United Group Insurance

SW IA Recovery Network Now Accepting Applications for Summer Flood Assistance

News

November 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Southwest Iowa Recovery Network (SWIRN), say thanks to the generosity of the Iowa West Foundation (IWF),  SWIRN is now accepting applications to assist families affected by summer flooding. The additional resource may assist those with unmet human services needs and aid in reducing the suffering caused by the flooding and home displacement.  Eligible families affected by the flood may receive as much as $1,000 to assist with their recovery, although actual amounts will vary according to need.  In addition, applicants may receive valuable information and referral to other agencies and programs that may be able to assist with recovery planning. 

Requests for financial assistance should fall into one of the following categories: housing repairs due to flood damage; temporary housing for relocation after the flood; childcare during the immediate time after the flood due to relocation; personal items lost due to flooding, including transportation replacement or repairs due to flooding; Mental Health Services and items needed to fight household flooding. 

Those interested in assistance should call SWIRN at 712-435-5661 to schedule a phone or face-to-face meeting.  Application, photo ID and proof of disaster address (example: utility bill) and FEMA number will be required.  FEMA registration is required prior to granting financial assistance.  

It’s anticipated that funds will be distributed before the end of the calendar year. This program is funded by the Iowa West Foundation and administered by the American Red Cross, on behalf of SWIRN and supported by local long term recovery committees in the affected counties.

Former Adair City Clerk & her son receive 5-years probation for misappropriation of funds

News

November 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Adair’s former city clerk and her son, a former city street department employee, were sentenced Monday, a little more than one-month after they pled guilty to felony theft charges in connection with the theft of taxpayer funds from the City of Adair.

Court records show 63-year old Linda Nichols and her 41-year old son Terry, received 5-years probation and were ordered to make full restitution amounting to nearly $83, 300, plus nearly $6,000 for the cost of the State audit, court costs and related fees. The amount is higher than the City of Adair’s estimate of $80,000, but is less than the $110,257.26 amount listed as improper in a special investigation report released by the Office of Auditor of State on May 3, 2011. 

Linda and Terry Nichols were also ordered to perform 100-hours of community service and to submit a DNA sample. The pair had been sentenced to no more than 10-years in prison, but the sentence was suspended during Monday’s court proceedings.

On October 3rd, the Nichols’ pleaded guilty in Adair County District Court to Theft in the First Degree, a Class C Felony.  As part of the plea, the charge of Felonious Misconduct in Office, a Class D felony, was dropped.  The Auditor’s report included the city’s losses due to payroll taxes paid to the state, amounts that cannot be proven to have been stolen, and amounts that, after additional investigation, were proven not to be stolen.

The special investigation was requested by City of Adair officials as a result of misappropriation of city funds, and alleged improper and unsupported disbursements and undeposited collections.

Iowa to join in recognizing National Rural Health Day

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Iowa will join dozens of other states in recognizing tomorrow (Thursday) as the first-ever National Rural Health Day. Dr. Deb Romberger is a pulmonologist in Omaha/Council Bluffs who works with rural health issues. “National Rural Health Day is an important day for us to think about health issues in communities, including safety,” Dr. Romberger says. “Rural communities have special challenges, especially around safety related to motor vehicle accidents and to accidents on the farm.” 

Romberger says the day reminds all Iowans, especially those in rural areas and the ag community, about the dangers being faced every day.  She says, “We want to remind people of the kinds of disorders that they might face, things that we can do in terms of protecting ourselves, using protection for our ears and sunscreen for our skin and a mask when we’re going into dusty work environments.” 

Romberger works at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She says the hospital is taking part in National Rural Health Day because it has a close connection with people in the ag sector. “It’s important that we’re partnering with rural communities,” she says. “We are an institution that helps train providers going back to the communities and we need to make sure they’re being trained to address special concerns in rural communities.” 

About 60-million people, or nearly one in five Americans, live in rural or frontier communities. The goal of National Rural Health Day is to increase awareness of health care issues in those areas.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

Iowa egg farm pays salmonella victims

Ag/Outdoor

November 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Dozens of people sickened after eating salmonella-tainted eggs will receive compensation in the first wave of legal settlements with the Iowa egg producer blamed for last year’s outbreak. Wright County Egg reached financial settlements with roughly 40 salmonella victims represented by Seattle attorney Bill Marler during a September mediation conference in Minneapolis. While the settlements are confidential, details of three became public last week when a federal judge in Iowa approved deals totaling $366,000 for children from Texas, California and Iowa who were hospitalized after becoming sick. The largest payment of $250,000 went to the family of a 3-year-old boy who collapsed and had to spend a week in the hospital. Federal officials say at least 1,900 people were sickened during the outbreak that started in July 2010.

Two accidents in Pottawattamie County, Tuesday

News

November 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol investigated two separate accidents Tuesday afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. The first happened at around 3:20-p.m. on Highway 92 southeast of Council Bluffs. The Patrol says 24-year old Rachel Lammert, of Silver City, suffered minor, possible injuries, after the Pontiac Grand Am she was driving rear-ended an SUV driven by 16-year old Braxton Mittan, of Council Bluffs. The accident happened after an unknown vehicle came to an abrupt stop on eastbound Highway 92 near Hearthstone Drive.

Officials say another vehicle passed the stopped vehicle on the shoulder, to keep from hitting the first vehicle. A separate vehicle managed to stop in-time, and the vehicle driven by Mittan stopped before hitting the second vehicle, but Lammert was unable to stop, and could not take evasive action because of the other vehicles on the roadway and shoulder. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. Damage from the accident amounted to $8,600. No citations were issued.

The second accident happened about 2-hours later, on Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs. The Patrol says a 2010 Toyota Camry driven by 24-year old Amanda Harding, of Plainfield, IL., was traveling east on I-80 in the center lane crossing into Iowa where I-29 southbound merges with I-80. An unknown semi merging into the first lane collided with the Camry, causing $6,500 damage, but no one was injured. The semi failed to stop, and was never located.

NWS calls for cooler than normal temps this Winter & dry conditions in SW IA

Weather

November 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has released its Fall newsletter, containing a variety of weather data and information, including a forecast for cooler than normal temperatures for much of November and December, and  drier than normal conditions for southern and southwest Iowa. There’s also some interesting information about this Summer’s “Heat Burst” events in southwest Iowa. You can read all about it in “The Weather Whisper,” at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/dmx/DMXNewsletter/2011NewsletterWinter.pdf

Backyard and Beyond 11-16-2011

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

November 16th, 2011 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Amy Ahlers, Life Coach and Author, about Big Fat Lies Women Tell Themselves. Find out more about the book here: http://wakeupcallcoaching.com/programs/bfl-book-launch#

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Opening of Iowa Hwy 333 another milestone for fast-track flood recovery effort

News

November 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – Nov. 16, 2011 – Over the Veterans Day holiday weekend, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) restored traffic on Iowa 333 into Hamburg.

Hwy 333 flooding in Sep. 2011

This marked a significant milestone in Iowa’s fast-track flood recovery effort, as this was the last section of state highway to remain closed as a result of the Missouri River flooding.

Iowa 333 was closed in June when a temporary levee was constructed around Hamburg and across the highway to protect the town. Flooding eventually inundated the highway with several feet of water, damaging the roadway and bridge approach.

Fremont County and the city of Hamburg were hard hit as a result of the Missouri River flooding. Flooding took an economic toll on businesses that lost access to the interstate, as well as to the many regional business and recreational travelers the highway brought to the area. Flooding closures significantly impacted local residents by adding miles to their daily commutes.

The Iowa DOT joins the residents of Fremont County in welcoming visitors back to Iowa, and encourages travelers to make a stop in Hamburg (I-29, exit 1) or any one of the other communities easily accessed from Interstate 29.

(DOT Press Release)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16th

Trading Post

November 16th, 2011 by admin

FOR SALE:Artley Clarinet in case .includes music, music stand & flip folder, $375.00. Call 712-249-4479.

FOR SALE: Nice TV entertainment center 56″ wide by 55″ high.  Color is off white.  Has Glass side door and door on bottom. Asking $60.00.  712-249-6834.

FOR SALE: Brown combination storm door, 36×81, upper glass and bottom screen $25; 7 ft. artificial Christmas tree, nicely shaped, branches are removable $50. 641-746-2583 (Casey)

FOR SALE:  2 brand new tires…205 70 R15’s.  $80.  249-0135.

FOR SALE:  Old computer desk with cubicle type set up…$45.  Mongoose 21 speed boys bike thats light weight, aluminum, and silver in color…$65.  Old Disney VCR tapes for $3 a piece.  249-0287 or 243-3468.

8AM Newscast 11-16-2011

News, Podcasts

November 16th, 2011 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

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