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Council Bluffs’ new Police Chief is not new to the area

News

July 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A native of the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area is returning to his roots to serve as the next Police Chief in Council Bluffs. The Omaha World-Herald reports Tim Carmody has accepted an offer made by Mayor Matt Walsh, after panel interviews with 10 candidates and one-on-one interviews with four of them. The Council Bluffs City Council will vote on the hire at its Aug. 11 meeting, and Carmody said he hopes to begin the job in early September.

Tim Carmody

Tim Carmody

Carmody, born and raised in Omaha, is currently the police chief in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He replaces Interim Chief Ray Mabbitt, who took over when Ralph O’Donnell retired in March after five years in the position. Carmody left the Omaha Police Department as a captain in September 2010 after 22 years of service. He took the Fort Dodge police chief position that month.

He began his law enforcement career in 1984 as a Sarpy County, NE., sheriff’s deputy. In 1988 Carmody joined the Omaha Police Department, where he patrolled north Omaha, worked uniform patrol and supervised the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force. He also commanded the Emergency Response Unit, which was responsible for managing security for high-profile events and for responding to crises. Carmody attended Omaha Northwest High School and graduated with a degree in criminal justice from Bellevue University.

Groundwater looking good heading into late summer

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The state’s water situation has turned around after things got very dry at the end of last year and drought was a big concern. Tim Hall of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources keeps track of the groundwater numbers. “We’d been watching various parts of the state pretty closely, but of course June was a very wet month, and that moisture came in a fairly decent widespread pattern and it’s helped to alleviate just about all of the drought conditions that we had in the state as of last week,” Hall says. July has been cooler than normal and Hall says that also plays a big role in the water situation — especially during the growing season.

“When the weather is cooler there is less demand from all the vegetation — not just corn and soybeans — but from the trees and grasses,” Hall says. “They tend to use less water when it’s not as hot. And that tends to keep that water down in the soil, and that improves and prolongs the benefit of the rainfall we’ve gotten.” He says nearly all of Iowa had some form of drought in October of 2013, but that has all changed. “There’s a very tiny spot in southeast Iowa that’s only rated ‘abnormally dry.’ So, for all intents and purposes, the state is free of drought,” Hall says.

Hall says the conditions are just where they should be at this point in the year. “This is about as normal as we are going to see it here in the state,” Hall says. “We don’t have any major groundwater issues around the state. It looks like the subsoil moistures are pretty health for the most part. So, we are sitting pretty good right now.” Hall reminds us that the water situation was looking good around this time last year until the weather changed. But, he’s not expecting a repeat.

“We were looking really good in the first half of the year and then the rainfall kind of shut off in the second half of the year. But I think my colleagues in the National Weather Service and some of the longer-term predictions are looking at what will be pretty close to normal conditions for the rest of the year,” Hall says. He says rainfall normally starts to slow beginning in July, but he says if it stays around normal in the later summer and fall months this year, the groundwater should be in good shape.

(Radio Iowa)

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties in Iowa: 7/29/14

Weather

July 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

330 AM CDT TUE JUL 29 2014

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLEAR. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 50S. NORTH WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 80. NORTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH THROUGH MIDNIGHT BECOMING LIGHT.

THURSDAY...SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON.

THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., July 29th 2014

News

July 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man found dead in the Des Moines River may have been in the water for up to two weeks. Des Moines police say an autopsy has been completed on the man, but his identification remains unknown. Authorities are asking the public for help identifying the man, who was wearing a dark swim suit when his body was discovered Sunday. Authorities say there is no indication of foul play.

WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa nursing home lauded by the governor’s office as among the best in the state was cited seven weeks earlier for unsanitary conditions in its kitchen. The Woodland Terrace facility in Waverly was cited but not fined on May 13 for problems that included a food-preparation area that was littered with dust, debris and discarded food. A spokeswoman says the home contracted a dietary management firm and is disappointed with its performance.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa securities agent has been extradited from Texas to face charges of stealing investment money. Fifty-five-year-old David William Johnson, of Keller, Texas, faces four counts of felony first-degree theft and one count of felony ongoing criminal conduct. Johnson is accused of misappropriating investment funds belonging to four Iowa residents. Documents say he engaged in theft for financial gain on a continuing basis, and each person lost more than $10,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic candidate for governor Jack Hatch is criticizing Gov. Terry Branstad for refusing to negotiate the number, location, and details for a series of debates. Hatch, a Democratic state senator from Des Moines, says Branstad has said he’ll do three debates with Hatch and won’t negotiate further. Hatch says the take-it-or-leave-it attitude cheats Iowans opportunities to see the candidates face to face.

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.