 people before the $128.5 million operation opens August 1st.

Hard Rock human resources director Pat Lund told the Sioux City Journal the number of job seekers exceeded their expectations. No one will be hired during the job fair, which was designed to let candidates learn about the company, see what jobs are available and meet supervisors.

Lund says top prospects from the event will be invited back for interviews. Most of those hired will start work in mid-July.

Iowa early News Headlines: Fri., June 6th 2014

News

June 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Marshalltown is having a difficult time hiring a fire chief. The Times-Republican reports the central Iowa city has been seeking to fill the position since last fall, when the Fire Chief Steve Edwards retired. The job will pay from $79,000 to $94,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

WEVER, Iowa (AP) — Lee County supervisors in southeast Iowa are meeting with a resident before moving forward with plans to let a company install a water main near his property. The Daily Gate City in Keokuk reports Ron Meller of Wever told supervisors during a recent meeting that he wanted more input and information about the plans.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A Coralville police officer has sustained minor injuries after a semi-trailer hit his parked squad car along Interstate 80. Police Chief Barry Bedford tells Waterloo television station KWWL Officer Jeffery Barkhoff was assisting other officers yesterday morning when the wreck occurred.

CARLISLE, Iowa (AP) — A Pleasant Hill man has been accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl he met online. The Carlisle Police Department says 29-year-old Daniel Lee Ward went to the girl’s house Monday after communicating on Kik, a smartphone messaging system. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reported Ward faces charges of kidnapping, sexual abuse, enticing away a minor and lascivious acts with a child. He was booked at the Warren County Jail on $500,000 cash bond.

Tornado Watch Cancelled

Weather

June 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELLED TORNADO WATCH 234 FOR
THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN IOWA THIS CANCELS 6 COUNTIES

IN SOUTHWEST IOWA

CASS

IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA

AUDUBON CARROLL CRAWFORD
GREENE GUTHRIE

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…ATLANTIC…AUDUBON…BAYARD…
CARROLL…CASEY…DENISON…EXIRA…GUTHRIE CENTER…
JEFFERSON AND PANORA.

IN SOUTHWEST IOWA

HARRISON POTTAWATTAMIE SHELBY

IN NEBRASKA THIS CANCELS 5 COUNTIES

IN EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA

DODGE DOUGLAS SARPY
SAUNDERS WASHINGTON

Red Oak man arrested on Public Intox charge

News

June 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Red Oak man was arrested Thursday evening. According to Red Oak Police, 52-year old David Lawrence Howe, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 6-p.m. in the vicinity of north 4th and Oak Streets. Howe was charged with Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail.