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Supply chain issues much better for this year’s holiday shopping

News

November 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Creighton University Economist Ernie Goss says stores shouldn’t have the trouble with stocking merchandise this year they’ve had with the supply chain in past years. “We’ve seen that improve significantly and inventory levels are pretty good. And that’s going to provide a lot of a lot of goods out there for individuals to purchase,” Goss says. The supply of retail employees could be a problem. “The problem is the retailers are having issues finding and hiring those qualified workers. So you may find a product that you may have to stand in line a little bit longer to check it out,” Goss says.

Goss says the global economy is slowing down with China in a recession, and that could impact some holiday buying. “And what that mean means is the U-S dollar is up significantly. And that means for the U-S consume, is that dollar is going to go a longer way in purchasing imported goods. So you’ll find more bargains, imported goods this year than you did last year,” he says. Goss says you can help your area merchants by shopping at their stores. “If your local merchant is price competitive, service competitive, it helps us all to buy locally. That has a significant impact on the local economy, whereas buying from merchants such as Amazon has a less of an impact on the local economy,” Goss says.

Goss says holiday sales are likely to be up this year — but he says most of that is in inflation — and retailers are not going to make much once inflation is taken out.

Pacific Junction Fire & Rescue personnel resign – Glenwood F.D. to assume responsibility

News

November 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Pacific Junction, Iowa) – The former Fire Chief of Pacific Junction posted on social media late Wednesday night, that as of November 8th, the men and women of Pacific Junction Fire & Rescue had tendered their resignation to the City. In the post, Steven Bogert said “Our decision to resign was encumbered with many complex issues, and we did not make this decision lightly. Ultimately, after in depth internal discussion and consultation with outside mentors, we all arrived at the decision that we no longer saw a way ahead for the Fire Department to operate safely and effectively.”
Bogert thanked the residents of Pacific Junction “As a whole….”[for fully supporting them] “Along our path of rebuilding, growing membership, and fundraising.” He said “For that we are extremely grateful. We are also grateful for the relationships we have built with, and mentorship received from all of the surrounding Chiefs and and their Departments and personnel. It is my personal opinion that Glenwood Fire Department in conjunction with other departments in the County, will be able to provide exceptional service to the City of Pacific Junction.”
Bogert went on to say “PJ First Responders Association 503(c) funds that remained, have been donated to another non profit organization per law, and bylaws, to the Mills County K-9 Unit. We truly appreciate everyone’s support especially over the last 6 months as I served as the Fire Chief.” He added, “We leave with our heads held high, and proud of the work that we were able to do. I look forward to continuing to serve our community in other ways in the future. Thank you!”

Red Oak man arrested Thanksgiving morning on an Assault charge

News

November 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak have arrested a man for Domestic Abuse Assault. 40-year-old Matthew Wayne Echternach, of Red Oak, was taken into custody in the 100 block of E. Elm Street in Red Oak, at around 1:15-a.m. today (Thursday). He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023

Weather

November 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Today (Thanksgiving Day): Mostly sunny & breezy, with a high near 40. N/NE winds 10-25 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. N/NE wind 10-20 mph.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. NE wind 10-20 mph.
Friday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 20. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. East wind @ 5mph becoming west Saturday afternoon.
Sat. Night: A 30% chance of snow, mainly before midnight. Low around 17.
Sunday: Sunny & breezy, with a high near 37.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear & blustery, with a low around 14.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 35.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 51. Our Low was 18. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 60, and the Low was 20. The Record High on Nov. 23rd in Atlantic, was 84 in 1953. The Record Low was -6 in 1898. Sunrise is at 7:18. Sunset is 4:54.

Iowa’s ag secretary part of trade mission to United Kingdom

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says there are opportunities for Iowa as the United Kingdom negotiates a free trade agreement with the United States. “Certainly that’s important in the U.K. as they are starting to forge a new trail post-BREXIT and going about creating new trade agreements with countries,” Naig says. “We already have a significant trade relationship between our two countries and it seems like it would be a great opportunity to increase that, to strengthen that.”

The United Kingdom left the European Union in early 2020, three and a half years after voters in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland narrowly approved leaving the trading block. Naig and state ag officials from five other states were in the United Kingdom last week. “I see lots of opportunities to connect further with one of our oldest and most important allies in the world,” Naig says.

The United Kingdom was the 5th largest export market for Iowa in 2019, with about 11 million in grain sales that year, along with 50 million dollars worth of Iowa-made machinery. Naig sees an opportunity to boost pork and beef exports to the U-K, as well as a focus on relationships with British tech companies.”This is not a large market, certainly not something that would overwhelm our existing trade relationships,” Naig says, “meaning there are opportunities here to send some higher value products.” And Naig suggests ag tech companies in the U-K may be an area for growth.

“You’ve some start-ups in the U.K. that have some good ideas, some interesting technology, but they do not have agriculture at the scale we do,” Naig says. Naig says that means there are partnerships or investment opportunities in Iowa. “Precision ag both in the crop standpoint, but also in the livestock side of things, seeing some interesting things happening on the biological side in terms of crop inputs,” Naig says. “If you’re a company sitting the U.K. you’ve got a start-up, you’ve got a good idea, but you don’t have access to agriculture at scale, work with us in Iowa. Get connected with Iowa State University, get connected with one of our Iowa based companies.”

The U-S is already a major ethanol supplier to the United Kingdom.  “I think there’s opportunity for that to even grow as well as they look to lower the carbon intensity of their energy sector,” Naig says. In September of 2021, E-10 became the standard blend of fuel at gas stations in Great Britain. Last month, Naig hosted Mark Spencer, the U-K’s Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries during World Food Prize events in Iowa.

“It was nice to just within a matter of a few weeks host him on farms in Iowa and then to turn around and be in his office, in parliament…talking about what are the opportunities for us to work directly with the U.K.,” Naig says, “but certainly pushing for that U.S.-U.K. free trade agreement.”

Naig was the only Midwestern official in the trade delegation. The other state ag officials were from Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Tips to determine how much screentime is too much for kids

News

November 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The parent company of Facebook and Instagram is being sued under the premise social media platforms are addictive and harmful to kids’ mental health, and a childhood family therapist at Gundersen Health System says Iowa parents should watch for warning signs. Jeff Reiland says there’s no proven link between screentime and a child’s depression and anxiety, but he sees an alarming trend with social media that’s on a par with video games.

“In the case of children and teenagers, is it getting in the way of them going to school, getting their homework done, participating in sports, doing the things at home they do as part of the family?” Reiland asks. “Are they becoming more isolated? Do they tend to obsess about the game or activity? Do they become irritated when they don’t have exposure to those things?” While addiction to social media isn’t formally recognized as a diagnosis, Reiland believes social media does have an addictive component to it and that it can be harmful.

Reiland says, “Those same things that we see in adults or teenagers who have substance problems are the same kinds of behaviors or responses we see in children and teenagers when they are more involved with social media than they should be.” If a parent suspects their child is spending an unhealthy amount of time at their screen, he suggests having a talk with them and not simply banning them from their phones, tablets and computers.

“Try to survey and find out if the teenager thinks that maybe that’s something they could work on cutting back,” Reiland says. “I think it helps for parents and teens to have a conversation about that, rather than parents just — in an authoritarian way — just going out and taking it out. Ultimately, parents have that responsibility to make those hard decisions.” Reiland recommends that parents with young children hold off on giving them access to social media until they are much older and more mature.

“One of the codes that I hear kids say is, ‘I’m bored. The only thing that’s not boring is my screen, when I’m plugged into my social media, when I’m plugged into my video gaming, I’m not bored.’ That’s a red flag,” Reiland says, “because life is way more exciting in real time than virtually. It’s just not as predictable and that’s the problem.”

The Gundersen Health System includes a hospital in West Union, and clinics in Fayette, Decorah, Waukon, Lansing, Postville and Calmar.

Sac County Sheriff’s Office asks for help in locating a missing man

News

November 23rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Sac City, Iowa) – Officials with the Sac County Sheriff’s Office (in northwest Iowa), issued a statement late Wednesday night, asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man. Authorities say that on the afternoon of Nov. 21st, the Sheriff’s Office and Lake View Police Department began an investigation into the whereabouts of 53-year-old David Schultz, from Wall Lake. A further search was conducted Nov. 22nd by several law enforcement agencies, local fire departments and volunteers.

David Schultz

David Schultz

“At this time,” officials say, they are “Asking Sac County property owners in the northeastern portion of Sac County to check their own properties and outbuildings for anything out of the ordinary. If anything out of the ordinary is observed, please do not disturb the immediate vicinity and let items remain in place before contacting the Sac County Communications Center at 712-662-7127.” They ask that those property owners search their own property, and not those of other owners.

Law Enforcement will continue to expand the search area in the days to come.

Drake prepares to visit No. 8 North Dakota State in the FCS playoffs

Sports

November 22nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Drake will be a decided underdog on Saturday when the Bulldogs visit eighth ranked North Dakota State in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs. The Bulldogs played at North Dakota State to open last season and this year played two ranked FCS foes in nonconference play.

That’s Drake coach Todd Stepsis who says to make a game of it the Bulldogs must keep the offense on the field.

The Bulldogs will try to find ways to hang in the game.

No. 1 Northwestern hosts Dordt in NAIA playoffs Saturday

Sports

November 22nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Top ranked and defending national champion Northwestern opens the NAIA playoffs at home against Dordt. Northwestern is unbeaten and has been top ranked all season.

That’s Red Raiders coach Matt McCarty. Northwestern beat Dordt during the regular season 35-14 back in October.

Dordt coach Joel Penner says they are excited about the rematch.

Penner says his team has grown up since suffering two regular season losses.

Penner says they will need to do a better job of making plays to have a chance.

Wartburg to host Whitworth of Oregon in NVAA Division III playoffs on Saturday

Sports

November 22nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Wartburg will host Whitworth University of Oregon in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday. The third ranked Knights opened with a win over Illinois College while Whitworth is 10-0 after a win over Chapman of California.

That’s Wartburg coach Chris Winter who says the Whitworth defense is strong up front.

Winter says Whitworth will provide a touch challenge.