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JAYSON SPURR, 46, of Norwalk (& formerly of Creston) – Celebration of Life 3/28/24

Obituaries

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JAYSON SPURR, 46, of Norwalk (& formerly of Creston), died Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A Celebration of Life Service for JAYSON SPURR will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Norwalk United Methodist Church in Norwalk (IA). Powers Funeral Home in Creston is assisting the family.

The Service will be livestreamed at a link found under Jay’s obituary at funeral home’s website.

Military Honors will be given by the United States Air Force and the Cummings American Legion Post 562.

Visitation and family receiving friends will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at the Norwalk Methodist Church.

Burial will be at the Norwalk Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Helping Heroes Foundation.

Online condolences may be given at www.powersfh.com

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Monday, March 25, 2024

Weather

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 62. South winds @ 15-30 mph. A few strong thunderstorms may be possible this afternoon and evening, with hail and wind the primary threats.

Tonight: Rain showers/thunderstorms becoming mixed w/snow after midnight. Low around 25. Winds NW @ 10-25 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tomorrow: A chance of rain and/or snow showers. High near 36. NW @ 20-30 mph.New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 44.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 48. Our Low was 34. From 7-a.m. Sunday through 7-a.m. today, we received 1.22″ of rain at KJAN. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 60 and the Low was 31. The all-time Record High in Atlantic on March 25th, was 91 in 1907. The Record Low was 5 in 1894. Sunrise today: 7:15. Sunset tonight: 7:37.

Produce in the Park now accepting Summer Vendor Applications, Sponsorships

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC, IA (March 24, 2024) – Produce in the Park is now accepting vendor applications for summer markets and seeking sponsorships for the 2024-2025 market season. Vendor applications and sponsorship information can be found online at www.ProduceintheParkAtlanticiowa.com. Printed copies are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St. Atlantic, IA 50022).

Produce in the Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote local food and build a community that supports the health and well being of its residents. Produce in the Park’s summer farmers markets are held weekly on Thursday evenings (4:30-6:30 PM) in the Atlantic City Park from June through mid-October. Produce in the Park also holds holiday farmers markets just before Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter.

Produce in the Park seeks vendors who sell handmade or homegrown foods and crafts. The 2024 summer market full-season vendor fee is $100. Vendors who register by May 1 will receive a $20 discount, and food vendors who participate in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program receive an additional $10 discount. Vendors can also join four summer markets for $50 or a single summer market for $25.

Produce in the Park seeks sponsors who support community and well being. Sponsorships offer various levels of recognition, including mention in radio ads, booth space at markets, and the organization’s logo on tote bags. 2024-2025 season sponsorships range from $250 to $2,000.

In addition to vendors and sponsors, Produce in the Park is always looking for volunteers interested in providing entertainment, serving as Guest Chef, or leading activities for kids.

Produce in the Park’s next farmers market is being held this Saturday, March 30 from noon – 3 PM at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Spring Celebration Market will offer produce, meats, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, desserts, crafts, and more. Customers can expect to find goodies for Easter baskets and food for Easter dinner. There is no cost to enter the market, and the YMCA will offer free bounce houses for kids. Food truck Amos Fabulous Foods will be parked outside the YMCA for the duration of the market.

Spring Celebration Market is sponsored by Cass Health, Gregg Young of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic

Reviving capital gains tax break for livestock sales

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has voted to extend a state tax break for SOME Iowans who own livestock and get at least half of their annual income from farming. It’s a capital gains tax break for the sale of dairy cattle, work horses and racing horses as well as livestock — like cows and bulls and sows and b boars — used for breeding.

The tax break expired at the end of 2022. If it isn’t revived, officials estimate the state will collect two-and-half MILLION dollars in capital gains this year from cattle and horse sales. Representative Derek Wulf and his wife have a cow-calf operation on a third generation family farm near Hudson. Wulf says the capital gains tax break for livestock was established in the late 1990s.

“Our tax code should promote livestock production, which we know is often how beginning farmers get their start in agriculture. We know that livestock production supports rural communities and drives our rural economic activity,” Wulf said. “…We want to make sure that we don’t increase taxes on our livestock producers and farmers here in the state.”

The repeal of this capital gains cut for some livestock sales was part of a wide ranging tax bill that became law in 2018. The House bill that would restore the tax break is now under consideration in the Senate.

Property tax break for commercial child care centers

News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has approved the governor’s idea of reducing property taxes for some child care businesses. Commercial child care centers are currently taxed as commercial property and the governor has proposed they be taxed at a far lower rate – just like residential property. Representative Brook Boden, a Republican from Indianola, spoke briefly before the bill passed the House on a 94 to one vote.

“This bill will provide an opportunity for more much needed child care in our communities,” Boden said. A Legislative Services Agency analysis indicates the bill could cut property taxes by a total of 19 million dollars for the 15-hundred commercial child care centers in the state. Republican Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs is chairman of the Senate’s tax policy committee. He says Iowa cities already are adjusting budgets based on significan property tax changes lawmakers approved last year, but Senate Republicans are contemplating the governor’s proposed property tax cut for child care centers.

“It’s kind of a unique idea,” Dawson says .”But we’ve got to make sure as we’re hearing a lot of local government input right now that anything is thoughtful on that front of property taxes because we said last year it would be multiple bills over multiple years and we need to give (cities) some predictability there, too.”

Dawson made his comments this weekend on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

Iowa State scientists target disease in RNA

News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service) – Researchers at Iowa State University are taking the next step in genetic medicine by targeting diseases in a person’s R-N-A. Most drugs target proteins to interrupt the disease process. Iowa State University researcher Walter Moss says they’ve moved beyond targeting proteins and are taking aim at disease on a smaller level – focusing on ribonucleaic acid, or R-N-A. This will allow scientists to create ‘personalized disease attackers’ that Moss says fit perfectly into ‘pockets’ in a patient’s cells.

“So, there’s the different pockets on a protein drug target. You’d be able to get that drug into that pocket, either to interfere with the protein function or the protein interaction in some way. And the same idea would be with RNA.”

Moss says the R-N-A approach could be used to target cancer and genetic diseases, but adds years of testing remain before the technology will be ready for the commercial market. Moss says 90-percent of the body’s genome is turned into R-N-A as opposed to just 10-percent that becomes protein. He explains that dramatic ratio presents scientists with new opportunities.

“It opens up whole new avenues of targeting diseases that aren’t currently possible at the protein level. Because now you can start to treat RNA-related diseases, or diseases where there is no good protein drug target. ” Moss says COVID vaccines harnessed the power of what’s known as “messenger R-N-A,” which caused a spike in interest in using R-N-A science more broadly to treat other diseases.

CAM Cougars Girls Golf Preview

Sports

March 25th, 2024 by admin

CAM Cougars girls golf is off and running. The Cougars will be coached by Joe Wollum this season.

Coach Wollum recapped how last year went.

Coach Wollum commented well the girls will be get better as the season goes along.

Coach Wollum talked about what his squad has been working on in practice.

Coach Wollum elaborated what it’s going to be like playing in the Rolling Valley Conference this season.

Coach Wollum mentioned on what his team’s goals are for the year.

The Cougars Girls first varsity golf meet will be Tuesday March 26th for the AHSTW Triangular at Avoca Country Club. That golf meet will start at 4:00 p.m.

IOWA STATE LOSES HEARTBREAKER TO NO. 4 STANFORD IN SECOND ROUND

Sports

March 25th, 2024 by admin

STANFORD, California – Iowa State (21-12, 12-6 Big 12) lost a heartbreaker to No. 4 Stanford (30-5, 15-3 Pac-12) on Sunday night 87-81 in overtime in the second round of the NCAA Championship. The Cyclones were led by an elite 36-point performance by Emily Ryan, making for the second straight game a Cyclone has scored 30-plus.

Iowa State came out hot shooting at 6-of-8 from deep to lead 23-16 after the opening quarter, while Ryan put up a 15-point first half giving Iowa State a 33-31 edge. In a game of 18 lead changes and 12 ties, the Cyclones gave the Cardinal all they could take forcing overtime but came up short to end a memorable season.

Ryan was magnificent throughout the night, going out to a career-high 36 for her first 30 point game. That total now ties the second-highest single-game mark in ISU NCAA Tournament history, matching Ashley Joens’ mark set in the first round in 2022. The guard made 12 field goals to set the second-highest single-game program total. Ryan, who officially broke the NCAA Championships career assist program assist record in the first round, upped the record to 57. Ryan brings her tournament assist total to 18, tying the No. 5 single-tournament total in school history.

Ryan came one rebound shy of a double-double while adding four assists, two blocks and a steal to her final stat line. Ryan had six 3-pointers to match her career high.

Addy Brown had a stellar night totaling 18 points (7-of-11 shooting) and four 3-pointers to match her career high. ISU totaled 12 3-pointers, its 11th game with 10 or more 3-pointers. Audi Crooks had her 32nd-straight double-figure scoring outing with 10 points, also pulling down eight rebounds.

Iowa State women edged in OT by No. 5 Stanford in NCAA Tournament

Sports

March 25th, 2024 by admin

Heartbreak for the Iowa State women in the NCAA Tournament. Brooke Demetre’s three pointer with 18 seconds remaining in overtime gave Stanford the lead for good as the fifth ranked Cardinal edged the Cyclones 87-81 in Palo Alto. ISU finishes with a record of 21-12.

That is Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. The Cyclones had a late three point lead in regulation and nearly pulled off a stunning upset.

Emily Ryan led the Cyclones with 36 points.

Ryan felt it was a special season for the Cyclones.

Darian DeVries leaves Drake to take over at West Virginia

Sports

March 25th, 2024 by admin

After leading Drake to six seasons of 20 wins or more Darian DeVries has left to become the new coach at West Virginia. The Bulldogs won two straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles and played in the NCAA Tournament three times in the last four years. Drake AD Brian Hardin.

Hardin says he was first contacted by West Virginia AD Wren Baker the day after the Bulldogs lost to Washington State in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs have a talented, young roster and Hardin says his first priority is to find the right coach.

Hardin would not say if two-time Missouri Valley Player of the Year Tucker Deries will follow his father to West Virginia despite numerous reports that he will. Hardin says the Bulldog program is in a great place because of the success Darian DeVries enjoyed.