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NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area: Thu., Oct. 31st 2013

Weather

October 31st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

344 AM CDT THU OCT 31 2013

EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. PATCHY FOG. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. COOLER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. WEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 30S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 50S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

SATURDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S.

SUNDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S.

Who’s Gonna Win? 10-30-2013 First Round Playoffs

Podcasts, Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win?

October 30th, 2013 by admin

Jim Field, Chris Parks, Matt Mullenix, and Doug Leonard take a look at 8 area high school football games and make their predictions. Final show of the season.

Play

OWI arrest in Atlantic

News

October 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs man was arrested Wednesday morning, in Atlantic. According to the Police Department, 39-year old Andy Walters was taken into custody on a 1st offense OWI charge. Walters was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an initial court appearance.

(12:40-p.m.)

ISU’s Christofferson Named a Candidate for Senior CLASS Award

Sports

October 30th, 2013 by Jim Field

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Iowa State senior women’s basketball player Hallie Christofferson has been selected as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

Christofferson holds a 3.41 grade point average while majoring in graphic design. She was a member of the Big 12 honor roll and was named an ISU Scholar-Athlete in 2013.

Christofferson has participated in various community service projects during her time at Iowa State. The senior has volunteered with the St. Jude’s Walk the past three years, the I-35 Program and assisted with Jr. Cyclone clinics among other activities.

On the court, Christofferson has established herself as one of the best players in the country. She was named an honorable mention All-American by the AP and WBCA last season. Her performance also did not go unnoticed by league coaches as she was one of just four student-athletes in the Big 12 to be named a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 First-Team. She was most recently named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 list, which is given to the nation’s top player.

Christofferson is also the only returning player in the nation to have led her team in field goal percentage (.516), three-point percentage (.401), free-throw percentage (.862) and points per game (15.6).

Christofferson is one of 30 student-athletes named to the list, which will be narrowed to 10 midway through the regular season. At that point, fan voting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.

Iowa State is one of just five schools in the country to have a student-athlete named to the initial list the last two seasons joining California, Baylor, Penn State and Kentucky. Chelsea Poppens represented the Cyclones last season and was named as one of 10 finalists.

Chiefs waive Brock, make series of roster moves

Sports

October 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs have waived tight end Kevin Brock and elevated offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. The Chiefs also signed tight end Dominique Jones to the practice squad Wednesday.

Brock had three catches for 36 yards in four games for the Chiefs this season. He’d become expendable with the return of Anthony Fasano from an ankle sprain a couple of weeks ago. Watkins has been on the practice squad since Sept. 1. He played in one game for the St. Louis Rams as a rookie a year ago.

Jones started three of the 10 games he played in two seasons with the Colts. The former undrafted free agent has three catches for 42 yards.

22 IA Communities benefit from $34.7-million in SRL Funds for water quality initiatives

News

October 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have announced that 22 Iowa communities will benefit from a combined total of more than $34.7 million in low-cost water quality loans through the State Revolving Fund. State Revolving Fund Construction Loans are a low-cost construction financing option available for Iowa cities and municipalities for water quality initiatives. Planning & Design Loans are zero percent loans that assist with the first-phase of project expenses.

In Cass County, the City of Anita will receive slightly more than One-million dollars for a water quality improvement project designed to correct inflow and infiltration problems, and  Anita Municipal Utilities $102-thousand for the Planning and Design Phase. The City of Massena will receive $445,500 for infiltration and inflow corrections. In Ringgold County, Mt. Ayr will receive $378,000 for a drinking water connection project. Elsewhere…The City of Shenandoah is receiving just over $14-million for a new treatment plant and water main project, and the City of Hancock, $98,910 for planning and design.

The State Revolving Fund has awarded Iowa communities and municipalities more than $2.1 billion in Construction Loans and $125 million through Planning & Design Loans since program inception. The loans are made available as part of the State Revolving Fund.

Cass County Supervisors to act on GIS new hire & Anita Urban Renewal matterThursday

News

October 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their final meeting of the month Thursday morning, here in Atlantic. On the agenda for their 9-a.m. meeting at the courthouse, is action on the hiring of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator. In August, Cass County Assessor Brenda Nelson asked for and received the Board’s permission to approve the creation of the position, and to proceed with steps necessary to fill the position.

At the time, Nelson said she has the money in this year’s budget for the new hire’s salary and benefits. In subsequent years, other departments within the County that heavily utilize GIS, would chip in to cover the salary and benefits. Nelson, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker and Treasurer Tracey Marshall all agreed that having a GIS specialist in-house, instead of outsourcing the position, would be a time-saver for them, and a great benefit to the taxpayers.

The Supervisors will also act Thursday morning, on a Resolution giving consent to the City of Anita which would allow the City to exercise Urban Renewal powers. The action will follow a report from officials in Anita, with regard to its Urban Renewal Plan/Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District, including property in the rural areas within two-miles of its boundaries.

In August, the Anita city clerk and two council members reported that the city would like to capture the valuation of five wind turbines located in the area within two miles of Anita’s boundaries, for tax incremental financing of city capital improvement projects.

Athena Award Nominations Now Being Accepted

News

October 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Deter Motor Company and The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce nominations are now being accepted for the 13th annual ATHENA Award, in Atlantic.

Athena Award

Athena Award

The award will be presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in her/his business profession, has served the community in a meaningful way and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The ceremony will be held Saturday, Jan. 18th, 2014 at the Cass County Community Center.

The ATHENA Award was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan and has grown to include presentations to more than 6,000 individuals in hundreds of cities across the globe. Locally, past winners include Dolly Bergmann, Wendy Richter, Ann Pross, Janell Hansen, Jan Kinison, Carole Schuler, Glenda Farrier, Margaret Slepsky, Denise O’Brien, Leanne Pellett, Judy Marnin and LaVon Eblen.

Deter Motor Company believes in the values underlying ATHENA’s philosophy of incorporating talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government. The spirit of the ATHENA Award Program is captured in a quotation from Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” By honoring exceptional leaders, others will be encouraged to excel.

Those interested in nominating an individual can pick up a nomination packet after Nov. 1st at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 Chestnut Street, or by visitingwww.AtlanticIowa.com. Nominations are due by Nov. 22, 2013.

Shelby County Cookers plant sold

News

October 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A Food Company out of Memphis, TN has purchased a manufacturing plant in Shelby County. The company Monogram Food Solutions LLC has reached an agreement with Westin Inc. of Omaha to purchase the assets of Shelby County Cookers of Harlan. The Cookers plant on the south end of town manufactures ready to eat bacon products for food service and retail customers.

Monogram assumed control of Cookers on Saturday, October 26th, giving Monogram an entry into the bacon category under its newly formed Monogram Prepared Meats Division. Monogram Foods is a national leader in manufacturing of licensed, co-packed, meat snacks and other meat offerings.

Chief Executive Officer of Monogram, Karl Schledwitz said in a press release, “Shelby County Cookers success stems from consistently high quality products, a dedicated workforce and being a leader in bacon innovation. The company’s value and service to customers is top tier.”

Shelby County Cooker’s was founded in 2005 and has operated under the leadership of President Brett Elliot. Monogram Prepared Meats will keep Elliot and the current management team to help run the company. Monogram and Shelby County Cookers already had a partnership when they developed a new item called bacon jerky in 2011. The item is currently in national distribution under 4 major brands and is made by Shelby County Cookers.

President and CEO of Westin Foods Scott Carlson has overseen the production and expansion of Cookers will continue to work with Monogram also and will be brought on as a member of their board. Carlson said he expects the growth of the plant to accelerate because of the capital investment and a larger national sales team available through the new company.

The Cookers plant is expected to continue to grow with a 5th operational line in 2014 and a possible 6th line in 2016. Since 2004, Shelby County Cookers has expanded operational lines twice and sales for the bacon products are expected to reach $70 million at the end of the year.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

(Update 9:50-a.m.): Alleged car thief in custody

News

October 30th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A man whom authorities say stole a car from a Nebraska used car dealership is in custody after leading law enforcement officials on a chase Tuesday morning in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News 52-year old Fred McCormick, of Crescent, was taken into custody about six and a-half hours after the pursuit began. McCormick was being held in the Pott. County Jail on charges of Theft in the 2nd degree, eluding and Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $5,000.

Danker said the incident began at around 10-a.m., Tuesday, after the owners of a red Chevy Cavalier tracked the vehicle by using a GPS unit. He said deputies were dispatched to meet with an individual who had located the stolen car in the Crescent area. While the deputies were responding, Pott. County Conservation officers initiated a pursuit, which went north of Crescent, turned onto Leisure Avenue and drove off into a corn field.

The driver took off on foot. Several law enforcement agencies including at least seven k-9 units engaged in a search for the driver, but the hilly, wooded terrain in the area made the search difficult. Adding to the difficulty in finding the man, was an unharvested corn crop, cloud cover and a light mist.

The manhunt was called-off at around 2:30-p.m., after search teams lost the trail in a corn field. Danker says the suspect was observed at around 4:30-p.m. walking along Old Lincoln Highway. He was then taken into custody and charged.