United Group Insurance

Iowans worry about ethanol’s lost political clout

Ag/Outdoor

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor and congressional delegation are trying to shore up political support for ethanol, which is slipping as the nation produces more of its own oil. Gov. Terry Branstad is pushing to reverse the Obama administration’s proposal to cut the required amount of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. Almost half of Iowa’s corn crop goes to manufacture the grain alcohol, which is blended into gasoline.

Presidential candidates traditionally supported the federal mandate when they campaigned in Iowa, but many now say it is no longer justified. Environmentalists have complained about impact of expanded corn production. But Branstad says the federal mandate is important to Iowa farmers with corn prices low.

Chiefs without 2 OL starters vs Chargers

Sports

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are without starting right guard Jon Asamoah and right tackle Eric Fisher because of injuries against the San Diego Chargers. Geoff Schwartz was starting Sunday in place of Asamoah, who hurt his calf and shoulder in last week’s loss to Denver. Donald Stephenson is starting for Fisher, who also has an injured shoulder.

The Chiefs also are missing starting defensive tackle Mike DeVito because of a knee injury, though defensive end Tyson Jackson is active despite a lingering shoulder injury. San Diego is missing starting left tackle King Dunlap because of a strained neck and starting outside linebacker Jarret Johnson because of surgery on his hand.

Chargers wide receiver Eddie Royal is active despite not practicing with a toe injury. You can hear the game on KJAN beginning at Noon, today (Sunday).

Barn fire reported near Harlan

News

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters from Harlan were dispatched to the scene of a barn fire Sunday morning. The call about the fire at 1440 Highway 44, about two miles east of Harlan at the Finken Tree Farm, came in at around 9:10-a.m.  Mutual aid was requested from the Kirkman Fire Department for their tanker trucks, and Defiance Fire for their Rehab truck. Kimballton fire was also requested.

Fire crews from Harlan returned to the scene Sunday evening, when the flames rekindled.

No other details are available.

Rollover accident in Harlan early Sunday morning

News

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

One person was said to have been trapped following a rollover accident early this morning, in Harlan. Harlan Fire and Rescue personnel were dispatched to the scene on Highway 59 about two-miles north of Chatburn Avenue, at around 12:30-a.m.  No report on injuries was available from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office early this (Sunday) morning.

A press release is expected later today.

Red Oak teen arrested Saturday night

News

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Saturday night of 19-year old Gillian Ray James Bourn.  Bourn, who’s from Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 7:30-p.m. on a valid Red Oak P-D warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was booked into the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and was being held Sunday on $5,000 bond.

Iowa News Headlines: Sun., Nov. 24th 2013

News

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — A shooting range in a Des Moines suburb is getting a new neighbor — a public middle school. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that Timberline School, which will teach eighth- and ninth-grade students, is being built next door to the New Pioneer Gun Club’s shooting range, which has been in the same spot since 1961.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Health officials say 95 cases of a contagious bacterial infection that causes diarrhea have been reported in northwest Iowa’s Woodbury County. The Siouxland District Health Department’s deputy director Tyler Brock tells the Sioux City Journal that the majority of those sick are children, but a number of adults have contracted shigellosis, too. Woodbury County recorded a single case of shigellosis last year. But on Friday, 95 cases had been reported. About 20 of those had been diagnosed in early November.

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — Executives for a southern Iowa casino who face a sexual harassment lawsuit have dropped their effort to keep court filings and a hearing in a sexual harassment lawsuit from the public. The lawsuit filed last year by Gail Wilson, a former guest services manager at Lakeside Casino in Osceola, alleges sexual harassment, sex discrimination, race discrimination and retaliation.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jake Rudock threw for 239 yards and a pair of touchdown passes and Iowa rallied from 14 down to beat Michigan 24-21 yesterday. A fumble recovery by Anthony Hitchens with 2:12 left sealed it for the Hawkeyes.

Area law enforcement efforts to STEP up this week

News

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Iowa law enforcement will be out in force this Thanksgiving Holiday with increased visibility and aggressive traffic enforcement. The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB), has announced extra city, county and state officers will be out in force ensuring traveler’s buckle up, slow down and drive responsibly in order to save lives and reduce crashes.

The high visibility traffic enforcement event will begin Monday, November 25th, 2013 and run through Sunday, December 1st, 2013. Randy Hunefeld, sTEP Coordinator with the GTSB, says “The number one priority of this Special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) is to SAVE LIVES. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, nine traffic fatalities occurred during the 2012 Thanksgiving Holiday, which is just not acceptable.” Six of those nine deaths were motorists NOT using seatbelts.

Officials say the data clearly shows that buckling up alone increases your odds of surviving a serious crash by 50%.

Rohach leads Iowa St past Kansas 34-0

Sports

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Freshman Grant Rohach passed for a season-best 300 yards and two touchdowns and Iowa State beat Kansas 34-0 on a frigid Saturday night for its first Big 12 victory. James White and Shontrelle Johnson each ran for a touchdown and Cole Netten kicked two field goals for the Cyclones (2-9, 1-7), who broke a seven-game losing streak at home and sent KU to its 24th straight road loss.

Just one week after breaking a 27-game conference losing streak, the Jayhawks (3-8, 1-7) failed to capitalize on some early scoring opportunities and never got much going in the second half, either. Rohach, who had not thrown a touchdown pass in his five previous games, finished 15 of 20 with one interception and scoring throws of 58 yards to Aaron Wimberly and 15 yards to Quenton Bundrage.

It was the coldest game in Jack Trice Stadium history — 8 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff.

NWS Forecast for Cass & area Counties: Sun., 11/24/13

Weather

November 24th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

TODAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW AND PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE AFTER MIDNIGHT. NOT AS COLD. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S. TEMPERATURE STEADY OR SLOWLY RISING AFTER MIDNIGHT. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.

MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW 15 TO 20. NORTHWEST WIND AROUND 10 MPH.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE. HIGH IN THE MID 20S.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW 15 TO 20. HIGH 25 TO 35.

Northern Iowa grinds Western Illinois 28-13

Sports

November 23rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — David Johnson ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday night to lead Northern Iowa over Western Illinois 28-13. Ray Mitchell returned two interceptions for touchdowns and UNI (7-5, 3-5 Missouri Valley) ran the ball 42 times compared to only 12 pass attempts. Johnson eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the 15th time in his career and passed Carl Boyd to become fifth in UNI’s career touchdown list with 32.

Nathan Knuffman’s field goal gave Western Illinois a 3-0 lead before the Panthers scored 28 straight first half points. UNI won the game with defense and ball control the rest of the way. Kevin Kintzel returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown for the Leathernecks (4-8, 2-6) with six seconds left in the third quarter to record the last points scored by either team.

Trenton Norvell was 23 of 52 for 252 yards and three interceptions for WIU.