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WIC shifting to electronic program for benefits

News

November 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health is using a five-point-three-million dollar grant from the U-S-D-A to upgrade the system that provides benefits for the Women, Infants and Children or WIC food and nutrition program. Program manager, Brandy Benedict, says they will move away from sending out paper checks to giving participants plastic cards. She says the participants will then use those cards at the grocery store to purchase their benefits.

The transition is similar to the changeover in the Food Stamp Program, which went from the paper food stamps to electronic benefit cards. Benedict says the federal grant will be used to hire a company to develop the electronic system. “We’ve partnered with Colorado WIC so the R-F-P (request for proposals) is actually posted on the Colorado bid system and the Iowa bid system,” Benedict says. She says they will begin evaluating the bids around January.

While the changeover is similar to what the food stamp program went through, Benedict says there are enough differences that they can’t share the same electronic system. “Their cards actually are very similar to a prepaid credit type card or debit card type card that you can purchase as a gift card. WIC is based on specific products,” Benedict explains.

The WIC system will be designed specifically them. Benedict says, “Our cards have to be set up to house products and U-P-C’s rather than dollars.” So for example, the WIC cards could be loaded to allow the recipient to receive five gallons of milk, and after they purchased one gallon, the card balance would drop to four gallons. Retailers are then reimbursed for the cost of the milk. Benedict says the program operates very efficiently right now and they don’t expect to see much in savings from switching to an electronic system versus paper.

“The benefits that we’ll see are related to better prevention of fraud since there will be different types of authentication on the cards — which we can’t protect the paper checks in the same way,” Benedict says. The Iowa WIC Program served approximately 69-thousand-159 participants each month last year. The federal government has required all states to shift to the electronic system for WIC by 2020.

(Radio Iowa)

Heartbeat Today 11-12-2013

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

November 12th, 2013 by admin

Jim Field speaks with Michelle Behrends and Stacey Pellett about Operation Christmas Child.

Play

7AM Newscast 11-12-2013

News, Podcasts

November 12th, 2013 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

Play

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Tue., Nov. 12th 2013

Podcasts, Weather

November 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Freese-Notis (podcast) weather forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather information for Atlantic, from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Concepts for improving Atlantic School District facilities could cost upwards of $20.1-million

News

November 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The public and patrons of the Atlantic Community School District will get a close-up look this Thursday night at five concepts the District is considering, to address its need for more instructional space. During Thursday night’s meeting, Jerry Purdy with the Design Alliance architectural firm and a facilitator will spend time going over the five concepts, which range in price from $8.7- to nearly $20.1-million. The District has been exploring the possibility of expanding its facilities for some time, to handle increased in enrollment in the lower grades and as those students move through the ranks in the District.

Concept 1

Concept 1

Superintendent Mike Amstein said among the factors the Board must consider when it comes to approving one of the five concepts, is the number of current classes that are not being held in one of the District’s four buildings. There are currently two preschool classrooms at the old Lincoln Building, five Washington classes being held in two mobile classrooms (or trailers), and three classrooms currently at the Clarinda Building, which the District is leasing. According to Amstein, next year, the school district will need to add an additional 4th grade teacher at Schuler when the six sections of Third Grade moves into the Schuler Building.

There will be three sets of drawings showing the five concepts to made available to the public during Thursday night’s meeting.

Concept 2

Concept 2

The options were put together following a number of focus groups meetings that included staff, faculty, members of the community and others, a fact Board member Rod Hartwig pointed out during Monday night’s meeting. Hartwig said it was not the Board that came up with the options being considered, as some in the public seem to think.

The least expensive Concept (Concept 1) would have Pre-K through 2nd grade students at Washington Elementary, third through 5th grade students at Schuler Elementary, sixth through eighth grade at the Middle School, and the ninth through 12th grades at the high school. Among the other changes, would be the addition of classrooms at Washington, Schuler Elementary and at the High School, along with a new media center at Schuler, and new dining facilities at both Washington and Schuler. The cost is about $8.71-million.

Concept 2, which the first choice among faculty and staff, is also the most expensive, at $20.08-million. Among the differences from Concept 1, is that Schuler Elementary would house the 3rd & 4th grade students only, while the current Middle School would handle 5th & 6th grades. A NEW, 80-thousand square foot middle school would house the 7th and 8th grades and would be attached to the High School. It would also feature a competition gymnasium, but no auditorium. The high school would house 9th through 12th grade students, see additional classrooms constructed and an expansion of the Art room.

Concept 3

Concept 3

Concept 4

Concept 4

Concept 5

Concept 5

Possible site plan for the area south of the Washington School & new facilities.

Possible site plan for the area south of the Washington School & new facilities.

The community meeting will begin at 7-p.m. Thursday, in the Commons Area at the Atlantic High School. Participants will be encouraged to provide feedback and input to the School Board during and after the session, with regard to the concepts to be presented.

ISU research tracks economic impact of local food sales

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Sales of locally-grown food accounted for at least nine-million dollars in economic activity in Iowa last year according to a new report. Researchers at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University tracked “institutional purchases” of locally-grown food by grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and schools. The researchers say this is the first attempt to try to measure the economic impact of regional food systems in Iowa.

Their work went beyond the traditional concept of a grower selling to a consumer at a farmers’ market to track sales between growers and businesses. Restaurants, grocery stores and other bulk purchasers reported buying nearly nine million dollars worth of locally-raised food products. On average, local food purchases accounted for a little less than nine percent of an institution’s overall food budget.

(Radio Iowa)

EVA ACCOLA, 86, of Coon Rapids (Svcs. 11/16/13)

Obituaries

November 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

EVA ACCOLA, 86, of Coon Rapids, died Mon., Nov. 11th, at her home. Funeral services for EVA ACCOLA will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., Nov. 16th, at the United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids.  Ohde Funeral Home in Coon Rapids has the arrangements.

Friends may call after 9:30-a.m. Saturday (One-hour prior to the service) at the United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids.

Burial will be in the Coon Rapids Cemetery.

EVA ACCOLA is survived by:

Her children – Clarissa Kelly, of Coon Rapids; Eric Accola, of LaCrosse, WI; Dana (Julie) Accola, of Cambridge, and Andrea (Ken) Accola-Sabin, of Swea City.

Her sisters – Jennie Whitten, of Carroll, and Dorothy Blanchard, of Coon Rapids.

3 grandchildren, her brother-in-law, other relatives & friends.

NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area: Tue., Nov. 12th 2013

Weather

November 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

344 AM CST TUE NOV 12 2013

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLEAR. MUCH COLDER. NORTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

TODAY...SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 30. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT...CLEAR. NOT AS COLD. LOW AROUND 20. SOUTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN THROUGH MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGH AROUND 50. LOW IN THE MID 30S.

Chiefs back to work as Broncos showdown awaits

Sports

November 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs got back to work Monday after their bye as they began practicing for an AFC West showdown against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. Not only did everyone practice at the Chiefs’ training facility, they also welcomed back rookie safety Sanders Commings from injured reserve. That means the 9-0 Chiefs are full strength for the first time in weeks heading into their biggest game of the season. That’s hardly the case for the 8-1 Broncos.

A person with knowledge of the results says Peyton Manning’s MRI showed aggravation of his right ankle that is not expected to keep the Broncos quarterback out of next Sunday’s game against Kansas City. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t addressed the issue. Interim coach Jack Del Rio meets with the media Monday afternoon. While Manning was throwing the final pass in a 28-20 win over the Chargers, San Diego lineman Corey Liuget hit the quarterback around the ankles. Manning was noticeably limping as he finished the game.

He had an MRI on Monday morning. Manning originally hurt both ankles last month. The Denver Post had first reported the results of the MRI.

Farm Bureau offers farm lesson grants to teachers

Ag/Outdoor

November 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Farm Bureau program designed to teach children about agriculture is opening the process for teachers to apply for grant money. The Teacher Supplement Grant program was established in 2003 and this year will award $200 to teachers in language arts and science who develop classroom programs that help students learn about agriculture. Farm Bureau has awarded nearly $100,000 to teachers in the last three years of the grant program.

The organization says with one of six Iowa jobs related, indirectly or directly, to agriculture, there’s a great need to bring creative agriculture education to Iowa’s elementary students to help them understand how farming is part of their everyday lives.

Teachers are encouraged to incorporate lessons of food safety, seed genetics, and environmental practices in their current curriculum.