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Be prepared for rapidly deteriorating weather conditions today

News, Weather

December 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Johnston, Iowa) – The National Weather Service, today (Wednesday), reports widespread very strong winds are anticipated this afternoon and this evening, but severe thunderstorms are possible as well. A line of severe thunderstorms is expected to move rapidly west to east across central Iowa between 4pm and 8pm at speeds of 60 to 70 mph. The primary severe weather threats will be damaging winds and a few tornadoes. With non-thunderstorm winds already gusting from 60 to 70 mph, winds in thunderstorms could reach 80 mph or more.

Conditions could change very rapidly today with little reaction time as storms approach. Monitor weather conditions closely with safe shelter available and nearby.

Exira-EHK School Board approves staff wage increases

News

December 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – Members of the Exira-EHK School Board, Monday, voted to approve a One-dollar per hour raise for all classified staff. That includes bus drivers on routes and in the second semester, custodians. According to Superintendent Trevor Miller, the move comes amid competition from other, potential employers, and a shortage of workers. The Board, he said wanted to show its appreciation for the hard work the classified staff does.

To his knowledge, Miller said it’s the first time the Board has issued a raise for classified staff in the middle of the year. In other business, the Exira-EHK Board approved one new hire during their meeting, Monday: Jordan Webster will take over the District Leadership Team position.

State liquor sales top 400 million for first time

News

December 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State liquor sales for the fiscal year that ended in July broke the record set the previous year. Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division spokesman, Jake Holmes, says alcohol sales hit nearly 416 million dollars.  “That amounts to a 13-point-two percent increase over fiscal year ’20. For comparison, F-Y ’20 saw about an eight percent increase over F-Y ’19. Typically we’ve seen about four or five percent year-over-year. But eight percent and 13 percent are very large increases,” Holmes says.

The last fiscal year was the first time sales topped the 400-million-dollar mark. The pandemic was credited for the increase in the 2020 fiscal year, its impact is likely behind the continued booze buying in the last fiscal year. “It’s hard to say for certain — but a safe assumption would be that there’s some sort of correlation with the pandemic — because that’s really when we started to see these big increases, obviously,” he says.

“If you were to ask me would our sales have jumped like this if there wasn’t a pandemic — I couldn’t confidently say that was true,” Holmes says. He says sales saw a shift during the height of the pandemic, but things seemed to have returned to a balance. He says the off-premise establishments did see quite an increase in sales for take-home liquor when restaurants and other establishments got shut down — but he says the sales for bars and restaurants did come back after the shutdowns.

One type of seller has continued to see increases in licenses in the last fiscal year. “The Class E licensees — so think those places where you can buy liquor to go, so grocery stores, gas stations liquor stores, things like that — that’s been trending up over the years and it’s at the highest it’s ever been at this point. A lot of the on-premise licenses — it was difficult during the pandemic, we had some close and then some reopen,” Holmes says.

The pandemic led to supply chain issues for a lot of businesses. Holmes says I-A-B-D was not immune to them — but was able to manage.  “Because A-B-D is the sole wholesaler of liquor in Iowa, and with the relationships that we have with those suppliers — we so far have been able to manage those shortages relatively effectively.– and ensure that those products are still being delivered efficiently,” according to Holmes.

He says they have always kept a good supply of the most popular items — and the shortages came in those brands that were not among the top sellers.

Red Oak woman arrested on a Cass County Forgery warrant

News

December 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman Tuesday night, who was wanted on a Cass County warrant for Forgery. Authorities say 56-year-old Lorisa Louise Buckley, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 9:10-p.m. in the 200 block of W. Reed Street, in Red Oak. She was transported to the Montgomery-Cass County line and turned over to Cass County Deputies, before being transported to Atlantic. Buckley was being held in the Cass County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Republican Dave Rowley wins northwest Iowa state senate seat

News

December 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – An insurance agent from Spirit Lake will fill a vacancy in the Iowa Senate. Unofficial results from Tuesday’s special election in senate district one show Republican Dave Rowley defeated his Democratic opponent by a wide margin. This is Rowley’s first run for elected office.

“However, I served as chair of Dickinson County Republicans and co-chair over the last 10 years,” he says, “so that helped a lot to get acquainted with the political scene.” Rowley will be sworn into office on January 10th, the first day of the 2022 legislative session. Reducing and ultimately eliminating the state’s personal income tax is a goal Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Senate’s Republican leader have embraced.

“The State of Iowa is probably in one of the best positions it could ever be to at least take a hard look at that,” Rowley says. Rowley says as a resident of northwest Iowa, he sees first hand some of the migration South Dakota gets because it does not have a state income tax.  “I do know that once people reach retirement age, they look very hard at their state income tax,” Rowley says. “South Dakota seems to have a fairly good model and it does appeal to a lot of people.”

Rowley will replace Republican Zach Whiting who resigned from the state senate to take a job in Texas. Rowley will represent Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, Osceola and Palo Alto Counties for the next year. He intends to seek reelection in 2022, but in a new state senate district that includes his home county of Dickinson as well as Clay, Emmet, Kossuth and Winnebago. “My experience in insurance…in the last 30 directly in western Iowa, I have some very good friends that are in those counties,” Rowley says, “and I’ll definitely be reconnecting with a lot of the people that I know.”

Rowley, who has lived in Spirit Lake since the 1990s, works at an insurance agency in Estherville. Unofficial results show Rowley received 75 percent of the votes cast in the special election. He defeated Democrat Mark Lemke, a retired businessman who also lives in Spirit Lake.

Gov. Reynolds, four other Governors send letter to DoD requesting withdraw of vaccine mandate for National Guard Members

News

December 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Today (Tuesday), Gov. Reynolds and four other governors sent a letter to the Department of Defense requesting the withdraw of vaccine mandate directives to National Guard members that are in Title 32 duty status.

The Governor’s office says the U.S. Supreme Court has for decades affirmed that the National Guard is under the command and control of the Governor of each state until those members are called up to active-duty status under Title 10. Therefore, Gov. Reynolds is requesting the federal government abide by the law, allowing her to retain authority over the Iowa National Guard members and allow them personal choice without penalization of their status with the National Guard.

“The federal government continues to overreach further into the lives of Americans and especially those serving our country and protecting our very freedoms,” said Gov. Reynolds. “These are the very men and women who have selflessly devoted their lives to protecting us and responding to major disasters and times of crisis at the drop of a hat to provide peace and comfort, and now the federal government is giving them an ultimatum to get the vaccine or be separated from serving their country. It’s unconscionable to think the government will go so far as to strip these honorable men and women of the nation’s top duties if they don’t comply. They protect the very freedoms that the federal government apparently doesn’t believe they too deserve.”

The letter was sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III by Governor Mark Gordon, Wyoming; Governor Mike Dunleavy, Alaska; Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa; Governor Tate Reeves, Mississippi; and Governor Pete Ricketts, Nebraska. The deadline for U.S. National Guard members to be vaccinated was Dec. 2.

According to reports, nearly 50,000 military members across all branches refuse to get vaccinated at this time.

Two teens arrested after two Sioux City high schools placed on lockdown over threats

News

December 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Two juvenile suspects have been arrested after separate online threats led to some Sioux City schools being placed on lock-down Tuesday. A 14-year-old girl was taken into custody after a threat against Sioux City East High School after allegedly posted a picture of a gun and stating she was headed to the school. Police say she had created a fake profile on Snapchat and made the post to alarm people, but had no plan to carry out the threat. She’s been charged with Class D felony counts of terrorism threats and harassment.

In an unrelated incident, a 15-year-old oby was identified and taken into custody for making a threat against Sioux City West High School. The Woodbury County Attorney’s Office is considering charged against the boy. Because of the threats, a middle school and Bishop Heelan Catholic High School were also locked down as authorities investigated.

Sioux City Police say students and staff at all the schools were safe in their buildings.

Harlan Police report, 1/14/21

News

December 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Harlan Police Department, Tuesday, said five arrests took place over the past week. On Monday (12/13), 48-year-old Hector Casanova Cantu, of Manilla, was arrested for Driving While Barred. Last Friday, 27-year-old Jack Andrew Brown, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI, Carrying Weapons, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, no proof of insurance, and failure to display license plate.

On December 9th, 49-year-old Christopher James Petersen and 28-year-old Kevin James Kesselberg, both of Harlan, were arrested for Criminal Mischief, Reckless Driving, and stopping where prohibited. And, 46-year-old Weston Jon Gustafson, of Harlan, was arrested Dec. 9th, on an active Shelby County warrant.

Iowa DNR needs your help learn more about Iowa’s secretive Gray Foxes

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa DNR is asking for your help in learning more about the secretive Gray Fox species.

Gray fox were listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Iowa in 2015 based on a decline in the gray fox population observed over the past 25 years. Similar trends have been noted in several other Midwestern states. The gray fox is smaller than coyotes and red foxes. Adult gray foxes typically weigh 10 – 12 lbs. They are mostly gray with patches of reddish, tan fur down the side of their neck and body. A distinct black line extends down the top of their tail. Their face also has distinct black and white markings.

The gray fox population decline in Iowa is correlated with increases in the population of coyotes, raccoons, and bobcats. Increasing coyote and bobcat populations may affect gray fox populations through competition and predation. Raccoons may impact gray fox populations through the spread of disease, particularly canine distemper virus.

Small Gray Fox

Canine distemper is common in raccoons, and gray fox are highly susceptible to this lethal disease. Changes in our forests habitat may also contribute to lower gray fox numbers. Mature, even-aged forests don’t support the prey base needed for gray fox. However, the cause or causes of the decrease in the Iowa gray fox population is unknown. A combination of these factors, as well as potential other unknown factors, may have contributed to their decline.

The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources wildlife staff monitors the gray fox population in Iowa through surveys and harvest annually. For example, the Iowa Bowhunter Observation Survey began in 2004, and currently provides annual data upon which to base population trend analysis. Bowhunters record the amount of time they spend in the field, and the number of gray fox (along with other species of wildlife) they see during each hunt outing.

The bowhunter observation survey allows us to standardize the number of sightings based on the amount of time or effort spent bowhunting, resulting in an index that provides insight into trends in furbearer populations such as gray fox. The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources wildlife research staff are initiating efforts to conduct a pilot study to monitor and gather information on gray foxes, so we can begin the process of understanding the causes of their population decline. Due to their already low numbers, you can help out the DNR by providing them with gray fox locations!

The DNR is asking for information on any sightings or recent trail cam images (within the last 6 Months) of gray foxes that are alive. Just send an email or call Dave Hoffman or Vince Evelsizer with location information such as GPS coordinates or Twp,Rge,Sec. Dropping and sending a pin works great too.

Dave Hoffman – Iowa DNR Wildlife Phone: 641-425-0737; Email: david.hoffman@dnr.iowa.gov

Vince Evelsizer – Iowa DNR Wildlife Phone: 641-231-1522  Email: vince.evelsizer@dnr.iowa.gov

If you find a dead gray fox (roadkill, trapped, hunted, other) that’s in decent condition, we’d be interested in having the carcass for further examination/necropsy. Please contact Rachel Ruden (Iowa DNR Vet) or Vince Evelsizer if you do have one.  Rachel Ruden – Iowa DNR Wildlife Veterinarian Phone: 515-823-8544; Email: Rachel.ruden@dnr.iowa.gov

Snowy Owls In Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources report Snowy Owls are making their way into the state, looking for food on their way south. You can observe the winged wonders, but please, give them space so they can hunt undisturbed. If your presence changes the behavior of an owl (Ex: it flies or looks right at you) you’re too close and you may be causing undue stress. Do not approach an owl unless it is obviously injured or struggling to fly, and always consult a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before intervening.

Snowy Owls breed in the open landscapes of the Arctic Tundra. During summers with abundant food (particularly lemmings), many young are produced, and the following winter, many of those young owls disperse south into the US to look for winter prey. When large numbers of owls move south in winter it’s called an irruption. Although it’s not a large irruption year, at least a dozen snowy owls have been seen in Iowa so far this season, with many arriving in the last two weeks. Unlike other owls, Snowy Owls are active during the day (diurnal) and can be spotted in open areas, like agricultural fields and airports, looking for food. Snowy Owls are sit-and-wait predators and often sit in one spot for hours at a time. They commonly perch on wooden fence posts and telephone poles, or find a spot to sit on the ground.

Although some people may worry that Snowy Owls will be susceptible to heat stress in an unseasonably warm Iowa winter, there is little evidence to suggest that a few days of temperatures in the 70s will be too much for the birds to handle. In their breeding range, days in the 50s are common and Snowy Owls have been observed surviving the winter as far South as Florida where average daily highs are in the upper 60s all winter long. More pressing threats are human-related (Ex: collisions with vehicles and power lines).

The DNR is interested in learning more about Snowy Owls wintering in Iowa and the threats they face, so if you happen to find a dead Snowy Owl, please report it to Iowa DNR’s Avian Ecologist Anna Buckardt Thomas (anna.buckardt@dnr.iowa.gov, 515-823-3945) and/or the State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Rachel Ruden (rachel.ruden@dnr.iowa.gov, 515-823-8544).

If it is safe to do so, you may retrieve dead owls using gloves and a garbage bag. Keep in a cool place but avoid freezing until you can turn over to a wildlife biologist or conservation officer. Remember, unless you are transferring to the Iowa DNR or other permitted entity, it is illegal to be in possession of a migratory bird carcass under federal law.