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Winter Storm Watch issued for parts of southwest Iowa beginning Saturday evening

News, Weather

March 22nd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH: ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

336 AM CDT FRI MAR 22 2013

…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

* TIMING...SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SATURDAY AFTERNOON OVER SOUTHWEST IOWA AND SPREAD OVER THE AREA SATURDAY EVENING. SNOW WILL BE HEAVIEST SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH NOON SUNDAY.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE EXPECTED IN THE WATCH AREA WITH LOCALLY HIGHER TOTALS POSSIBLE ALONG THE IOWA AND MISSOURI BORDER.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 10 TO 20 MPH ON SUNDAY WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH. THIS MAY RESULT IN SOME MINOR BLOWING SNOW ACROSS THE REGION.

* IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADS WILL LEAD TO HAZARDOUS TRAVEL SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SOME COMPACTION OF SNOW EARLY MAY LEAD TO ICY PATCHES AND SLICK TRAVEL AS WELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FOR UPDATES.

Posted in News, Weather |

Irish eyes on Iowa State’s shooters in NCAA match

Sports

March 22nd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — No matter where he goes, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey gets asked about one game this season. The Fighting Irish beat Louisville in an epic, five-overtime thriller last month that helped Notre Dame solidify a spot in this year’s NCAA tournament. While Notre Dame fans view it as the biggest game to date, the Irish (25-9) have an important one on Friday when they face Iowa State (22-11) in first round of the West Regional.

Brey has a team in the tournament for the fourth straight year, and for Notre Dame to advance, it must slow down the Cyclones, who led the nation in 3-pointers. Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg gives his players the freedom to shoot from anywhere, but the former Cyclone star known as “The Mayor” joked that he still has the best range on the team.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Fri., March 22nd 2013

News

March 22nd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Funeral services have been scheduled for an Iowa soldier who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan earlier this month. Officials say 27-year-old Staff Sergeant Steven Blass of Etherville was one of five soldiers killed in the March 11th crash. A visitation for Blass will be held Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Estherville High School Gym before an awards presentation at 8 p.m. The funeral will be held in the high school gym Tuesday at 2 p.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are continuing the effort to keep wrestling in the Olympics. The state House and Senate passed resolutions yesterday calling on the International Olympic Committee to reconsider the decision to drop wrestling from the 2020 games.

EARLY, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been delayed for a 21-year-old northwest Iowa man who’s accused of killing his mother and kidnapping another woman. Kirk Levin’s trial is now scheduled to begin on June 3rd. It had been scheduled to begin April 10th. Levin’s attorney asked for the delay so he could complete depositions and file pretrial motions.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mayors from Mississippi River communities are joining with members of Congress to draw attention to the waterway and the needs of communities dotting its banks. About a dozen mayors from communities big and small were in Washington D.C. yesterday to announce formation of the Mississippi River Platform.

Posted in News |

Pipe impales windshield, just missing Iowa driver

News

March 21st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

HULL, Iowa (AP) — A 23-year-old driver received minor injuries when a steel pipe impaled her pickup’s windshield in northwest Iowa. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says the accident occurred around 6 a.m. Tuesday, a mile north of Hull. Rebekah Jasmer, of Hull, says the 8-foot-long pipe just missed her. Jasmer says she’d been behind another pickup as she drove to work. She told deputies that the other pickup’s tailgate was down, so it lost several pieces of its scrap metal load when it drifted right and swerved back left.

Jasmer says she ducked to the left as the pipe came through her windshield, grazing her cheek. She was treated at Sioux Center Community Hospital. Deputies have been looking for the driver of the other pickup.

Posted in News |

Bankers say farm income helping rural economy

Ag/Outdoor

March 21st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Bankers in 10 Midwest and Plains states expect the rural economy to continue growing in the months ahead because of the strength of farm income. The overall economic index on the March Rural Mainstreet survey remained at a healthy level of 56.9 even though it was down from February’s 58.2. Any score above 50 on the index, which ranges from 0 to 100, suggests growth in the months ahead. Scores below 50 suggest contraction.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the report. He says the survey suggests farmland values will continue to grow and home sales are beginning to grow. The index is based on a survey of rural bankers in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

No Powerball winner? Officials watch $320M jackpot

News

March 21st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — No Powerball winner? It just means a bigger jackpot for the rest of us. Lottery officials say no ticket matched all the numbers in Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, meaning the current $320 million jackpot could swell before the next drawing on Saturday. Iowa Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer says the current jackpot is the sixth highest in history, but that it could grow depending on sales at the end of each day. No one has won the Powerball jackpot since early February.

The holders of two winning tickets — one purchased in Arizona and the other in Missouri — shared $587.5 million in November, the largest Powerball jackpot in history.

Posted in News |

JERVAISE NETTIE BINTZ, 83, of Oakland (Svcs. 2-25-2013)

Obituaries

March 21st, 2013 by admin

JERVAISE NETTIE BINTZ, 83, of Oakland died Thurs., Mar., 21st at the Oakland Manor Nursing Home. A funeral service for JERVAISE NETTIE BINTZ will be held at 10:30 AM Mon., Mar., 25th at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.

Visitation will be from 2:00 to 8:00 PM Sun., Mar., 24th with family greeting friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.

Burial will be in Minden Cemetery.

JERVAISE NETTIE BINTZ is survived by:

Her sons: Eugene Bintz of Oakland, David Bintz of Hancock, Jeffrey (Jody) Bintz of Treynor and John (Susan) Bintz of Helena, MT.

Grandchild, Joshua (Christy) Bintz of Omaha, NE.

Brothers, Lynn Grap  and Arlon Grap, both of Persia.

Sisters, Nancy Powell of Missouri Valley, Mary (Howard) Beaman of Harlan and CharLes (Kenneth) Kemmish of Crescent.

Sister-in-law, Carmella Grap of Portsmouth.

Posted in Obituaries |

G&R Feed & Grain bankruptcy case update

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 21st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Trustee in the bankruptcy case of a Portsmouth grain company reports that on Wednesday, March 20th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture mailed checks to producers who held warehouse receipts for stored grain at G & R Feed and Grain Co., Incorporated. Deborah L. Petersen says the Iowa Department of Agriculture continues to process claims for producers who sold grain to G & R for cash, or who sold grain on an unsigned contract and were not paid. The first batch of claims has been processed, and the second batch is in progress. Once the paperwork has been returned by the claimants and processed, checks will be issued within 2 – 3 weeks thereafter.

Petersen reports as well, that the bankruptcy case is progressing. She says the deadline for filing claims in the Bankruptcy is May 20th, 2013. If you have a claim for a deferred price contract, or other amount due you, you should take action to timely file a claim with the Bankruptcy Court.

Petersen is accepting proposals for auction of the facility and all equipment. Once an auctioneer is chosen, the Court’s approval will be sought and an auction scheduled. Letters have been sent out to collect all accounts due G & R.  Petersen says as Trustee, she is still seeking recovery of the proceeds for the grain delivered in December.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Investigations lead to 2 arrests in Audubon County

News

March 21st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports an Audubon man, 20-year old Aaron James Eddy, has been charged with Operating a motor vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI) and Failure to Maintain Control, following an investigation into an accident which occurred on Feb. 7th near 200th Street and Lark Avenue. Eddy appeared before the magistrate this (Thursday) morning, and was released. His preliminary hearing was set for April 8th.

And, 21-year old Jesse Lee Brubaker, of Exira, was charged with Supplying Alcohol to a Minor. The charge stems from an investigation into an incident which occurred on Feb. 6th at the Brubaker residence at 204 S. Fairview Street, in Exira. Brubaker also appeared before the magistrate this (Thursday) morning, and was released from custody, with his preliminary hearing set for April 8th.

Posted in News |

(update) High Speed Pursuit in Cass and Pottawattamie Counties

News

March 21st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

In an update to our story posted online Wednesday night and broadcast this (Thursday) morning, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Council Bluffs man was arrested in Oakland following a high-speed chase that spanned three counties and several local communities. The incident which led to the arrest of 25-year old Zachary A. White began in Audubon, when officers attempted to stop a black BMW at around 10-p.m..

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson said the car took off, and was pursued by Audubon Police, Audubon County Sheriff’s Deputies and Exira Police. Those agencies broke off the pursuit when they lost sight of the vehicle. The chase resumed in Cass County, through Atlantic on Highway 6 at around 10:15-p.m.. The pursuit soon made its way out of Cass County into Pottawattamie County. Pott. County Sheriff’s Dept. spokesman, Lt. Pat McGinn said Deputy Shea picked up the chase near the County line. At that time, the BMW was traveling in excess of 120-miles per hour.

McGinn says the deputy stationed himself at 430th Street and Highway 6 was prepared to laydown stop sticks. As the car approached, the deputy deployed the stop sticks. The car’s left front tire rand over and was punctured by the device. The suspect stopped his disabled vehicle in Oakland at Doctor Van Zee Road and Highway 59/6.

He was taken into custody at around 10:35-p.m. and charged with felony eluding, Operating While Intoxicated and numerous other charges. Additional charges are likely in Audubon County, as well. White was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on  $5,000 bond.

Posted in News |