United Group Insurance

Charles City Chicken Plant closes

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) -Pure Prairie Poultry (PPP) in Charles City is closing less than two years after they began operations. In a statement, George Piechel, one of the owners of the plant, said, “While we continue to explore options, including possible buyers for our operations, our efforts to restart the plant on a limited basis have proven unsuccessful. Without a viable operating plan, we are discontinuing operations at our Charles City production plant effective immediately.”

Plant employees were notified Wednesday afternoon their positions had been eliminated. Some 138 workers are out of jobs. P-P-P had sought to reorganize under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with liabilities between 100 million dollars and 500 million owed to between 200 and 999 creditors, including over 500-thousand dollars to the City of Charles City.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been granted an emergency court order to take immediate care, custody and control of approximately one-point-three million broiler chickens owned by Pure Prairie Poultry. The company notified state officials they were unable to purchase feed for the chickens on 14 Iowa farms the plant contracts with to grow broilers.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Shelby County Sheriff’s report (10/3/24)

News

October 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that took place during the month of September. Most recently:
  • On Monday, September 30th, 37 year old Rosann Dawn Randall, of Harlan was arrested for Violation of No Contact Order. On that same date, 42-year-old Keith Andre Smith, of Harlan, was cited for the same alleged offense.
  • This past Sunday (September 29th), 35 year old Billie Jean Hazzard, of Harlan was arrested for OWI/1st offense.
  • Last Saturday, Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 39 year old Jason David Bangford, of Harlan, for Driving while license Denied or Suspended.
  • On September 27th: 31 year old Brian Daniel Green, of Harlan, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Driving while License Denied or Revoked; 30 year old Cherish Farata, of Harlan, was September 27th for Dommestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense, and Interference with Official Acts.
  • Two arrests were made on September 26th. 39 year old Christopher Neal McQuire of Omaha was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an Active Shelby County Warrant. And 54 year old Brent Allan Sorensen, of Harlan, was arrested after a call for service. Sorensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

You can read about the other arrests, below:

60 year old Amy Jean Buboltz of Shelby was arrested September 24th following a traffic stop on M16. Buboltz was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Assault while Displaying a Dangerous Weapon.
September 23rd, 31 year old Benjamin Louis Kroger of Harlan was arrested following a traffic stop. Kroger was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while License Denied or Revoked.
On September 22nd, 22 year old Jake Owen Hoch of Fort Worth Texas was arrested following a traffic stop on HWY 59. Hoch was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Person Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Prohibited Acts, and Speeding.
33 year old Michael John Tremayne of Harlan was arrested on September 16th, following a call for service. Tremayne was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft in the 1st degree.
September 15th, 24 year old Blaine Michael Barber of Harlan was arrested following a traffic stop on Chatburn Avenue. Barber was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Reckless Driving, Operating while Intoxicated-2nd offense, Driving while License Suspended, Failure to Maintain Control, and Failure to Obey Stop Sign and Yield Right of Way.
On September 14th, 9/14/2024 32 year old Thomas Morgan Lathrop, of Omaha,. NE. was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County warrant. Lathrop was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County warrant.
Several arrests were made on September 12th. 44 year old Abigail Rae Lennon of Harlan was arrested after a call for service. Lennon was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st offense. 44 year old Traci Jo Andersen of Harlan was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 5. Andersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under suspension, and Failure to provide Proof of Financial Liability. And 40 year old Daniel David Pauley of Defiance was arrested after a call for service. Pauley was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree.
September 11th, 18 year old Jordan Andrew Sell-Northington who was homeless was arrested after a call for service. Sell-Northington was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree.
On September 8th, 42 year old Richard Joseph Graeve, of Harlan was arrested after a call for service. Graeve was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication.
September 7th, 31 year old Courtney Lee Jones of Stuart was arrested following a traffic stop on 19th and Durant. Jones was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Marijuana 3rd offense, Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd offense, Possession of a drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official acts. And 38 year old Thomas Allen Doherty of Casey was arrested following a traffic stop on 19th and Durant. Doherty was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Marijuana 3rd Offense, Possession of Methamphetamines 3rd Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving while Barred, Keeping premises or vehicle for Controlled Substance, and Improper Rear Lamp.
September 4th, 39 year old Ryan Michael Carter of Irwin was arrested after a call for service. Carter was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st offense.
September 3rd, 22 year old Garrett Michael Tasler of Denison was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County Warrant. And 25 year old Layne Anikin Scheffler-Haakinson of Harlan was arrested after a call for service. Scheffler-Haakinson was transported to the Shelby County jail and charged with Public Intoxication.
And on September 1st, 33 year old Anthony Michael Bennett of Harlan was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County Warrant. Bennett was charged with Interference with Official acts, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd offense. On September 2nd, he was charged with Interference with Official Acts and on September 9th, Bennett was charged with assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, and Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree.
Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Posted in News |

PHYLLIS LEONA SCHNACKEL, 100, of Atlantic (Memorial svcs. 10/11/24)

Obituaries

October 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

PHYLLIS LEONA SCHNACKEL, 100, of Atlantic, died Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, at the Heritage House in Atlantic. A Memorial service for PHYLLIS SCHNACKEL will be held on Friday, October 11th, 2024, beginning at 11-a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will also be held Friday, from 10- until 11-a.m.; The Order of Eastern Star, Liberty Chapter Marne, will conduct an Eastern Star Service at 10:30-a.m.

A luncheon will follow the Memorial service, in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church.

Interment will occur following the luncheon at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Hancock.

PHYLLIS SCHNACKEL is survived by:

Her sons – Wayne (& Lee Lictenwalter) Schnackel, of Durham, NC; John (Lyla) Schnackel, of Ft. Collins, CO; Philip Schnackel of Council Bluffs, and Dick (Lisa) Schnackel of Crescent.

Her daughters – Linda Petersen, of Exira, and Marjorie (Terry) Frisbie, of Walnut

12 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

LAVONNE MORGAN, 82 of Atlantic (Svcs 10/7/24)

Obituaries

October 3rd, 2024 by Lori Murphy

LAVONNE MORGAN, 82, of Atlantic, died Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Cass Heath in Atlantic.  Funeral services for LAVONNE MORGAN will be held 11-a.m. Monday, October 7, 2024 at the Massena Baptist Church in Massena. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Burial will immediately follow the service in the Massena Center Cemetery, north of Massena.

Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Evan Frost Selected For 2024 NWCA All-Star Classic

Sports

October 3rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State 133-pounder Evan Frost has been selected to compete at the 2024 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic on Nov. 16. Frost is matched up against Little Rock’s Nasir Bailey, who placed fourth at the NCAA Championships in March.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. (CT) inside Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State.

The Frost-Bailey matchup pits two of the NCAA’s brightest young talents at 133 pounds against each other. Both Frost and Bailey enter the 2024-25 season ranked in the top five by FloWrestling and both were All-Americans at the 2024 NCAA Championships.

It’s a rematch from last season as Bailey was responsible for one of Frost’s three regular season losses, a 15-0 tech fall in 1:57.

Frost, a sophomore, compiled a 22-7 record, including a 15-3 regular season mark, and placed sixth in the nation as a redshirt freshman a year ago. Bailey, also entering his sophomore season, went 33-6 in 2023-24 and placed fourth as a true freshman.

Frost will be the 50th Cyclone to ever compete at the All-Star Classic and the first since David Carr and Kysen Terukina did so in 2022. Frost is just the fourth Cyclone since 2009 to be selected for the event.

The NWCA All-Star Classic can be viewed only on FloWrestling and will feature 10 highly ranked Division I folkstyle matchups along with 5 cross-divisional women’s freestyle matches.

 

NWCA All-Star Classic Lineup
125: #3 Jore Volk (WYO) vs. #6 Tanner Jordan (SDSU)

133: #2 Nasir Bailey (LR) vs. #4 Evan Frost (ISU)

141: #2 Jesse Mendez (OHST) vs. #3 Beau Bartlett (PSU)

149: #2 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) vs. #3 Ty Watters (WVU)

157: #4 Tyler Kasak (PSU) vs. #5 Peyton Kellar (OHIO)

165: #3 Hunter Garvin (STAN) vs. #4 Peyton Hall (WVU)

174: #2 Levi Haines (PSU) vs. #3 Rocco Welsh (OHST)

184: #1 Carter Starocci (PSU) vs. #2 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)

197: #5 Stephen Little (LR) vs. #9 Zac Braunagel (ILL)

285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs. #3 Nick Feldman (OHST)

Posted in Sports |

Union says there’s a growing wave of violent assaults on Iowa prison staff

News

October 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The union that represents employees in Iowa prisons says it’s time for the governor to respond to a disturbing trend. AFSCME Council 61 president Todd Copley says union members report there have been at least 150 assaults on prison staff since January.

Copley held a news conference in the statehouse this (Thursday) morning and told reporters the staff in the state prisons fear retaliation if they raise safety concerns.

A spokesman for the governor says Reynolds knows correctional officers work in a hostile environment and that’s why she’s worked diligently with prison managers to increase staff and improve safety and security at the facilities.

AFSCME Council 61 president Todd Copley speaks at a news conference on Oct. 3, 2024. (RI photo)

Last week, the union said two prison employees were attacked by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. Copley says the inmate ripped the metal leg off a desk in his cell and used it as a weapon.

According to Copley, one of the guards was hit in the face and has a number of fractured bones, while the other was stabbed 11 times, tearing his uniform and scratching his skin. The Iowa Department of Corrections has said it doesn’t comment on open investigations.

Posted in News |

Iowa State’s Rocco Becht previews Baylor

Sports

October 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht says the Cyclones are focused on Baylor as they get ready for Saturday’s prime time contest. With a victory the 16th ranked Cyclones would move to 5-0 for the first time since 1980 and are coming off a 20-0 win at Houston.

The atmosphere for the “white out” in Jack Trice Stadium could be electric.

Becht says Baylor is better than its 2-3 record.

Becht says the play of the ISU defense takes pressure off of the offense.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins previews No. 3 Ohio State

Sports

October 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa’s defense has been susceptible to the big play and that will need to change on Saturday at third ranked Ohio State. The Buckeyes big play offense is averaging nearly 49 points in a 4-0 start.

That’s Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins who says the goal is to make the Buckeyes put together multiple play drives.

Higgins says the game is a challenge for the team and him as an individual.

Posted in Sports |

Burn Ban for Cass County (IA) beginning today (Oct. 3rd) & until further notice

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports there will be a countywide burn ban in Cass County effective at noon today (Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024) and until further notice. There are currently 27 active countywide burn bans in Iowa.

Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, Guthrie, Adair, Mills, Monona, Crawford, Carroll and Greene are other area counties with active burn bans in place.

Kennon says a burn ban does NOT prohibit the following:  supervised, controlled burn for which a permit has been issued by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch.

Please contact Mike Kennon (712-254-1500) or your local fire chief if you have further questions on the subject of open burning. Burn ban

Iowa Code Section 100.40 Marshal may prohibit open burning on request.
1. The State Fire Marshal, during periods of extremely dry conditions or under other conditions when the state fire marshal finds open burning constitutes a danger to life or property, may prohibit open burning in an area of the state at the request of the chief of a local fire department, a city council or a board of supervisors and when an investigation supports the need for the prohibition. The State Fire Marshal shall implement the prohibition by issuing a proclamation to persons in the affected area. The chief of a local fire department, the city council or the board of supervisors that requested the prohibition may rescind the proclamation after notifying the state fire marshal of the intent to do so, when the chief, city council or board of supervisors finds that the conditions responsible for the issuance of the proclamation no longer exist.
2. Violation of a prohibition issued under this section is a simple misdemeanor.
3. A proclamation issued by the state fire marshal pursuant to this section shall not prohibit a supervised, controlled burn for which a permit has been issued by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch.

 

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Updates To Future Iowa Football Schedules

Sports

October 3rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa has moved its 2025 football game with Florida Atlantic to 2030 and added the University of Albany. The announcement was made Monday by the UI Athletics Department.

The Hawkeyes will open the 2025 season hosting the University of Albany on Aug. 30, while welcoming Florida Atlantic to Kinnick Stadium on Aug. 31, 2030.

In 2025, Iowa will host Albany (Aug. 30), UMass (Sept. 13), Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon and Penn State, and travel to Iowa State (Sept. 6), Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Dates for the 2025 conference schedule will be announced later this fall.

In 2026, Iowa will entertain Northern Illinois (Sept. 5), Iowa State (Sept. 12), Northern Iowa (Sept. 19), Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin, and travel to Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and Washington.

Other known future nonconference opponents and dates include Ball State (Sept. 4) and at Iowa State (Sept. 11) in 2027; hosting Western Michigan on Sept. 16, 2028; Northern Illinois on Sept. 15, 2029; and Florida Atlantic on Aug. 31, 2030.

2025
Albany (Aug. 30)
at Iowa State (Sept. 6)
UMass (Sept. 13)

2026
Northern Illinois (Sept. 5)
Iowa State (Sept. 12)
UNI (Sept. 19)

2027
Ball State (Sept. 4)
at Iowa State (Sept. 11)

2028
Western Michigan (Sept. 16)

2029
Northern Illinois (Sept. 15)

2030
Florida Atlantic (Aug. 31)

Posted in Sports |