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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 |

Backyard and Beyond 03-21-2013

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

March 21st, 2013 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks about the incredible edible egg.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.6MB)

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Posted in Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts |

Iowa lawmakers oppose Olympic wrestling decision

Sports

March 21st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers are continuing the effort to keep wrestling in the Olympics. The state House and Senate passed resolutions Thursday calling on the International Olympic Committee to reconsider the decision to drop wrestling from the 2020 games.  Democratic Sen. Tod Bowman of Maquoketa says wrestling defines Iowa.

The NCAA wrestling championships kick off in Des Moines today (Thursday).  Famed Iowa wrestler Dan Gable appeared in the legislature in support of the move. Gable won a gold medal in the 1972 Olympics and coached at the University of Iowa from 1977 to 1997.

Gov. Terry Branstad has also worked to restore wrestling to the 2020 games with a campaign called “Let’s Keep Wrestling.” The effort has the support of the state’s congressional delegation and nearly 25,000 people have signed an online petition.

Posted in Sports |

Fender bender in the Atlantic Shopping Plaza

News

March 21st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department says no injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of the Atlantic Shopping Plaza. Officials say a vehicle driven by Lori Burgduff, of Shenandoah, was traveling south in the parking lot near the Pizza Ranch restaurant, when a legally parked car driven by Stephen Bartel, of Castana, backed out of the parking stall,  and was hit by Burgduff’s vehicle. The damage amounted to $2,800. No citations were issued.

Posted in News |