Lavon Eblen speaks with Judy Marnin of Anita getting to know about gypsies.
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Lavon Eblen speaks with Judy Marnin of Anita getting to know about gypsies.
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Following a coating of ice last week, a wide section of Iowa got more snow over the weekend, with southwest Iowa’s Taylor County reporting up to nine inches of snow. The storm front left behind bitter cold, with wind chills approaching 25 below zero. It also left a mess. It’s hard enough to negotiate slippery concrete but it’s even worse if you’re trying to carry a bulky package or two, according to Richard Watkins at the U-S Postal Service. “This is our big time of year, of course, and we ask our carriers to be really careful in ice and snow, not only on the roads and streets but in delivering the mail to residential houses,” Watkins says.
Iowa residents play a key role in helping letter carriers to stay safe. “We’ve asked our customers across the state to clear as much snow and ice as they safely can from around their walkways, their steps, their porches and, in particular, around their rural mailboxes,” Watkins says, “because we’re trying to get these Christmas packages to our customers in time for Christmas.”
He says the postal service is seeing a welcome boost in package volume during these final days of the year, an increase of 12-to-15-percent. “That’s certainly good news for the postal service, that we get this extra business, but this weather’s not doing anything to help us,” Watkins says. “That’s where our customers can come in and help get that mail and those packages delivered on time.”
If a snowplow has come along and piled snow along your roadside mailbox, he also asks that you clear a path so the mail truck can reach it.
(Radio Iowa)
908 AM CST MON DEC 23 2013
THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY WHICH HAD BEEN IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY FOR POTTAWATTAMIE, MILLS, MONTGOMERY, FREMONT AND PAGE COUNTIES HAS BEEN CANCELLED, BUT A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CST TUESDAY. WIND CHILL VALUES OF 20 TO 25 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TUESDAY FOR ALL OTHER COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA.
Some Iowa families followed their traditions and picked out Christmas trees this past weekend, decking them out with shiny ornaments and colorful lights. Ron Humphrey, spokesman for the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office, says it’s vital to keep the tree well hydrated. “A dry tree, a pine tree or an evergreen, have a lot of oils in them and as they dry out, they can catch fire and burn very quickly and very hot,” Humphrey says. “It’s important to keep them healthy and have plenty of water.”
The fire marshal’s website features a video that shows how quickly two separate trees can go up in flames, one that’s fresh, the other that’s dried out. While the tree may be beautiful and full of sentiment, he says it’s a wise move to plan to take it down later this week. “Once Christmas is over, the best thing is to get rid of it as soon as possible, get it out of the home,” Humphrey says. “They will only last so long, even if you do keep it watered, they’re not going to stay fresh for very long.”
A few other suggestions: when stringing lights, make sure the cords aren’t frayed, also, never use lighted candles on or near a tree. Learn more about Christmas tree safety at the National Fire Protection Association website at www.nfpa.org
(Iowa News Service)
Jim Field speaks with Beth Irlbeck, Cass County Youth Coordinator and Lora Baddgor, STEM Coordinator about new STEM events offered for youth in partnership with Cass County Extension and the Nishna Valley YMCA.
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A podcast of the latest area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson…
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The (Podcast) Freese-Notis weather forecast for the KJAN listening area and weather information for Atlantic from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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The time for gift shopping is quickly coming to an end, but parents are reminded that it still pays to be cautious when buying toys, to avoid those that are dangerous or toxic. According to Shaina Shay, spokeswoman for the Public Interest Research Group, one main concern are those toys with high levels of lead.She cited “the Marvel Superhero Squad Soft Shield that contains 2,900 parts per million of lead, which violates the standard by 29 times. Also the Ninja Turtles pencil case.”
Shay also urged parents to stay away from toys that could present a choking hazard for young children, which – if you want to check on your own – is generally any product that would fit through a toilet paper roll. Another consideration in toy buying is, how loud is it? The maximum suggested noise for toys that are held within an inch of the ear is 65 decibels, but Shay said one they found goes well beyond that. “The Leapfrog Count and Chat Smartphone, which is clearly intended to be held up to the ear, exceeds not only the 65-decibel range but prolonged periods of 90 decibels.”
You can find this year’s entire “Trouble in Toyland” report online at the USPIRG website.
(Iowa News Service)