Archive for April, 2009

Video games don't really conjure thoughts of a healthy lifestyle. However a local health professional is using the Nintendo Wii as a rehabilitation tool. Andy Bishop is a physical therapist at Washington County Hospital and Clinics. He says the Wii Fit is a great tool for helping patients with balance and hand eye coordination. He says it's very beneficial for people recovering from a stroke, because it can help them realize that they may put more weight on one side of their body than the other. Bishop also says many people have decided to continue to use the Wii at home after their physical therapy, because they feel it helps them maintain mobility as they get older.

Its that time of year again when students are screaming for a break. The Mid Prairie School District will give the students just that. This Friday is the first day of spring Break. The district will not be using any of spring break to make up for snow days. Spring break will go through Monday, April 13th and classes will resume on Tuesday, April 14th.

When the Mid Prairie school district does not have any classes during the week the Kalona Library likes to hold a movie day to provide safe and fun activities. On Thursday, April 9th, the Kalona Public Library will be showing Kung Fu Panda from 1:30pm to 3:10pm. For additional information, please contact Youth Services Librarian at 319-656-3501.

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week. KCII will be highlighting the services and people who make it their job to keep us safe. We'll be airing special weather related news stories during our regular newscasts. We'll talk with local emergency officials and meteorologists from Weather Eye, and the National Weather Service. We'll also be participating in a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, April 8th. During that time the KCII Severe Weather Action Team will conduct an emergency equipment test, and demonstrate how severe weather coverage works at the station.

Washington State Bank recently announced the retirement of Karen Murphy as its Internal Auditor. Murphy was with the bank for 20 years. Her duties included control reviews, account verifications, procedural reviews and adherence to bank policy and regulatory compliance. She also worked closely with the bank's external auditor and reported directly to the audit committee. WSB has yet to announce her replacement. 

Samantha Beachy and Melissa Gingerich, seniors at IMS, will present a shared recital of piano and cello music on Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. in Celebration Hall. Pianists Joni Beachy, Midori Beachy, Maria Davis, Abbie Miller, and Hannah Bartel will be joining Beachy on selected piano ensemble pieces. Beachy and Gingerich will play collaborative works for cello and piano and Gingerich's teacher, Kate Vos, will also join her on a work for two cellos. A reception will follow the concert. 

Its that time of year again when students are screaming for a break. The Mid Prairie School district will give the students just that. This Friday is the first day of spring Break. The district will not be using any of spring break to make up for snow days. Spring break will go through Monday, April 13th and classes will resume on Tuesday, April 14th.

A local state senator doesn’t expect any immediate legislative action on yesterdays Supreme Court ruling which essentially allows gay marriage in Iowa. Becky Schmitz says they are very bogged down with the state budget and a proposed middle income tax break. Schmitz says lawmakers will take a careful look at 70 page ruling and possibly address it during the next session. Schmitz and State Representative Larry Smith are tentatively scheduled to be in Washington for a legislative briefing on April 18.

A loan officer at a local bank says bad times on Wall Street can actually be good for institutions like his. Brandon Long with Washington State Bank says their deposits have gone up as people begin to pull their investments out of the stock market. Long says like most small town banks, they have money to lend. He says people have begun to seek loans for home improvement projects as the weather starts to warm up. Long also says many Midwestern banks have been shielded from the mortgage crisis because they tend to be more financially conservative.

The local volunteer coordinator for Iowa’s Department of Human Services is looking for some help in the Washington area. Janet Ford says they are looking for people to drive DHS clients to medical and therapy appointments. Ford says volunteer drivers will be reimbursed 34-cents per mile. She says they are also looking for clerical volunteers. To learn more contact Ford at 319-863-0049.