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ONE LAST GASP FROM OLD MAN WINTER
(Shenandoah) -- The first day of spring looks a lot like the first day of winter!
Old Man Winter went out with one last reminder of his fury Friday. Based on National Weather Service reports, approximately 3-to-5 inches fell in KMAland. One KMA Skywatcher reported 7 inches near Siam in Taylor County. Chances are good the snow on the ground now won't stay around for three months. Highs Sunday are expected in the mid-50's, with mid-50's forecast Monday.
Sat, 20 Mar 2010 9:12:34 CDT
SNOW-COVERED ROAD CAUSES ATCHISON CO. INJURY ACCIDENT
(Langdon) -- Friday's snowfall is to blame for at least one injury accident in Atchison County, Missouri.
The Missouri Highway Patrol says 26-year-old Letaysha L Ware of Raymore, Missouri suffered minor injuries, but did not seek medical attention. Ware was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Michael A Dressler, also of Raymore, that was northbound on Interstate 29 2 miles south of Langdon when it skilled on a snow-covered roadway. The vehicle exited the right side of the road and traveled down an embankment. Dessler's vehicle then overturned and came to rest on the driver's side.
Sat, 20 Mar 2010 6:58:09 CDT
ELLIOT WOMAN ARRESTED ON MASSACHUSETTS WARRANT
(Red Oak) -- An Elliot woman is in custody on charges pending in another state.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office says 32-year-old Sherry Marie Guyer was arrested on a valid Massachusetts warrant for unspecified charges. Guyer was taken to the Montgomery County Jail where she is being held on bond.
Sat, 20 Mar 2010 6:48:52 CDT
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY AWAITS FUNDING FOR EXPANSION
(Shenandoah) -- Plans remain in limbo for the Shenandoah National Guard Armory renovation. Readiness Noncommissioned Officer Terry Wilson tells KMA News the building at 601 West Ferguson Road is targeted for a major overhaul to begin....whenever funds are made available.
Wilson says the 9 month to a year long project would change the look of the armory inside and out from the roof down and include new windows. He says added square footage on the east side of the structure would include 120 x 30 square feet to expand the currently inadequate kitchen size by about 4 times.
Also, Wilson says the offices will move downstairs near the entrance for safety reasons and public accessibility, and they'll reposition the stairs to meet the state fire code. Current classrooms will be updated electrically and modernized. Other classrooms will be added upstairs.
He predicts the price tag estimate to be in the ball park of $1.5 and 2 million dollars.
The officer says Shenandoah's Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry members are part of the 3,500 Iowa soldiers being deployed to the Middle East this fall to serve again in the war. His hopes are that the construction will be completed upon their return.
Wilson says the 24 years he's served the Guard has passed quickly - he still loves what he does for our country. Wilson also serves as a football and wrestling coach for Shenandoah kids. He and his wife, Annette, have four children of their own.
Sat, 20 Mar 2010 6:44:33 CDT
SOUTHWEST IOWA PROJECTS RECEIVE USDA FUNDING
(Washington) -- Four projects in KMAland are the recipients of federal funding to improve water quality and public sanitation services.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday announced the funding of projects in 20 states through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Vilsack says the projects are expected to provide construction jobs and create infrastructure needed to support community growth.
Three of the awards go to the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association. SIRWA receives a loan of almost $1.5 million and a grant of more than $3.4 million for its based meters project. SIRWA will use these funds to help with the replacement of water service meters and sub-meters throughout the organization's water distribution system in its nine county service area. Another loan totaling of more than $1.9 million and a $774,900 grant goes to SIRWA's Creston/Corning project. SIRWA will use the funds to assist with the construction of 15 miles of pipeline corridor to interconnect the public water sources of Corning Municipal Utilities and Creston Municipal Utilities. And, SIRWA receives a loan of almost $1.7 million and a grant of more than $5.3 million for planned improvements that include the expansion of rural water services to 269 new customers in southwest Cass County. The 145 square-mile project area will include Cold Springs State Park near the City of Lewis. Approximately 170 miles of two-inch piping will be constructed as part of the distribution system, along with 17 miles of eight-inch piping to help bring water to the area from the City of Corning. A 150,000 gallon water tower will also be constructed to meet the average-day water needs of the project area.
In addition, the city of Hastings receives a $493,000 loan and $682,000 grant to assist with the construction of wastewater collection, force main and lagoon treatment systems in the community of 72 residents and businesses. The project will help correct health and sanitary problems. Currently, the sanitary wastewater within the community is currently treated by individual on-site systems, many unpermitted by the Mills County Department of Health.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:00:39 CDT
MILLS COUNTY SETS OPEN HOUSE ON NEW GIS WEBSITE
(Glenwood) -- It's another sign of advancement in technology--a system allowing the public to access county information on properties.
Mills County is the latest to implement a GIS website, and will unveil the system at open houses March 29th at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the county engineer's training facility at 403 Railroad Street in Glenwood. Patrick Binn is Mills County's information technology director. Though the general public is invited, Binn tells KMA News the event is aimed at professionals dealing with properties, including real estate agents and abstractors.
Binn says the GIS--or Geographic Information System--gives the public a portal to county information regarding property sales, assessment data, tax information, and GIS mapping information from the comfort of your home or business.
Binn says the open house will also provide information on the search methods available through the website. Those wishing to attend either open house should contact Patrick Binn at 712-309-1887. Mills County's GIS website is available by logging onto the county's website.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:42:02 CDT
SIDNEY GRADUATE TRANSFORMS THE BRONX DURING SPRING BREAK
(New York City) -- It's Spring Break with a cause - Kara Cruickshank is a Sidney High School graduate and University of Nebraska student spending her vacation with other students doing missions work in New York and Connecticut.
Cruickshank tells KMA News she's with the Fellowship of Catholic Students from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She says many groups from UNL and UNO have sent groups all over the US for Spring Break service trips.
The college freshman hopes to graduate as a specialist in marriage and family and was expecting the trip to be more people-service oriented, but the tasks accomplished this week were physical labor to assist those in the Sisters of Life Villa in Connecticut. Cruickshank says the organization there works with women in crisis pregnancies and people near the end of their life. She says she soon realized as she does the work as unto Christ, the work is more rewarding and has challenged her to love people more openly.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:03:55 CDT
FLOODING CONCERNS CONTINUE ON IOWA HIGHWAYS
(Ames) -- An increased risk for flooded roadways accompanies this recent storm over Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) cautions motorists to be mindful of the changing weather conditions and adjust travel plans accordingly. Some slick spots have been reported on KMAland roads.
Individual, sporadic road closures can be found at iowadotmedia.typepad.com. Anyone interested in receiving updated road closure information can subscribe to receive this information via E-mail, Twitter or RSS feed. Closure information is also available on www.511ia.org. (Click on the high bandwidth site.)
More information on flood safety can be found on the Iowa DOT’s Web site at iowadot.gov.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:19:30 CDT
IPTV DOCUMENTARY ON KMA RADIO HOMEMAKERS RE-AIRS THIS WEEKEND
(Shenandoah) -- In case you missed watching a television documentary on KMA's legenday homemakers the first time--or enjoyed so much the first time--you have two more opportunities to watch it this weekend.
Iowa Public Television rebroadcasts "Iowa's Radio Homemakers: Up a Country Lane" Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. A project one year in the making, the documentary tells the story of women who dominated the local radio airwaves in the 1950's, and features interviews of Evelyn Birkby and some KMA air personalities. For a full schedule of IPTV programs, log onto their website.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:32:20 CDT
LEGISLATURE RESTORES MORE MONEY TO CLARINDA MHI BUDGET
(Clarinda) -- Clarinda's MHI won't escape the meat cleaver--but the blow may be softer than first anticipated.
By a 52-to-45 vote, the Iowa House approved the Health and Human Services appropriations bill, which restores more money originally cut from the Clarinda Treament Complex's budget. In the addition to the $585,000 returned last week, State Representative Richard Anderson tells KMA News another $100,000 was added from the state's underground storage tank fund.
While saying Clarinda's facility will still experience tension in terms of job and bed reductions, Anderson tells KMA News the loss will be less severe than originally expected. Anderson projects the facility will lose 7-to-9 jobs, as opposed to the 19-to-20 jobs originally expected for elimination.
Anderson credits advocacy by the public for the restored funding. The appropriations bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is unknown.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:47:13 CDT
MALVERN-NISHNA VALLEY COMMITTEE DISCUSSES OPTIONS IN PUBLIC MEETINGS
(Malvern-Hasting) -- Members of a committee exploring the future of two area school districts are taking questions and input from the public.
Earlier this week, members of the Malvern and Nishna Valley School Districts' reorganization committee held the first in a series of meetings in Henderson outling options regarding both districts' future. Two more meetings are slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Malvern Public Library and Monday at 7 p.m. at the Indian Creek Museum. Malvern School Superintendent Curt Barclay and Nishna Valley Superintendent Bill Crilly are acting as advisers to the group, which has been meeting for the past 16 months. Barclay tells KMA News about 25 people attended the first meeting, and received information on the four options facing the district: 1) continue whole grade sharing, 2) reorganize, 3) whole grade sharing with other districts, such as Glenwood or Red Oak, or 4) dissolve either of the districts.
Barclay says some of the patrons in attendance indicated their thoughts on the districts' future on the question cards. Of the 13 cards received, Barclay says four indicated the districts should dissolve, the other nine indicated reorganize. Barclay says some of the questions involved the costs of reorganizing versus hold grade sharing, and how big of an enrollment is big enough for a reorganized district.
Following the final two meetings, the reorganization committee will make its recommendation to the Malvern and Nishna Valley boards in May. If the committee recommends maintaining whole grade sharing, Barclay says nothing will happen. Reorganization, meanwhile, involves a long process. Barclay says a community committee would work with both boards in developing a petition spelling out details on the proposed merger. That merger would go to the newly-formed Green Hills Area Education Agency, which would set up public hearings on the proposal before its sent to a public vote. A simple majority is required for any reorganization referendum to pass. Barclay projects that any reorganization or dissolution of both districts is at least two years down the road.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:45:15 CDT
DAVE RAMSEY FPU WEEK 9: UNDERSTANDING INVESTMENTS
(Oakland) -- Tips on understanding investments is the topic of the week in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class in Oakland at the Fellowship of Faith Christian Center.
KMA continues to shadow Brian and Angela Yoder through the course. Brian Yoder tells KMA News he was glad to learn further details about what to do with the money he's now learned to save. Yoder says he connects with Ramsey's advise of finding trusted professionals who have the heart of a teacher you actually learn from while around them. He advises to stay away from those with only a heart of a salesman out to only make a buck for themselves.
Yoder recalls his college years when he first began asking investors about the process. Their complicated approach impressed him at the time, he admits, but from Ramsey he's seeing how impressive it is to be very simple, methodical and deliberate in where you invest. Yoder says he found Ramsey's billionaire poll surprising - their investments are kept "painfully simple". Yoder relays Ramsey's story of sitting at the feet of billionaires asking their advice. One man told Ramsey his secret to success is, "Never stop giving and read the book The Tortise and the Hare annually" - meaning the slow and steady win the race.
Yoder relays Ramsey offers his opinion of what he considers horrible investments. The first bad investment he says is gold, because in a completely "tanked" economy, you'd think people would be roaming the streets with bags of gold to purchase things, but really - goods and services like a bottled water or tank of gas are more meaningful. Ramsey cited the Katrina hurricane and the 9/11 disasters as examples.
Dave Ramsey also touts the old adage "Never put all your eggs in one basket", and says money is like manure...if it stays in one pile it stinks but if you spread it around it grows things.
Other horrible investments in Ramsey's opinion are commodities and futures, day trading and viaticals. Ramsey admits he has 2 areas of investments only: paid for real estate and mutual funds. Learn more from Dave Ramsey right here on KMA Radio from 3:00 - 5:00 every Monday through Friday and again in the evenings at 6:30 or Saturdays nights at 7:00 and Sundays at 3:00.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 8:50:16 CDT
SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN MONTGOMERY CO. DRUG BUST
(Red Oak) -- Two suspects are in custody following an extensive narcotics investigation by Montgomery County authorities.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office says 48-year-old Kelly Lynette Beaver and 49-year-old Ronald Dean Kammerer Junior, both of Red Oak, were arrested Wednesday afternoon on two counts each of delivery of methamphetamine. Kammerer faces an additional charge of delivery of marijuana. Both suspects are held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond each.
Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:48:31 CDT
JOE CROLL BENEFIT SLATED SATURDAY
(Shenandoah) -- For years, he's been one of the "helpful smiles in every aisle" at Shenandoah's Hy-Vee store.
Now, it's Joe Croll's turn to receive help. A benefit spaghetti supper for Croll takes place Saturday from 4-to-8 p.m. at the Shenandoah United Methodist Church at 200 Church Street. Proceeds will help defray Croll's medical costs. Debbie Burroughs is among the event's organizers. Burroughs says Croll entered the hospital after dislocating his hip outside Hy-Vee in December. That led to the discovery of a more serious health issue--a tumor the size of football on his leg, meaning bone cancer.
It's the second major health issue for Croll, who sustained a serious brain injury in a bike riding accident almost three years ago. Croll's son Brenton says his dad's leg was amputated--and Croll is now undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Brenton says his father is also learning how to walk on his prosthetic leg.
Cost of the supper is $8 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. Deliveries are available between 4-and-5 p.m. Saturday. Those requesting a delivered meal should call one of the following numbers by 5 p.m. Friday: Debbie Burroughs at 712-246-5894, Connie Lehan at 712-520-2035 or Tamara Gray at 402-209-3799. Those attending the meal may also bid on silent auction items. If you're unable to attend, donations can be sent to the Shenandoah Hy-Vee in care of the Joe Croll Benefit. Thrivent Financial for Lutheran's Taylor County Chapter is providing matching funds for the event.
Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:37:20 CDT
MALVERN FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES FEMA GRANT
(Malvern) -- Firefighting efforts in Malvern get a boost from federal funding.
Iowa Senator Charles Grassley's office says FEMA has awarded the Malvern Volunteer Fire Department a grant of more than $73,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Operations and Safety Program. The program supplements training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.
Each year, thousands of local Iowa organizations, colleges and universities, individuals and state agencies apply for competitive grants and loans from the federal government. The funding is then awarded based on each local organization or individual's ability to meet criteria set by the federal entity.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 6:28:21 CDT
OTOE CO. OFFICIALS MONITOR POTENTIAL FLOOD PROBLEMS
(Nebraska City) -- Otoe County officials are still casting a wary eye on water levels along the Missouri River.
Flood warnings for the river at Nebraska City were canceled Wednesday evening--but not before causing soggy conditions in one flood-prone area. Otoe County Emergency Management Coordinator Greg Gobel tells KMA News Nebraska City's marina has water in it. Gobel also noticed flooded farmland on the Iowa side of the river across from Nebraska City.
With the potential for rain and snow this weekend, Gobel says the flood potential along the Missouri remains. With the ground heavily saturated, any substantial rain or snowfall could create problems.
Despite the heavy snow this winter, and the accompanying meltdown, Gobel says flooding chances elsewhere in the county are pretty low. Gobel, however, says concerns will grow if Otoe County receives excessive precipitation this spring. Gobel adds the county's secondary roads are in bad shape. In fact, he was scheduled to meet with Nebraska State Emergency Management officials and FEMA to discuss federal assistance to aid the county's muddy roads. Gobel, however, says three-to-four days of sunshine and some light breezes are the best assistance the roads could receive at this time.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 6:10:59 CDT
VILLISCA,CORNING SCHOOL BOARDS CONTINUE SUPERINTENDENT SHARING
(Villisca-Corning) -- Sharing a superintendent works well for two KMAland school districts.
That's why the Villisca and Corning School Boards have decided to continue sharing the services of Superintendent Willy Stone. Stone tells KMA News he credits staff and administrators in both districts in allowing him to oversee operations in two districts at once.
Stone says the sharing benefits both districts financially, in that each received $50,000 in state incentive funding this academic year. Stone says Corning and Villisca will receive 80 percent of that total--or $40,000--next school year. That amount reduces by 60 percent the third year, 40 percent the fourth and 20 percent, the fifth and final year.
Stone says the biggest challenge is attending events and being visible in both communities--something he anticipated when he took the job.
In addition to sharing his position, Stone says both districts will continue to share the services of Maintenance Director Chris Boswell, who spends four-fifths of his week in Corning, and the other fifth in Villisca. Stone says both districts will also explore other sharing opportunities, as budgets get tighter.
Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:32:26 CDT
MILLS COUNTY KIDS KICKIN TOBACCO ONE BUTT AT A TIME
(Glenwood) -- More than one-third of all kids who ever try smoking become daily smokers before leaving High School, according to Mills County Health Department Administrator Sheri Bowen.
She tells KMA News the "Kick Butts Day" campaign to raise tobacco cancer awareness is Wednesday March 24th. Bowen says KBD is the campaign for Tobacco Free Kids’ annual celebration of youth advocacy, leadership and activism where thousands of youth in every state and around the world will stand out, speak up and seize control against big tobacco.
Bowen says the Mills County Just Eliminate Lies (JEL) Youth Group will participate in this nation-wide event by “Kickin Tobacco in Mills County One Butt at a Time”. She says also, the Glenwood Middle School and High School JEL Chapters are joining together to clean up the town square from tobacco waste. Tobacco facts and information are available to the public and volunteers are welcome to assist in the cleanup project.
The public is invited to the event in Glenwood's town square March 24th from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. and help increase awareness of the risks of Tobacco use and clean up the environment in the process. For more information contact Glenda Wright at Mills County Public Health, 712-527-9699 or by email at glendaw@mcph.us.
Thu, 18 Mar 2010 7:19:49 CDT
HEALTH OFFICIAL PROMOTES NATIONAL ACT HAPPY WEEK
(Villisca, Red Oak) -- Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Clickette the Clown tells KMA News laughter is the best medicine.
The clown goes by the name of Debbi Cooper when she's not in costume and is a certified laugh leader. Cooper says she's been a clown for 7 years and has incorporated her clowning into her injury prevention work for the Iowa Department of Public Health.
She says when humor is incorporated into your life -- even at times when given bad news by a doctor -- finding a place in your day to laugh will help the healing process begin. Cooper says laughing is healthy physically because it releases endorphines and can take away pain and mental anxiety. Cooper says when you think about the last time you laughed (your hardest) you'll likely recall that you were exhausted for a moment afterward because laughing is good exercise as well.
Lisa Vetter, serves as the Community Relations Director of Good Samaritan Society in Red Oak and Villisca where Clickette the Clown visited this week. Vetter says one Bible verse Clickette shared with the people at the skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers is Proverbs 15:13 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."
A doctor's report in Reader's Digest Magazine showed that happy people are healthier than those who don't purpose to find joy in their lives.
(Pictured: Jack Linn and Clickette)
Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:21:46 CDT
WAYWARD ELK SIGHTED IN KMALAND
(Henderson) -- It was a strange sight in KMAland this past week--a wayward elk wandering through the countryside.
Several residents spotted the creature before Iowa Department of Natural Resources officers put it down Tuesday afternoon. Carl Priebe is a wildlife biologist with the DNR's Riverton office. Priebe tells KMA News the three-year-old male elk escaped from a 360-acre high-fenced area southeast of Avoca last week, and covered a lot of territory. Priebe says the first sighting was early last week southeast of Randolph. Other sightings came last Tuesday and Wednesday between Imogene and Farragut. Priebe says the animal apparently headed north, as it was last sighted southeast of Henderson.
Priebe says his office received three reports on the animal last week, and three more this week. Austin Viner of Henderson was among those spotting the elk. In fact, Viner got close enough to take pictures of the animal.
Priebe says DNR officers put the animal down east of Henderson out of concern for landowners, and by request from the State Veterinarian's Office, which expressed concerns about the elk's potential for spreading diseases to area livestock. Priebe adds the elk's owner also gave permission for destroying the animal, saying it would be hard to recapture it. Samples of the animal's blood were taken to the state vet's lab in Ames for analysis.
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 4:59:03 CDT
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