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Exira’s 159th Independence Day celebrations are underway now through Sunday

News

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Exira) The 159th annual Exira Fourth of July Celebration takes place now through Sunday. The theme of this year’s events is “Reflections. Celebrating like it’s 1924.” You can find the full slate of events in this story on the news page at kjan.com, or on the Exira Community Club’s Facebook page. Greg & Char Bintner, who have been parade announcers for 32-years, are the Grand Marshals for the Exira July 4th parade on Thursday. Greg reflected on how their love of the parade began.

He says the parade is a great way to see friends you may not have seen in a while.

Char Bintner says the Exira Community Club is young and active, and have made the event exciting for the community, and are set on keeping it going. Greg agrees.

The Parade starts at 10:30 a.m., Thursday. There’s also a Bags Tournament, Thursday, along with a Kid’s Tractor Pull, and the Grand River Rodeo at Kickapoo Park, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Fireworks Display will begin at dusk at the Spartan Football Field.

There’s also a great variety of yummy food and treats.

The holiday festivities – which continue on Friday and Saturday – includes amusement rides. The events conclude Sunday with a church service at the Exira City Park, and Alumni Coffee at 2:00 p.m.

State Fire Marshal: plan before you shoot off fireworks

News

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State Fire Marshal Dan Wood says if you plan to shoot off fireworks this holiday, take some time to plan out what you are doing to avoid any problems.

“It’s still a good idea to have that bucket of water or a hose nearby in case you have an accidental flare up of dry grass,” he says. Even with the rain we’ve had lately they’re still dry grass.” Wood says for the fireworks or bottle rockets that shoot into the air, make sure they are going to land somewhere that is safe.

“If they get near gutter on your roof and you have you know leaves up there or whatever, that can that can start a fire and be bad news,” he says. There is a large variety of fireworks available in the state with some elaborate devices that do different things. Wood says you should know what is coming before lighting the fuse. “It is always a good idea to read those instructions and make sure they are consumer fireworks. There are some fireworks out there that for whatever reason, get sold or get somehow acquired and are not consumer fireworks,” Wood says. “To be safe make sure you’re shooting consumer fireworks and leave the commercial fireworks to the professionals.”

It is legal to buy fireworks in Iowa, but local governments are allowed to ban them. Wood says to be sure and check your local regulations before shooting off any fireworks.

Physical health is as important as mental health, but stigmas remain

News

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A recent poll found nearly half of Iowans or those close to them experienced a serious mental health issue at least once in recent years. The Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll also showed 57-percent of those surveyed say it’s difficult to access competent mental health treatment. Christie Harris, a wellness education specialist at Gundersen Health, says mental and physical health are both vital to our lives, but they often aren’t perceived of as equals.

“Like if we had a broken arm, we would share that story with somebody and we would talk about why we went to the doctor and this is what they did,” Harris says, “but when we have mental health, we just don’t seem to be as open about that. Sometimes, that can be the barrier between somebody feeling like they truly are supported.” While there are improvements and strides being made, Harris says stigmas about mental health still exist, and some people hesitate to talk about it freely.

“Mental health is mental health. Physical health is physical health. They both affect each other and they’re both really important,” Harris says. “It would be really healthy for just about everybody to see someone regarding their mental health even if it was just for a little tune up and I think that’s where we’re lagging a bit.” Courage is needed to take the next step and seek mental health treatment, Harris says, and it’s a tremendous help if those we’re close to are open and supportive.

“As human beings and friends and family members, we could maybe be more comfortable and confident in having conversations with people that we love and that we care about, to check in on them more frequently,” Harris says. “I think that is definitely getting better, but we still have a ways to go with that.” While it’s normal to be a little nervous if you’ve never had mental health treatment, she says there has to be a leap of faith to try it in order to begin the healing process.

Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

Combined High School Baseball and Softball Scores

Sports

July 3rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Baseball Scores

Denison-Schleswig 7, Spirit Lake 6
Denison-Schleswig 5, Okoboji 1
East Sac County 6, Glidden-Ralston 5
#3 Underwood 7, Kingsley-Pierson 0
Boyer Valley 11, Westwood 10

Softball Scores

Glenwood 8, #14 Treynor 6

Red Oak man arrested on a Pott. County warrant Tuesday evening

News

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Red Oak was arrested Tuesday evening on a Pottawattamie County warrant. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year-old Braden Alan Gray was arrested at around 8-p.m. in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street, in Red Oak. He was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation. Gray was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Former treasurer of Ankeny Professional Firefighters union charged with theft for embezzling funds

News

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

An Ankeny firefighter faces first-degree theft charges for allegedly embezzling more than $72,000 from the Ankeny Professional Firefighters Local 4814 union. According to court documents, Zach Farrell was the union’s treasurer from 2020 to May 2024. A month later, in June, an investigation began.

The City of Ankeny says Farrell is a member of the Ankeny Fire Department and he is currently on administrative leave. The investigation started mid-June when union leaders reported a theft.

According to court records, union leaders say Farrell began acting “weird” a few months ago, when they were considering moving the union’s bank accounts from one bank to another. A search warrant shows the leaders realized Farrell was the only person with access to the accounts and despite calling him to gain access, those calls were not returned.

However, court records show the union leaders did eventually gain access to the accounts, looked through bank statements from the last five years, and saw transactions that were not related to the union: payments to personal credit cards, MidAmerican Energy bills, and cash withdrawals in Farrell’s name.

According to a criminal complaint, Farrell did admit to investigators that he used union funds to make “personal expenditures” not related to the union.

8-year-old dies after being backed over by a truck

News

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(UPDATE: Officials with the Ottumwa Community School District identified the 8-year-old boy who died Tuesday after being hit by a truck. Jaxxon Cain had just finished second grade at Douma Elementary School in Ottumwa, the school district posted on Facebook.)

(Ottumwa, Iowa) — An accident Tuesday afternoon in southeast Iowa claimed the life of a child from Ottumwa. The Iowa State Patrol says the 8-year-old died after being accidentally backed over by a pickup truck.  The incident happened shortly before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, in the east alley of the 200 block of North Hancock and Dewey Street in Ottumwa.

The unidentified child was riding a bicycle in an alley, and was in the pickup truck driver’s blind spot, when the accident occurred.

No charges have been filed and the incident remains under investigation by the Ottumwa Police Department and Iowa State Patrol.

1 teen dead, 2 others injured in a crash Tue. night in Fort Dodge

News

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) – A crash late Tuesday night in Fort Dodge resulted in the death of one teenager and injuries to two others. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened at around 11-p.m. in Loomis Park. A car driven by 16-year-old Leah Claire Lynch, of Ft. Dodge, was traveling through the park when the vehicle went out of control and struck a tree. Despite having worn her seat belt, Leah Lynch died at the scene.

Her passengers, 16-year-old Amyrra Marie Lumsden and 16-year-old Jessie Bibi Leyja, both of Ft. Dodge, were injured in the crash. Lumsden was flown by Life Flight to Mercy One in Des Moines. Leyja was treated at the scene and released. Both teens were wearing their seat belts.

The crash remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police and EMS.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Wed., July 3rd, 2024

Weather

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 3 to 8 mph.

Independence Day: Mostly cloudy w/a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 80. Light and variable wind becoming southwest at 5-10 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Mo. Cldy w/a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Low around 60. W/NW winds 10-20 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny & breezy, with a high near 76.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

Tuesday’s High temperature in Atlantic was 82. Our Low this morning was 57. We received .33-inches of rain yesterday (for a 2-day total of 2.28-inches). Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 88, and the Low was 62. The All-time Record High in Atlantic on July 3rd was 107 in 1936. The Record Low was 43 in 1967 & 1968. Sunrise today: 5:50-a.m. Sunset is at 8:57-p.m.

Iowa State Fair’s bird flu precautions

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio  Iowa) – Iowa State Fair C-E-O Jeremy Parsons says there will be a dairy cattle show at next month’s fair, but other activities involving dairy cattle may be changed or cancelled to protect the animals from the spread of bird flu.  “Our job is to showcase all of Iowa agriculture at its peak,” Parsons says, “and so we want to make sure we’re keeping those livestock safe.”

An Iowa Department of Agriculture order that went into effect Monday requires that dairy cattle be tested for bird flu within seven days of moving the cattle from the farm to a fair for a dairy show. Parsons says state fair officials are consulting with the state ag department about what’s best when it comes to how the dairy industry is showcased outside of the show ring.

“There will still be a dairy show at this year’s Iowa State Fair,” Parsons says. “Some of the other features, however, like the milking parlor and the Boulevard of Breeds might look a little bit different.” There are traditionally 70 different breeds of livestock featured in the State Fair’s Avenue of Breeds, including dairy cattle. There’s also a milking parlor on the fairgrounds that showcases the kind of mechanical equipment used in modern dairy operations, along with tutoring sessions for kids, who get to milk a cow themselves if they wish.

Keeping dairy cattle on the fairgrounds for the 11-day run of the State Fair could be an issue, however, during this year’s outbreak of avian influenza in some dairy herds. “We at the State Fair are evaluating our programming right now and we’ll soon be making some announcements,” Parsons says. The Iowa State Fair starts Thursday, August 8th and runs through the Sunday the 18th.

Parsons made his comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that will air Friday night on Iowa P-B-S.