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Red Kettle Campaign set to begin soon in Cass County

News

November 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Local members of the Cass County Unit of the Salvation Army met this week to launch the “Red Kettle Campaign” for 2011.  JJ Kuzma from Salvation Army in Omaha attended the meeting with Duane McFadden, Chairman of the Red Kettle Campaign and Teresa Kanning Co-Chair of the Cass County Salvation Army unit.  As always, funds raised by the local Kettle Campaign stay in Cass County and are used for projects within the County. Last year the Cass County unit raised $5,827.

Among the issues discussed during the meeting held Wednesday, was the upcoming holiday season and setting up bell ringing for the season.  In the last several years, the unit has collected money by ringing bells for the campaign at Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee and Fareway, as well as at the Grand Holiday Lighting. This year’s Grand Lighting ceremony takes place in the Atlantic City Park on November 17th,  at 5:30.  The bells will also be rung during the Lighted Christmas Parade, on December 3rd.   The funds raised by the campaign stay in Cass County.  During the last year, the funds were made available for such programs as the “Shop with a Cop” program, gift cards to local schools, to assist students in meeting various needs, assisting stranded motorists and transient individuals,  fans for distribution by West Central Community Action Center, and, back packs to be distributed by the administrative staff. This year the Cass County Salvation Army unit also partnered with the Parents as Teachers Program to purchase car seats for the program’s use.

New this year, Salvation Army has the ability to accept donations thru the National Salvation Army website.  Anyone wanting to donate to the local unit can go on the website and specify which local unit they want their Red Kettle donation to go to.  More information will be released on this program at a later date.  Volunteers to ring bells are welcome; any person, family, community group or religious organization who would like to sign up for a shift to ring bells for Salvation Army, please contact Duane McFadden at 712-781-2287.

Man injured when hit by train in Council Bluffs

News

November 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man has been injured when he was struck by a train while watching another train pass by in Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reported the man, who wasn’t identified, was struck by the train this (Thursday) afternoon. Police say the man was standing near the westbound tracks in the area, watching an eastbound train pass, when he was struck by a westbound train. Police Sgt. Jason Bailey says the man suffered an injury to his arm. It took the train several seconds to stop after it hit the man. It wasn’t immediately known how fast the train was traveling. A bystander says he saw the man under the train after the accident.

Class 1-A/2-A Thursday State Volleyball Results

Sports

November 10th, 2011 by Jim Field

Class 1-A First Round

  • (3-0) Tripoli 25-25-25, Woodward-Granger 1-7-13 — Recap
  • (3-1) LeMars Gehlen Catholic 21-25-25-25, East Union 25-12-18-10 — Recap
  • (3-0) Boyden-Hull 25-25-25, Stanton 21-10-21 — Recap
  • (3-1) Janesville 25-24-25-25, Holy Trinity Catholic 23-26-19-21 — Recap

Class 2-A First Round

  • (3-0) Grundy Center 25-25-25, Sheldon 16-23-20 — Recap
  • (3-0) Lake Mills 25-25-25, St. Albert 22-22-13 — Recap
  • (3-0) Western Christian 25-25-25, Kuemper Catholic 10-16-21 — Recap
  • (3-0) Dike-New Hartford 25-25-25, West Liberty 22-14-22 — Recap

Friday Class A/4-A Football Semi-Finals

Sports

November 10th, 2011 by Jim Field

Class A Semi-Finals:

  • Final — Lisbon 24, Newman Catholic 10
  • Final — West Hancock 48, Madrid 38

Class 4-A Semi-Finals:

  • 4:30 pm — Cedar Falls (11-1) vs. Bettendorf (11-1)
  • 7:30 pm — WDM Valley (12-0) vs. Ankeny (11-1)

Iowa vs. Chicago State Basketball Preview

Sports

November 10th, 2011 by Jim Field

Iowa (0-0) vs. Chicago State (0-0); Friday, 7 p.m.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
On The Air: No TV, Radio — KJAN AM 1220 (pre-game 6:00 pm)
Iowa-Chicago State Probable Starters:
Iowa Hawkeyes:
G- Bryce Cartwright
G- Matt Gatens
F- Eric May
F- Melsahn Basabe
C- Devon Archie

Chicago State Cougars
G- Jamill Harris
G- Ardarius Simmons
F- Jeremy Robinson
F- Aaron Williams
F- Lee Fisher

Notes:
Iowa opens its second season under coach Fran McCaffery when it
hosts Chicago State on Friday night. The game will not be
televised…Chicago State returns just three letter winners from
last season’s 6-26 team…The Hawkeyes finished 11-20 a year ago
but are expected to be more competitive in 2011-12…Hawkeyes
center Andrew Brommer will miss the game with sprained right knee.

Thursday 8-Man Semi-Finals

Sports

November 10th, 2011 by Jim Field

Thursday @ the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls

8-Man:

  • Final — Murray 58, Clarksville 35
  • Final — Fremont-Mills 69, Armstrong-Ringsted 26

Nebraska Regent Fears For Player, Fan Safety at PSU

Sports

November 10th, 2011 by Jim Field

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A University of Nebraska regent says he fears for the safety of the Cornhuskers’ football traveling party and fans at Saturday’s game at Penn State. He wants assurances a security plan is in place to protect them.  Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln said he began worrying about safety while watching televised coverage of the scene in State College, Pa., after coach Joe Paterno’s firing Wednesday night. He said Penn State has a raucous atmosphere on a normal football Saturday, and the school owes Nebraska answers.  Penn State police chief Tyrone Parham wrote in an email to the Associated Press on Thursday that his force is “taking extra precautions and has added additional resources for the game.”  Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne declined to comment.

Another Bomb Threat at Atlantic Middle School – update 11:35-a.m.

News

November 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Atlantic Community School District report another bomb threat was discovered and reported to the office at the Atlantic Middle School. In a statement released at around 11:15-a.m., the district says “The Atlantic Police Department was notified. The police have searched the building and feel the building is safe. The Middle School staff and students have been evacuated for a short period of time as a precautionary measure. The school district will continue to work with the local law enforcement to ensure the safety of all students in the district.”

Atlantic Police Lt. Dave Erickson said at 11:30-a.m., classes were dismissed and students sent to the Trojan Bowl. They will return to their classrooms at Noon.

One week ago today (Thursday) a similar bomb threat was discovered at the Atlantic Middle School, and one student, a 12-year old male, was arrested on a charge of making a terrorist threat. On October 5th, a bomb threat was discovered at the Atlantic High School. No arrests have been made in connection with that incident.

Pay Tribute to Veterans by Giving Blood this Veterans Day Weekend

News

November 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The American Red Cross is asking people to roll up their sleeves and give blood or platelets this Veterans Day weekend to honor those who have served their country. Officials say at the same time, anyone who comes to donate will have the opportunity to sign a card and include a personal message that will become part of the annual American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. 

The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have joined together for Holiday Mail for Heroes, a program through which people can sign holiday cards for members of the U.S. military, veterans and their families. Pitney Bowes will then screen the cards for hazardous materials, and the Red Cross will sort and deliver them to military installations, veterans medical facilities and other locations during the holidays.

Tricia Quinn, CEO of the Red Cross Midwest Blood Services Region, says “By giving blood this Veterans Day weekend, donors can pay tribute to those who serve this country. Quinn says the blood drives will “Give donors the chance to help hospital patients who need blood, and at the same time, write messages of thanks to veterans and members of the military for their service.”

On Friday (Nov. 11th) an American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Cass County, from 8:30-a.m. until 2:30-p.m., at the Griswold High School. If you’d like to donate, simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment, or for more information.

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. 

EPA air quality “watch list” made public: Bluffs Company included

News

November 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is making an air quality “watch list” available to the public for the first time. The EPA watch list names alleged air pollution offenders who’ve been out of compliance without state or local resolution within 270 days. Jason Marcel, with the DNR air quality bureau, says the list used to be for internal use only. “They made a decision here recently to make that, what they call the watch list, more publicly available. It was in response to repeated freedom of information act requests,” Marcel said. A few Iowa firms have shown up on the list in recent months.

“The expectation from the EPA to the state and local level is that enforcement actions should be processed in a timely manner, so the watch list is a check on that when the time limit is exceeded,” Marcel said. The EPA now publishes the watch list on its website. The September list included Griffin Pipe Products of Council Bluffs, Diamond V Mills in Cedar Rapids and Grain Processing Corporation in Muscatine. Only Griffin Pipe remained on the list in October. Marcel said enforcement for Griffin Pipe has been turned over to the EPA because water quality violations are also involved.

(Radio Iowa)