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Struggling Iowa State preps for 3-7 Kansas

Sports

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State has faced one of the most grueling stretches of any team in the country over the past two months — and it lost every time. The beleaguered Cyclones get someone they believe they can hang with on Saturday.

Iowa State (1-9, 0-7 Big 12) will have its best chance yet to snap a seven-game losing streak when it hosts Kansas (3-7, 1-6) in a matchup of the Big 12’s two worst teams.

Though the Jayhawks scored their first league win by beating West Virginia last weekend, the Cyclones are still favored to beat someone for the first time in Big 12 play.

“Operation Blessing” in Page County needs requests & donations

News

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer said Monday, his office is currently taking requests for “Operation Blessing.” Since Clarinda, Essex and Shenandoah have similar programs, the Sheriff’s Office is focusing on children in the other communities and rural areas of Page County. The requests must come from a parent or guardian of the child. The requests can be called into the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or in person at the Sheriff’s Office. There will be a first and second choice for each child. Requests will be taken from November 25th through December 20th.

Operation Blessing was started in the mid 1980’s with the Page County Reserve Officers to ensure that every child in Page County had the opportunity to receive a gift at Christmas. It has continued every year since.

Anyone wishing to donate to Operation Blessing can either stop by the Page County Sheriff’s Office or mail the donation to the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 323 North 15th, Clarinda. When the gifts are ready to be picked up the Sheriff’s Office will notify the parent or guardian that the gift is ready.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to everyone who has helped keep this program going through donations in the past, and the assistance their staff provides through the wrapping and delivery process.

Authorities Seek Help in Identifying Body Found in Harrison County

News

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in western Iowa are seeking the public’s help in identifying a body found on Saturday, November 16th. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a hunter who had discovered the body of a white male in a rural, wooded area 4 miles southwest of Mondamin.  The body was transported to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.  There was no form of identification with the body.

The body is described as a white male, approximately 5’11” and 160 pounds.  He has longer grey and black hair and no teeth.  At the time of discovery, he was wearing black Wrangler brand jeans, a blue t-shirt with a pocket, a blue button down dress shirt, a brown-plaid insulated flannel jacket, and a blue hooded zipper sweatshirt with a “Golden Harvest” logo on the left breast area.  He was also wearing Red Wing brand boots, size 12.

This man’s death and identification are being investigated by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.  If anyone information regarding this investigation please contact Iowa DCI Special Agent Chad Fiedler at (712)322-1585 or (402)515-5160.

After Big 12 win, Kansas looks for 2 straight: faces ISU Saturday

Sports

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Charlie Weis was drenched, as if he’d just jumped in Potter’s Lake himself — the pond just up the hill from Memorial Stadium where the goalposts ended up.

It was a celebration two years in the making for Weis, whose face twisted into a shivering smile Saturday from the ice water poured over his head in the waning seconds of a 31-19 victory over West Virginia that ended the Jayhawks’ 27-game Big 12 losing streak.

Now, the Jayhawks (3-7, 1-6) will try to make it two straight. They head to Iowa State on Saturday to face the lone remaining winless team in the Big 12.

Branstad weighing transportation funding options

News

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he is reviewing his options for raising revenues to help Iowa’s bridges and roads. Branstad said Monday that he is trying to find out what approach might be politically possible. Earlier this year, Branstad expressed concern about raising the state fuel tax and asked Department of Transportation Director Paul Trombino to review the state’s options for funding infrastructure costs.

That list of options includes raising new registration fees and raising fees for oversize vehicles. Branstad says he has not committed to any plan. Iowa’s fuel tax —now 22 cents per gallon for gasoline including fees — hasn’t been raised since 1989. A commission appointed by Branstad in 2011 recommended an increase of 8 to 10 cents a gallon to boost funding for bridges and roads.

Univ. of North Dakota football coach (former ISU lineman) fired

Sports

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

GRAND FORK, N.D. (AP) — The University of North Dakota has fired head football coach Chris Mussman after a 3-8 season. UND athletic director Brian Faison says the two met Monday and Mussman was relieved of his duties immediately. Mussman coached six seasons with UND and had an overall 31-34 record.

He joined the coaching staff as the offensive line coach in 1999, became offensive coordinator in 2001 and took over as the head coach prior to the 2008 season. Before arriving in Grand Forks, Mussman spent eight seasons at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He was a four-year letter winner and starting offensive lineman at Iowa State, where he was team captain in 1990.

Faison says a national search for a new coach will start immediately.

Iowa gets more than $275,000 in Google settlement

News

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Google will pay Iowa more than $275,000 as part of a $17 million national settlement over claims that the search engine giant violated consumer privacy. The New York Attorney General’s office said Google Inc. altered coding in 2011 and 2012 to find a way around default privacy settings on Safari without consumers’ knowledge or consent. Such coding allowed the company to gather information about consumers, including online surfing habits.

The company had allowed consumers to opt out of having third-party advertising cookies set on their browsers. Google disabled the coding in February 2012 after the practice was widely reported. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says the money will go into the state’s consumer education and litigation fund. The settlement involves 37 states and the District of Columbia.

Cass County Sheriff’s report (11/18/13)

News

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. On Friday (Nov. 15th), 56-year old Robert Ernest McMartin, of Red Oak, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear for Child Support Hearing. McMartin was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day by District Court order.

On Thursday (November 14th), 25-year old Dustin Michael Haas, of Griswold, was arrested in Cass County on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense (an Aggravated misdemeanor). Haas was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.  Also arrested Thursday, was 27-year old Prudence Penelope Gwendolyn Page, of Atlantic. She was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Page was brought to the Cass County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

And on November 8th, 32-year old Melanie Rene Mullen, of Atlantic, turned herself in at the Cass County Jail on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Disorderly Conduct. Mullen was released that day on $300 bond.

(12:40-p.m. News)

 

Bluffs man arrested on drug charges in Mills County

News

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Mills County report a Council Bluffs man was arrested over the weekend on drug charges. 43-year old Everett Brayman was taken into custody at around 1:35-a.m. Saturday, following a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 34/221st Street. Brayman was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.

On Friday, deputies in Mills County arrested 60-year old Diane Havens Hathaway, of Glenwood. Hathaway was taken into custody at around 7:55-p.m. at 5th and Locust, in Glenwood. Her bond was set at $1,000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports also, two accident happened last Friday. Neither resulted in injuries.

4-H’ers Prepare for duties as Club Officers

News

November 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Cass County 4-H Club Officers are being encouraged to attend this year’s Officer Training, scheduled for this Thursday, November 21st.  The event will begin at 6:00 PM at the Cass County Community Center. Cass County Youth Coordinator, Beth Irlbeck says “4-H club officers have very important jobs.  Their club members depend on them to be effective leaders and role models. This is an opportunity for club officers to learn leadership skills as well as learn about their duties as officers.”

A variety of challenge games and activities will be used to teach the concepts of leadership and teamwork.  4-H’ers will get a chance to meet in break-out groups with others in their office to learn about their specific responsibilities.  Breakout sessions will be held for club Presidents/Vice -Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, Reporters and Historians/Photographers.  Resources and guides will be provided for club officers to use during the year.

Interested 4-H Club Officers are asked to registered for the event by no later than 4:30-p.m. November 20th,  by calling the Cass County Extension Office at 243-1132.