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New Atlantic treatment plant not ready to come on-line just yet

News

April 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic isn’t quite ready to make the switch from the old wastewater treatment plant to its new, $14-million dollar facility, as it was announced two weeks ago. On April 4th, City Administrator Doug Harris told the City Council the new facility would come on-line for testing last Sunday (April 15th), and a switchover to the new plant would be made soon thereafter, once any problems were worked out.  Harris said Mother nature played a role in delaying Sunday’s expected testing process, but a couple of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant employees were up to the task of making sure additional problems weren’t created.

He says the employees worked diligently when lightening strikes took out some of the controls, on top of having heavy rain which produced a storm surge in the system. In the past, such as surge would have resulted in the facility bypassing the runoff into the East Nishnabotna River, without having been treated first. The employees prevented that from occurring.

Harris said there are some issues with the planned switchover to the new plant, but that “They’re all being handled expeditiously and professionally.” He says the start-up is not expected to occur next Tuesday, April 24th. After it that, it will take at least 10-days altogether before a complete switchover from the old-to-the-new plant is made on May 7th or 8th.

Plans to replace the old wastewater treatment plant began in 2006, after it was determined the current, nearly 70-year old facility could not handle a significant storm water run-off, and, because the D-N-R had required the city to build a million-gallon retention basin, or lagoon. The City opted instead, to build a new, more modern plant.

Iowa Football’s Practice Bubble to be Deflated

Sports

April 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa football team’s indoor-practice facility will be deflated before it is demolished. The 27-year-old practice facility known as “the Bubble” for its inflatable white cover that whips in the wind will be deflated Friday morning. The university is building a new indoor practice venue for the team nearby, and demolishing the old one to make way for a new children’s hospital, a new transportation center and employee parking. “The Bubble” has been a campus landmark because of its noteworthy appearance and a practice home for a generation of Hawkeyes. But university officials say its high energy usage, safety concerns and the need to modernize football facilities meant its time was up.

Nat’l. Weather Svc. Forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA

Weather

April 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

355 AM CDT THU APR 19 2012

TODAY…PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. COOLER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. TEMPERATURE STEADY OR SLOWLY FALLING IN THE AFTERNOON. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 80 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY…COLDER. LOW AROUND 40. NORTH WIND 10 TO 20 MPH.

FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTH WIND NEAR 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

SATURDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 40S.

SUNDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 60S.

Drake Assistant Gibson Leaves Program

Sports

April 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Drake assistant coach Mike Gibson has resigned to pursue opportunities outside of basketball. The 29-year-old Gibson has been an assistant with the Bulldogs for four seasons. But Gibson says his priorities have shifted and he’s decided to pursue a job in the business world. Gibson worked with current Drake head coach Mark Phelps at Arizona State from 2006 to 2008 after a one-year stint on coach Tom Izzo’s staff at Michigan State. Drake also says Jamelle McMillan, the director of basketball operations, is leaving the program after one season.

Iowa early News Headlines, Thu., April 19th 2012

News

April 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a measure calling for new restrictions on the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. The House backed the measure last night on a 57-37 vote. It would ban public funding of abortions except in cases where the procedure is needed to save the life of the mother.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $2 million contract for levee repair work along the Missouri River in southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri. The project includes placing large boulders, known as rip rap, on the river side of new setback levees built near Hamburg, Iowa, and Watson, Missouri following last summer’s historic flooding.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County judge has delayed the trial of a Bettendorf accountant charged in Iowa’s film tax credit case after prosecutors disclosed possible new evidence. Opening statements were expected yesterday in the trial of Chad Witter. He’s charged with fraud, theft and ongoing criminal conduct in an alleged scheme to misuse tax credits aimed in building Iowa’s film industry. The film program was shut down in 2009.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Drake assistant coach Mike Gibson has resigned to pursue opportunities outside of basketball. The 29-year-old Gibson has been an assistant with the Bulldogs for four seasons. But Gibson says his priorities have shifted and he’s decided to pursue a job in the business world.

Garcia and Beltran Team Up, Cardinals Beat Reds

Sports

April 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jaime Garcia pitched seven effective innings and hit a two-run triple, Carlos Beltran homered again and the St. Louis Cardinals extended their winning streak to a season-high four games Wednesday night with an 11-1 rout of the slumping Cincinnati Reds. Garcia (2-0) allowed one run on seven hits and three walks. He was aided by four double plays and helped his cause with a triple off the wall in center field in the sixth that made it 7-1 and chased Mat Latos (0-2). The Reds have dropped five of the first six games on their 10-game road trip and are already five games in back of the Cardinals in the NL Central. The pre-game show for today’s Cards-vs-Reds game gets underway later this morning, on KJAN. The first pitch is slated for 12:45-p.m.

Iowa House approves bill restricting abortions

News

April 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a measure calling for new restrictions on the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. The House backed the measure Wednesday night on a 57-37 vote. It would ban public funding of abortions except in cases where the procedure is needed to save the life of the mother. Current law allows taxpayer-funded abortions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. The vote came as the House debated a larger measure paying for human services programs. Critics say the measure is unfair to low-income women but supporters say public money shouldn’t pay for a procedure that many people oppose. The spending measure will go to the Senate, where opposition to the abortion change is expected.

Iowa Lottery numbers drawn Wed., April 18th 2012

News

April 19th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

100K Cash: 01-04-08-21-23

Hot Lotto: 06-19-22-33-38, Hot Ball: 5 (Estimated jackpot: $1 million)

Powerball: 20-22-39-46-49, Powerball: 29 (Estimated jackpot: $131 million)

Mega Millions – Estimated jackpot: $65 million

Pick Three-Evening: 0-3-8

Pick Three-Midday: 3-5-1

Pick Four-Evening: 6-8-5-2

Pick Four-Midday: 6-7-2-8

TERRANCE HOWARD ALLEN, 74, of Avoca (Mem. Visitation 4-20-12)

Obituaries

April 18th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

TERRANCE HOWARD ALLEN, 74, of Avoca, died Wed., April 18th, at Avoca Nursing and Rehab. A Memorial visitation for TERRANCE ALLEN will be held from 5-7pm Friday, April 20th,  at the Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland

A prayer service will be held at 6:45 PM Friday, also at the funeral home.

A Memorial fund has been established.

TERRANCE ALLEN is survived by:

He is survived by his children Carla Smith and husband Albert of Oakland,  and Terry Allen and wife Michelle of Willows, CA

And eight grandchildren.

Iowa evening News Headlines, April 18th 2012

News

April 18th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has unanimously approved a measure prohibiting judges from sending sexually violent predators to nursing homes. The Senate approved the measure today and returned it to the House, which has approved a different version. The Senate version prohibits judges from transferring inmates to nursing homes.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The city council in Iowa City has decided against a resolution related to Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager who was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida. Councilman Jim Throgmorton asked the council to weigh in this week on the teenager’s death. But at a work session yesterday, the majority of the council said it felt its focus should be on local issues.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a measure creating a state agency that would enforce open records and meetings laws and mediate disputes. The House approved the measure yesterday on a 92 to 7 vote and the proposal now goes to the Senate.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University says the finalists for its Number Two job include one of its own deans and academic administrators from Nebraska and Ohio. The school announced today that finalists for its senior vice president and provost position are College of Engineering Dean Jonathan Wickert; University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Manderscheid; and University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science Dean Carlo Montemagno. Each will visit campus later this month.