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Iowa home prices, sales rise in April

News

May 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Home sales and prices rose in Iowa last month. Don Marple is president of the Iowa Association of Realtors, which tracks the numbers. “We’ve seen a 6.1 percent increase in sales from April of last year to this April and we’ve seen about a 3 percent increase in the pricing of homes,” Marple says.

A total of 2,851 homes were sold in Iowa last month. That’s up from 2,688 home sales in April 2012. The median sale price across Iowa rose from $124,000 to $128,000. Marple says home prices in Iowa have been steadily rising, but it’s still a good time for first-time home buyers to enter the market. “We’re always concerned, but the value and the amount of buyers out there are helping with the increase in the values of properties. But, interest rates have been a big help, staying around 3 to 4 percent,” Marple says. “It just makes it very affordable for anyone to be buying now instead of renting,” Marple says.

The number of homes on the market has been declining, which has contributed to the price increases. But, Marple expects more Iowans will be looking to sell their homes in the coming months. “Our inventory is down. Our supply of inventory is down to about 6 months, which is about a 20 percent drop from last year at this time,” Marple says. “But, we did have about 300 more homes on the market (in April) than last year at this time. Spring is getting here, summer’s coming up, people are getting ready to out of school – so, they’ve got their homes ready to put on the market and they want to join in on the action and make a move.”

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Shelby County Fire Danger Index: “High”

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

May 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says due to forecast low relative humidity and high wind conditions, along with the presence of dry fine fuels, the fire danger rating in the County is being upgraded to HIGH. Controlled burns should be avoided for the next couple of days. Notify your local fire chief if outdoor burning is planned.

Officials are asking participating agencies to place their “Fire Danger” signs in the High category. The rating will be re-evaluated on Thursday, May 16th, or before as conditions dictate.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather |

OWI arrest in Adams County

News

May 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop early Sunday morning in Adams County, resulted in an arrest. The Adams County Sheriff’s Department says a Ford truck driven by 50-year old Jackie Trichell, of Corning, was pulled over at around 1-a.m Sunday. Upon further investigation, it was determined Trichell was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. He was being held in the Adams County Jail on a charge of OWI/1st offense, pending an initial court appearance.

Posted in News |

Sioux City officer returns to where he was shot

News

May 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City police officer Kevin McCormick is back on duty and has already visited the spot where he was wounded during a traffic stop.  Sioux City station KTIV says McCormick retraced his route on the west side of the city on Sunday, remembering the garbage cans and chain-link fence and the van he saw on April 29. McCormick says he’s been replaying the incident in his mind.

He’d pulled over a car for a seat belt violation. As he was preparing to leave his cruiser, a man got out of the car and fired eight rifle shots at the cruiser. A bullet that penetrated the cruiser’s windshield struck McCormick above an eye.  Twenty-one-year-old Jamal Dean has been arrested and is being held on a charge of attempted murder.

Posted in News |

8AM Sportscast 05-13-2013

Podcasts, Sports

May 13th, 2013 by admin

w/ Jim Field

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Posted in Podcasts, Sports |

8AM Newscast 05-13-2013

News, Podcasts

May 13th, 2013 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

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Heartbeat Today 05-13-2013

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

May 13th, 2013 by admin

Jim Field speaks with some of the top graduating seniors for the class of 2013 at Griswold High School, Ali Young and Haley Schmitt.

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IA DOT Launches Iowa Travel Planning Websites for Byways & Bicycles

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation has announced the release of two new interactive websites for planning travel adventures on Iowa’s byways and bicycle trails.Officials say the full-feature sites are ideal for planning trips to explore Iowa’s two national scenic byways and nine state scenic and heritage byways along with Iowa’s many bicycle trails that crisscross and complement the byways. The byways website is: http://www.iowabyways.org; the bicycle website is:  http://www.iowadot.gov/interactiveiowabikemap.htm. 
Iowa byways website and tour guide
Discover your Iowa adventure at the Iowa byways interactive website. It is loaded with information about the byways, including a route description and its history, contact information, and listing of local events, attractions and travel services. The stunning photography will undoubtedly draw visitors to discover Iowa’s scenic, natural, historic and cultural resources. The website is updated regularly by local byway organizations. Come see what Iowa’s nationally recognized byways have to offer. You can plan, map and share your adventure, save notes or even send an e-postcard. 

The Iowa Byways website offers several unique features: 

  •          Customize your search: This is not your ordinary search option. Visitors can search the site by type (event, attraction or travel service); category (arts and culture, dining, events and festivals, historic sites, natural areas, recreation, and shopping); or cost. The search results can be added to the user’s trip; saved as a favorite; or shared using social media.
  •          Plan your trip details: Sign up for free and then create trips by selecting events, attractions and travel services of interest; or add something from your list of favorites. Once you’ve finished, you can print an itinerary for your trip; share your trip plans via Google Plus™, email or as a tweet; export the information; or save it for later use. 
  •          Share an e-postcard: Choose a postcard photo from one of the byway galleries. Then add a personalized message and email it to a friend or family member.  
  •          Create your favorites list and make notes: Once you’ve discovered an interesting attraction or event on the site, save it as a favorite. Then you can add it to a trip, print a list of your favorites, come back to it later or retrieve the information en route using your smartphone. 

You can also order a free copy of the Iowa Byways travel guide, or simply print a copy.  

Iowa interactive bicycle map
One of Iowa DOT’s most popular publications, the Iowa Transportation Map for Bicyclists, is now online. Explore this interactive map to plan your trip and find bicycle trail routes and amenities, right down to available rest stops and restaurants.

 
Features include trailheads, parking, rest rooms, bicycle shops and other key features.  
  •          Plan your bike trip ahead of time: Simply enter the starting address and destination address and a suggested route will be generated.
  •          Discover Iowa’s bicycle facilities: This interactive map shows bike lanes, paved trails, unpaved trails, roads with paved shoulders, sidepaths and bicycle-friendly roads.
  •          Locate bicycle amenities: Features such as trailheads, restrooms, and water fountains along trails of 5 miles or longer.
  •          Need repairs: Bicycle shops are also shown.   

You can also request a free Iowa Transportation Map for Bicyclists.

(Press Release)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

7AM Newscast 05-13-2013

News, Podcasts

May 13th, 2013 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

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Local State Track & Field Qualifiers

Sports

May 13th, 2013 by Jim Field

Click on the class listing to see the complete list.  CLICK HERE to see the state meet schedule.

GIRLS
Class 1-A
Adair-Casey (2)
Katie Clarke, 400
4×800 meter relay

A-H-S-T (2)
Shaila Bird, 400
800 sprint medley

Audubon (6)
Emma Konkler, 100, 200
Emily Nelson, 100
4×100 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
shuttle hurdle relay

Corning (6)
Tiffany Shepherd, 3000, 1500, 800
Andrea Boswell, high jump
Carly Pappas, discus
distance medley

Exira/EHK (2)
Jennifer Neville, 400
4×800 meter relay

Griswold (14)
Rebekah Topham, 3000, 1500, 800, 400 hurdles
Jordyn Sindt, 3000, 1500, 800, 400 hurdles
Larissa Backhaus, 200
4×200 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
shuttle hurdle relay
distance medley
800 sprint medley

Riverside (2)
4×100 meter relay
4×200 meter relay

Villisca (2)
Morganne Haer, 800, long jump

Class 2-A
IKM-Manning (5)
Sarah Schlichte, 400
Kaylee Blake, discus, shot put
Caitlyn Eischeid, shot put
shuttle hurdle relay

Missouri Valley (2)
Hailey Hellstrom, 100 hurdles
shuttle hurdle relay

Nodaway Valley (3)
Destiny Scar, 3000
Josie Carter, long jump
shuttle hurdle relay

Treynor (12)
Kaitlin Killinger, 3000
Chaley Rath, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, high jump
Callie Calfee, long jump
Paige Volkens, discus
shuttle hurdle relay
4×100 meter relay
4×200 meter relay
4×400 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
distance medley

Tri-Center (8)
Kari Witt, 200, 400
Michelle Mumm, 800
Alex Larsen, 1500
4×400 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
800 sprint medley
distance medley

Class 3-A
Atlantic (1)
Tiffany Williams, 3000

Creston (4)
4×800 meter relay
distance medley relay
Maria Mostek, 1500
Brianna Maitlen, long jump

Denison (5)
4×100 meter relay
4×200 meter relay
Megan Ellerbeck, 100
Alyssa Rihner, 400
Valerie Johnson, discus

Glenwood (13)
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
4×100 meter relay
4×200 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
800 meter medley relay
Kecia Caudill, 100
Courtney Magnussen, 100
Miranda Ruth, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles
Molly Dean, 400 hurdles
Sarah Salerno, long jump
Bailey Starner, discus
Jacy Embray, shot put
Harlan (13)
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
4×200 meter relay
4×400 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
800 meter medley relay
distance medley relay
Mikayla Evers, 400
Jessica Feldman, 800
Bailey Kuhl, 800
Dena Baughman, 100 hurdles, high jump
Liz Riessen, high jump
Ashton Weyer, discus

BOYS
Class 1-A
A-H-S-T (2)
Tyler Robinson, 100, 200

Adair-Casey (3)
4×100 relay
Clayton Plowman, 100
Emmitt Wheatley, 200

Audubon (3)
4×200 relay
shuttle hurdle
Trevor Smith, 800

CAM (2)
4×400 relay
Trevor McKee, 400 hurdles

Corning (1)
Keegan Longabaugh, discus

Exira/EHK (1)
Cole Anderson, 400 hurdles

Griswold (6)
4×100 relay
4×200 relay
4×800 relay
distance medley
shuttle hurdle
Collin Fast, shot put

Riverside (4)
distance medley
Zach Morris, 400
Rick Williams, discus, shot put

Villisca (2)
Travis Herzberg, 400, 800

Class 2-A
Clarinda (4)
Justin Cabeen, 800 meter run
Noah Bix, high jump
Trent Aldrich, discus throw
Jared DeVoe, shot put

IKM-Manning (4)
Dillon Muhlbauer, 110 hurdles
Sam Wegner, high jump
Casey Berg, long jump
distance medley

Kuemper Catholic (4)
Dustin Werner, 1600
Chase Rupiper, high jump, long jump
Riley Bach, shot put

Missouri Valley (4)
Barron Norman, 100, 200
Michael West, 110 hurdles
distance medley

Nodaway Valley (4)
Colton Graham, 3200
Alex Welsch, 110 hurdles, high jump
Tim Hansen, discus

Red Oak (1)
Casey Dykes, 400

Shenandoah (4)
Joe Racine, 100
Sean Skillern, 1600
Kyle Hiser, 400 hurdles
4×200 meter relay

St. Albert (10)
Eric Johnson, 100
Ryan Wettengel, 200
Tucker Culjat, 400, 400 hurdles
Evan Siegrist, 3200
4×100 meter relay
4×200 meter relay
4×400 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
distance medley

Treynor (3)
Dane Livengood, 100, long jump
4×800 meter relay

Tri-Center (2)
Dog Hoke, 400
4×100 meter relay

Class 3-A
Atlantic (1)
Jake Auerbach, 400 hurdles

Creston (7)
4×400 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
Jay Wolfe, 400, 800
Brandon Phipps, 3200
Briar Evans, 400 hurdles
Luke Neitzel, long jump

Denison (2)
Andrew Overton, discus, shot put

Glenwood (19)
4×100 meter relay
4×200 meter relay
4×400 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
1600 meter medley relay
shuttle hurdle relay
Grant May, 200, long jump
Derek Jones, 400, 400 hurdles
Brogan Weddum, 400
Jared Cook, 800
Dane Kruse, 110 hurdles
Mitch Bowden, 110 hurdles, high jump
Brady Douma, long jump
Cameron Joy, discus
Connor Fikes, discus
JJ Hahn, shot put

Harlan (15)
4×100 meter relay
4×200 meter relay
4×400 meter relay
4×800 meter relay
shuttle hurdle relay
Joey Foss, 100, 200
Matt Evers, 200
Philip Sciranko, 1600, 3200
Austin Hess, 110 hurdles
Conner Clayton, 400 hurdles
Tony Dawson, high jump
Cale Stork, discus
Nic Kornischuk, shot put

 

Posted in Sports |