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Gov. Reynolds Issues Disaster Proclamation Activating Federal Highway Administration Funds for Bridge Repair

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Thursday) issued a disaster proclamation for Allamakee and Clayton County in response to a sudden structural failure of a border bridge on February 25. The bridge is located in Lansing, Iowa on Iowa Highway 9 and connects to Wisconsin Highway 35. The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through March 30, 2024.

The governor’s proclamation activates the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Repair (ER) Program which authorizes emergency relief funding to cover the costs of repair or reconstruction of federal-aid routes that have suffered severe damage as a result of sudden structural failure.

Gov. Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Allamakee and Clayton Counties in response to a sudden structural failure of a border bridge on February 25.

Power line arc likely the cause of a fire Thursday afternoon near Grant

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Montgomery County, Iowa) – Officials with the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency said Thursday (Today), an overhead power line to a residence may have arced and/or malfunctioned, sparking a grass fire that damaged items on the property at 3153 110th Street, east of Grant.
The incident happened at around 2:43-p.m.  Firefighters from the Grant, Elliott and Villisca Fire Departments responded to the scene. Upon fire crews’ arrival, they observed the grass fire had extended through the yard, encompassing a planter, fifth wheel camper and old truck cargo box. The flames had also spread to approximately 10 bales.
Mutual Aid was requested/received from the Griswold Fire Department. Fire crews were able to initiate a quick knock down on the fire and stop its spread to the north where there were hogs and hog buildings. The blazed was deemed under control at 3:41-p.m. Firefighters remained on scene late this (Thursday) afternoon, conducting salvage/overhaul operations.
The residence had experienced a power outage just before the fire was observed. The Montgomery County EMA, 9-1-1 dispatch and Red Oak Fire Department provided additional assistance.
(Photos from the Montgomery County EMA Facebook page)

Siouxland Food Bank gets record donation

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Food Bank of Siouxland got a record-breaking donation today (Thursday) from Perdue Farms and the Feeding America program. Food Bank Director Jacob Wanderscheid says Perdue delivered 80-thousand pounds of frozen chicken breasts.

“This will be the biggest single donation that we received at one time of a greatly needed product in chicken,” he says. “Protein is the number one item that gets asked for, and top three of the categories that get distributed.” He says it will fill up their freezer space.

“We did work with Perdue to try to get it in two different shipments so that we could get the first shipment to get into the warehouse. We have room for the second one and we’re working with our partners like Hope Food Pantry in Sioux Center distribute this.It should start leaving our warehouse by Monday,” Wanderscheid says. Gary Malenke is the senior vice president of Perdue Farms in Sioux Center, and says the Siouxland donation is part of a larger overall effort.

Jacob Wanderscheid next to a pallet of chicken. (KSCJ photo)

“Today is the single largest donation that Perdue has ever made the history of the company,” he says. “Over three-point-three million pounds of product being delivered across the United States today. really kind of in recognition of leap day and you know the need for another day to feed ourselves.”

The Siouxland area covers 11 counties and it is estimated that more than 25-thousands resident don’t have enough food, including 42 percent of all children.

New mobile IWD office unveiled

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds unveiled a new mobile workforce office today (Thursday) that’ll travel around the state to help connect out-of-work Iowans with new jobs. Reynolds says it’s part of her initiative to focus on “re-employment.” She says her bill passed in 2022 to limit unemployment benefits to 16 weeks maximum has reduced the average amount of time Iowans get benefits.

“Nine-point-six weeks on unemployment that is the shortest amount of time in more than 50 years. And significantly better than the national average of more than 14 weeks,” Reynolds says. Reynolds says the mobile workforce office will help with the state’s ongoing efforts to alleviate the state’s workforce shortage. She says about 60-thousand jobs are open, many in the health care field.

The 32-foot workforce bus cost nearly half a million dollars and was paid for with a mix of COVID relief funds and other federal grants.

Creston teen cited following a property damage accident

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston cited a man for Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance (accident related), Wednesday. Authorities say a 1997 GMC pickup driven by 16-year-old Justin Ray Loudon, of Creston, was turning south from Swan Street onto Maple, when the pickup sideswiped a 2006 Chevy Impala that was legally parked on the west side of the street in the 600 block of N. Maple. The accident happened at around 3:45-p.m.

The pickup sustained $500 damage. Damage to the car owned by Michelle Henry, of Creston, was estimated  at $1,500. No injuries were reported.

Endangered person advisory: Tama Police Dept. & Meskwaki P-D

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DPS) – An endangered person advisory is being issued for seven-year-old Milla Keahna. Milla was reported missing to the Meskwaki Nation Police Department. Milla was reportedly last seen with her mother, Starla Mae Marie Lincoln, or possibly her father, Redmond Keahna.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Milla, Starla, or Redmond is asked to call 911 or the Tama County Communications at 641.484.3760 and dial 1 for dispatch, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department tip line at 641.481.0840, or call the Marshall County Crime Stoppers at 641.753.1234, Text 274637 and “Marshall” followed by tip message, or online: marshallcountycs.com.

Milla Keahna

BRETT NICHOLAS GUBBELS, 34, of Westphalia (3-2-2024)

Obituaries

February 29th, 2024 by Jim Field

BRETT NICHOLAS GUBBELS, 34, of Westphalia died February 27, 2024.  A Mass of Christian Burial for BRETT NICHOLAS GUBBELS will be held 10-a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is assisting the family.

Visitation at St. Boniface Catholic Church will be held from 4-until 8-p.m. Friday, March 1st.

Burial is in the St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia.

BRETT NICHOLAS GUBBELS is survived by:

Parents:  Glen & Sharon Gubbels, of Westphalia.

Sister:  Samantha (Kevin) Kruse, of Redfield.

His Niece:  Quinn Kruse, of Redfield.

His Nephew:  Harrison Kruse, of Redfield.

Southwest Iowa Athletes selected for IBCA 2024 Pizza Ranch All-Star Games

Sports

February 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The IBCA has announced their lineup of Pizza Ranch All Stars for the 2024 All Star Games. Below are lists of local athletes selected.

Southwest Iowa – Girls

Coaches: Ben Anderson (Bondurant-Farrar) and Joe Wollum (CAM)

Number Name School
10 Tyme Boettcher Panorama
12 Kayla Reis Dallas Center-Grimes
14 Danika Arnold Glenwood
20 Abby Hall Des Mones Christian
22 Lindsey Davis Nodaway Valley
24 Eva Steffensen CAM
30 Maclayn Houston West Harrison
32 Elise Yaeger WDM Valley
40 Erica Rust Harlan
42 Aili Tanke Johnston
50 Sophie Hope Waukee
52 Vanessa Bickford Dallas Center-Grimes

 

Southwest Iowa- Boys

Coaches: Scott Rucker (Treynor) and Justin Einerson (WDM Dowling)

Number Name School
10 Grady Jeppesen Riverside
12 Jacob Khounsourath Nevada
14 Redek Born Norwalk
20 Luke Winkel Ankeny Centennial
22 Jace Tams Treynor
24 Carson Johnson Ankeny
30 Jonovan Wilkinson Roland-Story City
32 Mason Costello Waukee
40 Tanner Berggren Bondurant-Farrar
42 Adam Bryte ADM
50 Evan Hammer Carroll
52 Colton Rasmussen Atlantic

NE Iowa church is ‘net zero’ after converting to solar power

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A report from the U-S Department of Energy found Iowa churches are below the national average for use of renewable energy, though a church in northeast Iowa is helping to change that. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah is one of just 17 houses of worship in Iowa that uses solar power, according to the report. Jim Fritz has been a member of the congregation for about 30 years and first proposed the idea. He says it started in his own backyard.

“We had also done a lot of solar at our house, and I’d done about all I possibly could, and didn’t feel like I’d done enough,” Fritz says, “so we live two blocks from the church and I thought, ‘Ok, let’s just go down there instead.’” In the past year, the church has devoted itself to switching over to renewable energy. Fritz says three of the church’s rooftop furnaces were failing, and all five were ugly, so the solution was simple.

“You either go back to what you’ve been doing for the last however long and continue to spew emissions,” Fritz says, “or you can do something creative and clean up an eyesore.” The church replaced all five furnaces with 102 solar panels and is now operating at net zero. The switch to solar will allow the church to offset an estimated 25 tons of carbon emissions per year.

Iowa High School Sports Network to Broadcast Boys State Basketball Tournament

Sports

February 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

EMERSON, IA — The Iowa High School Sports Network will broadcast all 28 IHSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament games from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, March 4-8.

The quarterfinals and semifinals will air on the IHSSN Cable Network and the finals on the IHSSN Broadcast Network. Check local listings for details.

In addition, all games will be streamed at IHSSN.com and the Watch IHSSN App. To access streaming viewers must purchase either a Tournament or Game Pass.