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(Podcast) 7:20-a.m. Sports, Sat. March 31st 2012

Podcasts, Sports

March 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the latest Iowa Sports News (Podcast) from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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New sort of eBay for non-profits opens distribution center in Omaha/Council Bluffs

News

March 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A distribution center that will send out an assortment of products to non-profit and charity groups is now open in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. Cindy Hallberlin is president of “Good Three-Sixty” which is new to the region.”We provide the largest on-line product donation marketplace in the world creating a 360-degree circle of good,” Hallberlin says, “good for businesses, good for communities, good for the environment and most of all, good for the people in need across this country and internationally as well.” 

Hallberlin says those non-profit and charity groups register with Good360 and can then use the online catalog to obtain toys, clothing, hygiene products, office supplies, household goods and more. “We look a lot like eBay with one important distinction,” she says, “eBay connects those who have with to who want. Good360 connects those who have to those in need.” Hallberlin provides more detail about how it all works:

“So, you’re a charity, your searching through, you find a necessary product, you don’t have to pay for it,” she says. “You write a small administrative fee that covers the cost of shipping and handling. Then a few days later, the product arrives at your doorstep. How does that happen? Every day we work with 25-percent of the Fortune 100 companies, donors, generous companies donate products to us.” 

Those companies donate items that could come in large quantities and they will be shipped into the distribution center in Omaha. The large cartons, pallets and truckloads are then repackaged for shipping to member organizations. Good360 is partnering with one charity now that provides labor but they hope to expand and add to the workforce down the road.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

ROSELL PETERSEN, 92, of Atlantic (Svcs. 4-3-12)

Obituaries

March 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ROSELL PETERSEN, 92, of Atlantic, died Thu., March 29th, at the Heritage House in Atlantic. Funeral services for ROSELL PETERSEN will be held 11-a.m. Tue., April 3rd, at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation with the family will be from 10-11am Tuesday (one-hour prior to the service) at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Hamlin Cemetery, at Hamlin.

Memorials may be directed to the Heritage House.

ROSELL PETERSEN is survived by:

Her sons – Marvin (Sharon) Petersen, of Omaha, NE, & John (Terri) Petersen of West Des Moines.

Her daughter – Linda (John) Carlson, of Griswold.

12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, & her sister-in-law.

MARILYN J. RANNEY, 79, of Walnut (Svcs. 4-2-12)

Obituaries

March 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

MARILYN J. RANNEY, 79, of Walnut, died Thu., March 29th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Celebration of Life services for MARILYN RANNEY will be held 10:30-a.m. Mon., April 2nd, at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel in Red Oak.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 3-5pm Sun., April 1st. Memorials may be directed to Cass County Hospice.

Burial of cremains will be in the Evergreen Cemetery at Red Oak.

MARILYN RANNEY is survived by:

Her husband – Eldon, of Walnut.

Her daughters – Susan (David) McKay, of  Maple Grove, MN; Cynthia (Robert) Groeneweg, of St. Francis, MN; and Cheryl Ranney, of Des Moines.

10 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, other relatives & friends.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Sat., March 31st 2012

Podcasts, Weather

March 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the (podcast) forecast for Atlantic and the KJAN listening area…

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 72. We received .02″ rain from 7am-Friday thru 5am Sat.

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Iowa (early) News Headlines: Sat., March 31st 2012

News

March 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Army Reserve has reprimanded a soldier who went on national television in his military uniform to endorse Ron Paul for president on the night of the Iowa caucuses. The military announced yesterday that Jesse Thorsen violated Department of Defense policies when he appeared on stage at Paul’s January 3rd rally. Department of Defense regulations bar servicemen from participating in political events in uniform.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — The top Republican in the Iowa House says lawmakers won’t increase the fuel tax this year despite persistent talk about such a move. Speaking yesterday on the Iowa Public Television program, “Iowa Press,” House Speaker Kraig Paulsen noted that some lawmakers and groups have pushed hard for a fuel tax increase to pay for road and bridge work. Iowa last raised its gas tax in 1989.

HILLS, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man faces four charges, accused of trying to run his wife off a road as she tried to drive herself and their children away from him to safety. Twenty-nine-year-old Brian Laschke of Hills is charged with four misdemeanors, including domestic abuse assault with intent, and child endangerment without injury. A Johnson County jailer said Laschke remained in custody yesterday on $30,000 bail.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A suspicious briefcase that raised alarms in downtown Storm Lake turned out to be harmless. Authorities say someone spotted the briefcase on Thursday morning. The streets were shut down and then reopened after about two hours.

Weekend Forecast: March 31-April 1, 2012/ Cass Co. IA & the area

Weather

March 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

359 AM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012 NWS/Des Moines

NEAR RECORD HIGHS SUNDAY

EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS. PATCHY FOG. SOUTH WIND AROUND 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SHOWERS 20 PERCENT.

TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. PATCHY FOG THROUGH MID MORNING. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 20 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SUNDAY…SUNNY…BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 80S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. NOT AS WARM. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. COOLER. LOW IN THE UPPER 40S.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. COOLER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S.

Newest addition to Cass County K-9 Squad hits the streets

News

March 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The latest 4-legged addition to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 Unit has completed his training, is certified, and has hit the streets running.

Dep. Corey Larsen & K-9 Partner Mufasa (photo from I80 K9)

Mufasa (pronounced “Moo-Fah-Suh”) joins his partner, Deputy Corey Larsen, in comprising the second of the county’s two k-9 units. The dog was purchased earlier this year from I-80 K-9.

With the addition of Mufasa, the Cass County Sheriff’s Department now has two, certified k-9 Units. The other unit is Deputy Kyle Quist and his partner, “Kane.”

Dep. Kyle Quist & k-9 partner Kane (Photo - Cass Co. S/O)

Kane was purchased by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office in April of 2007 with drug seizure funds. He’s a German Shepherd and is trained as a dual purpose K9. Kane can located narcotics, apprehend criminals, knows handler protection, tracking, and how to conduct article searches.

Lohse pitches, hits Cardinals to victory, Friday

Sports

March 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Lohse allowed an unearned run and three hits in six innings and singled in a run to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets on Friday. Lohse did receive a scare, though. Omar Quintanilla’s well struck grounder in the third inning hit Lohse in hand. After the play, the trainer came out to check on Lohse, who said he simply needed a few moments to let the tingling in his ring and pinkie fingers subside. Lohse was given an error on the play — the Cardinals’ second consecutive error — and the run scored by Mike Nickeas was unearned. Lohse stayed in the game, allowing only one more hit and walking one through the final three innings. The Cardinals took the lead for good in the fourth, with Lohse driving in the go-ahead run. The Mets’ Dillion Gee gave up 10 hits and four runs in six innings.

Brian Ferentz Hired From Pool of 102

Sports

March 30th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz’s son was hired away from the New England Patriots as the Hawkeyes offensive line coach out of 102 applicants who sought two open assistant coaching positions. The university released records Friday to The Associated Press showing Brian Ferentz was given a salary of $202,400, placing his compensation in the top half of offensive line coaches in the Big 10. The other assistant hired at the same time, linebackers coach LeVar Woods, will earn $187,000. University officials justified the salary difference because Brian Ferentz had more coaching experience than Woods, an administrative assistant with the team who coached as an interim assistant in two seasons. Brian Ferentz had been with the Patriots four years, and hiring documents say he was recruited by another college program.