United Group Insurance

12-year old with an air rifle causes brief lockdown at a Council Bluffs schools

News

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs say no criminal charges have been filed after an unidentified 12-year-old boy with an AirSoft rifle caused a brief lockdown Monday afternoon at the Titan Hill Intermediate School in Council Bluffs. Superintendent Mark Schweer told the Daily NonPareil at around 1-p.m., a school employee reported seeing a juvenile, who was off the school district property, with what appeared to be a weapon.

Lt. Dan Flores with the Council Bluffs Police Department said the boy, carrying an AirSoft gun shaped like a rifle, turned and ran back into the woods on the northeast side of the school. Initial law enforcement dispatch reports indicated Council Bluffs officers, Iowa State Patrol troopers and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputies were searching for a white male wearing all black and carrying a rifle near Titan Hill.

Police say the juvenile then took off running near Deer Run Trail, causing Titan Hill to go into lockdown. Nearby Lewis Central high and middle schools were also locked down for precautionary reasons. The Lewis Central lockdown was canceled around 1:25 p.m. when law enforcement found the juvenile in the woods near the school. Titan Hill parents received an automatic voicemail notification and email detailing the situation, ending with an all-clear at around 2 p.m.

Lt.Flores said the three departments were preparing to set up a perimeter when the boy was found. He mentioned also, that the juvenile attended a different Council Bluffs school, lived in the area and was “messing around in the woods.”

Iowa DNR: Winter expected to hurt fish populations

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say the harsh winter is expected to affect some fish populations in the state. The state Department of Natural Resources says lakes and ponds experience natural winter fish mortality. But Jim Wahl, supervisor for fisheries in northwest Iowa, says officials are expecting to see more lakes and ponds affected this time around. Wahl added a few lakes are experiencing oxygen levels that are lower than normal.

Officials say lakes under snow are shut off from sunlight that helps aquatic plants. That has a ripple effect on photosynthesis and the flow of oxygen into the water. DNR officials have placed aeration systems at a few lakes with a history of winter kills. Those systems keep a section of a lake from freezing.

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Tue., 3/18/2014

Weather

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today Scattered showers, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight Rain, possibly mixing with snow after midnight, then gradually ending. Low around 29. Windy, with a northwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Windy, with a northwest wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. West northwest wind 5 to 11 mph becoming southwest after midnight.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 59. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy.

Arrest made at speech competition in Glenwood

News

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Glenwood arrested a Shenandoah High School student Saturday, for allegedly selling drugs during the state speech competition at Glenwood High School. The Daily NonPareil reports 18-year old Matthew Taylor Gray, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody just before 4-p.m.

Sgt. Pat Martin told the paper school officials had reported to police that Gray was attempting to sell prescription drugs. Gray was charged with three counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs – all serious misdemeanors – and one count of prohibited acts, an aggravated misdemeanor. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum five years in prison, but Mills County Attorney Eric Hansen said since the incident occurred on school grounds, a conviction would add 100 hours of community service.

Gray has since posted bond. A court date is pending. Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to call the Glenwood Police Department at (712) 527-9920.

Sizemore 3 hits, 3 runs; Red Sox beat Cards 10-5

Sports

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Grady Sizemore had three hits, scored three runs and showed a good glove in the outfield, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5 Monday.

Sizemore, sidelined by injuries for two seasons, was signed in January to a $750,000, one-year contract. An AL All-Star in each of his last three full seasons (2006-08), Sizemore has been hampered by injuries over the last five years and missed the past two seasons following operations on his right knee and back.

With the Red Sox wearing green jerseys on St. Patrick’s Day, starter John Lackey gave up five runs, six hits and two walks in five innings with three strikeouts. Cardinals starter Shelby Miller gave yp three runs, three hits and three walks in 3 2-3 innings.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 18th 2014

News

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — State and local officials continue to investigate the death of a teenager in the eastern Iowa community of Tipton. Authorities were asked to check on the welfare of 15-year-old Keifla Thomas Robinson on Sunday morning when they discovered his body inside a home. An autopsy revealed no trauma to the body.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has postponed a vote on legislation that would help schools across the state better respond to cases of bullying. The bill as written would broaden the definition of bullying, require parental notification, grant school officials the authority to respond to bullying off-campus and require that school officials receive training. Cracking down on bullying in Iowa schools has been a priority of Gov. Terry Branstad this session.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A western Cedar Rapids road has been reopened as the city monitors flooding from the Cedar River. Ellis Road NW is open west of Edgewood road. No ice was on the road and there are no reports of initial damage. Otis Road SE, which has a foot of water on it, remained closed Monday night.

LECLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — An Illinois man has been accused of assaulting a woman who tried to him help in eastern Iowa. A woman at the scene of a vehicle crash in a cornfield off Interstate 80 told authorities she got out of her vehicle to offer the man aid before emergency personnel arrived. The woman, a registered nurse, says the man assaulted her. Forty-year-old Jeremy A. Stone, of Chicago, is charged with operating while intoxicated, failure to maintain control and no insurance. He is also charged with assault on a health care provider.

Iowa State draws Florida State in NCAA tournament

Sports

March 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State and Florida State will meet in the first round of the women’s NCAA tournament on Saturday in Ames. The Cyclones (20-10) earned the No. 7 seed in the Stanford Region — and a potential matchup with the powerhouse Cardinal in the second round.

Second-seeded Stanford (29-3) will follow the Iowa State-Florida State game at Hilton Coliseum by playing No. 15 seed South Dakota (19-13). Iowa State went .500 in the Big 12, while the Seminoles (20-11) were ninth in the ACC.

Iowa Senate delays vote on anti-bullying bill

News

March 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has postponed a vote on legislation that would help schools across the state better respond to cases of bullying. Republican Sen. Mark Chelgren, of Ottumwa, requested Monday that the Senate delay a final vote on the bill while he drafts an amendment. Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal says the Senate could resume debate on the bill as early as Tuesday.

The bill as written would broaden the definition of bullying, require parental notification, grant school officials the authority to respond to bullying off-campus and require that school officials receive training. Cracking down on bullying in Iowa schools has been a priority of Gov. Terry Branstad this session. Both the House and Senate have drafted proposals to address the issue.

2 people arrested on drug charges in Cass County

News

March 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Deputies in Cass County arrested two people on drug and other charges, Saturday. According to the Sheriff’s Office. 27-year old Christopher Charles Hargens, of Shelby, faces charges that include Possession with Intent to Deliver, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Prohibited Acts, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and OWI 1st Offense. And, 30-year old Brenda Nichole Leah Redler, of Griswold, was arrested for Possession with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Contraband in a Jail Facility, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Prohibited Acts, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both subjects were taken to the Cass County Jail where Redler is being held on $17,300 bond and Hargens is being held on $14,000 bond as well as a hold for Shelby County.

Also on Saturday, deputies in Cass County arrested 29-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, on a charge of Violating a No Contact Order. Mardesen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

 

On March 15, 2014, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Christopher Charles Hargens, 27, on charges of ; and Brenda Nichole Leah Redler, 30, of Griswold, IA, on charges of

 

Iowa’s Fran McCaffery battling family health issue

Sports

March 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Most Iowa fans will spend Wednesday morning debating the ins and outs of the team’s first NCAA tournament game in eight years. Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery will be in an Iowa City hospital with his son. The highlight of McCaffery’s professional career at Iowa has coincided with a serious family health issue. McCaffery’s 13-year-old son, Patrick, will have surgery to remove a thyroid tumor just hours before Iowa (20-12) and fellow No. 11 seed Tennessee (21-12) tip off in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio.

McCaffery said Sunday that he planned to fly to Dayton with his team, return to Iowa City for Patrick’s surgery and go back to Ohio in time to coach against the Volunteers.