Stuart Police release details on armed robbery that preceded the Cass County incident

August 9th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Police in Stuart late this (Friday) afternoon released details about an attempted armed robbery that occurred prior to the robbery of a motel in Cass County. Officials says at around 10:10-p.m. Thursday, an armed robbery was reported at the AmericInn located in the 400 block of SW 8th Street in Stuart. Two black males entered the business brandishing a handgun and demanded money from a female clerk at the hotel. The suspects left without any money.

The same suspects were allegedly involved in the armed robbery of the America’s Best Value Inn located just south of I-80 in Cass County, about 90 minutes later. The suspects allegedly involved in the second robbery got away with an undetermined amounts of cash. Their spree ended just after midnight, Friday, near the intersection of I-80/680, after they crashed a vehicle they allegedly stole from an Omaha car rental agency during a high speed pursuit near Crescent.

The State Patrol says the vehicle reached speeds up to 130-miles per hour during the pursuit. Both suspects, identified as brothers 38-year old Courtney and 24-year old Remo Bennett, of Omaha, were injured in the crash. Remo Bennett, who was a passenger in the car, was partially ejected from the vehicle and was listed in critical condition at Alegent Creighton University Medical Center. Courtney Bennett was listed in stable condition at Alegent Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

Courtney Bennett was wanted on warrants out of Mills County for 1st degree theft, and is a suspect in several area burglaries. According to reports, he’s been in and out of prison several times since 1994. Twice it was for theft by receiving stolen property, another time it was for being a felon in possession of a gun. He spent close to 10 years in Nebraska prisons and had been released last December. Both men will be taken into custody once they are released from their respective hospitals.

Posted in News |

Judge sentences man in shooting of police officer

News

August 9th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Woodbury County judge has sentenced a man to 25 years in prison for attempted murder in the shooting of a Sioux City police officer. The Sioux City Journal reports Judge Jeffrey Neary’s sentence Friday means it will be 17½ years before Jamal Dean is eligible for parole. The 22-year-old Dean pleaded guilty last month in the shooting of officer Kevin McCormick.

McCormick had pulled over Dean in a traffic stop. Dean stepped out of his car, brandishing a .22-caliber rifle and fired eight shots through the squad car’s hood and windshield. Although the car was riddled with bullets and he was shot in the head, McCormick wasn’t seriously injured. He’s returned to work.

Asked by the judge if he had anything to say before sentencing, Dean responded, “Nah.”

Posted in News |

State Patrol: Motel robbery suspect was wanted in Mills County

News

August 9th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The driver of a vehicle involved in a high speed chase following a motel robbery late Thursday night, was wanted on a Mills County warrant for 1st degree theft, and is a suspect in several area burglaries. 38-year old Courtney Bennett was at the wheel of the getaway vehicle bearing Florida license plates, when it ran over stop sticks laid down by a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputy. The vehicle rolled several times and hit a light pole near Crescent, at the intersection of Interstates 29 and 680 at around 12:05-a.m., Friday. A passenger in the car, Remo Bennett, was partially ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. Both men were injured, but their injuries were not life considered to be life threatening. Each faces armed robbery and felony looting charges.

The mens’ escapade began in Stuart, where a motel was robbed. Afterward, they drove to the America’s Best Value Inn near the intersection of I-80 and Highway 71 in Cass County, and allegedly robbed the motel at gunpoint, before leaving with an undetermined amount of cash. The crime was reported at around 11:40-p.m. Thursday.

Law enforcement agencies were notified and the suspects’ vehicle was discovered traveling west on I-80. As a State Trooper pursued the suspect’s vehicle, speeds reached upwards of 130-miles per hour. Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the search and apprehension of the suspects.

Posted in News |

PAMELA KAY CRANE, 59, of Casey (Svcs. 8-12-2013)

Obituaries

August 9th, 2013 by admin

PAMELA KAY CRANE, 59, of Casey died Thurs., Aug., 8th at Guthrie County Hospital. A prayer service for PAM CRANE will be held at 7:00-p.m. Mon., Aug., 12th in the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Adair.

Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 to 7:00-p.m. on Mon., Aug., 12th prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

PAM CRANE is survived by:

Husband, Tom Crane of Casey

Children, Chris (Jennifer) Johnson of St. Mary’s, FL

Sisters, Deb (Phil) Littler of Dexter and Janet (Dave) Waddle of Weston, MO

Two grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

AtlanticFest, NVT Bike ride and birds program scheduled for this weekend in Cass Co.

News

August 9th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

There’s no shortage of things to do this weekend, here in Cass County.

AtlanticFest, “A Celebration of Great People in a Great Place” will be held all day, Saturday (Aug. 10th). It begins at 7-a.m. with a Hy-Vee Pancake Breakfast in the City Park, followed by a road race (2-mile, 5-mile run & walk), at 8-a.m. At that same time, a free tractor ride will take place, rain or shine, beginning at 1st and Poplar Streets. Then at 10, there’s a Pet Show, Car and Motorcycle Show, and at 12:30, the youth and adult divisions Pedal Pulls. At 1:30-p.m. Saturday, there will be a Car Crush with a military tank in the parking lot at 3rd and Walnut Streets. All day long there will be kid’s games in the City Park, and much more. For a full schedule of events, go to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’ website at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Also being held Saturday, is the Cass County Conservation Board’s “Breakfast with the Birds” program. It takes place at in the Camblin Addition Shelter at Sunnyside Park, beginning at 9-a.m., and features Kay Neumann, rehabilitator and Executive Director of SOAR (Save Our Avian Resources). She’ll show and discuss several of her permanently injured birds and may have fully recovered bird to release back into the wild. Free will donations will be accepted at the event.

And, the Nishna Valley Trails group will host a Kids Bike Ride beginning at 10-a.m. Saturday, at the Schildberg Recreation Area’s west parking lot. Kids will ride according to age groups. The ride is free, and is co-sponsored by Cass County Conservation, Howard’s Clothing, Fareway, and the West Side Diner, in Atlantic. For more information, call Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning at 712-769-2372.

Posted in News |

Tournament of Champions – Round 1 Scores

Sports

August 9th, 2013 by Jim Field

Championship Division:

Andrew Martin (Nishna Hills) 34-34 – 68 (-1)

Jim Brown (Urbandale G & CC) 35-33 – 68 (-1)

Cary Cochran (Quail Run) 36-32 – 68 (-1)

Aaron Ahrendsen (Manning/Manilla GC) 36-33 – 69 (E)

Lance Halvorsen (Osceola CC) 33-36 – 69 (E)

Evan Schuler (Atlantic G & CC) 35-35 – 70 (+1)

Brad Hartkopf (Atlantic G & CC) 34-36 – 70 (+1)

Ron Peterson (Past Champion) 33-37 – 70 (+1)

Jared Cochran (Terrace Hills GC) 36-34 – 70 (+1)

Jason Reynolds (Past Champion) 35-36 – 71 (+2)

Derek Jacobsen (Atlantic G & CC) 35-36 – 71 (+2)

Matt Weresch (Des Moines G & CC) 34-37 – 71 (+2)

Zach Christianson (Atlantic G & CC) 35-37 – 72 (+3)

John Thomson (Cresco CC) 37-35 – 72 (+3)

Alex Huyser (Diamond Trail GC) 36-36 – 72 (+3)

Rob Langfelt (Nishna Hills) 35-37 – 72 (+3)

Eric Rock (Oakland CC) 38-35 – 73 (+4)

Ross Martens (Rosman-Glendale) 34-39 – 73 (+4)

Ryan Clark (Briarwood Club of Ankeny) 36-37 – 73 (+4)

Shane Burmeister (Atlantic G & CC) 34-39 – 73 (+4)

Tim Murphy (Dunlap GC) 39-34 – 73 (+4)

Steve Tibbles (Perry G & CC) 37-36 – 73 (+4)

Kurt Matthewson (Woodward GC) 38-36 – 74 (+5)

Jeremy Perkins (Oakland CC) 39-35 – 74 (+5)

Darby McLaren (Atlantic G & CC) 38-36 – 74 (+5)

Phil Ruth (Lakeside Municipal GC) 38-36 – 74 (+5)

Jaxson Armstrong (Crestwood Hills) 39-36 – 75 (+6)

Carter Trewet (Otter Creek GC) 37-38 – 75 (+6)

Dan Conaway (Eagle Grove GC) 37-38 – 75 (+6)

Jeff Gude (Atlantic G & CC) 38-38 – 76 (+7)

Sam Markham (Atlantic G & CC) 36-40 – 76 (+7)

Barry Smith (Pine Knolls CC) 36-40 – 76 (+7)

Steve Davie (Dunlap GC) 36-40 – 76 (+7)

Jason Branham (Quail Run CC) 42-35 – 77 (+8)

Michael Bylund (Audubon GC) 38-39 – 77 (+8)

Eric Brown (Mt. Ayr CC) 37-40 – 77 (+8)

Brad Bailey (Treynor Rec Area) 40-38 – 78 (+9)

Matt Haley (Happy Hollow CC) 37-41 – 78 (+9)

Chris Nelson (Atlantic G & CC) 37-41 – 78 (+9)

Steve Miller (Dunlap GC) 40-38 – 78 (+9)

Cory Scamman (American Legion CC) 39-39 – 78 (+9)

Ryan Sloth (Belmond CC) 41-38 – 79 (+10)

Walker Adams (Osceola CC) 38-41 – 79 (+10)

Craig Benson (Avoca G & CC) 38-42 – 80 (+11)

Ryan Huinker (Harlan G & CC) 40-40 – 80 (+11)

Matt Gross (Nishna Hills) 37-43 – 80 (+11)

Taylor Wheatley (5X80 CC) 40-42 – 82 (+13)

Kramer Sameulson (Clarinda CC) 38-44 – 82 (+13)

Josh Burns (Sac CC) 41-43 – 84 (+15)

Ryan Kirchhoff (Griswold G & CC) 41-44 – 85 (+16)

Cole Davis (Logan-MoValley CC) 41-44 – 85 (+16)

Jake Speer (Greenfield G & CC) 40-47 – 87 (+18)

Steve Swenson (Villisca CC) 43-46 – 89 (+20)

Brandon Brown (Twin Lakes GC) 44-45 – 89 (+20)

Joel Anderson (Willow Creek GC) 44-54 – 98 (+29)

Senior Division:

Del Miller (West Liberty G & CC) 35-34 – 69 (E)

Rick Carter (Crestmoor CC) 35-38 – 73 (+4)

Darron Baker (Eagle Grove GC) 37-37 – 74 (+5)

Kirk Nelson (Atlantic G & CC) 35-39 – 74 (+5)

Jeff Morenz (Atlantic G & CC) 37-37 – 74 (+5)

Jim Wood (Red Oak CC) 38-36 – 74 (+5)

Jim Campbell (Albia CC) 37-38 – 75 (+6)

Kim Peters (Crestwood Hills) 39-36 – 75 (+6)

Arnie Leistad (Atlantic G & CC) 35-40 – 75 (+6)

Rick Thompson (Fairfield G & CC) 39-36 – 75 (+6)

Terry Hannah (Jester Park) 39-36 – 75 (+6)

Daryl Armstrong (Crestwood Hills) 40-36 – 76 (+7)

Gene Capps (Indianola CC) 38-39 – 77 (+8)

Lyle Wittrock (5X80 CC) 39-38 – 77 (+8)

Paul Huddleson (Nishna Hills) 37-40 – 77 (+8)

Dean Muhs (Quail Run CC) 39-39 – 78 (+9)

Blair Hoegh (Otter Creek GC) 38-40 – 78 (+9)

Ken Portsche (Beaver Creek GC) 39-41 – 80 (+11)

John Willmore (Past Champion) 38-42 – 80 (+11)

John Scott Thomson (Cresco CC) 45-36 – 81 (+12)

Frank Rodriguez (Harlan G & CC) 40-41 – 81 (+12)

Donald Perrin (Happy Hollow CC) 42-42 – 84 (+15)

Greg Driskell (Crestmoor GC) 40-45 – 85 (+16)

Rodd Bullard (Waveland GC) 42-43 – 85 (+16)

Mark Morris (Bedford GC) 39-48 – 87 (+18)

Doug Williams (Nishna Hills) 41-46 – 87 (+18)

Jerry Moores (Fremont County GC) 43-46 – 89 (+20)

Steve Ivanovich (Terrace Hills GC) WD

Super Senior Division:

Richard Scybert (Nishna Hills) 37-33 – 70 (+1)

Ed Leistad (Nishna Hills) 38-38 – 76 (+7)

Frank Gunsolley (Mt. Ayr G & CC) 39-39 – 78 (+9)

Richard Mitchell (Nishna Hills) 39-40 – 79 (+10)

Jerry Hoff (Crestmoor GC) 43-39 – 82 (+13)

Bruce Duval (Fremont County GC) 42-42 – 84 (+15)

Posted in Sports |

(Podcast) Backyard and Beyond (8/9/13)

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

August 9th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

On today’s show, Lavon Eblen talks with Lori Chappell, Marketing Director for the Iowa State Fair, about what’s new at the 2013 Fair in Des Moines.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Posted in Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts |

Tractor pulls taking place this weekend in Harrison County

News

August 9th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

If loud and powerful motors don’t bother you, then you might want to head to Harrison County this weekend, where two different tractor pulls will take place Saturday. The first event takes place in Persia at 1-p.m., Saturday. Tickets sell for $7, with pit passes going for $10. Mike Olson, member of the Persia Fire Department, says they expect to have great participation this year. He says they’re expecting a great crowed and hoping for 70-to 80 tractor pull hooks and about the same number during the garden tractor pull.

The tractors and garden tractors will be performing at the same time on alternate tracks down at the Persia ball diamond. And what would a tractor pull event be without food? Olson says Hussy’s BBQ will serve pulled pork sandwiches. In addition, there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos.

If a tractor pull isn’t really your thing, Persia will have several other events going on throughout the day. Olson says they’ll have mixed league end of the year softball tournament taking place all day. There will also be pig pasture bingo. Tickets are available today (Friday) for $5 a ticket, with the winner getting $300 and good neighbor winning $50. Olsen says there will also be duck races Saturday. Purchase a duck for $5 a duck. He says they hope to sell 50 of the plastic ducks, with the winner receiving half the money. That event will take place after the tractor pull.

The softball tournament begins at 10am Saturday morning. All proceeds from the Persia Tractor Pull go towards the Persia Fire Department to their equipment fund. Persia isn’t the only one sporting the big engines this weekend.

The Thunder in the Valley Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull will be held later on Saturday afternoon in Dunlap. That event features some of the biggest machines around with Super Farm, Unlimited and Diesel Super Stock and 4-by-4 stock pickups. The Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull will serve food inside their food stand along with a beer garden, and a DJ will entertain with music before and after the event.

Couples can get in for $25, single tickets are $15 and kids 12 and under are will be admitted for $5. The Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull is in memory of Jason Hoffman who passed away near Dunlap last year in a car accident. A new announcer stand has been built in memory of Jason with his likeness on the back of it. The Dunlap Outlaw Tractor Pull starts at 4-pm Saturday. For more information on the Thunder in the Valley, visit www.outlawpulling.com

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Posted in News |