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Illinois State rolls past Drake 81-45

Sports

January 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Daishon Knight scored 15 points, MiKyle McIntosh had 10 with nine rebounds and Illinois State rolled past Drake for an 81-45 victory Wednesday night. Paris Lee chipped in 12 points and Tony Wills had 10 with six assists for the Redbirds (9-6, 1-2 Missouri Valley), who shot 56.6 percent from the field and had a 38-21 rebounding advantage. Justin McCloud hit three of Illinois State’s nine 3-pointers.

Drake (3-12, 0-3) was held to 14-of-44 shooting (31.8 percent), gave up 21 points off turnovers and another 12 on second-chance opportunities. Chris Caird was the lone scorer in double figures for the Bulldogs with 15 points and Trevor Berkeley had nine. Illinois State pulled away with a 32-8 run sparked by a pair of 3-pointers from both McCloud and Lee for a 36-16 lead in the first half. The Redbirds coasted in the second half, leading by as much as 44.

Tuttle leads N. Iowa past S. Illinois, 55-39

Sports

January 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Seth Tuttle tied a career-high with 24 points, on 9-of-12 shooting, and Nate Buss scored a season-high 15 to lead Northern Iowa to a 55-39 win over Southern Illinois Wednesday night. Tuttle had eight rebounds and Buss made 6 of 9 field goals, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Southern Illinois made just 8 of 27 field goals in the first half and trailed 25-18 at the break.

Sean O’Brien opened the second half with a 3, pulling the Salukis within four, but an 19-6 run by Northern Iowa (13-2, 2-1 Missouri Valley) over the next eight-plus minutes made it 43-27 and Southern Illinois trailed by double digits the rest of the way in Cedar Falls. A jumper by Wes Washpun with 3:13 to play gave the Panthers their biggest lead of the game at 55-37.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, Jan. 8th 2015

News

January 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad and lawmakers say they want to work on roads funding during the 2015 legislative session, but no one is committing to a specific plan. The Republican governor and legislative leaders spoke yesterday during an Associated Press Legislative Forum.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A fired manager at an Iowa-based halal food supplier accused of fraud agreed to cooperate with prosecutors months ago under a plea deal. A plea agreement released Tuesday shows Phillip Payne agreed in May to “fully and completely cooperate” in the investigation of the Midamar Corporation. The document shows that Payne worked as Midamar’s operations manager, but was fired in 2012 after telling the Cedar Rapids-based company he intended to seek employment elsewhere.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A February 23rd sentencing has been scheduled for an Illinois man convicted of leaving the scene of a fatal accident in a Burlington motel parking lot. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports 35-year-old Phillip Evans of Wood River, Illinois pleaded guilty on Monday as the prosecutor told a judge that a vehicular homicide charge would be dropped for lack of evidence.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled later this month for a Mason City man accused of vehicular homicide and other crimes. The Mason City Globe Gazette says 47-year-old Victor Rivera pleaded not guilty on Monday. His trial is set to begin on January 27th.

Atlantic City Council Considers TIF request for local developer

News

January 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A local developer’s request for $360,000 in Tax Increment Financing from the City of Atlantic could result in as much as $70,000 in tax revenue once the nearly $4-million dollar housing project is completed and the homes are sold. Don Sonntag appeared before the City Council Wednesday night to ask for the TIF, which the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee has recommended the Council approve. The matter was discussed, but no action was taken during the Council’s session. Instead, it’s expected to be placed on their agenda at a later date.

The TIF application is for the Southern Heights View Development Project, which would be located between East 19th and East 22nd Streets. Councilperson Kathy Somers, who is on the P&F Committee, said there was some concern brought up during the Committee’s meeting Monday evening, about congestion along 19th Street near two local residential care facilities that would be created as the project is being brought to fruition. The Committee decided it would recommend to the Council 19th Street be widened to eliminate any potential congestion.

Sonntag said the 28 unit complex has an approximate valuation of $3.5-to 4-million. 16 of the units would be located along 19th Street, with 12 additional units near 22nd. He said it will be a combination of rentals and condominiums, some without basements, some with walk-out basements. In addition, Sonntag said he would be willing to commit to building one or two regular homes on property located along Olive Street in the same area, that’s owned by his son.

Sonntag reiterated the need for more housing in Atlantic, in pitching the project to the Council. He said there are less than one-half dozen lots available in town for someone wanting to build a 250-to 300 thousand dollar home. Sonntag said there are people who are looking for those size lots, and if they aren’t available, will look toward Harlan and Carroll to build their homes.

Sonntag says if the TIF is approved, the $360,000 – payable by the City in three $120,000 installments – will be used to help with infrastructure improvements and other matters associated with the development project, to help make the final costs affordable to potential buyers of the properties.

Atlantic City Council meets the new Attorney in town

News

January 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council officially met the man whom it’s assumed will become the new City Attorney. Current City Attorney Dave Wiederstein, who was elected Cass County Attorney in November, introduced Jamie Arnold to the Council. Arnold comes to Atlantic from North Carolina, along with his wife and two children, one that’s nearly two-years old, the other, six. Once he receives his license to practice law in Iowa, he will officially be an Associate with the Law Firm of Otto, Lorence & Wiederstein, PLLC. In addition, Arnold will maintain a private practice and is expected to be appointed Assistant Cass County Attorney, helping to prosecute criminal matters.

Atty. Jamie Arnold

Atty. Jamie Arnold

Arnold addressed the Council as well, in his distinct, somewhat southern drawal. He said “You can tell I’m not from around here, but we didn’t just pick a spot on a map and throw darts at it and pick Iowa. My wife is actually from southwest Iowa, so we have some ties here.” He said people have been very good to him and he looks forward to working in Atlantic.

Arnold’s wife is originally from Bedford. Wiederstein said because Arnold had been practicing law in North Carolina, he doesn’t not have to take the Iowa Bar Exam. He says Arnold is simply waiting for some paperwork to be processed by a clearing house in order to receive his license to practice law here.

Red Oak man arrested for stealing chopped wood

News

January 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Red Oak man was arrested Wednesday afternoon for allegedly taking chopped wood that didn’t belong to him. Officials say 60-year old James Donald Uhlmann, Sr., was taken into custody at around 4:25-p.m. after he allegedly walked onto property owned by Gail Ann Rohner and took chopped wood valued at $200 that had been prepared by Rohner. Uhlmann had been previously warned not to commit the crime but ignored the warning. He was charged with 5th Degree Theft and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $300 bond.

And, at around 2:30-p.m. Wednesday, Matthew Wayne Echternach, of Essex, was arrested for Driving While Suspended, after the vehicle he was operating was pulled over on east Nuckols Street, in Red Oak. Echternach was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and later posted a $300 bond before being released.

 

Iowa man pleads not guilty to charges in fatal car crash

News

January 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to providing alcohol to a teenager before a fatal car crash in August. Twenty-one-year-old Matthias Stork, of Breda, entered his written plea Wednesday in Sac County District Court on two counts of selling, giving or supplying alcohol to a minor resulting in death. The Sioux City Journal reports his trial is scheduled to begin in March.

Stork is accused of supplying beer to a 17-year-old in August who later drove a vehicle. The teen’s car crashed into a vehicle driven by 16-year-old Bailey Jacobsen. She and her passenger, 16-year-old Lindsey Quirk, both of Wall Lake, were killed.

The teen driver has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide. Authorities say his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving.

Bluffs man arrested in Glenwood

News

January 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Thursday (today) of 32-year Matthew West,  of Council Bluffs. West was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was
set at $5000.

Branstad, lawmakers to prioritize roads funding in 2015

News

January 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad and lawmakers say they want to work on roads funding during the 2015 legislative session, but no one is committing to a specific plan. Branstad and legislative leaders spoke Wednesday during an Associated Press Legislative Forum. Branstad said he hopes to find consensus soon on a way to increase funding for state bridges and roads, many of which are considered deteriorating or deficient.

Branstad is not saying how he wants to do this. One option is raising the state fuel tax, currently 22 cents per gallon of gasoline, including fees. Branstad said other state or local taxes and fees are also options. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen expressed interest in finding common ground early in the session, which starts Monday.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7

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January 7th, 2015 by admin

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