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Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, April 20, 2015

News

April 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — A southwest Iowa home may have to be abandoned after a large oak tree fell on it and caused significant damage. The tree fell across the house’s living room in Glenwood during a thunderstorm Saturday. Fortunately, no one was home at the time. Katie Davis said she was surprised when authorities called her about the incident while she was shopping in Council Bluffs with her mother. Friend Travis Overhue says it looks like Davis’ family will have to tear down the house and rebuild because the damage is so extensive.

GLADBROOK, Iowa (AP) — The central Iowa town of Gladbrook is preparing to lose its only school this summer. Some residents worry the closing will make it harder to attract families and businesses to the community of nearly 1,000 people. The Gladbrook-Reinbeck school board decided earlier this year to consolidate all of its schools in Reinbeck.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating after two bodies were discovered at an Urbandale apartment complex in what appeared to be a murder-suicide. The identities of the bodies weren’t released Sunday, but police spokesman Sgt. Gary Lang says that autopsies are scheduled for Monday. He said the department wasn’t able to comment on the type of weapon used. Police were called to conduct a welfare check at the apartment complex Sunday morning. Officers say they later found the bodies in a detached garage. Further details weren’t released.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A small plane spun off the runway while landing in Independence over the weekend, but all four people aboard walked away unharmed. A strong crosswind may have been a factor in the crash. The Cessna 195 spun around as it touched down and veered off into the grass.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Cedar Rapids say a fleeing suspect crashed his pickup truck into a city van and injured a worker who later died at a hospital. The chase happened Friday and city worker Stephen Justin Cook died Saturday. A Hiawatha man has been charged with vehicular homicide and could face more charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A two-year-old dog from Des Moines named Tank won the Beautiful Bulldog contest at Drake University. The 36th annual tongue-in-cheek beauty pageant featured 50 dogs yesterday It is the kickoff event for the Drake Relays track meet.

Wainwright, Cardinals nip Reds 2-1

Sports

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright outpitched Mike Leake, and Kolten Wong had a tiebreaking sacrifice in the eighth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 Sunday night to finish a three-game sweep. Matt Carpenter hit his fifth career leadoff homer and singled for his eighth multi-hit effort this season as the Cardinals won their fifth straight. Jordan Walden worked around a leadoff hit by Brennan Boesch in the ninth to earn his first save and end the game in 2 hours, 2 minutes.

Wainwright (2-1) gave up one run and seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks, improving to 3-0 against the Reds the last two seasons. Leake (0-1) gave up both runs and four hits in eight innings for the Reds, who have totaled four runs during a four-game losing streak. Brandon Phillips had two hits and an RBI and Joey Votto singled in his first two trips.

 

Griswold School Board to meet Mon. evening

News

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Griswold School District’s Board of Education will hold a regular session 5:45-p.m. Monday, in the Central Office of the Middle School/High School building. On their agenda are updates on: the Fully Automated Timing System; Sports lighting and Security System.

The Board will also receive and review the audit report, and act on setting the District’s 2015-16 calendar, and an evaluation of Superintendent Dana Kunze.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Board to receive Girl Scouts signage proposal

News

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors is set to meet Monday evening in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During their 5:15-p.m. session, the Board is expected to hear about and possibly act on a proposal from local Girl Scouts Cadette Troop 40116, with regard to proposed signs related to the dangers of second hand smoke and drug free zones in the City’s parks. Last month, the board agreed to let the troop do a presentation on their project.

In his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Dept. Director Roger Herring will provide updates on various projects, grants and future events. Herring is expected to report a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant has been approved from the Iowa Department of Transportation, with regard to the Lake #2 Trail at the Schildberg Recreation Area.  The project is expected to cost $134,000. The Atlantic City Council, in February, had agreed to sponsor the grant application with a $26,800 commitment for the project.

And, thanks to $10,000 grant from the Cass County Community Foundation toward the building of an off-leash dog park for the Schildberg Rec Area near Buck Creek Road, Herring is expected to report he and Assistant Parks Director Seth Staashelm will be getting quotes from fencing companies in the next two weeks. Herring will also provide an update on the site plan for the dog park.

In other business, the Parks Board will receive updates on: an Urban Forestry grant; the Kiddie Korral project at Sunnyside Park; playground equipment for the Little League complex; park furniture, and an ADA compliant water fountain near the Atlantic Tennis Courts.

HERBERT WEGNER, 92, of Earling (Svcs. 4/2/15)

Obituaries

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

HERBERT WEGNER, 92, of Earling, died Sat., April 18th, at the Little Flower Haven Nursing Home. A Mass of Christian Burial service for HERBERT WEGNER will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., April 22nd, at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church, in Panama. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the St. Mary of the Assumption Hall, is on Tues., April 21st, from 3-until 8-p.m., with a Rosary at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.

HERBERT WEGNER is survived by:

His wife – Alice Wegner, of Panama.

His son – Phillip (Carol) Wegner, of Panama.

His daughters – Ruth (Robert) Huebert, of Panama, & Norma (Jan) Randall, of Cando, ND.

His sister – Irene Huebner, of Harlan.

10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Tank named “Beautiful Bulldog” in Iowa contest

News, Sports

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 2-year-old dog from Des Moines named Tank won the Beautiful Bulldog contest at Drake University. The 36th annual tongue-in-cheek beauty pageant, which featured 50 dogs Sunday, is the kickoff event for the Drake Relays track meet.

Pageant organizers narrowed a pool of over 100 hopeful pups by a lottery held last month.  Judges weren’t looking for beauty though. They wanted to see the slobber, drool and bulging bloodshot eyes synonymous with English bulldogs. They got all that and more from Tank, a dog owner Duane Smith said he found by searching on Craigslist a year ago.

Iowa’s Medicaid privatization draws scrutiny

News

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad’s plan to privatize the state’s Medicaid program is moving forward, though critics are raising questions about how the shift will impact patients. Earlier this year, the state began an effort to shift Medicaid administration to two or more managed care organizations, to which Iowa will pay a fixed amount per enrollee to provide health coverage. State officials predict cost savings and say patients will still have access to quality health care.

But Democratic Senate President Pam Jochum, of Dubuque, said this week that she is not convinced, raising concerns about the quality of care for patients. Amy Lorentzen McCoy, spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services, said the new system would save the state money by avoiding duplication of services and by offering better preventative care.

Special Weather Statement: Dense Fog across western/central Iowa

Weather

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Area Counties: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD
603 AM CDT SUN APR 19 2015

…LOCALLY DENSE FOG THROUGH THE MORNING…

AREAS OF FOG WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. FOG
MAY BE LOCALLY DENSE AT TIMES…WITH VISIBILITIES REDUCED TO ONE
QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS. USE CAUTION IF TRAVELING. SLOW DOWN AND BE PREPARED FOR CHANGING VISIBILITIES.

Authorities: No charges to be filed in Pacific Junction following money snafu

News

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Mills County Sheriff Eugene Goos says no criminal charges will be filed against the former city clerk or the city maintenance supervisor in Pacific Junction, in the wake of a special investigation report by the Iowa state auditor. Goos told the Omaha World- he’s received no criminal complaint from the Mills County Attorney’s Office with regard to Kari Williams, the city clerk who has since resigned after it was discovered that the city owed the IRS more than $73,000. The State Auditor’s Office said almost $32,000 was spent in improper disbursements due to lack of oversight.

State Auditor Mary Mosiman said Williams received pay through public funds for work she did not do by submitting her hours on her time sheet by hand instead of using a clock-in system. The lack of oversight in 2013 led to a $65,000 shortfall in funding the Pacific Junction Fire and Rescue Department. The city had to use local-option sales tax revenue and other general operating funds to sustain the Fire Department.

The city is working with the IRS to resolve the problem, according to Mosiman. Eric Hansen, an attorney with Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann, which represents the city, said city employees didn’t follow procedures as closely as they should have been doing, and that the State recommends better oversight and procedural changes by the City, but the report didn’t infer any criminal activity had occurred.

 

Essex woman arrested for OWI early Sun. morning near Elliott

News

April 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A woman was arrested early this (Sunday) morning in Montgomery County, following a traffic stop for speeding. Sheriff’s officials say deputies stopped a car driven by 44-year old Tracey Marie Kimmet, of Essex, at around 2:50-a.m. about two-miles west of Elliott, on Highway 48 near Ironwood Road.

Kimmet was subsequently charged with OWI/1st offense. The woman was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.