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On-Farm Mentorship Opportunities in IA and NE for aspiring women farmers

Ag/Outdoor

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN) say applications are now being accepted for on-farm mentorship experiences for aspiring women farmers (women who want to farm but are not yet farming) in Iowa and Nebraska. Ten aspiring women farmers in Iowa and four in Nebraska will be placed on the mentors’ farms for a minimum of 8 weeks’ work experience during the growing season.

A small stipend is provided to mentees to help offset travel costs, and an effort will be made to match you with a farmer in your geographic area, but a mentee should be prepared to live on or near the host farm for the duration of her mentorship. The 2013 group of farmer mentors has gone through an intensive day-and-a-half learning experience to increase their knowledge of teaching skills, evaluation, communication, and liability mitigation.

An application form is available online at wfan.org., under the “News and Resources” heading, click on “WFAN Beginning Farmer Grant Project.” Then look for the “Opportunities for Aspiring Women Farmers” tab, and scroll down the page. The deadline to apply is March 15, but mentee spots will remain open until filled.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Tuttle, Northern Iowa defeat Missouri State 69-63

Sports

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – Seth Tuttle scored 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, Anthony James added 17 points, and Northern Iowa moved into sole possession of third place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 69-63 victory over Missouri State on Tuesday night.

Tuttle was 6 of 7 from the field and had three steals for the Panthers (17-11, 10-6), who moved a game ahead of Indiana State in the standings after the Sycamores lost to conference leader Wichita State. Creighton, which beat Southern Illinois, is in second place.

James dished out eight assists for UNI, which also got 11 points from Matt Bohannon.  Marcus Marshall had 25 points for the Bears (8-20, 6-10), who jumped out to a 15-5 lead. But Northern Iowa rallied to take a 30-27 advantage into halftime and never trailed again. UNI swept its season series with Missouri State, having won 48-37 at home Feb. 5.

Posted in Sports |

NWS Forecast for Cass County, IA area & some area counties (2/20/12)

Weather

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THURSDAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY...

TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 20S. EAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY UNTIL EARLY MORNING…THEN CLEAR WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW EARLY IN THE MORNING. NOT AS COLD. LOW 15 TO 20. EAST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY…A CHANCE OF SNOW THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN SNOW IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. BREEZY. SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 5 TO 6 INCHES. HIGH IN THE MID 20S. EAST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW NEAR 100 PERCENT.

THURSDAY NIGHT…SNOW. MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE. LOW 15 TO 20. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH THROUGH MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF SNOW NEAR 100 PERCENT.

FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE MORNING. HIGH IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE. HIGH IN THE MID 20S.

Posted in Weather |

WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF WESTERN IA THURSDAY

Weather

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT & PAGE….

352 AM CST WED FEB 20 2013 …

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT…

* TIMING…SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO THE AREA LATE THURSDAY MORNING OR EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON…WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW POTENTIALLY FALLING DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING COMMUTE. LIGHT SNOW IS LIKELY THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

* ACCUMULATIONS...THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES.

* WINDS...EAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH COULD CREATE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ON EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON…BUT WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DECREASE THURSDAY EVENING LEADING TO LESS BLOWING SNOW. THE BLOWING SNOW IS MOST LIKELY IN OPEN AREAS.

* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BECOME DIFFICULT DUE TO HEAVY FALLING SNOW…ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THURSDAY NIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE PREPARATIONS.

Posted in Weather |

WINTER STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR THURSDAY

Weather

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

344 AM CST WED FEB 20 2013 COUNTIES: AUDUBON-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD…

…A WINTER STORM WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THURSDAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THURSDAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY MID TO LATE MORNING THURSDAY OVER SOUTHWEST IOWA AND SPREAD NORTHEAST THROUGH THE DAY. THE HIGHEST SNOWFALL RATES WILL OCCUR FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT. TRAVEL BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND ESPECIALLY THE EVENING COMMUTE WILL LIKELY BE QUITE HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCAL HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS LIKELY TO OCCUR OVER THE FAR SOUTHWEST.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…EASTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS ON THURSDAY…THEN DIMINISH BY THURSDAY EVENING. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR DURING THE PERIOD OF STRONGEST WINDS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO 1/4 MILE OR LESS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL HOURS.

* IMPACTS...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE RAPIDLY AS THE SNOW MOVES IN THURSDAY AFTERNOON. AT THE ONSET…VISIBILITY OF LESS THAN ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES CAN BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND THE ROADS RAPIDLY BECOMING ICY AND SNOW PACKED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST…COMBINED WITH BLOWING SNOW…THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Posted in Weather |

Tuesday’s Area High School Basketball Scores (from 2-19-13)

Sports

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

1-A District Semifinals
Riverside 56, CAM 29
Underwood 78, West Harrison 43

Ankeny Christian Academy 44, Earlham 32
Guthrie Center 65, Woodward Academy 55

Sidney 53, East Mills 37
Villisca 69, South Page 39

Lawton-Bronson 77, Ar-We-Va 38
Woodbury Central 77, West Monona 58

2-A District Finals
Nodaway Valley 56, Interstate 35 47

Red Oak 58, St. Albert 56

Kuemper Catholic 68, IKM-Manning 53

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class 4-A Regional Finals
Harlan 48, Perry 42

Lewis Central 58, Indianola 46

Bishop Heelan Catholic 70, Spencer 39

Winterset 44, Dallas Center-Grimes 40

Class 5-A Regional Final
Dowling Catholic 53, Abraham Lincoln 30

Posted in Sports |

Cardinals SS Furcal hoping for opening day start

Sports

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis shortstop Rafael Furcal and his injured elbow may not be ready for Saturday’s first game of spring training. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny insists that shouldn’t be much of a concern. Furcal is working his way back from a strained elbow ligament suffered near the end of last season. There was a concern that he’d have to undergo offseason Tommy John surgery, but Furcal chose to try rehab instead. A 13- year veteran, Furcal hit .264 in 121 games for the Cardinals last season, batting primarily in the leadoff spot.

Posted in Sports |

Chiefs release WR Breaston, TE Boss

Sports

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have released wide receiver Steve Breaston and tight end Kevin Boss as part of their roster overhaul under new coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey. The team announced the moves Tuesday in a statement on its website. Breaston was lured to Kansas City in 2011 by former coach Todd Haley and general manager Scott Pioli, and signed a $22.5 million, five-year deal. But he fell out of favor last season under coach Romeo Crennel, catching seven passes for 74 yards in 10 games. Boss signed $9 million, three-year deal last offseason, but only had three catches for 65 yards before sustaining a season-ending concussion in Week 2 against Buffalo.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Feb. 20th 2013

News

February 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has started debating a Republican plan to water down Gov. Terry Branstad’s education reform plan. Discussion started Tuesday evening. The governor’s education plan aims to improve Iowa schools by boosting minimum teacher pay and offering bonuses to senior teachers who take on tasks such as mentoring.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport man accused of threatening to shoot people has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt says T. Wayne Allen, Sr., was sentenced Friday to 180 months in prison, as well as four years of parole. He has been ordered to pay $100 into a crime victim fund.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a former University of Iowa administrator that claimed a St. Louis law firm defamed him in a report criticizing his handling of a 2007 sexual assault. U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt on Tuesday dismissed former general counsel Marc Mills’ claims against the Stolar Partnership. Pratt dismissed Mills’ claims against university officials last fall.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Senate lawmakers are considering a bill that toughens Iowa’s restrictions against texting while driving. A subcommittee debated the legislation Tuesday. Under the bill, distracted driving — including texting on a mobile phone — would become an offense that police could use to make a traffic stop.

Posted in News |

New Market Iowa included in FBI Child Exploitation Investigation

News

February 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced Tuesday, that the agency is asking for the public’s assistance in obtaining information that may help identify two unknown individuals who may be able to provide valuable details regarding the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.The southwest Iowa town of New Market, in Taylor County, is one of nearly a dozen communities or schools with the name across “New Market Basketball” across a T-shirt that is part of the investigation.

T-Shirt which sparked the FBI Investigation

Officials say initial images of a child being photographed in sexually explicit positions were first recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in February 2003 and are still being circulated in numerous child pornography forums across the Internet. Clues gathered from images relevant to the case, including a yellow T-shirt containing the outline of a basketball along with the written text “New Market Basketball,” have led to the belief that the individuals with whom the FBI would like to speak might possibly have a connection to one of the communities or agencies with the name “New Market.”

Also visible in some of the images is a home with what appears to be yellow siding and an above-ground swimming pool.

Above ground swimming pool & home with yellow siding

If recognized, these items could also assist in providing valuable information leading to the geographic location of the abused child. The individuals’ identities and whereabouts are currently unknown.

John Doe 23

The first individual is described as a white male, likely between the ages of 25 and 35, with dark hair and glasses.The second individual is described as a white male, likely between the ages of 35 and 45, with dark hair. The individuals are being sought as part of the FBI’s Operation Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives, both of which represent strategic partnerships between the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The FBI is seeking to find them because it appears they have been in contact with the victim and can assist the FBI with identification efforts. No charges have been filed in the case, and the individuals wanted for questioning are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Anyone with information to provide should contact their local FBI office, submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/ , or call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

 

Posted in News |