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Six candidates for GOP’s US Senate nod meet in Council Bluffs

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Six candidates who’re competing for the Iowa Republican Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate met last night (Sunday) in a 90-minute debate in Council Bluffs. It marked the first time retired business executive Mark Jacobs joined the field in that kind of a forum and Jacobs stood out from his competitors when Jacobs said he would have voted for the recent federal budget deal, although he would have sought some changes in it. “My entire career in the business world has been working with people who had different points of view and figuring out how you bring people together and get things done,” Jacobs said. “…We have to have the right principles, but we also have to have leaders who are able to take those principles and build coalitions and turn those into concrete results.”

Joni Ernst, a state senator and Iowa National Guard soldier, said she would have opposed the budget deal, partly because it reduced military pensions. “I do believe in working together towards a balanced budget, but as a veteran I will not do it by balancing our budget on the backs of veterans,” Ernst said. Sam Clovis, a retired soldier who’s taken a sabbatical from his job as a Morningside College professor, said he would not have voted for the two-year budget deal either. “This is the very problem that we face in Washington, D.C. as we continue to kick the can down the road because we lack leadership,” Clovis said. “We lack leadership on both sides of the aisle, frankly.”

Matt Whitaker, a lawyer who is a former federal prosecutor, would have been a “no” vote, too. “I would support a budget that makes the tough choices,” Whitaker said. “…I would support a budget that brings fundamental tax reform. You know the tax code has five times the words of the Bible and none of the ‘Good News.'” Scott Schaben, a former soldier and car salesman, argued the G-O-P must do more to reach out to new blocks of voters, especially “millennials.”  “We have to choose our rhetoric wisely,” Schaben says. “Our competition loves to paint as the party of old, rich, white people out of touch with women and minorities.”

Paul Lunde, a lawyer from Ames, also participated in the debate, arguing the U.S. constitution should be “modernized” with amendments that make Social Security and Medicare permanent. The event was organized by Pottawattamie County Republicans and broadcast live on WHO and KMA radio stations.

(Radio Iowa)

Nodaway Valley Basketball Coach to receive Coach of the Year Award from NFHS

Sports

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The National Federation of State High School (NFHS) Coaches Association has selected Nodaway Valley Coach Darrell Burmeister as its 2013 Central Sectional Coach of the Year in boys basketball. The Central section includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. The NFHS recognizes coaches at the state, sectional, and national level.

All sectional coaches were considered for national coach of the year in their sport category, and those persons have been notified of their awards.

Wind Chill Advisory late tonight for the northern counties

Weather

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (1/20-21)) TO NOON CST TUESDAY (1/21)…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST TUESDAY.

* TIMING…TEMPERATURES WILL FALL THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. THE COLDEST AIR WILL ARRIVE AROUND MIDNIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.

* WINDS…A NORTHWEST WIND AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH THIS EVENING WILL DIMINISH ONLY SLIGHTLY OVERNIGHT ALTHOUGH GUSTS WILL NOT BE AS STRONG OVERNIGHT.

* TEMPERATURES/WIND CHILL VALUES…LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL DROP TO NEAR 15 BELOW ACROSS THE NORTH WITH ZERO TO 5 BELOW ALONG THE HIGHWAY 30 CORRIDOR.

* IMPACTS…BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS MAY RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Mon., Jan. 20th 2014

Podcasts, Weather

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Freese-Notis weather forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, along with weather information for Atlantic from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Sidney man arrested on drug charges in Hamburg

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Friday afternoon in Hamburg, of a Sidney man on drug and other charges. Authorities say 36-year old Shannon Dell Rutledge, of Sidney,  was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, along with a charge of Careless Driving.

Rutledge was taken into custody at around 4:45-p.m., after they received a complaint about a vehicle being operated carelessly on North Street, in Hamburg. Rutledge was arrested in the 700 block of Main Street and brought to the Fremont County Jail. He later posted bond, and was released.

Suspicious vehicle leads to Clarinda man’s arrest in Fremont County

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A report of an occupied vehicle in the Nishnabotna High School parking lot in Farragut led to the arrest of a man on drug charges, Sunday night. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says at around 11-p.m., they received a call about a suspicious vehicle parked between the buildings. When deputies arrived the 2005 Dodge Neon was parked unattended, near the entrance of the fitness center.

A search of the area resulted in the owner of the car, 27-year old Jeffrey Allen McClarnon, of Clarinda, being found walking from behind a residence at Phillips and Lincoln Streets, in Farragut. McClarnon was allegedly in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was brought to the Fremont County Jail and held on $1,300 bond.

Agriculture scholarships available to Iowa seniors

Ag/Outdoor

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa high school seniors with plans to pursue agricultural studies in college have a chance at some scholarship money. The Iowa Soybean Association is offering 10 scholarships worth $1,500 each. A student in each of the state’s nine crop districts will be awarded a scholarship. Officials will then select one student from that winning group for an additional $1,500 prize.

Applications, which include an essay and recommendation letters, are due March 1. The winners will be announced April 15. The association says scholarship recipients work in agriculture careers that range from sales to research.

Redfield man arrested in Adair County

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Adair County report an 18-year old man from Redfield was arrested Friday for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The unidentified male was taken to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and held pending an appearance before a Magistrate.

Last Thursday, deputies in Adair County arrested a 37-year old woman from Adair, for Failure to Appear on a Violation of Probation, charge. The female was taken to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office where she held pending an appearance before a Magistrate. Her name was also not released.

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Mon., 1/20/14

Weather

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today: Rain and snow likely, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 41. Windy, with a northwest wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Snow likely, mainly before 8pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around -1. Wind chill values as low as -15. Windy, with a north wind 17 to 22 mph decreasing to 11 to 16 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 14. Wind chill values as low as -15. North northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. South wind 7 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 21. Blustery.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -4. Blustery.

Thursday: Sunny and cold, with a high near 10.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy.

Lolo Jones selected for US Bobsled team

Sports

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Lolo Jones talked Lauryn Williams into trying bobsledding, dangling the potential of another Olympic trip as her bait. Little did they know they were talking about history. Jones and Williams — both Summer Olympic veterans — were among the selections Sunday night for the U.S. Olympic bobsled team, putting them in position to join a very exclusive club. Barring something unforeseen, they will become the ninth and 10th Americans to compete in both the summer and winter versions of the Games when they compete at the Sochi Olympics next month.

Jones, Williams and Aja Evans were the three women chosen out of a six-woman pool for the push athlete spots, that word coming at a team meeting where half the candidates saw their Olympic dreams realized and the other half saw them come to a quiet end. Jones was one hurdle away from winning gold at the Beijing Olympics, then finished fourth at the London Games. Looking for a break from the spotlight but not sports, she turned to bobsled in the fall of 2012, winning a World Cup medal in her first race and quickly announcing herself as a legit Sochi contender.

Then she recruited Williams after the 2012 400-meter relay gold medalist and former world champion sprinter retired from track, talking her into the bobsled game. And all Williams has done as a rookie is help the U.S. win three medals in her four World Cup races, including a gold on Sunday. Jones and Williams will join Evans, another Winter Olympic first-timer, and drivers Jamie Greubel, Elana Meyers and Jazmine Fenlator on the women’s team.

The U.S. qualified three men’s two-man sleds and two four-man sleds for Sochi. Reigning Olympic four-man champion Steven Holcomb will drive USA-1 and Nick Cunningham will be at the control of USA-2 in four-man. Cory Butner will drive the other two-man entry. Justin Olsen, Johnny Quinn and Dallas Robinson will push Cunningham’s four-man sled.