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House cleaning businesses in Iowa just starting to rebound from pandemic

News

October 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – “Help Wanted” signs have hung in the windows of many Iowa businesses for months and the competition is strong to snap up entry-level workers. Randy Leasure, owner of a chain of Iowa house cleaning businesses, says the pandemic forced his company — and his industry — to make drastic changes and they’re just now starting to bounce back. “We’ve obviously struggled like every business in the country is right now for staffing,” Leasure says. “As far as the client side, we’ve got plenty of leads and we’re actually turning quite a few people away and keeping our schedule very full, so we’re looking to hire so that we can grow.”

Leasure owns MaidPro outlets in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, all three of which are looking for new workers. He says 95% of the work is in individual homes. “We lost clients or people paused on us and our employees weren’t looking to go into homes during the pandemic,” Leasure says, “so we just naturally whittled down over that time and we’ve been trying to rebound with employees since.”

No experience is necessary and Leasure says he’s seeking workers with a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle who can pass a criminal background check. The pay with bonuses is 14 to 15-dollars an hour, plus tips, and it’s all weekday work with no nights or weekends. MaidPro also offers incentives for employees who stay with the company longer than 90 days. “We have a great training program in place,” Leasure says. “It spends the first two weeks going through training. We don’t just put anybody out there right away.”

He says it’s predicted the cleaning industry will see 53% growth between 2020 and 2024 and MaidPro is planning to hire more than 2,000 employees nationwide in the next few months to help meet demand.

Feenstra says its time to think about holding down debt

News

October 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Congress passed a short-term appropriations bill to keep the government funded through December 3rd. That has briefly delayed the discussion on President Joe Biden’s Trillions of dollars of proposed spending. Iowa Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra says there needs to be a discussion about cutting the spending. “Frankly, I look at it and say we’ve got to figure out a way to start looking at our debt. We are talking 30 TRILLION dollars of debt. I look at it, raising debt and say what are we doing to get back to what Iowa does to having a balanced budget,” Feenstra says.

He says he wants that balanced budget discussion is key for him to support any debt ceiling increase. He says inflation is already creating what he calls a new tax on Americans. “It’s an extra tax for everyone. Right now everyone is paying from seven cents to 11 cents. On gas you are paying an extra 40 cents — that’s a tax to everyone. When you buy your goods at the hardware store, grocery store, that check that you have that money you are making just doesn’t go as far,” Feenstra says. “I think inflation now if five-point-eight percent — and it’s not transitory — it’s going to be here a long time.”

One element of the Democrat’s spending package that Feenstra says is a non-starter for him is having all personal bank deposits of 600 dollars or more reported to the I-R-S. “The reason they are going down that path is they believe that you can catch over 500 BILLION dollars of people doing stuff illegally,” Feenstra says. “To me, it is a complete overreach, it’s against my first amendment, government encroaching into what I am doing.I don’t see it in this bill anymore — we’ve made a lot of noise about this.”

Feenstra made his comments following a tour of the 185th Air National Guard Refueling Wing in Sioux City.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: Monday, Oct. 18, 2021

Weather

October 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly sunny. High 78. SW @ 10-20.

Tonight: Fair-to-Partly cloudy. Low 48. SW @ 5-10.

Tuesday: P/Cldy. High again around 78. S @ 10-20.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy w/scattered showers. High 68.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High around 66.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 73. Our Low was 33. Last year on this date, the High was 43 and the Low was 33. The Record High was 86 in 2003. The Record Low was 17 in 1952.

Playoff Volleyball Schedule Monday 10/18/2021

Sports

October 17th, 2021 by admin

The 2021 postseason for Class 1A, 2A, and 3A volleyball teams gets underway on Monday night. All matches are set for 7:00 p.m. first serves. We’ll have coverage of a Class 3A Region 1 meeting between Atlantic and Red Oak on KJAN. Chris Parks will have the call from Red Oak High School with pregame at 6:45 p.m. and first serve at 7:00 p.m.

CLASS 1A

Region 2
Essex @ Fremont-Mills
Lenox @ Sidney
Heartland Christian @ Tri-Center
Griswold @ East Mills
Woodbine @ Riverside
West Harrison @ Boyer Valley

Region 3
Coon Rapids-Bayard @ Ankeny Christian
Audubon @ Exira-EHK
Ar-We-Va @ Glidden-Ralston
Orient-Macksburg @ CAM
Colo-Nesco @ Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Baxter @ GMG
Collins-Maxwell @ BCLUW
Grand View Christian @ Martensdale-St. Marys

Region 8
Moulton-Udell @ Seymour
Moravia @ New London
Keota @ WACO
Wayne @ Lamoni
Mount Ayr @ Murray
East Union @ Southeast Warren
Mormon Trail @ Diagonal

CLASS 2A

Region 2
West Sioux @ Rock Valley
Logan-Magnolia @ AHSTW

Region 3
Ogden @ Madrid
IKM-Manning @ Panorama

CLASS 3A

Region 1
Harlan @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Atlantic @ Red Oak- ON KJAN
MOC-Floyd Valley
Cherokee Washington @ West Lyon

Region 4
Clarke @ Des Moines Christian
Shenandoah @ Clarinda
Saydel @ Roland-Story
Ballard @ Nevada

AP Top 25 College Football Poll 10/17/2021

Sports

October 17th, 2021 by admin

AP Top 25

Rank Team Record Points (No. 1 votes)
1 Georgia 7-0 1,575 (63)
2 Cincinnati 6-0 1,483
3 Oklahoma 7-0 1,434
4 Alabama 6-1 1,393
5 Ohio State 5-1 1,252
6 Michigan 6-0 1,214
7 Penn State 5-1 1,116
8 Oklahoma State 6-0 1,082
9 Michigan State 7-0 1,076
10 Oregon 5-1 1,054
11 Iowa 6-1 1,048
12 Ole Miss 5-1 879
13 Notre Dame 5-1 763
14 Coastal Carolina 6-0 736
15 Kentucky 6-1 723
16 Wake Forest 6-0 629
17 Texas A&M 5-2 536
18 N.C. State 5-1 485
19 Auburn 5-2 397
20 Baylor 6-1 378
21 SMU 6-0 358
22 San Diego State 6-0 284
23 Pitt 5-1 177
24 UTSA 7-0 104
25 Purdue 4-2 68

Others receiving votes: Clemson 64; Utah 43; Arkansas 29; BYU 21; Air Force 19; Iowa State 14; Louisiana 13; Arizona State 7; Florida 7; Texas 5; UCLA 4; Houston 2; Virginia 1.

DON DOLAN, 87, of Greenfield (Mass of Christian Burial 10/21/21)

Obituaries

October 17th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DON DOLAN, 87, of Greenfield, died Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines. A Mass of Christian Burial for DON DOLAN will be held 2-p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21st, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. Steen Funeral Home of Greenfield is in charge of the arrangements.

There is no visitation.

An Irish Wake and Luncheon will be held at the Bloodline Irish Pub in Greenfield following the services.

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery.   Masks are optional.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.  T

Memorials:  May be directed to Don Dolan Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

DON DOLAN is survived by:

His wife of 32 years – Marilyn Dolan.

His daughter – Deanna Hughes, of DePere, WI

His son – Michael (Mandy) Dolan, of Greenfield.

His step-daughters: Andrea (Luther) Schmidt, of Concordia, MO., and Laura (Brian) Kowert (Brian), of Wheaton, IL

His brothers – John (Dalene) Dolan, and Rich Dolan.

His sister – Helen (Jim) Anderson.

3 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; 7 step-grandchildren; 2 step-great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

BERNARD GRUBBS, 90, of Adair (Svcs. 10/23/21)

Obituaries

October 17th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

BERNARD GRUBBS, 90, of Adair, died Friday, Oct. 15th, at Creston Specialty Care, in Creston. Funeral services for BERNARD GRUBBS will be held 9-a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23rd, at the Canby Friends Church, southeast of Adair. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements. (The services will be recorded and available for viewing on the funeral home’s website by noon on Oct. 25th)

Open visitation is on Friday, Oct. 22nd, from 10-a.m. until the time of family visitation (4:30-until 6:30-p.m.), at the funeral home; Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice. com.

Burial is in the Canby Cemetery.

BERNARD GRUBBS is survived by:

His sons – Darwin (Peggy) Grubbs, and Myron (Becky) Grubbs, Boyd (Cindy) Grubbs, and Leland (Joanie) Grubbs, all of Adair; and Rodney (Connie) Grubbs, of Casey.

His daughters – Marlene (Randy) Huss, of Adair; Sharlene (Terry) Magill, of Red Oak; Lorene Grubbs (& friend Brian Rumple), of Casey.

His brother – LeVerne Grubbs, of Creston.

24 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

MARILYN ANN BRUNK, 88, of Griswold (Svcs. 10/21/21)

Obituaries

October 17th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

MARILYN ANN BRUNK, 88, of Griswold, died Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Griswold Nursing and Rehab Center. A funeral service for MARILYN ANN BRUNK will be held 10:30-a.m. Thursday, October 21, 2021, at the Rieken Duhn Funeral Home, in Griswold.

Visitation with the family will be on Wednesday evening from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM, at the Rieken Duhn Funeral Home.

Following the funeral service on Thursday, a private family interment will take place at the Lowman Cemetery.

MARILYN ANN BRUNK is survived by:

Her daughter – Brenda (Roger) Holtz, of Elliott.

Her sons – Brian (Tammy) Brunk, and Bruce (Janet Mae) Brunk, all of Griswold.

Her adopted son – Stuart Chamberlain

7 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.

Logan-Magnolia girls, St. Albert boys win at Missouri Valley XC Meet

Sports

October 17th, 2021 by admin

Missouri Valley XC Meet
Logan/Missouri Valley Country Club
10/16/2021

Girls Team Scores

  1. Logan-Magnolia 31
  2. St. Albert 55
  3. Woodbine 96
  4. AHSTW 103
  5. Boyer Valley 107
  6. IKM-Manning 109

Girls Individual Top Ten

  1. Courtney Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia 20:01.40
  2. Madison Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia
  3. Grace Steinmetz, Heartland Christian
  4. Tyler Tingley, St. Albert
  5. Mariah Falkena, Boyer Valley
  6. Emily Albertsen, IKM-Manning
  7. Carly McKeever, St. Albert
  8. Mariah Nolting, Logan-Magnolia
  9. Greylan Hornbeck, Logan-Magnolia
  10. Rylie Knop, AHSTW

Boys Team Scores

  1. St. Albert 49
  2. Missouri Valley 57
  3. Woodbine 70
  4. IKM-Manning 86
  5. Boyer Valley 132
  6. Heartland Christian 136
  7. Logan-Magnolia 168
  8. East Mills 208

Boys Individual Top Ten

  1. Colin Lillie, St. Albert 16:49.60
  2. Patrick Heffernan, Boyer Valley
  3. Caden Keller, IKM-Manning
  4. Nicholas Milner, Heartland Christian
  5. Hadyn Piskorski, St. Albert
  6. Cody Gilpin, Missouri Valley
  7. Gunner Wagner, Woodbine
  8. Landon Bendgen, Woodbine
  9. Brek Boruff, Missouri Valley
  10. Will Gutzmer, Missouri Valley

Full results HERE

High School Volleyball Scoreboard Saturday 10/16/2021

Sports

October 17th, 2021 by admin

Rolling Valley Conference Tournament @ Anita

Championship Bracket

First Round
(2-0) Woodbine 21-21, Ar-We-Va 12-17
(2-0) CAM 21-21, Coon Rapids-Bayard 12-19
West Harrison def. Paton-Churdan
(2-0) Boyer Valley 21-21, West Harrison 8-9
(2-0) Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 21-21, Glidden-Ralston 11-17

Semifinals
(2-1) CAM 18-21-15, Woodbine 21-13-10
(2-0) Boyer Valley 21-21, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 18-10

Championship
(2-0) Boyer Valley 21-21, CAM 19-11

Consolation Bracket

First Round
Ar-We-Va def. Paton-Churdan
Coon Rapids-Bayard def. Ar-We-Va
Glidden-Ralston def. West Harrison

Semifinals
(2-1) Coon Rapids-Bayard 12-21-15, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 21-19-10
(2-1) Woodbine 18-21-15, Glidden-Ralston 21-19-4

Championship
(2-0) Woodbine 21-21, Coon Rapids-Bayard 11-18

Lewis Central Tournament

AT Lewis Central 

POOL A
(2-0) Lewis Central 21-21, Sidney 14-11
(2-0) Lewis Central 21-21, Treynor 17-11
(2-0) Lewis Central 21-21, Maryville 11-8
(2-0) Treynor 21-21, Sidney 13-13
(2-1) Sidney 21-18-15, Maryville 16-21-12
(2-0) Treynor 21-21, Maryville 17-12

POOL B
Glenwood def. Stanton
(2-0) Glenwood 21-21, Tri-Center 18-14
Glenwood def. Abraham Lincoln
(2-1) Tri-Center 18-21-15, Stanton 21-17-10
(2-0) CB Abraham Lincoln 21-21, Stanton 16-19
(2-0) CB Abraham Lincoln 21-21, Tri-Center 11-18

Bracket

5th Place: Tri-Center, Sidney
3rd Place: (2-0) Treynor 21-21, Abraham Lincoln 17-9
Championship: (2-1) Lewis Central 21-19-15, Glenwood 16-21-12

Winterset Tournament

POOL A
(2-0) Red Oak 21-21, Winterset 19-14
(2-0) Red Oak 21-21, Greene County 9-8
(2-1) Red Oak 21-17-21, Webster City 13-21-19

Bracket
(2-0) Red Oak 21-21, South Central Calhoun 14-15
Championship: (2-0) Red Oak 21-21, Norwalk 13-19