- KJAN, Atlantic .14″
- 7 miles NNE of Atlantic .09″
- Anita .62″
- Audubon .24″
- Oakland .24″
- Manning .36″
- Corning .49″
- Bridgewater .65″
- Guthrie Center .6″
- Carroll .29″
- Clarinda .15″
Top ranked Creston opens the class 3A playoffs at home Friday night against long time rival Harlan. The Panthers are 9-0 and edged the Cyclones 25-22 at home back in week five. Harlan is 38-3 in first round playtoff games dating back to 1972 but the defending champion Cyclones enter this game with a record of 6-3.
That’s senior linebacker and leading tackler Matthew Sorfonden who says the Panthers will be a tough challenge.
Harlan enters the postseason unranked. Cyclone coach Todd Bladt.
Kick-off is at 7:00 tonight in Creston.
AMES, Iowa – Oct. 16, 2023 – There’s an unmistakable chill in the air as fall slowly creeps into winter. Keeping roads in their best shape to ensure you get where you want to go, no matter the season is our goal at the Iowa Department of Transportation. As the weather changes, our focus is keeping the roads as clear as possible and giving you the information you need to make smarter, safer travel decisions.
What you can do to prepare for the months ahead
Winterize your vehicle – To minimize the possibility of a breakdown, get your vehicle tuned up. Check your vehicle’s wipers, hoses, battery, alternator, belts, tires, brakes, exhaust system, lights, and fluid levels. Make sure your vehicle’s heater and defroster are in good working order and you travel with plenty of gas in your tank. A breakdown is frustrating on a good day but can be dangerous during wintery weather.
Place a winter survival kit in your vehicle – This kit should contain items to help sustain your life and the lives of your passengers should your vehicle become stranded during inclement weather. These items can include booster cables; a flashlight with fresh batteries; extra blankets and warm clothes; nonperishable, high-calorie food items; candles, matches, and a can for melting snow for drinking water; and a snow shovel. Sufficient supplies should be in the kit for all persons traveling in the vehicle. Carrying a mobile phone and charger in your vehicle is also advised for use during an emergency.
Use technology to help make better travel decisions – The winter road conditions layer is now visible on www.511ia.org. This layer, along with layers that show images directly from the windshields of our snowplows and stationary cameras along the roadside, can help you determine whether it is safe to travel now or if you should postpone your trip.
Kick your winter driving skills into gear – The first snowfall and slick roads are a quick reminder that it’s time to re-evaluate and adjust your driving behaviors.
How the Iowa DOT has prepared
Our people and equipment – The department’s 101 maintenance garages employ 1,069 full-time equipment operators, mechanics, and supervisors, and are in the process of hiring up to 633 temporary employees this winter season, to keep the agency’s 902 trucks, 42 motor graders, 33 tow plows, and 10 heavy-duty, self-propelled snowblowers on the road during winter weather.
For those interested in temporary, part-time snowfighter positions, go to https://iowadot.gov/careers and click on the “seasonal/temp” tab.
The materials we use – The Iowa DOT has spent the warmer months stocking salt in our storage facilities for use during the winter. Buying during the spring and summer allows us to obtain better pricing because demand is low. On average, the Iowa DOT uses more than 136,000 tons of salt and nearly 32 million gallons of brine each year to help maintain safe travel on the primary highway system, consisting of interstate, U.S., and Iowa routes.
The Iowa DOT primarily uses salt brine, a simple solution of standard rock salt and water, to help with winter roadway maintenance. It can be used to pretreat roadways before a storm, thus preventing snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. Brine is also used to prewet salt before it leaves the truck, increasing its ability to melt snow and ice and helping keep it on the roadway surface.
You may wonder why Iowa DOT trucks sometimes spray brine on sunny days. Frost is a major safety factor this time of year. The Iowa DOT’s proactive approach of spraying brine on areas prone to frost prevents the formation of an icy layer, which typically occurs on cold, clear nights. Frost is hard to see on the road’s surface and most people don’t expect it. These unexpected encounters with a frost-covered bridge or roadway can be particularly treacherous when traveling at higher rates of speed, making it more difficult to maintain control of your vehicle.
For more information about winter preparedness and the Iowa DOT’s snow and ice control program, check the Iowa DOT’s winter safety website.
DUBUQUE, Iowa — A vehicle fished out of the Mississippi River on Iowa’s eastern border turned out to be related to a decades-old cold case. On October 12th, 2023 the Dubuque Police Department was notified that employees from Newt Marine Services, while conducting dredge operations in the Mississippi River near the Hawthorne Boat Ramp, located a submerged vehicle. The vehicle they pulled out was identified as a 1981 Mercury Zephyr belonging to Paul Joseph Knockel, a man who was reported missing in Dubuque on Nov. 25, 1990.
Knockel was 53 at the time he was reported missing by family, and his case has remained open since then. No human remains were located while investigators processed the vehicle.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Corporal Clark Egdorf at 563-589-4430 or Cegdorf@cityofdubuque.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted online via the Dubuque Police Department’s Official Page: www.cityofdubuque.org/209/Police or by calling Dubuque/Jo Daviess Crime Stoppers at (800)747-0117.
(Iowa City, IA) – The University of Iowa may be known for its women’s basketball achievements so far, but we cannot forget about the men’s side of the floor. Payton Sandfort has been named to the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Preseason Watch List. Stanford is one of three student-athletes from the Big Ten on the list.
The Iowa native is one of twenty players announced in the selection for the watch list this season. The list will be narrowed down in January to 10 players, and to five in February.
Last season, Sandfort averaged 10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He also had 59 three-point field goals during the season which are the second-most for the Hawkeyes.
The Hawkeyes begin their season on October 30th in an exhibition game against Quincy. They begin their regular season on November 7th versus North Dakota.
(Radio Iowa) – Opponents of proposed carbon pipelines in Iowa say the projects will be too much of a drain on Iowa’s water resources. Jan Norris of Red Oak is one of several people who read a joint statement during a public hearing this week. “As it turns out, Summit Carbon Solutions not only wants to take our land, they want our water,” Norris said.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has already granted Summit a permit to withdraw up to 55 million gallons of water each year from a new well near an ethanol plant in Chickasaw County. The agency is considering another application from Summit for the use of nearly 28 million gallons of water each year from a new well in Wright County, near an ethanol plant in Goldfield. Julie Glade’s farm is about 17 miles from Goldfield.
“We know these waters are life. They belong to all of us in Iowa,” Glade said. “…Please deny Summit’s Goldfield withdrawal request.” Representative Mark Thompson, a Republican, represents Wright, Humboldt and Hancock Counties in the Iowa House. “The water shortage is about as obvious as the nose on your face. We live near Belmond, near a lake. The lake has receded about 150 feet from the natural shoreline,” Thompson said. “…I also would encourage this permit to be denied.”
The carbon capture process generates heat. Water is used to cool the carbon so it can be compressed, liquefied and shipped through a pipeline. Marjory Swan, a Wright County farmer, says Iowa’s water resources are not unlimited and shouldn’t be used for the project. “We are very well aware of the drought conditions Iowa and her neighbor states have been suffering through recently — 2.9 million residents of our state are currently living in areas of drought,” Swam says.
Others who testified at this week’s hearing asked state officials to consider how much water Summit would need for its entire project, not just for each of the ethanol plants that would connect to the pipeline.
Kathleen Hunt of Eldora owns land in Hardin County that’s along the proposed Summit route and she says Summit’s water use would be unprecedented. “It is incumbent upon the DNR to go about their work carefully and with scientified precision,” she said, “because the public wealth of Iowa is at stake.”
Summit has said it’s project is crucial to the survival of the ethanol industry as consumer demand for carbon-free fuel will grow. Three years ago the Iowa Department of Natural Resources rejected a different company’s plan to withdraw two BILLION gallons of water from a northeast Iowa aquifer every year and sell it to communities in the west that are running out of water.
Early this morning: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 39. Breezy, with a north northwest wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Today: A 10 percent chance of showers before 7am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 37 by 10am. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. North wind 8 to 10 mph. **FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT**
Saturday: A chance of snow before 1pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. North northeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Saturday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 4am, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 26. North wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of snow before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 35.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 39.
Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 71 The Low was 38. Rainfall in Atlantic amounted to .14″. Last year on this date (Oct. 27), the High in Atlantic was 59 and the Low was 28. The All-Time Record High was 87 in 1922. The Record Low was 9 in 1997. Sunrise is 7:46. Sunset is 6:22.
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
305 AM CDT Fri Oct 27 2023
…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CDT SATURDAY…
* WHAT…Sub-freezing temperatures from 27 to 31 degrees.
* WHERE…Much of Central and Southern Iowa.
* WHEN…From 11 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS…Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…This will likely bring an end to the growing season for the rest of central Iowa.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above- ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
The (7-2) West Bend-Mallard Wolverines face the undefeated CAM Cougars Friday night in the second round of 8 player playoffs. The road for West-Bend Mallard has seen a few stumbles losing to Bishop Garrigan 36-31 and Remsen St. Marys 34-18. Since those two losses, the Wolverines have been on a six-game winning streak. Their last content was a well-earned 64-26 victory over Riceville. One of the major keys for West Bend-Mallard’s success is the toughness instilled in all of the players from Head Coach Tony Wirtz.
Another key component which has tremendously helped the Wolverines score through their opponents is the athleticism of senior quarterback Landon Montag. Montag in the pocket plays well going for 38-75, 792 yards, 11 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. His legs on the other hand are deadly considering he’s had 163 carries, 1346 rushing yards, 8.3 yards per carry, and 26 touchdowns. Coach Wirtz takes pride in his quarterbacks’ approach to the game.
Still having such a versatile quarterback is not a big enough reason for Coach Wirtz to take this matchup lightly. CAM has continually dominated teams, only allowing one opponent to score at least 20 points all year. The Cougar defense has forced over 30 turnovers and remains quick with every snap. The pose a tough challenge to this Wolverines team and Coach Wirtz is candid about it.
Facing an undefeated opponent in their own house during the playoffs is a stout challenge to face. Yet, the Wolverines still have hope with the effort and work they’ve put in all season.
KJAN brings you the coverage starting at 6:30pm with the pregame show and kickoff starts at 7:00pm.
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