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World Food Prize laureates ask Biden to elevate hunger

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of 24 scientists, economists, researchers and other past winners of the World Food Prize sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to focus on alleviating global hunger, poverty and malnutrition. The World Food Prize Foundation released the letter Tuesday that asks the president to take immediate action to directly address global hunger and food insecurity by playing a leadership role in the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit and expanding the USAID Feed the Future initiatives.

The letter says: “American leadership on getting food systems right will inspire and embolden others to join forces to end hunger, counter climate change, generate jobs, and promote responsible stewardship of the environment.”

 

Boys Class 1A and 2A District Final Basketball Schedule 02/23/2021

Sports

February 23rd, 2021 by admin

Class 1A and 2A boys basketball District Finals will be contested tonight. Teams are trying to earn their way to the Substate Finals on Saturday. Here is a look at area match-ups and all games are set for 7:00 p.m. tipoffs.

CLASS 1A

District 12 @ Central Decatur
Mount Ayr (18-4) vs. Moravia (19-4)

District 13 @ I-35
Martensdale-St. Marys (22-0) vs. Earlham (13-7)

District 14 @ Red Oak
Tri-Center (19-3) vs. Riverside (12-10)

District 15 @ Woodward-Granger
Grand View Christian (18-1) vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard (7-9)

District 16 @ Lewis Central
St. Albert (10-12) vs. West Harrison (18-5)

CLASS 2A

District 15 @ ADM
Van Meter (15-6) vs. Panorama (18-4)

District 16 @ CB Abraham Lincoln
AHSTW (20-2) vs. Treynor (18-4) – ON KJAN

Trevor Frederickson Memorial Scholarship applications being accepted

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, Tuesday, said applications are now being accepted for the 12th Annual Trevor Frederickson Memorial Scholarship. Applications may be obtained from the Atlantic High School guidance office at 1201 E. 14th Street, or the Atlantic High School website at www.atlanticiaschools.org.  There are as many as two $750 scholarships available to those graduating from Atlantic High School in the spring of 2021. Applicants must plan to attend a college or vocational school, show involvement in school and/or community activities, supply a copy of their college acceptance letter, provide two letters of reference along with their 7 semester transcripts, and maintain an academic achievement of 2.5 G.P.A, or better. The scholarships will be awarded at the Atlantic High School Class Night held in May.

Trevor Frederickson

Trevor Frederickson graduated from Atlantic High School in 2006. He went on to further his education at Southwestern Community College in Creston where he studied automotive mechanics and played baseball for the Southwestern Spartans. Two additional $750 scholarships will be available for Southwestern Community College students this fall. Trevor, who passed away in 2009, had plans of pursuing a career in law enforcement and returning to his hometown of Atlantic.

His mom, Melanie Petty said “Anyone who knew Trevor, knew he valued family, life and community. Trevor continues to live on in our hearts and minds. To this day, Trevor is still giving back to the community he loved to be a part of.” Funds for the scholarships are raised at an annual golf tournament. Plans are already in the works for the 13th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament to be held on Saturday, August 14th, 2021. Organizers look forward to another successful tournament so they can continue to grant scholarships for many years to come.

2021 Drake Relays will welcome Iowa high school competitors back

Sports

February 23rd, 2021 by admin

DES MOINES – Today brings exciting news to young track and field athletes from across the state of Iowa. We are pleased to announce that the high school division for the 2021 Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom will be held this spring, following a year’s absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the high school competitions will be held at Drake Stadium on Thursday, April 22, and tentatively from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Strict COVID-19 protocols will be enforced.

“This is a terrific and truly exceptional opportunity for Iowa high school athletes,” said Blake Boldon, the Franklin “Pitch” Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. “We are especially excited about this news because many of the nation’s top collegiate events, including the Kansas Relays, Florida Relays and others, have already announced they won’t host high school competitors this spring. We are working very closely with the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, as well as public health and other officials, to define appropriate COVID-19 protocols and create a safe experience for high school competitors and coaches.”

Entries for high schools will open on Monday, March 8, and the Blue Standard qualifying marks will be announced shortly. Given the unusual and challenging circumstances, many specific details are yet to be finalized. When final decisions have been made regarding competition and entry procedures, that information will be posted at DrakeRelays.org.

At this time, the following details have been confirmed:

  • All high school running events will be run as finals, except for the 4×100 meter relay which will have preliminaries.
  • All high school field events will have preliminaries and finals.
  • The 4×100 meter relay qualifiers will likely be reduced from 96 to 48 teams for high school boys, and from 96 teams to 48 teams for high school girls.
  • The number of qualifiers for all other high school events will remain the same as in 2019, the most recent year of high school competition at the Drake Relays.

Decisions and guidelines regarding spectators and ticketing are still being made. Details will be announced as soon as possible. This information will be posted to the Drake Relays website and shared via Drake Relays social media accounts.

“These are unique and very challenging times,” Boldon said. “We are proud to be moving forward with the high school competition for this year’s Drake Relays.  The competition will be a single day to simplify travel for high schools and we selected Thursday to best align with NCAA protocols for a national caliber university competition to follow.  We appreciate the incredible amount of understanding and cooperation necessary in order to host a successful and safe event for our Iowa high school athletes. They deserve a special day in the spotlight, and we look forward to making that happen for them.”

2 minor accidents reported in Red Oak, Monday afternoon

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police investigated two, non-injury accidents that took place Monday afternoon. At around 2:20-p.m., a 2011 Ford F-250 driven by 63-year old Thomas Leroy Bronk, of Red Oak, was traveling behind a 2015 GMC SUV driven by 92-year old Harlan Ebert, of Red Oak, when Ebert, who had stopped at the intersection of N. 8th and E. Corning Streets, began to pull into the intersection, but was forced to stop for a vehicle traveling on E. Corning Street. When Bronk failed to see Ebert had come to a complete stop, his pickup hit the rear of the SUV. Red Oak Police cited Bronk for Following too close. There was no damage to the pickup, but Ebert’s vehicle sustained $1,000 damage.

And, at around 3:30-p.m., Monday, an accident occurred at N. 1st and E. Linden Streets, in Red Oak. Authorities say a 2000 Jeep Compass SUV driven by 17-year old Anna Marie Vandrey, of Red Oak, was southbound on N. 1st Street, approaching the stop sign. A 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 65-year old Michael Lynn Irvin, of Hastings, was eastbound and proceeding through the intersection. Police say Vandrey failed to yield from the stop sign and struck the pickup on the left front fender, causing a total of $4,500 damage.

Red Oak Police cited Vandrey for Failure to Yield from a Stop Sign.

Atlantic Police report 2 arrests

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate charges over the past few days. On Monday (2/22), 32-year old Michael Given, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of Probation. And, last Friday, 42-year old Shane Seagler, of Massena, was arrested for Driving While License Denied, Suspended or Revoked.

Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail. Given was later released. Seagler remained in jail as of this (Tuesday) morning.

S.W. Iowa man arrested Tuesday morning in Shenandoah

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Shenandoah Police Department reports a traffic stop was made at around 4-a.m. Tuesday (today), on a person known to be barred from driving. During the traffic stop in the 1200 block of West Valley, 50-year old David Daugherty, of Sidney, was arrested for Driving While Barred. He was unable to post a $2,000 bond, and was being held in the Page County Jail.

Guthrie County S/O takes 2021 I-Pledge

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD), with regard to a tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product, education and enforcement program. Sheriff’s Deputies and staff have taken a pledge to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Guthrie County youth. Known as I-PLEDGE, the program is a partnership with Iowa ABD, to educate local retailers and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws. Since the program’s inception in 2000, the statewide tobacco compliance rate has grown to 95%. By participating in the program, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office has committed to do its part to increase the compliance rate even more this year.

I-PLEDGE places emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and then pass an exam will become I-PLEDGE certified. This allows a retail establishment to use an affirmative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale. Sheriff Marty Arganbright says “I-PLEDGE’s retailer training is a great way for clerks to prepare themselves to refuse illegal tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product sales. The training also assists retailers to ensure they maintain a compliant and responsible establishment.”

Deputies will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishments as part of the I-PLEDGE program. Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement officials, will enter establishments and attempt to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products. Clerks who make the illegal sale will be cited on the spot. Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products to a minor include a $135 fine for a first offense, a $325 fine for a second offense and a $645 fine for third and subsequent offenses. However, handing out citations is not the intent of the I-PLEDGE program.

Sheriff Arganbright say“By partnering with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, we hope to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in our community. Moreover, we pledge to help keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Iowa’s youth.”

To take the I-PLEDGE training or search certification records, go to https://abd.iowa.gov.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 2/23/21

News, Podcasts

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

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

Play

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 2/23/21

Podcasts, Sports

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

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

Play