Keokuk Radio

MACOMB TEACHER AND COACH TAKES PLEA AGREEMENT

News Director — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:39:06 +0000

FORMER MACOMB HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH AND P.E. INSTRUCTOR DAN WATSON, WHO IS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING A STUDENT, HAS AGREED TO A PLEA DEAL. WATSON PLEADED GUILTY TO OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT AND WAS SENTENCED TO 150 DAYS IN JAIL AND 30 MONTHS PROBATION. THE CHARGE ALLEGES WATSON EXCHANGED OVER 6,000 TEXTS AND PHONE CALLS WITH THE STUDENT.

CHARGES OF AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE WERE DROPPED AND WATSON WILL NOT HAVE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER. THE MACOMB SCHOOL DISTRICT PUT HIM ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE IN AUGUST AND REACHED A RESIGNATION AGREEMENT IN FEBRUARY.

NEW BUSINESS TO BRING JOBS TO AREA

News Director — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:35:42 +0000

A NEW CONVENIENCE STORE AND STEAK N SHAKE WILL SOON BRING UP TO 80 NEW JOBS TO CANTON, MISSOURI. AYERS OIL COMPANY IS JOINING STEAK N SHAKE ON THE PROJECT, WHICH PROMISES TO EMPLOY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCED ADULTS. DEVRA CAIN, STEAK N SHAKE MANAGER, SAID SHE PLANS TO HIRE SEVERAL YOUNGER PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES AND ENERGY. THE CONVENIENCE STORE AND RESTAURANT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN BY JUNE 21ST, SO EMPLOYEES ARE BEING HIRED IMMEDIATELY.

SUPERINTENDENT LEAVING KEOKUK SCHOOL DISTRICT

News Director — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:32:19 +0000

AFTER 28 YEARS WITH THE KEOKUK SCHOOL DISTRICT, SUPERINTENDENT DR. LAURA WOLFF IS STEPPING DOWN. SHE HAS ACCEPTED A TEACHING POSITION AT WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP DEPARTMENT.

WOLFF STARTED HER CAREER IN KEOKUK AS A LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER AND HAS BEEN SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. SHE IS PROUD OF THE FACILITY UPGRADES THAT CONTINUE AND OF HELPING SECURE MORE THAN 12 MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS. THE SEARCH FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT IS UNDERWAY.

QUINCY FIRE DESTROYS BUSINESS

News Director — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:29:11 +0000

DOYLE MANUFACTURING, A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS WHICH STARTED 61 YEARS AGO, WAS DESTROYED IN AN FIVE-ALARM FIRE LAST NIGHT IN QUINCY. THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING THAT CONTAINED THE POWDER COAT PAINT DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS UNDER CONTROL ABOUT 7:30 P.M. THE BUILDING AT 4001 BROADWAY COLLAPSED AS THE QUINCY FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKED TO CONTAIN THE BLAZE. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. THE FIRE CLOSED A LARGE STRETCH OF BROADWAY FROM 38TH STREET TO 48TH STREET. THE STREET REOPENED AROUND 9 P.M.

MARK TWAIN BOYHOOD HOME AND MUSEUM 100TH ANNIVERSARY

News Director — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:44:23 +0000

THE MARK TWAIN BOYHOOD HOME AND MUSEUM, 120 NORTH MAIN STREET IN HANNIBAL, IS CELEBRATING THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY WITH A REDEDICATION CERMONY AT NOON IN FRONT OF THE BOYHOOD HOME.
ORION CLEMENS, BROTHER OF MARK TWAIN (SAMUEL CLEMENS), SETTLED IN KEOKUK IN JUNE 1855 WITH HIS WIFE, MOLLIE, A KEOKUK NATIVE. TWAIN AND HIS BROTHER HENRY FOLLOWED ORION IN JULY AND HELPED HIM PUT OUT THE KEOKUK JOURNAL. TWAIN GAVE HIS FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH IN KEOKUK AT A DINNER HONORING BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S SESQUICENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY. IN 1861 TWAIN AND ORION TRAVELED BY STAGECOACH TO NEVADA. ORION PERMANENTLY RETURNED TO KEOKUK IN 1872. THEIR MOTHER, JANE LAMPTON CLEMENS, THEN MOVED TO KEOKUK AND LIVED ON SEVENTH AND HIGH STREET. SHE DIED IN 1890.
TWAIN WROTE OF THE BEAUTY OF KEOKUK AND SOUTHEASTERN IOWA IN LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI. TWAIN AND HIS BROTHER PUBLISHED KEOKUK’S FIRST CITY DIRECTORY AT “THE BEN FRANKLIN BOOK AND JOB OFFICE,” FORMERLY LOCATED AT 212 MAIN (WHERE STATE CENTRAL BANK IS LOCATED NOW AT THE MALL).

Kurt Busch to double dip at Iowa Speedway in 2012

News Director — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:43:25 +0000

FORMER NASCAR SPRINT CUP CHAMPION KURT BUSCH SAYS HE’S PLANNING TO RUN BOTH NATIONWIDE SERIES RACES AT IOWA SPEEDWAY THIS SEASON.
BUSCH SAYS HE’S SLATED TO RUN BOTH THE MAY 20 AND AUGUST 4 RACES IN IOWA THIS SEASON IN THE NO. 54 TOYOTA FOR KYLE BUSCH MOTORSPORTS.
KURT BUSCH, THE 2004 CUP CHAMPION, HAS TESTED AT IOWA BUT HASN’T RACED THERE. BUSCH SAYS THAT IOWA’S SHORT OVAL REMINDS HIM OF SIMILAR SETUPS IN RICHMOND AND PHOENIX.
KYLE BUSCH WON A NATIONWIDE RACE AT THE IOWA SPEEDWAY IN 2010. KURT SAYS HIS BROTHER HAS TOLD HIM THE KEY TO SUCCESS AT IOWA IS TO MANEUVER THE CAR THROUGH BUMPS IN THE TRACK’S FIRST TWO TURNS.

Golden Apple Award

News Director — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:42:18 +0000

HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER LORI BREWER WAS SURPRISED WITH THE SECOND GOLDEN APPLE AWARD OF 2012 AT AN ASSEMBLY. MRS. BREWER TEACHES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 3RD GRADE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEHAVIORAL AND LEARNING DISABILITIES, WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, MENTAL DISABILITIES AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS.
NOMINATION LETTERS FROM SEVERAL PARENTS APPLAUD BREWER’S DEDICATION. SHE KEEPS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THEM REGARDING THEIR CHILD’S PROGRESS AND CONTINUES HER OWN EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE SHE’S GIVING HER STUDENTS THE BEST EDUCATION DESPITE THEIR DISABILITIES.
BREWER’S LOVE FOR CHILDREN GOES WELL BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND A YEAR AGO ADOPTED A LITTLE GIRL FROM CHINA.

Governor Branstad / Lt. Governor Reynolds: Legislative Accomplishments

News Director — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:41:33 +0000

2012:
Economic Development and Jobs: two of the governor’s jobs priorities received legislative approval this year and will provide our Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) with additional tools to help meet the governor’s ambitious job creation goals:
• High Quality Jobs Incentive Fund: $15 million fund IEDA will use to package job growth deals that will encourage new large employers to locate or expand in Iowa.
• Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs): this legislation requested by the governor will encourage those Iowa businesses looking for new owners with incentives to sell the business to their own employees. This will keep great jobs and careers in Iowa and give Iowa communities an additional tool to promote local economic development.
Education Reform: this year the Legislature took a small, but important, step toward answering the call of the Branstad/Reynolds administration to provide transformational education reform. This year’s effort includes enhanced annual teacher evaluations, competency tests for applicants to teacher preparation programs, and a major new early childhood literacy initiative that includes possible retention for those not reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
Transparency: after languishing in the Legislature for years, Governor Branstad spearheaded the passage of landmark transparency legislation to create a Public Information Board (with true enforcement powers) that will significantly improve the transparency of state and local government and ensure the enforcement of our open records / open meetings laws.
Mental Health Redesign: no longer will the quality of Iowans access to mental health care services be dependent on where they live. This governor-led initiative will transform the delivery of mental health services across Iowa and ensure all Iowans have access to a standard and consistent core of essential services.
Modernize Services for the Aging: the Legislature adopted the Branstad/Reynolds administration’s plan for a new regional service delivery model for our Area Agencies on Aging. This new model will significantly modernize and simplify the provision of services for Iowa’s aging population.

Higher Education Funding: the governor requested, and the Legislature provided, additional funding for our Regents institutions (at a level that should alleviate the need for tuition increases beyond those already set), additional resources for our community colleges (much of which will be used to support the critical role community colleges play in developing a skilled workforce), and an additional $2 million for the state’s tuition grant program (to help make private college opportunities affordable for more Iowa students).
Budget Predictability and Stability: the general fund budget adopted by the Legislature is at the level requested by the governor in his initial budget. This adopted budget keeps ongoing spending lower than ongoing revenue and spends only 97% of available revenue–well below the 99% limit as set in state law. In addition, this budget is estimated to result in full funding of our cash reserve fund, economic emergency fund, the taxpayer trust fund, and with a healthy carryover balance to meet all of the state’s cash flow needs.
2011:
Iowa Economic Development Authority: totally redesigned the state economic development service delivery model with the creation of the new Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Iowa Innovation Council, and the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress. With unemployment declining in Iowa in every month since this new model was deployed, Iowans are already seeing the benefits of the Branstad/Reynolds administration’s job creation efforts.
Complete Overhaul of the State Budget: the $900 million inherited budget gap wherein one-time revenue was used to fund 89 different ongoing state programs was eliminated, a first step toward biennial budgeting was adopted and 86% of FY 13 expenses were approved a year early to provide enhanced predictability and stability for all those receiving and providing state services, the state fully funded its commitment to local school districts and eliminated a $216 million shortfall that had fallen onto the backs of property taxpayers, and the state’s reserve accounts are fully funded.

2012 Congressional Art Competition Winners

News Director — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:40:20 +0000

Congressman Dave Loebsack congratulated Chelsea Page from Montrose, who is in 10th grade at Central Lee High School in Donnellson, for being named the Second District’s winner in the 2012 Congressional Art Competition. Page’s watercolor, entitled “The Yellow House,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. She will also receive two round trip tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. This year’s competition was hosted at the University of Iowa’s Art West Building and the winning piece was selected by judges Rachel Williams, UI Associate Professor of Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies/Media, Social Practice, and Design and Peter Feldstein, photographer and originator of “The Oxford Project.”

In the spring of every year, the United States House of Representatives hosts a competition to recognize talented young artists from across the nation. The winning student from each district is invited to Washington, D.C. for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Winners:
1) The Yellow House (watercolor), Chelsea Page, Montrose, Central Lee High School in Donnelson
2) Death of an Alcoholic Bull (chalk), Sara Miner, Donnelson, Central Lee High School in Donnelson
3) Untitled (B&W photography), Lucy Van Gorder, Tiffin, City High School in Iowa City
Honorable Mentions:
1) Playing in the Sand, Kelli Schneider, Iowa City, City High School in Iowa City
2) Landscape, Emilee Beattie, Ottumwa, Cardinal High School in Eldon
3) Nature’s Observation, Molly Westermeyer, Keokuk, Central Lee High School in Donnellson

Bowl For Kids’ Sake Monster Bowl 2012

News Director — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:39:17 +0000

Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake Monster Bowl 2012 was held Friday, May 4, 2012 at Arrowhead Bowl. According to Executive Director LeeAnn Shaffer-Smith, the current total raised is $38,898.85, with some pledges still out – so they will exceed $40,000!!! Thank you to all who participated.

ICBA Chairman Testifies, Says Changes Must Be Made to USDA’s Farm & Business Guaranteed Loan Programs

News Director — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:35:58 +0000

Washington, D.C. (May 10, 2012)—Jeff Gerhart, chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and chairman of the Bank of Newman Grove in Neb., testified today before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight and Credit. During his testimony, Gerhart urged the committee to make changes to the USDA’s guaranteed farm and business loan programs as part of drafting the new farm bill to replace the current bill, which expires Sept. 30. He also urged the committee to retain current funding levels for the crop insurance program to continue a strong farm safety net.
During his testimony, Gerhart offered several recommendations to enhance the USDA’s guaranteed loan programs:
Farm Loan Recommendations:
• Remove limits on the number of years producers can obtain guaranteed farm real estate loans. The program is now self-funding and there is no reason to limit eligibility, particularly since community banks provide the financing.
• Significantly increase the loan limit (size). Gerhart noted that at today’s farmland prices, a 160-acre tract of land sold near his town exceeded the USDA’s loan limit and that the small tract of land would not be a viable family farm, even at twice the size.
• Increase the volume or amount of dollars extended. This would be necessitated by higher loan sizes, but is also warranted particularly with the real estate loan program since it is self-funded. Gerhart suggested a pilot program in which producers who wanted larger guaranteed operating loans could pay higher fees to offset potential costs.
• Expand eligibility for guaranteed real estate loans. These loans should be available if producers either own or operate a family farm as this would allow children to purchase the farm from parents.
USDA Business & Industry (B&I) Loan Recommendations:
• Adjust how subsidy rate is calculated. Gerhart suggested prohibiting loss calculations on very large loans no longer guaranteed by the USDA; limiting the time period for loss calculations to 20 years to reflect how the program is currently operated; and increasing loan volume in categories that have no history of losses and utilizing the resulting fee income to make more loans in other categories.
For more information, and to read the full testimony, visit www.icba.org.

Wever man killed in collision

News Director — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:28:29 +0000

Patrick C. Gray Jr., 22, was killed in a two-car crash Tuesday morning. Gray was southbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 61 when his vehicle and the northbound vehicle driven by Michael G. Delaney, 46, of West Point collided head-on in the right-hand northbound lane. After impact, Gray’s vehicle rotated 180 degrees and came to rest on the west shoulder. The Delaney vehicle came to rest facing east on the east shoulder. Gray was removed from his car and taken to King-Lynk Funeral Home. His car was totaled. Delaney was removed from his mini-van and taken by the MedForce helicopter to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The collision remains under investigation.