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CATHERINE A. SCHMIDT, 94, of Audubon (Celebration of Life Svc. 6/8/24)

Obituaries

June 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CATHERINE A. SCHMIDT, 94, of Audubon, died March 9, 2024, at the Exira Care Center. A Celebration of Life service for CATHERINE SCHMIDT will be held 2-p.m. Saturday, June 8,2024, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

The family will meet with friends Saturday afternoon, from 12:30-p.m. until the time of service, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon.

Burial is in the Oak Hill Cemetery, west of Brayton.

CATHERINE SCHMIDT is survived by:

Her children – Barb Madsen and Joel Purtle, of Green Valley, Arizona; Dale Haner and Cathie Grover, of Audubon, Iowa, and Chris (Beth) Haner, of Bouton, Iowa.

Her step-children: Glenda and husband Giff Gardner of Aurora, Colorado, James and Maria Schmidt of Las Vegas, Nevada;

10 grandchildren, 9 step grandchildren; several cherished great grandchildren; her sister-and brother- in-law, other relatives and friends.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Thursday, June 6, 2024

Weather

June 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny & windy. High near 77. Northwest winds 10-to-20 mph w/gusts to near 30 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 53. NW @ 15-25 winds decreasing after midnight.
Friday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 81. NW-W winds @ 5-10 mph.
Friday Night: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 60.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 76.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 86. The Low was 53. We received a Trace of rain Wednesday evening. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 90 and the Low was 602The record High for June 6th was 103 in 1933. The record Low was 32in 1894. Sunrise: 5:46. Sunset: 8:50.

CAM Baseball looks sharp in home win against Exira-EHK

Sports

June 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The CAM Cougars had an impressive 11-2 win over the Exira-EHK Spartans Wednesday night thanks to a strong day on the mound from Chase Spieker. The Spartans were the first to score with an RBI grounder from Jaiden Pettepier towards first base in the top of the 1st inning. Jack Follmann had a response for the Cougars with a sharp RBI single out to center field to tie the game 1-1. Exira-EHK took advantage of an infield error to take the lead back at 2-1 after two innings. The third is where things opened up for CAM as they scored 4 runs to take control off of two doubles and 4 base hits. It started with a Jack Follmann RBI double who had an impressive night going 3-4 with 2 RBI’s. The third inning made the game 5-2 and the Spartans would never get close again. The Cougars scored 2 runs in each of the next three innings and the game ended after the top of the 7th. CAM starting pitcher Chase Spieker pitched an impressive game, where he threw seven effective innings having only 4 hits, 1 earned run, and striking out 8 on the night.

Head Coach Drew Ticknor was impressed with the fielding and lack of errors from the Cougars infield on the night.

A key factor on the overwhelming win for CAM was the focus from starting pitcher Chase Spieker.

The win bumps CAM up to 4-3 and they will stay at home to face a competitive Lenox team on Thursday night. Coach Ticknor would like to see the same consistency from his team heading into that game.

The Spartans fall to 4-3 on the loss and will travel home to host Panorama on Thursday.

Jan Jenson Recounts Her Time As A High School Athlete In Southwest Iowa

Sports

June 5th, 2024 by admin

Jan Jensen recently accepted the position to be the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Iowa. Jensen was born and raised in Kimballton, Iowa.  Jensen played high school basketball at Elk Horn-Kimballton High School where she led the country in scoring with 66 points per game back in 1987. She was inducted into the Iowa Girls High Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. Jensen also ran track and field, volleyball and softball while she was in high school. After high school Jensen accepted a scholarship to play college basketball at Drake University, where she was recruited by Lisa Bluder who was Drake head coach. In her senior season at Drake, Jensen led all Division 1 women’s basketball in scoring where she scored 30 points per game and was named a Kodak Honorable Mention All-American, a member of the All-Gateway team, and GRE Academic All-American Player of the Year. The Missouri Valley Conference named Jensen as one of the 35 greatest players in conference history. After her Drake career, Jensen went onto professional basketball in Europe where she played for BTV-Wuppertal in Germany from 1992-1993, where she helped the club with the German Club Championship. Jensen was then offered to be on Lisa Bluder’s coaching staff at Drake following her basketball playing career, where she was the recruiting coordinator. Jensen then was asked to be on the University of Iowa’s women’s basketball coaching when Bluder accepted the job to be the head coach of the Hawkeye’s.

Jensen talked about small town and rural work ethic in the Kimballton area.

Family still means a lot to Jensen.

Jensen commented on coaching alongside Lisa Bluder for the past 30 years.

Jensen said she really appreciates the fans she has in Southwest Iowa.

Jensen is very excited for this opportunity and looking forward to getting on the recruiting trail.

Child struck and killed in a Neola convenience store parking lot Wed. afternoon

News

June 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Neola, Iowa) – An accident this (Wednesday) afternoon in Neola claimed the life of a child. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2024 Chevy Equinox driven by 67-year-old Rebecca Wood, of Walnut, was slowly moving through the parking lot of the Kum & Go, past the fuel pumps, when a two-year-old toddler from Omaha ran across the path of the vehicle and was struck. The accident happened at around 2:30-p.m.

The toddler was transported to Mercy/UNMC in Omaha by Neola Fire/Rescue, but died from their injuries. The name of the child was not immediately released.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.

Atlantic City Council sets fireworks dates/times

News

June 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) –The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening (June 5th), set the dates for citizens to use fireworks over the Independence Day Holiday. By a vote of 6-to 1, with Councilman Gerald Brink voting no, the Council set Wednesday, July 3rd through Saturday, July 6th, from Noon until 11-p.m. each day, as the dates and times for fireworks to be allowed within the City Limits.

Brink said he had received comments from people who wanted the fireworks to be reduced to two nights only. Councilperson Emily Kennedy said the Community Protection Committee felt most people will have get together’s over the weekend, because people do celebrate Friday and Saturday. The Council has essentially the same discussion last year at this time. According to City Ordinance (Chapter 41.13):

  • A person shall only discharge a fireworks device on real property they own or on property where consent has been given.
    (1) Exceptions: Snakes, sparklers, or caps can be discharged on a public place so long as all trash, wrappers, and wires are properly disposed of.
  • Sky lantern open flame devices are not permitted to be released within the city limits, except if tethered by a retrievable rope so long as the person discharging has control over the sky lantern.
  • No fireworks of any time shall be discharged within 300 ft. of any Public school building, assisted living facility, or hospital.

Any person who violates the provisions of the fireworks discharging ordinance or without reckless intent causes injury, property damage or a fire shall be guilty of a scheduled municipal infraction punishable by a $250 fine in addition to established court costs. Persons who violates the discharging fireworks ordinance after having been found guilty of a previous municipal infraction involving fireworks shall be cited for a municipal infraction with a fine of $600 plus associated court costs.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council heard from officials with Vision Atlantic with regard to a proposal to utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the Camblin Hills Development and Child Development project. During their meeting on May 15th, the Council adopted a resolution to sell City-owned property purchased from the Comes Family Trust in 2022, to Vision Atlantic for the sum of One-dollar, in exchange for what City Administrator John Lund says is “A tremendous amount of capital investment into the area”: More than $4.1-million in infrastructure; $48.8-million in housing, and a $10.7-million child development center on the land. Part of the proposal includes a TIF rebate not to exceed $10.5-million over a period of 15-years. Lund says “This would be the largest project, and the largest multi-entity partnership ever seen in Atlantic’s history. The scale of capital investment is enormous.”

Atlantic City Council mtg., 6/5/24

Following discussion, the Council acted on approving on an Order allowing for a Low-to-moderate Income (LMI) Reduction Waiver Request to be filed with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), on behalf of Vision Atlantic and the aforementioned development project.

The Council also approved a Professional Services Agreement with Snyder & Associates (at a cost of $25,000), for a Downtown Treescape Improvement Master Plan, which includes options, public engagement and Budget estimates.

The Council set June 19th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on an Amended FY2024 Budget. The hearing takes place in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

Grants approved to clean up derelict buildings

News

June 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The state Environmental Protection Commission has given grants to six Iowa small towns to help them deal with run-down buildings. The D-N-R’s Reid Bermel overseas the Derelict Building Grant Program which selects communities with five-thousand or fewer residents for the grants.

“We help them either renovate, deconstruct or abate asbestos, essentially, and eliminate that environmental hazard for the community while trying to keep materials out of the landfill,” Bermel says. This year’s grant awardees are Coon Rapids, Glidden, Ida Grove, Rockford, Greene, New Market and Menlo. Several of the projects will redevelop buildings for retail or housing. Bermel says a lot of the material from the buildings can go to new uses.

“The majority of the waste of these buildings are in the masonry, so the brick and concrete. It’s common to with the correct permitting, they can do shore restorations with that; they can also repurpose and grind them up and use them on their roadways,” he says.

The program’s funding is capped at 400-thousand dollars annually. The Derelict Building Grant Program has funded nearly 200 projects since 2012 in more than 100 different communities.

Multiple injury, 1 fatality accident in Crawford County

News

June 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Denison, Iowa) – One person died and four others were injured during a collision Tuesday night in Crawford County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened east of Denison at around 9:50-p.m. on Highway 30, west of N Avenue, when a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix went out of control and collided with a 2016 Chevy Suburban. The accident took place as the car was traveling eastbound on Highway 30 and the Suburban was traveling westbound.

The Patrol says the driver of the car, 23-year-old Brent Robert Dale Stephan, of Yukon, OK, and two passengers suffered serious injuries. One occupant of the car, 35-year-old Cory Robert Beer, of Bayard, died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. 23-year-old Heaven Marie Holloway, and 44-year-old Stacy Marie Holloway, both of Lytton, were injured, They were not wearing a seat belt.  Both women and Brent Stephan were flown by LifeFlight to the UNMC in Omaha.

The driver of the Suburban, 19-year-old Morgan Wade Andersen, of Shelby, was transported by Denison EMS to the Crawford County Hospital in Denison, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Denison EMS.

2024 Third Iowa Girls High School Softball Rankings

Sports

June 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 5A
School
 Record
LW
1
Waukee Northwest
11-1
3
2
Pleasant Valley
10-1
1
3
Johnston
8-4
5
4
Ankeny Centennial
6-3
6
5
Muscatine
8-2
4
6
West Des Moines Valley
4-3
2
7
Ankeny
5-5
8
8
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
9-2
10
9
Iowa City Liberty
6-5
13
10
Sioux City North
12-0
NR
11
Dubuque Senior
6-3
7
12
Ames
7-2
NR
13
Southeast Polk
5-6
9
14
Bettendorf
5-4
15
15
Waukee
5-6
11
 
Dropped Out: Cedar Rapids Jefferson (12), Sioux City East (14)
 
Class 4A
School
Record
LW
1
Norwalk
11-0
1
2
North Polk
10-2
2
3
Fort Dodge
9-1
3
4
Western Dubuque
10-1
4
5
Carlisle
10-3
5
6
North Scott
7-1
8
7
Cedar Rapids Xavier
9-3
9
8
Winterset
6-6
6
9
Dallas Center-Grimes
6-3
7
10
ADM
6-4
10
11
Burlington
6-0
11
12
Bondurant-Farrar
10-2
13
13
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
9-3
12
14
Webster City
5-1
NR
15
Indianola
6-6
14
 
Dropped Out: Clear Creek-Amana (15)
 
 
Class 3A
School
Record
LW
1
Williamsburg
8-3
2
2
Benton Community
7-2
4
3
Dubuque Wahlert
5-2
1
4
Mount Vernon
12-2
5
5
Estherville Lincoln Central
13-2
3
6
Sumner-Fredericksburg
12-2
8
7
Davenport Assumption
3-6
6
8
Washington
9-3
9
9
Clarinda
10-2
11
10
Solon
6-4
7
11
West Lyon
6-1
12
12
PCM
7-1
14
13
Atlantic
11-5
10
14
West Burlington/Notre Dame
8-0
15
15
West Marshall
8-1
NR

Dropped Out: Albia (13)
 
Class 2A
School
Record
LW
1
Van Meter
13-1
1
2
Northeast
9-0
2
3
Alburnett
11-1
3
4
West Monona
9-2
4
5
Missouri Valley
10-2
5
6
Iowa City Regina
5-3
6
7
Lisbon
8-3
12
8
Interstate 35
5-4
7
9
Central Springs
6-1
9
10
Cardinal
7-2
NR
11
East Marshall
8-2
NR
12
South Hardin
7-6
8
13
Durant
8-5
15
14
Jesup
8-2
10
15
Cascade
4-3
14

Dropped Out: Hinton (11), Louisa Muscatine (13)
Class 1A
School
2024
LW
1
Martensdale-St Marys
6-1
1
2
Sigourney
6-3
2
3
Wayne
7-2
3
4
North Linn
12-3
4
5
Remsen St. Mary’s
5-0
5
6
Fort Dodge St. Edmond
5-0
6
7
Newell-Fonda
8-2
7
8
Mason City Newman Catholic
9-0
9
9
Southeast Warren
9-0
NR
10
Earlham
9-6
8
11
Collins-Maxwell
6-1
11
12
Griswold
9-1
12
13
Clarksville
6-3
10
14
Don Bosco
9-2
NR
15
Edgewood-Colesburg
9-3
NR
 
Dropped Out: Twin Cedars (13), Akron-Westfield (14), Calamus-Wheatland (15)

Former Northern Iowa star switches to right tackle in New Orleans

Sports

June 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Former Northern Iowa star Trevor Penning views a move to right tackle as a fresh start as he prepares for his third season with the New Orleans Saints. The first round draft pick in 2022 was limited to six games his rookie season due to injury. He made five starts at left tackle this past season.

Pennikng says the experience he has gained will help with the move and adjusting to the offense under new coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Penning believes the transition to right tackle will be a rapid one.

Penning’s move is just one of several changes on offense.

The Saints finished 9-8 last season.