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Cooper, Freyler on Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Sports

July 30th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State safeties Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler have been named to the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, presented annually to the nation’s defensive player of the year.

Cooper and Freyler are two of 16 safeties on the list and the only safety teammates featured. In total, 75 defensive players from 56 schools are represented on the list.

Cooper, a junior from El Paso, Texas, is a preseason All-Big 12 selection after earning first-team honors in 2023. He played and started 11 games last season and finished second in the Big 12 Conference and sixth nationally with five interceptions. Cooper tallied 45 tackles and ranked fourth nationally in passes defended per game (1.4).

Freyler, a Colorado Springs, Colorado native, enters his senior season following an All-Big 12 performance as a junior in 2023. He compiled 107 tackles, becoming the first Cyclone to reach 100 tackles in a season since 2017. Freyler tied for fourth among Big 12 players for tackles and also had three interceptions and five pass breakups.

Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.

The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.

Posted in Sports |

4 Hawkeyes Named To Watch Lists

Sports

July 30th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Four University of Iowa football players were named to preseason watch lists, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced on Tuesday.

Seniors Sebastian Castro, Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson were named to the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List for the national defensive player of the year. Higgins was previously tabbed as the 2024 preseason national defensive player of the year by Phil Steele.

Senior offensive lineman Logan Jones was recognized on the 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List, presented to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman on offense or defense.

Iowa and Georgia have the second-most Nagurski preseason honorees. Former Hawkeye cornerback Cooper DeJean (2023) and linebackers Josey Jewell (2017) and Pat Angerer (2009) were finalists for the prestigious award.

Higgins (6-foot-2, 232-pounds) recorded 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists) last season, which led the Big Ten and ranked third in the nation. Those total ties the program record for tackles in a single season. The Indianapolis native was named to the FWAA All-American First Team in 2023.

Jackson (6-foot-2, 235-pounds) contributed 110 tackles (51 solo, 59 assists) at linebacker, good for second on the team and fourth in the conference. The Atlanta, Georgia, native was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree by league media and honorable mention all-conference by league coaches in 2023.

Castro (5-foot-11, 205-pounds) led the team in 2023 with eight pass break-ups and three interceptions in the defensive backfield. Those totals ranked fourth and ninth in the Big Ten, respectively, last season.

Castro was a Football Focus first-team All-America, an Associated Press third-team All-American and a Phil Steele honorable mention All-American a year ago. The native of Oak Lawn, Illinois, was voted second-team All-Big Ten by conference media and honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches.

The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the five finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.

Jones (6-foot-3, 293-pounds) is Iowa’s first Outland Trophy preseason honoree since Tyler Linderbaum (2021). Jones started at center in 13 games, missing the Nebraska game due to injury.

The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native was voted third team All-Big Ten by conference media and honorable mention All-Big ten by league coaches.

Established in 1946, the Outland Trophy is named after Dr. John H. Outland, who is one of only a few players in college football history to be named an All-American at two positions.

The recipient of the 2024 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Dec. 12, 2024. Four Hawkeyes (Brandon Scherff, 2014; Robert Gallery, 2003; Alex Karras, 1957; Cal Jones, 1955) have won the award. Only three programs in the nation (Nebraska, Alabama, Oklahoma) have had more than four Outland Trophy recipients.

The Hawkeyes open their season on Aug. 31 against Illinois State. The sold-out game is set for an 11 a.m. (CT) kickoff.

Posted in Sports |

Cumberland Youth Scores BIG Support at Cass County Fair Sale

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 30th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jace Thomsen of Cumberland had an emotional Cass County Fair.  He was named as the Fair Prince during the royalty coronation to begin the fair.  That gave him a chance to hand out awards and interact with many of the young 4-H and FFA members.  He won a lavender award with his heifer in the FFA Beef Show on Monday.  But, what happened at the livestock sale to close the fair on Tuesday left a number of people with misty eyes.

Jace lost his dad, 60 year old Jeff “Swampy” Thomsen, earlier this summer.

Local auctioneer Mark Venteicher said raising and preparing the cattle for the fair was something Jace and his father enjoyed doing together.  So, Mark and some friends decided to make the sale of that heifer a big one.  The packer price from Tyson Foods was set at $1.95 per pound on the 1,234 pound heifer.  Venteicher and Massena Livestock Sales, along with Anita Vet Clinic, Dave Steffen, 21st Century Co-op, Houghton State Bank, Dan’s Welding, Bill Hosfelt, Curt Behrends, Steve Jorgensen, Tanner Farms, Mike Pellett, Darrin Shafer, Mitch Kleen, Glenn Sonntag, Greg Zellmer and Dave Williamson pooled their money together to provide Jace with a purchase price of $9.25 per pound, making the total on the animal $11,414.50.

Venteicher said they wanted to show support for Jace and provide some money for college.

It was, of course, the biggest sale from another successful livestock auction at the Cass County Fair.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Iowa pheasant population survey begins Aug. 1

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR News) – Pheasant hunters across the northern half of Iowa had an excellent season last year, and many are looking forward to what 2024 has in store. The fall forecast will be based on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) annual roadside pheasant counts, that begins Aug. 1.

The statewide survey is conducted by Iowa DNR staff between Aug. 1-15, who drive 225, 30-mile routes on gravel roads at dawn on mornings with heavy dew. Hen pheasants will move their broods to the edge of the gravel road to dry off before they begin feeding, which makes them easier to count.

In June the DNR issued its annual prediction for the roadside counts, which uses a weather model based on the snowfall, rainfall and temperatures from the past winter and spring.  The model provides a best guess at what the counts might look like, and it is predicting numbers to be likely lower than last year.

A pheasant flying over corn. (DNR photo)

But the best indicator for the fall season is the August roadside survey that counts actual pheasants seen along more than 6,000 miles of rural, gravel roads.

The August roadside survey has been conducted over the same routes since 1962. In addition to pheasants and quail, the survey collects data on partridge, cottontails and jackrabbits. Results will be posted online at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey in early September. Iowa’s pheasant season begins Oct. 26.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

JANET D. PETERSEN, 90, of Atlantic (Mass of Christian Burial 8/3/24)

Obituaries

July 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JANET DIANE PETERSEN, 90, of Atlantic, died Sunday, July 28, 2024, at the Heritage House in Atlantic. A Mass of Christian Burial for JANET PETERSEN will be held beginning 10-a.m. Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

A Rosary service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday before the mass, also held at the church.

Interment will follow the mass, and at the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery.

A reception will occur following the interment in the Parish Hall of the Saints Peter & Paul Church.

JAN PETERSEN is survived by:

Her sons – Steven (Sherri) Petersen, of Elk Horn, NE, and Marty Petersen (Marcy Dorsey), of Atlantic.

Her brothers – Jerry Shields, of Carroll, IA, and Tom Shields of San Marcos, CA.

9 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, her son-in-law from Arkansas, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Fremont County Deputy attacked by pit bulls during a traffic stop

News

July 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Sidney, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a Deputy was treated for dog bites following a traffic stop Monday afternoon. The incident began at around 3:30-p.m., when the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen vehicle being chased by the owner, on Highway 275 near Hamburg.
Deputies responded to the area and observed the vehicle a silver 2004 Chevrolet Suburban northbound in the 2600 block of Hwy 275. Deputies were able to stop the vehicle and a felony traffic stop was conducted. The driver, 50-year-old Troy Decker, of Kingman, AZ, exited the vehicle.

Troy Decker

Two pit bulls also exited the vehicle and attacked a Fremont County Deputy causing severe injuries. The dogs were secured and Decker was placed under arrest without further incident. The Fremont County Deputy, was transported to a local hospital by Sidney Rescue and later released. The deputy is recovering at home.
The vehicle was reported stolen out of Nebraska City, Nebraska. The license plates on the vehicle were found to be stolen out of Clarinda.Decker was charged with Theft 2nd, possession of Methamphetamine, and two counts of a possessing a dangerous animal. He was being held at the Fremont County Jail on a $6,000 cash-only bond, with additional charges pending.
The dogs are being held at a local veterinary clinic pending infectious disease results.

Posted in News |

Couple needs to be rescued from Sioux City home after tree falls in storm

News, Weather

July 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Thunderstorms have been rolling across Iowa bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Winds were clocked between 60 and 70 miles an hour in Sioux City in western Iowa just before midnight. Numerous power lines were knocked down by falling tree limbs.

Sioux City Fire Captain Ryan Collins says they did have to rescue two people from a home. “A tree had fallen into the house and the occupants were unable to get out on their own and crews were actually able to remove them off their deck using ground ladders and those occupants are being taken care of,” he says. Collins says they had some three dozen calls of trees down on power lines.

He says some neighborhoods were blacked out after losing power and that makes responding more dangerous. “The headlights of the apparatus is the sole means of elimination. It’s tough to see those black power lines that are laying across the road or even large trees that are completely blocking roadways,”Collins says. “A lot of times you’re not going to see it until you’re right up on it. And as always, we respond with caution but especially, you know, after storage, we have to have a little extra bit of caution. We just have to slow it down a little bit.”

Tree down after the storm in Sioux City. (KSCJ photo)

MidAmerican Energy spokesperson Tina Hoffman says line damage from trees can take longer to repair. “Our tree crews often have to get in first to clear away that debris before our line crews can get in and get to work with restoring service,” she says. There were some 1,300 customers without power as of 10 a.m. in Sioux City and Hoffman says they may not have all of the power back on until six this evening.

There were some 16,000 power outages in central Iowa right after the storm came through.

Posted in News, Weather |

Lake front property in NW IA sells for record $9.5 million dollar

News

July 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A lake front property in northwest Iowa that’s been on the market for a decade has sold for nine-and-a-half MILLION dollars — the highest price on record for an Iowa home. The home in Spirit Lake, located on the shore of West Lake Okoboji, is known as Peace Harbor. It was built in 2004 for Tom Bedell. Bedell is the former C-E-O of Pure Fishing and son of the late Berkley Bedell, a former Iowa congressman who founded the company in 1937. The home has eight bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a media room named for Spirit Lake’s first movie theater and a replica of an Irish pub that can host up to 300 people.

A news release says the sale was listed through Christie’s International Real Estate Network in late April and a buyer, whose name was not disclosed, signed a contract within 10 days. The sale was completed Monday.

Peace Harbor in Spirit Lake, Iowa (Photo by Drew Dau, provided by @properties-elleven Christie’s International Real Estate)

The home was originally listed for sale in late 2013 and the asking price was 14-point-nine million dollars. In a statement released by Christie’s International Real Estate today (Tuesday), Tom Bedell said it was a dream to create a home to host family gatherings and raise his kids during their high school years and Bedells are thrilled another family gets to define its new purpose.

Posted in News |

Catfish are biting across Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR News) – Fishing for catfish is a fun summer tradition for many Iowa families. Invite someone new to fishing to come along to share the fun and memories. “Catfish will bite most of the time, no matter what the water temperature,” explains Daniel Vogeler, Iowa DNR fisheries technician. “They are biting in most lakes, ponds, rivers and streams across Iowa.” Bring along two coolers with ice, one to keep your bait firm and fresh and another to keep your catch cold and preserve that great taste.

Catfish have a great sense of smell and taste. Try prepared dip baits, chicken livers, minnows or chubs, green sunfish, bluegill, crawdads, frogs, nightcrawlers or dead, but fresh, goldeye or gizzard shad. Lakes stratify, or form layers, this time of year, with cool, oxygen-deprived waters sinking to the bottom. Don’t fish in water deeper than 8 to 10 feet on most lakes.

Look for areas with vegetation, brush piles or rock. Use the DNR interactive fishing atlas to help you quickly find these spots. Fish the upper ends of the larger reservoirs where the water is shallower and baitfish like gizzard shad gather. Use baits fished on the bottom or suspended off the bottom with a bobber and let current or breeze move the bait to find active catfish.

Iowa rivers are loaded with catfish. Look for fish around downed trees and brush piles, but don’t overlook rock piles or other objects that deflect water and form a current seam. Position your bait just upstream of brush piles so the scent of the bait is carried downstream into the structure to draw the catfish out. Anchor the bait with a heavy weight so it doesn’t drift into snags. If fishing the big rivers, try upstream and on the tips of wing dykes and wing dams on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Find more tips for catching, cleaning and cooking catfish on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fishing-Tips-How-Tos/How-to-Fish-For-/Channel-Catfish-Fishing.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Pilot is killed in NE Iowa crop-dusting helicopter crash

News

July 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A Kansas man has died after his crop-dusting helicopter crashed in northeast Iowa. Chickasaw County Sheriff Ryan Shawver says that at about 1:30 pm Monday afternoon, they received a 911 call of a recording that the owner of the iPhone has been involved in a crash and gave coordinates. Deputies were dispatched and determined a crop-dusting helicopter had crashed northeast of Nashua. The pilot, Eleazar Villafranca Junior of Manhattan, Kansas, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Chickasaw County Medical Examiner.

A full autopsy has been ordered to be completed by the Iowa State Medical Examiners Office. The crash site remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol, the FAA and the NTSB.

Posted in News |