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Teachers in Council Bluffs & Lewis Central ask for 6 to 8 percent salary increase

News

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The chief negotiator for the Council Bluffs Education Association says his union has asked the Council Bluffs School Board for a total package increase of 8.02-percent. Robert Hansen says the CBEA’s membership is mindful that the district has financial issues, but he says his goal to make sure teachers in the district “Dont’t lose money out of pocket.” The education association negotiates on behalf of the 623 teachers employed in Council Bluffs schools.

Last year, the Council Bluffs School Board approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Council Bluffs Education Association that included a total package increase of 2.73 percent. This year the district has counter-offered what would be an increase of about 1.68 percent. Janet Reiners, the executive director of human resources and a negotiator for the district, told the Omaha World-Herald that the district’s counter-offer is to “keep the (pay) base the same at $31,929,” but allow teachers to get the automatic increases scheduled for each year they work for the district. The current agreement means teacher pay ranges from $37,676 to $69,797, depending on experience and education level.

Both Hansen and Reiners expect negotiations to go smoothly.Lewis Central’s Education Association, negotiating on behalf the Lewis Central school district’s 200 teachers, has asked for a total package increase of 6.77 percent this year, while the district has countered with no increase in the base and a smaller district contribution to the insurance package. Superintendent Mark Schweer said the two sides aren’t expected to meet again until they know what the health insurance premiums numbers will be.  Schweer said those numbers could rise by as much as 10 percent.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Mon., Jan. 30th, 2012

Podcasts, Weather

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area…

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Pickup truck stolen from Villisca

News

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

(Please see the later version of this story – posted at 9:30-a.m. 1/30/12. The vehicle has been found.)

Authorities in Montgomery County are asking for the public’s help in locating a pickup truck which was reported stolen out of Villisca, Sunday. The white, 2009 Ford Ranger extended cab truck with Iowa license plate 336 WZX, was taken from in front of a home in the 500 block of East 8th Street in Villisca, sometime between 11:30-p.m Saturday, and Noon on Sunday. If you have seen the vehicle or know where it is at, contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at  712-623-5107, or Crimestoppers, at 1-800-432-1001.

MICHEAL H. JEWELL, 66, of Audubon (Svcs 2-1-12)

Obituaries

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

MICHEAL H. JEWELL, 66, of Audubon, died Fri., Jan. 27th, at home. A Mass of Christian Burial service for MICHEAL JEWELL will be held 11-a.m. Wed., Feb. 1st, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where a family visitation will be held beginning at 6pm Tue., Jan. 31st.

Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, in Audubon.

MICHEAL JEWELL is survived by:

His wife  – Mary, of Audubon.

His sons – Steven (Jammie) Jewell, & Kevin (Tricia), Jewell, of of San Antonio, TX; & Jeffrey Jewell, of Lowellville, OH.

His mother – Mildred Rogers, of Council Bluffs.

His step-mother: Esther Jewell, of Lincoln, NE.

His brothers & sisters – Eric (Jane) Rogers, of Council Bluffs; Scott (Lynne) Rogers, of Underwood; Merridy (Mick) Rogers, of Sykesville, MD; Elise (Nile) Fiala, of Des Moines; & Bryon Jewell, of Lincoln, NE.

3 grandchildren, in-laws, other relatives, and friends.

WALTER AUGUST MORDHORST, 93, of Harlan (Svcs 2-2-12)

Obituaries

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

WALTER AUGUST MORDHORST, 93, of Harlan, died Sun., Jan. 29th, at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. Funeral services for WALTER MORDHORST will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Feb. 2nd, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 2-9pm Wed., Feb. 1st, with the family greeting friends from 6-8pm, and a Prayer service at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery at Portsmouth.

WALTER MORDHORST is survived by:

His wife – Bernice, of Harlan.

His step-daughter: Norma Jean (Dale) Winn, of Westminister, CA.

His step-son: Marlin Gubbels, of Ft. Dodge, IA.

His sisters – Anne Marie, of Bennington, NE.,, & Dorothy Peetz, of Omaha, NE.

7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

JOSEPH E. LEUSCHEN, 91, of Earling (Svcs 2-1-12)

Obituaries

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JOSEPH E. LEUSCHEN, 91, of Earling, died Sat., Jan. 28th, at the Little Flower Haven Nursing Home. A Mass of Christian Burial service for JOSEPH LEUSCHEN will be held 11-a.m. Wed., Feb. 1st, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Earling. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 8am-2pm Tue.,  and at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, from 3-9pm, Tuesday, with a Wake service at 7pm.

Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

JOSEPH LEUSCHEN is survived by:

His sons – Robert (Connie) Leuschen, of Holstein, IA; Thomas (Sharon) Leuschen, of Omaha, NE; Michael (Jennine) Leuschen, of Papillion, NE; Dale (Kathy) Leuschen, of Warrensburg, MO., & Richard (Barbara) Leuschen, of Holstein, IA.

His daughters – LuAnn (Will) Grell, of Hornick, IA; Linda (Russett, of Dubuque, & Kay (Lyle) Kenkel, of West Des Moines.

His sisters – Ann Wilwerding, of Earling; Norma (Francis) Schmitz, of Denison, & Ruth (Don) Fredrichsen, of Council Bluffs.

His brother – Roman (sally) Leuschen, of Westphalia.

29 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Forecast for Cass & surrounding counties, Mon., Jan. 30, 2012

Weather

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

336 AM CST MON JAN 30 2012 NWS/Des Moines

NEAR RECORD HIGHS TODAY

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. WARMER. HIGH AROUND 60. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 50. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY...PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S.

 

Sal Guinta to talk in Omaha, about PTSD

News

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Iowa native and medal of honor recipient, Sal Guinta (Joon-tuh), will speak today (Monday) at an event in Omaha on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how it impacts soldiers.  “I think everyone has issues because of the (lives) that we were living for those 15 months during that deployment, to come back to normal life is such a drastic change,” he explains. “Everyone goes through moments of feeling as an outsider and trying to adjust back to what is normal. But I think with the proper amount of support and people out there to help, you can overcome that and you can easily pick up with a normal life.”

Guinta says soldiers now receive much support when they return home and the public welcomes them with open arms. That wasn’t the case 50 some years ago when Vietnam veterans returned, and he credits those vets for making it easier for today’s soldiers. Guinta says the Vietnam vets said the way they were treated would never happen again and they are ensuring that. Giunta, a Hiawatha native, was awarded the military’s highest honor for his bravery during combat in Afghanistan. He chose not to re-enlist in the military and is now a student at Colorado State University.

“They have this new thing called the post-9-11 G-I Bill which is essentially going to pay 100 percent of my college tuition, so I think I’m gonna jump on that knowledge bandwagon and ride that as long as I can,” Guinta explained. Guinta will be speaking at the third annual “At Ease Luncheon” at the Century Link Center.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

No. 16 Indiana beats Iowa 103-89

Sports

January 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Freshman Cody Zeller scored a season-high 26 points to help No. 16 Indiana defeat Iowa 103-89 on Sunday night. Zeller made 11 of 12 shots and had four assists and three steals for the Hoosiers (17-5, 5-5 Big Ten), who scored more than 100 points in a conference game for the first time since defeating Iowa 110-79 on March 12, 1995. Christian Watford scored 15 points, Verdell Jones III had 14 points and nine assists and Victor Oladipo had 12 points and six rebounds for the Hoosiers, who had lost four of five. Josh Oglesby scored a season-high 24 points and Matt Gatens added 20 for Iowa (11-11, 3-6). The Hawkeyes shot 63 percent from the field, but committed 17 turnovers. Since defeating Michigan, the Hawkeyes have lost at Purdue, at home to Nebraska and at Indiana. Iowa and Indiana will meet again in Iowa City on Feb. 19.

 

2 NW IA residents killed, 1 injured in Adair County Crash, Sunday

News

January 29th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Two Sioux City residents died and another was injured during a crash on Interstate 80 Sunday morning about a mile east of Casey, in Adair County. The Iowa State Patrol says 58-year old Cynthia Piester, and her daughter, 38-year old Jennifer Piester, died in the crash. Cynthia’s husband, 60-year old Johnny Piester, who was driving the SUV, was injured, and transported by Stuart Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, where he was listed in fair condition Sunday night.

Officials say Piester’s 2000 Chevy Trail Blazer was traveling east on I-80 at around 10:50-a.m., when, for reasons unknown, the SUV entered the median, went between the bridges of the Middle River, and came into contact with the rock embankment. The vehicle rolled onto its roof, made contact with the west bank of the river, and slid across the river ice before coming to rest partially submerged on the east bank of the river.

All three of the accident victims were wearing their seatbelts. The accident resulted in the east and westbound inside lanes of I-80 being closed. The westbound inside lane was closed for about two hours, while the eastbound inside lane remained closed for a little more than four-hours.

The accident remains under investigation.