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Frustrating power outages persist, 250K Iowa homes still in the dark

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A quarter of a million Iowa homes and business are still without power this (Thursday) morning. Ames residents have been warned damage is so dense and significant, power may be out for a week in some areas. Governor Kim Reynolds toured Marshalltown Wednesday afternoon and told reporters the damage she saw may be worse than the devastating tornado that hit Marshalltown two years ago. “Just from a mental perspective of trying to deal with all of that, it’s just tough,” Reynolds says. “They’re hit pretty hard again.”

The governor has gotten an aerial view of crop damage this week and she visited a grain elevator that was critically damaged. With silos and bins smashed in areas that were hit Monday, Reynolds says storage for this year’s crop will be a significant issue. “There’s no way that they’re going to be able to rebuild the bins this fall — materials, construction — I mean, just across the board it’s not going to happen,” she says.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says farmers may have to resort to open-air storage — piling the grain on the ground.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather |

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 8/13/20

News, Podcasts

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Posted in News, Podcasts |

Heartbeat Today 8-13-2020

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

August 13th, 2020 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Freese-Notis Meteorologist Dan Hicks about the derecho that caused so much damage across the state on Monday.

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Posted in Heartbeat Today, Podcasts |

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 8/13/20

Podcasts, Sports

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 8/13/20

News, Podcasts

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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More than 250K Iowans still without power after Monday’s derecho hit

News

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – More than a quarter million Iowans are still without power, three days after a major wind storm blasted across the state. Alliant Energy spokeswoman Cindy Tomlinson says the situation remains too complex for an accurate estimate of a restoration time. “We don’t want to over-promise and then under-deliver,” Tomlinson says. “We want to make sure when we provide an estimated time that we can meet that window. It’s just going to take a little more time to estimate when services will be restored.”

Reports show 257-thousand Iowa homes remain without electricity, though at the peak after the Monday severe weather, nearly 500-thousand customers were in the dark. Tomlinson says when Alliant’s senior vice president Terry Kouba toured the damage in Marshalltown and Cedar Rapids, he was amazed. “The storm has created damage beyond what we’ve ever seen before and he’s been with our company several decades,” she says. “It’s definitely an experience beyond what he’s ever seen before.”

Tomlinson reminds folks who are using generators to be sure and shut down the main disconnect to the house. If that is still on, it could result in electricity feeding back down the line and could potentially injure a utility worker who’s trying to get your power back on. Tomlinson reminds everyone to continue to avoid downed power lines, because you never know if maybe a generator may be feeding back into those lines, or when the power DOES come back on.

Posted in News |

Atlantic Athletic facilities update

Sports

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday evening, received an update on the Athletic facilities improvement projects. Superintendent Steve Barber says “Our Trojan Bowl is finally looking like a football stadium.”

Concrete crews will pour the north curb separating the track and field. Once that’s done, they’ll move to the baseball/softball fields and begin working on the dugout footings. Once the concrete is poured, Barber said the mason contractor will begin erecting the dugouts.

 

Once the Press Box is finished at the factory, it will be hoisted to the top of the home bleachers. Barber said also, the field is about to final grade. Crews began laying rock for the foundations of the asphalt track, with the first layer set to be installed next week. He said also, the scoreboard and time clock poles have been installed. They’re still waiting on word on when the scoreboard will arrive.

Work has also been mostly completed on the concession stand. Earth moving material is scheduled to be moved up to the high school, beginning next week.

Posted in Sports |

IA COVID-19 Update…3 more Cass County cases; State Positive Cases more than 50k to date; 5 more dead

News

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Health officials today (Thursday, as of 10-a.m.) report the State has topped 50,000 positive cases of COVID-19. The data show 488 new cases confirmed since Wednesday, for a total of 50,135.  There have also been five more deaths in the State attributed to COVID-19 since 10-a.m. Wednesday, for a total of 954. Long-Term Care facility deaths account for 511 of the State’s death toll.

Here in Cass County, there was another increase in the number of positive cases, from 79 Wednesday, to 82 today. Of those, 47 have recovered from the virus. Adair County has five more positive cases, for a total of 35. There were also increases of one case each, in Adams, Guthrie and Montgomery Counties, and 10 new cases in Pottawattamie County. There was also one additional death reported in Pott. County, for a total of 29. The 14-day Positivity Rate for area Public School officials to determine if they need to change instructional plans, is as follows, with an action rate of 15% or greater allowed to apply for a waiver to hold classes online, and if 10% of students are absent: Cass & Adair Counties: 9%; Adams: 5%; Audubon: 3%; Guthrie: 6%; Montgomery: 8%; Pottawattamie: 10%; Shelby County: 14%.

The IDPH says 537,330 Iowans have been tested, 5,322 tested negative since 10-a.m. Wednesday, for a total of 484,024 to-date. And, 39,214 Iowans have recovered from the virus. Hospitalization data show: 261 are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms; 88 are in an ICU; 38 were admitted to a hospital since Wednesday, and 25 people remain on a ventilator.

Southwest/western Iowa hospitals report: 12 people are in a hospital with COVID-19; Five people are in an ICU; There were 2 persons admitted and no one on a ventilator. Long-Term Care (LTC) data today, show: 28 Outbreaks; 847 patients/staff have tested positive; and 492 have recovered.

Here are the latest positive case numbers for southwest/western Iowa since 10-a.m. Wednesday (County; Positive Case #’s; number of persons who have (recovered); {deaths since the outbreak began}. Counties with changes since Monday, have highlighted numbers:

  • Cass County: 82 cases  (47); 1 death
  • Adair County: 35 cases (20)
  • Adams County: 17 cases (16)
  • Audubon County: 29 cases (18); 1 death
  • Guthrie County: 137 cases (107); 5 deaths
  • Montgomery County: 61 cases (41); 4 deaths
  • Pottawattamie County: 1,352 cases (1,013); 29 deaths
  • Shelby County: 187 cases (167); 1 death.

Posted in News |

JERRY WAYNE “BIG JAY” MILLER, JR., 38, of Atlantic

Obituaries

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

JERRY WAYNE “BIG JAY” MILLER, JR., 38, of Atlantic died Wednesday, August 12th at CHI Health Bergan Mercy in Omaha.  A Celebration of Life service for JERRY “BIG JAY” MILLER will be held at a later date.  Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

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Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

JERRY WAYNE “BIG JAY” MILLER, JR. is survived by:

Wife:  Amanda Miller.

Children:  Makayla (Anthony) Palijo; Christian Miller; Damien Miller and Makenzie Miller.

Brother:  James Davis.

Step-Father:  David Wendt of Atlantic.

Posted in Obituaries |

K9 used to track serious assault suspect in Elliott, Wed. night

News

August 13th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

A Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department K9 unit was used to track a man who allegedly committed an act of serious assault in Elliott, Wednesday night. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says Deputies responded to an incident of serious assault in the 200 block of 2nd Street in Elliott, at around 11:30-p.m.  Upon their arrival, Deputies determined 23-year old Kyle Andrew Nicholson, of Surprise, AZ., assaulted a person several times in the head, causing severe lacerations above the person’s eye and head. Nicholson is also alleged to have stolen the victim’s cell phone during the assault.

The K9 tracked Nicholson to the area of 4th and Linden Streets, in Elliott. He was taken into custody without injury and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was charged with Serious Assault and Theft in the 5th Degree. His cash bond was set at $1,000.

Posted in News |