w/ Jim Field
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.7MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Jim Field shares some tips from the IRS to get prepared for tax season and things you can still do at the end of the year to help yourself out.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.6MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources report the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been positively identified in a residential tree in the city of Creston, in Union County. It’s the fifth location where the invasive beetle has been found in Iowa. EAB kills all ash tree species and is considered to be one of the most destructive tree pests ever seen in North America.
The current EAB infestation was found as a result of an arborist contacting state officials about a suspect ash tree. Investigation by the Iowa EAB Team members revealed characteristic galleries and D-shaped exit holes in dead branches, and a partial adult beetle was positively identified by federal identifiers.
EAB infestations had previously been discovered in Allamakee County in May 2010, Des Moines County in July 2013, Jefferson County in August 2013 and Cedar County in October 2013. A quarantine covering 25 counties in Eastern Iowa was issued on Nov. 1, 2013 intended to slow the accidental movement of EAB by humans. An additional quarantine in response to this new confirmed infestation is being developed. A quarantine restricts movement of hardwood firewood, ash logs, wood chips and ash tree nursery stock out of the quarantined counties.
The Iowa EAB Team strongly cautions Iowans not to transport firewood across county or state lines, since the movement of firewood throughout Iowa or to other states poses the greatest threat to quickly spread EAB even further. Most EAB infestations in the United States have been started by people unknowingly moving infested firewood, nursery plants or sawmill logs. The adult beetle also can fly short distances, approximately 2 to 5 miles.
Ash is one of the most abundant native tree species in North America, and has been heavily planted as a landscape tree in yards and other urban areas. According to the USDA Forest Service, Iowa has an estimated 52 million rural ash trees and approximately 3.1 million more ash trees in urban areas. It is unknown how many public and residential ash trees are located in Creston.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha will again host an open house and air show this summer. The event will return July 19 and 20 after a break last summer caused by budget problems amid spending negotiations in Congress. The air show will include performances by the Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight demonstration team. It will be the team’s first visit to Offutt since 2009.
More information on the plans will be posted on a website when they’re available at www.offuttairshow.com
JERRY WOLFE, 65, of Ft. Wayne, IN, died Nov. 24th in Ft. Wayne. A Celebration of Life Memorial service for JERRY WOLFE will be held 11:30-a.m. Sat., Dec. 21st, at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.
A family visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:30-a.m. until the time of service, on Saturday.
Burial will be in the Exira Cemetery.
JERRY WOLFE is survived by:
His wife – Connie Wolfe, of Ft. Wayne.
His son – Thomas Wolfe, of Ft. Wayne.
His brothers – Jack, David, Elden, and Junior Wolfe, all of Guthrie Center, and Ed Wolfe, of Exira.
Other relatives, and friends.
The Atlantic School Board will decide during a Special meeting tonight at 8 o’clock in the High School Media Center, which of the two school expansion concepts will be voted on by School District Patrons. The board has previously discussed Concepts 1 and 2, after school administrators provided their input on how the grade levels might fall into place and where those classrooms might be within the building with each one of those concepts.
Concept 1 includes: moving the Pre-K back to Washington Elementary and adding two Pre-K classrooms, one special education classroom and a new dining facility. This option also includes a new media center at Schuler, additional toilets, and eight new classrooms. The expansion would also include a new dining facility at the Middle School and three to eight additional classrooms at the high school along with an expanded art room. The price tag on this option is around $8.7 million.
Concept 2 is a little more dramatic. It includes: two Pre-K Classrooms, one Special Education Classroom and a new dining facility at Washington. There are two options at Schuler with this plan, an additional Special Education Classroom, or an additional art room and music center or three to eight additional classrooms at the high school. This plan would also include the construction of a brand new 80,000 square foot Middle School attached to the high school and a brand new competition Gymnasium. The cost of this project would be around $20 million.
The Design Alliance Architectural firm originally drafted five concepts. Following a public meeting and discussions with the personnel and staff, they narrowed it down to the two options.
A reminder to persons interested in the Mental Health and Disability Services, that the second of three public meetings with regard to the Regionalization of those services, will be held this afternoon, in Oakland. Counties formed Regions in response to State law affecting funding for the Mental Health and Disabilities Services in Iowa.
The Southwest Region includes nine counties (Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawatttamie and Shelby). Local advisory and Community input meetings have been scheduled to take place across the Southwest Region. Cass County Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator Teresa Kanning said the next meeting will be held this afternoon, at the Oakland Community Center [614 Dr. Van Zee Road, in Oakland]).
The meeting begins at 3-pm and runs until 5-p.m. In the event of a bad weather, it will be held January 7th at the same location. The public is invited to attend the session to provide input into the current mental health service system, including what you feel works and doesn’t work. It’s also designed to: develop ideas for future service needs, including Crisis Response in rural areas; Build relationships and interest in participating in Local Advisory Councils, and to provide an overview of the developing region’s progress, administrative structure, future board and advisory structure, and current service systems.
Anyone who is a consumer of mental health services, family members of those using mental health and disability services, community mental health/developmentally disabled service providers and those interested in being a part of forming the Southwest Iowa MH/DS Region, is urged to attend. The meeting is being facilitated by Beth Morrissette, Executive Director of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network.
If you miss today’s meeting in Oakland, there will be a final session in Harrison County, January 21st, at the Dunlap City Hall.
AREA COUNTIES: GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION–TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD …FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY.
* TIMING…DRIZZLE WILL DEVELOP IN THE EVENING AND PERSIST AT INTERVALS OVERNIGHT…CONCURRENT WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING BELOW FREEZING AROUND OR AFTER SUNSET.
* STORM TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS…ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH ARE EXPECTED.
* IMPACTS...THE ICE WILL PRIMARILY POSE A HAZARD TO TRAVELERS AS ROADS…SIDEWALKS…AND OTHER SURFACES WILL BECOME SLICK. ANYONE PLANNING TO TRAVEL TONIGHT SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIONS AND MONITOR ROAD CONDITIONS CLOSELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS. SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSS