Iowa early News Headlines: Fri., March 28th 2014

March 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Environmental groups are sounding alarms that a Republican-led House subcommittee has inserted language into the budget bill for the Department of Agriculture that critics say would prevent the public from accessing information about water quality improvement practices. The budget bill deals in part with farm practices the state will help pay for as part of the state’s strategy to reduce manure and fertilizer that runs into rivers and streams.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has denied the applications of 18 inmates seeking commutation. The governor made the announcement Thursday in a news release. The individuals seeking commutation are serving different sentences, including life in prison. Some have been convicted of crimes like first-degree murder. Other convictions involve kidnapping and robbery.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A couple has purchased the historic Hibernian Hall in downtown Davenport and plans to use the space as loft housing. The Quad-City Times reports developers Manoj and Manisha Baheti bought the hall, several adjacent buildings and a house. The real estate deal closed Tuesday. The hall, built in 1889, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

NEW YORK (AP) — Iowa State and UConn are meeting today in the Sweet Sixteen with similar NBA-inspired offenses. The third-seeded Cyclones tip off Friday evening versus the seventh-seeded Huskies in the NCAA tournament East Regional at Madison Square Garden. Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg and UConn’s Kevin Ollie were briefly teammates with the Chicago Bulls in 2001 and 2002.

Posted in News |

Wacha pitches 5 strong innings for Cardinals

Sports

March 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Michael Wacha looked sharp in his final spring start Thursday, giving up a run in five innings of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 6-4 loss to the Miami Marlins. Wacha gave up four hits and struck out six. He is scheduled to start the Cardinals’ second game of the season, on Tuesday at Cincinnati. He will start the home opener in St. Louis on April 7.

Wacha did struggle in the fifth. Derek Dietrich led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on Marcell Ozuna’s single and scored on Brian Bogusevic’s sacrifice fly to right. Marlins infielder Ed Lucas broke his left hand when he was hit by a pitch. His injury should make room for Donovan Solano, who was sent to Triple-A New Orleans earlier in the day.

Posted in Sports |

MARY A. HAVERMAN, 98, of Carroll (3-31-14)

Obituaries

March 27th, 2014 by Jim Field

MARY A. HAVERMAN, 98 of Carroll died Thursday, March 27th at the Carroll Health Center Nursing Home. Mass of Christian Burial for MARY A. HAVERMAN will be held on Monday, March 31st at 10:30 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll is in charge of the arrangements.

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Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll on Sunday after 2:30 p.m. where there will be a Rosary at 3 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service at 5 p.m. The casket will be moved to the Holy Spirit Church at 9:30 a.m. Monday where visitation will resume until the time of the funeral mass.

Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

MARY A. HAVERMAN is survived by:

Children: Bernice Mueggenberg of Sac City; Arlene Mueggenberg of Breda; Leona Mueggenberg of Breda; Alvina Thelen of Anita; Marian Sturm of Ankeny; Janet Brincks of Roselle.

21 Grandchildren

39 Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

Gov. Branstad denies 18 applications for commutation

News

March 27th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad today (Thursday) denied 18 applications for the commutation of prison sentences. Five prisoners who committed crimes in western and southwest Iowa were among those whose requests were denied. They include:

43-year old James W. Bettis, who committed his crime on September 6, 1988, in Page County. He is currently a life sentence for first-degree murder.

34-year old James Eaglefeather, who committed his crimes on October 6, 1998, in Pottawattamie County. He is currently serving a term of incarceration not to exceed twenty-five years for Robbery – 1st degree, 85%.

39-year old Danny Ray Long, who committed his crimes on or about December 11th and 18th, 1998, in Pottawattamie County. He is currently serving a term of incarceration not to exceed fifty years for two counts of Robbery – 1st degree, 85%.

46-year old Steven G. Sempek, who committed his crimes on April 1, 1998, in Pottawattamie County. He is currently serving a 100-year sentence for six counts of Sexual Abuse in the second-degree (85%).

58-year old Simon C. Tunstall committed his crime on August 31, 1986, in Woodbury County. He is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.

Posted in News |

EEOC sues Shelby County trucking company, alleging sexual harassment

News

March 27th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

PANAMA, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing an Iowa trucking company accused of allowing a female worker to be sexually harassed and firing her for complaining. The commission claimed in a lawsuit filed Thursday that Panama Transfer violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Panama Transfer is based in Panama, 100 miles west of Des Moines. The family-owned company operates and maintains truck terminals in several states. The lawsuit claims a female worker at its Wellman, Iowa terminal was sexually harassed by a male supervisor who made sexual innuendos in private and over the workplace intercom. It says she was fired in May 2012 after she complained.

Company President Dean Kloewer said Thursday the allegations are false and the company’s lawyers will fight them. The commission is seeking damages.

Posted in News |

Iowa State meets UConn in Sweet 16 at Garden

Sports

March 27th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

NEW YORK (AP) — Iowa State and UConn meet in the Sweet Sixteen with similar NBA-inspired offenses. The third-seeded Cyclones play the seventh-seeded Huskies on Friday in the NCAA tournament East Regional at Madison Square Garden. Both are coached by alums who enjoyed long pro careers.

Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg and UConn’s Kevin Ollie first met as high school basketball stars more than two decades ago when they went on the same recruiting trip to Arizona.

The two were teammates for part of a season with the Chicago Bulls in 2001-02. Six years later, when Hoiberg was an assistant general manager for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he lobbied to sign Ollie because he knew the veteran could provide needed leadership. Those sorts of intangibles are why both lasted in the NBA so long, and why it’s little surprise the friends landed in coaching.

Posted in Sports |

Olt and Kalish make Cubs’ opening-day roster

Sports

March 27th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Third baseman Mike Olt and outfielder Ryan Kalish have made the Chicago Cubs’ opening day roster. Chris Coughlan will be sent to Triple-A Iowa to play outfield, and infielder Ryan Roberts has to decide whether he will report to Iowa or ask for his release, Olt, acquired from Texas in the Matt Garza trade on July 22, struggled with his vision last year and hit .197 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs at Triple-A Round Rock and Iowa. He was hit on the head with a pitch in the Dominican Winter League.

Kalish missed much of 2012 with Boston while recovering from surgery on his left shoulder, then had right shoulder surgery in January 2013 and missed the entire season. He had cervical fusion surgery in August, then became a free agent in December when the Red Sox failed to offer a 2014 contract.

Posted in Sports |

5 arrests in Cass County over the past week

News

March 27th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five people were arrested over the past week on unrelated charges.On Wednesday, deputies arrested 34-year old Phillip Christian Hunter, of Cumberland, on a charge of Domestic Abuse, second offense. Hunter was brought to the Cass County Jail and released Thursday (3/27) on his own recognizance. Also arrested Wednesday, was 44-year old Angela Dee Cook, of Atlantic. She was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and at the jail received an additional charge of Possession of Electronic contraband. Cook was booked into the jail and also released on her own recognizance Thursday (3/27).

On Monday, 20-year old Andrew Warren Laughlin, of Atlantic, turned himself-in to the Cass County Jail. Laughlin was wanted on a District Court warrant for a Probation Violation. He remains in the Cass County Jail on $3,000 bond. Last Sunday, 49-year old Tab Norman Rasmussen, of Exira, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failing to Appear at a Child Support Hearing. He was being held without bond in the Cass County Jail.

And on Friday, March 21st, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 49-year old Floyd Marvin Johnson, of Wiota, on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

Posted in News |

KENNETH ERICKSEN, 53, of Kimballton (Svcs. 03-31-2014)

Obituaries

March 27th, 2014 by admin

KENNETH ERICKSEN, 53, of Kimballton died Wednesday, March 26th at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Memorial services for KENNETH ERICKSEN will be held on Monday, March 31st at 11:00am in the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be held on Sunday, March 30th from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

KENNETH ERICKSEN is survived by:

Wife: Victoria (Vicky) Ericksen of Kimballton.

Father: Eldon Ericksen of Lewis.

Son: Michael (Crystal) Lollie of Audubon.

Daughter: Kimberly (Cole) Young of Atlantic.

5 Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |