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Iowa early News Headlines: Mon., Dec. 17th 2012

News

December 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa lawmakers are questioning whether Governor Terry Branstad has overstepped his authority by signing off on bonuses paid to two state directors, raising their pay beyond state salary caps. Courtney Kay-Decker, director of the Iowa Department of Revenue, has received an $800-per-pay-period housing allowance for her first year on the job. That makes her annual compensation more than $175,000. Public Safety Commissioner K. Brian London reportedly received a more than $16,000 recruitment bonus, making his annual pay $145,000.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Two men and a woman have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a man whose body was found in a Davenport field. Robby Kohn’s body was found December 8th, four days after 20-year-old Barry Hamilton of Chicago bailed Kohn out of jail. Police say Hamilton, 20-year-old Jessica Loerzel of Davenport, and 21-year-old Darious Johnson of Chicago drove the 41-year-old Kohn to a field and shot him.

HOPKINTON, Iowa (AP) — Fire has destroyed a building at Bacon Recycling in the eastern Iowa town of Hopkinton. Fire Chief Craig Wilson tells Cedar Rapids television station KCRG-TV that the blaze began around 5 a.m. Saturday.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State’s decision to play freshman quarterback Sam Richardson in the final two games of the regular season resulted in a win, a loss and a lot of hope for the future. Now Richardson has the chance to grow some more in Iowa State’s December 31st’s Liberty Bowl against Tulsa.

Posted in News |

NWS Forecast for Cass & area Counties: Mon., Dec. 17th 2012

Weather

December 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…ATLANTIC

328 AM CST MON DEC 17 2012

TODAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY FOG THROUGH MID MORNING. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHWEST AROUND 5 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 20S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHEAST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. BREEZY…COLDER. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…SNOW…BREEZY. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S. CHANCE OF SNOW 80 PERCENT.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE MORNING. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S.

Posted in Weather |

Area school boards hold regular meetings tonight

News

December 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

At least two area school district boards of education are planning to hold their regular meetings tonight (Monday). The CAM and Elk Horn Kimballton School Board meetings both begin at 7-p.m., in Anita and Elk Horn, respectively. In Anita, the CAM Board will hold its Annual/Reorganizational meeting in the High School Media Center.

During the session, they will discuss, and possibly act on: a Resolution setting the bid date and public hearing with regard to the multipurpose building; Extra-curricular activities; Semester graduates; Revisions to Board Policies; a Wellness Center request, and the CAM Education Association Initiation of Bargaining toward the 2013-2014 Master Contract.

In Elk Horn, the EHK School Board will discuss the Early Start Calendar for 2013-2014 and try to answer any questions with regard to Reorganization and the related petitions. They’ll also discuss and possibly act on suggested changes to the Early Retirement package, as well as approve the second reading of Board Policies, series 500.

Posted in News |

Atlantic Park & Rec Board meeting takes place tonight

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet this (Monday) evening in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. During their session, which begins at 5:15, the board will receive updates on the Schildberg Recreation Area Campground, Park Maintenance Building and Sunnyside Park Tennis Court Reconstruction. They’ll also hear an update on the Schildberg Recreation Area Dog Park, and act on a request to move forward with a proposal to the Atlantic City Council for fundraising.

The Board will also discuss the formation of a Building Committee to put together ideas to be presented to the Park Board, and, they’re expected to hear an update on engineering and a plan that’s in the works for a Boat Ramp near the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Prior to adjournment, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring will provide his report to the Board, including a review of his meeting with the Schildberg Committee with regard to kiosks, mileage signs and Vision Iowa grants.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Census of Agriculture surveys are in the mail

Ag/Outdoor

December 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The U.S. Census Bureau counted the number of people in America in 2010. Now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing to collect data for the “Census of Agriculture.” Renee Picanso is director of the project. “The Census is used by everyone in agriculture and rural America as well,” she says. “It’s used to base numerous decisions on as well as to formulate policy and planning for rural America.” The Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years. Three million surveys for the latest census were mailed Friday.

Farmers are asked a range of questions, including how much they spend to put in a crop and how many animals were raised on their farm in the past year. “We do have a few new questions this year,” Picanso says. “We have an expanded section on internet use. We have an expanded section on equine and we’re also asking additional questions on renewable energy, to find out what’s going on on the farms with use and development of renewable energy.” According to Picanso, the time required to fill out the survey depends on the type of operation you have. “We’ve estimated a maximum of 60 minutes,” Picanso says. “But there are many producers who only farm one crop or maybe have only one livestock item and in that case it can take as little as 15 minutes to fill it out.”

The due date for the survey is February 4th of 2013. “Farmers can respond via mail or over the internet,” Picanso says. “Any farmer or rancher who doesn’t respond by February 4 will get a follow-up questionnaire in the mail or a phone call or even a personal visit.” Participation in the Census is required by law and, like the U.S. Census of people, individual responses are to be kept confidential. The first Census of Agriculture was conducted in 1820, along with the census count of people. After the 1978 Census of Agriculture, the USDA decided to send out the census every five years, in years ending with a two or seven.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Rollover accident in Pott. County Sunday evening

News

December 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Slippery roads may have been partially to blame for a rollover accident Sunday evening, in Pottawattamie County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2005 Ford Mustang driven by 26-year old Santosh Servisetti, of Lincoln, NE., was traveling west on Interstate 80 one-mile east of the Shelby exit, when the car went out of control at around 6:45-p.m. . The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled over before coming to rest on its top on a barbed wire fence. Servisetti, who was wearing a seat belt, refused medical treatment at the scene.

Posted in News |

Raiders shut out Chiefs 2nd time ever, 15-0

Sports

December 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sebastian Janikowski kicked five field goals, Darren McFadden rushed for 110 yards and the Oakland Raiders shut out Kansas City for the second time ever, beating the Chiefs 15-0 on Sunday. The Raiders (4-10) overwhelmed the undermanned Chiefs (2-12) to snap a six-game losing streak. Sandwiched around those losses are a pair of wins over Kansas City, a rare bright spot in this disappointing season in Oakland.

There has been little to cheer for this season for the Chiefs, who have lost 10 of 11 games and are tied for the second most losses in franchise history behind a 2-14 mark in 2008.

Posted in Sports |

Ohio State, Iowa win at Grapple at the Garden

Sports

December 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

NEW YORK (AP) — Iowa and Ohio State each won a pair of duals as 14 teams competed in what organizers said was the first collegiate wrestling competition in the history of Madison Square Garden. Iowa won 18 of 20 matches while defeating Hofstra 42-0 and topping Bucknell 34-9 in the inaugural Grapple at the Garden on Sunday. Ohio State routed Hofstra 38-3 and Maryland 34-3.

The Hawkeyes host the Buckeyes on Jan. 4 in a matchup of two of the nation’s best teams. Maryland earned a split of its two duals when Carl Buchholz edged Nebraska’s Donny Longendyke in overtime to give the Terrapins an 18-17 victory over the Cornhuskers.

Posted in Sports |

ISU RB Johnson out for Liberty Bowl

Sports

December 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State running back Shontrelle Johnson will miss the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31 against Tulsa with a knee injury. Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads says Johnson injured his right knee making a cut during practice on Saturday. Rhoads says Johnson likely will have surgery in January. Johnson started six games this season. He leads Iowa State (6-6) with 504 yards rushing.

Iowa State likely will start James White against Tulsa (10-3). White rushed for 469 yards on 5.3 yards per carry this season. Johnson’s injury also could open up more playing time for backup Jeff Woody.

Posted in Sports |

ISU QB Richardson adjusts to being starter

Sports

December 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State’s decision to play freshman quarterback Sam Richardson in the final two games of the regular season resulted in a win, a loss and a lot of hope for the future. Now Richardson has the chance to grow some more. Iowa State (6-6) earned a berth in the Liberty Bowl against Tulsa (10-3), giving Richardson more time to increase his familiarity with the rest of the starting offense. The Cyclones say the experience from playing in a pair of games and working as the starter in practice is already paying off. Richardson says he’s been able to mold his game to fit the rest of the starters in practice.

Posted in Sports |