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Public hearing in Pott. County March 9th over 23-cent reduction in levy

News

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors has proposed a fiscal year 2016 county operating budget that calls for a 23-cent reduction in the levy. According to The Daily NonPareil, the board on Tuesday set an evening public hearing on the budget for 6:30-p.m. Monday, March 9th, in the Supervisors room on the second floor in the county courthouse.

While budget specifics – including total revenues and expenditures – are still being put together, it appears the proposed countywide levy for the next fiscal year beginning July 1 is $8.69 per $1,000 taxable valuation, down from this year’s figure of $8.92 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. Those who live in rural areas who pay both the countywide and rural taxes will see their rate decrease to $12.02 per $1,000 in taxable valuation, down from this year’s amount of $12.25.

Board Chairman Scott Belt said much of the decrease can be attributed to the county’s mental health and disability services going to a regional setup. In other business, the board approved rehab work on a county road that goes west out of Oakland. The work would involve resurfacing county roads G42 to M16 and M16 north to G30, a stretch of 8.5 miles, according to County Engineer John Rasmussen.

The plan is to resurface the current asphalt overlay on concrete with new asphalt. Rasmussen said the current concrete will stay. The work will include the shoulders of the road, he said. Estimated cost is $6.7 million, with $4 million coming out of his budget and the rest from the state. It’s hoped this project can start this year.

Tree grants for SW IA cities

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Several southwest Iowa communities have received grants totaling $203,000, through MidAmerican Energy’s Trees Please! program. The Daily NonPareil reports the cities include Council Bluffs, Farragut, Macedonia, Marne, Modale, Randolph, Red Oak, Shelby and the Glenwood Tree Board. Each of those entities received funds to promote energy efficiency and environmental beautification through the planting of trees. Council Bluffs received $20,000. The other cities received $1,000 each.

Council Bluffs Parks and Recreation Assistant Director John Batt said the grant will go towards planting a variety of trees around town, primarily on public property, parks and trails wherever possible. Communities and organizations submitted applications to MidAmerican and were selected based on their individual merits and benefits to the community while also being able to obtain matching funds.

Tina Yoder, energy efficiency manager for MidAmerican Energy said trees serve as a natural wind break while providing shade to homes and businesses.

2 arrests in Red Oak Tue. night

News

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police say two people were arrested Tuesday. Officials say at around 10-p.m., 16-year old Christopher Michael Ceder, of Red Oak, was arrested following a traffic stop in the 900 block of Riverview Drive. Ceder faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also cited for being a Minor in Possession of Tobacco. Ceder was cited into juvenile court and later released to his custodian.

And, at around 6-p.m. Tuesday, 23-year old Aaron Gar Nelson, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 1500 block of north Broadway, on an active warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. Nelson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Cyclone women get much needed win

Sports

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State women outscored Oklahoma 14-6 in overtime, Tuesday, to post an 84-70 win in Ames as the Cyclones square their Big 12 record at 7-7. Brynn Williamson led the Cyclones with 24 points and Nikki Moody added 22. The Cyclones led by 15 in the second half before the Sooners roared back.

(Radio Iowa)

Workshops for current and wanna-be cattle producers to be offered across western Iowa in March

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A series of workshops targeting Iowa beef producers will be held across western Iowa next month which will compare various types of cattle operations. Beth Doran is a beef program specialist at the Iowa State University Extension, based in Orange City. She says the workshops are targeted towards potential and current producers. “We’re going to try to give an overview of facility types,” Doran says. “We’ll be talking about different kinds of facilities, hoop barns, monoslope barns, open lots, deep-pitted slotted-floor barns. We’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of them and review some of the research on those types.”

Doran says producers will receive several production resources and tools as well as an updated manual on feedlot systems. “We’re also going to give the workshop participants several scenarios and they’ll have to work through making appropriate choices for an operation,” Doran says. “That might involve their financing decisions, cost-benefit measurements and taking a look at that production environmental risk that’s going on with that.” Doran says northwest Iowa contains a lot of the different operations that will be discussed in the workshops.

Producers interested in attending should call their local extension office to pre-register. The workshops will be held (locally) March 18th in Lewis, and on March 25th in Carroll.

(Radio Iowa)

Area high school basketball scores from Tue., 2/17/15

Sports

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
Bishop Heelan Catholic 73, CB Thomas Jefferson 40
Harlan 52, Creston 50
Lewis Central 61, Glenwood 51

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class 1-A Regional Quarterfinals
Kingsley-Pierson 61, Charter Oak-Ute 32
Westwood 69, Woodbine 29
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 66, Coon Rapids-Bayard 37
Glidden-Ralston 54, CAM 35
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn 65, Ar-We-Va 58
Bedford 59, Lamoni 31
Mount Ayr 49, Murray 40
Adair-Casey 63, Stanton 28
Ankeny Christian Academy 53, Orient-Macksburg 48
Essex 49, Nishnabotna 30
Fremont Mills 61, Sidney 23

Class 2-A Regional Quarterfinals
Logan-Magnolia 66, Hinton 64
St. Albert 42, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 23
Panorama 74, Madrid 25
IKM-Manning 74, Underwood 43
Interstate 35 39, Nodaway Valley 34
Treynor 48, Tri-Center 37

Zahui B. record night as Minnesota upends No. 13 Iowa 93-80

Sports

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Amanda Zahui B. scored a career-high 39 points and grabbed a conference-record 29 rebounds as Minnesota upset No. 13 Iowa 93-80 on Tuesday night. Zahui B.’s rebounding record eclipsed the former Big Ten single-game mark of 26 set by Jerica Watson of Iowa in 2001.

Minnesota (21-6, 10-5 Big Ten) led 48-42 at halftime. Melissa Dixon opened the second half with three 3-pointers as the Hawkeyes (21-5, 12-3) battled to stay close, pulling to 57-54 with about four minutes gone.

Zahui B. added a jumper and a free throw but Samantha Logic nailed a 3-pointer to close to 60-57 before Minnesota’s Carlie Wagner added a trey followed by a pair of jump shots from Zahui B. and a 67-57 lead with 11:25 to go. Wagner finished with 17 points for Minnesota. Logic led Iowa with 26 points and 13 assists for her 28th career double-double. Logic also grabbed eight rebounds.

Chiefs begin clearing space by releasing WRs Avery, Jenkins

Sports

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs released wide receivers Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins on Tuesday as they began to clear roster and salary cap space ahead of what could be a busy offseason. Kansas City is facing the loss of All-Pro linebacker Justin Houston and center Rodney Hudson in free agency. The Chiefs are expected to meet with Houston’s representatives about a long-term deal on Wednesday in Indianapolis, and the possibility remains of using the franchise tag on him.

Either way, the Chiefs could be facing some difficult financial choices if they want to keep Houston or Hudson, or both. Releasing Avery and Jenkins saved the Chiefs nearly $5 million, though it makes targeting a wide receiver in free agency or the draft a priority.

Wind Chill Advisory in effect thru late this morning (2/18) for all of Iowa

Weather

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AN ARCTIC AIR MASS AND STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL LEAD TO HARSH WIND CHILLS THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY TODAY…WITH THE COLDEST WIND CHILL VALUES DURING THE MORNING HOURS.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR CASS, ADAIR, ADAMS, AUDUBON, GUTHRIE, DALLAS, CRAWFORD, CARROLL, SAC, UNION, TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD COUNTIES. AND UNTIL 10-A.M. TODAY FOR MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT- PAGE COUNTIES.

* WINDS…NORTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH AT TIMES.

* WIND CHILL VALUES…WIND CHILL VALUES OF 20 TO 25 BELOW ZERO.

* IMPACTS…FROST BITE CAN DEVELOP WITHIN 30 MINUTES IF SKIN IS EXPOSED AND HYPOTHERMIA MAY OCCUR IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDSWILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN  FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

NWS weather forecast for Cass & area Counties, 2/18/15

Weather

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

340 AM CST WED FEB 18 2015

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY

EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY. VERY COLD. BREEZY. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

TODAY…SUNNY. VERY COLD. BREEZY. HIGH 10 TO 15. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS 15 TO 20 BELOW.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. VERY COLD. LOW ZERO TO 5 BELOW. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGH 15 TO 20. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. NOT AS COLD. LOW 10 TO 15. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. WARMER. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S.

SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S.