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Workshops focus on bussiness succession

February 23, 2010 By

Six workshops will be held around the state over the next several weeks that are designed to help business owners plan for getting out of their businesses. Ellen Nystrom, spokeswoman for the Iowa Small Business Development Center at Iowa State University, says succession planning is key for anyone who’s considering the move.

Nystrom says, “There are a lot of businesses out there right now that may be in the mid-cycle of their business or the ending-cycle and they need to start planning for this aspect — that is to transition it over to someone new and there are various reasons for that and that’s what we talk about in our workshops.” She says the recent economic recession is forcing many Iowa business owners to rethink their plans for the future.

“What we’re trying to do is educate businesses to think about it before some kind of downturn takes place or before they’re going to do the actual transition,” Nystrom says. “The economy has affected businesses wanting to close and what we want to try to do is keep them open so they can transition it to the next generation so that it doesn’t affect the Main Street economy.” Nystrom says each of the workshops will cover a number of topics, like whether to shift the business to a family member or to an outside party.

They also need to consider whether they want to retain any control of the business after the transition and how it will impact their retirement income and their lifestyle. The workshops will take place in Cherokee on March 11th, Fort Dodge on March 23rd, Waterloo on March 30th, Webster City on April 5th, Des Moines on April 8th and Cedar Rapids on May 26th. For more information, visit “www.iowasbdc.org“.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City

Filed Under: Business

New analysis increases Iowa’s wind power potential

February 23, 2010 By

A new analysis from the American Wind Energy Association has increased Iowa’s potential for generating wind energy. Michael Brower is the chief technical officer for the association. Brower says Iowa now has wind generation of about 3,670 megawatts. A megawatt is 1,000 kilowatts, and he says a kilowatt is about the average use of a household. He says Iowa’s estimated potential for generation is 370,000 megawatts, or about 150 times what it being generated right now.

Bower says that would rank Iowa seventh in generation potential, based on several methods used to compute the generation potential. He says the most important part of their calculations is a sophisticated weather model that takes into account things such as the speed of the wind at various heights above the ground.

The estimate is also about four times more than was previously estimated for the state — and Bower says new technology allowed them to refine their models. Bower says more important has been the improvements in wind technology, as wind turbines are much taller and able to tap stronger winds and are generally more productive than older turbines. Bower says the estimate provides a measuring stick of the potential of this renewable resource.

Bower says the main benefit of the information is that it helps those who are advocating for wind or developing policies for wind to let them understand the priority wind can have. Texas ranks as the state with the most wind potential, followed by Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South and North Dakota and then Iowa. Wyoming, Oklahoma and New Mexico round out the top ten.

The new wind resource potential numbers are available at :www.windpoweringamerica.gov.

Filed Under: Business, Environment & Conservation, Weather Tagged With:

Defense rests in Becker murder trial

February 23, 2010 By

The defense has rested its case in the Mark Becker murder trial in Butler County. On Monday, three mental health experts disagreed on whether Becker was legally insane at the time he killed Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas last June. Dan Rogers, a psychologist from Fort Dodge, testified for the defense.

“He suffers from schizophrenia, paranoid-type,” Rogers said. “He also suffers from a history of amphetamine abuse and alcohol abuse, secondary to the schizophrenia. That’s important because I determined it wasn’t the cause of the symptoms, it was the result of the symptoms.” A psychiatrist hired by the defense said Becker believed Thomas was Satan, had raped him and brainwashed him through telepathic messages.

Doctor Phillip Resnick said Becker thought by killing the “devil,” he was doing something good. “He was unable to distinguish between right and wrong with respect to shooting coach Thomas,” Resnick said. “That would qualify for a valid insanity defense in my opinion.” Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown on cross examination aggressively challenged Resnick and Rogers by reviewing all the rational moves Becker made the day leading up to Thomas’ shooting, including his choice to steal a gun from his parent’s home and doing some target practice.

A psychiatrist hired by prosecutors agreed Becker was schizophrenic, but said having delusions or believing someone is Satan doesn’t make a person insane. Doctor Michael Spodak said Becker was capable of understanding the difference between right and wrong.

“He takes a weapon, hides it and leaves it in the car until he makes sure coach Thomas is in the weight room, he goes back to the car and brings (the weapon) in,” Spodak said.

“He (shoots Thomas) in such a way that he’s up close so he doesn’t shoot anybody else, which he also understands would be wrong…and as soon as he sees a police officer, he surrenders. These are all things that indicate to me that he had the sufficient mental capacity and reasoning to distinguish that this was the legally wrong act to do.” The 24-year-old Becker pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

The prosecution is expected to call another rebuttal witness today. Closing arguments are set for Wednesday.

By Dave Franzman, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With:

“Puppy mill” bill passes Senate, now on to governor

February 22, 2010 By

A bill that would require more regulation of the so-called puppy mills is now on the way to the governor after passing the Iowa Senate Monday. The Humane Society pushed hard for the passage of the bill. Senator David Johnson, a Republican of Ocheyedan, voted against the bill.

Johnson says history in other states shows this is the start of efforts to regulate agricultural livestock. “They’re going to be back next year friends and colleagues. They’re going to ask to restrict layer cages. They’re going to ask to eliminate gestation crates for sows. They’re going to make sure that our livestock has access to open air at all times something like that, it’s coming,” Johnson says.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business Tagged With:

Amber Alert issued for Council Bluffs girl

February 22, 2010 By

The state of Iowa has issued an Amber Alert, asking motorists to be on the lookout for a 14-year-old girl taken in Council Bluffs, whose life might be in danger. Authorities believe the alleged abductor might be headed to Illinois, via Interstate 80. The abductor might be suicidal.

The girl is Janakaye Marie Lee. Authorities describe her as white, five-feet, nine-inches tall, 130 pounds with blue eyes and dark brown hair. She was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt with a gold top that has black straps and a pink bra. She wearing blue jeans and brown boots.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

UNI back into poll

February 22, 2010 By

For the third time this season the U.N.I. Panthers areback  in the AP top 25 college basketball poll. The Panthers are ranked 25th this week after beating Old Dominion last Friday night as part of the Bracket Busters.

U.N.I. is 24-3 overall and returns to action tomorrow night at Evansaville in Missouri Valley Conference play. They have climbed two spots to 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll.

The top five remain the same in both polls. Kansas is top ranked, Kentucky is second followed by Purdue, Syracuse and Duke.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,

Iowa State coach tries to keep things positive

February 22, 2010 By

Iowa State coach Greg McDermott says his players need a pat on the back and not a kick in the tail. A season that started with high expectations has seen the Cyclones post a 2-10 record in the Big 12 and they have no slipped below 500 overall at 13-14 after a loss at home to Texas A@M.

McDermott says they’ve made it a point to be as upbeat as possible, while still teaching the players. McDermott says the coaches are finding ways to keep the Cyclones encouraged. He says it is frustrating for him, and it has to be tougher for kids who are 18 and 20.

 

Iowa State hosts Nebraska on Wednesday night.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,
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