United Group Insurance

Agency on Aging seeks Board members

News

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging (AAA) say the organization is looking to fill open positions on their Board of Directors. The opening are for professional volunteers who want to help develop and approves the service planning and the budget for 20 counties in western, southwestern and southern Iowa.

Board members meet on the last Thursday of each month, and serve three year terms of service. Connections AAA is looking for candidates with the following skills: Marketing, strategic planning, fund development, and disability services but we also value other unique skill sets and the commitment to make a positive impact on seniors is critical.

If interested, please contact Kelly Butts at Connections AAA – email to kbutts@connectionsaaa.org or phone 800/432-9209 ext. 1013 to declare your interest and receive an application form. If you’ve been looking for some place to apply your leadership skills, and if you care about quality of life for Iowa’s seniors, you should consider applying for a Board position.

BERTHA JOHNSON, 87, of Fontanelle (Svcs. 5/16/14)

Obituaries

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BERTHA JOHNSON, 87, of Fontanelle, died Fri., May 9th, at her daughter’s home in Clive, IA. Funeral services for BERTHA JOHNSON will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., May 16th, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Thursday at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be directed to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church or Hospice of Central Iowa.

Burial will be in the Fontanelle Cemetery, with a luncheon will be held at the church following the burial.

BERTHA JOHNSON is survived by:

Her sons – Dennis (Wanda) of Fontanelle, Randy (Patty) of Urbandale, Craig (Stephanie) of Johnston. Her daughter – Jana Teachout (Michael) of Clive.

11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Iowa DNR asked to put more teeth into water rules

Ag/Outdoor

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is facing criticism for proposing new livestock farm enforcement rules environmental groups and others say are not tough enough to clean up the state’s rivers and lakes. One of the critics is Bill Stowe, CEO of Des Moines Water Works.

He says the Environmental Protection Commission, which oversees the DNR, should require the agency to better monitor application of livestock manure and fertilizer to ensure too much is not being applied.
Stowe says the lack of clear standards for manure and fertilizer application is leading to contaminated water. He says it’s increasingly difficult clean enough to remain in compliance with federal clean water guidelines.

Stowe spoke Friday in Des Moines at one of six hearings the DNR is holding on proposed new rules.

Nodaway Valley moves forward with Superintendent sharing

News

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Nodaway Valley and CAM School Districts are closer to an agreement that would allow the districts to share one Superintendent, save money and receive incentive funds. The Nodaway Valley School Board voted unanimously Thursday night to enter into a sharing agreement for the services of a superintendent, with the CAM School District.

It’s expected the CAM School Board will approve the agreement during their meeting this coming week. If that happens, the arrangement would help to off-set recent budget cuts at Nodaway Valley, and maybe reverse some of those decisions.

Both districts stand to benefit from a superintendent sharing agreement, because the Iowa Legislature approved a new five-year program for operational sharing that allows cooperative districts to count eight additional students for each of the next five-years, which amounts to about $50,000 per year.

YPA and YMCA host Mentor Activity

News

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Young Professionals of Atlantic spent an evening flying kites with kids at the YMCA, recently. YPA President Kevin Weiser said “It is great to spend quality time with these kids. We want to give them fun, positive activities to look forward too.” mentor 2014 ANT

The next YPA mentorship activity will be May 20th at the YMCA. YPA Civic Engagement Chair Hans Krengel said “We are just getting started and hope to recruit more YPA mentors for the program.”

If you are interested in joining the YPA Mentor Program contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-2017,  or e-mail chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

Veterans in Cass County needed to apply for Commission seat

News

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes is putting out a call to all honorably discharged veterans in the County, in hopes they will apply to fill a seat on the Cass County Veterans Commission.  Applicants must be honorably discharged veteran who reside in Cass County.

The three-year Commission term begins on July 1st, 2014. To apply for the position,  you must provide provide proof of military service, and meet the requirements outlined in Iowa Code 35.1.

The deadline for applications is May 30th, 2014. For applications and more information, contact the Veterans Affairs office at the Cass County Courthouse, 5 W. 7th St., Atlantic, IA 50022, or call 712-243-6662.”

Backyard and Beyond 05-09-2014

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

May 9th, 2014 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Pam Scoles, Cass County Master Gardener Vice President, about the Master Gardeners Plant Sale this Saturday starting at 8am at the Cass County Fairgrounds.

Play

Accident in Atlantic causes $7k damage

News

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A collision in Atlantic Thursday afternoon caused $7,000 damage altogether, but no one was injured. The Atlantic Police Department reports a vehicle driven by Ty Jordan, of Atlantic, rear-ended a vehicle driven by Tammie Jens, of Lewis, at the intersection of 7th and Olive Streets. The accident took place at around 4:20-p.m., as Jens was stopped at the traffic lights headed eastbound on 7th Street. Jordan was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, and No Proof of Insurance.

Exira man arrested early Friday morning on assault charge

News

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports one-person was arrested early this (Friday) morning following an investigation into an incident in Exira that allegedly occurred late Thursday night. 49-year old David Lee Nelson, of Exira, was arrested at around 12:50-a.m. on a charge of Domestic Assault.

Nelson was being held without bond in the Audubon County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

(9-a.m. News)

Harlan Municipal Utilities announces rate hike

News

May 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Residents in Harlan will see an increase in electricity rates starting in July. In a board of trustees meeting Thursday, Harlan Municipal Utilities set in motion to approve a four percent increase in electric rates starting on July 1st. The board approved the recommendation from John Burmeister of Public Financial Management (PFM). Burmeister proposed the recommendation at a previous HMU board meeting in April.

In other news, HMU said a transformer along Industrial Avenue in Harlan failed on Wednesday afternoon causing a disruption in the distribution system. The failure led to a loss of power to customers in the south 12th Street area of Harlan. The outage began around 3:40pm on Wednesday and crews were able to restore power to all customers by 4:30.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)