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CAM School Board to meet Monday evening

News

January 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The CAM School District Board of Education will meet 6:30-p.m. Monday (Jan. 11) in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office. Among the matters on their agenda is:

  • Discussion/action on: Open Enrollment; Resignations; andContracts.
  • Administrative reports.
  • Approval of the 2022 trip to Washington, D.C.
  • Approval of Mid-term Graduates.

Adair County BOS set to receive more funding requests

News

January 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will receive additional funding requests for Fiscal Year 2022, during their Special Sessions set for 9-a.m., Monday. During a Special Session last Friday morning, they received funding requests from: the County Engineer; Environmental Services; Fair Board; Adair County Historical Society; Library Association; Ag Extension and Midwest Partnership.

On Monday, they’ll hear funding requests from:

  • SICOG (the Southern Iowa Council of Governments)
  • DHS
  • County Treasurer Brenda Wallace, and
  • County Recorder Janelle Schneider.

The meeting will be conducted via dial-in to (605)-313-6157 (Access Code 526272#)

Iowa COVID-19 update for Sunday, 1/10/2021: 11 more dead; 1,330 new cases

News

January 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health today reports (as of 10-a.m., Sunday), there have been 1,330 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in test results received since 10-a.m. Saturday, for a pandemic total to-date, of 296,441, and 11 additional deaths associated with COVID-19, for a total to-date, of 4,138. In our area, there are two more deaths in Adair County and one more in Union County. Of Iowa’s pandemic-related deaths, COVID-19 is reported as the underlying cause for 3,791 deaths, and a contributing factor to 347 deaths.

The Iowa DPH says there are currently 90 COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities in the state. Those outbreaks account for 2,141 of Iowa’s current positive cases. COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 1,680 of the state’s total deaths. Health officials say 1,073 LTC patients/staff have recovered from the virus.

Hospitalizations across the state continue to decline. There were 549 hospitalized as of Saturday, and 541 hospitalized today. IDPH says there are: 105 patients in an ICU (5 less than Saturday); 72 were admitted to hospitals (compared to 75 yesterday), and 41 patients are on ventilators, compared to 47 on Friday. The numbers in western/southwest Iowa (RMCC Region 4), show there are: 43 hospitalized (compared to 44 yesterday); 18 are in an ICU (1 less than yesterday); 7 people were admitted to a hospital (3 less than Saturday), and 9 people are on a ventilator (one more than yesterday).

According to the state’s website, 1,394,802 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19, to-date. Iowa’s average reported positivity rate for the last 14-days declined slightly, from 14.8% Saturday, to 14.7%, today.  The health department says 255,597 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

  • Cass, 1,101 cases; {+5}; 40 deaths
  • Adair, 655; {+8}; 20
  • Adams, 288; {+3}; 3
  • Audubon, 398; {+0}; 8
  • Guthrie, 1001; {+2}; 23
  • Harrison County, 1,506; {+4}; 60
  • Madison County, 1,095; {+12}; 9
  • Mills County, 1,337; {+11}; 15
  • Montgomery, 813; {+5}; 22
  • Pottawattamie County, 8,720; {+47}; 104
  • Shelby County, 990; {+4}; 26
  • Union County,  1,062; {+5}; 20

Northern Iowa prepares for home series against Bradley; Drake vs. Loyola was postponed

Sports

January 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – UNI takes a 1-3 Missouri Valley record into today’s (Sunday’s) start of a two game series at home against Bradley. The Braves are 6-3 but due to COVID related issues have not started Valley play. Their last game was a one point loss to Missouri back on December 22nd.

That’s UNI coach Ben Jacobson who says the Braves are always strong defensively.

Tip-time from the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls is at 3-p.m.
………………..

The Drake University Athletics Department announced Friday evening that the Missouri Valley Conference postponed the next two men’s basketball games. The series between Drake and Loyola today (Jan. 10th) and Monday (Jan. 11) at the Knapp Center, and the series between Drake and Missouri State on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 in Springfield, Missouri, have been postponed.

The cause is a positive COVID-19 test result “among Drake’s Tier 1 personnel, which consists of student-athletes, coaches, managers and staff,” the department stated. The conference has yet to set up future dates for the postponed games. Any tickets for the Loyola series will be received for its postponed date.

Winter’s chill can kill your cell phone battery, so keep your device pocketed!

News

January 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – With the pandemic, many Iowans are spending more time outside to get exercise, even during the winter, and some may be noticing the cold can quickly sap the power from their cell phones. Most phones use lithium-ion batteries which contain a liquid. Dee Taylor, the western Iowa sales director for U-S Cellular, says that liquid can definitely be impacted by the cold air. “Anything below 32 degrees is going to start slowing down your phone when you have complete exposure,” Taylor says.

We typically think of the heat of an Iowa summer causing issues for smartphones, but extreme cold can do the same. When it’s freezing outside, Taylor says the molecules shrink and can cause trouble with displays, buttons and battery life. “Having your phone in your pocket is definitely better than throwing it in a bag or a purse,” Taylor says, “but you should also protect your phone by keeping it in a case.”

Some cases protect shield the phone from impact, but the screen is often only covered by a thin layer of clear plastic. Does that really help? “It can because it’s still creating a barrier for your device and the screen,” she says. It’s best to keep your device fully charged to avoid the battery being completely drained in outdoor temperatures. We’ve all seen joggers on the sidewalks, even during the winter, with their phones strapped to their biceps so they’ll have music for the run. Taylor says those arm straps aren’t the best idea for a phone during an Iowa winter.

“When you’re out in the cold, it’s much better to keep that in a pocket versus just complete exposure, such as your arm,” Taylor says. “Certainly, it’s better than keeping it in a purse or a bag that’s completely open. You want to have some type of protection.”

If you’ve been outside, she suggests letting your device warm up before using it and don’t leave your phone outside in parked car. If a phone powers off due to the cold, she says to give it time to warm up to room temperature before you hit the power button.

Alcohol sales set monthly record in December

News

January 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division reports liquor sales for December hit a record for a single month at 42-point-eight million dollars. That is an increase of nearly 18-and-a-half percent (18.48) compared to December of 2019.

The pandemic pushed the liquor sales for the last fiscal year that ended in June to a yearly record and an increase of eight-point-two percent compared to the previous fiscal year. The department reports sales continued to rise through December — with the number of cases already sold in the new fiscal year up by nearly 19 percent (18.5).

Iowa GOP legislative leaders say state Capitol security stood test in June

News

January 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) The Republican leaders in the Iowa legislature say they’re confident in the security at the Capitol building in Des Moines. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny says Wednesday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol was a sad day for the country. “This is a great country that has given me so much and given all of us so much, allowed me to grow up in Grinnell, go play football at Iowa State, become a state senator,” Whitver says. “…Violence like that should never stand and should always be condemned.”

House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford says Americans have every right to express their opinions, in a non-violent way. “I hope that this is not the way that this country is moving towards,” Grassley says. “…I’ve been very consistent, even going back into the summer, that’s not the proper way to do it. There’s a proper way to do it and what we’ve seen the last eight months isn’t always it.”

There were protests in June outside the 135-year-old Iowa Capitol building when the legislature was in session. “Between the security we have inside the Capitol and the State Patrol as well, I think that we’re well equipped,” Grassleys says. “Some of what we saw in June, if it were to be anything like that, kind of prepared us and we know what steps may need to happen.”

Whitver says the small group of people who protested in the U.S. Capitol do not speak for Iowa Republicans. “Part of the reason we’ve been successful here in Iowa with our elections in the House, in the Senate, with the governor is because we focused on Iowa and we focused on what we need to do to make Iowa the best state we can,” Whitver said, “and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”

The lawmakers made their comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which today (Sunday), on Iowa P-B-S.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: Sunday, January 10th 2021

Weather

January 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Today: Areas of fog between 8am and 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 29. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph after midnight.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light west after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 26. Our Low was 21. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 26 and Low 5. The Record High on this date was 59 in 1928. The Record Low was -27, in 1982.

AC/GC builds early lead and grabs win from Exira-EHK

Sports

January 9th, 2021 by admin

The AC/GC boys basketball team jumped out to a 15 point lead early in the second quarter and fought off Exira-EHK the rest of the way to pick up a 59-43 win on Saturday in Guthrie Center.

Both teams struggled to find any offense in the first half but the Chargers were able to drop 6 threes in the opening half to lead 22-10 at the break. The Spartans climbed within 5 in the third quarter and were within single digits a few times, but it never felt like the Chargers were going to let go of the lead. The Chargers found themselves at the free throw line a lot in the fourth quarter and were able to make enough to pull away for the convincing win.

Eli Kading finished with 21 points to lead AC/GC. Lucas Marsh added 15 and Ben Marsh had 10. The Chargers improved to 8-2 on the season.

Cash Emgarten scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half to lead the Spartans scoring. Exira-EHK falls to 6-4 on the season.

Exira-EHK girls fight for big road win at AC/GC

Sports

January 9th, 2021 by admin

The Exira-EHK Spartans girls basketball team had to rally a few times before securing a win over the ACGC Chargers on Saturday afternoon 54-48.

The Spartans jumped out to a 9-0 lead at the outset but the Chargers would pull within 2 by the end of the first quarter 14-12. The Chargers would then proceed to take a lead in the second and got up by 5 before the Spartans roared back and got a bucket from Mollie Rasmussen right before the break to lead 26-25. It was much the same story in the third with the Chargers grabbing a lead and then the Spartans roaring back to lead 38-35 heading to the 4th. The Spartans built the lead to as large as 15 but the Chargers didn’t give up. ACGC strung together a number of stops and clawed within 2 at 50-48. The Spartans then got some big free throws from Quinn Grubbs to seal the win.

Exira-EHK was led by 17 points from Macy Emgarten who did a great job rebounding and getting to the foul line. Emgarten was 9-10 from the free throw line and hit a couple big threes as well. Quinn Grubbs added 13 and Mollie Rasmussen had 11. The Spartans remain unbeaten at 11-0.

ACGC got 16 points from Alaina Bunde and 8 from Kylie Young. The Chargers fall to 6-4 on the season.