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Police say truck driver rescued children from house fire

News

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a passing truck driver rescued four children from a house fire in Sioux City. Firefighters were dispatched to the home a little after 10:30 p.m. Thursday. Police say the truck driver saw smoke coming from the house. He stopped, broke a house window and then helped the children get out to safety. Police say he left the scene before he could be treated for a hand injury.
The fire cause is being investigated.

NORMA E. HANSEN, 86, of Denison & formerly of Audubon (Svcs. 10/22/18)

Obituaries

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

NORMA E. HANSEN, 86, of Denison (& formerly of Audubon), died Wed., Oct. 17th, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services for NORMA HANSEN will be held 1-p.m. Monday, Oct. 22nd, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family visitation is from 1-until 4-p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21st.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

NORMA HANSEN is survived by:

Her sons – Randy (& wife Alix Korey) Hansen, of Palm Springs, CA; Hugh (Lori) Hansen, of Pacific Junction.

Her daughters – Sherry (Rick) Robbs, of Denison; Karla Kauffman, of Minneapolis, MN; Ann Hansen, of New York, NY; and Patti Bekkerus, of Denison.

Her sister –  Sharlene Merk, of Audubon.

12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, other relatives, her brother-in-law, and friends.

Many rural Iowa communities at economic disadvantage due to slow internet service

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A new report finds rural states like Iowa are still far behind in getting high-speed internet to all corners, which impacts the rate of growth and success. Johnathan Hladlik, policy director with the Center For Rural Affairs, says 31-percent of rural households lack access to broadband internet. He says that means those communities and their residents will be at an economic disadvantage. “We know as agriculture changes, as manufacturing changes, consistently we see micro-entrepreneurs and small business creation as being a key element to employment and strong economies in rural areas,” Hladik says. “Frankly, today, having broadband and high-speed internet is essential to a successful business.”

The center’s report, called “Map to Prosperity,” found of the more than 25-million households that lack access to broadband internet, 19-million of them are in rural areas. Hladik says coverage maps being used to determine how many people are covered in rural communities need to be re-written. “From 2011 to 2015, there was funding for each and every state to identify where broadband access existed,” Hladik says. “You could go in and you could know which addresses had broadband and which addresses did not have broadband. That was federal money that has since dried up.”

States that use less-effective methods to monitor coverage are bringing about large over-estimations about who’s covered. Hladik says that’s unacceptable when considering how much broadband can contribute to a state’s economy. “Increasing broadband access by 10% translates to an estimated 1% increase in gross domestic product,” he says, “and it shows that 80 new jobs are created for every additional 1,000 broadband users within a state or within a community.”

The center is pushing for legislation that will ensure better coverage for rural communities. Broadband is defined by the F-C-C as internet connections capable of 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) for download and 3 Mbps for upload speeds. More on the web at www.crfa.org

Wet weather has created manure storage problems for Iowa producers

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The wet weather and delayed has created problems for livestock producers who want to apply manure to fields this fall. The D-N-R’s Ken Hessenius says the rainfall has also helped fill up manure storage areas and finding a way to draw them down hasn’t been easy. “We’ve been getting a few phone calls already stating facilities are getting full, the crops aren’t out and the ground is saturated and they are either anticipating problems or maybe already having some problems — so yeah, we’re eharing all kinds of things out there,” Hessenius says.  He says there’s one easy solution they can hope for. “One of my favorites is get down and pray for nice warm, dry weather,” Hessenius says, “and actually we’re getting some of that — so that’s gonna help.”

He says there are some other things that can be done to keep full lagoons from overflowing.”You can look at some manure transfer. Maybe transfer between pits on facilities if you have some storage. Maybe look for some alternative fields if the one you are planning to put manure on hasn’t had the crops removed. Those are just a few off the top of my head,” Hessenius says. He advises you to take a look at your options and do something before it becomes a crisis. “The last thing we want to do is see these pits running over and causing problems with a nearby stream or something like that,” he explains.

That can end up doing environmental damage and be costly for producers. Hessenius says there will be issues even if the weather allows crops to be cleared out of fields that are targeted for manure. “We’re going to have some compaction out there and compacted soil and wet soil is just a bad combination for being able to uptake manure — which is 99 percent water,” Hessenius says. “Even normal manure application rates may be a problem — especially if you have some of those higher rates from dairy or sow. There may be a necessity to put on a little less so we don’t get runoff.”

Hessenius says the D-N-R can help you figure out a solution for your individual operation. “The problem with sending out a blanket statement is it just doesn’t work for everyone. Every facility is unique, every facility may have different options. Probably the best thing to do is just give your local field office a quick call,” Hessenius says.

Hessenius says the dry days will hopefully stretch out awhile and help ease some of the problems.

King says Trump must follow through on threat to send troops to southern border

News

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Republican Congressman Steve King says if Mexico fails to stop a caravan of asylum seekers from Central America who’re headed north, then President Trump must follow through on his threat to send troops to seal the southern border and prevent their entry in the United States. “It’s one of those promises that has to be kept,” King says. “I think about when Ronald Reagan said to the air traffic controllers: ‘You have a chance to come back to work, but if you don’t, I’m going to fire you.’ And some said: ‘He doesn’t have the nerve to do that,’ but Ronald Reagan had to do that if he wanted to maintain his presidency and this is one of those kind of circumstances, too.”

Recent reports indicate the caravan, which started in Honduras, has swelled to a group of four-thousand making their way through Guatemala. King says President Trump must also carry out his threat to end U.S. aid to countries along the migration route if the caravan reaches the U.S. border. “That adds up to quite a bit of money,” King says. “I think (Trump) should say further that we’ll redirect those funds into building a wall.” King, who is seeking a ninth term in the U.S. House, has long advocated building a wall along the southern border — and he has strongly opposed legislation to provide a pathway to citizenship or some sort of legal residency status for immigrants who’ve entered the country illegally. This past week, King sparked controversy by commenting on Canadian politics. King tweeted his endorsement of Faith Goldy, who’s running for mayor of Toronto. “I support her because she won’t back up, she takes a stand and she holds it and she has been badly abused by the establishment in Toronto,” King says.

King’s tweet, calling Faith Goldy “pro-Western Civilization” has drawn more than a thousand critical comments describing Goldy as a white nationalist and citing her comment that Canada is undergoing a “white genocide.” King says Goldy is a legitimate, “pro rule of law” candidate whose advertising wasn’t aired and who was not invited to debate the other two candidates running for mayor of Toronto. King says that’s a violation of her freedom of speech. “She has been completely muzzled,” King says, “and when I see that happen, I know that freedom has been damaged dramatically.”

King’s Democratic opponent, J.D. Sholten, of Sioux City, says “once again, Steve King spends more time supporting far-right leaders in other countries than he does focusing on the needs of the people of our district.”

Iowa-based Hy-Vee recalls several products

News

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hy-Vee has recalled six meat and potato products for possible salmonella and listeria contamination. The company says the potential danger was discovered when McCain Foods, a Hy-Vee supplier, announced it was recalling its caramelized mushrooms and fire-roasted tomatoes, which are ingredients used in the Hy-Vee products.
No illnesses have been reported.
The Hy-Vee products are:
— Hy-Vee Bacon Wrapped Cowgirl Chicken Grillers — 8 ounce each, UPC Code 023092600000
— Hy-Vee Fire Roasted Tomato, Spinach, Mozzarella Twice Baked Potato — 5 ounce each, UPC Code 023755400000
— Hy-Vee Cowgirl Chicken Griller Patty — 6 ounce each, UPC Code 023100200000
— Hy-Vee Gourmet Steakhouse Mushroom & Swiss Burger — 6 ounce each, UPC Code 023168400000
— Hy-Vee Ground Beef Sliders Mushroom & Swiss — 2 ounce each, UPC Code 023164300000
— Hy-Vee Ground Beef Sliders Mushroom & Swiss — 12 count, 30 ounces, UPC Code 023266600000
The products have a “best if used by” date of Oct. 22, 2018, or sooner.
The items can be returned to Hy-Vee stores for a full refund.

LENORE RASMUSSEN, 97, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 10/22/18)

Obituaries

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

LENORE RASMUSSEN, 97, of Guthrie Center, died Thursday, Oct. 18th, at the Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center. Funeral services for LENORE RASMUSSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, Oct. 22nd, at the First United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is on Sunday, Oct. 21st, from 4-until 6-p.m.

Burial will be in the Seeley Township Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

LENORE RASMUSSEN is survived by:

Her son – Ken (Joline) Rasmussen, of Guthrie Center.

Her brother, Alvin (Wilma) Halterman, of Papillion, NE

4 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Skyscan forecast for Atlantic & the area, Friday 10/19/2018

Weather

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy w/scattered light showers this morning; Becoming Partly Cloudy. High 69. SW-NW @ 10-20.

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 38. NW @ 10-20.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 53. NW @ 10-20.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 65.

Monday: P/Cldy. High 67.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 69. Our 24-hour Low was 43. We received .02″ rain overnight through 5:45-a.m., today. Last year on this date our High was 77 and the Low was 39. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 88 in 2003. The Record Low was 12 in 1972.

Iowa Nat’l Guard Soldier dies at Gitmo Bay

News

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa National Guard have announced 19-year old Private 1st Class Matthew A. Cox, of Leon, died while swimming at a Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) beach Tuesday, October 16th. Cox, a member of the 186th Military Police Company, Iowa Army National Guard based at Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa, was deployed to Cuba in support of Joint Task Force-Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) at the time of his death.

PFC. Matthew A. Cox

Cox and four other service members were swimming at Cable Beach when he was overpowered by the strong current. NSGB dispatched first responders to the scene to begin search and rescue operations using divers, boats and aircraft. The operation continued until the afternoon of October 17, when searchers recovered his body. The four service members with Cox at the time of his death were not injured.

The search and recovery operation was a joint effort involving members of all military services including the U.S. Coast Guard, fire, law enforcement, and medical first responders from NSGB, Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, and JTF-GTMO. An investigation is underway into the incident.

Cox was born in Des Moines. He was active in the Civil Air Patrol, Des Moines Police Explores and enjoyed farming with his grandparents, Fred and Linda Cox, near Leon. Cox enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard on October 11, 2017 as a Military Police Soldier with the 186th MP Co. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Cox is survived by his parents, Jason and Beth Cox, and brother, Mark Cox, all of Hartford, Iowa.
Funeral arrangements are pending.

Midwest Sports Headlines: 10/19/2018

Sports

October 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — People familiar with the deal tell The Associated Press that Adam Wainwright’s contract with the St. Louis Cardinals has been put on hold because it violates the maximum-cut rule. The pitcher will have to become a free agent before the agreement can be finalized. St. Louis announced the deal with the 37-year-old right-hander on Oct. 11. He was earning $19.5 million annually, and the new contract guarantees less than $15.6 million. That’s too big of a pay cut under baseball’s labor contract.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have already proven they can outscore just about anybody. Their defense continues to struggle at the other end of the field. Their latest letdown came last Sunday in New England, when the Patriots went downfield in the final minutes to set up a winning field goal.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Bengals bring one of the NFL’s worst defenses to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night to face the high-flying Kansas City Chiefs. They also bring an ailing defense. That should only make it tougher to slow down Patrick Mahomes and Co. The Bengals are coming off a loss to Pittsburgh while Kansas City lost for the first time last week in New England.