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Shelby County Fire Danger Index remains “Extreme”, TFN

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

September 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Fire Danger Index will remain in the “Extreme” category in Shelby County, at least until the next update, on Thursday. Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says field work is beginning in the County, and there are typically three or four combine fires each harvest season. Seivert says while the short grasses have greened-up thanks to recent rainfall, the major fuel source for explosive fire growth…corn, beans, and tall grasses.. continue to dry-up due to the sunshine and wind.

Extra precautions should be taken while farmers are out in the field, to ensure their machines are free of debris and that fires are not started behind those implements while the harvest is underway.

3 accidents Sunday in SW IA

News

September 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol kept busy investigating three separate accidents in southwest Iowa, Sunday. One took place at around 9:30-a.m. on Interstate 680 in Pottawattamie County. Officials say the driver of a 2003 Toyota Camry, 53-year old Timothy Gurtis, of Omaha, was injured, when he lost control of the vehicle, which wound-up hitting a guardrail. The accident happened near Neola. Gurtis was transported by Neola Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, for treatment of minor injuries.

The second accident happened at around 11:25-a.m. Sunday, in Fremont County. The State Patrol says 27-year old Chance Greer, of Kansas City, MO, was traveling south on Interstate 29 when the 2000 Toyota CXL he was driving left the road, traveled into the median and struck a cable guardrail. Greer suffered minor injuries. The Patrol says alcohol was a factor in the crash, and charges are pending completion of lab results.

The third accident took place Sunday afternoon, in Mills County. The State Patrol says a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire, driven by 18-year old Hallie Fitzsimmons, of Glenwood, was traveling south on 230th Street, when the teen lost control while her vehicle as it entered a curve. The car left the road and hit a driveway entrance, before striking a fire hydrant. Fitzsimmons was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jenny Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

Officials say all three of the injured drivers were wearing their seat belts.

Thefts and arrests reported in Clarinda; Pit bull shot and killed

News

September 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Police in Clarinda are investigating recent incidents of theft. Officials say on Monday, a resident on West Logan Street reported a Craftsman air compressor valued at $200, was taken from outside of his home during the late evening hours Saturday or early morning, Sunday. That same day, another resident reported the theft of a five-gallon gasoline container from outside of her home. The theft occurred during the same time frame the compressor was stolen.

Early Sunday afternoon, officers in Clarinda responded to a report of a vicious dog running loose in the 400 block of East Garfield Street. When they arrived, the dog, which was described as being a brown pit bull, repeatedly charged at the officers, one of whom fired his service weapon at the animal, killing it. The incident remains under investigation.

Also on Sunday, a 17-year old female reported to Clarinda Police she had been physically assaulted by an adult male and female, which she was in the area of 12th and State Streets. The teen suffered minor injuries during the incident, which  occurred sometime between six- and seven-p.m, and it remains under investigation.

And, late Friday afternoon, Police in Clarinda arrested 21-year old Justine Sheree Powers, of College Springs, on a charge of driving with a revoked license for a previous OWI conviction. Powers posted $1,000 bond and was released pending a court appearance.

SD man injured in Saturday motorcycle crash

News

September 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A South Dakota man was critically injured during a motorcycle accident on Saturday night in Monona County. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened at around 8-p.m., near 190th Street and County Highway L-32 south of Mapleton. Officials say 52 year old John Haas of Rapid City, SD was traveling southbound on Hwy L-32 when he failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of his motorcycle. Haas was airlifted to Mercy Medical in Sioux City in critical condition. An update on his condition is not available.

The accident remains under investigation by the Monona County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol.

Four injured during Audubon County crash

News

September 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports four people were injured during a single vehicle accident Sunday evening, north of Exira. Officials say the driver of a 2006 Chevy Equinox, 49-year old Julieanne Marie Knutsen, of Audubon, along with her passengers, 26-year old Micheal Todd Cooley, of Emmetsburg, 19-year old Tanner Lynn Knutsen and 16-year old Taylor Marie Knutsen, both of Audubon, were transported to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital by Exira Fire and Rescue.

The accident happened at around 5:15-p.m., as Knutsen was traveling north on Highway 71. The SUV left the pavement onto the shoulder. When Knutsen attempted to steer back onto the pavement, she overcorrected, sending the SUV out of control. It rolled three-times before landing on its wheels facing south, in the east ditch. The vehicle sustained $10,000 damage in the crash. Knutsen was charged with Failure to Maintain Control.

BARBARA WITTE, 82, of Atlantic (No Svcs. Planned)

Obituaries

September 4th, 2012 by admin

BARBARA WITTE, 82 of Atlantic died Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. No services are planned for BARBARA WITTE. Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic is assisting the family.

Visitation is open at the funeral home from 8am-to 5pm Wed., Sept. 5th, and from 8am-6pm on Thursday, with the family present Thursday, from 6-to 7:30-p.m.

Barbara Witte is survived by:

Daughter: Janis Boggs of Atlantic

5 Grandchildren

5 Great Grandchildren

Former Anita teacher pleads guilty to 2 counts of sexual exploitation

News

September 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A former teacher for the Anita Community School District today (Tuesday) entered a voluntary plea of guilty to two-counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor by a School Employee, Counselor or Therapist, with the intent to arouse, in violation of Iowa Law. 65-year old William Glenn Foulkes appeared in Cass County District Court in Atlantic, along with his Attorney, F. Montgomery Brown.

Brown told Fourth District Court Judge Richard H. Davidson, that he and Cass County Prosecutor Dan Feistner has reached a plea agreement in Foulkes’ case, which stipulates Foulkes would plead guilty to Counts 2 and 3 (Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee/Aggravated Misdemeanor), in exchange for a felony charge of Sexual Exploitation, and the remaining Aggravated Misdemeanor charges (Counts 4-thru 50) being dropped at Foulkes’ cost.

Foulkes admitted to kissing a juvenile female on numerous occasions while teaching the student in a math program, from August 2009 until November 11th, 2010. He resigned from his teaching position in November 2010.

Foulkes has agreed to waive his Pre-Sentence Investigation, or PSI. His sentencing was set for October 1st, 2012.  He will remain free on $50,000 bond pending his sentencing date. As part of his pending sentence, he will be required to complete a Sex Offender Treatment Program in a residential correctional facility, pay restitution to the State and Victim, and have no contact with the victim.  Foulkes will likely be required to serve two, two-year terms of supervised probation for the combined counts, with the time to be served consecutively, or back-to-back. He had faced a maximum of 103-years in prison and fines of more than $300,000. He’ll also be required to pay fines for each count ranging from $625 to $6,250, plus court costs and surcharges. Foulkes will have to register as a sex offender after his sentencing.

FRED C. KESLER, 89, of Panora (Svcs. 09-06-2012)

Obituaries

September 4th, 2012 by admin

FRED C. KESLER, 89, of Panora died Sunday, September 2, 2012 at the Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center.  Funeral services for FRED KESLER will be held Thursday, September 6th at 10:30am at the First Christian Church in Panora.  Twigg Funeral Home in Panora has the arrangements.

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Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 5th from 4-7pm with the family present from 5-7pm at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Monteith Cemetery.

Backyard and Beyond 09-04-2012

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

September 4th, 2012 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Kathrine Lia Winkler, Danish Immigrant Museum Intern, getting acquainted and her work at the family history and genealogy and museum exhibitions deptartment.

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Across Oceans Across Time 09-04-2012

Across Oceans Across Time, Podcasts

September 4th, 2012 by admin

John Mark Nielsen talks about how the Danish labor force compares to the US labor force.

 

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