United Group Insurance

Chiefs’ Houston heads into uncertain offseason

Sports

December 30th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — In the hours after a four-sack performance gave Justin Houston the Chiefs’ franchise record, all he could talk about was how close Kansas City came to making the playoffs. Houston insisted his new single-season mark would hit him some day. He might be on a new team by the time it happens. The Pro Bowl linebacker became a free agent when the season ended, putting the Chiefs in a difficult situation. Their attempts at striking a long-term deal last offseason when nowhere, and Houston’s 22-sack season has given him even more leverage in negotiations.

“It’s the part of the business side that I don’t want to talk about,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said Monday. “I can say it’s ongoing business, ongoing conversation.” If the Chiefs slap Houston with the franchise tag in March, they would have until July 15 to agree on a multiyear contract, so there is plenty of time to work out a multiyear contract. But if no deal is reached, the Chiefs would have to pay Houston a one-year deal averaging the top five salaries at his position.

NWS Weather forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA

Weather

December 30th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

330 AM CST TUE DEC 30 2014

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLOUDY. VERY COLD. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. VERY COLD. HIGH 5 TO 10 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS AROUND 15 BELOW.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BITTERLY COLD. LOW ZERO TO 5 BELOW. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS AROUND 15 BELOW.

WEDNESDAY…SUNNY. VERY COLD. BREEZY. HIGH 15 TO 20. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. LOWEST WIND CHILL READINGS AROUND 15 BELOW IN THE MORNING.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. NOT AS COLD. LOW AROUND 10. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

NEW YEARS DAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., Dec. 30th 2014

News

December 30th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Iowa City have arrested a man in connection to a homicide in Chicago. The Iowa City Police Department says 29-year-old Lorenzo Jones was taken to the Johnson County Jail on Monday. He will remain there pending extradition to Chicago to face an arrest warrant on a homicide charge.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Someone has stolen a baby Jesus figurine from a Dubuque church, but members of the congregation are hopeful images from a security camera will help them track down the thief. The Rev. Joseph Hauer says the figurine was stolen Friday night from a manger scene outside the Church of the Resurrection. Members of the congregation noticed it missing before Mass on Saturday afternoon. Hauer says the figurine cost about $250.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad says the governor’s outpatient treatment for a minor leg issue went as planned. A tweet posted from the governor’s official Twitter page says the routine procedure to treat varicose veins in his legs was successful. Spokesman Jimmy Centers says the governor is expected to need a week of rest and reduced time on his feet. Branstad will be available for calls and meetings and will return to his regular schedule on Jan. 6.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A county courthouse in central Iowa was briefly evacuated after authorities say a bomb threat was called in. The Jasper County Courthouse in Newton was evacuated Monday. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty says the county treasurer’s office received a threat by phone that a bomb would detonate inside the building at 10 a.m. A similar threat was left on an office voicemail earlier in the morning. Authorities checked the courthouse but found no suspicious devices. It was later reopened.

Blakesburg woman injured in Pott County crash

News

December 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A woman from southern Iowa was injured when her SUV crashed Monday afternoon in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 30-year old Kendra Schultz, of Blakesburg, was transported to Alegent Hospital by Missouri Valley Rescue, after her 1999 Toyota 4 Runner slid-off the curve as it was merging from Interstate 29 southbound to I-680. The vehicle hit a light pole on the north side of the road and came to rest in the north ditch. The accident happened just after 2-p.m. Officials say Schultz was wearing her seat belt.

Car jacking suspect arrested in Council Bluffs

News

December 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man suspected in a car jacking incident late Monday morning. Authorities says at around 11:30-a.m., officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart 3201 Manawa Center Drive in reference to a Car Jacking at that location. As the suspect, a transient identified as 31-year old Joey D. Guillory, fled the area in the stolen vehicle (a blue 2007 Pontiac G-6), he struck another vehicle in traffic in the 3800 Block of Metro Drive. At the intersection of Highway 92 & East Manawa Drive, the stolen car hit the back of a vehicle driven by Robert Shoemaker.

As Guillory continued Southbound on East Manawa Drive, he was followed by Shoemaker. Near the intersection of East Manawa Drive and Navajo Street Guillory lost control of the car, which spun out. Guillory then used the stolen car to intentionally ram into the front of Shoemaker’s vehicle. When the Pontiac became disabled, Guillory was taken into custody by officers, as the arrived on the scene.

During the investigation it was determined that Guillory was initially confronted by Wal-Mart Security who witnessed him attempting to steal a shopping cart full of merchandise from the business. When  confronted the man brandished a knife at the Security Officers and took off running through the parking lot, where he stole the car from his victim, at knife point.

Joey D. Guillory was arrested for 2 counts of Robbery 1st Degree and Aggravated Assault. The merchandise was recovered at the business and is valued at $830.

ELVEDA DAVIS, 93, of STUART & formerly of Redfield (Svcs. 12/31/14)

Obituaries

December 29th, 2014 by admin

ELVEDA DAVIS, 93, of Stuart (& formerly of Redfield), died Sunday, Dec. 28th,  at Iowa Methodist West Hospital in West Des Moines. Funeral Services for  ELVEDA DAVIS will be 11-am Wednesday, Dec. 31st, at the Panther Creek Church of the Bretheren, in rural Adel. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation will begin at 10:30-a.m. Wednesday, at the church. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Burial will be at the Harper Cemetery near Redfield.

Memorial contributions for Elveda Davis may be directed to the Redfield American Legion Auxilary #261 and/or the Stuart CCC Foundation and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

 

Cass County Extension offering Farm Bill Computer Lab Workshops on January 8th

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Extension is offering Farm Bill Computer Lab workshops to help local residents get the most out of online decision-making tools using current farm data and price projections to help guide their decision making regarding programs and options available through the new Farm Bill. Officials say participants in the workshops will be asked to bring certain farm data, enter that data into online decision tools, choose anticipated price scenarios and evaluate possible outcomes based on program choices. Participants should be able to increase their confidence when making choices regarding base reallocation, yield update and farm bill program selection for farms.ISU Extension

Workshops in Atlantic are scheduled for Thursday, January 8th and will be held at Iowa Western Community College in Atlantic. Classes will meet in the computer lab, and computers will be supplied for all participants. Currently, there are two available workshop times on the 8th- an afternoon session from 1-4 PM, and an evening session from 6-9 PM. Tim Eggers, ISU Extension Field Agricultural
Economist, will be on hand to explain the decision tools and walk participants through the data entry and price selection options. Workshops are scheduled for three hour time slots, but some participants may need less time than this, depending on the number of farms entered and the number of scenarios run.

Pre-Registration is required at least 2 days in advance by calling 712-243-1132. Registration is limited to the number of computer workspaces available, so please register early to save your seat. There is a $5 fee required for registration to offset program costs. Please call the Cass County Extension Office or email keolson@iastate.edu<mailto:keolson@iastate.edu> with any program questions.

Additional Farm Bill Computer Lab workshops in Southwest Iowa are scheduled at Southwestern Community College in Creston on Wednesday, January 7th or at Southwestern Community College in Red Oak on either Wednesday, January 14 or Wednesday, January 28. For more information, or to register for these sites, please call 877-596-7243.

Iowa officials: Inmate leaves work release

News

December 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say they’re looking for an Iowa inmate who failed to return to a work release facility in Council Bluffs. The state Department of Corrections says 31-year-old Roger Eugene Madsen was placed on escape status Sunday after he didn’t return from a scheduled program appointment. He was required to check in at a work release facility in Council Bluffs.

Madsen is serving a 20-year sentence on multiple offenses, including first-degree theft and assault. His sentence began in 2009 and he was transferred to work release on Dec. 10.

AYZLEE McCARTHY, 3, of Elk Horn (Svcs. 1/1/2015)

Obituaries

December 29th, 2014 by admin

AYZLEE McCARTHY, age 3, of Elk Horn, died Monday, Dec. 29th, at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. Funeral Services for AYZLEE McCARTHY will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Jan. 1st, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton, has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church from 3-to 6-pm Wed., Jan. 31st. Visitation will resume on Thursday at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, beginning at 9:30-a.m. (one-hour prior to the service)

Burial will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.

Ayzlee McCarthy is survived by:

Her parents – Jim and Amber McCarthy, of Elk Horn.

Her brother – Easton, of Elk Horn.

Her sister – Irelynd, of Elk Horn.

Her grandparents – Dave & Connie Cunningham, of Afton; Philip McCarthy & Priscilla Olsen, of Avoca, & Cathy & Arnold Haynes, of Hancock.

 

4 accidents in Atlantic, Saturday

News

December 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Police and rescue personnel were busy Saturday, responding to four separate accidents. The first happened at around 12:20-a.m. at 10th and Plum Streets, when a vehicle driven by Jason Mullin, of Atlantic, rear-ended a vehicle driven by Amanda Cooper, also of Atlantic. The accident happened as both vehicles were traveling east on 10th. Following the collision, Mullin left the scene. Cooper followed him and called police once both vehicles were parked. Mullin was subsequently arrested for OWI/1st offense and booked into the Cass County Jail. No injuries were reported. Damage from the crash amounted to $5,000.

The A-PD says at around 4-a.m. Saturday, a vehicle driven by Adam Fisher, of Lincoln, NE, was traveling west on 29th Street from Highway 6, when Fisher failed to negotiate a curve as the road turns south onto Nishna Street. The vehicle ran off the road and hit a metal livestock chute. No injuries were reported. Damage from the collision amounted to $17,000.  Fisher was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Just before Noon, Saturday, two people were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital after vehicles driven by Allen Thelen, of Anita, and Michael Albert, of Atlantic, collided at the intersection of 7th Street and the Wal-Mart access drive. Officials say Thelen was traveling north on the access road and turned right onto eastbound 7th Street. When Thelen braked, his vehicle was struck in the rear by Michael Albert’s eastbound vehicle. Albert had the green light, according to Police. Thelen, and a passenger in his vehicle, were taken to CCMH.  Damage from the crash amounted to $11,000. No citations were issued.

And at around 3:50-p.m., Saturday, a rear-end collision occurred at 7th and Walnut Streets in Atlantic. Authorities say vehicles driven by Stephanie Blum, of Walnut, and Kegan McManigal, of Griswold, were both traveling westbound when Blum stopped for the red light. McManigal was unable to stop in-time. She was cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured Clear Distance. No injuries were reported. Damage from the crash amounted to $7,500.