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Food safety important on Thanksgiving

News

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Experts say practicing good food safety is important to a successful Thanksgiving. The Nebraska Regional Poison Center says taking proper precautions can help ensure that no one gets sick at your holiday gatherings.  It’s important to use a meat thermometer to make sure the turkey and any other meat dishes reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. That ensures any bacteria is killed.
Other tips include:

  •       Don’t leave perishable food out at room temperature for more than two hours.
  •       Refrigerate any leftover turkey and use it within four days.
  •      Make sure anyone helping in the kitchen washes their hands.
  •      The Poison Center can answer other food safety questions at 1-800-222-1222.

 

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Thanksgiving Day 2013 (11/28/13)

Podcasts, Weather

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service forecast for Atlantic, and weather information for Atlantic from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson…

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EDWIN “BUD” SKALLA, 92, of Harlan (Svcs. 11/30/13)

Obituaries

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

EDWIN “BUD” SKALLA, 92, of Harlan, died Tue., Nov. 26th, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial service for BUD SKALLA will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., Nov. 30th, at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Church in Portsmouth. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 4-to 9pm on Friday (11/29), with a Scripture Service at 7-pm. Visitation will resume Saturday at St. Mary’s Church, from 9-to 10:30-a.m.

Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.

EDWIN “BUD” SKALLA is survived by:

His sisters – Sylvia (Don) Kepford, of San Jacinto, CA., & Roseann Brummer, of Logan.

His sister-in-law: Vi Skalla, of Portsmouth.

CLARENCE “ROY” LOUSIGNONT, 76, of Casey (Svcs. later)

Obituaries

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

CLARENCE “ROY” LOUSIGNONT, 76, of Casey, died Wed., Nov. 27th, at the Veterans Medical Center in Des Moines.  Memorial services for ROY LOUSIGNONT will be held at a later date. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic is handling the arrangements.

Burial will be in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, at a later date.

CLARENCE “ROY” LOUSIGNONT is survived by:

His wife – Beverly, of Casey.

His daughters – Diana Willis, of Reedsport, OR, & LaVonna Lopez, of TN.

His Step-children: Sherry Lovett, of St. Louis, Mo; Dennis Keifer, of Grimes, & Clinton Keifer, of Stuart.

Red Oak woman arrested following accident investigation

News

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County arrested the driver of an SUV that was involved in an accident Wednesday night. Deputies responded to a single-vehicle non-injury accident at 210th and T Avenue, at around 7-p.m.  Upon arrival, they found a 2002 Ford Escape driven by 42-year old Brenda Lyn Walter, of Red Oak.

Officials say following an investigation, the woman was arrested for OWI and on two-counts of Child Endangerment. Walter was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond. A passenger in the SUV, James Castillo, was cited for Open Container, and littering.

2 arrests in Red Oak overnight

News

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak say two separate arrests occurred late Wednesday night and early this (Thursday) morning. Officials say 53-year old Dennis Edward Elliott, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 400 block of East Coolbaugh Street at around 9:35-p.m. Wednesday, on an active Montgomery County warrant for Public Intoxication. Elliott was booked into the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center.

Early this (Thursday) morning, 36-year old Tracey Lynn Ballinger, of Clarinda, was arrested in Red Oak in the 200 block of East Market Street. Ballinger was charged with OWI and Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Merchants working to make day-after Black Friday be Small Business Saturday

News

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

While this Friday, or Black Friday, is considered one of the busiest shopping days of the year for big box stores, there’s an effort underway in Iowa and nationwide to brand the following day as Small Business Saturday. Brad Jones, a spokesman for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, says, just as the name suggests, shoppers across the state are urged to visit their hometown businesses. “It’s those small business folks who put the jerseys on the Little League teams and help support the things at the high school and all of the various charity events,” Jones says. “It’s really an opportunity for the general public to thank them.”

Jones says many small businesses plan to offer extra deals for shoppers on Saturday. Those bargains might be greater this year with five fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas compared to last year. “I know there’s a lot of small businesses that are going to be offering certain discounts or coupons or things for shopping with them that day,” he says. More than 98-percent of the businesses operating in Iowa are considered small businesses. This event, Jones says, is an effort to reinforce something the federation tries to promote every day.

“Shop local,” he says. “It’s always good. Always support your small business folks because they certainly do support your local community.” The National Federation of Independent Businesses is asking local business owners to contact them via the group’s website with activities and offers for Small Business Saturday. There’s a list of Iowa businesses taking part at: http://www.nfib.com/small-business-saturday

Hurdles to getting new, young doctors in rural Iowa

News

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Experts say it’s not just the pay that keeps new doctors from setting up shop in rural Iowa, it’s the pressure of being on their own AND on call at all hours. Bill Lever is president and CEO of Unity Point Health which has hospitals and clinics in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, the Quad Cities, Sioux City and Waterloo. He says most young doctors just starting out want to be around other doctors, rather than starting up a solo practice in a small town.

“Most of them want to be in practice with someone else and they want enough technology — you know, imaging services and so forth — around them, ” Lever says. “So the role that critical access hospitals play, providing that kind of place where physicians feel comfortable, ‘I have the resources necessary,’ — that’s the real key.” Lever says advances in tele-medicine will also help.

“Tele-health will be a great boon to supporting medicine in rural Iowa because we’ll be able to link that primary care physician in rural Iowa to specialists here in Des Moines or other places in the state,” Lever says. “So then you won’t have this feeling: ‘I’m out here. I have this situation I don’t know what to do with.’ (Instead that doctor will say): ‘I have somebody I can consult.'” Lever’s hospital just donated 50-thousand dollars to a foundation raising money for grants that will help pay off the college debt of new doctors who choose to practice in rural Iowa.

“Loan repayment is important to get physicians to see, ‘I can make a career out of medicine without being bankrupt,'” Lever says. “That’s important, but once again in practice, you’ve got to support them in terms of that practice environment.” Being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year isn’t attractive to new doctors, either, and Lever says smaller hospitals in rural areas can provide emergency services so primary care doctors in rural Iowa get some time away from the practice of medicine.

(Radio Iowa)

Chiefs LB Hali plans to play vs Broncos

Sports

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs pass rusher Tamba Hali plans to play in Sunday’s matchup with the Denver Broncos despite spraining his right ankle in last weekend’s loss to San Diego. The two-time Pro Bowl linebacker rolled over his right ankle in the first half of a 41-38 loss to the Chargers. He watched the second half from the training room with injured teammate Justin Houston, and said initially that he thought the injury might be serious.

Hali, who has nine sacks on the season, went through a walk-through Wednesday and said that he wants to play against the Broncos. Both teams are 9-2 and tied atop the AFC West, though Denver has already beaten Kansas City once this season. Houston is almost certain to miss the game after dislocating his elbow.

Iowa hopes to make Nebraska game true rivalry

Sports

November 28th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The so-called Iowa-Nebraska football rivalry has been one-sided. The teams will meet Friday in Lincoln in the Heroes Game, which became another in a line of Big Ten trophy games when the Cornhuskers joined the conference in 2011.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz hopes his team can make the game a true rivalry, noting that it’s been decades since the Hawkeyes last beat the Huskers. Nebraska has won two straight since playing Iowa as a Big Ten member and five in a row overall since losing 10-7 in Iowa City in 1981.

Iowa (7-4, 4-3) and Nebraska (8-3, 5-2) will be playing for second place in the Legends Division and for a best possible bowl destination. The winner would be in line for an Outback Bowl bid. The loser might go to the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.