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Wind Advisory for western/sw IA today (Tuesday)

Weather

March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

COUNTY: HARRISON…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING…

COUNTIES:  SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING…

* WINDS…NORTH WINDS OF 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE
EXPECTED.

* TIMING…THE WINDS WILL INCREASE BY MID AFTERNOON…PEAKING
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON TIME FRAME…AND THEN DECREASE BY MID
EVENING.

* IMPACTS…OUTDOOR OBJECTS SHOULD BE SECURED SO THAT THEY ARE NOT
BLOWN ABOUT BY THE STRONG WINDS. DRIVING MAY BE DIFFICULT DUE TO
STRONG WINDS AND SUDDEN GUSTS…ESPECIALLY ON WEST TO EAST
ORIENTED ROADS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR
HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Posted in Weather |

(Podcast) 7:06-a.m. News/Funeral announcements, 3/11/2014

News, Podcasts

March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.9MB)

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Posted in News, Podcasts |

Atlantic Fire Dept. called to a brush fire

News

March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Fire Department  was called to the scene of a reported large brush fire near the Schildberg Quarry Recreation Area this (Tuesday), morning. Atlantic Police Lt. Dave Erickson was first on the scene at around 7-a.m.  He told KJAN News the blaze, which was in a muddy area off of north Chestnut Street, on the northeast side of the quarry, was likely accidental. Erickson said a fisherman probably started the fire and smoldering embers caught the nearby brush on fire. Erickson and the firefighters weren’t able to directly access the fire due to the extremely muddy conditions.  The flames were put out and fire personnel were back at the station within about 45-minutes.

Posted in News |

Atlantic School Board approves early retirement incentive

News

March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic School Board, Monday night approved an early retirement incentive for teachers, that could reportedly save the district about $1.8-million over the next five years. District Business Manager and Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast told KJAN News the offer is being made available to those teachers who are age 55 or older, and have served the district full-time, for at least 10-years. Fast said the district will provide $25,000 for each eligible employee, over a 3-year period. The money will be paid to a third-party administrator, to cover eligible medical expenses.

That includes medical premiums, out-of-pocket co-pays, prescriptions, Medicare supplement premiums, which in-theory, could last much longer than 3-years, depending on how fast the money was used-up. The funds she says are not taxable to either the employee or the district. The first payment would be made on behalf of the teachers, on July 1, 2014. Interested teachers have until March 31st to submit their application for the Early Retirement plan.

According to Fast, the district has never offered anything like this before. In the past, they’ve usually just offered cash, which is taxable. The current incentive offers retirees the opportunity to remain on the district’s medical insurance plan or they can find their own. The incentive addresses concerns people may have, with regard to health care reform

Fast says there are, at present, 14 teachers who have expressed an interest in applying for the incentive. A meeting will be held this Friday afternoon beginning at 3:45 in the High School Media Center for all interested persons, where additional information will be presented on the offer.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the termination of Head Tennis Coach Shawn Petersen, and the 2014-2015 School Calendar, which will be based on 1,080 hours of instruction instead of 180-days. They also approved May 22nd, 23rd and 27th as make-up days for snow-day class cancellations this year.

Posted in News |

Iowa’s Roy Devyn Marble Named First Team All-Big Ten

Sports

March 11th, 2014 by Jim Field

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten men’s basketball All-Conference teams and individual award winners were announced on Monday, with Michigan’s Nik Stauskas earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors from the conference’s coaches and a media panel. Michigan head coach John Beilein claimed Coach of the Year laurels from the media while Nebraska head coach Tim Miles was named Coach of the Year by his peers. Indiana’s Noah Vonleh picked up Freshman of the Year accolades from the coaches and media. Ohio State’s Aaron Craft was named the Defensive Player of the Year while Wisconsin’s Nigel Hayes was voted the Sixth Man of the Year by the coaches.

Stauskas takes home the Big Ten Player of the Year award after leading the conference with 13 games of 20 or more points. A four-time Big Ten Player of the Week this season, Stauskas ranked among the top five with 17.0 points per game and a .447 shooting percentage from three-point range in Big Ten contests only. The sophomore earns the fifth Player of the Year award in program history and the second in as many years for Michigan, following 2013 recipient Trey Burke.

Beilein led the Wolverines to their first outright Big Ten Championship since 1986. Michigan boasts a 23-7 overall record and a 15-3 mark in Big Ten play this season, marking the fourth consecutive year that Beilein has guided the Wolverines to a top-four finish in the conference standings. He is just four wins shy of his 700th career victory and five wins away from his 150th victory at Michigan. He collects his first Big Ten Coach of the Year award and the first for a Michigan coach since 1985.

Under the guidance of Miles, Nebraska posted a record of 11-7 in conference play, giving the Cornhuskers the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament. With an overall record of 19-11, Nebraska is one victory shy of its first 20-win season since 2008. Miles claims his first Big Ten Coach of the Year award.

Vonleh is Indiana’s 10th Big Ten Freshman of the Year selection after becoming the first freshman to lead the conference in rebounding since Ohio State’s Greg Oden in 2006-07. Vonleh is the second Hoosier in the last three seasons to be named Freshman of the Year along with Cody Zeller in 2012. Vonleh averaged 11.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in Big Ten contests.

Craft collects Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year laurels after setting the conference record with 328 career steals. The 2012 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Craft becomes the sixth conference player to win the award twice and gives the Buckeyes their fifth individual defensive honor. Craft led the conference with 2.7 steals and 4.6 assists per game this season in Big Ten play.

Hayes is averaging 8.0 points per game off the bench for Wisconsin and shooting 53 percent in all contests. He becomes Wisconsin’s second Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and first since Jason Bohannon in 2008.

Stauskas was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and the media. He was joined on the first team for both the coaches and media by Iowa’s Roy Devyn Marble, Michigan State’s Gary Harris, Nebraska’s Terran Petteway and Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky.

Joining Vonleh and Hayes on the coaches’ All-Freshman Team were Illinois’ Kendrick Nunn, Michigan’s Derrick Walton Jr., and Purdue’s Kendall Stephens. Craft was joined on the All-Defensive Team by his teammate Shannon Scott, Harris, Purdue’s A.J. Hammons and Wisconsin’s Josh Gasser.

The Big Ten also announced 12 Sportsmanship Award Honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. This season’s honorees are Illinois’ Joseph Bertrand, Indiana’s Will Sheehey, Iowa’s Mike Gesell, Michigan’s Jon Horford, Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine, Minnesota’s Austin Hollins, Nebraska’s Shavon Shields, Northwestern’s Drew Crawford, Ohio State’s Lenzelle Smith Jr., Penn State’s Tim Frazier, Purdue’s Travis Carroll and Wisconsin’s Ben Brust.

(Courtesy:  bigten.org)

Posted in Sports |

Tuesday Boys State Basketball Schedule

Sports

March 11th, 2014 by Jim Field

Class 2-A Quarterfinals:

  • 10:30 am – West Fork (23-1) vs. West Marshall (20-4)
  • 12:15 pm – Treynor (23-1) vs. North Cedar (21-3)

Class 3-A Quarterfinals:

  • 2:00 pm – Chariton (21-3) vs. Wahlert (20-4)
  • 3:45 pm – Harlan (22-2) vs. Humboldt (16-7)
  • 6:35 pm – Central Clinton (21-3) vs. MOC-Floyd Valley (19-5)
  • 8:15 pm – Waverly-Shell Rock (21-3) vs. Grinnell (17-7)

Posted in Sports |

SW IA man dies in WI snowmobiling accident

News

March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A Taylor County man died over the weekend during a snowmobiling accident in northern Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says 51-year old Mike Garner, of Lenox, was killed when the snowmobile he was operating on a trail in Namakagen, WI., went out of control prior to entering a curve, and hit a tree. The crash occurred at around 5:10-p.m., Sunday. Garner died at the scene.

Posted in News |

4 people from NE arrested on drug-related charges Tues. morning in Villisca

News

March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Four people were arrested early this (Tuesday) morning in Montgomery County, on drug-related charges. The Sheriff’s Dept. reports a vehicle was pulled over at around 1:30-a.m. in Villisca for a traffic violation, and following an investigation, deputies arrested 22-year old Ronald William Lessner, of Omaha, and 20-year Evan Edward Endrise, of Bellevue, NE, on charges of Possession of Marijuana, Distribution to a person under legal age, and gathering. Lessner was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both men were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond, each.

In addition, 21-year old Matthew Kanji Kelly, of Omaha, and 17-year old Christopher Orion Barbee, of LaVista, NE, were charged with Gathering where controlled substances are used. Kelly was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond. Barbee was released to the custody of a parent.

Posted in News |

Red Oak man arrested on warrant for assault

News

March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a Red Oak man was arrested Monday afternoon on a warrant for Assault/Willful Injury. Jason Ray Cornelison was taken into custody at around 1-p.m., and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $20,000 cash bond.

Posted in News |

NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area: 3/11/2014

Weather

March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today: Rain likely before 5pm, then rain and snow. Temperature rising to near 42 by 8am, then falling to around 38 during the remainder of the day. Windy, with a north northeast wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight: Rain and snow before 10pm, then a chance of snow between 10pm and 1am. Low around 24. Windy, with a north wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday: Scattered flurries before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. North northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 53.

Posted in Weather |