IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa’s president has apologized to one offended employee for saying publicly that instructors who aren’t ready to teach their classes should be shot. Bruce Harreld wrote in an email to librarian Lisa Gardinier that his statement to the UI Staff Council was “an unfortunate off-the-cuff remark.” He says he didn’t mean to offend anyone or imply that he supports gun violence in any form.

Harreld writes that he’s used the comment in many forums previously without drawing a complaint. Gardinier says Harreld’s remark came during the Dec. 9 meeting, in response to a staffer’s question about instruction. Gardinier told Harreld the remark was “irresponsible and unprofessional.” She later welcomed his apology, saying she understood his remark to be rhetorical.

Gardinier shared the correspondence with The Associated Press.

Chairpersons for the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations report grant funds are available in their respective counties for non-profit agencies as part of the Spring grant cycle. In each County, about $108,000 is being made available. Applications for a part of those funds are due no later than February 1st, 2016.

Detailed application procedures, fact sheets, and a link to the application form can be obtained online at http://omahafoundation.org/swiowa. Applications will only be accepted through the online system.

Omaha Community Foundation logo

Contact Dennis Nissen at 800-794-3458 or dennis@omahafoundation.org or Denise Cardos at denise@omahafoundation.org with grant application-specific questions. All completed applications will be considered at the March board meeting with notification of results in early April.

Only organizations providing charitable services in Cass County and Audubon County, respectively, are eligible. Those organizations must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and supply a copy of their 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter. Requests for general operational funds will not be considered.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 12 large marshmallows
• 12 oz. package cherry chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 12 oz. package milk chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped

Combine sugar, sweetened condensed milk and marshmallows and cook to soft ball stage.  Remove from heat and add cherry chips and vanilla.  Beat with spoon until chips are melted.  Spread in buttered 9″ x 13″ pan.  Over hot water melt chocolate chips.  Stir in peanut butter and peanuts.  Spread this mixture over pink layer.  Cut into small pieces as this is very rich.

(Diane Dea)

The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to experience the magic of Christmas at Santa’s Cabin one last time this Saturday, December 19th from1:30–to 3:30-pm in the Atlantic City Park.

Share your holiday wishes with Santa before he makes the trip back to the North Pole. Enjoy a stroll down Chestnut Street by horse drawn carriage from 1:30-to 3:30-pm, as well.

Free hot cocoa and popcorn will also be available.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say Iowa State Parks will sponsor free, guided hikes in 17 state parks on New Year’s Day as part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes initiative in all 50 states. America’s State Parks First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on January 1st at a state park close to home. First Day Hikes offer a great way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with friends and family.

Todd Coffelt, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau, said “We are excited to host First Day Hikes as part of this national effort to get people outdoors and into our parks. First Day Hikes are a great way to cure cabin fever and burn off those extra holiday calories by starting off the New Year with an invigorating walk or hike in one of our beautiful state parks.”

Iowa’s state parks boast a variety of beautiful settings for year-round outdoor recreation, and each First Day Hike will offer an opportunity to explore the unique natural and cultural treasures close to home. Staff and volunteers will lead First Day Hikes in Iowa’s 17 participating state parks. Hikes will average one to two miles or longer depending on the location. Details about the hikes can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes and to see a comprehensive map of First Day Hikes across the country, visit www.naspd.org

Iowa First Day Hikes will take place at the following state parks in the KJAN listening area:

• Springbrook State Park
• Wilson Island State Recreation Area
• Green Valley State Park
• Waubonsie State Park

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Villisca man was arrested Monday night on charges of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. 25-year old Gabriel Frances Romero was taken into custody at around 9:20-p.m. in the 500 block of E. 3rd Street in Villisca, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail where he was being held on full bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The value of average Iowa farmland is now estimated to be $7,633 per acre after having dropped in value for the second consecutive year. That’s according to the 2015 Iowa Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

According to the survey, Per acre value declined $310, or 3.9 percent, since last
year’s survey. Farmland values have now fallen almost 13 percent from the historically high 2013 values. Results from the survey are similar to results by the US Department of Agriculture, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Realtors Land Institute.

The $7,633 per acre, and 3.9 percent drop in value, represents the state as a whole, although values are also determined by crop reporting districts (district hereafter) and each of Iowa’s 99 counties individually according to low-, medium-, and high-quality farmland ratings. Farmland values hit a historic peak of $8,716 per acre in 2013, but declined 8.9 percent to $7,943 the following year. The drop in value this year is smaller than that of last year, but now marks the third time values have fallen since 2009.

The 3.9 percent decline may seem less than what many people speculated, but according to Dr. Wendong Zhang, Assistant Professor of Economics at Iowa State
University who led the survey this year, this is not out of line due to a mix of factors, including a lot of cash in hand for many farmers, market expectation of this decline early on, robust livestock returns, and strong recreational demand.

In southwest Iowa, the lowest declines in land value were noted in Adams, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page and Taylor Counties, where the decrease ranged from 1.26 to 1.51-percent. For Pottawattamie, Cass, Adair and Audubon Counties, land decreased in value anywhere from 2.12- to 2.65-percent. Harrison and Shelby Counties came in with a decrease of just over three-percent, while Guthrie County had the largest decrease in area land value, at 4.18-percent, followed by Dallas County, with 5.36-percent.

Despite decreasing again, farmland values are still more than twice the reported values from 10 years ago, and almost 14 percent higher than 2011 values. For the third year in a row, Scott and Decatur counties reported the highest and lowest farmland values, respectively. Decatur County reported a value per acre of $3,514, a drop of $73, or about 2 percent, from last year’s report. Scott County reported the highest value at $10,918 per acre, however, values there declined about $700 per acre, higher than this year’s statewide average, and just over 6 percent from last year.

The value of all qualities of farmland fell across the state, with high-quality farmland losing 5 percent ($490 per acre) of its value, medium-quality land falling 3.2 percent ($232 per acre), and low quality farmland falling 0.9 percent ($44 per acre). Statewide averages for high-, medium-, and low quality farmland are now $9,364, $7,127, and $4,834 per acre, respectively.

(Read more at http://www.card.iastate.edu/land-value/2015/ )