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CAM Volleyball has a “Glued” team heading into the 2023 season

Sports

August 2nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

(Anita) — The defending Rolling Valley Conference champs are gearing up for the upcoming volleyball season. Last year saw a conference title, a (24-8) record, and a short run in the Class 1A Region 2 Quarterfinal where they were knocked out 3-0 by the Tri Center Trojans. This offseason for Coach Jenna McDonald and the CAM Cougars has been about working hard. Their gymnasium was under renovations, but Coach McDonald still saw positive progress from her squad.

CAM volleyball is a program that continues to see success thanks to Coach McDonald. They have garnered 3 Rolling Valley Conference titles in the last 3 years. However, Coach McDonald credits the Cougars history of winning to the players and the attitudes they bring each and every day.

The Cougars are also bringing back a swarm of seniors and talent with them. Senior, Eva Steffensen is one name that stands out. Steffensen started all 32 matches last year, had 237 kills on 749 attempts, and a kill efficiency of .190. Alongside Steffensen, senior Emma Follmann is another player who has continued to progress and will play a big role in the upcoming season. Follman played in all 32 matches last season, had over 150 kills, and a solid kill efficiency of .148.

Regardless of individual talent, Coach McDonald noted that this year’s squad has something special. Their class has been together and played with each other for so long in various sports. That they seem to be glued to each other.

CAM starts their season at the AHSTW Varsity Volleyball Tournament on August 26th.

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Posted in Sports |

Structure fire in Harlan Wed. morning

News

August 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Harlan, Iowa) – Firefighters in Harlan was dispatched a little before 7-a.m. today (Wednesday), to a structure. The fire was reported at Brockelman & Associates, PC, at 1301 Hawkeye Avenue in Harlan. Upon arrival crews determined the fire was in the attic of the building, where electrical wiring had overheated and started the insulation on fire.

Firefighters started cutting holes in the roof and pulling down parts of the ceiling to get to the base of the fire. Fire fighting crews from the Westphalia and Avoca Fire Departments responded to a call for mutual aid. The Harlan Fire Department was on scene for about three hours. Their effort and the other fire departments, resulted in the damage being contained to about 25% of the building.

Posted in News |

30th annual Wings Fly-In/Drive-in & Hall of Fame set for Aug. 19th, in Greenfield

News

August 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Iowa Aviation Museum’s 30th Annual Wings Fly-In/Drive-in and Hall of Fame Induction will be held Saturday, August 19th 2023.  A pancake breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 10 am by the Fontanelle Lions Club.  Price of breakfast, which includes museum admission, is $10 for adults, $5 for 1st to 12th grade students, preschool children and pilots in command eat free.

The Hall of Fame induction of James Zangger will be held following breakfast.  For more information, contact the Iowa Aviation Museum at 641-343-7184.

Posted in News |

When it rains, it pours… Parts of drought-stricken Iowa get up to 8″ of rain

News, Weather

August 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) -Many Iowans were awakened by unfamiliar noises this (Wednesday) morning, claps of thunder and raindrops on the rooftop. Some communities that have seen precious little precipitation in weeks — even months — were hit with a deluge. Hydrologist Jeff Zogg, at the National Weather Service, says multiple flash flood warnings were issued early today as rainfall totals reached seven and eight inches in a few locations. “That’s a combination of some radar estimates as well as some rainfall reports that we received,” Zogg says. “The heaviest rainfall fell in a stripe from southwest into south-central Iowa and amounts there were as high as four to six inches with some locally higher amounts.”

Traffic was slowed on many roadways, including Interstate 29 in western Iowa, due to a combination of standing water and a lack of visibility during the downpour. “We’re not hearing a whole lot in terms of major damage from the rainfall,” Zogg says, “mainly just some road closures, maybe some basements with water in them, but in most places, the rainfall was pretty welcome.” The old adage of “When it rains, it pours,” had dual significance today, as drought-stricken areas badly needed the rain, just not quite so much of it over such a short period of time.”The rainfall fell pretty intensely in some locations,” Zogg says, “so while the rainfall was welcome, in some cases it fell a little too fast for it to soak in, and it ran off and caused some of the problems that we were seeing.”

Wide sections of Iowa have been in drought for a few years now, and this precipitation is coming at a crucial time for farmers. “The rainfall that we’ve received will definitely help,” Zogg says. “It won’t end the drought conditions, but as far as for the rest of the day, the chances for showers and storms will be greatest pretty much across the southern half of the state, basically south of Highway 30. It’s kind of winding down in some areas but better chances as you go further south.”

The long-range forecast calls for at least a chance of rain every day through Sunday.

Posted in News, Weather |

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to Iowa Small Businesses

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Small non-farm businesses in 20 Iowa counties and neighboring counties in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and South Dakota are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Director Tanya N. Garfield with the SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West, says the loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in the following primary counties that began June 6th

Primary Iowa counties:  Cass, Lee, Lyon and Montgomery;
Neighboring Iowa counties:  Adair, Adams, Audubon, Des Moines, Fremont, Guthrie, Henry, Mills, O’Brien, Osceola, Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Sioux, Taylor and Van Buren;

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Garfield said. Small non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4 percent for businesses and 2.375 percent for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Garfield said. By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The Secretary declared this disaster on July 31.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance in drought disasters. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

The deadline to apply for economic injury is April 1, 2024.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Reminder: The 1st day to file nomination papers for City/School Elections is August 28th

News

August 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A reminder from Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns: The First day to file nomination papers for the upcoming City/School Election is Monday, August 28, 2023. The last day to file is Thursday, September 21, 2023. Nomination papers may be circulated prior to first date for filing as well as during the filing period. Nomination papers and candidate information are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state:www.sos.iowa.gov

Signature requirements for Cities are as follows:
City of Atlantic (Runoff Provisions)
• Council At Large Position-21 signatures
• Wards 1-2-3-4 Positions-10 signatures
• Park & Recreation Board-25 signatures

All other cities in the county require 10 signatures for each position.

Signature requirements for School Districts are as follows:
Atlantic School District Positions- 50 signatures
CAM School District Positions- 20 signatures
Griswold School District At Large Position- 16 Signatures
Griswold School District Director 1- 10 signatures
Griswold School District Director 2- 10 signatures

For more information contact the Cass County Auditor’s Office at 712-243-4570 or email to auditor@casscoia.us.

The city positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2023 City/School Election are:
Anita:
• Council Member- 2 Positions
• Mayor
Atlantic:
• City Council At Large
• Atlantic 1st Ward Council Member
• Atlantic 2nd Ward Council Member
• Atlantic 3rd Ward Council Member
• Atlantic 4th Ward Council Member
• Park & Recreation Board-2 positions
• Park & Recreation Board-Vacancy Position
Cumberland:
• Council Member-2 positions
• Mayor
Griswold:
• Council Member-3 Positions
Lewis:
• Council Member-3 Positions
• Mayor
Marne:
• Council Member-3 Positions
• Mayor
Massena:
• Council Member-3 Positions
• Mayor
Wiota:
• City Council-2 Positions
• Mayor

The school positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2023 City/School Election are:
Atlantic School District
• Board Member At Large-3 Positions
CAM School District
• Board Member North District
• Board Member South District
Griswold School District
• Board Member-At Large
• Board Member District 1
• Board Member District 2

Posted in News |

Iowa Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Failure to Pay Employment Taxes and File Federal Return

News

August 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa – An Iowa man pled guilty, Monday, in Des Moines, to charges of Willful Failure to Pay Over Employment Taxes. and Willful Failure to File an Income Tax Return.
As described in public court records, 50-year-old Thomas James Morford, operated a concrete construction business within the Southern District of Iowa. During the fourth quarter of 2019, Morford collected and willfully failed to pay more than $9,000 in employee Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes to the United States. Additionally, for the year 2020, Morford willfully failed to file a federal tax return.

Morford is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the case.

Posted in News |

Adair County Supervisors approve Sheriff’s Deputy & Dispatcher wage increases

News

August 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), approved a longevity increase of 25-cents per hour for Adair County Sheriff’s Deputy William Tipling, who’s been on the force for 5-years. And, they approved a wage increase to $19.76/hour for Jailer Gwendi Rice, who has completed her six-month probationary period.

In other business, the Board passed a Resolution Naming Depositories, and acknowledged the receipt of Manure Management Plan (MMP) update for a Prestage Farms’ Eureka Township livestock facility.

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman requested Board Chair Jerry Walker sign a letter of support for Guthrie County’s application to receive a discretionary grant for a Multimodal project on White Pole Road. They authorized, and Walker signed, the Letter of Support. Kauffman said the project has a “Pretty good chance of being awarded” the grant.

The Adair County Supervisors also approved the sale of a used, County truck crane, to Clayton Auto Salvage in Greenfield, for their high bid of $8,500. They also approved of the Board Chair signing Contract and Performance Bonds for Reinforced Concrete Box Culvert (RCB) Projects in the W-14 Jefferson (Township) and W-11 Union (Township).

Nick Kauffman provided the Board with a weekly report on Secondary Roads Dept. maintenance and activities.

Posted in News |

Tyler Perkins on Ray Guy Award Watch List

Sports

August 2nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State sophomore punter Tyler Perkins has earned a spot on the Ray Guy Award Watch List. The award is annually given to the nation’s top punter.

Perkins, a Norwalk, Ohio, native, earned Second Team Freshman All-America honors from The Athletic last season after serving as the Cyclones starting punter.

He averaged 42.2 yards per punt, the fourth-best freshman average in school history. Perkins was fifth in the Big 12 Conference in punting average.

Of his 50 punts, 19 were downed inside the 20 and nine traveled 50 or more yards.

Posted in Sports |

Hawkeyes set to open fall camp

Sports

August 2nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Kirk Ferentz is entering his 25th season as Iowa’s football coach and says the feeling enter fall camp never changes. The Hawkeyes hit the practice field on Wednesday to begin preparations for their September second opener against Utah State.

Ferentz added 13 newcomers, including Michigan transfer Cade McNamara at quarterback, in hopes of improving an anemic offense that ranked 130th out of 131 FBS teams during last year’s 8-5 campaign. The Hawkeyes were picked to finish second in the west division in the Big Ten preseason poll.

Posted in Sports |