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Iowa News Headlines: Fri., Oct. 11th 2013

News

October 11th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers in many states are surprised at the abundance of corn coming from their fields, and record harvests are likely in many states. In southeastern Nebraska, farmer Ben Steffen says his first field brought in 168 bushels an acre, above the average of 140. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates this year’s harvest will break the 2009 record of 13.1 billion bushels.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa National Guard has laid off 100 state employees and canceled more training due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. The state Department of Public Defense employees received notice yesterday afternoon that they would be temporarily laid off for up to 60 days beginning today. Officials say this immediate action is in lieu of a 30-day temporary layoff that was scheduled to begin on October 18th.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Catholic college in Dubuque has launched a campaign to pay its professors better. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports Loras College in Dubuque kicked off the campaign yesterday to raise $75 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — About 200 families from the Des Moines area received food and household supplies thanks to the Salvation Army of Des Moines and an Oklahoma City-based organization. A truck loaded with groceries and household supplies was unloaded yesterday afternoon at a Salvation Army center, where the items were given to pre-selected families.

Iowa State expecting big things from Kane

Sports

October 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Few coaches have embraced senior transfers like Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg. He might have one of his best ones yet in former Marshall point guard DeAndre Kane. The Cyclones will fill one of their guard positions with yet another “one-and-done” player in Kane. He averaged 15.1 points and seven assists for Marshall last season and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors.

Iowa State’s hopes for a third straight NCAA tournament bid rest in part on Kane’s ability to lead a revamped roster. Hoiberg says Kane is a versatile player who will see time at point and shooting guard. Iowa State, picked fourth in the Big 12 preseason poll, opens on Nov. 10 against UNC-Wilmington.

Cass County Supervisors to discuss privatizing emergency/public communications

News

October 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

On the heels of a Public Safety Commission meeting held Sept 23rd,  the Cass County Board of Supervisors next Wednesday will discuss the possibility of privatizing Emergency/Public Safety Communications. When informed by KJAN News about the Board’s agenda item, Cass County 9-1-1 Director Rob Koppert said he wasn’t aware it would be brought up at next week’s meeting, and as far as he knew, neither was anyone on the Commission. The topic was brought up at the September meeting by Supervisors Board Chair Mark Wedemeyer, who also sits on the Public Safety Communications Commission.

Koppert said at that meeting that he wasn’t aware of any firms in Iowa or around the region that would handle 9-1-1 calls in the private sector. In fact, there are very few instances across the country, where emergency dispatch services have been turned over from County-run operations to a private provider. One such case is Lawrence Township, in Mercer County, NJ., which in January, 2013, agreed to hired iXP Corporation out of Cranbury, NJ, to handle its 9-1-1 dispatches.  iXP was awarded a two-year, $719,400 contract to run police dispatch for the community, whose population as of the 2010 Census was nearly 33,500. It was estimated the move would save the county $1.1-million over a period of 5-years.

Another is Sandy Springs, GA, an incorporated suburb of Atlanta with 94,000 residents, which has its 9-1-1 dispatch center also operated by iXP. The theory behind privatizing the service is to save a County money, but there are many questions that remain, including: A private firm’s hiring practices – would current dispatchers with knowledge of the county be utilized?; Where would the facility be located?; Will the service be as efficient as the current system? And more.

Koppert said he will find out along with the rest of us, what next Wednesday’s discussion will cover, and to what extent the County will pursue the privatization of emergency/public communications.

Avoca receives $75k REAP grant for Nishnabotna Trail

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The City of Avoca has been awarded an Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection)  grant amounting to $75,000 . City Manager Clint Fichter says the grant money will be used for the construction of a 1 mile segment of the Nishnabotna Trail, which will connect the community to the new pedestrian bridge to Edgington Memorial Park. The $243,850 bridge will soon be constructed with the assistance of an additional $171,392 grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation.

REAP invests in projects that enhance and protect the Iowa’s natural and cultural resources. 15% of REAP is set aside for grants to cities for projects that help establish natural areas, encourage outdoor recreation, and resource management.

This fall, REAP is hosting local meetings across the state. These meetings places for public and private organizations, as well as individuals, to plan REAP projects. The full schedule and more information REAP can be found at:

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/REAP/10.7.13%202013%20Assembly%20Schedule.pdf

 

More than $1 million in Grants Awarded to Iowa Communities

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Vision Iowa Board has awarded nearly $1.1-million in grants to a public garden in Jefferson, community centers in Templeton and Emmetsburg, a backcountry trail in Coon Rapids and an amphitheater in Waverly. The grants were approved Wednesday by the Vision Iowa Board at their meeting in Des Moines.

A $400,000 Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant was awarded for the “Opening Whiterock: Iowa’s Backcountry Trail Attraction,” in Coon Rapids. The organization had requested $404, 785 toward the total Project Cost just over $4.22-million.  The award is contingent upon completion of fundraising within 60 days.

This project includes the construction of 35 miles of state-of-the-art “soft trails” through a seven-square-mile landscape at Whiterock Conservancy, remodeling of the Visitors Center and trail signage.

Western Iowa woman dies in skid loader accident

News

October 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

SCHALLER, Iowa (AP) — The Sac County Sheriff’s Office says a Schaller woman has died in a skid loader accident at her home. The sheriff’s office says in a news release Thursday that a friend found 53-year-old Karen Jeanne Terry on Wednesday. She was pinned beneath a skid loader and a boom arm.

Friends had become concerned after being unable to reach Terry on Wednesday, prompting someone to visit her home. The friend called 911. Terry was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.

Cross Country meet affects school bus parking in Atlantic

News, Sports

October 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Police remind the public that the Atlantic High School Cross Country meet takes place this (Thursday) afternoon (3:30-p.m.), at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club, and not Nishna Hills.

With the change, bus parking will be on Chestnut Street between 29th and 22nd Streets. Spectator parking will be on 22nd Streets, west of Palm St., as well as 29th St., west of Chestnut Street.

Residents should plan for increased traffic and pedestrians in the area.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

Trading Post

October 10th, 2013 by Jim Field

FREE TO A GOOD HOME:  Australian Shepherd Blue Heeler, male, about 10 months old.  Call 712-789-9385.

FOR SALE:  White wedding arch, decorated with small lights.  $40.  712-789-9385.

FOR SALE:  Tan, Lazy Boy recliner.  $30.  Call 712-789-9385.

FOR SALE:  1 Goodyear Eagle LS Tire, size P205-60R-16.  Has about 1/2 tread left.  $5.00.  Call 712-243-6348.

WANTED:  Trampoline pad/mat.  12 feet with 44 springs.  Or used trampoline.  Call 712-249-6930.

Cyclones Picked Fourth In Big 12 Preseason Poll

Sports

October 10th, 2013 by Jim Field

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State has been picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 preseason poll. It is the highest the Cyclones have been picked in the poll since 2000-01, when Iowa State was also picked fourth and went on to win the league title.

The Cyclones were picked to finish behind Kansas and Oklahoma State, which were picked to win the league, and Baylor. Kansas State and Oklahoma State were tied for fifth in the poll. West Virginia, Texas, Texas Tech and TCU round out the poll.

The Cyclones open the regular season Nov. 10 against UNC-Wilmington.

2013-14 Big 12 Preseason Poll

  1. Kansas (5)
  2. Oklahoma State (5)
  3. Baylor
  4. Iowa State
  5. Kansas State
  6. Oklahoma
  7. West Virginia
  8. Texas
  9. Texas Tech
  10. TCU

Harlan School District deals with reduction in allowable growth

News

October 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Harlan Community School District saw another reduction in their allowable growth aid for special education students. In a board meeting Monday, the board approved the balance of $56,512.56 for the allowable growth and supplement aid for negative special education. The District in the past three years has seen a reduction totaling $300,000 in their special education debt. Harlan Community Superintendent Justin Wagner says the reduction deals with more federal dollars to the district.

He said “The primary reason is because we were able to find some loopholes in the Medicaid funding and what that does is bring in federal dollars to the district. Huge kudos to the staff but in the long run it is a huge win for tax payers. ” He says the district hopes to have a surplus in special education by next year.

“We have a goal for that next year and now we have a surplus from the federal government instead of local funds. I am really proud of. We keep hitting our local folks up and it’s good to have an outside funding source for this.”

(Joel McCall/KNOD)