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Iowa launches “Homebase.org” website to recruit veterans for jobs

News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

 

Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Tuesday) launched www.homebaseiowa.org, a new website for Home Base Iowa. The initiative is a new non-profit, private-public partnership that will recruit veterans and active duty service members for private-sector job opportunities in Iowa.

The website serves as a comprehensive source for job services available to veterans in Iowa. The site features job postings, links to job fairs, and up-to-date information about educational opportunities, National Guard recruiting, job training, and much more.

Home Base Iowa is raising private funds to support outreach efforts to veterans, including national advertising, in-person outreach, a social media campaign, and outreach through military publications. 

8AM Newscast 12-17-2013

News, Podcasts

December 17th, 2013 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

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(Podcast) 7-a.m. News/Funeral Announcements, Tue., 12/17/13

News, Podcasts

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A podcast of the latest area news and current obituary report from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Area divers’ search for body to resume at central Iowa lake Tuesday

News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) – A search is scheduled to resume Tuesday for the body of a man whose ATV broke through the ice at Lake Ponderosa.  Montezuma Fire Chief Chris Widmer told The Des Moines Register that members of the Midwest Regional Dive Team searched from noon until 5 p.m. Monday.

Rescue crews have drilled holes in the ice and inserted cameras. They’ve found the ATV and fishing hut of 57-year-old David Hartke, but not his body.  Widmer says Hartke, of Grundy Center, and a friend were ice fishing on Saturday evening when Hartke and his vehicle broke through the ice. Lake Ponderosa sits west of Montezuma in central Iowa.

Bluffs woman arrested for terroristic threats on social media

News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs woman faces charges of Terroristic Threats and Harassment in the 1st degree, after she allegedly post on a social media website a comment that her son would be justified in shooting up the Lewis Central High School, following repeated incidents of alleged bullying. According to Council Bluffs Police, 39-year old Teri Pallat was arrested Monday following an interview with investigators.

Officials say on November 18th, Meredith Pallat reported her juvenile son was the victim of ongoing bullying at the Lewis Central High School. The incidents began in Sept. 2012 and continued through Dec, 16th 2013. At around 7:25-p.m. Monday, a uniformed officer was sent to the Lewis Central High School to meet with the Principal, in reference to a post that appeared on Facebook, allegedly by Teri Pallat (The wife of Meredith Pallat).

The post was dated Dec. 16th at 3:30-p.m. and said quote “And they ask why do people shoot up schools, well this is exactly why and when our son does it cause I know he will have nobody to blame but the administration and I promise everyone he will only get the ones that caused this. He is an excellent marks men.”

An incident report was filed with the Council Bluffs P-D in mid-November regarding an assault on Pallat’s juvenile son. The case remains under investigation, along with an investigation into the alleged threats.

Atlantic Parks Dept. may use Trail Cams to catch 4-wheelers at Sunnyside Park

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department may purchase or borrow a Trail cam to try and catch persons who are using 4-wheel off-road machines on the grassy areas at Sunnyside Park and tearing-up those surfaces. Speaking at Monday night’s meeting of the Parks and Rec Board, Director Roger Herring said that while the roads to the park are closed, the park itself is still open to various activities, but there are limitations.

He said there is no 4-wheeling on the grassy areas, but someone is doing that. It’s happening in the same spot but Herring says they don’t know right now what time of day the damage is occurring. By installing a trail cam in an undisclosed location nearby, it’s hoped they can catch those persons in the act and take legal action against them.

Herring says a “decent quality” trail camera would cost about $150 and be used anywhere there is a problem in the park system with vandalism, since it is portable. Some of the units have a “Black flash,” which is useful at night and doesn’t alert the perpetrator to the fact their picture is being taken. Those types of cameras usually cost about $200 more. Herring said also the Cass County Sheriff’s Office has offered the temporary use of its high tech trail cam, if necessary.

The Parks and Rec Board Monday tabled a decision on finalizing a Tobacco Free Ordinance for Sunnyside Park that they can forward to the City Council for its review and approval, because there was still some language that needed to be cleaned-up, and appeared to have been contradictory. The Board will reconvene prior to the January 22nd meeting of the City Council, when the Ordinance is set to be on the agenda, to make sure the final draft has gone through the legal approval process with the City Attorney.

And, Parks Director Roger Herring reported a successful Gizzard Shad kill occurred at the Schildberg Recreation Area’s Lake number One on Dec. 3rd. The DNR applied Rotenone to try and control the invasive fish species and help the more desirable species survive. Herring said the timing of the chemical application was “perfect,” because the weather was cooperating. He said within 24-hours there was a good fish kill of the gizzard shad and a few days later the lake iced-over, which means the dead fish will sink to the bottom and become food for other species and help keep the lake alive throughout the winter.

There was some “collateral” damage to other species of fish (Including the killing of game fish such as some of the small bluegill, one crappie, and one catfish), but Herring said that was to be expected. None of the bass in the lake were killed, though. He said because the fish kill was successful, it will be exciting to see how the desirable game fish population explodes over the next two- to-three years at Lake number One.

Atlantic Parks and Rec Director makes his Christmas wish list

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Members of the public, private entities or corporations who are still looking for areas they can make worthy tax deductions before the end of the year, may want to consider donating new or used equipment to the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department. Director Roger Herring presented the Parks and Rec Board Monday night, with a “Holiday Wish List” of items his department could use.

He says items don’t need to be new. The wish list includes: A sliding compound mitre saw; small-to medium sized skid loader; air compressor and pneumatic tools; a multi-drawer shop tool chest; router; welder; gas-powered auger; hammer drill; refrigerator; micro-wave oven; garden roto-tiller; 3-point tractor sprayer, and a transfer pump.

He said those are things they’d love to have, but are not currently in the budget. If you are able to donate any of those items and receive a receipt for their value to be used as a tax deduction, contact the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department at 712-243-5466.

Iowa News Headlines: Tue., Dec. 17th 2013

News

December 17th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press …

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The $586 million Mega Millions jackpot is currently the fourth-largest in U.S. history and could grow by Tuesday night’s drawing. Experts say what drives people to play is the same thing that drives people to gamble: the fantasy of quickly improving your life amid financial anxieties and uncertainty. But the huge Mega Millions prize stems from a major game revamp in October that dramatically reduced the odds of winning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman was taken to jail after a neighbor told police she was standing on her front porch with a drawn bow and arrow aimed his way and could be heard saying, “Should I shoot? Should I shoot?” The Des Moines Register reports the neighbor said he was taking groceries out of his car’s trunk when he saw and heard the woman, so he went inside to call police. Officers seized the bow and arrow and took the woman to the Polk County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines Fire Department says there has been a surge in fires in the past week, including eight in one 24 hour period. The department said the fires could be tied to extremely cold temperatures that have settled over central Iowa. The city’s fires included 15 in homes, one in a business and two in vehicles. The department says 11 of the fires appear related to heating appliances and furnaces.

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Romance writer and Iowa native Janet Dailey, whose books sold more than 325 million copies worldwide, has died at her southwest Missouri home. She was 69. Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home in Branson, Mo., says Dailey died Saturday in the music resort town. The cause of death was not released as of Monday. The funeral home reports the family said Dailey died “peacefully.”

Search continues for man missing in Lake Ponderosa

News

December 16th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — A search is continuing for the body of a man who fell into Lake Ponderosa when ice broke beneath the all-terrain vehicle he was riding. KCCI-TV reports that authorities identified the man as 57-year-old David Hartke, of Grundy Center. Montezuma Fire Department Chief Chris Widmer says the effort is now considered a recovery mission.

Hartke fell through the ice Saturday evening after ice fishing at the lake near Montezuma, about 50 miles east of Des Moines. The initial search for the man continued until about 2 a.m. Sunday when it was called off because equipment kept freezing. The search continued Sunday afternoon. Widmer says divers were plunging into 37-degree water as the searched for the body.

Members of the Midwest Regional Dive Team, including persons from southwest Iowa, began their search efforts for Widmer at Noon, Monday.

Accidents reported in Cass County

News

December 16th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has updated their report on recent and past accidents.

Officials say late Saturday morning, deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on I-80 at the 65 mile marker. A 2003 Hyundai Sonata driven by 62-year old James William Garrow, of Davenport, was westbound on I-80 when a deer ran north across the road and struck the front of the vehicle. The deer went through the windshield of the vehicle and crushed the roof area. Garrow and a passenger, Nancy Jean Herberg, were transported to CCMH via Medivac and Anita Rescue. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $10,000.

On December 10th, deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on White Pole Road in Wiota. A 1999 Toyota Camry driven by 24-year old Sydney Kay Darling, of Anita, was eastbound on White Pole Road when the driver lost control, striking a sign and jumping a terrace. The vehicle landed on its wheels and rolled into a field. Upon arrival, no one was with the vehicle. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $5,000; damage to the sign is estimated at $1000. The incident remains under investigation.

On December 9th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a single-vehicle car/deer accident on Highway 92. A 2006 Chevy K2500 owned and driven by 25-year old Simon Dale Jensen, of Adel, was westbound on Highway 92 approximately ½ mile east of 690th Street when the driver reportedly swerved to avoid striking deer in the roadway, entering the north ditch and flipping the vehicle onto its top. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $10,000. Jensen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

And on December 4th, deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on Olive Street north of Atlantic. A 2005 Sterling semi driven by 52-year old Todd Allen VanWinkle, of Des Moines, was northbound on Olive Street when the driver lost control on the ice-covered roadway and entered the east ditch. VanWinkle was transported to CCMH by Medivac Ambulance. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $15,000.