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Jennie Edmundson Hospital among 3 finalists for $100k homelessness initiative

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) will host the 2024 HousingIowa Conference Sept. 4th-6th at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The conference is Iowa’s premier housing event, drawing nearly 1,000 housing professionals for discussions on timely housing topics in Iowa and networking with Iowa housing leaders. The event is open to anyone interested in learning more about housing in Iowa. The IFA today (Monday) announced the finalists for three Innovation in Housing Pitch Competitions aimed at addressing housing needs at every level of the housing continuum, challenging leaders to think innovatively about how to implement new approaches to alleviate housing barriers. Finalists will pitch their proposals to industry judges at the HousingIowa Conference.

Finalists:
• Housing Fund for Linn County
• Shelter House, Iowa City
Jennie Edmundson Foundation, Council Bluffs

The Iowa Innovation in Homelessness Incubator called for forward-thinking proposals from housing and community leaders across Iowa for innovative ways to implement new approaches to alleviate homelessness in our state. The goal is to redefine the landscape of homelessness prevention and response systems and rethink how assistance for persons experiencing homelessness in Iowa is delivered. The winning pitch will receive funding of up to $100,000 to transform their concept into a pilot initiative.

More information about the conference, innovation finalists and registration are available at housingiowaconference.com

August is going out Iowa State Fair steamy, though the fair’s long gone

News, Weather

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa school districts will dismiss classes early today (Monday) because of the extreme heat, as high temperatures are forecast in the upper 90s, with heat indices climbing into triple digits. While we’re less than a month from the first day of fall, meteorologist Cory Martin, at the National Weather Service, says this type of heat is usually associated with the dog days of summer. “Today, during the afternoon hours, we’ll be looking at heat index values peaking between 105 to 110,” Martin says. “Some areas may jump a little over 110, with the highest readings likely to be in eastern Iowa today.”

The entire state is under a heat advisory, while excessive heat warnings are posted for wide sections of eastern and western Iowa. “So it’s really across the whole state, when you’re looking at the different advisories and warnings, those both key in on different thresholds, but really the end result to everyone today is — it’s going to feel hot and humid outside,” Martin says. “It’s important to take your precautions, to limit your time outside, and make sure you’re adequately hydrated, and really just limit your time exposed to the heat.”

Tuesday will only be slightly cooler, with highs in the 80s and 90s statewide, though Martin says we should see a cool-down soon. “As we go through the week, we’re still looking at temperatures gradually tailing off,” Martin says, “with highs back to around 80 degrees across much of the state as we head into the weekend.”

The forecast for Labor Day weekend calls for more seasonal temperatures and dry conditions.

Creston Police report, 8/26/24

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say five people were arrested on separate charges over the past few days. There were two arrests last Friday (Aug. 23rd):

23-year-old Kristina Gale Marcum, of Creston, was arrested at her residence at around 11-a.m., on an outside agency warrant, and charged with Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon. Marcum later posted a $10,000 bond before being released from the Union County Jail; And, at around 2:25-p.m., Friday, Creston Police arrested 45-year-old Brady Gale Richert, of Creston. He was charged with Interference with Official Acts and Willful Injury/Resulting in Serious Injury. Richert was taken to the Union County Jail and held on a $10,000 bond.

Early Saturday morning, 35-year-old Bradley Anthony St Pierre, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st Offense. St Pierre was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 bond. And, Saturday evening, 36-year-old Darrell Curtis Beaman, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County Warrant of Parole Violation. Beaman was being held without bond in the Union County Jail.

Sunday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 22-year-old Christopher Gage Selvy, of Creston, for Assault, and a failure to appear on Union County Warrant for OWI/1st Offense. Selvy’s bond was set at $1,300.

Fannon Earns 100th as ISU Thrashes UNI, 6-1

Sports

August 26th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – It was an eventful outing at the Cyclone Sports Complex on Sunday evening, as Iowa State recorded its most goals in a game since 2012; Matt Fannon won his 100th game as a collegiate coach, and five Cyclones scored – with three doing so for the first time in their careers.

It was an onslaught from the start for the Cyclones, who compiled three goals in each half of tonight’s contest. The Cyclones hadn’t had three first-half goals since 2014 against Northern Colorado. They then put three more on the board in the second half, marking the first time since 2022 when ISU did so against Omaha.

Iowa State (2-1-1) handed UNI (1-1-1) its first loss of the campaign, moving to 12-1-1 in the all-time series against the Panthers.

The scoring started early, as newcomer Seulgi Lee recorded her first career DI goal, and seventh of her career, in the tenth minute of play off a Magdalena Keck pass.

Ten minutes of game time later, it was Hannah Shaw who knocked one in off a double assist from Adelaide Wolfe, who fed Lauren Hernandez, who eventually fed it to Shaw. The score marked Shaw’s first of her career.

Not to be outdone, ISU defender Isabella Agrusso decided to get in on the action, converting her first career goal in the 25th minute off the foot of Lauren McConnell. It wasn’t just Agrusso’s first goal, but her first collegiate points.

The Panthers fought back at the end of the half, knocking one in and trimming the Cyclone lead to two as Macy Smith earned her first goal of the season. UNI about had a second first-half goal in the final seconds, but an Avery Gillahan save off the top of the crossbar secured the two-goal lead heading into the break.

The Cyclones wasted little time getting back on the board in the second stanza, as Hannah Shaw secured her first career brace, knocking in a second score off an assist from Ella Zimmerman in the 48th minute. Shaw joins Morgan Furmaniak and Lee as Cyclones who have multi-goal games.

The teams would trade runs for the next 20 minutes or so before Iowa State tacked on two more quick scores. Morgan Furmaniak converted on the far side of the box, sneaking it past the UNI keeper for her team-leading third goal of the season and 15th of her career.

The final Cyclone tally came from Zimmerman, who, two minutes after Furmaniak, scored on her own rebound in the 68th minute to make it 6-1 in favor of the Cyclones.

In total, the Cyclones had at least 20 shots for the second time this season. Four ISU players had three shots on the day (Zimmerman, Keck, Shaw, McConnell), with all three of Shaw’s coming on goal. 65 percent of ISU’s shots ended up being on target.

Goals
Iowa State: Seulgi Lee – 10’ (1), Hannah Shaw – 20’ & 48’ (2), Isabella Agrusso – 25’ (1), Morgan Furmaniak – 66’ (3), Ella Zimmerman – 68’ (1)
UNI: Macy Smith – 41’ (1)

Assists
Iowa State: Magdalena Keck 2(3), Lauren Hernandez (1), Adelaide Wolfe (1), Lauren McConnell (1), Ella Zimmerman (1)
UNI: Marissa Gross (1)

Up Next
After wrapping the month of August against UNI, ISU will again be back on the road when it heads to nationally ranked Memphis. The Tigers and Cyclones will square off next Sunday, Sept. 1, at 8 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.

Man arrested in Red Oak for Public Intox. & 2 active warrants

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man who was reportedly laying down in the dog food aisle at the Red Oak Dollar General Store, and who refused to get up and leave, was arrested Sunday night. Red Oak Police say 46-year-old Dennis Gerald Tyler was charged with Public Intoxication, following his arrest at around 8:35-p.m.  Tyler was also taken into custody on two active Taylor County warrants for Violation of Probation (Aggravated Misdemeanor), and a Controlled Substance Violation (a Class-B Felony).

Tyler was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail. Red Oak Police were assisted in handling the incident, by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies.

AAA: With a busy travel weekend ahead, Iowa gas prices hold steady

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The last holiday of summer is just ahead and tens of thousands of Iowans will hit the road for the Labor Day weekend. AAA-Iowa spokesman Brian Ortner says the record-breaking summer travel season will wrap up with what’s anticipated to be another exceptionally busy holiday for get-away vacations. “The Labor Day weekend is up 9% compared to last year, and the good news is that the cost of travel domestically is down 2%,” Ortner says, “so it’s great for consumers, and great to see people back out on the roads and taking that last summer trip.”

Since most Iowa kids are already back in school, regional road trips tend to be the most popular Labor Day option for families. Because of that, Ortner says other vacationers see this as an opportunity to travel the world, with the expectation of smaller crowds at popular sites. “Domestic airfares are 2% less compared to last year,” Ortner says. “Hotels are up a little bit compared to last year, about 7% but that balances out if you’re renting a car, which is 16% cheaper this Labor Day holiday compared to last year.”

The majority of vacationers over Labor Day will be traveling by motor vehicle, and while electric cars are becoming more common, most cars, trucks and SUVs still run on gasoline. Ortner does -not- expect any major jumps in gas prices in Iowa before the weekend. “Gas prices, thankfully, have remained steady, hovering around that $3.20 cent per gallon average across the state, and even with the popularity of summer road trips, gas demand is down,” Ortner says. “Daily driving habits have changed post-pandemic, tempering price spikes.”

Gas prices vary widely across Iowa. The most expensive fuel is reported in Dubuque at $3.45 a gallon, while Sioux City has the cheapest gas at $2.98.

(Update) First case of West Nile confirmed amid soaring mosquito populations

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The State Hygienic Lab has confirmed the first case of West Nile Virus this year in a man in Harrison County. Iowa State University entomologist Ryan Smith oversees the state’s mosquito surveillance program. “This year has been somewhat interesting in the fact that as we got into May and early June, we didn’t see a whole lot of mosquito activity,” he says, “and then later in June, especially as when we started seeing some of the heavy rainfall and flooding, really, across the state, and with that, I think we saw a big explosion of our mosquito numbers.”

The rains ended the drought and left the water that is key for mosquito breeding. “Mosquitoes take advantage of standing water. Any kind of flowing or moving water doesn’t allow for the juvenile stages of mosquitoes to survive, and so they really do thrive on that flooded or standing water in many of these locations,” Smith says. “And especially those counties that were impacted the most, especially out in western Iowa. I think we’ve seen really high numbers.”

He experienced the mosquito explosion first hand. “We’ve actually responded to some of the flooding that occurred in Sioux County this year, and you know, we saw really high numbers, and it doesn’t surprise me that we would have that kind of carry on, and many of the other affected areas that we kind of been able to trap in,” Smith says. Smith says there’s been an increase in disease carrying mosquitoes as well as those that are simply a nuisance. “Those are ones that will bite us, you know, and they’re going to be annoying, and, you know, that’s why we call them a nuisance,” He says. “Whereas others can actually kind of do the same. They can bite humans, but they can also transmit disease. And those are the ones that you know, at least from my perspective, that we really do worry about.”

The state Health Department recommends you dump out standing water to help cut the number of mosquitoes. Smith says that does work. “These mosquitoes usually don’t travel very far, and so if you can reduce places where they might breed, then more than likely you’re also going to reduce the impact of where you might find adult mosquitoes,” Smith says.

The Health Department also recommends that you wear mosquito repellent when outdoors to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. The Health Department says those infected with West Nile may not experience any signs or symptoms of the virus. Some people experience minor symptoms like fever and mild headache, while others can develop serious symptoms such as a high fever, headache, disorientation, and muscle weakness. There were 17 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in 2023, and one death.

WEEK OF AUGUST 26, 2024

Trading Post

August 26th, 2024 by Jim Field

FOR SALE:  Nissan Titan pickup with no rust, four-wheel drive, and 4 doors for $16,000.  2000 Chevy four-wheel drive pickup, 3 door, well customized, fancy pickup, and new transmission for $6,000. Grinder/Mixer the price has been reduced to $1000. Call 712-355-1566.

FOR SALE:  Remington 110,000 BTU Kerosene Heater for $150 and Remington 115,000 BTU for multiple fuels at $100. Call 712-254-0837.

FREE: Hostas. Bring a spade to dig them up. Also a Sears water softener in good condition. 510 E 22nd Street in Atlantic. Call 712-249-1439

WANTED: Need a retaining wall built on the North and East side of a building measuring 50 x 50…located at 502 pine street in Atlantic. For more information or to provide an estimate and type of blocks needed for the project, call 712-254-3902.

FOR SALE: Double recliner for sale. $75. In Atlantic.  Call 712-789-9509  SOLD!

FOR SALE:  2006 Kia Spectra hatchback, low mileage 93,000 miles, great car, $3,800 OBO.  402-813-2909, Villisca area.

FOR SALE:  Used landscaping blocks in very good condition for 50 cents each. Call 712-249-3730. SOLD

PHILLIP LEE “Phil” EVANS, 71, of Stanton

Obituaries

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

PHILLIP LEE “Phil” EVANS, 71, of Stanton, died Saturday, August 24, 2024, at his home as the result of a fall. A Celebration of Life for PHIL EVANS will be held 2-p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel in Red Oak.

Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service (from 1-until 2-p.m., Friday). A luncheon will follow the service at the Montgomery County History Center.

Interment of the cremated remains will be held at the Lincoln Center Cemetery, in rural Adams County, later that afternoon.

PHILLIP LEE “Phil” EVANS is survived by:

Karen Evans

His sister – Arlene (Donnie) Drennan.

and other relatives.

Iowa transportation program aims to reduce missed health appointments

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service) – County health officials in rural Iowa are using a new app to connect people to their doctors and cut down on missed appointments. The Health Connector program provides transportation to and from medical appointments in Dallas County – and is geared toward people over 60, those with a disability, people who speak English as a second language, and veterans.

County Community Health Administrator Abigail Chihak said it will help reduce the number of missed appointments, that happen because people don’t have a way to get to the doctor’s office. “It’s an app that allows riders to schedule both their medical appointment and their transportation appointment at the same time,” said Chihak. “So, while they are at the doctor’s office scheduling a follow-up appointment, they can get that transportation for their follow up appointment set up before they even leave.” A one-way Health Connector trip countywide is $5, within the city limits it’s $2.50.

The pilot project is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and could be expanded to other parts of the country if it’s successful. Chihak said using the Health Connector app is helpful to the patients who need to schedule their doctor’s appointments and a ride to get there, but it will also help reduce costs and improve efficiencies for health care providers. “This also helps our healthcare teams to know if their patients are on the way, and help them to assure that their patients are going to be able to get to their appointments,” said Chihak, “to alleviate the number of no-shows that they have.”

The app also has options for vision impaired users who can get GPS style directions from the bus all the way to the front door of their doctor’s office, even if it’s deep inside a complex medical suite.