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Cardinals sign Cuban free agent to contract

Sports

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals signed Cuban free agent shortstop Aledmys Diaz to a major league contract and he’ll report to spring training on Monday. The Cardinals were among a number of teams who held private workouts for the right-handed hitting Diaz. The 23-year-old Diaz batted .315 with 12 home runs and 11 steals in 270 at-bats in 2012 for Los Naranjas de Villa Clara, Cuba’s highest professional league, which has produced Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes, the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig and Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman.

The Cardinals anticipate the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Diaz will start the year at the high minor league level.

Big 12 coaches pick Ejim as league’s top player

Sports

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Iowa State senior forward Melvin Ejim has been selected as the Big 12’s player of the year by the league’s coaches. Ejim was second in the league with both his 18.2 points and 8.6 rebounds a game. The All-Big 12 awards selected by the 10 coaches were announced Sunday.

A pair of Kansas freshmen earned individual awards, with Andrew Wiggins voted the top freshman and 7-foot Joel Embiid the defensive player of the year. Iowa State guard DeAndre Kane was chosen as the newcomer of the year, and Texas’ Rick Barnes is coach of the year.

Joining Ejim, Kane and Wiggins on the All-Big 12 first team are Oklahoma State sophomore guard Marcus Smart and West Virginia junior guard Juwan Staten. The Associated Press releases its awards Monday.

Lenox teen arrested on a felony burglary charge

News

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Lenox arrested one person late Sunday morning (3/9) on a felony burglary charge. Authorities say officers were called to an address on N. Main Street in reference to an assault.

Jesus Alvarez

Jesus Alvarez

An investigation determined 18-year old Jesus Alvarez, of Lenox, allegedly kicked in a door and assaulted a male in the home. Alvarez was seen running from the area when the officer responded.

The teen was located at his home and arrested by officers of the Lenox Police Department and deputies with the Taylor County Sheriffs Office. He was charged with Burglary in the 1st degree, a Class B Felony, and transported to the Taylor County Sheriffs Office

SD man arrested on Lenox PD warrant for stalking

News

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(Updated 3/12/14, with bond set & court dates)

Authorities in Lenox report Sheriff’s deputies in Union County South Dakota have arrested a man wanted on a Lenox Police Department warrant for harassment in the 1st degree and  stalking, in violation of a protective order. 40-year old Chadwick David Sager, of Beresford, SD, was arrested Thursday after deputies were called to a residence in rural Beresford, with regard to a domestic dispute.

Chad Sager

Chad Sager

Sager waived extradition at a court appearance on Friday, March 7th. He was transported back to Iowa by Officers of the Lenox Police Department on March 8th. He is currently being held in the Adams County Jail on $7,000 bond. His preliminary hearing was set for March 20th at 9:30-a.m. A judge Monday ordered Sager to have no contact with the alleged victim.

The charges originating in Lenox stem from a 5 month investigation during which Sager is alleged to have stalked and harassed a female who lives in Lenox. The Lenox Police Department was assisted in their investigation by the Taylor County Sheriffs Office, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit, the Delaware State Police, the San Diego Calif. Police Department, and the Florida Division of Law Enforcement.

Atlantic School Board to act on snow day make-up schedule, Monday

News

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening in the High School Media Center, beginning at 7:30. On their agenda is a special presentation with regard to the “Friend-to-Friend” Program, and action on approving resignations,  recommendations with regard to the 2014-2015 District Calendar and Snow Make-up days schedule.

Following their Feb. 10th meeting, Superintendent Mike Amstein had said the those days will be added to the end of the current school year, which will mean classes would dismiss May 23rd instead of  May 21st, assuming there are no more make-up days due to the weather.Since then however, the district has missed some time because of both snow and cold weather.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board, Monday, will update the Facility Use fee schedule, and act on: A District Early Retirement proposal; the termination of the Head Tennis Coach’ contract; the hiring of a 1-to-1 Special Education Paraprofessional and then discuss the 2014-2015 budget, as well as review the District’s 1-to-1 computer proposal.

Audubon City Council to act on appointing City Clerk, Monday

News

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon City Council is expected to act Monday, on the consideration of applications for, and the appointment of, a City Clerk. At least six applications from persons interested in the position had been received as of early last week.

At its Jan. 13th meeting the City Council voted 4-1 to appoint Janet Nelson to the fill the position, instead of re-appointing long-time City Clerk Lora Hansen. Nelson later turned down the job, and the Council voted on Jan. 27th to leave Hansen in the position until it could get legal advice on hiring an interim clerk. On Feb. 9th, the Council voted to nullify the action it took Jan. 13th, and opted to have Hansen serve as the “Hold over” clerk, while at the same time seeking applications for her possible successor or an interim clerk. Action on the appointment of a City Clerk or Interim City Clerk was tabled, because as with the January 13th meeting, there was not a sufficient notice of publication of the Council’s intent.

Audubon County Attorney Francine Anderson has said she is considering filing a complaint with the Iowa Public Information Board regarding a possible violation of the state’s Open Meetings law by the Audubon City Council, Mayor and City Attorney. Andersen said in a letter dated Feb. 28th, that she had been conducting a low-key review and investigation of matters related to the controversial, and possibly illegal firing of the Audubon City clerk in January, and has concluded that there is “Probable cause” to believe violations of Open Meetings and Public Records laws have taken place.

In other business, the Audubon City Council, Monday, will a hold a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget, followed by action on a Resolution approving the budget. They will also act on a motion to set the date for a public hearing on accepting a purchase agreement for property at 408 Market Street, and authorize the Mayor to execute any and all documents needed to finalize the purchase, including, but not limited to, the deed in lieu of condemnation. The hearing is expected to take place March 24th, at 7-pm.

 

House unlikely to OK Senate-backed wage theft bill

News

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Civil rights groups and some Democrats in the Legislature say Iowa has a wage theft problem and it needs to be fixed. Wage theft can include underpayment of wages, theft of tips, and unlawful deductions from paychecks. It’s most common in low-wage jobs often employing immigrant workers.

Sen. Bill Dotzler, a Waterloo Democrat says it’s an epidemic involving up to 1,000 workers a year in Iowa. He’s proposed a bill that holds employers responsible and forces them to tell workers up front in writing how much they’ll get paid and what deductions will be taken from their checks.

The bill passed the Democratic-led Senate but it’s expected to die in the House Labor Committee where majority Republicans contend it would be too costly for honest businesses.

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties: Sun., 3/9/2014

Weather

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny…breezy. Much warmer. High in the upper 50s. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Not as cool. Low in the mid 30s. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph through midnight.

Monday: Mostly sunny. High in the mid 60s. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low in the upper 30s. North wind near 5 mph shifting to the east after midnight.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the morning… Then a chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Breezy…cooler. High in the mid 40s. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Tuesday Night: Cloudy. A 50 percent chance of rain and snow through midnight. Breezy…colder. Low in the upper 20s.

Wednesday And Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. High in the lower 40s. Low in the upper 20s.

Thursday Through Friday: Mostly clear. High in the mid 50s. Low 29 to 34.

Harlan beats Western Dubuque for 4A title

Sports

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Jess Schaben scored 24 points with nine rebounds and top-ranked Harlan held on in the final 2 minutes to beat No. 8 Western Dubuque 55-51 Saturday night and win the Class 4A state title. Harlan (26-0) steadied after letting a 13-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter and claimed the basketball title to go with the 4A volleyball championship the Cyclones won in November.

Schaben, a 6-foot-2 junior who has committed to Iowa State for volleyball, made 10 of her 11 shots. She also blocked two shots and handed out an assist. Rose Simon-Ressler and Megan Maahs led Western Dubuque (23-3) with 12 points each.

Zoey Weber scored nine for the Bobcats, whose rally fell short after they trailed 46-33 early in the fourth quarter.

Dowling Catholic wins 5A title over SE Polk

Sports

March 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Audrey Faber scored 19 of her 26 points in the second half and No. 5 Dowling Catholic fended off No. 9 Southeast Polk 66-55 on Saturday night for the Class 5A championship. Dowling Catholic (23-3) reversed the outcome of last year’s title game, won 43-34 by Southeast Polk, and claimed its fifth state title. Luci Sarcone added 14 points and nine rebounds for Dowling Catholic and Hayden Butler scored 11 points.

Becca Hittner finished with five points but was named captain of the all-tournament team. Sierra Mitchell came off the bench to hit four 3-pointers for Southeast Polk. She led the Rams (18-7) with 12 points.