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Motorists reminded of heightened law enforcement effort over holiday

News

September 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Many Iowans will be hitting the road over the Labor Day weekend and they’re being reminded to buckle up, obey the speed limit and play it safe. Randy Hunefeld with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says the last holiday weekend of the summer can be a dangerous one on Iowa’s roads because too many people are driving drunk. Last year, there were four traffic fatalities in Iowa over the Labor Day weekend. “Two of those were alcohol related,” Hunefeld said. “Even though our (fatality) numbers are good, unless we have zero, they’re not good enough.”

Hunefeld is coordinator of bureau’s special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP). The agency is conducting a sTEP wave that started August 23 and run through next Wednesday. Hunefeld warns that the heightened enforcement effort means motorists will have a better chance of getting caught if they’re breaking traffic laws.  “The most important thing is be cautious of other drivers, make sure you’re buckled up and driving the speed limit,” Hunefeld said. “And if you do decide to go out drinking over the Labor Day weekend, be responsible, because there will be plenty of law enforcement officers out looking for ya.” During Iowa’s last sTEP project, over the July 4 holiday, law officers made contact with more than 15,600 motorists. That included 295 contacts with alcohol and drug-impaired drivers.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Chiefs cut Gordon, Williams to reach 53-man limit

Sports

September 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have cut defensive tackle Amon Gordon and linebacker Leon Williams, a pair of veterans, while trimming their roster to the 53-man limit. Kansas City also put defensive back De’Quan Menzie, a fifth-round draft pick who missed nearly all of the offseason with a hip injury, and quarterback Alex Tanney on injured reserve. Other players waived by the Chiefs include fullback Patrick DiMarco, offensive linemen Darryl Harris and David Mims, and fourth-year safety Donald Washington. Safe for now is running back Nate Eachus, a rookie out of Colgate. He won over players and fans with his spirited play throughout training camp and the preseason. Still, more roster moves are possible as the Chiefs consider other players who’ve been waived.

Posted in Sports |

Cardinals lose to the Nationals Friday night/Twins-Royals rain-out

Sports

September 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Washington Nationals in a 10-0 rout last night. Gio Gonzalez held the Cardinals lineup hitless through four innings. He earned his 17th win and tied Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto and New York Mets starter R.A. Dickey for the major league lead in wins.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Twins-Royals game postponed by rain last night in Kansas City will be made up as part of a doubleheader today. The two teams will meet in a doubleheader starting at 3:10 this afternoon. Last night’s rainout was the first postponement at Kauffman Stadium since 2010.

Posted in Sports |

NWS Weather forecast for Cass & area Counties in Iowa

Weather

September 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

354 AM CDT SAT SEP 1 2012

TODAY…CLOUDY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. NORTHEAST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

SUNDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 80S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 60S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

LABOR DAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE UPPER 80S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE UPPER 60S.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE UPPER 80S.

Posted in Weather |

Cellulosic Ethanol Plant may be in store for Atlantic

News

August 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Prospects for an ethanol plant project in Atlantic may be renewed thanks to a client of PlanScape Partners in Clear Lake, who is interested in building a 25-million gallon second-generation ethanol production facility in the Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area.

Kathy Schowalter with PlanScape Partners explains the Cellulosic Ethanol plant project proposal.

Kathy Schowalter of PlanScape Partners made a presentation Friday morning to the Cass County Board of Supervisors on behalf of Ron Fagen, CEO of Granite Falls, Minnesota-based Fagen, Incorporated, for a Cellulosic ethanol plant.

Schowalter said no commercial cellulosic ethanol plants currently exist anywhere in the country, and there are only a trio of smaller projects in the works. If a cellulosic ethanol plant is eventually built in Atlantic, it would using corn stover. The by-poducts would be Lignin, which is a corn starch, and of course, ethanol. Schowalter says the end product is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel. She said stover for the plant would be collected from suppliers in a 50-to75-mile radius of Atlantic, and it would also be a boon to Cass County by bringing in younger workers, more families and quality jobs, and extra revenue for farmers.

Schowalter says it needs 350,000 tons of corn stover. It will cost about $250-million dollars to build, and create a conservative $25-million in new property tax revenue. She says the plant could also create some spin-off industries and make a positive impact on current businesses. It could employ 40 to 45-people, with a payroll of $1.8-million. Schowalter said in order for the project to be competitive with State and Federal incentives given to other ethanol plant projects…the funds for which she says are drying-up…there has to be a local contract for assistance.

Schowalter asked the Board of Supervisors to consider local assistance in the form of: a property tax exemption until production begins; 50% property tax exemption/rebate for ten years after production begins; and assistance with applications for State and Federal incentives. Even with an agreement in-place, the permitting process she says will take up to a year once investors are secured, construction on the plant itself would take 18-to 24-months. The Board took the proposal under advisement, and will render a decision by October 10th.

Posted in News |

Friday Football Scores 8/31

Sports

August 31st, 2012 by admin

Class 3-A District 1               

  • Atlantic 25, Carroll 20
  • ADM 48, Winterset 20
  • Creston 49, Clarinda 7
  • Thomas Jefferson 28, Glenwood 26
  • Harlan 21, Abraham Lincoln 7
  • Lewis Central 48, St. Albert 0
  • Boone 40,  Perry 14

Class 3-A District 2

  • Kuemper Catholic 45, Denison 6

Class 2-A District 8      

  • East Mills 42, Clarinda Academy 0
  • Treynor 12, Red Oak 8
  • Riverside 12, Shenandoah 6

Class 1-A District 2

  • IKM/Manning 26, Logan-Magnolia 7

Class 1-A District 8

  • West Marshall 33, Panorama 18
  • Tri-Center 49, Underwood 9

Class A District 7

  • Mount Ayr 41, bedford 14
  • Woodward-Granger 35, DM Christian 6
  • West Central Valley 34, Earlham 21
  • Ogden 37, Guthrie Center 6
  • Madrid 24, Van Meter 19
  • Martensdale-St. Marys 46, Pleasantville 14
  • South Hamilton 52, Woodward Academy 12

Class A District 8 

  • A-H-S-T 36, Audubon 20
  • East Mills 42, Clarinda Academy 0
  • Griswold 7, Nodaway Valley 3

8-Man District 6

  • *Adair-Casey 62, east Union 20
  • *Murray 90,  Ankeny Christian 12
  • Colo-Nesco 46, NE Hamilton 22

8-Man District 7

  • River Valley 54, Ar-We-Va 19
  •  Glidden-Ralston 58, Boyer Valley 24
  • *Coon Rapids-Bayard 53, Heartland Christian 24
  • Exira/EHK 27, Woodbine 19

8-Man District 8

  • *CAM 50, Nishnabotna 14
  • *Essex 47, Corning 36
  • Fremont-Mills 62, Whiting 12
  • *Lenox 56, Stanton 18
  • *Sidney 64,  Villisca 20

Posted in Sports |

WARM CONDITIONS PROMPT WARNING OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) say unseasonably warm weather and water temperatures have prompted concerns about microcystin, a product of blue-green algae. There are currently advisories for total microcystins for the beaches on Big Creek Lake near Saylorville, Green Valley Lake north of Creston, and Rock Creek Lake near Kellogg.  Blue-green algae can grow quickly and become very abundant in warm, shallow, undisturbed surface water that receives a lot of sunlight – conditions that have been prevalent throughout the state this summer. Because the conditions are conducive to blue-green algae growth, people and pets should not be in contact with water that has a poor appearance.

The appearance can be a pea-green or blue-green color, but also a reddish-brown. It may appear with scum, foam or as a thick mat on the water surface. Blue-green algae can grow quickly and become very abundant in warm, shallow, undisturbed surface water that receives a lot of sunlight. The main risk to humans from microcystin is skin irritations and rashes, but if the water is swallowed or airborne droplets are inhaled during swimming, bathing or showering, symptoms could be worse. Those would include headaches, nausea, abdominal pain, seizures, liver injury and respiratory problems.

Precautions that should be taken to prevent health-related problems due to harmful algal blooms include:  Don’t swim, water ski or boat in areas where the water is discolored or if there is foam, scum or mats of algae on the water;  If you come in contact with water that might have a harmful algal bloom, rinse off with fresh water as soon as possible; Don’t let pets or livestock swim in or drink from areas where water is discolored, of if there is foam, scum or mats of algae on the water; Don’t let pets (especially dogs) lick the algae off their fur after swimming in scummy water; Don’t irrigate lawns or golf courses with pond water that looks scummy or has a bad odor; Don’t drink the water. Boiling the water will not make it safe to drink.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Who’s Gonna Win? 08-31-2012

Podcasts, Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win?

August 31st, 2012 by admin

Weekly pick ’em show for week 2 of the high school football season.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (22.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Posted in Podcasts, Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win? |

Iowa-N Illinois Capsule

Sports

August 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Iowa (7-6 in 2011) vs. Northern Illinois (11-3 in 2011) at Soldier Field, Chicago, 2:32 p.m. (ESPNU)

Line: Iowa by 10

Series Record: Iowa leads 7-0

WHAT’S AT STAKE

This is the only game Iowa will play away from Kinnick Stadium until the middle of October, so the Hawkeyes have a decent shot at a 5-0 start if they can beat the Huskies. For Northern Illinois, taking down a Big Ten team in Chicago would be a major boost for the program.

KEY MATCHUP

Iowa’s running game vs. Northern Illinois’s defensive line. The Hawkeyes lost five running backs between the end of 2011 and the start of 2012, so the running game is a major concern entering the season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa: WR Keenan Davis. With Marvin McNutt off to the NFL, it’s Davis’s time to be the No. 1 receiver. If he can come through with a breakout senior season, Davis and QB James Vandenberg could become the most dangerous duo in the Big Ten.

Northern Illinois: QB Jordan Lynch. Chandler Harnish broke 30 school records as a senior in 2011. Lynch, who is a running threat but a bit unproven as a passer, has huge shoes to fill.

FACTS & FIGURES

Northern Illinois has won two of its last five games against Big Ten opponents, beating Purdue in 2009 and Minnesota in 2010…Iowa has won 11 straight openers, including a 16-3 victory over the Huskies at Soldier Field five years ago…Northern Illinois has eight new starters on offense…The Hawkeyes have a new offensive coordinator, Greg Davis, and a new defensive coordinator, Phil Parker, after having the same two coaches at that spot for 13 straight seasons.

Posted in Sports |

Tulsa-Iowa St Capsule

Sports

August 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Tulsa (8-5 in 2011) at Iowa State (6-7 in 2011), 2:32 p.m. (Fox Sports Net)

Line: Tulsa by 1½

Series Record: Iowa State leads 1-0

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Tulsa is one of just two teams from non-BCS leagues the Cyclones will face this season, so they’ll be in rough shape if they lose. The Golden Hurricane could gain a measure of respect after losing to Big 12 schools Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in 2011.

KEY MATCHUP

Iowa State QB Steele Jantz vs. Tulsa’s secondary. Jantz reclaimed the starting job in the offseason, but he completed just 53.3 percent of his passes in 2011. The Cyclones will be in trouble if Jantz can’t complete more than half his passes against Tulsa.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa State: RB James White. The junior has a chance to be a breakout star in the Big 12 this season. He’ll get plenty of touches on Saturday as the Cyclones ease Jantz back into the starting role.

Tulsa: H-Back Willie Carter. Tulsa wants to get the ball in Carter’s hands as much as possible after he scored nine touchdowns in 2011.

FACTS & FIGURES

Iowa State beat Tulsa 27-6 at Skelly Field in 1961 in the only other meeting between the schools. The Cyclones team captain was John Cooper, who later went on to coach Ohio State…Tulsa went 7-1 in Conference USA last season and 1-4 outside of the league…Iowa State’s season-ticket base over just over 38,000 is the largest in school history.

Posted in Sports |