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House education committee OKs anti-bullying legislation

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Legislation aimed at expanding guidelines for Iowa educators who respond to school bullying has advanced in the House. An education committee voted 19-4 Monday in favor of the bill. The full House can now debate it. The measure would clarify the ability of educators to monitor bullying off school grounds. It would also expand parental notification language and the definition of cyberbullying.

After several changes to the bill Monday, it now better mirrors Senate legislation. Rep. Quentin Stanerson, a Center Point Republican, says a $200,000 appropriation for teacher training and a student mentoring program would remain in the bill.

That’s different than the Senate. Sen. Robert Hogg, a Cedar Rapids Democrat, says removing the appropriation helps the legislation’s chances. He says he wants to secure funding through another legislative process.

Exira/EHK Girls Stay Perfect

Sports

March 2nd, 2015 by admin

The second-ranked Spartans ran their record to 25-0 with a 63-48 victory over No. 14 Bedford in a first-round Class 1A game. Rachel Smith, the only senior on either team, hit a 3-pointer just 10 seconds into the game and Exira/EHK led the rest of the way.

This is the first state tournament trip for the combined Exira/EHK district, though both schools enjoyed success in the past. Exira made it state six times and won the 1A title in 2011 behind Hallie Christofferson, who went on to star at Iowa State. Elk Horn-Kimballton qualified eight times and in Jan Jensen, had one of the state’s best ever in the six-player era.

Smith finished with 22 points to lead all scorers. She shot 8-for-16 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out four assists.

Freshman Sophia Peppers added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Spartans and Rose Anderson turned in a solid game with seven points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Bedford, which made it to Des Moines for the fourth time in five years, was led by Fallyn Beemer’s 15 points. McKenzie Jackson scored 10 for the Bulldogs, while Callie Calfee and Emily Weed each had nine. Weed also grabbed eight rebounds.

Exira/EHK led 24-18 at halftime, then dominated the third quarter behind Smith, who scored 10 points in the period and fed Sadie Schultes for a jumper that made it 44-30. Bedford never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.

Exira/EHK, which had 13 steals, will play its semifinal game at 10 a.m. Thursday. Bedford finishes 19-5.

(IGHSAU)

State Girls Basketball Results

Sports

March 2nd, 2015 by admin

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class 1A State Tournament
State Quarterfinal

Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 63, Bedford 48

Newell-Fonda 70, Colo-NESCO 42

Notre Dame, Burlington 76, Central Lyon, Rock Rapids 60

Springville 53, Fremont Mills, Tabor 50

 

Exira EHK girls will play in semi-final action Thursday morning at 10am join Jim Field along with Chris Parks for the pregame at 9am from The Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

ERNEST “ERNIE” JOHN BAIOTTO, 81, of Dexter & formerly of Earlham (Svcs. 3/10/15)

Obituaries

March 2nd, 2015 by admin

ERNEST “ERNIE” JOHN BAIOTTO, 81, of Dexter (& formerly of Earlham) died Sunday, March 1st. Funeral Services for ERNIE BAIOTTO will be 1:30-pm Tuesday, March 10th, at the Valley Evangelical Free Church, in West Des Moines. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation for Ernie Baiotto will be from 4 until 8pm, Monday March 9th at the Earlham Community Center.

Private Family Burial will be held following.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

ERNIE BAIOTTO is survived by:

His sons – Dan (Kathy), of Collinsville, IL., and Ron (Clarice), of Dexter.

His sisters – Arlene Oberto of Altoona, Margaret (Jim) Dunlap of Zearing, and Gladys McBride of Camanche.

4 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Semi hits traffic signals in Council Bluffs: 4-way stop signs erected

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs were asking motorists to avoid the area of Harry Langdon Boulevard and Highway 92 Monday afternoon, after an over-sized semi driven by Timothy Downing of Council Bluffs, went through the intersection struck a set of the traffic signals, knocking them down.The accident happened sometime after 2-p.m.

The intersection was being controlled by 4 way stop signs until further notice. Officials expected the intersection will possibly be back to normal sometime tomorrow (Tuesday).

Fatal accident in Adel Saturday

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol late Monday afternoon released information about a fatal accident that took place just after midnight Saturday, in Adel. Troopers responded to a two vehicle crash on Highway 6. An investigation determined 37-year old Heidi Lynn Harkrader, from rural Adel was westbound crossing the Raccoon River Bridge when her vehicle was rear ended by a vehicle driven by 38-year old Justin Krutsinger, of Dexter.  Both vehicles went into the north ditch and eventually struck a home on South 5th Street, in Adel.

Harkrader was pronounced dead at the scene. Krutsinger is charged with vehicular homicide is being held at the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office on $25,000 cash only bond. The Iowa State Patrol, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Adel Police Department investigated the accident.

Bluffs Police ask for help in ID’ing 2 women in stolen CC case

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in identifying two women who are persons of interest in a stolen credit card case. If you know who these suspects are, call Detective Andrews at 712-326-2511 or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 712-328-7867.fraud 2 fraud1

Underwood Middle School Teacher arrested on sex abuse/exploitation charges

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An investigation that began on Dec. 5th, 2014 into alleged inappropriate conduct by an Underwood Middle School teacher has resulted in an arrest. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office said Monday (Today), 45-year old Barret B. Glasnapp turned himself-in on Monday (March 2nd). Glasnapp faces felony charges that include 4 counts of sexual abuse in the 3rd Degree, 1 count of Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee, and, five aggravated misdemeanor counts of  Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee.

Authorities say Glasnapp’s interaction began in 2011 when the student was 14, after her 8th grade year, and continued until October, 2014, when the girl was 16. According to an affidavit, an investigator assigned to follow-up on an alleged sexual assault at the Underwood Middle School in December, found that Glasnapp had resigned from his post in November.

Wainwright throws first bullpen since injury last week

Sports

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Adam Wainwright bumped fists and smiled following a short bullpen session on Monday, the first since straining his abdominal muscle a week ago. Wainwright didn’t use maximum effort for most of the 30-plus pitch session, but did turn it up for the final five pitches — one of which had bullpen catcher Jamie Pogue hooting and hollering behind the plate.

The Cardinals ace had thrown off flat ground, but Monday was the first time he threw off the mound since injuring himself while placing a 45-pound weight back on the weight rack. Wainwright planned to meet with trainers after the bullpen session to plan his next course of action. Should everything feel right the next step could entail throwing a bullpen session against live hitters.

Police: Iowan faked pregnancy for money in adoption scam

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested an Ankeny woman accused of faking pregnancy to trick an Iowa couple into giving her money. The Ankeny Police Department says 29-year-old Tracy Leann Bess-Thacker was charged Friday with fourth-degree theft after prospective adoptive parents from Dewitt, Iowa, claim she accepted $200 from them when she wasn’t pregnant.

According to a news release, Bess had signed onto Life Long Adoptions, an agency that connects birth mothers with potential parents. Detectives say Bess wasn’t pregnant during this scam, but that she used information from a prior pregnancy to con people into offering her financial support. Police say Bess previously used a similar scam in multiple states, including Nebraska.