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Females escape from Clarinda Academy Sunday night

News

January 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

(Update 7:45-a.m. Mon., 1/19/15- Escapees have been captured)

Three females escaped Sunday night from the Clarinda Academy. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says the teens ages 14, 15, & 17., left at around 6:45-p.m. and allegedly stole a gray, 2012 Hyundai Sonata gray that was owned by an Academy employee. The vehicle has Iowa license 155-SMH.

The teens, two white females, one black female took off in an unknown direction of travel. Two of the females are from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The third female is from Texas.

Offutt Air Force Base cancels this year’s air show

News

January 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The annual air show at Offutt Air Force Base won’t be held this year because of planned construction. The Omaha World-Herald reports that air show fans in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa will have to drive several hours to find one in 2015.

Maj. James Lee with the 55th Wing says the air show is being cancelled because Congress approved funding for a taxiway project at Offutt this year. The Air Force plans to spend roughly $7 million to repave part of a taxiway that’s normally used for static displays and spectators at the air show. The Air Force Thunderbirds were expected to headline this year’s show.

Lee said he expects the air show to return in 2016.

No. 22 Iowa holds on against Michigan State 52-50

Sports

January 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Samantha Logic and Melissa Dixon scored 13 points apiece and Number 22 Iowa survived a shaky and wild finish to beat Michigan State 52-50 on Sunday. The Spartans kept the high-powered Hawkeye offense (79.8 points a game) in check but couldn’t come up with a final key play down the stretch.

Lexi Gussert’s layup with 2:31 left pulled Michigan State (9-9, 1-6 Big Ten) within 49-45 but the Spartans had turnovers on their next three possessions. Meanwhile the Hawkeyes (14-3, 5-1) couldn’t score and Logic (74 percent) and Dixon (86 percent) missed the front end of one-and-one free throws.

Anna Morrissey hit a 3-pointer from the left corner with 20 seconds left to make it 49-48 but Michigan State couldn’t get the ball back until after Dixon made two free throws at eight seconds. Down three, the Spartans’ Tori Jankoska was fouled with a half-second to go and she made both free throws, the second on a bank when she was trying to miss.

Ally Disterhoft, who had 12 points, made a last free throw.

No. 23 Northern Iowa beats Missouri State 60-46

Sports

January 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Seth Tuttle scored 22 points with 10 rebounds and No. 23 Northern Iowa cruised past Missouri State 60-46 on Sunday for its fifth straight win. Deon Mitchell had 11 points for the Panthers (16-2, 5-1 MVC), who moved into a tie for second place in the Valley with Indiana State with the win.

Northern Iowa made quick work of the overmatched Bears (8-10, 2-4), who only dressed nine players. The Panthers pushed a 12-point halftime lead to 47-30 midway through the second half and won by double digits for the fourth consecutive game.

Austin Ruder had 13 points for Missouri State, which played its second game without suspended star Marcus Marshall.

Iowa early News Headlines: Mon., Jan. 19th 2015

News

January 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The afterglow of Governor Terry Branstad’s sixth inauguration is still hanging in the air, but Iowa Republicans are already speculating about the political future for Branstad’s faithful Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. The 55-year-old serving her second term as Branstad’s second-in-command, is widely viewed as a likely candidate for governor in 2018, if Branstad steps aside.

MANNING, Iowa (AP) — Veterinarians are working hard to monitor a virus that killed millions of baby pigs in the United States last year. The Sioux City Journal reports Iowa veterinarian Michelle Sprague is president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Sprague says keeping track of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus means more paperwork for veterinarians and more testing.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — More than 300 people came out this weekend to say goodbye to a northern Iowa elementary school that is scheduled to be demolished this year. The Mason City Globe-Gazette reports the Mason City district held an open house Saturday for the former Madison School. Twenty-five-year-old Lorra Sappenfield got emotional as she walked through the 91-year-old building because she says the teachers there changed her life.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are searching for a 19-year-old man they believe is responsible for the shooting death of a 20-year-old Marshalltown man. The Times-Republican reports the fatal shooting was reported after 11 p.m. Saturday. The victim was rushed to a local hospital where he died shortly after midnight Sunday. His identity wasn’t immediately released.

Area school board meetings set for Monday evening

News

January 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A trio of area school districts will hold their regular, separate monthly meetings Monday evening. In Griswold, the school board meeting begins at 5:45-p.m. New business and action items include: the FAT (Fully Automated Timing) System for track; a chemical bid for the lawn and athletic fields; the Parent/Teacher Conferences schedule, and setting the Long-term planning work session date.

The CAM school board meeting gets underway at 6:30-p.m. Monday, in Anita. Action items include: A 1:1 Laptop initiative Resolution; Initiation of bargaining with regard to the 2015-16 Master Contract; and  a revision to the board policy pertaining to a Tobacco Free Environment. The board will also hold a closed session for negotiations.

And in Elk Horn, the Exira-EHK School Board will meet at 7-p.m. and discuss the Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton proposal with regard to contract negotiations. New business includes discussion about the school start date, summer projects, starting school at 8-a.m., and Summer Driver’s Education fees.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Board set to approve hiring of Asst. Director

News

January 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors will meet Monday evening at 5:15 in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During their session the Board is expected to formally approve the hiring of Seth Staashelm as Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation. He’s expected to begin the position on Feb. 2nd with a salary of $38,000 plus benefits. He’ll handle the Operations side of the Parks & Rec Department, while current Director Roger Herring handles more of the Administrative matters, such as writing grant applications.

The Parks Board will also act on approving office space and related matters for Staashelm, and on the purchase of a cell phone signal booster. In other business, the Board will: review the site plan prepared by Snyder and Associates, for replacement of the Kiddie Korral at Sunnyside Park; receive an update on the Bull Creek reconstruction and Buck Creek Dog Park projects; and an update on the Urban Forestry grant.

In his report to the Board, Director Roger Herring is expected to report that while the gates to Sunnyside park are closed for the season, the park is still open to anyone wanting to use it for family gatherings and recreational activities. He’ll also talk about new street signs that have been ordered for Sunnyside Park, as well as department safety and maintenance equipment matters

Police search for suspect in Marshalltown homicide

News

January 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in central Iowa are searching for man wanted for Murder in the 1st degree and Going Armed with Intent. Marshalltown Police say 19-year old Jose Enrique Morales, of Marshalltown, is alleged have shot 20-year old Dedrikk Fisher at a residence in the 1200 block of West Church Street, in Marshalltown. The incident happened at around 11:10-p.m., Saturday.

Jose Morales

Jose Morales

Fisher was rushed to a local hospital where he died shortly after midnight Sunday. Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper says an arrest warrant has been issued for Morales, who should be considered armed and dangerous.

Tupper says investigators believe the two men knew each other, but they’re not sure if the victim lived at the house where the shooting took place. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is helping with the case.

Bluffs Police investigate robbery

News

January 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a robbery that took place at around 7:43-a.m., Sunday. Officials say a white male entered Cal’s Food & Gas Mart at 429 Veterans Memorial Highway, and pointed a handgun at the clerk demanding money from the cash register. After receiving an undetermined amount of money from the register the suspect exited the business and fled the area in an unknown direction.

Veterinarians monitor pig virus that killed millions in 2014

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MANNING, Iowa (AP) — Veterinarians are working hard to monitor a virus that killed millions of baby pigs in the United States last year. The Sioux City Journal reports Iowa veterinarian Michelle Sprague is president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Sprague says keeping track of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus means more paperwork for veterinarians and more testing. The number of cases of the virus is down this winter, but it is still early.

Sprague says the industry is better prepared to respond to the virus than it was when the disease first showed up.