United Group Insurance

VERYL EUGENE BENTON, 90, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 3/21/14)

Obituaries

March 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

VERYL EUGENE BENTON, 90, of Guthrie Center, died Mon., March 17th, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center. Funeral services for VERYL BENTON will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., March 21st, at the 1st United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 6-to 8-pm Thu., March 20th.

Burial will be in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

Red Oak man arrested on arson charge Tuesday

News

March 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak have arrested a local man on 2nd degree arson and breach of peace charges. 32-year old Paul Earl Lemburg II, of Red Oak, was arrested at 209 east Nuckols Street on Tuesaday, at around 3:15-p.m.. Lemberg was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

Also arrested Tuesday afternoon, was 31-year old Anthony David Smith, of Red Oak. Smith was charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Winningest Iowa girls’ basketball coach resigns

Sports

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

WAUKON, Iowa (AP) — The winningest coach in Iowa girls’ basketball history has resigned. The Des Moines Register reports Gene Klinge submitted his resignation Monday after his coaching contract was not renewed for the Waukon High School girls’ basketball program. The resignation followed a season in which his team went 8-12.

The 77-year-old told the newspaper that officials from the Allamakee Community School District asked him to resign. A message left for superintendent David Herold was not immediately returned Tuesday. In early 2013, Klinge became just the ninth girls’ basketball coach in the country to reach more than 1,000 game wins. He’s the only Iowa coach to have the distinction.

Klinge has coached basketball for more than 50 seasons, with most spent at West Central in Maynard. He spent 11 seasons at Waukon.

Burn Ban in effect in Pottawattamie County beginning 8-a.m. Wed.

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management reports a burning ban will be in place for Pottawattamie County starting Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. The ban prohibits open burning in Pottawattamie County, including all the cities within the county.Pott County Emergency Mgmt

The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. As dry conditions persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly. EMA Director Doug Reed says Pott. County “Has seen the devastating effects of fire in extreme conditions and we want to do everything we can to help mitigate an incident like that from occurring.”

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban. Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. For more information on burn bans and the law you can find further information on our facebook page or you may call 712-328-5777.

MEREDITH BLAZEK, 67, of rural Orient (Svcs. 3/22/14)

Obituaries

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MEREDITH BLAZEK, 67, of rural Orient, died Tue., March 18th, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center. Celebration of Life Services for MEREDITH BLAZEK will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., March 22nd. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Visitation is open from Noon until 8-p, at the funeral home on Fri., March 21st, with the family greeting friends from 6 until 8-pm. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow at the Orient United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Meridith Blazek memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

 MEREDITH BLAZEK is survived by:

Her husband – Vern Blazek of Orient.

Her children – Irene Kay Blazek of Woodbine; Linda Ann Blazek Garvin and husband Mike of Polk City; Glenda Marie Still and husband Eric of Tacoma, WA, and Martin Wayne Blazek and wife Staci of Alexandra, IN.

8 grandchildren,  other relatives and friends.

Senator seeks secret state settlement records

News

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state senator from Des Moines has asked Gov. Terry Branstad to turn over public documents related to settlements reached with employees who were laid off then paid to sign agreements to keep it quiet. Sen. Janet Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, and chairwoman of the Iowa Senate Oversight Committee, says she wants copies of any such agreements since January 2011. She also wants to know who requested the agreements and who authorized the payments.

On Sunday the Des Moines Register reported that more than $280,000 was paid to six former state employees. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she and Branstad were unaware of the agreements and a comprehensive review is under way. Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers says results of the review and any action taken will be made public.

Burn Ban in Montgomery County in effect Wed. morning

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman has announced a Burn Ban will be in effect for that county beginning at 8-a.m. Tuesday and lasting until further notice.Burn ban image Fremont County has already instituted a ban on open, outdoor burning. Hamman says several other counties in southwest Iowa are in the process of issuing a Burn Ban.

Backyard and Beyond 03-18-2014

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

March 18th, 2014 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Janine Knop, Host of the new children’s television show Aunt Molly & Friends.  They discuss the new program that is filmed in Council Bluffs and how youngsters can be a part of the show. For more information about the show visit the show website here.

Play

Iowa Senate approves anti-bullying bill

News

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lawmakers in the Iowa Senate have approved a measure aimed at establishing more anti-bullying efforts in schools across the state. The Democratic-majority Senate narrowly cleared the bill Tuesday in a straight party-line vote, 26-19. The legislation now goes to the Republican-controlled House, where lawmakers are wrangling with a similar measure.

The bill is meant to help schools better address bullying. But Sen. David Johnson, a Republican from Ocheyedan, says the proposal falls short in its effort to ensure student safety. Sen. Robert Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids who sponsored the bill, argues Republicans are neglecting to consider the well-being of children by refusing their support of the measure.

Cracking down on bullying has been a priority for Gov. Terry Branstad this session.

OWI arrest in Atlantic

News

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Atlantic report the arrest on Monday of a local man on an OWI charge. 26-year old Sophin Phylon, of Atlantic, was charged with OWI/1st offense and brought to the Cass County Jail, where he was being held pending an appearance in front of the magistrate.