Home News KLEM News PM Update November 29, 2010

KLEM News PM Update November 29, 2010

(Undated) Temperatures across Iowa are about to take a nose dive. Highs reached the upper 50s Sunday, but will be nearly half that on Tuesday.

 

The KLEM forecast update from the National Weather Service moved the snowfall up to this earlier afternoon instead of overnight as forecast earlier today.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Aubry Wilkins says the cold air moving in this afternoon will be accompanied by light rain or snow.

 Highs on Tuesday will be in the lower 30s in southern Iowa and in the 20s to the north. “It’s going to be pretty windy with that cold too, so it’s going feel a lot colder,” Wilkins said. The rain could change over to snow tonight north of Interstate 80, but Wilkins doesn’t expect much accumulation.

“As far as the south goes, it should be mostly just rain,” Wilkins said. “The north does have a chance for snow. That’s mostly going to be in the late evening or overnight hours as the temperatures get colder. As far as accumulations, maybe an inch or inch-and-a-half.” Daytime high temperatures are expected in the 20s and 30s through Thursday, with overnight lows in the teens. (News report from Radio Iowa)

Alons committee assignments include Agriculture

(DES MOINES)–Agriculture is one area a Siouxland lawmaker will work in when the Iowa Legislature convenes January 10th.

House committee assignments for Representative Dwayne Alons of Hull are being announced by House Speaker-Elect Kraig Paulsen.

Alons has been appointed to the House Agriculture, Judiciary, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs committees. He’ll also serve on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations subcommittee.

Alons will be serving his seventh term in the House.

ARES to organize in Plymouth County

(LE MARS)–Volunteers could be a link in communication in an emergency in Plymouth County.

Brian Nitzschke is an amateur radio operator organizing a new emergency services group, Amateur Radio Emergency Services, ARES.
 

Listen here
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The amateur radio technology today isn’t what many of us thought of for “ham radio.”

Listen here
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A love of amateur radio motivates volunteers who offer Amateur Radio Emergency Services ARES.

Listen here
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Amateur Radio license holders in Plymouth County will get a letter after the holidays. A meeting is expected to be held. Ham operators may also contact Nitschke at kd0etr@arrl.net

Silent auction is Chamber fund raiser

(LE MARS)–A holiday season Silent Auction is a fund raiser for Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Community Projects.

Now through December 11th, dozens of gift baskets, merchandise and gift certificates are offered to the top bidder.

According to Mary Reynolds of Main Street, the person with the highest bid on December 11th will be able to buy the item.

Reynolds say most of the items are at area banks, along with some stores hosting their silent auction items.

Performer brings creative economy ideas to northwest Iowa

(DES MOINES)–Spencer is one of six Iowa Great Places taking part in a new two-year program, “Iowa 2020.”

As the program unfolds, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs staff expects a communitywide visioning process.

Cultural Affairs Director Cyndi Pederson says the goal in each of the communities is to elevate the role of the cultural arts above and beyond entertainment value and transform it into an engine of creativity. The change could support businesses as well as attract new shoppers and tourists.

Creative economy advocate and acclaimed classical guitarist Robert Bluestone of Sante Fe, New Mexico will be in the six
“Iowa 2020” communities, including Spencer, in the next few weeks. He’ll conduct site tours, meet community leaders and visit cultural arts organizations. Bluestone will return for a followup next year.

2 children killed in southwest Iowa crash

RED OAK, Iowa (AP) Authorities say two children were killed and two adults were injured in a head-on collision near Red Oak in southwest Iowa.

The Iowa State Patrol says 5-year-old Maliki Todd and 4-year-old Alex Todd, of Cumberland, were killed Sunday when their car collided with a car on a hill on U.S. Highway 48.

The accident happened about 5:40 p.m.

Atlantic radio station KJAN says the drivers, Karli Brown, of Essex, and Nina McNeese, of Cumberland, were injured. Both were flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. Their conditions were not immediately known.

The patrol says the crash happened when Brown, who was heading south, tried to pass two vehicles in a no-passing zone on a hill and hit McNeese’s northbound car. The children were in McNeese’s car.

Illinois man dies after walking in front of semi in Iowa

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) Authorities say an Illinois man died after he walked in front of a semitrailer on Interstate 80 in Scott County in eastern Iowa.

The Iowa State Patrol says 57-year-old Thomas C. Bartos, of Naperville, Ill., was hit by the truck about 4:40 p.m. on Sunday. The accident happened in the eastbound lane of I-80 at Bettendorf. The interstate was closed for about two hours.

Troopers say Bartos died instantly. The truck driver was not injured.

The patrol says the investigation into Bartos’ death is continuing.

Iowa lawmakers to review plans for old hospital

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa Republican lawmakers say they’ll review plans for an old Des Moines hospital the state bought with the intention of using it for government workers.

The state bought the building, known as Des Moines General Hospital, last year for nearly $4.5 million with the idea of saving money by using it for state employees now working in rented offices. However, that plan was blocked last spring by legislators, led by Sen. Matt McCoy. The Des Moines Democrat said the building was in terrible shape, and the state should support downtown landlords who are struggling with a glut of vacant office space.

The Des Moines Register says Republicans, who in January will gain the governorship and control the House, say they will review the situation.

Iowa school hopes to buy propane-powered buses

MANSON, Iowa (AP) A northern Iowa school district hopes to add several propane-powered school buses to its fleet to cut costs and help the environment.

The Manson Northwest Webster Community School District wants to lease six 72-passenger buses. Superintendent Mark Egli told The Messenger in Fort Dodge that he expects the school board to give the OK this month.

Egli says the buses would reduce fuel costs. The average price of bulk propane is around $1.15 per gallon. That compares to an average of $2.69 a gallon for diesel fuel. With an additional government tax credit of 50 cents per gallon for propane, the cost would be about 65 cents per gallon.

Egli estimates the savings would total more than $14,000 a year, which would nearly cover the lease.

Students raise money by clearing Kinnick Stadium

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) An Iowa City school is raising money by clearing the past season out of the University of Iowa’s football stadium.

About 350 students, parents and other volunteers from the Regina Catholic Education Center spent Sunday afternoon unbolting over 17,000 seatbacks from the bleachers in Kinnick Stadium. Volunteers from Regina installed the seatbacks in August.

The seats are made by Cushioned Seats Inc., of Manhattan, Kan. Company spokeswoman Ann Kessler is a Regina High School graduate.

She told the Iowa City Press-Citizen that the work is one of the Regina’s biggest fundraisers of the year, raising about $14,000 for a few hours’ work. She says athletes from the high school and junior high pitched in, and the money they raised will go toward new uniforms.

Iowa reptile rescue gets needed donations

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A shelter for abandoned reptiles in Des Moines is staying open, thanks to donations to help pay the bills.

KCCI-TV reports that the Iowa Reptile Rescue has raised the $2,500 needed to stay in business.

Jason and Robin Argo operate the rescue in a store at Southridge Mall. It’s home to about 80 homeless reptiles and amphibians, including snakes, turtles, alligators and iguanas. They needed help to catch up on the lease and food for the critters.

Robin Argo says they’re grateful for the donations and they’ve raised enough money to apply for non-profit status, which will help the rescue stay open.

Cedar Falls seeks color TVs for celebration

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) Cedar Falls is looking for used color TVs for what organizers are calling Iowa’s largest outdoor sports bar during a city festival in 2011.

The Sturgis Falls Celebration is held each year in late June. Kim Burger of the Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau says the three-day celebration attracts about 125,000 people.

She says the outdoor sports bar was set up this year on a small scale and it was so popular, they want to “gear it up.” She says the outdoor sports bar is just like an indoor sports bar, but it’s under tents.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says for a TV to qualify, it must work and the screen must be more than 27 inches.

Sturgis Falls was renamed Cedar Falls in 1850.

Information from: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, https://www.wcfcourier.com

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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