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Report: Midwest economic index drops in September

News

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly economic survey index for nine Midwestern and Plains States dropped in September, suggesting slowing economic growth in the months ahead. A survey report issued Wednesday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped nearly three percentage points to 54.3, from 57.2 the previous month. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says a drop in grain prices over the past year has led to a pullback in economic activity for the heavily agrarian region.

In Iowa: The overall index for August fell to a tepid 51.5, from 58.3 in August. It was the third consecutive month the reading has declined. Components of the index were new orders at 48.3, production or sales at 45.1, delivery lead time at 62.4, employment at 52.2, and inventories at 49.5. “Iowa’s manufacturing sector, both durable and nondurable goods producers, are experiencing much slower growth than recorded earlier in the year,” Goss said. “Weaker grain prices are spilling over into the broader state economy.” Average weekly wages have expanded by 3.1 percent in the last year, Goss said.

The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Weather information for Atlantic – Sept. 2014

Weather

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here’s a look back at September’s weather, here in Atlantic: Rainfall for the month amounted to 6.44-inches, which was 2.63″ above the normal of 3.81.;  The average High for the month was 74 degrees, which was just 2.4 degrees less than normal. The hottest day was on Sept. 4th, when we reached 92 degrees.

The average monthly Low was 49.4 degrees, which was slightly less than 2 degrees below the normal of 51.1. The coolest morning of the month was on Sept. 12th, when the thermometer dipped to 32 degrees.

(Information compiled at KJAN, the official National Weather Service reporting site for Atlantic)

Cass County Extension Report 10-01-2014

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

October 1st, 2014 by admin

w/ Kate Olson

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(Podcast) 7:20-a.m. KJAN Sports, 10/1/2014

Podcasts, Sports

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With Jim Field.

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(Podcast) 7:07-a.m. News & funeral report, Wed. 10/1/2014

News, Podcasts

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Deadly crash postpones Iowa school homecoming

News

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) – High school officials in northwestern Iowa have postponed homecoming as the community mourns the death of two students in a crash this week. The Sioux City Journal reports  that Sioux Central High School’s homecoming, which has been set to begin Friday, has been rescheduled for the week of Oct. 17th.

The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Department says 16-year-old Caleb Smith, of Sioux Rapids, and 16-year-old Lexi Rydstrom, of Marathon, Iowa, were killed in the Monday crash. Investigators say the crash occurred on a gravel road when the teens’ car and a pickup collided head-on.

The crash also injured two other teens in the car, as well as the 43-year-old driver and a 49-year-old passenger in the pickup.

Lake Manawa Park, Lake Renovation Meeting Oct. 14

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the public is invited to a discussion pertaining to the latest rendition of the Lake Manawa campground renovation project and lake restoration project. The event takes place 6 p.m. October 14th, at the Western Historic Trails Center, in Council Bluffs.

Wilson Island Rec. Area re-dedication set for Oct. 7th

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources says the Wilson Island State Recreation Area will be officially rededicated during a ceremony at 1 p.m., October 7th, at the large riverfront shelter. Speakers include DNR Director Chuck Gipp, State Parks chief Todd Coffelt, and the president of the Wilson Island friends group. The rededication is the culmination of a $2.5-$3 million cleanup and rebuild project that began after the area was damaged in the spring of 2011 by the flooding Missouri River.

Wilson Island’s initial reopening was delayed until Aug. 3 from its planned mid June reopening after a storm battered the area with four inches of rain, baseball sized hail and 80-90 mile per hour winds that knocked down trees and damaged park buildings.

The campground remodel includes eliminating the more flood prone sites and changing the first to flood electric sites to non electric. The number of electrical sites increased by 15 but the total number of campsites has been reduced by 10.

The new Wilson Island has 50 amp service electrical sites, a new shower house, two new dump stations, two new picnic shelters all at higher elevations, and a new park office.

 

JOHN ALLEN KLOEWER, 68, of Defiance (Svcs. 10/3/14)

Obituaries

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

JOHN ALLEN KLOEWER, 68, of Defiance, died Mon., Sept. 29th. A Mass of Christian Burial service for JOHN KLOEWER will be held 10-a.m. Fri., Oct. 3rd, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 5-to 9-pm Thu., Oct. 2nd, with a Prayer Service at 7-p.m.

JOHN KLOEWER is survived by:

His wife – Annette Kloewer, of Defiance.

His daughters – Susan Kloewer, and Sara Ann Kloewer, both of Des Moines.

His brothers – Bob (Karen) Kloewer, and Rick (Nancy) Kloewer, all of Defiance.

His sisters – Kay (Jack) Cook, of Omaha; Janette (Robert) Dotzier, of Earling; Dorothy Johnson, of Omaha; Lorrene (Bernard) Assmann, of Dunlap; Jane (Eldon) Meyer, of Lee’s Summit, MO; Joan (John) Strudhoff, of Woodstock, GA, & Suzanne (Delbert) Lehan, of Marcus, IA.

Montgomery County authorities warn of utility payment scam

News

October 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County are warning area residents about a possible telephone scam. The Sheriff’s Department says a woman called to report someone claiming to be from Mid-American Energy phoned them to say the resident had not paid her electric bill. The caller said the woman’s power would be shut-off unless she paid her bill. The caller then asked for the woman’s bank information, which she refused to give out.

The woman said she called Mid-America direct immediately afterward. Company officials said the call was in-fact a scam. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office wants area residents to be aware of the scam, and use caution with your bank account information.

If someone calls threatening to cut-off your power or gas, hang-up and call the utility company directly to get information on your account status.