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Wacha workload not a concern for Cardinals

Sports

February 25th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – The Cardinals are not putting a limit on the workload for young pitching star Michael Wacha. Pitching coach Derek Lilliquist says there’s no reason to. Wacha pitched 170 innings last year and his coach says he could be a 200-inning guy this year. Wacha’s readiness became more important this weekend after Jaime Garcia returned to St. Louis to have his surgically repaired shoulder examined.

Last season, only Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn eclipsed the 200-inning mark for the Cardinals. Shelby Miller exceeded 170 innings as a rookie, but the team slowed him down.

Wind Chill Advisory issued for parts of western/central IA on Wed.

Weather

February 25th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-ADAIR and MADISON COUNTIES: WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AMCST WEDNESDAY

354 AM CST TUE FEB 25 2014

* WINDS…NORTHWEST WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH BECOMING SOUTHWEST AT 5 TO 10 MPH BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* TEMPERATURES/WIND CHILL VALUES…TEMPERATURES WILL DROP INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS BELOW ZERO OVERNIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TEMPERATURES AND THE WIND WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILLS OF 20 TO 30 BELOW ZERO OVERNIGHT.

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Tue., 2/25/14

Weather

February 25th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(Updated 3:56-a.m.)

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -10. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around -3. Wind chill values as low as -15. North northwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values as low as -15. Windy, with a west southwest wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 0. Wind chill values as low as -20. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 13 to 16 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

Thursday: Sunny and cold, with a high near 10. North wind 7 to 11 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2.

Friday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 15.

Iowa National Guard units brace for possible cuts

News

February 25th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A proposal by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to shrink the Army National Guard by 20,000 soldiers and the Army reserve by 10,000 over the next few years has Iowa soldiers worried for their jobs. The Iowa Army National Guard has 7,200 soldiers statewide.

The Des Moines Register reports spokesman Col. Gregory Hapgood Jr. says the worst-case scenario would mean a loss of 500 to 600 soldiers. Or there could be no cuts. He says the state’s commanders are preparing for possible scenarios. Gov. Terry Branstad, who commands the soldiers in peacetime, says Democratic and Republican governors are telling federal government not to cut the National Guard.

When not fighting war guard troops respond to natural disasters, such as floods and tornadoes.

Fund established for family who lost their home in Hancock

News

February 25th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Daily NonPareil reports a fund has been established for a Hancock family that was displaced after their house burned down earlier this month.37-year old Cim Bird and three of her children were in their mobile home at 126 North Scott Street, when the fire broke out at around 5:40-p.m. on Feb. 3rd.

All four got out safely thanks to an alarm from a smoke detector. Cims’ oldest daughter and fiance, Charles, were not home at the time of the fire. The Hancock, Oakland and Avoca volunteer fire departments were called the scene. Despite their efforts, the home and its contents were a total loss.

Donations can be made at any U.S. Bank under Charles R. Bird Beneficiary. A spaghetti dinner will be held 4 p.m. March 8 at the American Legion Hall in Avoca at 112 N. Elm St. There is no cost, however the family will accept donations. The family also received support from the A-H-S-T Community School District, where their children attend school. Students in the district held a clothing drive and delivered the items to the family.

Plea deal reached in C. Bluffs arson case

News

February 25th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs man originally charged with two felony counts of Attempted Murder and one count of 1st-degree Arson, has instead plead guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree arson in connection with a Nov. 21st, 2013 fire at his home. 21-year old Jacob Rolfe admitted to setting the blaze while his mother and 12-year-old brother still inside the home. According to the Daily NonPareil, Rolfe’s plea Monday in Council Bluffs District Court comes with a deferred judgment and supervised probation. The 21-year-old is currently serving a 60-day sentence for two counts of assault related to the incident, with his release set for mid-March.

In court, Jacob Rolfe’s attorney, Eric Nelson, in asking for the deferred judgement on the arson charge, noted his client had no prior brushes with the law, not even a traffic ticket. Judge Kathleen Kilnoski told Jacob Rolfe he must undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations as part of a plea deal and must adhere to any recommendations for treatment that come from those evaluations. The judge told Rolfe he must spend a total of 40 hours engaged in a combination of time at work, at school (he attends Iowa Western Community College), or treatment. If the man doesn’t meet the terms of his probation, he will be sent to prison on the arson charge.

Prosecutors say at around 1:20 a.m. on Nov. 21st, Rolfe poured gasoline in the kitchen of his home at 112 Delong Ave., and used a match to set the blaze, all while his 41-year old mother, Jill Rolfe, and 12-year old brother Jordan, were sleeping. Authorities arrived on the scene to find Jacob Rolfe waiting at the curb, where he admitted to causing the fire. Rolfe said he’d used gasoline to set the fire when interviewed on the scene.

Rolfe told investigators he set the fire because he “was mad at his mother for being a bad mom” and “wanted her to know what it felt like to not have anything.” Jon Jacobmeier with the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office said the pair had been arguing because Jill Rolfe wanted her son to get a job. Police reports noted Jacob Rolfe was intoxicated, and Council Bluffs Interim Fire Marshal Curtis McKeon noted Rolfe has a history of medical problems, including mental health issues. Even so, McKeon said Jacob Rolfe appeared to have his faculties while speaking with investigators.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., Feb. 25th 2014

News

February 25th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Ames police are investigating a series of reports in which a man randomly punched people in the face and ran to a waiting getaway car. KCCI TV says two assaults were reported on February 16th and another Saturday night.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Frontier Airlines says it will resume flights into the Sioux City airport beginning this summer. The Sioux City Journal reports Frontier in June will begin flights three days a week between Sioux City and Denver. Frontier will become the second carrier at Sioux Gateway Airport, joining American Airlines. The new flights will use 138-seat Airbus 319 jets.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The cat room at the Iowa City animal shelter is open again for visitors looking to adopt and for new cats needing a home. The Iowa City Press Citizen reports the cat area of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center has been closed for two weeks after an outbreak of a virus that can be fatal to cats was discovered.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Fran McCaffery has instructed the Hawkeyes to shut down their Twitter accounts for the rest of the season after senior Zach McCabe exchanged barbs with detractors on the social media service. McCabe air-balled a 3-pointer that could have tied the game with 16 seconds left against Wisconsin on Saturday. The 20th-ranked Hawkeyes went on to lose 79-74.

Monday Boys Basketball Tourney Results

Sports

February 25th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

3-A District 15 Semifinal

  • Harlan 83, ADM 63
  • Perry 70, Denison-Schleswig 60

3-A District 16 Semifinal

  • Atlantic 56, Creston 41
  • Glenwood 79, Winterset 36

3-A District 3 Semifinal

  • Ballard 82, Greene County 63
  • Carroll 72, Boone 43

4-A Sub-State 1 Quarterfinal

  • Abraham Lincoln 76, Sioux City West 56
  • Lewis Central 69, Thomas Jefferson 44

Juco DL Taylor signs with Iowa State

Sports

February 24th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AEMS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State has signed junior college defensive lineman and former four-star recruit Trent Taylor to a letter of intent. Taylor, a 6-foot-2, 250-pounder out of Lakeland Florida, will be eligible to play as a junior next season.

Taylor signed with Tennessee out of high school but played just one game for the Volunteers. He spent last season at Butler Community College in Kansas and had three sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

Taylor was a first-team Class 6A selection by The Associated Press in 2011.

Iowa’s McCaffery tells players to get off Twitter

Sports

February 24th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Fran McCaffery has instructed the Hawkeyes to shut down their Twitter accounts for the rest of the season after senior Zach McCabe exchanged barbs with detractors on the social media service. McCabe air-balled a 3-pointer that could have tied the game with 16 seconds left against Wisconsin on Saturday. The 20th-ranked Hawkeyes went on to lose 79-74.

McCabe responded to negative comments directed at him on Twitter by lashing out at his critics after the game. McCabe deleted the post and apologized. McCaffery says his overall impressions of social media are negative and that he’d prefer his players keep their focus on Iowa’s upcoming games. He said his players are free to resume tweeting once the season is over.