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Adair County Board of Supervisors to act on $4.495-million bond matters

News

June 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet via an electronic session 9-a.m. Wednesday. On their agenda is discussion with regard to Township Clerk wages, and COVID-19. Action items are with regard to $4.495-million in General Obligation Urban Renewal Bonds, Series 2020, including:

  • A Resolution appointing a paying agent, bond registrar, and transfer agent, followed by action on an agreement to pay those persons and the execution of the agreement for the same.
  • A Resolution authorizing and providing for the issuance and the levying of taxes to pay the bonds; Approval of the Tax Exemption Certificate, and Continuing Disclosure Certificate.

Auditor Mandy Berg will discuss with the Board a Clerk Step Increase, and a Transfer Resolution. Adair County Engineer Nick Kaufmann will discuss with the Board, Secondary Roads personnel policies, and present his report on Maintenance and Activities. Members of the public wishing to join the electronic meeting at 9-a.m. Wednesday, should do so by:

Dial in Number: (605) 313-6157        

Access Code: 526272#

Casinos start reopening

News

June 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Some of the 19 state-licensed casinos started re-opening Monday under new guidelines from the governor. Wild Rose President Tom Timmons says customers were waiting at his property in Jefferson, and the two other company casinos in the state. “We had about 140 people waiting in Jefferson to get in at ten o’clock. And then in Clinton, there were probably about 60 to 70 people waiting to get in — and then Emmetsburg at noon there were probably about 60 people waiting in line to get in as well,” Timmons says.

Timmons says it felt like the grand opening all over again and was expected. “You bring something back — especially after we’ve been closed for 75 days — and yeah I don’t necessarily think next Monday or every Monday after this there is going to be people waiting to get in,” Timmons says. “I think the first day and maybe even the second day (after the reopening) there will be some, and then maybe a little more of the normal nature.”

The casinos are allowed to open at 50 percent of capacity. He says capacity is determined by the number of gaming positions normally available. “For instance, Jefferson had at total of 600 gaming positions — and that is figuring out what you had in table games and all the slot machines… and so we are limited to 300 patrons — that’s the capacity in Jefferson right now,” according to Timmons. He says everyone seems to be very understanding of the new rules. Timmons says they are checking customers as they come in the door and it is up to them if they want to wear a mask. Employees are checked every day and are required to wear a mask and gloves. “And when someone gets up from playing a machine, we go over and clean it when they are done.”

Timmons has been in the industry for some 30 years and even with all the planning they’ve done — this is still new. “I’ve got lots of concerns — but I don’t know how to prioritize them — because I’ve never had to do this before,” he says. Timmons says no one expected to have to shut down and re-open again. Timmons isn’t sure how the attendance will be moving ahead as the calendar is upset with everything else. “Normally our busiest month of the year is March when we are coming off the winter. Kind of the same thing you might say when people have been cooped up a little bit more than they would like to be. That happens in Iowa,” Timmons says. “Ironically, June is typically one of our slower months — whether it be people just taking summer vacations, just getting out of school, other activities, other things.”

They’ve adjusted their hours to be open from 10 a-m. to 10 p-m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a-m to midnight on Friday and Saturday. There will be no table games for now and he says they will reevaluate as more guidelines become available.

Vanderhoof promoted to head coach for AHSTW Lady Vikes hoops

Sports

June 2nd, 2020 by admin

According to various reports AHSTW has promoted Jill Vanderhoof from assistant to head coach of the girls basketball team. She has been an assistant for the past two seasons with the Lady Vikes and will take over for Steve Sauvain who stepped down to take a position with the AEA.

Vanderhoof will have a strong team to work with in her first season at the helm. The Lady Vikes are coming off a 20-4 season that ended in a one point loss in the regional finals. 4 of the top 5 scorers from that team return in 2020-21.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 6/2/20

News, Podcasts

June 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowa Shrine Bowl cancelled for 2020

Sports

June 2nd, 2020 by admin

Officials with the Iowa Shrine Bowl announced that on May 28th they made the very difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Iowa Shrine Bowl Classic. The game was set to be played on July 18th at the UNIDome in Cedar Falls.

In their statement the organization said, “We know this is dissapointing to the coaches, players, cheerleaders, and everyone else associated with the Iowa Shrine Bowl and we are incredibly appreciative of the efforts each of you made during this very challenging time. Our Board held out as long as possible, hoping that we would be able to host this game and related events that are so important to The Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.”

Organizers said they plan to print a commemorative program book for those involved and some other gifts will be sent to them. They also plan to honor each member online.

Area players that were selected for the game include: Tyler Moen (Atlantic), Johnathon Monson (Harlan), Jack Tiarks (Treynor), Barret Pitt (Logan-Magnolia), Thomas Wilson (Sidney), Trevor Griffin (Lewis Central), and Noah Clark (Glenwood).

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 6/2/20

Podcasts, Sports

June 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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Creston Police report (6/2/20)

News

June 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Creston Police Department report 32-year old Jeffrey Drake, of Creston, was arrested Monday afternoon, for Violation of a Protection Order. Drake was released from the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Summons to Appear in court. And, a man residing in the 300 block of N. Maple Street, in Creston, reported to Police early this morning, that sometime around 2-a.m. today (Tuesday), the front door at his apartment building was damaged by an unknown person. The damage was estimated at $200.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 6/2/20

News, Podcasts

June 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowa COVID-19 update (5:30-a.m., 6/2/20)

News

June 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The State of Iowa’s COVID-19 dashboard shows 18 more people have died from the virus since Monday’s report, for a total of 558 dead. To date: 163,681 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19; 19,935 tested Positive (an increase of 245); 11, 540 have recovered (up 268 from Monday; 143,311 have tested Negative (up 4,137 from Monday). Across the State: 327 Iowans are hospitalized with COVID-19 (2 less than Monday); 114 are in an ICU (down 9 from Monday); 12 (half as many as Monday) were admitted to hospitals over the past 24-hours; and 76 were on ventilators (up 3 from Monday).

The Region 4 Regional Medical Coordinator Center – covering hospitals in western/southwest Iowa – (RMCC) reports 11 Iowans are hospitalized, 7 are in an ICU, none were admitted over the past 24-hours, and 3 are on ventilators. Those numbers are all down from Monday’s stats.

Here are the latest county-by-county numbers for Cass & surrounding Counties (with the number recovered in parenthesis):

  • Cass: 12 (11)
  • Adair: 9 (5)
  • Adams: 7 (4)
  • Audubon: 12 (8)
  • Guthrie: 53 (30)
  • Montgomery: 8 (6)
  • Pottawattamie: 270 (166)
  • Shelby: 37 (31)

See other counties’ stats at  https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/case-counts for a breakdown of cases & the number recovered. The number of Long Term Care (LTC) facility outbreaks is up two, to 41. Ten more people associated with those facilities have died, for a total of 265. The IDPH says 1,586 LTC patients/staff have tested positive, and 756 have recovered from COVID-19. Both of those numbers are up from Monday.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some infected people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe illness and death.

Reynolds says anti-racial profiling legislation to be priority in 2021

News

June 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowans are united in grief and anger over the death of a black man on a Minneapolis street — and she’s promising to seek systemic change, including steps to address racial profiling. “I want all Iowans to know that I hear you,” Reynolds says. “I hear your frustration and I am committed to listening and having a respectful dialogue about what we need to address the injustices that are felt by so many and that might mean having some very uncomfortable and eye-opening discussions.” Iowa-Nebraska N-double-A-C-P president Betty Andrews says this is a perfect time to peacefully protest — but the goal needs to be new policy. “We need to address this legacy that started with America’s greatest sin: racism, slavery and all of its babies that have come since,” Andrews says.

The governor says she’ll be working with Andrews and others to develop a final, anti-racial profiling plan to present to the 2021 legislature. President Trump held a conference call with governors yesterday (Monday) and told them they’re being too weak and need to dominate the protesters, or they’ll look like a bunch of jerks. Governor Reynolds says she was not on the call with Trump and was at the time talking with Iowa mayors, thanking them for facilitating peaceful protests and asking what they need from the state in the days ahead. “I think you all know right now words matter,” Reynolds said. “We have to really be thoughtful about how we move forward and that’s where I’m working. That’s where I’m focusing my energy on.”

Governor Reynolds says peaceful protesters have a right to take a stand against injustice and she will not tolerate the lawless rioters who are trying to hijack that message.