United Group Insurance

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.

PHYLLIS BAX, 78, of Greenfield (Svcs. 1/25/14)

Obituaries

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

PHYLLIS BAX, 78, of Greenfield, died Mon., Jan. 20th, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services for PHYLLIS BAX will be held 1-p.m. Sat., Jan. 25th, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greenfield. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 24th at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greenfield from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following services at the cemetery.

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

 PHYLLIS BAX is survived by:

Her two sons – Phil Bax and wife Marsha of Johnston, and Brad Bax and wife Kaye of Greenfield.

5 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20th

Trading Post

January 20th, 2014 by Jim Field

WANTED:   to buy, 2 pipe farm gates. Must be 12 foot wide each and have the hardware to hang them. Call or text 515-710-3254.

FOR SALE:  Small square bales of horse quality grass hay. $4.50 a bale. Also looking for some geese. Not for butchering just to have as pets. Located near Hamlin. 712-268-5560.

FOR SALE: 60″ projection screen TV with entertainment center, 7′X9′, has glass doors, shelves, lights all for $500 obo. 712-250-0788.

FOR SALE: Older pop-up camper. Sleeps 6-7. Year 1976. Pics available upon request. NO TITLE. $600. 712-304-4262.

FOR SALE: White leather couch, loveseat, ottoman, and chair. $650.00 OBO. Big Man recliner. Red in color. $600.00 OBO. 712-254-3725.

WANTED: Looking for a boat motor. 75-80 horse Johnson. 712-243-3073.

Minor injuries reported following accident in Lenox

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Two people suffered what were described as minor injuries, during an accident this (Monday) morning, in Lenox. According to Lenox Police, the accident happened at 8:44 AM, at the intersection of Brooks and Nebraska Streets.

Photo from the Lenox PD

Photo from the Lenox PD

An investigation determined a 2004 GMC Envoy driven by 42-year old Sean Kingery, of Lenox, was southbound on Brooks. A 2000 Chrysler driven by 41-year old Darold Bredberg, of Lenox was east bound on Nebraska.

Bredberg failed to yield from a stop sign and pulled in front of the Kingery vehicle. Both drivers were injured and treated at the scene by a Lenox ambulance crew. Following a records check, Bredberg was arrested for driving while barred, driving while suspended, non payment of Iowa fines(11 times) failure to have insurance and failure to obey a stop sign.

Darold Bredberg

Darold Bredberg

He was transported to the Taylor County Jail for processing.

Damage to the Kingery vehicle was estimated at $6000. The Bredberg vehicle is considered a total loss.

Special Weather Statement:

Weather

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-
1238 PM CST MON JAN 20 2014

    …SNOW AND COLDER TEMPERATURES SPREAD SOUTH ACROSS IOWA…

A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVING INTO NORTHERN IOWA WILL MOVE SOUTH THIS
AFTERNOON. SHARPLY COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL FOLLOW THE FRONT. SNOW
WILL ALSO MOVE SOUTH WITH THIS FRONT. THOUGH SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL
BE GENERALLY AROUND AN INCH…GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL CAUSE BLOWING
SNOW AND LOCAL VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS. LOCAL VISIBILITY MAY BE
REDUCED TO UNDER ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES IN OPEN AREAS THIS
AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING.

THE SNOW OVER NORTHERN IOWA WILL SPREAD SOUTH TO THE I-80 CORRIDOR
BY MID AFTERNOON…AND TO THE MISSOURI BORDER BY 6 PM. SNOW WILL
END FROM NORTH TO SOUTH THIS EVENING.

TEMPERATURES WILL FALL TO THE TEENS NORTH…TO AROUND 30 SOUTH BY
6 PM.

DEAN ORSTAD, 58, of Griswold (Svcs. 1/27/14)

Obituaries

January 20th, 2014 by Jim Field

DEAN ORSTAD, 58, of Griswold died Monday, January 20 at his home.  Memorial services for DEAN ORSTAD will be held 11-a.m. Mon., Jan. 27th, at the 1st United Methodist Church in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be from 3-to 5-pm Sunday (1/26) at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

DEAN ORSTAD is survived by:

His sons – Nick Orstad & Tony (Jeri) Orstad, all of Griswold, and Lucas Orstad, of Urbandale.

His daughter – Mariah Orstad.

His sisters – Janet (Tom) Cappel, & Diane (Duane) Petty, all of Atlantic.

and 3 grandchildren.

Arrests in Atlantic over the weekend (A-PD report 1/20/14)

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Five people were arrested in Atlantic over the past few days. According to the Atlantic Police Department, three individuals were arrested on Sunday. 18-year old Bill Stockwell, of Elk Horn, was arrested for OWI and Possession of a Controlled Substance. 18-year old Angel Knowles, of Denison, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance. And, 57-year old Douglas Morgan, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.

On Saturday, officers with the Atlantic P-D arrested 36-year old Ryan Schwery, of Earling, on charges that include Driving Under Suspension, Theft in the 5th degree, Fraudulent Practices in the 5th degree, and on a Shelby County warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order.

And on Friday, 27-year old Samuel Huffman, of Lewis, was arrested for Shoplifting (5th degree theft).

Each of the individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Cass County Sheriff’s Report 1/20/14: weekend accidents & arrests

News

January 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(4:45-p.m. Corrects Breeling’s name to Skylar Richard-Curtis Breeling)

In an update to our story on Saturday, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released more information about an accident which occurred early Saturday morning. Officials say 14-year old Jesse Keegan Ihrke and 18-year old Skylar Richard-Curtis Breeling, both of Atlantic, were injured when a vehicle driven by 19-year old Daniel Robert Schmeling, of Atlantic, went out of control and rolled into a ditch as the vehicle was traveling north on Buck Creek Road, at the intersection with Glacier Road.

The car rolled onto its top, trapping Irhke, who was partially ejected from the vehicle. Schmeling and Breeling were able to climb out a vehicle’s window. Schmeling refused medical treatment, while both Breeling and Ihrke were transferred to CCMH via Medivac. Ihrke was subsequently transferred to University of Nebraska Medical Center. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $3,500. The incident remains under investigation.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, no injuries were reported following an accident shortly after midnight, Sunday. The accident happened on Highway 48 at 550th Street, at around 12:06-a.m. Officials say a 2007 Ford Explorer owned and driven by 39-year old Becky Jo Brockman, of Elliott, was found in a ditch along Highway 48 by a patrolling deputy. Upon investigation, Brockman was arrested for OWI and cited for Failure to Maintain Control. She was brought to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $5,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 34-year old Leo Alan Edwards, of Pacific Junction was arrested January 16th, on charges of OWI 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving Under Suspension. Edwards was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance. And on Sunday, Jan. 19th, 23-year old Shane Michael Suhr, of Anita, was arrested  on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Suhr was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.