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Another US food company will quit buying pork from farms with gestation crates

Ag/Outdoor

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The nation’s largest food distributor has joined a growing list of restaurants and retailers urging pork producers to stop using gestation stalls for sows. Sysco executives released a written statement Monday, saying they take the company’s role as a “responsible corporate citizen very seriously” and would “work diligently with suppliers to ensure humane treatment of animals.” Sysco is the largest food distributor in the country, with over 40-billion dollars in sales last year in the U.S., Canada and Ireland. The president of the Humane Society of the United States says a growing list of food-service companies from McDonald’s to Costco are conveying a “no confidence vote” in gestation crates for pigs. Pork producers say the stalls keep the sows safe, as pregnant pigs are often aggressive and get injured in fights, but major players in the pork industry like Cargill and Smithfield are phasing out the use of gestation stalls.

 The National Pork Producers Council accuses what they refer to as “radical animal rights groups” of having the “goal of ending food-animal production in the U.S.” The pork producers also accuse the Humane Society of “not telling the truth about animal care” on America’s family farms.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Ump Calls his Final Out after 40 State Tournament Appearances

Sports

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A central Iowa man who has appeared in more state high school baseball tournaments than anyone else stepped off the diamond for the final time Monday. Gary Paulsen of Ogden umpired his last game during a record 40th appearance at the State Baseball Tournament.

Gary Paulsen (Radio Iowa photo)

He’s been calling balls and strikes for more than five decades. Paulsen called his first game as a junior in high school, joining his father and uncle on the diamond. “I was fortunate to work in the 50s and 60s with my dad and my uncle, in the 80s and 90s with my son and then, in the summer, I broke down and trained my grandson. So, that’s four generations of stupidity or whatever you want to call it,” Paulsen said with a laugh. “It’s been fun and I’ve actually been (umpiring) since probably 1957.” In addition to his family, Paulsen credits his long, successful career to good health and a lot of luck.  “My mother’s dad lived to be 94 and he was an active runner, so I think I have some of those genes in me,” Paulsen said. “I’ve been fortunate, other than one year I developed a blood clot during football season, otherwise I’ve been very fortunate to stay healthy.” Paulsen is also an accomplished basketball, track and football official.

He was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 1993.

Posted in Sports |

IFA conducting housing survey

News

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) is conducting a statewide housing survey that includes several public hearings, one of which will be held in Atlantic. I-F-A spokesperson, Ashley Jared, says they’ve hired R-D-G Planning & Design firm to help gather as much information as they can on the housing situation statewide.
“Both the current housing stock as well as future needs for Iowans’ housing needs. This will include a lot of different elements, one of those is hearing from the public. A lot of different communities throughout Iowa have really different housing needs, anything from workforce housing to acquisition rehab improvement needs,” Jared says. 

Another part of the plan includes “expert roundtables.” Jared says R-D-G will meet with housing experts and organizations throughout the state to get their opinions on how things can be improved. “And then the last element is the use of data. R-D-G is compiling a lot of data on the current housing situation in Iowa that will be used in conjunction from what we hear from the public,” according to Jared. The I-F-A hopes to gain a better understanding of the things it does through the survey. “The Iowa Finance Authority is really going to take all of the information and help us in our strategic planning. So, if there are things that we can do differently in our current programs or if we can form new programs to best help Iowans housing needs, we will go ahead and take a look at that,” she says.

Jared says you can help by giving your input at the public meetings. “Really we are just hoping that they will be completely honest with us and tell us not only what is happening now in their communities — what needs to be addressed or what they have too much of or need more of — but also in the future, so looking ahead,” Jared says. The survey results should be completed and ready by this fall. The first public meeting on the issue was Monday.. Other meetings will be held in August at yet be determined locations in Mason City, Waterloo, Burlington, Ottumwa, Tama and Atlantic. For more information, go to:www.RDGUSA.com/IowaHousing.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Red Oak teen arrested on burglary charge

News

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a Red Oak teen was arrested Monday afternoon on a burglary charge. 17-year old Eric Michael Chapin was taken into custody at around 3:25-p.m., on a Montgomery County warrant for Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Chapin was being held in the jail on $5,000 bond.

Posted in News |

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Tues., July 24th 2012

Podcasts, Weather

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 101. Our 22-hour low thru 5-a.m. today was 69. At 5-a.m. it was 80-degrees in Atlantic. Last year on this date, the High was 90, while the Low was 70. The All-time record High on this date in Atlantic was 110 in 1901. The Record Low was 42 in 1905. Sunrise is at 6:06, Sunset at 8:45.

Now, here’s the (podcast) forecast from Freese-Notis Meteorologist Harvey Freese…

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Posted in Podcasts, Weather |

The NWS Forecast for Cass & area Counties in Iowa

Weather

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

356 AM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012

…EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY…

TODAY…SUNNY. VERY HOT. HIGH AROUND 100. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. HEAT INDEX READINGS 101 TO 106.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE MID 70S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 102 THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. VERY HOT. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. BREEZY. HIGH AROUND 102. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH. HEAT INDEX READINGS 103 TO 108.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. LOW IN THE LOWER 70S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 60 PERCENT. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 102 THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING. NOT AS WARM. HIGH IN THE UPPER 80S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 60S.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. LOW IN THE MID 60S.

Posted in Weather |

Excessive Heat Warnings continue through late Wed. evening

Weather

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

338 AM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012

…AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR THE KJAN LISTENING AREA…

HIGHS IN THE UPPER 90’S  TO MID 100’S ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH HIGHS WEDNESDAY PERHAPS A DEGREE OR TWO COOLER. HEAT INDEX VALUES SHOULD PEAK NEAR OR A LITTLE ABOVE 105 DEGREES EACH AFTERNOON AS WELL. THE COMBINATION OF PROLONGED HOT TEMPERATURES AND SOME HUMIDITY WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY IF SIGNIFICANT PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT OBSERVED. THE PROLONGED NATURE OF THE HEAT…BOTH DAY AND NIGHT…WILL ACCUMULATE OVER TIME ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING. PROLONGED OUTDOOR ACTIVITY COULD CAUSE HEAT EXHAUSTION.

THE PROLONGED NATURE OF THIS HEAT WAVE MAKES IT ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR THOSE WHO WORK OUTDOORS OR DO NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. IF YOU MUST WORK OUTSIDE…TAKE PLENTY OF WATER BREAKS IN THE SHADE AND IF POSSIBLE SCHEDULE MORE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES FOR MORNING OR IN THE EVENING.

Posted in Weather |

Billingsley strong, Dodgers beat Cardinals 5-3

Sports

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chad Billingsley returned from the 15-day disabled list with a strong outing that ended a five-start losing streak and Luis Cruz hit a three-run homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 Monday night for their fifth straight victory. Cruz, recalled July 2 to replaced injured shortstop Dee Gordon, has two career homers and 12 RBIs. Eight of his 14 hits are for extra bases. His three-run shot in the second barely cleared the left-field wall — the ball conked left fielder Matt Holliday on the rebound — to give the Dodgers the early jump in their eighth straight win over St. Louis dating to April 17, 2011. Kenley Jansen struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 24 chances. The Dodgers also won eight in a row against St. Louis from 1975-76, their best streak in the series since moving to Los Angeles.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., July 24th 2012

News

July 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man wanted in Colorado and Missouri has been arrested in northern Iowa. The Floyd County Sheriff’s Department says 67-year-old Ronald Reed was arrested Friday. In Colorado, Reed is wanted on charges of sexually assaulting a minor child and indecent exposure. Missouri wants Reed on warrants for forgery charges.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A teen-age driver involved in a fatal crash has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide. Eighteen-year-old Oscar Ramirez entered the plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court. He was the driver of a sport-utility vehicle that crashed Jan. 30, killing 18-year-old Nino Segura of Sioux City.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s corn crop has deteriorated further with 40 percent now in very poor or poor condition. A week ago it was 27 percent. The USDA says it has received reports of farmers chopping down their corn.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The mom of one of the two missing Iowa cousins says she went through a polygraph test that should prove she had nothing to do with their disappearance. Misty Cook-Morrissey says she was asked during yesterday’s test about whether she had anything to do with the abduction of her daughter, 10-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey, and niece, 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins.

Posted in News |

WILD FIRE DANGER INCREASES ACROSS WESTERN & CENTRAL IA

News, Weather

July 23rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES: SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-

531 PM CDT MON JUL 23 2012

…WILD FIRE DANGER INCREASING ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA…

THE COMBINATION OF VERY DRY CONDITIONS…AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES FROM 95 TO 105 DEGREES…HUMIDITY FROM 20 TO 40 PERCENT AND A SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH HAVE COMBINED TO PRODUCE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR WILD FIRES ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. THE SITUATION IS MOST DANGEROUS IN GRASSY AREAS AND RANGELAND. THE HOT AND DRY WEATHER PATTERN WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA THROUGH MIDWEEK. DURING THIS TIME…REFRAIN FROM OUTDOOR BURNING AND BE VERY CAREFUL WITH SMOKING MATERIALS. SEVERAL COUNTIES HAVE BURN BANS IN EFFECT. PLEASE CHECK IN YOUR COUNTY BEFORE BURNING.

ANY OPEN FIRE COULD SPREAD EASILY. A COOL FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE UPPER MIDWEST WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY WILL PROVIDE THUNDERSTORM CHANCES AND COOLER TEMPERATURES SHOULD SHOULD DIMINISH THE FIRE THREAT.

Posted in News, Weather |