Overnight ramp closure and new interstate lane shifts at South Expressway and northbound I-29/westbound I-80 begin tonight

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Road construction work at South Expressway and northbound Interstate 29/westbound I-80 in Council Bluffs requires closing the entrance ramp from South Expressway/Iowa 192 to northbound I-29/westbound I-80 Tuesday, June 16, from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. Metro Drive will remain open throughout construction.

After the on-ramp is closed at 10 p.m., interstate traffic will shift onto the new northbound I-29/westbound I-80 lanes east of Indian Creek. Merging traffic from South Expressway will also begin to use the new northbound I-29/westbound I-80 on- and off-ramps located north of the existing ramps. Motorists are urged to use caution while becoming accustomed to shifting onto the new lanes.

When completed, construction of the I-29/80 dual, divided freeway will physically separate through traffic on I-80 from traffic on I-29 destined for Council Bluffs, creating I-80 express lanes and I-29/80 local lanes. The dual, divided freeway will offer greater flexibility to travelers and will improve the overall efficiency of the transportation network.

Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing I-29, I-80, and I-480 in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area. This comprehensive interstate redesign will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate. Motorists are encouraged to allow for extra travel time while this interstate improvement takes effect.

Posted in News |

2 Pottawattamie County men sentenced on Meth charges

News

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Two Pottawattamie County men were sentenced last week to prison in connection with the distribution of methamphetamine. 20-year old Ruben Toledo Jr., of Council Bluffs, and 25-year old Oscar Arriaga Martinez, a citizen of Mexico who resided in Council Bluffs, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose. Toldeo received a seven-year prison sentence for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Martinez was ordered to serve 11-1/2 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Both men were also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following imprisonment, and to pay $100 towards the Crime Victim Fund.

They pled guilty to the charges on January 8th. The charges were the result of an
investigation by law enforcement of drug trafficking that occurred in and around the Southern District of Iowa and the District of Nebraska. Beginning as early as February of 2014, continuing through September of 2014, Toledo and Martinez conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Southern District of Iowa.

The investigation was conducted by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force and the
Drug Enforcement Administration. Their case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Posted in News |

Adams County Resident Sentenced to Five Years of Probation for Conversion of Mortgaged Property

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

(Corrects info. in Press Release to show Nodaway in Adams Co., not Page County)

A man from Adams County was sentenced last week in connection with conversion of mortgaged property. 34-year old Gary Matthew Johnston, of Nodaway, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $113,754, for converting the proceeds from the sales of approximately 176 head of cattle that were
mortgaged by the Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Johnston pled guilty on March 5th, to the charge of conversion of mortgaged
property, which was the result of an investigation by law enforcement after Johnston was involved in multiple sales of collateral at livestock auctions that were not reported to the Farm Service Agency as required.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Army worms a concern for farmers in parts of the state

Ag/Outdoor

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The U-S-D-A crop report released Monday shows about eighty-percent of Iowa’s corn and soybean fields are in good-to-excellent condition. That’s for the crop that has been planted, as only about seventy-five percent of soybean planting is completed in the still soggy fields in south-central and south-west Iowa. In east-central Iowa there’s a new problem — insects. I-S-U agronomist Meaghan Anderson monitors a 10-county area from Independence to Iowa City.

“We’ve seen a number of fields with some army worm issues this spring. Typically, aren’t as wide-spread an issue as they are this spring. But we have a number of growers trying cover crops and that seems to be very attractive to the moths,” according to Anderson. She says they’ve seen army worms in both corn and soybean fields.

“They have the ability to completely defoliate a crop if conditions are right,” Anderson says. The persistent rain is keeping farmers from spraying insecticide to try to control the army worms.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Iowa’s congressional delegation asks EPA for hearing in Iowa on ethanol

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Members of Iowa’s congressional delegation are urging the federal Environmental Protection Agency to hold a public hearing in Iowa over the agency’s proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard, or R-F-S. It’s feared those changes could hurt the ethanol industry and Iowa is the nation’s top ethanol producer. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he hopes the E-P-A takes the request for a hearing in Iowa seriously.

“They’re going to say they’re in Kansas City but Iowa, anyplace in Iowa, is the center of ethanol production and that’s where they should be,” Grassley says. “Why they aren’t, I don’t know.” A letter is being sent to E-P-A administrator Gina McCarthy that’s signed by all six members of Iowa’s congressional delegation. Members say the decision to drop R-F-S levels set by Congress has left the biofuels industry in an uncertain situation which has slowed investment. Grassley says it’s important for the agency’s leaders to fully understand the impact of their rulemaking.

“It’s to embarrass them into understanding why avoid Iowa?,” Grassley says. “It’s going to embarrass them to come where the information is, make it easier for those that are in the middle of ethanol production and things of that nature. It’s that simple.” Iowa has 42 ethanol plants in operation, producing nearly three-point-eight billion gallons a year, about 25-percent of all ethanol produced nationwide. Iowa plants also produced 230-million gallons of biodiesel in 2013.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Exira-EHK Board approves quotes for new phone system and fees

News

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School District Board of Education zipped through several discussion and action items during their meeting, Monday evening. Superintendent Dean Schnoes said one of the issues they needed to address was a new phone system. With the current system, he says, voice mails sound like they’re using a walkie-talkie. Schnoes said also there was no big leap in the fees for next year, there was no increase in activities fees.

Both the Elementary and Middle School Principals’ contracts were approved, with those individuals assuming more responsibilities at the High School, because Principal David Johnson has been struggling with back issues that limit his ability to be at work.

The Board also set July 20th, at 7-p.m. (their next regular meeting), as the date and time for a Public Hearing on “Continued participation in the Instructional Support Program” (ISP) Levy. The levy, which comes about every 5-years, allows the District to use extra tax money to purchase tangible assets like books, paper, etc.

Posted in News |

LINDA ANDERSEN, 74, of Marne (Svcs. 6/20/15)

Obituaries

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

LINDA ANDERSEN, 74, of Marne, died Tue., June 16th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services for LINDA ANDERSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., June 20th, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church (In Elk Horn, IA). Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-until 7-pm on Friday (6/19). Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Burial will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.

LINDA ANDERSEN is survived by:

Her husband – Lyle Anderson.

Her daughters – Lori (Omar) Colbert, of Haughton, IA; Tracie (Ed) Hines, of Omaha; Kimberly (Brian) Schnepf, of Sibley.

Her son – Bryan (Kathy) Andersen, of Elk Horn, IA.

6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

Exira- EHK School Board approves Wrestling Program w/Audubon

Sports

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Members of the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton Board of Education, Monday evening, began the formal process of arranging a shared Wrestling program with the Audubon Community School District. Superintendent Dean Schnoes said both districts have experienced a decline in the number of students participating in the program, so it makes sense to look at combining their Wrestling programs.

Schnoes said the Exira-EHK Board approved the agreement contingent upon the details meeting the Board’s satisfaction. He says those details will be worked out and a contract possibly signed by September. The main objective he says, is to do what’s right for the kids, and the District.

Schnoes said patrons and students of both districts have gotten accustomed to each other, so sharing a wrestling program seems like a natural fit. He says a lot of times when the two districts are at a match, they tend to want to sit together. Their coaches know each other, combining the districts would allow for a complete team to be formed, which is something Athletic Directors look for when it comes time for a tournament.

The arrangement, if approved by both districts, may mean the combined team may temporarily move up to Class 2-A, but because both teams are losing numbers, they may go back to 1-A next year.

Posted in Sports |

TUESDAY, JUNE 16th

Trading Post

June 16th, 2015 by Jim Field

FOR SALE: Band Saw… Sears craftsman 10 inch, 3 wheel band saw. Excellent condition, works well, super clean. Copy of owners manual included. $125 641-745-0133.

FOR SALE: twin bed with frame in Wiota $10. In Wiota will bring to town if you can’t make it. 712-304-5607.

FOR SALE: NEW Duvet Cover Set, 1500 Thread Count Egyptian…full/queen set..Sage list price was 129.99……I paid 29.99…….asking $15. In Wiota will bring to town if you can’t make it. 712-304-5607.

FOR SALE: Poulan Pro 42” Riding Lawn Mower. 18.5 HP, Hydrostat Drive & New Battery. All serviced & ready to go. $375.00 Manilla 712-654-4655 or cell # 515-314-0605.

Posted in Trading Post |