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Chiefs offensive line a grab-bag of bodies in camp

Sports

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – The presumptive favorite to win the starting right guard spot with the Kansas City Chiefs worked out with the third team on Monday. The guy who is challenging him for the spot slid over to center during another portion of the workout. Rishaw Johnson and Zach Fulton are just the start of the offensive line shuffle.

After watching three linemen who started last season depart in free agency – all within hours of each other – the Chiefs are trying to cobble together some sort of protection for quarterback Alex Smith that can also manage to open up running lanes for Jamaal Charles during training camp.

And with lingering questions about the health of left tackle Eric Fisher and an ankle injury to starting right tackle Donald Stephenson, that job hasn’t gotten a whole lot easier.

Keselowski to run NASCAR Nationwide race in Iowa

Sports

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) – Brad Keselowski will run the NASCAR Nationwide race in Iowa on Saturday, just a day before the Sprint Cup event at Pocono. Keselowski will make his seventh start in NASCAR’s second-tier series this season. Keselowski, who has already won a pair of Nationwide races in 2014, will replace Ryan Blaney in the No. 22 car so Blaney can run a trucks race in Pocono on Saturday.

Keselowski has won twice in four Nationwide races at Iowa Speedway, including the inaugural event in 2009.  Keselowski will fly back to Pennsylvania following Saturday night’s race to run the No. 2 car at Pocono on Sunday.

Governor says state will help employees of Cherokee Tyson plant

News

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The State of Iowa is responding after learning of Tyson’s decision to close its plant in Cherokee. Governor Terry Branstad says “Workforce Development will send a team up there to work with the community. Obviously this is a disappointment, as I understand it, this is a chicken processing facility owned by Tyson and one of three they are closing throughout the nation.” In fact, the plant produces deli meats, hams, Canadian bacon, and hot dogs…but NOT chickens. The plant has been producing processed meats since 1965 when it first opened as Wilson Foods. It employees 450 people and will close on September 27th.

“We want to do all we can to try and help the workers who are gonna be displaced and to try to help the community to try to find new employment opportunities for them,” Branstad says. He says Workforce Development has a variety of options for those who will lose their jobs. “Looking at retraining and other placement opportunities,” Branstad says. “but also, Economic Development will be actively marketing looking for businesses to replace the one that’s being lost.”

A prepared statement released by Tyson says the Cherokee plant is being closed along with one in New York and another in New Mexico. The statement said the plans “have been struggling financially” and “it no longer makes business sense to keep them open.”

(Radio Iowa)

ATLANTICFEST ROAD RACE PRE-REGISTRATION ENDS THURSDAY

News, Sports

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce invite you to run in the “AtlanticFest Road Race” on August 9th Help kick off AtlanticFest 2014 by registering for the 5 mile run, 2 mile run, or 2 mile walk. All pre-registered runners and walkers will receive a dri- fit shirt. Over 100 awards given and a $5 all-you-can eat pancake breakfast.2014 Road Race Logo Small

Pick up a form at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or YMCA, or register online at www.atlanticiowa.com. For questions, please call the Atlantic Area Chamber at 712.243.3017.

Iowa man accused of bank heist faces more charges

News

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man accused of stealing money from a bank has also been accused of robbing two motels. The Sioux City Journal reports 21-year-old Michael Dutcher faces at least two counts of felony first-degree robbery in connection to motel robberies in May and June. Dutcher is accused of using a gun at one motel and a knife at the other business.

Dutcher also faces robbery and theft charges in connection to a recent bank robbery in Holstein. Authorities say he took about $82,000 from the bank and threatened tellers with a gun.

2 injured in Adair County crash Monday morning

News

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Two people were injured when a pickup and an SUV collided this (Monday) morning, in Adair County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the drivers of both vehicles, 73-year old Max M. Johnston, of Creston, and 50-year old Diane L. Kiddy, of Winterset, were transported by Stuart Rescue to hospitals in Creston and Winterset, respectively, following the crash on the Stuart Road at 150th Street at around 9:20-a.m.

Officials say a 2002 Caterpillar grader operated by 35-year old Kevin Pickrell, of Greenfield, was traveling northbound working on the shoulder of the road. A county truck was about one-quarter of a mile behind the grader with a sign on the rear, warning about the slow moving vehicle ahead.

The 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by Johnston ran into the rear of the grader. Kiddy’s 2005 Jeep Liberty then ran into the rear of the pickup. Both the pickup and SUV came to rest on the road. The grader was not damaged.

Atlantic woman arrested on an assault charge

News

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

An Atlantic woman was arrested Friday on an assault charge. The Atlantic Police Department reports 30-year old Laura Madden was taken into custody for Simple Assault. Madden was booked into the Cass County Jail. On Saturday,50-year old Elvin Shrimpton, of Atlantic was arrested for Public Intoxication. That same day, 49-year old Eric Asay, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication/2nd offense. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.  And on Sunday, 57-year old Jon Jordan, of Wiota, was cited for Urinating in Public.

In other news, the A-PD reports an accident Friday night caused $2,600 damage, but no one was injured. A vehicle driven by John Topham, of Griswold, was backing into a parking stall at the Cass County Fairgrounds, when Topham’s vehicle struck a vehicle behind it, owned by Sherry Warf, of Clarinda.  Damage from the mishap, which happened at around 8:04-p.m., amounted to $2,700.

Accident in Adams County – no injuries reported

News

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County say no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday afternoon. In their report released today (Monday), authorities said an accident at 110th Street and Walnut Avenue had occurred at around 2:20-p.m., Thursday. A 2002 Chrysler 300-m driven by 47-year old Stacy Lynn Van Hal, of Creston, went out of control on the loose gravel, causing the car to enter the ditch. There was no report on damage to the vehicle. No citations were issued.

Ernst says it’s up to Braley to “refute” attack on his VA hearing attendance

News

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Joni Ernst, the Iowa Republican Party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate, says it’s up to Bruce Braley, her Democratic opponent, to explain why he missed 78 percent of the hearings held by the House Veterans Affairs Committee when he served on the panel.  “I think he should have been attending those hearings, obviously,” Ernst told reporters this morning. “I heard in one account he had said that he had to skip a meeting to go to another meeting and he didn’t actually go to that other meeting…but that’s up for him. He has to justify why he wasn’t there at a time when he was failing our veterans.”

Ernst, a unit commander in the Iowa National Guard, returned to the campaign trail this morning (Monday) after two weeks of active duty. She spoke briefly at an early morning rally with about 150 veterans and National Guard soldiers and did not mention Braley by name or his attendance at VA hearings. The subject is now being pressed by a nearly two-and-a-half million dollar ad campaign against Braley. During a news conference, Ernst was asked if it was appropriate for the ad to accuse Braley of being AWOL — absent without leave — on veterans issues.

“That’s up to him to refute, but I think those are important issues and we need to focus on those,” Ernst said. “We’ve made a lot of promises to our veterans and we need to make sure that we are taking care of our veterans.” Ernst says V-A Hospitals should remain open, but she would support giving veterans vouchers or cards that they could use to obtain care at a local hospital or clinic, rather than forcing veterans to drive to a Veterans Affairs facility for care. According to Ernst, the problems with long wait times and substandard care have not cropped up at Iowa’s V-A facilities.

“I wish I could say that in every state out there, but unfortunately we have had many, many issues and we need elected officials that are willing to take on these problems head-on — not ignore them, not bury their heads in the sand,” Ernst said. “We need to address these issues head-on and find solutions.”

Ernst also says she opposes reducing the size of the U.S. active duty military force to pre-World War II levels.

(Radio Iowa)

Dollar Trees buys Family Dollar chain with 60 total current Iowa stores

News

July 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Iowans who like to shop at stores where everything’s a dollar may soon see some changes. The Dollar Tree chain is buying rival Family Dollar for eight-and-a-half BILLION dollars. There are about 40 Dollar Trees in Iowa and around 20 Family Dollars. While the items at Dollar Tree all cost a buck or less, the Family Dollar stocks some items up to five-dollars, and higher.

The new Dollar Tree chain will become North America’s biggest discount retailer. Specifics on which stores will remain open haven’t been released.

(Radio Iowa)