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Demand is down, so are gasoline prices in Iowa

News

November 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – While there’s still much volatility in the market due to violence in the Middle East, gasoline prices are falling in Iowa as we reach November. Brian Ortner, spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the costs motorists are paying are continuing a slow decline. “The average across the state is $3.20 a gallon, which is great news for us,” Ortner says. “If we look a week ago, we were 10-cents more at $3.30. A month ago, we were 28 cents higher, so definitely good news to see the prices at the pumps are going down.”

A host of factors go into gasoline prices, including the weather, disasters and world events. “The biggest component of that, obviously, is the price of crude oil. That makes up more than 55% the cost of a gallon of gas, when it gets through all the processing,” Ortner says. “Here’s that month difference, we look a month ago, crude was trading about $92-$93 per barrel. Today, we’re about $82 per barrel.”

Now that summer is solidly in the rearview mirror, Ortner say pump prices should keep dropping. “We’re moving into the fall and winter months, which means we’re driving less, so that means the demand is lower,” Ortner says, “so that’ll help decrease those costs as well, and as we move towards the holidays, we expect to see the decline continue.”

Triple-A says the cheapest gas in the state can be purchased in Des Moines at three-12 a gallon, while the most expensive gas is in Dubuque at three-41.

Red Oak woman arrested Tue. evening for Public Intox.

News

November 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman Tuesday evening (10/31/23), for Public Intoxication. Authorities say 59-year-old Rhonda Jean Sperber, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 6:27-p.m. in the 1600 block of E. Summit Street. Sperber was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Wed., Nov. 1, 2023

Weather

November 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny & breezy. High near 46. S/SW winds @ 10-20 mph w/gusts to near 30. Wind chill values as low as 5 early.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. S/SW wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 53. S/SW @ 5-10.

Tom. Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 59.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 37. Our Low this morning was 14. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 78 and the Low was 32. The Record High on this date in Atlantic, was 78 in 1933 & 2022. The Record Low was 10 in 1895. Sunrise… 7:52. Sunset….6:15.

Iowa DNR seeks public’s help in its gray fox research

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Experts in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are asking Iowans — including trappers — for help in research that may explain why there are a dwindling number of gray fox in Iowa. Vince Evelsizer — a furbearer biologist for the D-N-R — says gray fox are pretty secretive, not very vocal and live primarily in wooded areas of eastern and southern Iowa.

“For the past 25 years or so their population trend has been downward, however we don’t know a whole lot about the gray fox. We know much more about the red fox than we do the gray fox,” Evelsizer says. “…Our ‘guess-timate’ is that there would be 10-20% of the gray fox out there that there used to be and that might be a generous estimate.”

The D-N-R is offering 400 dollars to trappers who catch a gray fox in a cage and turn the live animal over for the D-N-R’s research project so it can be fitted with a neck collar that has a tracking device. Evelsizer says Iowans who are certain they know where gray fox may be in their area can call the agency, because he and another staffer who’re working on the project might be able to catch the fox and put a G-P-S collar on it.

“Also if they find a fresh dead gray fox this fall and winter, we’d even like to have that for study as well. We can look at the health of that dead gray fox as far as what kind of shape was it in, what was the reason it died,” Evelsizer says, “so live foxes and dead foxes are helpful for our study.” The D-N-R conducted a survey between 2018 to 2021 and found next to zero gray fox were being trapped in Iowa, so it’s unlikely the population decline is because they’re being captured for their fur.

“What we think the likely causes are for their population decline are other things such as disease, changes to habitat and competition with other predators such as coyotes and bobcats,” Evelsizer says, “and even domestic dogs, too.”The state of Indiana has a similar project to track gray fox there. Evelsizer says the gray fox population is declining steadily in Midwestern states.

“However, in the southeastern U.S., the gray fox population is doing fine and then, also of interest, the gray fox are doing pretty well in the northern half of Minnesota,” Evelsizer says. “Why are they not doing well in the Midwest? We have some ideas, but we’d like to figure it out and get the answers through research so that we have a science based approach to it…knowing whether or not there are any kind of solutions we can implement.”

Gray fox are native to Iowa. An adult gray fox typically weighs between 10 and 12 pounds.

Third NW IA turkey operation hit by bird flu this month

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 31st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State and federal officials have confirmed bird flu has hit a third commercial turkey operation in northwest Iowa. The facility is in Buena Vista County and had about 30-thousand turkeys on site. Another turkey production facility in Buena Vista County was hit by bird flu two weeks ago.

On October 23rd, officials announced birds in a commercial turkey operation in neighboring Pocahontas County were being euthanized after bird flu had been detected there. From April through September of this year, there were NO cases of bird flu reported in the state.

According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture, though, there were two outbreaks of bird flu at the beginning of the year — one in late January at a Buena Vista County turkey production facility and another in mid-March in a backyard flock in Chickasaw County.

Iowa State’s Matt Campbell on the Big 12 title chase

Sports

October 31st, 2023 by admin

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell wants his players to remain focused on the process and not the standings. The Cyclones enter the final month of the regular season part of a five-way tie at the top of the Big 12 as they get ready to host Kansas.

Campbell says the Cyclones are doing what it takes to be successful.

It promises to be an electric atmosphere Saturday night under the lights against a Jayhawk team that is coming off an upset of Oklahoma.

ISU has won four of its last five and Campbell says it begins with protecting the football.

Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz on the firing of Brian Ferentz as Offensive coordinator

Sports

October 31st, 2023 by admin

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says Monday’s dismissal of his son, Brian, as offensive coordinator is a departure from his normal practice of making staff changes in the off-season. Interim AD Beth Goetz announced the current season will be Brian’s final one on the staff. The Hawkeyes have the nation’s lowest ranked offense.

Ferentz believes the off-season is the best time to make coaching changes.

Ferentz says he was notified of the decision over the weekend and while he would prefer it be made after the season he respects the chain of command.

Ferentz did not make any players available for interviews and says he wants them to remain focused on Saturday’s game against Northwestern in Wrigley Field.

Ferentz says Deacon Hill remains the starting quarterback. Hill is the nation’s lowest rated quarterback and is completing less than 38 percent of his passes.

Hill remains the starter even though he fumbled twice and threw an interception in a 12-10 loss to Minnesota.

Northwestern’s David Braun previews Iowa

Sports

October 31st, 2023 by admin

With a 4-4 record Northwestern has been a surprise this season. Interim coach David Braun took over after a scandal ridden summer that had the Wildcats seemingly headed for a disastorous season. They are coming off an upset win over Maryland and now prepares to play Iowa in Wrigley Field.

Braun says the Wildcats are preparing for the next challenge.

Braun on preparing for the Iowa defense.

Braun says the key for the Wildcat punt team will be to limit the touches of Iowa’s Cooper DeJean.

Western Iowa Conference Volleyball All-Conference Selections

Sports

October 31st, 2023 by Asa Lucas

First Team: 

-Aubree James (Treynor)

-Mattie Nielsen (Audubon)

-Nora Konz (Treynor)

-Mikenzie Brewer (Tri Center)

-Meya Wingert (Tri-Center)

-Haley Swanson (Treynor)

-Ella Tiarks (Treynor)

-Ayla Richardson (Riverside) 

Second Team: 

-Brooklyn Lange (Missouri Valley)

-Alyse Petersen (Underwood)

-Cassidy Cunningham (Tri-Center)

-Carly Henderson (Riverside)

-Ruby Patomson (Underwood

-Addie Hocker (Audubon)

-Harlow Miller (Audubon) 

-Elly Henderson (Riverside) 

Honorable Mentions:

-Alizabeth Jacobsoen (Underwood)

-Delaney Goshorn (AHSTW)

-Elyssa Amdor (Riverside)

-Bentley Rone (Riverside)

-Sophie Taylor (Riverside)

-Marki Bertelsen (Loma)

-Harlie Leaders (Tri-Center)

-Henley Arbaugh (Missouri Valley)

-Maili McKern (Treynor)

-Anna Larsen (Audubon) 

-Megan Williams (IKM-Manning)

“Do what you do Best” is CAM’s key for Friday night’s matchup

Sports

October 31st, 2023 by Asa Lucas

The (10-0) CAM Cougars will face off against the (9-1) Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears Thursday night in Algona for a trip to the UNI-Dome. The cougars are coming off a nail biting 36-34 victory over West Bend-Mallard last Friday. It was a game where CAM found themselves down 28-14 at halftime and needed some heroic play in the second half to pull off the come from behind victory.

For Head Coach Barry Bower the win showed the grit and mental toughness his team possess.

Quarterback Chase Spieker had a strong performance going 15-26 in the pocket, with 238 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Spieker’s legs ran the ball 27 times for 105 yards, and 3 scores. His top target on the night was Jack Follman who had 7 grabs, 132 receiving yards, and Spieker’s only two touchdowns through the air.

The connection they had last Friday night was not new to Coach Bower. He commented on the history that Follmann and Spieker share.

Now the Cougars have a chance to go back to the UNI-Dome with one more win. To advance, they will have to beat an equally tough Bishop Garrigan team.

When preparing for Thursday’s match up, Coach Bower noticed the execution, athleticism, and tenacity from the Golden Bears. Including the sharp play from their sophomore quarterback Tate Foertsch.

Bishop Garrigan is coming off an emotional 21-18 win as well, with an upset against the defending 8-Player State champions Remsen St. Mary’s.

As Coach Bower noted, Tate Foertsch has been impressive this year. Foertsch is 66-114 with 1030 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Next to him in the backfield is Caden Roethler who has 142 carries, 963 yards, and 17 rushing touchdowns.

To get a win on the road this Thursday November 2nd, Coach Bower wants his team to play focused and relaxed.

KJAN will bring you coverage of CAM against Bishop Garrigan starting at 6:00pm with the pregame show and kickoff is set for 7:00pm.

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