United Group Insurance

Frederickson Fund helps bring the “Scary Guy” to Cass County

News

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund has announced their sponsorship of the “Scary Guy,” who will be sharing his message with Atlantic, CAM and Griswold Schools in August 2014. Scary will be working with over 2,400 students, faculty and community members during his 10 day stay in Cass County. photo

The Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council is declaring 2014-2015 the year of Violence Prevention in Cass County Schools. Prevention begins with our youth and teaching them the skills they need to eliminate hate.

For further information or if you would like to donate please contact Kristen Templeton at 243-8006

(Podcast) 8-a.m. News/funeral report

News, Podcasts

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

ANNA MARY BLUM, 93, of Harlan (Svcs. 6/13/14)

Obituaries

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ANNA MARY BLUM, 93, of Harlan, died Mon., June 9th, at Myrtue Medical Center. A Mass of Christian Burial service for ANNA BLUM will be held 11-a.m. Fri., June 13th, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 4-to 9-pm on Thu., June 12th, with a Wake service at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

ANNA BLUM is survived by:

Her sons – Garry (Michelle) Blum, of Harlan, & Cecil (Shawn) Blum, Jr., of Denison.

Her daughters – Cheryl (Richard) Bockelman, of Denison; Anna (Harris) Miller, of Urbandale; Candi (Richard) DeCarlo, of Harlan; Colleen (Kevin) Kenkel, of Earling; Michelle Cowan & her fiance’ Steve Schroeder, of Council Bluffs; and Rhonda (Rick) Ketelsen, of Denison.

Her sister – Nadine (Dr. Michael) Scott, of Seattle, WA.

23 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and her in-laws.

Atlantic School Board approves increases for District Supervisors but stalls on Administrators

News

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Board of Education had no problem approving the 2014-2015 District Supervisors’ contracts during their meeting Monday night, but they were less than enthusiastic about approving Administrator contracts, and opted to continue discussions on that topic instead of approving the increase. Superintendent Dr. Mike Amstein recommended the Board approve a four-percent increase in compensation for district administrators, at a cost to the district of $21,980, and a 3.8-percent increase for the District Supervisors, which amounts to $14,182.

When it came time for discussion on those recommendations, School Board Member Dennis Davis asked Amstein if all the goals set for the 2013-2014 school year were accomplished. “No, we didn’t meet all of our goals 100-percent, but our district certainly made progress in regards to student achievement on those goals,” noted Amstein. “For instance in reading, math and science, our district showed an increase in proficiency in every one of those areas.”

Board Member Rod Hartwig said he thought “Our principals…deserve the four-percent [raise]…I am not sure everyone else on the list does.” Amstein said the increases fall in-line with what other administrators and supervisors in Hawkeye 10 Conference schools are making. Amstein said “Basically the goals that the building administrators took at look at this year was 85-percent of their students would be proficient in reading, science and math.” He says they made good progress. The other was to reduce the special education deficit by 10-percent. Amstein says the majority of the school district did just that.

Amstein said “Based on that information, I believe our principals were deserving of that raise along with our Supervisors.” After the Board approved the Supervisors’ increase as a separate motion, they discussed at length, but did not act on approving an increase for the Administrators because they want to see more progress in the attaining Board established goals for those administrators.

Honey-Mustard Baked Chicken (6-10-14)

Mom's Tips

June 10th, 2014 by Jim Field

  • 1 broiler-fryer chicken (3-4 pounds), cut up
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Place chicken in a greased 13″ x 9″ baking pan.  In saucepan, melt butter; stir in remaining ingredients and heat through.  Brush glaze over chicken.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/4 hours or until juices run clear.  YIELD:  4-6 servings.

(Kate Peterson, Cincinnati, OH)

 

(Podcast) 7-a.m. Sports, 6/10/2014

Podcasts, Sports

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

(Podcast) 7-a.m. News/Funeral report, 6/10/14

News, Podcasts

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Manpower survey: nearly 1/4 of Iowa companies plan to add workers in coming months

News

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Another survey released today (Tuesday) is showing a lot of companies in the state have plans to add employees. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey shows 22-percent of the companies surveyed expect to increase staff levels over the third quarter of the year. Another 72-percent plan to maintain staffing levels, while four-percent anticipate layoffs. That’s good for a Net Employment Outlook of 18-percent. Manpower spokesperson Karen Miller says the results, while positive, show weaker optimism about hiring expectations compared to recent surveys.

“The Net Employment Outlook is 18-percent, as compared to last quarter when it was 21-percent and last year at this time when it was also 21-percent,” Miller said. The Des Moines metro area remains one of the top performing markets in the country, according to the Manpower survey. For the third quarter, Des Moines posted a Net Employment Outlook of 24-percent. “Iowa, in general, has always performed very strongly, but Des Moines has been a very strong pocket for the state,” Miller said.

Nationally, the Net Employment Outlook for the third quarter is 14-percent. That’s up from 13-percent three months ago. More than 18,000 employers across the U.S. take part in the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted County Prices for the grains 06-10-2014

Ag/Outdoor

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Cass County: Corn $4.27, Beans $14.37

Adair County: Corn $4.24, Beans $14.40

Adams County: Corn $4.24, Beans $14.36

Audubon County: Corn $4.26, Beans $14.39

East Pottawattamie County: Corn $4.30, Beans $14.37

Guthrie County: Corn $4.29, Beans $14.41

Montgomery County: Corn $4.29, Beans $14.39

Shelby County: Corn $4.30, Beans $14.37

Oats $3.24 (always the same in all counties)

Atlantic School Board approves new hires

News

June 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Monday night, approved the hiring of some new teachers. Superintendent Mike Amstein read from a list of recommendations submitted by the district school administrators. Among the new hires is Eric Waldstein (Wald-stine), as Physical Education & Social Studies teacher. Waldstine will also serve as Head Coach of the Trojan Football Team.  His wife Hillary Waldstine will serve as the Level 2/3 Special Ed teacher.

Ashley Hack was recommended as a temporary Level 1 Special Ed Instructor at Schuler Elementary. Kelly Juhl was hired as the High School Business Teacher for the upcoming school year. Juhl comes to Atlantic from the Exira/EHK School District.

Also coming to Atlantic from the Exira/EHK District is Stephanie Graham, who will serve as High School English Teacher. And Alisha Lindquist, who previously worked in the CAM School District, was hired as K-1 Multi-Age position.