What We’re Talking About

A woman in Turkey has set a Guinness World Record … for crushing the most amount of watermelons … with her thighs. Gozde Dogan squashed five watermelons in 60 seconds to set the record.

Most watermelons crushed with the thighs in one minute (female) – 5 achieved by Gözde Doğan 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/X6jyAJQCGi

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) January 17, 2025

EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST TUESDAY…

* WHAT…For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills of 25 to 35 below zero. For the Extreme Cold Warning, dangerously cold wind chills of 35 to 40 below zero.

* WHERE…In Iowa, Floyd, Mitchell, Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties. In Wisconsin, Crawford and Grant Counties.

* WHEN…For the first Cold Weather Advisory, until 11 AM CST this morning. For the second Cold Weather Advisory, from 6 PM this evening to midnight CST tonight. For the Extreme Cold Warning, from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.

Very #cold weather lasts through Tue with morning wind chills falling to around -25 to -35 this morning and -30 to -40 Tue morning. Please limit your time outdoors! #mnwx #iawx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/Lz3pzS0YFT

— NWS La Crosse (@NWSLaCrosse) January 20, 2025

A series of Arctic cold fronts will move through the area tonight into Monday. Wind chills are expected to range from -20 to -40°F nightly from Saturday into Monday. Wind chills this cold can produce frostbite in anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. The coldest wind chills are expected from Sunday night into Monday morning.

Stay Safe in the Cold:

• Dress Warmly: Wear layers, including hats, gloves, and scarves, and limit time outdoors.
• Check on Others: Newborns, seniors, people with chronic health issues, outdoor workers, and the unhoused are especially vulnerable. Reach out to check on family, friends, and neighbors.
• Stay Warm & Hydrated: Enjoy warm meals and drinks, but avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can lower your body’s ability to stay warm.
• Protect Your Pets: Make sure your pets have food, water, and a warm place to stay. Bring outdoor animals inside if possible.
• Winterize Your Car: Test your car battery and pack a winter emergency kit to avoid being stranded in the cold.
• Prevent Frozen Pipes: Insulate exposed water pipes and let a small stream of water run to keep them from freezing.

This Arctic chill is no joke—prepare now to stay safe and warm!

The Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, IA announced Thursday that country music superstar will be performing at the iconic site on Saturday, August 30th 2025.   According to he Field of Dreams Movie Site website the event will also pay tribute to MLB legend Tug McGraw, Tim McGraw’s father, on what would have been his 81st birthday.

Tickets will be available through StubHub in a variety of ticket options, including General Admission, VIP, and exclusive Home Run VIP packages . Pre-sales for the event will begin on January 20, 2025, with general sales launching on January 24, 2025.

Additional acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Photo Credit:  The Field of Dreams Movie Site via Facebook

Republican State Senator Michael Bousselot who serves Iowa’s 21st District made an interesting announcement at the Land Investment Expo in Des Moines the other day…He wants introduce a bill that proposes the purchase of Minnesota’s nine southern most counties.  These nine counties include Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Freeborn, Fairbault, Martin, Jackson, Nobles, and Rock.

On social media, the State Senator said, “Make Minnesota Iowa Again! Our new Iowans, former MN residents, will have lower income, sales, business taxes. A more farm friendly state. And a better managed state.”

Make Minnesota Iowa Again!

Our new Iowans, former MN residents, will have lower income, sales, business taxes. A more farm friendly state. And a better managed state.

Gov. Walz may say it’s just “rocks and cows” but we see opportunity! https://t.co/m1vk3pkUvs

— Michael Bousselot (@MBousselot) January 14, 2025

A Texas man arrested in Indianapolis for allegedly stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark was in court yesterday for his arraignment and turned it into a wild spectacle.

55-year-old Michael Lewis is charged with sending numerous threats and sexually explicit message to the Indiana Fever star. After the judge called Lewis’ case, the defendant immediately shouted, “guilty as charged!” and “throw me the booky!” The judge read through the charges, despite Lewis’ repeated attempts to interrupt. Each time he spoke out of turn, deputies approached him and told him not to interrupt.

Lewis was asked if he suffers from mental illness and he responded, “I need my medicines.” He also said he lives in his vehicle and has $100 to his name, which is why he has not hired an attorney. The judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and ordered him to be held on $50,000 bond, but Lewis told  him, “I don’t want bond, bail, whatever. I’m here. I’m staying.” (NBC News)

[PressPlay]: #MichaelLewis, #CatlinClark’s alleged stalker attended his court hearing today where his charges were read to him. During the hearing, Lewis blurted out “guilty as charged,” and “throw me the books.” The judge shut down his multiple outburst and reminded him that he… pic.twitter.com/TN1zLuoYHe

— Weather Da Storm Entertainment (@WDSENT06) January 15, 2025

Photo Credit:  Weather Da Storm Entertainment via X

The food safety agency in Belgium is warning people not to eat their Christmas trees. Not kidding. The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain made the surprising statement after the city of Ghent recommended using the needles in recipes, in its list of ways to recycle Christmas trees. The city’s website says: “In Scandinavia, they have been doing it for a long time: picking the needles from the branches, briefly immersing them in boiling water, pouring them through a sieve and drying them on a clean cloth. Once the needles are dry, you can make delicious spruce needle butter with them for bread or toast.” The food safety agency responded by pointing out the fact that commercially grown Christmas trees are usually treated with pesticides and other dangerous chemicals, including flame retardant. Later, Ghent edited the post on its website, changing the wording from “eat your Christmas tree” to “Scandinavians eat their Christmas trees” and included the warning: “not all Christmas trees are edible.”

A Texas man is in jail and charged with stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark.

Police arrested 55-year-old Michael Lewis in Indianapolis after he allegedly sent numerous threats and sexually explicit messages to Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said they became aware of a “possible pattern of stalking” by Lewis toward Clark this month. They say he sent the threatening messages on X between December 16th and January 2nd.

Clark told investigators she does not know Lewis and hasn’t responded to any of his messages. She says she was very concerned that he had apparently traveled from Texas to Indianapolis, where he was arrested.

A police officer in Southern California captured a funny New Year’s Eve encounter with a drunk driving suspect on his bodycam, and the clip has gone viral

Officer Bridgewaters of the Murrieta Police Department noticed a vehicle swerving and pulled the driver over to investigate a possible DUI. The officer approached the driver and asked where he was coming from. The driver responded that he was out for New Year’s Eve and just dropped off a friend because he is the designated driver. Or, at least that’s what he meant to say. What actually came out of his mouth was, “I’m the DUI tonight.”

Officer Bridgewaters asked, “do you mean to say the DD?” to which the driver was speechless. The officer conducted a field sobriety test, which he failed, and was arrested for DUI.

 

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Riley Green’s hunting trip took an unexpected turn when he stepped on a nail, landing him in the emergency room. In an Instagram video, he joked about corn spilling from his boot while awaiting treatment.

@riley.green.duckm86 I had an emergency, I step on nails. #reelproblems #rileygreen #viral ♬ original sound – Riley Green Duckman

Photo Credit: Riley Green Duckman via Tik Tok

An Illinois man went to his childhood home for Christmas and found a gift that was 46 years old. Tim King was helping his parents with a renovation project when he found a present addressed to him behind a wall. In an Instagram video posted after Christmas, King revealed that the gift contained Matchbox Thunder Jet model airplanes. He was supposed to receive the toy when he was six. His parents originally bought King the toy in 1978, which means they are now vintage items. His parents used to hide gifts in the attic, and King suspects the present fell into a crawl space.

 

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — In a celebration of legacy, achievement and undeniable impact, the University of Iowa Athletics Department has announced plans to retire the iconic No. 22 of Hawkeye women’s basketball legend, Caitlin Clark, during a ceremony scheduled for Feb. 2, 2025, inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“I’m forever proud to be a Hawkeye and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball,” Clark said. “It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I’ve admired for so long.”

Clark will be in attendance for the game against USC on Feb. 2, 2025. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. (CT) and the contest will air on FOX and the Hawkeye Radio Network.

“Caitlin Clark has not only redefined excellence on the court but has also inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and determination,” said Beth Goetz, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. “Her remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on the University of Iowa and the world of women’s basketball. Retiring her number is a testament to her extraordinary contributions and a celebration of her legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. Hawkeye fans are eager to say thank you for so many incredible moments.”

Undisputed Legacy
In a 17-day span from Feb. 15 to March 3, Clark broke Kelsey Plum’s record to become the all-time women’s NCAA Division I scoring leader, passed AIAW legend Lynette Woodard for the major college scoring record, and passed LSU’s Pete Maravich for most career points in Division I history for men and women.

Clark is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Wooden, Naismith, Wade, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Honda Cup and AAU Sullivan awards. She was named 2024 Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year by THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) and 2024 Athlete of the Year by TIME Magazine. The two-time consensus National Player of the Year and Academic All-America Team Member of the Year led the Hawkeyes to two national runners-up finishes in 2023 and 2024 and three Big Ten Tournament titles (2022, 2023, 2024). She is also a three-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award and is the first-ever three-time winner of the Dawn Staley Award.

Clark, who now plays for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, is the only player in NCAA Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons. Clark led the nation in 10 different offensive categories, including averaging 31.6 points and 8.9 assists per game and also broke the NCAA women’s tournament scoring record during the Hawkeyes’ final NCAA Tournament run.

Off the court, she is a three-time first-team Academic All-American and was named the 2024 CSC Academic All-America of the Year.

Compiled List of Accomplishments
2-time AAU Sullivan Award Winner (First Ever)
2-time Consensus National Player of the Year
2-time Naismith Award (2023, 2024)
2-time Wooden Award (2023, 2024)
2-time Wade Trophy (2023, 2024)
2-time Academic All-America Team Member of the Year (2023, 2024)
2-time Honda Award (2023, 2024)
2-time Final Four Participant
2-time Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (2023, 2024)
2-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year (2023, 2024)
3-time Nancy Lieberman Award (2022, 2023, 2024)
3-time Dawn Staley Award (2021, 2022, 2023)
3-time Big Ten Player of the Year (2022, 2023, 2024)
3-time Big Ten Tournament MVP (2022, 2023, 2024)
3-time Academic All-B1G (2022, 2023, 2024)
4-time AP All-American
4-time WBCA All-American
4-time unanimous first-team All-Big Ten
4-time All-Big Ten Tournament Team
5-time Dean’s List
1-time Big Ten Freshman of the Year

Do you have a unique holiday tradition?  Check out some of these from around the globe.

• British Polar Bear Plunge: Hundreds of people in Brighton, England schedule a Christmas Day dip every year – wearing just a swimsuit and a Santa hat. It is also practiced in London, Dublin, and many other cold places around the world.
•  Japanese KFC Feast: While Christmas is not a huge celebration in Japan, a fairly new tradition has emerged in which families enjoy a feast of Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Day.
•  Norwegian Hiding of the Brooms: Dating back centuries, the act of hiding all the brooms in the house is said to deprive the witches and evil spirits of finding something to ride on.
• Venezuelan Roller Skate Tour: Before some people in Caracas head home to enjoy their Christmas feast of , hundreds head to church on roller skates. Roads are closed to cars so people can safely partake in this unique annual tradition
•  Czech Shoe-Throw for Love: Young unmarried women are said to predict their romantic futures by standing with their backs to their house and tossing a shoe over their shoulder. If the toe points toward the door, wedding bells might be ringing soon, but if it points away, they’ll need to wait another year for true love. Family and friends gather to watch this playful tradition.
• Eat Fried Caterpillars in South Africa: The Pine Tree Emperor Moth — also known as the Christmas caterpillar — is covered in different colors and is said to give a little extra luck in the New Year to all those who eat it. It is considered a delicacy by those who partake. (I’ll stick with ham, thanks…!)
• View the Yule Goat in Sweden: People construct a giant straw goat, which is over 42 feet high, 23 feet wide, and weighs over 3 tons. A live stream of the event is available until the New Year.
• Austrian Krampus Parade: While St. Nicholas rewards nice boys and girls with presents, his evil accomplice, Krampus, is said to capture the naughty children and take them away in a sack. The half-man, half-goat costume is designed to frighten kids during the parade, which has grown in popularity across Europe. (…and on that happy note, Happy Holidays!)

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM CST SATURDAY…

.A storm system moves through the area late tonight through much of Saturday. Initial impacts expected to reach counties in Northeast Iowa early in the overnight hours, move into southeast Minnesota shortly thereafter, followed by far southwest Wisconsin. As the initial mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain shifts northeast through the early morning hours, the probability for freezing rain increases. Current confidence suggests freezing rain onset near 3AM lasting into the afternoon. Hourly ice accumulations above 0.02″ expected at the height through most of the morning hours.

Above freezing temperatures slowly build from south to north through the afternoon and early evening, decreasing overall freezing concerns. Highest overall ice accumulations near 0.2″ are expected in northeast Iowa and 0.05″-0.15″ possible elsewhere from far southwest Wisconsin through southeast Minnesota.

Freezing precipitation can quickly cause hazardous road conditions. Higher ice amounts can also result in fallen trees and power lines resulting in power outages.

The counties included in the Advisory are Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Chickasaw-Fayette- Clayton-Dodge-Fillmore-Houston- Crawford-Grant.

A Florida man is getting loads of attention for the holiday display at his house, and it’s not for thousands of lights or animatronic elves and reindeer. JP Michalik of Jacksonville has a giant replica of the leg lamp from A Christmas Story. The 20-foot tall leg lamp on the front lawn is hard to miss and it gets a lot of laughs from passersby. And to play up the classic holiday favorite even more, he also has a giant replica of “Ralphie” wearing pink bunny pajamas hugging the lamp. Michalik says, “Everyone’s decorating their houses and I thought it’d be fun to have a neighborhood competition who could have like, the best, Christmas decorations.”

Santa Claus is coming to town, so you need to get the house ready and make sure he can visit and safely deliver gifts. If Santa is going to park his reindeer on your roof, slide down the chimney, leave gifts under the tree and grab a cookie or two before leaving, there are some things you’ll need to do. The Santa Is Coming Cost Index includes fixing the roof, cleaning the gutters, sweeping the chimney, putting up Christmas lights, buying a tree, buying stockings, removing snow, baking chocolate chip cookies, buying milk, having carrots for the reindeer, and more. Overall, the estimated cost for your home to be Santa-ready is $2,992.36.

You have a chance to win some great Christmas gifts from great local businesses with the 12 Days of Christmas!

Starting Friday, December 6th listen for the KNEI Bluff Country Elf, when you here him be caller 7, and tell us the sponsor and prize of the day and you win!!
You have a chance to win some great prizes from these local businesses:

Wiebke Fur in Eitzen

Iron Hill Powersports, Waukon

Caledonia Lumber

Elliott Jewelers in Waukon

Hoffman Stables of Harmony

Sportsmen’s Unlimited in Waukon

Becker Hardware of Ossian

Country Garden in Decorah

Hy-Vee Decorah

Mark’s Jewelry in St Lucas

Iowa Diecast Toys of Clermont

Fareway Waukon

Smooth Toe of Caledonia

German Heritage Amish Furniture of Chester

The phone numbers to win are:  563-568-3476 or 563-568-6056

Delaware County, IA – The Delaware County Fair is thrilled to announce that country music superstar Scotty McCreery will headline the 2025 fair on Friday, July 11th. Known for his chart-topping hits and heartfelt performances, McCreery will bring his signature sound to the Delaware County Fairgrounds for a night of unforgettable music.

Since winning American Idol in 2011, McCreery has become a household name in country music. With six #1 hits under his belt, including fan favorites like “Damn Straight,” “Five More Minutes,” and “Cab in a Solo,” his performances are filled with passion and authenticity that resonate with audiences of all ages.

Tickets for Scotty McCreery’s performance go on sale at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6th. Fans can purchase their tickets online at www.delawarecofair.com.

A turkey trot in Upstate New York got interrupted on Thanksgiving when a bunch of deer came charging through and knocked over women running in it.  People are joking about one of the women on social media, saying “Grandma really DID get run over by a reindeer.”  If you want to hear the classic from Elmo & Patsy…it’s also posted below.

 

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Photo Credit:  joleene_desr via Instagram

PNC Bank released its annual report on how much it would cost to buy ALL the gifts from “The 12 Days of Christmas”. They’ve been tracking the prices for over 40 years. And once again, it’s an all-time high.  Everything on the list would run you $49,263 this year, up around 5%. But three of the gifts represent more than 35 grand of that. Here’s how much everything would cost this year . . .

Twelve drummers drumming . . . $4,017 to hire them
Eleven pipers piping . . . $3,715.
Ten lords-a-leaping . . . $15,580.
Nine ladies dancing . . . $8,557.
Eight maids-a-milking . . . $58.
Seven swans-a-swimming . . . $13,125.
Six geese-a-laying . . . $900.
Five gold rings . . . $1,245.
Four calling birds . . . $600.
Three French hens . . . $347.
Two turtle doves . . . $750.
And a partridge in a pear tree . . . $370.

They also do the math on how much it would cost to buy all the stuff over and over again, like the song suggests. To do that, you’d need to spend a grand total of $209,272.

Some Turkey Day Fun Facts:

• Americans eat 704 million pounds of turkey every Thanksgiving. The average weight of each turkey sitting on the Thanksgiving table is 16 pounds.
• Female turkeys don’t gobble. Only male turkeys make a “gobble” sound, which is why they’re known as gobblers. Females and males cackle, purr, and yelp, depending on the situation.
• The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade had live animals – not balloons. When the parade began in 1924, live animals were paraded through the streets of New York. The animals, including elephants and tigers, came from the Central Park Zoo. The balloons didn’t arrive until 1927. Felix the Cat was the very first balloon. Today, about 28 million people watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
• It’s not the turkey that makes you tired on Thanksgiving. Yes, turkey contains tryptophan, but not in quantities high enough to make you really sleepy. So what really makes you tired? Probably all the sides – which tend to be full of fat and carbs – not to mention the alcohol.
• The Butterball hotline answers 100,000 turkey-related questions every year. The Turkey Talk Line was founded in 1981 and went from receiving 11,000 questions that first year to answering more than 100,000 questions across the U.S. and Canada every holiday season.
• TV dinners were actually inspired by Thanksgiving leftovers. Seems back in 1953, due to an ordering error, food company Swanson was stuck with 260 tons of frozen turkeys. Instead of tossing all that turkey and taking a loss, Swanson salesman Gerry Thomas came up with a genius idea. Inspired by the meals served on planes, he ordered 5,000 aluminum trays and organized an assembly line of workers to fill them with turkey, peas, cornbread, and sweet potatoes. That’s how the TV dinner was born.
• FDR once moved Thanksgiving up by a week. In the middle of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up one week to allow more time for shopping before Christmas. Otherwise, it would have fallen on November 30th.
• In 1705, the town of Colchester, Connecticut, postponed Thanksgiving for a week because they couldn’t make pumpkin pies. Apparently, the river had frozen over, leaving them unable to get molasses from neighboring towns.
• Speaking of pumpkin pies … If you want to start a romantic spark this holiday season, you should start baking some pumpkin pies. A study found that the smell of pumpkin pie is a turn-on for men.

Helping Services for Youth & Families is happy to announce the opening of the 20th annual Holiday Lights event, held at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah. Free will donations benefit their Domestic Abuse Resource Center, substance use prevention programs, youth mentoring and family support programs.

In recognition of the 20th anniversary, the agency has compiled a look back over the history of the event. Learn of the behind-the-scenes stories, fun facts, and the making of this amazing
small-town Iowa tradition. Visit HelpingServices.org/holidaylights-history.

The Holiday Lights drive through event begins Thanksgiving and is open nightly, 5:00 to 9:00pm until Christmas night. Santa will be at Holiday Lights every Friday through Sunday from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. leading up to Christmas. Santa’s last night will be Sunday, Dec. 22nd.

The popular Holiday Lights Walk Through Night is back, Wednesday Nov. 27 from 5-7:30 at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah, Iowa. All the favorites will be there: Pokey Pete, local
choirs, a live Nativity scene, Santa and a professional photographer to take family photos. Don’t miss the impressive variety of soups offered by the finest Decorah chefs. Hot cocoa,
cookies, and even ice cream treats will again be featured. Parking is available near the soccer fields on Pulplit Rock Road, with shuttle services dropping visitors or at the front entrance (no cars allowed) or park near the Twin Springs side of the campground (handicap parking available in both spots).

Freewill donations benefit Helping Services for Youth & Families. Thank you to DECO for sponsoring this one-night only event, and the volunteers that make it possible. The event returns to drive-through only starting Thanksgiving through Christmas night, 5-9 pm nightly.

The 58th annual CMA Awards were certainly a night of surprises, but no one seemed as surprised as Chris Stapleton

Chris took home three trophies out of the five he was nominated for — Male Vocalist, Single and Song (for “White Horse”). Brooks and Dunn were also pretty stunned to hear their names called for their 15th Vocal Duo of the Year win after 15 years of watching their newer peers take home that win. And finally, much to his fans’ approval, Morgan Wallen won that coveted Entertainer of the Year honor — even though he wasn’t in the house.

Hosts Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson and Peyton Manning managed to keep things from going too far off the rails with their homegrown humor and heartfelt tributes. In one of the most touching moments of the night, the trio raised red Solo cups to honor the late Toby Keith and were met by country artists in the audience who stood and raised their own cups.

Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees.

WINNERS:

Entertainer of the Year: Morgan Wallen
Female Vocalist of the Year: Lainey Wilson
Male Vocalist of the Year: Chris Stapleton
Vocal Group of the Year: Old Dominion
Vocal Duo of the Year: Brooks and Dunn
New Artist of the Year: Megan Moroney
Album of the Year: Cody Johnson – Leather
Single of the Year: Chris Stapleton – “White Horse”
Song of the Year: Chris Stapleton – “White Horse”
Musical Event of the Year: Ella Langley (featuring Riley Green) – “You Look Like You Love Me”
Music Video of the Year: – Lainey Wilson – “Wildflowers and Wild Horses”
Musician of the Year: Charlie Worsham – guitar
Willie Nelson Lifetime Achieivement Award: George Strait
Jeff Walker Global Country Artist: Josh Ross

Photo Credit: CMA Country Music Association via Facebook

Bears in eastern Tennessee are busy filling up on as much food as possible before going into hibernation, and that recently led one bear with a sweet tooth right into a candy store.

Staff and customers at the Sweet candy store in Gatlinburg were shocked when the large bear strolled in and started sampling candy. In a video posted to TikTok, the bear can be seen helping himself to Charleston Chews and Hershey’s kisses while people stand around taking photos. Workers tried to coax the bear out of the store before it could do a lot of damage and it finally left when police arrived. Luckily no one was hurt.

@gatlinburglive A bear inside a candy shop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. #LIVEhighlights #Gatlinburg #bearofgatlinburg #bearsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Gatlinburg LIVE

Oxford’s Word of the Year … It’s the time of year when the world’s largest dictionaries look back on the biggest news and cultural moments of the past 12 months to figure out the words which best represent 2024. Oxford Dictionaries has revealed its shortlist for Word of the Year, and the public is invited to vote for the one they think deserves to be the winner. Voting is open until November 28th and the winner will be announced on December 2nd. Here are the finalists and what they mean:

• Lore: “A body of (supposed) facts, background information, and anecdotes relating to someone or something, regarded as knowledge required for full understanding or informed discussion of the subject in question.”
• Brain rot: “Supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
• Dynamic pricing: “The practice of varying the price for a product or service to reflect changing market conditions; in particular, the charging of a higher price at a time of greater demand.”
• Demure: “Of a person: reserved or restrained in appearance or behavior. Of clothing: not showy, ostentatious, or overly revealing.”
• Slop: “Art, writing, or other content generated using artificial intelligence, shared and distributed online in an indiscriminate or intrusive way, and characterized as being of low quality, inauthentic, or inaccurate.”
• Romantasy: “A genre of fiction combining elements of romantic fiction and fantasy, typically featuring themes of magic, the supernatural, or adventure alongside a central romantic storyline.”

A huge hack here for those who are hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas this year: Butterball is releasing a new turkey called ‘Butterball Cook From Frozen,’ and just like the name says: you can throw it in the oven while it’s completely frozen. That means avoiding the days-long task of thawing out a giant bird, then getting up before dawn to cook it on the morning of the big day. Instead, it’s ready to go right out of the freezer bag. According to Butterball, thanks to a “specially formulated brine” cooking it is as easy as opening the bag, slapping a little oil on the bird, then popping it in the oven. About 5 hours later, you’re pulling out a perfect turkey, or so they say. The only downside? This frozen bird cannot be fried.

 

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Photo Credit: Butterball via Instagram

On November 11, 1940, a rapidly deepening low pressure system moved northeast from Kansas City, MO northeast through the Upper Mississippi River Valley and into the Upper Great Lakes. This low pressure area produced the lowest pressure reading ever recorded up to this time at Charles City, IA (28.92 inches), La Crosse, WI (28.72 inches), and Duluth, MN (28.66 inches).

Armistice Day (now known as Veteran’s Day) began with blue skies and temperatures in the 40s and 50s. The weather forecast for that morning was for colder temperatures and a few flurries. The day was so nice that duck hunters dressed in short-sleeved shirts rushed to the marshes along the Mississippi River early that morning.

During the late morning and early afternoon, a strong cold front moved through the region. Behind this front, the weather became rather blustery and the temperature plunged to the single digits by the next morning. The rain turned to sleet and eventually to driving snow. Twelve duck hunters were trapped on the Mississippi River between St. Paul and Prairie du Chien by gale-force winds and threatening waves. These hunters sought shelter on small islands and eventually froze to death. Rescue work the next day was hindered by ice which had developed during the preceding night.

Elsewhere heavy snow fell across the Dakotas, much of Minnesota and Iowa, and northwest Wisconsin. The greatest snow total was 26.6 inches in Collegeville, MN. In addition, 30 to 50 mph winds caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow which trapped unsuspecting motorists.

Twenty foot drifts were reported near Willmar, MN. The blizzard left 49 dead in Minnesota, and gales on Lake Michigan caused ship wrecks resulting in another 59 deaths. The storm claimed a total of 154 lives, and killed thousands of cattle in Iowa. More than a million turkeys were killed by the storm in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other states. The storm became know as the “Armistice Day Storm”.

Photo Credit:  National Weather Service La Crosse

South Carolina residents in Yemassee have been advised to lock their doors and windows after 43 monkeys escaped from a nearby facility called Alpha Genesis. The center breeds monkeys for medical testing. While traps have been set in the area, so far, none of the monkeys have been recovered. “If you spot any of the escaped animals, please contact 911 immediately and refrain from approaching them,” the Yemassee Police Department said.

-The Caledonia High School Student Council would like to invite you to join us as we honor our area and the Nation’s Veterans on Veteran’s Day, 11/11/24 at 10:30 A.M. The program will be held in the Caledonia MS/HS Performing Arts Center.

-Kee High School Veterans Day Program on Monday, November 11th at the Kee High Gym in Lansing.  Presentations and performances by students to honor Veterans to begin at 10:15 AM.

-New Albin Elementary Veterans Day Program at 9:00 AM.

-A Veterans Day Program held at 9:45 AM in the Decorah High School Auditorium on Monday, November 11th. Veterans and their families should enter through auditorium doors or the doors off the west parking lot.

-Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library is hosting a Veterans Day Reception from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.  Meal will feature potluck style soup and desserts.

-Veteran’s Day Program on Monday, November 11th at the Waukon High School.  Plan to arrive by 11:00 AM.

-Veteran’s Day Program at Spring Grove School Gym beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, November 11th.  Veteran’s supper at the Spring Grove Legion at 5 p.m.

-The Lynch Family Companies’ Veteran’s Day Celebration for veterans and their families is 4PM – 630PM at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds Community Building.  Free Barbeque Supper and $20,000 Giveaway.  To participate, you must be a Veteran, Active Military, National Guard, or in the Reserves.  RSVP to Jamee at 563-776-3046.

-A Quilts of Valor presentation will be held at the All Vet’s Club Decorah at 3PM on Monday, November 11th.

-Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. in the Turkey Valley High School Gym on Monday, November 11th.

-South Winneshiek High School will host their annual Veterans Day Assembly on Monday, November 11, at 10:15 a.m., in the high school gymnasium. Local Veterans will be recognized and there will be a presentation of quilts by Decorah Quilts of Valor. The South Winneshiek choir and band will be performing patriotic pieces.

All local Veterans are invited to attend the assembly. There will be coffee and rolls served for Veterans beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the high school cafeteria.

-Mabe’s Pizza Decorah would like to honor all active military and veterans, law-enforcement, firefighters and emergency services personnel.  Mabe’s Pizza will be offering a free 9” pizza or $10 off any pizza of your choice for all active military and veterans, law-enforcement, firefighters and emergency services personnel to thank  them for their service to our country and our community.  This offer will ONLY be good on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH for Pick Up and Dine-In only.  A valid military ID, badge or other proof of eligibility must be presented at the time of purchase to receive the discount. Some restrictions apply.
Thanks to all who serve this great nation

A stretch of Interstate-80 in Nebraska was shut down on Tuesday after a semi truck overturned and spilled energy drinks all over the road.

Police in Omaha are investigating the cause of the crash which left the road littered with boxes of C4 energy drinks. Traffic was snarled for a long time while cleanup crews worked to remove the truck and the energy drinks. It’s unclear whether the driver of the truck was hurt.

I-80 eastbound at 84th St right shoulder blocked while an overturned semi is cleaned up. Slow down and move left. Traffic is starting to pickup so please pay attention. This will be a prolonged cleanup operation. pic.twitter.com/hUluZ5J4gv

— Ofc. Mike Bossman (@OPDOfcBossman) November 5, 2024

Photo Credit: Ofc. Mike Bossman via X

The owners of a nail salon in Overland, Missouri have been cleaning up after a four-point buck crashed through the front window and destroyed the place. There’s a video of cops helping it out a side door after they trapped it in a back room.

Of Note:  The owners say it caused around $14,000 in damage, and their insurance policy doesn’t cover damage caused by animals.

Photo Credit:  Overland Police Department via Facebook

LANSING, Iowa – Oct. 31, 2024 – If you drive on Iowa 26 in Lansing you are aware that work continues on the new Mississippi River Bridge. Beginning on Monday, Nov. 4, weather permitting, the contractor will start moving heavy equipment to the Iowa side of the Mississippi River for the next phase of construction.

You are currently able to drive through the work zone on Iowa 26 between Hale and Henry streets with assistance of temporary traffic signals. On Monday, Nov. 4, crews will remove the signals and you will be directed by flaggers between the Mississippi River bridge and Henry Street between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., so the contractor can bring in the heavy equipment.

Intermittent closures of up to 20 minutes will happen a total of twice on Wednesday, Nov. 6, and/or Thursday, Nov. 7, on Iowa 26 between the bridge and Henry Street. During the closures the bridge will remain open and if you are traveling westbound you will be able to turn south.

Iowa 26 will be open to two-lane traffic at the end of the day on Friday, Nov. 8

For more information on the construction of the new Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing, go to iowadot.gov/lansingbridge where you can sign up to receive updates directly to your inbox or check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/.

Photo Credit: Iowa DOT

Lawsuits over hot coffee being too hot is so 1990s. Today, it’s all about ice cream being too cold.

A New Jersey woman is suing JetBlue for serving her an ice cream sandwich that was frozen so solid that it broke one of her front teeth. Kiara Quinonez flew the airline from New York to Paris in August and says she was served a Nightingale brand strawberry shortcake ice cream sandwich. The lawsuit claims the frozen treat was so hard that she sustained “severe and permanent bodily injuries” from biting into it. She claims she was not warned about the ice cream being served at a “temperature below what is reasonable or safe for consumption.”

Quinonez is seeking unspecified damages for the expenses she incurred for dental treatments.

While most of the country didn’t experience much of a winter last year, as it was the warmest winter on record, this winter looks like it’ll be much of the same.

Meteorologists with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center are expecting another warm winter for much of the country. For the months of December, January, and February, forecasters predict warmer-than-average temperatures for the country’s southern tier and East Coast, and also New England to the eastern Great Lakes. Also, most of the southern half of the country will see less rain and snow than usual.

The only parts of the country expected to see below-normal temperatures are the Pacific Northwest, northern Plains and across southern Alaska. Everyone else should see normal winter weather.

Pillsbury is ready for the holiday season with a new Grinch-inspired ready-to-bake cookie dough, but some are pointing to an unfortunate design flaw as the reason why they’re not interested in making them. Each cookie features red hearts and what is apparently a green Christmas tree. However, as many have pointed out on social media, the tree looks a little more like a green poop. One person commented, “Uhhh the green looks like a ….” Another wrote, “Green Grinch poop.” Despite the comments, the Grinch cookie dough will be on store shelves soon.

 

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Photo Credit:  snackolator via Instagram

Reba McEntire and Carole King teamed up to write the theme song for McEntire’s new NBC comedy “Happy’s Place.” The song will debut on the show’s premiere this Friday, which will stream on Peacock the next day.

A Florida man who goes by the nickname “Lieutenant Dan” says he’s safe and sound after riding out Hurricane Milton in his sailboat.

Florida man Joseph Malinowski, who earned his nickname as a nod to the Forrest Gump character, insisted on staying aboard his 20-foot boat while Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category-3 storm.

But the internet fame for his questionable decision might actually be biting him in the butt. Turns out that 54-year-old Malinowski has been arrested over a dozen times, many of which have dealt with crimes against women. His numerous mugshots have been circulating online in response to a GoFundMe that was set up to raise money for Lt. Dan, calling him the “kindest soul” who is “always ready to lend a hand.

Photo Credit: GoFundMe

During an episode of “Inside Studio G”, Garth Brooks made comments on the recent accusations made against him. He kept it brief….It’s all within the first minute of the episode.

Hurricane Milton is currently a Category-5 storm as it barrels toward Florida.

The storm strengthened back to a Category-5 on Tuesday after briefly dropping to a Category-4. More than 1 million people across 16 counties in Florida were ordered to evacuate. The National Hurricane Center says “life-threatening” storm surges of up to 15 feet are expected in some parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast when Milton makes landfall just south of Tampa. A specialist with the NHC said, “Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.” Parts of Florida are expecting to see localized total rainfall amounts up to 18 inches in some places. Disney World, Universal Orlando and multiple airports in the state have already announced closures.

President Joe Biden emphasized the fact that Milton could be one of the worst storms to hit Florida in a century. He said it’s a “matter of life and death” that people evacuate if ordered to do so. On Tuesday night, Milton was 440 miles southwest of Tampa and heading east-northeast at about 10 miles per hour. (USA Today)

Longtime meteorologist John Morales is going viral after he appeared choked up on air while discussing the “horrific” path expected from the dangerous storm. (NY Times)

A spectacular view from space!

Hurricane Milton, which is re-intensifying over the southern Gulf of Mexico, was just passed by the International Space Station.@ZoyaKhan_sp #space #iss pic.twitter.com/JV7mKn6yN3

— Mission Space Education (@missionspace24) October 8, 2024

Photo Credit: Mission Space Education via X

Hurricane Milton is now a Category-5 hurricane with winds up to 180 miles per hour.

The storm intensified from a Category-1 to a Category-5 in one day. It’s now forecast to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast by Wednesday night. The National Hurricane Center is calling it an “extremely life-threatening situation” as the storm approaches the western coast of the state.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is urging any residents in the hurricane’s path to evacuate immediately.

In an interview with CNN, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned residents, “I can say this without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die.”

Tampa International Airport has announced it will shut down at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning and remain closed until after the storm passes and it is safe to do so. Orlando International Airport will close Wednesday morning. (ABC News) (CBS News)

Photo Credit:  LiveNOW from FOX via YouTube