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Loess Hills Missouri River Region: 1st round priority projects

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Oakland, IA)—The Golden Hills RC & D in Oakland reports the Loess Hills Missouri River Region’s (LHMRR) Parks to People plan, has officially designated its first round of priority projects for funding from the MidAmerican Energy Foundation’s $500,000 commitment to the Parks to People Plan.

The LHMRR Board is dedicating $338,000 towards seven priority projects: the Harrison County Conservation Board’s Willow Lake Nature Center; Friends of Lake Manawa’s Dream Playground; Mills County Trails Board’s Glenwood Trail Project; Mills County Conservation Board’s Pony Creek Expansion; West Nishnabotna River Accesses; and Overland Hiking Trail. Regional projects include the Lewis & Clark Today Route signage and Green Hill Ranch.

The Parks to People plan addresses the future of the tri-county region’s parks, trails, and cultural assets to enhance overall economic and community vitality. One of the primary goals is to offer a premier parks system. The selection and approval of the priority projects by the LHMRR Board will allow them to use the specified amounts as match when seeking additional funds for the projects. The projects represent over $9.5 million in planned recreational improvements to the tri-county region. To date, over $3.5 million of that has been secured or pledged towards their implementation.

The plan supports collaborative, regional projects to enhance economic development and tourism; public health and social vitality; natural resources (habitat, water) health, parks, and trails; and overall regional vibrancy. The initiative intends to attract and retain young people interested in an active lifestyle, which will stimulate Iowa’s economy and promote business growth.

For more information about the Loess Hills Missouri River Region Parks to People Plan or to submit project ideas for funding consideration, visit goldenhillsrcd.org/lhmrr or facebook.com/loesshillsmissouririverregion.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9th

Trading Post

August 9th, 2018 by admin

FOR SALE: 2003 Suzuki Aerio, 4 door, blue, excellent shape. $3,100. 712-296-3654 (Atlantic area) and WANTED: Fresh Garden Dill. 712-296-3654.

Posted in Trading Post |

Mills County Sheriff’s report (8/9) – 3 arrests

News

August 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. Today (Thursday), 25-year old Dakota Shawn McDonald was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Escape from custody ($20,000 bond), and a warrant out of Fremont County for Violation of Probation (Bond $10,000). He was taken into custody at around 12:10-a.m. in the vicinity of Highways 34 and 59. On Wednesday, 39-year old Amber Lynn Anglen, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, and 22-year old Timothy James Black, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $2,000. Anglen’s bond was $300.

Posted in News |

Theft reported in Union County

News

August 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Minnesota reported last weekend, that someone had stolen items from his truck, while it was parked along Highway 25, north of 150th Street. Missing from the vehicle is: A sway bar for receiver hitch; Marlin 22LR semi auto rifle; red bag with lineman climbing gear, and a socket set. The loss was estimated at $3,850.

Posted in News |

Apartment residents get more time to find new homes

News

August 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Residents have a few more weeks to find new homes before the power is shut off at their eastern Iowa apartment building. Authorities say Clinton city officials and tenants at Lafayette Apartments were told Monday that the power was going to be turned off Thursday because of unpaid electric and city utility bills. The downtown building’s owner, Jim Trimble, didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

Tenants learned at a meeting Tuesday that Alliant Energy would give them until the end of the month before shutting off power. And social service agencies are offering help in finding new homes.

Posted in News |

Daughter returns to Iowa fair 22 years after parents’ deaths

News

August 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The daughter of two Iowa State Fair concession owners killed 22 years ago at the fair campgrounds has returned to the fair, carrying on the family funnel cake business. Jada Blewer Smith was 16 when her parents, Bobbie and Marylin Blewer, were fatally shot in their camper on Aug. 12, 1996. Blewer Smith was working at the family funnel cake stand at the time. Her sister and brother-in-law, Jamie and Rodney Borushaski, and family friend Jerimy Sneed are serving life sentences for the killings. Jaime and Rodney Borushaski maintain their innocence.

Blewer Smith says she has carried out her parents’ dream and traveled the Midwest working as a fair vendor. She says she hopes her parents would approve of her decision to return to the Iowa fair. The Iowa State Fair begins Thursday. It runs through Aug. 19.

Posted in News |

Presidential hopeful makes stops in southwest Iowa

News

August 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A Democratic 2020 Presidential hopeful was in the process making stops across southwest and central Iowa today. Maryland Sixth-District Congressman John Delaney visited Corning earlier this (Thursday) morning, and was scheduled to stop in Atlantic and eventually to Des Moines, for an appearance on the Des Moines Register’s Soap Box at the Iowa State Fair. On his way to Atlantic, Delaney spoke with KJAN News about what he’s hearing from Iowans, as he makes his 14th trip to the State, encompassing over 80 counties and attending dozens of events. He says voters are focused on pocket book issues, the “terrible experiment” with Medicaid privatization in Iowa, and opportunities for their kids in the future.

MD-6 Democratic Pres. candidate John K. Delaney.

Delaney, a three-term Congressman, is also a businessman and an entrepreneur who built two business from scratch. He says he’s “A different kind of Democrat, and has a track record of “getting things done,” providing “real leadership,” which is something he says President Trump has failed at doing. He said Trump “Is a divider, not a unifier.” When asked if America is ready for another Democrat in the White House in 2020, he said yes, but with an exception. And that is “Provided the Democrats are actually committed to trying to bring the country together and get things done, because the American people are tired of the fighting and lack of progress. He says he offers the chance to focus on things that need to happen for the American people. He says “Bipartisanship is important, but it’s actually just a means to an end. What we really are doing with public service and leadership, is actually working to get real things done for people.”

He says “The country is totally ready for a Democrat, provided it’s the right type of Democrat. Someone who can actually not only capture [the Democratic vote] but also Independents and even Republicans who don’t support the President.” Delaney describes himself as a “Centrist,” who can unify. He says Americans are tired of the “extremes” in politics holding them hostage.The great American middle, which is most of the county, actually just wants them [Congress and the President] to get things done.”

Delaney says a President should add an additional oath to the office when he’s sworn-in: He said “The oath should be that they promise never to divide the country. That doesn’t mean they don’t stand up for hate and bad behavior when they see it, but as it relates to leadership in the country, I do think that the tone at the top matters, and I do think that a President that doesn’t talk about half the country as if they’re entirely wrong about everything they believe.”[A person] “Who is actually trying to appeal to the ‘better angels in all of us.” Delaney says Trump doesn’t believe in any of those things, and that he doesn’t have a “Moral compass.”

When asked if the American people are tired for people running for office in an election that just followed an election, but he says things are different right now, and in his opinion, the President is “undermining our democracy,” and having a conversation about the future of this country, “It’s not too early to do it.” Delaney thinks also his campaign can sustain its growing momentum leading up to and beyond the Presidential primaries in 2020.

Posted in News |

2018 Tournament of Champions begins Friday

Sports

August 9th, 2018 by admin

The 60th Annual Tournament of Champions is set to tee off on Friday at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club and we’ll have full tournament coverage on KJAN.

Club Champions and Runners-up in Championship, Match-Play, Senior, and Super Senior divisions from clubs around the state are invited to participate in the annual event. Past Champions of the T of C receive a lifetime invitation and Top-25 finishers from last year’s event are also invited back.

The tournament is a 54-hole three day tournament. Play will begin with the first tee-times at 8:30am on Friday. Play then continues Saturday with the same schedule. On Sunday players will start play from both hole 1 and hole 10 to allow an afternoon finish.

In the Championship Division Andrew Martin will be back to defend his title. Martin won the 2017 T of C with a (+1) 208 total. He shot rounds of 71-69-68 during the three days on the par 69 course.

The Senior Division is meant to be for players aged 50-64 but players 50 and over are allowed to choose which division they play in. Del Miller is the back to back defending champion in the Senior Division. He won the 2017 title by winning a sudden death playoff with Rick Thompson. Miller and Thompson finished regulation at (+10) 217. Both players are back in this year’s Senior Division field.

The Super Senior Division title has been held by Arnie Leistad for the past two years. Arnie overcame a final round 4-stroke deficit to win the title in 2017. He shot a (+19) 226 to outduel Jim Redemske by two shots. Both players are back in the Super Senior Division for 2018.

We’ll have continuous coverage of the Tournament of Champions this weekend on KJAN with reports throughout the day on Friday and Saturday and full coverage of the final round finish on Sunday beginning around Noon after our church services. The Atlantic Golf and Country Club welcomes the public to come out and enjoy watching the players on the course throughout the weekend with lunch and beverages available for purchase on the grounds.

Check out the Friday tee times below.

Posted in Sports |

Authorities ID victims of 2 fatal crashes at Sturgis Rally

News

August 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — The Highway Patrol has identified victims of two fatal crashes related to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in western South Dakota. Fifty-six-year-old James Barbier, of Aurora, Colorado, died Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle crash on U.S. Highway 85 near Cheyenne Crossing. Fifty-three-year-old Craig Carrell, of Sioux City, Iowa, also died Saturday, in a utility terrain vehicle crash near Deadwood.

Another man died Tuesday after his motorcycle went off a road on a curve west of Piedmont, hit a pole and rolled. He wasn’t immediately identified. The annual event in South Dakota’s Black Hills draws hundreds of thousands of people from around the world. This year’s rally started last Friday and runs through Sunday.

Posted in News |

Atlantic School Board session review

News

August 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday in the High School Media Center. Superintendent Steve Barber said they began with a Work Session, during which they had a good conversation about Self Assessment, and what they want to achieve with regard to their Strategic Plan. Afterward, the Board moved into a regular session, during which they heard a special presentation from students with the Spanish Club who traveled to Costa Rica earlier this summer.

The Board approved a contract with American Tower with regard to a Verizon Tower on District property. The original lease allows the lessee to contract with a third-party in a sublease. The Tri-Party Contract will provide the District an additional $300 per month income. Currently, the District receives about $1,200 per month for the lease of the cell tower. In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved resignations mentioned earlier this week on KJAN, as well as Contracts and/or Letters of Assignment, with a few more para-educators added to the original list.

And, Barber gave us an update on the District’s Summer Projects. He said they are “Doing really well on wrapping those projects up before the start of the school year August 23rd, including new bleachers installed for the Middle School starting August 22nd. He said they’ll be working out of the gymnasium the week before. Barber said also the HVAC system is in-place and online, and the LED lighting is installed as ready to go in the High School Gym. The lights make for much cleaner and brighter viewing, as opposed to the old lights, which cast a yellow glow over the area.

Posted in News |