712 Digital Group - top

AP source: Chiefs give Ron Parker 5-year, $30M deal

Sports

March 14th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back versatile defensive back Ron Parker on a five-year, $30 million contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Chiefs have not announced the deal. Parker’s hometown newspaper, The Beaufort Gazette of South Carolina, was first to report Saturday that the free agent was returning to Kansa City.

Justin Turner, who represents Parker, fielded no shortage of offers for the fourth-year pro after a breakout year with the Chiefs. Parker split time at cornerback and safety, starting 15 of the 16 games he played last season. He finished with 94 tackles and an interception.

Posted in Sports |

NORMA J. MADSEN, 90, of Exira (Svcs. 03-16-2015)

Obituaries

March 14th, 2015 by admin

NORMA J. MADSEN, 90, of Exira died Thursday, March 12th at the Exira Care Center in Exira.  Funeral services for NORMA MADSEN will be held Monday, March 16th at 1:00pm in the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira.  Kessler Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

Family visitation will be held Sunday, March 15th from 2:00pm-6:00pm at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Burial will be in the Bethany Lutheran Cemetery northeast of Kimballton.

NORMA J. MADSEN is survived by:

Children: Brenda Parker of Ivanhoe, TX. Robert (Janet) Madsen of Storm Lake, IA.  Douglas Madsen of Texas.  Nancy (Vincent) Cascardo of Palmyra, PA. Monta (David) Bahus of Arkansas. Brian (Toni) Madsen of Conway, AR.  Connie (Robert) Hempstead of St. Paul, MN.  Doyle Madsen of Exira.  Kelly Madsen and Mark Madsen both of Chico, CA.

Sister: Rose Marie Petersen of Avoca.

Brother: Harold (Eileen) Poch of Atlantic.

22 Grandchildren

25 Great-Grandchildren

2 Great-Great-Grandchildren

Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Tips for preventing cancer

News

March 14th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The annual “Cancer in Iowa” report released Friday shows the number of skin cancer cases in Iowa has been increasing. Mary Charlton with the University of Iowa College of Public Health says it is one of the most preventable cancers, and many efforts are underway to try and reverse the trend. Charlton says there are many initiatives where groups are handing out sunscreen at events like minor league and little baseball games. “People are starting to build more shade, sort of shelters at ballparks and things like that to keep themselves protected. Wearing hats to keep them protect them, all of that is relatively simple,” Charlton says.

She says you can do a lot on your own to help keep skin cancer from becoming deadly. “Early detection is important, and just looking at your skin once a month and going in to see a health care provider who could diagnose skin cancer about once a year would help detect those lesions very early when they are more treatable,” Charlton says. Charlton is an epidemiologist and says there are many things you can do to avoid all types of cancer.

She says you can not smoke, or quit smoking, minimize your time in the sunlight or in tanning beds and eat a balanced diet. You can see the full state report on cancer at the U-I College of Public Health’s website at: www.public-health.uiowa.edu.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

USDA official discusses increased efficiency of ethanol plants

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 14th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture says ethanol plants are becoming more efficient. Last month, the agency increased its forecast of corn needed for ethanol by 50-million bushels, but a more recent forecast reduced it by 50-million. The USDA’s Acting Chief Economist, Rob Johansson, says this is a case of less means more. “We’re finding…we’re using less corn to make a gallon of ethanol. So, our ethanol refining is becoming more efficient,” Johansson says.

Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production, creating nearly 30-percent of all ethanol. Across the country, ethanol plants are expected to use 5.2 billion bushels of corn this year. That is 1% less than previous forecasts but nearly one-and-a-half percent more than in 2014. Iowa’s 43 ethanol plants produced 3.9 billion gallons of the fuel in 2014, a new production record, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Family Fun in the Kitchen 03-14-2015

Podcasts, Family Fun in the Kitchen

March 14th, 2015 by Jim Field

OAT AND WHEAT SEEDED BREAD

Makes four 1-pound loaves. May be doubled or halved.

2 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
11/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 Tablespoons flaxseed
3/4 cup pumpkin seeds, plus more for crust
3/4 cup sunflower seeds, plus more for crust
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 packets granulated yeast
1 Tablespoon kosher salt
1/4 cup vital wheat gluten
3 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Mix dry ingredients and seeds together.Combine liquid ingredients together; stir into dry ingredients.
Use 14-cup food processor, heavy-duty mixer or hands.
Cover (not airtight); allow to rest at room temperature until it rises & collapses, about 2 hours.
Refrigerate 24 hours up to 4 days loosely covered.
Prepare for baking: dust surface of refrigerated dough with flour; cut into grapefruit size pieces.
Dust with a little more flour; shape into ovals by stretching surface to bottom rotating as you go.
METHOD #1: Sprinkle seeds on a silicone mat on a cookie sheet; place ovals allowing space to spread. For baking after rising, slide silicone mat onto heated baking stone.
METHOD #2: Sprinkle seeds over cornmeal on a cookie sheet.
Allow loaf to rest & rise covered loosely with plastic wrap for 90 minutes.
Thirty (30) minutes before baking time, preheat oven to 400 degrees. If using baking stone place on middle rack.
(optional step Place an empty low-sided metal pan on lower rack. Pour hot water into metal pan; quickly close oven door to trap steam which creates a crisper crust.)
Before baking, “paint” loaves with water and sprinkle with seeds. Bake for about 40 minutes until richly brown and firm.
Cool on rack before slicing. May be frozen.

This recipe (with slight variations) is from Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. & Zoe Francois.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Posted in Podcasts, Family Fun in the Kitchen |

Saturday Boys High School Championship Schedule

Sports

March 14th, 2015 by admin

Class 3A Consolation – WILLIAMSBURG (24-2) VS. XAVIER, CEDAR RAPIDS (17-9) –  12:00 PM

Class 4A Consolation – IOWA CITY, WEST (24-1) VS. DES MOINES, HOOVER (22-2) –  1:45 PM

Class 3A Championship – LEMARS (22-4) VS. WAHLERT CATHOLIC, DUBUQUE (17-9) – 6:05 PM

Class 4A Championship – NORTH SCOTT, ELDRIDGE (22-3) VS. PLEASANT VALLEY (23-2) – 8:05 PM

 

Posted in Sports |

7AM Sportscast 03-14-2015

Podcasts, Sports

March 14th, 2015 by admin

w/ Chris Parks

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Posted in Podcasts, Sports |

7AM Newscast 03-14-2015

News, Podcasts

March 14th, 2015 by admin

w/ Chris Parks

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Posted in News, Podcasts |

DEBRA ANN PETERSEN, 57, of Walnut (Svcs. 03-17-2015)

Obituaries

March 14th, 2015 by admin

DEBRA ANN PETERSEN, 57, of Walnut died Friday, March 13th at her home.  Celebration of Life Services for DEBRA ANN PETERSEN will be held Tuesday, March 17th at 11:00am in the Peace United Church of Christ in Walnut.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held Monday, March 16th from 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca with family greeting friends from 5:00pm-7:00pm.

Burial will be in the Layton Township Cemetery in Walnut.

DEBRA ANN PETERSEN is survived by:

Father: Robert Lafrentz of Walnut.

Husband: Max Petersen of Walnut.

Daughter: Melissa (Mike) Akers of Walnut.

Son: Danny (Ashlee) Petersen of Walnut.

Step-Daughter: Nicki (Jeff) Ranney of Harlan.

Step-Son: Scott Petersen of Harlan.

Sisters: Diane (Brent) Petersen of Walnut. Dona Grooms of Walnut. Doreen “Sus” (Henri) Day of Boulder City, NV.

3 Grandchildren

4 Step-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

EMMERT MARTIN ANDERSEN, 92, of Denison (formerly of Audubon and Milford) (Svcs. 03-16-2015)

Obituaries

March 14th, 2015 by admin

EMMERT MARTIN ANDERSEN, 92, of Denison (formerly of Audubon and Milford) died Friday, March 13th at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison.  Funeral services for EMMERT ANDERSEN will be held Monday, March 16th at 2:00pm at the Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford.  The Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison has the arrangements.

A luncheon will immediately follow the services at the church on Monday.

Friends may call from Noon until service time on Monday at the Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford.

Graveside Memorial Services will be held at a later date to be announced in April at Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon.

EMMERT MARTIN ANDERSEN is survived by:

Wife: Eleonora Andersen of Denison.

Children: Linda Hansen of Audubon.  Connie (Ken) Quirk of Brookings, South Dakota.  Brian (Francine) Andersen of Audubon.  Alice (Tim) Baughman of Denison.

Sisters: Else Aden of Muskegon, Michigan.  Eleanor (Edwin) Hansen of Sparta, WI.

12 Grandchildren

22 Great-Grandchildren

1 Great-Great Grandchild with another expected in 2015.

Nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |