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Survey at 4-year high, but shows signs of trouble

News

January 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of bankers in 10 Midwest and Great Plains states puts the report’s overall index at a 4 1/2-year high, but other indicators show trouble ahead for the rural economy. The Rural Mainstreet Index released Thursday rose from 59.7 last month to 59.8 for January, the highest since June 2007. Anytime the index, which ranges from 1 to 100, is above 50, it suggests the economy will grow. But indexes tied to bankers’ responses to questions about farmland prices, loan volume, rural housing and hiring all dropped from last month. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says the results indicate a “leveling off” in the rural economy’s growth. The survey covers Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Posted in News |

House education panel bans nicotine use in schools

News

January 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The House Education Committee has unanimously approved a bill banning the use of all nicotine products on school property, amid fears new smokeless and dissolvable tobacco products are easier for students to use. State law already allows school boards to suspend or expel a student for the use or possession of tobacco, alcohol or controlled substances on school grounds. The bill approved Thursday expands those rules to include all nicotine products. Products used to help someone quit smoking are excluded. Committee Chairman Republican Greg Forristall, of Macedonia, says nicotine products resembling toothpicks, mints or breath strips are being marketed to young people. Under the bill, school boards may also remove other people that violate the law and ban them from school grounds. The bill now goes before the full House.

Posted in News |

LAVINA JOHNSTON, 87, of Audubon (1-21-12)

Obituaries

January 19th, 2012 by Jim Field

LAVINA JOHNSTON, 87, of Audubon died Tuesday, January 17th at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital.  Funeral services for Lavina Johnston will be held on Saturday, January 21st at 10:30 am in the Audubon Church of Christ.  Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

———————————————————————

Friends may call anytime at the funeral home with family visitation Friday at 6:00 pm.

Burial in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Lavina Johnston is survived by:

Sons: Mervin (Shari) Johnston of Boone & Steven (Kathy) Johnston of Audubon

Sister: Dorothy McKean of Harlan

5 Grandchildren

5 Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

2011-2012 EIGHTH Iowa Girls High School Basketball Rankings

Sports

January 19th, 2012 by Jim Field

Class 1-A
School
Record
LW
1
North Mahaska
15-0
1
2
Bedford
14-0
2
3
North Butler
12-1
4
4
West Sioux
13-0
5
5
Lynnville-Sully
15-1
7
6
Ar-We-Va
10-2
3
7
LeMars Gehlen Catholic
12-2
6
8
Central Lyon
12-2
8
9
Newell-Fonda
10-5
9
10
Villisca
13-1
10
11
North Tama
12-2
12
12
Burlington Notre Dame
10-3
14
13
Boyden-Hull
10-4
15
14
Adair-Casey
13-2
13
15
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton
12-2
 11
Dropped Out: None
Class 2-A
School
Record
LW
1
OA-BCIG
16-0
1
2
Estherville-Lincoln Central
15-1
2
3
IKM-Manning
13-1
3
4
West Hancock
14-0
4
5
Fort Dodge St. Edmond
14-0
5
6
Mediapolis
14-0
6
7
Gilbert
15-0
7
8
Western Christian
12-2
8
9
Kuemper Catholic
13-3
9
10
Lawton-Bronson
12-3
10
11
Pella Christian
10-2
11
12
Panorama
14-1
12
13
MaquoketaValley
15-0
13
14
Van Buren
14-1
14
15
North Linn
15-1
15
Dropped Out: None
Class 3-A
School
Record
LW
1
Benton Community
13-0
1
2
Davenport Assumption
11-1
2
3
MOC-Floyd Valley
15-0
3
4
Sioux City Bishop Heelan
11-0
5
5
Glenwood
12-1
4
6
South Tama
13-1
6
7
Dubuque Wahlert
10-4
7
8
Bondurant-Farrar
14-0
8
9
Union
11-1
9
10
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
10-3
10
11
Williamsburg
13-2
11
12
Marion
10-3
12
13
Spirit Lake
12-3
14
14
Denison-Schleswig
11-4
15
15
Waverly-Shell Rock
10-4
NR
Dropped Out: Washington (13)
Class 4-A
School
Record
LW
1
Iowa City West
13-0
1
2
Southeast Polk
13-1
3
3
Mason City
13-1
6
4
Ankeny
12-2
2
5
Cedar Rapids Washington
8-3
7
6
Ames
11-2
4
7
Waukee
10-4
5
8
Cedar Rapids Prairie
10-3
9
9
Cedar Rapids Xavier
11-4
8
10
Iowa City High
11-4
10
11
Lewis Central
11-1
12
12
Dowling Catholic
9-5
14
13
Cedar Falls
9-5
15
14
Waterloo West
10-5
13
15
Muscatine
11-3
NR

Dropped Out: West Des Moines Valley (11)

Posted in Sports |

Mourning dove hunting still not settled at Capitol

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

January 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Hunting mourning doves has been legal in Iowa for nearly a year, but the issue still isn’t settled at the Capitol.  A Senate subcommittee on Thursday discussed using lead shot ammunition in hunting the birds.  The state’s Natural Resources Commission last year unanimously voted to ban the practice, but a legislative committee put the ban on hold.
 
Sen. Dick Dearden, D-Des Moines, says the commission overstepped its bounds in banning lead shot. A resolution he backs to overturn that ban advanced out of the meeting.  Environmental advocates told committee members Thursday that lead shot is toxic and can harm animals when eaten. Hunting advocates say the harm is minor and no good alternatives to lead shot exists. The measure now goes to the full Senate Natural Resources Committee.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports |

GLENN A. LILJA, 87, of Atlantic (No local services planned)

Obituaries

January 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

GLENN A. LILJA, 87, of Atlantic, died Wed., Jan. 18th, at the Heritage House in Atlantic. No local services are planned for GLENN LILJA. Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family with the local arrangements.

A funeral and burial are planned for Mon., Jan. 23rd, in Colorado.

GLENN LILJA is survived by:

His daughters – Carol (Dan) Amos, of Lewis, & Connie Hogland, of Denver, CO.

His sisters – Hilda Frost, of Foxfield, CO., & Connie Lawson, of Centennial, CO.

6 grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

Celebration to mark CAM’s “Blue Ribbon School” to be held next week

News

January 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A celebration will take place at the CAM High School in Anita next Wednesday, to honor the former staff, teachers, board members and students of CAM North Elementary School, which recently received a 2011 “Blue Ribbon School” award. CAM North was formally known as the Anita Elementary School. The celebration along with a recognition ceremony and speech from returning Anita High School alum Liz Retz Parker (CAM Class of 1980), will take place at 1-p.m. Wed., Jan. 25th, at the high school.

A reception and open house will continue at the elementary building after the ceremony, until 4-p.m. (Students will be dismissed at 2:30-p.m.) Invitations are being sent to former staff and board members from recent years at the school, but all former teachers, staff and board members are welcome to attend.

Superintendent Steve Pelzer says the school wants to thank the community for its support in helping the district attain the national “Blue Ribbon School” award. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools where students achieve at very high levels and/or where the achievement gap is narrowing. The Program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement.

Posted in News |

Non-injury accident reported in Atlantic

News

January 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

No injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday night, in Atlantic. According to Atlantic Police, Tammy Johnson, of Atlantic, was traveling north in the 800 block of Poplar Street, when Johnson looked down for a moment, and her vehicle hit a legally parked car owned by Darla Jacobsen, of Atlantic. The accident happened at around 9-p.m., Wednesday. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $10,000. Officials say Johnson was cited for Striking an Unattended Vehicle, and for having No Proof of Insurance.

Posted in News |

Backyard and Beyond 01-19-2012

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

January 19th, 2012 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Kenner Baxter of the Marne Community Club about the upcoming Chili and Pie Contest where cooks and eaters are welcome!

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Posted in Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts |

Winter weather set to wallop IA…DOT advises be prepared for travel challenges

News, Weather

January 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Frigid temperatures statewide and an impending snowstorm for northern Iowa reinforce the need for motorists to prepare for winter travel challenges. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is advising motorists who must travel in these conditions to take extra precautions, including making sure to have a fully charged cell phone, adequate fuel in your vehicle’s tank and a survival kit in the vehicle.

A basic survival kit can be a live-saver in the event of a mechanical breakdown in the dangerous temperatures or if you are stranded during a winter storm. The kit should contain a blanket or sleeping bag; high energy, nonperishable food; water; flashlight and extra batteries; matches or a lighter; candles; warm gloves; small first aid kit; hat or stocking cap; insulated footwear; and winter coat. The kit should contain enough supplies for the number of passengers in the vehicle. Other winter travel supplies should include a snow shovel; scraper and snow brush; sand or strips of carpet for traction; flares/reflectors; tool kit; jumper cables; and a good spare tire, lug wrench and jack. Learn more about how to prepare your winter survival travel kit by visiting the Iowa DOT’s YouTube website at: http://www.youtube.com/iowadot.

Motorists are urged to monitor weather and road conditions before traveling – stay informed and plan ahead – road condition information is available from the resources listed below. 

  • Web: Visit the 511 Iowa website at www.511ia.org.
  • Twitter: County and metro area Twitter feeds are available. Sign up at 511ia.org.
  • Phone: When in Iowa call 511, or 800-288-1047 from outside of Iowa.
  • Rest areas: Free Wi-Fi service is available at the Iowa DOT interstate rest areas so you can view the www.511ia.org website on your computer from the convenience of your vehicle; or step indoors to view the website and radar images on the easy-to-operate kiosk.
  • Dynamic message boards: National Weather Service warnings are posted on the message boards displayed over highways at key locations throughout the state. When necessary, interstate closure information is also made available on these signs.
  • Mobile communication device: The www.511ia.org road condition map and text route reports are available for viewing on your mobile communication device. Cell phones and other mobile communication devices should only be used when parked and off the traveled portion of the roadway.
  • E-mail: Receive winter travel advisories and periodic updates directly in your inbox. Visit www.news.iowadot.gov to subscribe.

Posted in News, Weather |