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APNewsBreak: US investigating U. Iowa in field hockey case

News, Sports

June 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education is launching an investigation into the University of Iowa’s handling of gender discrimination claims against athletic director Gary Barta. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the department’s Office for Civil Rights notified the school of the investigation last week and requested numerous documents.

Four members of the women’s field hockey team filed a complaint in August alleging that Barta’s decision to fire coach Tracey Griesbaum was part of a pattern of discrimination against strong female coaches. Barta has denied the allegation. He says Griesbaum was fired after an investigation found concerns about how some players were treated.

The Office for Civil Rights says it will look into the school’s failure to investigate a sex discrimination complaint against Barta filed by students in October.

Posted in News, Sports |

DIANE BILLHEIMER, 84, of Casey (6-6-2015)

Obituaries

June 3rd, 2015 by Jim Field

DIANE BILLHEIMER, 84, of Casey died Wednesday, June 3rd at Taylor House in Des Moines.  A funeral service for DIANE BILLHEIMER will be held on Saturday, June 6th at 11:00 am in the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Casey.  Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic has the arrangements.

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Visitation with the family will be held on Friday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Casey.

Burial in the Oakwood Cemetery in Casey.

DIANE BILLHEIMER is survived by:

Daughter:  Sandy Kirkman of Hixson, TN

Son:  Jim (Dawn) Billheimer of Urbandale

Daughter-in-law:  Linda Billheimer of Casey.

4 Grandchildren

5 Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

Lackey, Cardinals defeat Milwaukee 7-4 to win series

Sports

June 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — John Lackey pitched seven innings and Matt Carpenter had two hits and drove in two runs, leading the Cardinals to a 7-4 victory Wednesday over the Milwaukee Brewers. St. Louis improved the best home record in the majors to 22-7 and won all three series during its nine-game homestand.

The 36-year-old Lackey (4-3) scattered 10 hits while striking out five and walking one. He is 4-1 in four career starts against Milwaukee. Lackey has gone 7-1 in 11 regular-season starts and one playoff outing at Busch Stadium since joining the Cardinals after a trade with Boston. Lackey is 4-1 in six starts at home this season. Trevor Rosenthal recorded his 17th save by getting the final two outs on a double play.

Milwaukee third baseman Hector Gomez crashed into the stands behind third and left the game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Gomez was trying to catch a foul ball hit by Jason Heyward in the sixth inning on Wednesday. Gomez hit the short wall at full speed and fell head-first into the seats. After being looked at, he left the game under his own power.

A Brewers spokesman says Gomez was examined by a doctor for a possible concussion and the results were negative. Hernan Perez moved from second base to third and Luis Sardinas came in to play second.

Posted in Sports |

West Central® Announces Major Soy Processing Investment |

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

West Central® Cooperative today (Wednesday) announced its plan for a $27 million, multi-year project to increase soybean processing capacity by 50 percent and build additional grain storage at its Ralston, Iowa complex.West Central Expansion image At full capacity, the expansion would create demand for an additional six million bushels of soybeans each year and create more than 11 full-time jobs. Like the current plant, the expansion will produce SoyPlus®, an industry-leading high bypass protein dairy feed ingredient used across the world.

The company plans to increase the current plant’s capacity by up to 50 percent with actual production coming online in phases. When complete, the construction project would include an additional line of mechanical presses, soybean oil treatment, load-out access, and nearly three million bushels of additional soybean storage. New production volumes are slated to be available as early as fall 2016.

At full capacity, ten of the 11 new positions will be manufacturing roles. Company officials are looking to begin the hiring process for those jobs as early as this summer.
To introduce potential applicants to the company, West Central will host a job fair for SoyPlus manufacturing positions, as well as other company positions, at their main office in Ralston on Thurs. June 11, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

During the event, staff will offer plant tours, accept applications, and conduct instant interviews. Applications are also available online now
at http://west-central.com/about/careers/.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Backyard and Beyond 06-03-2015

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

June 3rd, 2015 by admin

Lavon Eblen talks about Produce in the Park in Atlantic which kicks off it’s season on Thursday, June 4th!

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Posted in Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts |

Black Hawk County prosecutor to leave office for state job

News

June 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A veteran county prosecutor based in Waterloo is stepping down to take a state job in charge of training county attorneys across Iowa. Black Hawk County Attorney Thomas Ferguson will begin June 30 as the state’s prosecuting attorneys training coordinator and executive director of the Iowa County Attorneys Association.

He’ll retire the same day from the elected county position he’s held since 1990. Ferguson, a Democrat, was re-elected to a seventh four-year term last year. Attorney General Tom Miller announced Ferguson’s new appointment Wednesday. He says Ferguson’s expertise and experience will be a huge asset to prosecutors in Iowa’s 99 counties.

Ferguson’s state job will involve providing support, continuing education and training for prosecutors and their assistants. He replaces Corwin Ritchie, who is retiring.

Posted in News |

Clinton campaign opens offices in Iowa

News

June 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign have announced the opening of five new organizing offices in Iowa, bringing the total number of offices in the State to nine. Among the new offices is one located in Council Bluffs (at 1851 Madison Avenue).

The others can be found in Des Moines, Dubuque and Iowa City. The offices will serve as hubs for phone banking, canvassing, organizing meetings and other activities the Hillary for Iowa team hosts across the state.

Posted in News |

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3rd

Trading Post

June 3rd, 2015 by Jim Field

FOR SALE: 13” Magnavox flat screen HDTV with remote. Like new. $50  SOLD!!

FOR SALE: 4 Kittens left in Massena, call (712)590-7001. **yellow kitten has found a home!

IMG_20150523_155647783 IMG_20150523_155903546

Posted in Trading Post |

Numerous arson cases under investigation in southern Adair County

News

June 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s State Fire Marshal Division says authorities are investigating multiple cases of arson. According to Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, the arsons occurred between May 7th and May 11th at 1693 330th Street in southern Adair County.

Anyone with information pertaining to the fires is asked to call the Adair County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 743-2148 or the Grinnell Mutual Arson/Fraud Alert Committee at 1-800-362-2041, ext. 8265.

Persons providing credible evidence leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of those who committed the crimes, may be eligible for an award.

Posted in News |

Crimestoppers Golf Tournament in Shenandoah July 11th

Sports

June 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont and Page County Crime Stoppers are asking for your help. The non-profit community-based organization is sponsoring the 5th Annual Fremont/Page County Crime Stopper Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 11th, beginning at 1:00- p.m.  The event will be held at the American Legion County Club Golf Course (1800 South Elm Street), in Shenandoah.

There will be door prizes, hole prizes and more given away, and organizers will hold an auction for the larger donations. Anyone wishing to donate to the auction is asked to give gift certificates, tickets, hotel stays, prizes, or a monetary donation. Your company name and donation will be listed for all to see. There’s also a need for hole sponsors. The cost for this is $200 per sponsor.

If you are interested in being a hole sponsor and entering a team you can do so at the discounted rate of $340 for both. Meal and registration starts at noon. The group is also recruiting teams to play in their tournament. This will be a 4 person team and the cost is $60.00 per person or $240 per team, which includes the Mulligan package and a chance to win a new car with a hole in one. To sign up, contact the American Legion Country Club at 712-246-3308.

If you have any questions, contact the Fremont County Sheriff s Office at 712-374-2424, Page County Sheriff s Office at 712-542-5193, Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194, or the Shenandoah Police Department at 712-246-3512.

Donations may be sent to: Fremont County Crime Stoppers, c/o Fremont County Sheriff s Department, 701Cass St., P.O. Box 359, Sidney, Iowa 51652.

Posted in Sports |