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Chiefs’ Johnson, Smith added to Pro Bowl

Sports

January 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson and quarterback Alex Smith were chosen Monday to replace 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the Pro Bowl. The two substitutions means Kansas City will be sending 10 players to Hawaii.

Bowman tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee in Sunday’s NFC championship loss to Seattle. Brady bowed out of the all-star game one day after New England lost to Denver in the AFC championship. This will be Johnson’s third straight Pro Bowl, while Smith will be headed to his first.

They’ll be joined in Hawaii by Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert, safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles, cornerback Brandon Flowers, defensive tackle Dontari Poe, punt returner Dexter McCluster and linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. Charles is among four player captains picked for the Jan. 26 game.

Police ID 1 man killed in Omaha plant explosion

News

January 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha Police have identified one of the two men killed in Monday’s explosion and fire at an animal feed processing plant. Police said 53-year-old Keith Everett was the victim rescuers recovered Monday evening. The other victim’s body remains inside the unstable plant. Rescuers plan to renew their efforts to reach that victim this (Tuesday) morning.

Besides the two people who were killed, 10 other workers at the International Nutrition plant were hospitalized. Interim Omaha Fire Chief Bernie Kanger says it could be weeks before investigators are able to determine what caused the industrial accident.

Palo’s return least of Iowa State’s concerns

Sports

January 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The potential distraction caused by the return of guard Bubu Palo appears to be the last thing Iowa State is worried about. The slumping Cyclones have bigger issues to deal with. Iowa State has lost three straight for the first time in three years. The Cyclones have fallen 2 ½ games behind league-leading Kansas, and they dropped eight spots to No. 16 in this week’s Top 25.

Iowa State started its weeklong preparation for Saturday’s home game against Number 22 Kansas State with a players-only meeting. Forward Georges Niang says the Cyclones got a lot of things off their chest.

Bluffs woman injured, Des Moines man dies in Omaha accident

News

January 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man has been killed and an Iowa woman has been injured in an accident along Interstate 80 in eastern Omaha. Omaha police say the accident occurred a little after 6 a.m. Monday where I-80 merges with Interstate 480 and U.S. Highway 75.

Police say 28-year-old Brian Pete, of Des Moines, Iowa, had stopped and parked his car on the painted median of I-80. Police say It was hit by a westbound sport utility vehicle driven by 26-year-old Sara Barker, of Council Bluffs.

Pete was pronounced dead at the scene. Barker was taken to an Omaha hospital. The accident is being investigated.

Iowa News Headlines: Tue., Jan. 21st 2014

News

January 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Iowans will have to re-adjust to colder weather after record-setting high temperatures over the weekend. Cathy Zapotocny, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, Nebraska says much colder air will be coming in for the overnight hours into Tuesday. A wind chill advisory is in effect for the northern part of Iowa until noon today.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — The 60 workers who lost their jobs at the Tyson plant in northwest Iowa’s Cherokee could return if business were to pick up and more production were needed. After Friday’s layoff, the plant still employs about 500 people. The plant produces deli meats. Tyson spokesman Dan Fogleman says the company will be working with the 60 to see whether they meet job requirements for openings at Tyson’s other northwest Iowa plants.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police say a potential suicide jumper who scaled a bridge between Nebraska and Iowa has come down. The Sioux City Journal says the man climbed the Veterans Memorial Bridge around 6 p.m. Sunday. The bridge carries U.S. Highways 77 and 20 traffic between South Sioux City, Nebraska and Sioux City, Iowa. Officers shut off bridge traffic for 15 to 20 minutes before the man came down willingly.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man has been killed and an Iowa woman has been injured in an accident along Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska. Omaha police say the accident occurred a little after 6 a.m. Monday where I-80 merges with Interstate 480 and U.S. Highway 75.

Narcisse says he’ll run for Iowa governor

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Publisher and Des Moines community activist Jonathan Narcisse (NAR-siss) says he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Narcisse made his announcement Monday morning at the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. Narcisse ran as an independent for governor in 2010.

Des Moines Sen. Jack Hatch also is seeking the Democratic nomination to face Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who announced last week that he would run for a sixth term. Narcisse has owned a number of publications, including the Iowa Bystander. He served on the Des Moines School Board for two years.

SAUNDRA “SANDY” KAY BROWN, 72, of Avoca (1-24-14)

Obituaries

January 20th, 2014 by Jim Field

SAUNDRA “SANDY” KAY BROWN, 72, of Avoca died Monday, January 20 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.  Funeral services for SAUNDRA “SANDY” KAY BROWN will be held on Friday, January 24 at 10:30 am in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

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Visitation will be held Thursday from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm with the family greeting friends from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial in the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.

SAUNDRA “SANDY” KAY BROWN is survived by:

Husband:  Richard “Dick” Brown of Avoca

Sons:  Roger (Wendi) Brown of Council Bluffs & Scott (Shelley) Brown of Underwood.

Daughters:  LuAnn (Chris) Mead of Glenwood & Robin Andersen of Lincoln, NE.

Brother:  Jim (Kay) Olson of Corning.

Mother-in-law:  Fern Brown of Corning.

7 Grandchildren

4 Great-Grandchildren

Workers killed in industrial accident in Omaha

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

There are fatalities after an accident this (Monday) morning at an Omaha animal feed processing plant. Interim Omaha Fire Chief Bernie Kanger says 38 employees were inside the International Nutrition plant at the time. Many workers escaped unharmed, while 10 were taken to area hospitals. Four were listed in critical condition.

Picture Courtesy Omaha Police Dept.

Picture Courtesy Omaha Police Dept.

“There are fatalities,” Kanger said a mid-afternoon press conference. “We are not going to release the number of those fatalities at this time simply because we have not had the opportunity to clear the entire structure. This is a large building with significant structural damage.” Part of plant collapsed in the accident and there was a fire. The fire was extinguished, but firefighters – who rescued some workers – were ordered out of the building over fears of another collapse.

At 2 p.m., Kanger said the mission switched from rescue to recovery mode. “The chance of finding any victims alive is no longer there,” Kanger said. “Our efforts are to secure the building and then go in to find any victims that may still be in the structure.” Kanger said the cause of the accident, which occurred around 10 a.m., is unknown.  “What we do know is this was an industrial accident that resulted in structural collapse and fire,” Kanger said. “We do not know if there was an explosion. That will be part of the cause investigation.” International Nutrition, located in south-central Omaha, produces prepared feed and feed ingredients for livestock.

(Radio Iowa)

Wind Advisory Continues for parts of w/sw IA until 9-pm

Weather

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS COUNTIES
320 PM CST MON JAN 20 2014

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING...

* WINDS...NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

* IMPACTS...DRIVING WILL BE DIFFICULT. WATCH FOR LOCALLY REDUCED
  VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING DUST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 TO
39 MPH OR GUSTS BETWEEN 45 TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS
STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Wind Advisory issued for Cass & area Counties

Weather

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA BY THIS
EVENING. WINDS WILL INCREASE FROM THE NORTHWEST AND BE QUITE GUSTY
THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-
RINGGOLD-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE COUNTIES 336 PM CST MON JAN 20 2014

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.

* TIMING...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA EARLY
  THIS EVENING. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE BEFORE 9 PM...WITH
  DIMINISHING WINDS TOWARD MIDNIGHT.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO
  OVER 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE MID EVENING.

* IMPACTS...THE STRONG WINDS WILL CAUSE BLOWING OF ANY SNOW THAT
  DOES FALL THIS EVENING. LOOSE OBJECTS MAY ALSO BE BLOWN ABOUT BY
  THE STRONG WINDS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS
THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH
PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.