712 Digital Group - top

Heat Advisory continues until 10-p.m. Tuesday (8/27/13)

Weather

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

350 PM CDT MON AUG 26 2013/ Nat’l. Weather Service – Des Moines

…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT TUESDAY…

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL VARY FROM THE MIDDLE 90S TO AROUND 100 DEGREES TUESDAY WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES FROM 105 TO 110 DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAT WILL TAKE ITS TOLL…PARTICULARLY ON THOSE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING OR THOSE SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE DELAYED TO A LATER DATE IF POSSIBLE…OR HELD IN THE MORNING TO MINIMIZE HEAT STRESS. THE IMPACTS MAY CONTINUE TO SOME EXTENT THROUGH THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND TOO AS THE HEAT WAVE PERSISTS WITH ONLY MARGINALLY COOLER TEMPERATURES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE…RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK…THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY…CALL 9-1-1.

Posted in Weather |

Farmers’ Almanac predicts “piercing cold” winter for Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Iowans who don’t enjoy the extreme heat that’s in the forecast this week may find relief in a prediction from the Farmers’ Almanac. The publication’s managing editor, Sandi Duncan, says they’re predicting a winter with below normal temperatures for about two-thirds of the country.FarmersAlmanac2014-Winter-Map “We are saying it’s going to be a very cold winter, in fact, we’re using the words ‘piercing cold’ in your neck of the woods, with normal snowfall,” Duncan says. “So, it’s going to be one of those rough, old-fashioned, very chilly, very cold, snowy winters.”

The Farmer’s Almanac for 2014 hit newsstands today (Monday). Scientists don’t put much stock in the almanac’s weather forecasts, which Duncan says are based on a secret, mathematical and astronomical formula. “It takes things like sun spot activity, tidal action of the moon, the position of the planets, and a variety of factors into play,” Duncan says. “We’ve been predicting the weather for 197 years and people who follow our forecasts say we’re about 80 to 85 percent accurate.”

The Farmers’ Almanac, which was founded in 1818, is predicting a heavy winter storm will hit the Northeast U.S. right around the time Super Bowl is played February 2 in New Jersey.

On the web at http://www.farmersalmanac.com/

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather |

Burglary/theft of tools reported in Page County

News

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of tools valued at $4,720, from a building in Blanchard. The incident happened on or about August 18th. A list of the tools was provided to the Sheriff’s Office last Friday by Joseph Nelson, owner of the tools. Anyone with information about the burglary and theft is asked to call the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-246-5193.

Posted in News |

GARY BURG, 57, of Bridgewater (Svcs. 8/29/13)

Obituaries

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

GARY BURG, 57, of Bridgewater, died Mon., Aug. 26th, at the Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield. Scripture services for GARY BURG will be held 2-p.m. Thu., Aug. 29th, at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena.

Visitation with the family will be held one-hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be directed to the Gary Burg Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Massena.

GARY BURG is survived by:

His mother – Ruth Burg, of Bridgewater.

His sisters – Georgia Yearington of Osceola; Diana Daugherty and husband Terry of Massena; and Deb Nichols and husband Wayne of Atlantic

His brothers – Charles Burg and wife Connie of Atlantic; Michael Burg and wife Lydia of Pella; and Joseph Burg of Bridgewater.

Brian Burg who took care of him during his illness, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Shelby County Fire Danger “Moderate”

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says the local Fire danger signs have been in the “Low” category since spring, and while they are not implementing the bi-weekly fire danger assessments, given the general lack of rainfall…and expected very hot and windy condition expected to prevail through the next week…Seivert advises businesses and area fire departments to move the fire danger signs into the “Moderate” category.Moderate Fire Danger rating

Seivert asks residents of Shelby County to “Please report a planned or controlled burn prior to ignition,” by calling 712-755-2124. If you need help in determining if the burn can be conducted safely, you’re asked to contact the Emergency Mgt Agency, or your Fire Chief.

Seivert says his office will continue to monitor conditions and keep residents and the media updated as necessary.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather |

Iowa State high on Sam Richardson

Sports

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State believes Sam Richardson can be the next unknown Big 12 quarterback to emerge as a star, even though he’s only thrown 79 career passes. The Cyclones think they’ve finally found a dual-threat playmaker in Richardson, a sophomore who will get his third career start on Saturday against Northern Iowa.

No one is ready to declare Richardson a program-changing talent along the lines of Robert Griffin III or even Kansas State’s Collin Klein just yet. But the Cyclones can’t stop raving about him.

Posted in Sports |

Page County arrest report

News

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports the arrest of man who turned himself in on a warrant for unauthorized use of a credit card. 22-year old Keith James Land, of Clarinda, was unable to post a $2,000 bond, and was being held in the Page County Jail.

Posted in News |

Chiefs tight end Moeaki fractures shoulder

Sports

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs have lost injury-prone tight end Tony Moeaki, who fractured one of his shoulders in Saturday night’s preseason victory over Pittsburgh.  Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday that Moeaki was undergoing further exams on the shoulder and did not say when the tight end would return. The Chiefs play their last preseason game Thursday night against Green Bay before making final roster cuts by Saturday.

It was unclear exactly when Moeaki got hurt, but Reid said it occurred late in the Steelers game. Moeaki was hit near the shoulder and then tackled to the ground on it. The Chiefs were already banged up at tight end with rookie Travis Kelce dealing with a bruised knee. Reid said Kelce could be back in practice this week.

Posted in Sports |

Law enforcement campaign underway: drive sober or get pulled over

News

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A nationwide campaign to remove drunk drivers from the road is being launched today and will run through September 8.800x100-sober Randy Hunefeld with the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says motorists in Iowa, compared to others around the country, do a good job of designating a sober driver or calling a cab when they’re out drinking alcohol.

Iowa ranks 2nd as having the lowest number of alcohol related fatalities in the nation. “My hat goes off to drivers who are out partying because they are apparently taking responsibility for that,” Hunefeld says. The crackdown on drunk driving, dubbed “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“There are contracts with law enforcement agencies across the state, so there will be somewhere between 250 and 260 law enforcement agencies that’ll be out specifically working this enforcement effort,” Hunefeld says. “And even though there is an emphasis on drunk drivers, they will be looking for all traffic violations.”

In addition to the enforcement boost, the campaign is being supported by paid advertising. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s latest statistics, from 2011, show 9,878 people died across the nation in crashes involving drunk drivers. That equates to roughly one drunken driving fatality every 53 minutes. Over the Labor Day Holiday weekend in Iowa last year, there were no reported alcohol related fatalities, however there were four fatalities from traffic crashes.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Heat Advisory covers the entire state, could be record week

News, Weather

August 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The entire state is under a heat advisory today (Monday), as temperatures are going to push up into the 90’s. National Weather Service meteorologist, Brad Small, says it’s not that unusual to see such high temperatures at the end of August. “What is unusual is how long this is going to last,” Small says. “If we end up with how the forecast is expected to pan out, it will be the hottest end of August that we’ve seen on record for that seven-day period from yesterday through the 31st. So, it will be very unusual to see temperatures this warm for this long.”

Not only are the temperatures heating up — but for areas of the state that have had some recent moisture — the humidity is also a factor. “We’ve increased both the heat and humidity from what we’ve seen from earlier in the summer, especially recently what we saw right around the state fair,” according to Small. “Definitely a big change in that regard, and we’ll be pushing records by Tuesday.” When you factor in the actual temperature and the relative humidity, you get the heat index. That index is expected to be over 100 in many parts of the state this week.

The forecast shows just a slim chance for a little relief from the heat. He says there may be a brief cold front dropping down on north-east Iowa around Wednesday. “That will be brief and very temporary, if it even occurs at all, and most of the state will see really little change, with highs in the 90’s at least through the holiday weekend,” Small says.

While people can turn on the air conditioner to seek relief, the crops in Iowa’s fields don’t have that option. “We’re gonna really increase things as far as the stress on the crops with the heat and the lack of moisture. North-east Iowa is a little better off — they’ve had some rains recently — but the south-west two-thirds of the state is in drought conditions right now and it will continue to worsen,” Small says. Polk County in central Iowa is also under an excessive heat warning for today (Monday).

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News, Weather |