712 Digital Group - top

Riding mowers stolen from Creston business

News

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department is investigating the theft of two riding mowers from a local business. Agrivision, in Creston, reported to authorities a 2004 and 2015 John Deere riding mower were taken from the business at 710 E. Taylor Street, sometime between Noon April 8th and 2:30-p.m. on April 20th. The loss was estimated at $10,029.

Massena City Council Special Session

News

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The City Council in Massena will hold a Special Session Thursday evening. According to their agenda, the Council will review bids for spraying in the City Park. And they will discuss and/or act on: Nuisance addresses (with regard to the Urban Renewal Plan); Ball Park Bleachers; Manhole issues; and Sewer Rates.

The meeting begins at 6-p.m. on Thursday at the Massena City Hall.

Jones withdraws from Drake Relays

Sports

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Des Moines native Lolo Jones has withdrawn from the 2015 Drake Relays. KCCI-TV says according to Drake Relay officials, Jones, the No. 3 women’s 100-meter hurdler in the world, will not participate in that event or the shuttle hurdle relay, due to a minor injury she suffered during her workouts leading up to the Relays.

Despite Jones’ absence, the women’s Beijing World Championship Preview women’s 100-meter hurdles will feature six of the top 10 hurdlers in the world and defending Relays champion Kristi Castlin along with Olympic gold medalist Dawn-Harper Nelson.

House GOP back less spending than Senate Democrats, Branstad

News

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Leaders in the Republican-controlled Iowa House are offering their budget outline, which includes a lower overall spending goal than the plans put forth by the governor or the Democrat-majority Senate.  House Republicans released their plan Wednesday. Their budget would spend about $7.17 billion, compared to the $7.3 billion spending proposals from Senate Democrats and Republican Governor Terry Branstad.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Republican from Hiawatha, says House Republicans want spending to stay within the expected revenue for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. But Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says the House proposal would cause “significant problems” in managing state government.

Democrats and Republicans remain at odds over how much new funding to provide to schools for the upcoming academic year.

Deep field expected at Drake Relays

Sports

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Higher purses have helped the Drake Relays attract some of its deepest fields in recent years. This year’s meet in the Iowa capital will feature many of the world’s best athletes.

Stars like LaShawn Merritt, Javier Culson, Dawn Harper-Nelson and hometown favorite Lolo Jones will headline the field for the 106th annual meet, which begins in earnest Thursday and concludes on Saturday.

Motion filed in Osborn Pott. County sex abuse case

News

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Defense attorneys for a Pottawattamie County man who was found guilty late last March on four counts of third-degree sexual abuse, have filed a motion for an acquittal or new trial. 47-year old John Osborn was found guilty by Fourth District Court Judge Richard Davidson on March 26th, with regard to sexual conduct with a 14-year-old girl last summer. The Daily NonPareil reports Davidson will make a ruling on the motion for a new trial, on May 8th. Depending on the decision, sentencing in the case is also scheduled during that hearing.

Judge Davidson found that the state had proved Osborn and the girl engaged in sex acts on the night of July 16 into July 17, 2014. At trial it was revealed that Osborn and the girl had exchanged text messages and phone calls sexual in nature prior to the July night in question. Both the state and defense used a computer program to retrieve the messages, as Osborn and the girl had deleted the messages on their phones.

The 14-year-old testified that the sexual encounter occurred sometime that night in around 11 p.m. to midnight, while Osborn’s daughter slept in the family’s living room. In his verdict, Davidson said a “window of opportunity” for the acts opened from 11:05 to 11:35 p.m. At trial, Osborn told the court he went to bed at 11 p.m. and didn’t get up until the next morning. Osborn’s daughter testified that she was awake throughout the night until about 3 a.m.

In his motion, defense lawyers said new evidence had come to light. Text messages from Osborn’s daughter to a friend on the night in question were presented at trial, but Judge Davidson noted there was a window of time where the daughter could’ve fallen asleep. The attorney for Osborn noted that the daughter got a new iPhone on July 21st and the family thought all messages had transferred over. After the verdict against Osborn, the family used the computer program to check if any messages were missing and found additional messages from the daughter to the friend on the night of July 16th. The messages were sent numerous times from 10:47-p.m. through 11:31-p.m. , proving, according to the attorney, that the daughter could not have been asleep during the time frame in question.

The motion also questions the testimony of the 14-year-old girl, saying her timeline of events “varies throughout her testimony.” In the state’s resistance to the motion, Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney Shelly Sedlak noted the prosecution “does not have to prove a specific time for the sex acts in any case.”

(Podcast) Backyard & Beyond, 4/22/15

Backyard and Beyond

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Lavon Eblen talks about the history of “Earth Day.”

Play

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22nd

Trading Post

April 22nd, 2015 by Jim Field

SALE:  Lewis City Wide Garage Sales, Saturday, May 2, 7:00 – 1:00. Some early bird Friday sales.

FOR SALE:  MiraFount 3410-4 4-drink hog water.  Brand new, call 712-779-0400.

FOR SALE: 2 Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires, 195-60 R 15, approximately 75% of tread is left. $25 for the pair.  Please Call: 712-250-0266.

FOR SALE: Portable Electric Air Compressor, 3 gallon tank. 1 HP. Used very little. $75.  Please Call: 712-250-0266.

FOR SALE/TRADE:  Skid loader trailer, older, double-axle, in pretty good condition.  Would be willing to trade for a fishing boat or a pop-up camper.  Call 712-304-4262 in Audubon.

We Dig Dirt: Connecting Infants & Toddlers to Nature

News

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Parents and child care providers are invited to explore the wonder of nature and the benefits it offers infants and toddlers. The “We Dig Dirt” workshop will be held on Thursday, June 4th,from 6:30- to 9:30- p.m., at the Ann Wickman Child Development Center in Atlantic. The location has developed an outside nature area specifically for young children, including infants and toddlers. Funding is being provided by Boost 4 Families Early Childhood Iowa.ISU Extension

Participants will discover effective ways to facilitate meaningful infant and toddler learning experiences inspired by nature and gain positive solutions for addressing some of the challenges of working with very young children outdoors. Many practical ideas will be shared for helping infants and toddlers grow up with a sense of wonder.

Certified instructor, Sandra McKinnon, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Human Sciences Specialist, will lead the workshop. Three clock hours for child care providers are available. Visit the Iowa Child Care Provider Training Registry at https://ccmis.dhs.state.ia.us/trainingregistry/ to sign up. If you are a parent, register directly with the Montgomery County Extension Office.

Registration and payment is required by May 22. For more information, contact the Montgomery County Extension Office in Red Oak at 712-623-2592.

Healthy U Features Podiatry Overview

News

April 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Residents of Cass County and the area is invited to attend the next “Healthy U” program on April 30th. The lunch program will be held at noon in the Cass County Memorial Hospital’s Conference Room #2. The topic for April is “Foot & Ankle Surgeons: An Overview of Podiatry Services.” Dr. Roger Drown (D.P.M.) will present an overview of the care that podiatrists provide. He will cover common foot problems, treatments, and procedures.

Dr. Roger Down, DPM.

Dr. Roger Down, DPM.

Dr. Drown says “Understanding how a podiatrist can help is the first step to getting you back on your feet and doing the things you love – without pain and worry.” Healthy U is a free educational series that focuses on a different health topic each month. Attendees receive a healthy sack lunch in addition to an educational program presented by medical professionals. Future topics include dementia, joint health, and diabetes.

For more information, or to make a reservation for the April 30th Healthy U, call 712-243-7479.