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NIACC’s Walter, Lentz Qualify for National Women’s Golf Tournament

Sports

April 28th, 2015 by Jim Field

!cid_ii_14cfba45adf5bed2ANKENY | The NIACC women’s golf team is sending two golfers to the 2015 NJCAA National Tournament at Longbow Golf Course in Mesa, Arizona, May 11-14.

Savannah Lentz followed up her 81 on Friday with an 85 (44-41) on Saturday at Otter Creek Golf Course, the site of the Region XI women’s golf tournament, finishing tied for eighth with former Bishop Garrigan standout and current DMACC golfer Haley Froehlich with a 166.

Meanwhile, Bailey Walter, a former Atlantic prep, finished 15th with a 182, following up her opening round of 92 with a 90 (46-44) for NIACC on Saturday, grabbing the last qualifying spot for the national tournament.

“I’m really excited for Savannah Lentz and Bailey Walter, a couple of freshmen to make it to the national tournament,” NIACC coach Chris Frenz said. “Savannah has been one of the top golfers in our region all season long and for her to play the way she did in the weather conditions we’ve had the past two days is outstanding. I believe she will do very well at the national tournament. It’s always tough there because all women’s programs – Division I, II and III – all compete against each other. So it’s an uneven playing field, but she hasn’t back down from any challenge yet, I know she’ll put forth a great effort in a couple of weeks.

“Bailey really hung in there (Saturday). She was just battling herself all day long but she kept plugging away and actually made the cut by two strokes. She has a good enough game to do well at nationals too. She just has to remain confident.”

Kaitlin Koob tied for 16th with a 184, shooting a 94 (50-44) on Saturday, Josie Leyh was 20th with a 190, including a 96 (48-48) on Saturday, and Carlie Eckenrod was 22nd with a 198, shooting a 99 (52-47) on Saturday.

“I feel for Kaitlin because she really played better than her score indicated and to be that close and know you had a good chance to make it really hurts,” Frenz said. “She’s had a great two-year run here at NIACC (making the national tournament last year) and I’m really going to miss her.”

NIACC finished fourth with a 722, shooting a 365 on Saturday after a 357 on Friday.

Iowa Western won the team title with a 630, shooting a 312 on Saturday. The Reivers finished 23 strokes ahead of DMACC.

Individually, Iowa Central’s Julie Laisney – the leader coming into Saturday’s play with a 74 – finished with a 142, four strokes better than Iowa Western’s Damla Bilgic.

Defiance City Clerk arrested for alleged misappropriation of funds

News

April 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An investigation by authorities in Shelby County has led to the arrest of the City Clerk in Defiance. The Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year old Kristin Wagner, of Defiance, allegedly used the city’s credit/debit card to make numerous purchases of merchandise for her personal use. The purchases exceeded $5,000. The loss was discovered following a review of bank transactions associated with the city’s credit/debit card, which revealed several misappropriated withdrawals. It’s not clear when the purchases began and what Wagner allegedly bought with the card.

Wagner was taken into custody Monday and charged with Felony 2nd degree theft. She had since posted a $5,000 bond and was released from custody.

Union County man reports a theft

News

April 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a Lorimor man reported Monday afternoon, that sometime in the past week, someone entered his machine shed and took a 3 point log splitter used with a tractor. The loss was estimated at $1500.

Jury selection set for 2nd suspect in western Iowa slayings

News

April 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Court officials say jury selection will be getting underway Tuesday in a Sioux City courtroom for the trial of the second man charged with killing two elderly people in Crawford County. A judge granted a venue change for 20-year-old Jayden Chapman because news coverage of the case.

Another man charged in the slayings of 80-year-old Marvin Huesling and 81-year-old Alice Huisenga, 27-year-old Michael Schenk, was sentenced last month to two life terms for his role in the killings.

Authorities say Schenk and Chapman shot the pair at a trailer home in Deloit in March 2014 and then set it on fire. Investigators have said Schenk and Chapman probably were on the property to steal scrap metal.

Sen. Grassley ponders requiring federal probe into all police-involved minority deaths

News

April 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

As fires from overnight riots in Baltimore still burn, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s considering calling on the U-S Justice Department to review all cases where minorities die at the hands of police. Grassley, a Republican, is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and he says all options are on the table as these cases appear to become more frequent, with very violent public reactions.

(R-IA) Sen. Charles Grassley

(R-IA) Sen. Charles Grassley

“We’re in the early stages of looking at what the committee can or should do, perhaps it’s a hearing, perhaps it could be legislation or it could be nothing. We just don’t know yet,” Grassley says. “I think we need to be very judicious in any response.” Starting with the Ferguson, Missouri, case last summer, there have been multiple, high-profile incidents in recent months in many states, including New York, Maryland and South Carolina, where lethal force was used by law officers against minorities. Grassley says he’s not sure about any of the options as possible solutions.

“There have been many suggestions, including one by my friend, Senator (Tim) Scott of South Carolina, who is a minority, that would require the federal Justice Department to review any deaths of minorities by law enforcement.” The latest case involves 25-year-old Freddie Gray of Baltimore, whose funeral was Monday. Gray died earlier this month while in police custody, sparking riots that culminated overnight with dozens of large fires, more than 200 arrests and at least seven police officers injured.

“People have every right to protest peacefully, but the looting and unrest only shows disrespect for Baltimore and disrespect for Mr. Gray’s family,” Grassley says. As the law now stands, the Justice Department can involve itself in instances where it’s believed federal laws may have been violated, but an investigation is not mandatory in all cases involving police-involved minority deaths.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic School District needs to reign-in spending & increase cash flow

News

April 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District needs to do a better job of reigning-in spending and taking in cash. That’s the word from Gary Sinclair, with PMA Financial Network, who handed out a half-inch thick booklet to the school board and discussed for more than 40-minutes, ways to continue to improve upon financial planning. The information he presented during Monday night’s board meeting, was compiled through the use of IASB (Iowa Association of School Board) reports.

Areas of concern included the district’s Unspent Balance, its Cash Position, Spending Authority, and Solvency ratio. He said the district has been “trending down,” and at the end of FY 2014 was -3.6, which means if all the bills had been paid, the district would not have had enough money. The district’s Unspent Balance has also been trending down.  He says eventually, unless that’s turned around, it will continue to accelerate.

Sinclair also pointed out the district has fewer students per full-time employee teachers, than four other, comparable districts, which results in higher salaries and benefits in the General Fund, and which “Has contributed to the financial challenges” the district is experiencing.

The district has been working with the Financial Planning Program (FPP) to better track and control its spending. The program is based on past spending, future spending, projected enrollment, income, and numerous other factors. The data show over the next two years, the district has to have a net reduction in salaries and one a one-year net reduction in benefits, to turn the budget around. If not, the district will show a negative balance in two-years.

Sinclair said there’s not much the district can do on the revenue side of the equation. PMA projects a reduction of eight teaching positions next year, but also adds fractional teacher hiring positions based on enrollment increases. Atlantic will start the TLC (Teacher Leadership and Compensation) system next year, which will bring in needed revenue, but part of activities the district is currently doing, will qualify for TLC spending, which will supplant the General Fund. Attrition of staff, by retirement, or by transfers to other districts, are also factored in to the financial picture.

He says the bottom line is the district needs to take in more cash next year in order to bring the solvency ratio back into a positive range.

Atlantic man arrested Monday

News

April 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An Atlantic man was arrested Monday, for Violation of a No Contact Order. The A-PD says 44-year old Carl Kemp was taken into custody and booked into the Cass County Jail.

Bluffs Police investigate Tue. morning shooting

News

April 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a shooting that took place early this (Tuesday) morning. Authorities say 31-year old Aaron Caddell, of Council Bluffs, walked into the Emergency Room at Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital at around 2:40-a.m., suffering from a gunshot wound to his right ankle. He was treated at the hospital, and released.Bluffs Badge

Caddell told police he had been walking east on Kanesville Boulevard near the intersection with Main Street, when he heard a “pop,” and was shot. The bullet came allegedly from someone in a red car that was also traveling east on Kanesville Blvd.

Caddell was unable to provide any information on the occupants of the vehicle, or a better description of the vehicle itself. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-STOP. You can remain anonymous, and are eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest and conviction.

TUESDAY, APRIL 28th

Trading Post

April 28th, 2015 by Jim Field

FOR SALE:  36 inch tall patio chiminea used once with candles $149 new sell for $75 712-250-0315 in Anita.

042715 001

FOR SALE: Older Holly 4 barrell carberator double pumper set up for racing Ford car, can convert to gas $50; FOR SALE: 45 dozen night crawlers, $1.50 each. 712-778-5131.

WANTED: Looking for electric knife and night crawlers. 249-4005.

FOR SALE:  Cricut Expression 24″ Personal Electronic Cutting Machine with 5 cartridges, 2 new cutting mats, and Cricut 7 piece tool kit. Cartridges included are My Community, All Mixed Up, Lyrical Letters, Plantin SchoolBook, and Home Decor. Cricut has been used a handful of times. Call or text 712.789.0859 for more information.

!cid_ii_14d00726d713d48d

WANTED: 7 passenger mini van, looking to spend around $3,000. 712-269-0866 after 4 pm.

FREE: Computer desk.  Located at 510 E. 22nd Street in Atlantic.  Stop by today or all day tomorrow if interested.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 4/28/2015

News, Podcasts

April 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

More area, and state news, from Ric Hanson.

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