After an afternoon of sunshine and a 50 degree temperature on Wednesday, a dramatic change is headed our way in the weather department for today. A Winter Storm Warning will be in effect until midnight tonight as the potential exists for eight to eleven inches of snow in the Webster City area. The wind will play a factor as it could create whiteout conditions at times with the heavy snow predicted. Keep tuned to KQWC Radio and at kqradio.com for more on this winter storm throughout the day today.

Christie Vilsack visited the Mid American Energy wind energy farm near Blairsburg Wednesday afternoon. She learned about the production of wind energy from employees of the facility and how it can play an important role in Iowa's economy. Vilsack is the Democratic candidate for Iowa's Fourth Congressional District in next November's election. She is proposing a five point energy plan if she is elected. The plan would include the creation of a National Energy Council. The 15 member council would be appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The council would be in charge of developing a long term energy plan for the nation taking the politics out of energy policy and avoiding the gridlock in the political process. It would give energy companies and entrepreneurs the certainty they need to invest in exploration, production and distribution. The proposed energy plan would support all forms of domestic energy production, oppose a repeal of the Renewable Energy Standard,support a production tax credit and develop a new bio-fuels market. Vilsack is challenging Republican incumbent Steve King in the November election.

By a vote of 6 to 1 Tuesday night, the Van Diest Medical Center Board of Trustees approved the 2012-13 Tax Asking. Last month, the board voted to raise the tax asking from $496,265 to $850,000.The increase is due to the State mandates increase in IPERS (Iowa Public Employment Retirement System) contributions and the dramatic increase in charity care. The employer's contribution rate for IPERS will be increased from 5.75% to 8.67% beginning with the 2012-13 fiscal year. Van Diest Medical Center administrator Palmer Schnieder said it is anticipated this mandated increase will cost the hospital an additional $233,000. Schnieder said that even though the tax asking is being raised to $850,000, Van Diest Medical Center remains in the lower one third of tax levies when compared to other county hospitals in Iowa. Even with the increase in the tax asking the hospital will experience a loss form the costs of charity care and IPERS.The lone no vote cast was by board member John Hemingway. The tax asking will take effect on July 1,2012.

The Van Diest Medical Center board approved the appointments of Steven Dunnick and Dr. John Rule to the medical staff. Dunnick is with Emergency Practice Associates and will be providing occasional emergency room coverage. Dr. Rule is a board certified Radiologist with Virtual Radiology. He will be providing occasional Teleradiology coverage at Voyageur Radiology's request. The medical center board also approved the reappointment of the entire medical staff. They include eight active staff members, 56 consulting staff, 25 contract ER staff and 4 associate staff physicians. In addition 23 Allied Health Professionals  submitted applications for reappointment.

In another matter the board approved the purchase of a sander for a pickup truck used by the hospital's plant operations staff. The cost of the sander is $5,850 and will be used to sand the parking lots of the medical center.

Next Wednesday afternoon, the Van Diest Medical Center board will receive the initial proposal from the nurses union for a new contract. The board will then make its counter proposal followed by a closed door meeting between the medical center board and the union representatives.