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Cards place Berkman on DL again with knee injury

Sports

May 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have placed first baseman Lance Berkman on the 15-day disabled list because of an injured right knee. Berkman was hurt while stretching for a throw from shortstop Rafael Furcal on Justin Sellers’ groundout in the second inning of Saturday night’s 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Berkman will have an MRI exam today (Monday) in St. Louis. The switch-hitting Berkman, the NL comeback player of the year in 2011, is on the DL for the sixth time in his 14-year career. He had just returned to the lineup on May 13 after being sidelined for 21 games because of a strained left calf he aggravated while chasing a popup. The Cardinals filled Berkman’s roster spot by purchasing the contract of first baseman Matt Adams from Triple-A.

Van Slyke’s 3-run pinch HR helps Dodgers top Cards

Sports

May 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke connected for his first major league homer, a go-ahead, three-run shot in the seventh inning against his father’s former team, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night. Kyle Lohse allowed three runs and 11 hits over 5 2-3 innings with four strikeouts and left with a 5-3 lead. But rookie Elian Herrera started the Dodgers’ winning rally with a one-out single against Victor Marte, and Bobby Abreu greeted Mark Rzepczynski (0-2) with a single. Van Slyke, whose father is former All-Star Andy Van Slyke, got the green light from manager Don Mattingly on a 3-0 pitch and drove it into the left field bullpen after Andre Ethier struck out. Javy Guerra (2-3) got the win, which completed a three-game sweep for the Dodgers and improved the best record in the majors to 28-13.

NWS Forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA: May 21st 2012

Weather

May 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

TODAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 70S. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 50S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 60S.

THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE MID 80S.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S.

Stenhouse wins 3rd straight at Iowa

Sports

May 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Junior led for 209 of 250 laps and won the NASCAR Nationwide race at the Iowa Speedway on Sunday, his third straight win on Iowa’s short oval. Stenhouse, who won both races in Iowa in 2011, picked up his third victory of the season and extended his lead in the points chase to 28 over Elliott Sadler, who was second. Michael McDowell was third, followed by rookie Austin Dillon and Kurt Busch. The Sprint Cup event in Charlotte on Saturday kept all Cup regulars except for Busch out of the field. Busch briefly took the lead after starting in the back and saved a top-five finish after being bumped by McDowell on the last lap. Danica Patrick failed to finish for just the second time this season. Travis Pastrana’s third career Nationwide race ended roughly 50 laps from the finish because of an electrical issue.

Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, May 21st 2012

News

May 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President Obama’s visit to Iowa this week will include a grassroots event at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines. The White House previously announced that Obama will give an economic speech in Newton and meet with supporters in Des Moines. Doors open at the fairgrounds at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. It’s open to the public, and no tickets are required. Presumed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was campaigning in Iowa on Tuesday.

UNDATED (AP) — The body of a fourth missing person has been found after a boat crash on the Mississippi River in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says four bodies were found yesterday within 100 yards of the crash site, where the river is about 12 feet deep. The victims’ names have not been released, pending notification of their families.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Crews have suspended their search for a man believed to have drowned while trying to cross the Cedar River. Cedar Rapids police say firefighters and dive teams searched for several hours Saturday and for much of yesterday, halting the search about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. They’re scheduled to resume the recovery effort at 1 p.m. today.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Junior led for 209 of 250 laps and won the NASCAR Nationwide race at the Iowa Speedway yesterday. It was his third straight win in Newtown. Stenhouse, who won both races in Iowa in 2011, picked up his third victory of the season.

NEOMA RIDLEN, 93, of Avoca (& formerly of Griswold) = Svcs. 5-24-12

Obituaries

May 20th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

NEOMA RIDLEN, 93, of Avoca, (& formerly of Griswold), died Sun., May 20th, at the Avoca Nursing & Rehab Center. Services for NEOMA RIDLEN will be held 10-a.m. Thu., May 24th at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

An open visitation will be held at Roland’s from 8am-5pm Tue. & Wed., May 22nd & 23rd, with a family visitation from 5-7pm Wednesday.

Interment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis.

NEOMA RIDLEN is survived by:

Son – Mason.

6 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Storage unit burglary under investigation

News

May 20th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in their investigation into the theft of a motorcycle from a storage unit in Red Oak.  Deputies were called to investigate the incident Sunday, at Hawkeye Storage (2505 N. Broadway), in Red Oak.

Sondra Stogdill, of Red Oak, reported entry to the storage unit she rents, and the theft of a red, 1981 Yamaha Enduro motorcycle. The cycle was valued at $1,000. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

CAM, EHK & Griswold School Boards to meet (separately) Monday

News

May 20th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The CAM, EHK and Griswold Community School District Boards of Education will hold their regular (separate) meetings, Monday evening, in Anita, Elk Horn and Griswold, respectively. The Griswold School Board will meet at 5:30-p.m., in the Central Office Board Room.

On their agenda is an update on various district projects, action on accepting bids and awarding contracts for, a bus or buses, and a freezer, along with the approval of contracts for the Administrative Team and Central Office.

In Anita, the CAM School Board will meet at the High School Media Center, beginning at 7-p.m. Discussion and/or action items on their agenda include: approval of open enrollment applications; approval of resignations and/or contracts, along with director district boundaries, and method of election of the Board of Directors; approval of 2012 graduating Seniors, and other matters.

In Elk Horn, the Elk Horn- Kimballton School Board will gather at 7-p.m. in the Family and Consumer Science Room at the High School. The meeting will begin with the administering of Oath to the Shared Business Manager. New business discussion and/or action items include: Fees for next year; approval of an amended budget for 2011-2012; approval of bids for the boiler repair, new lights in the Main gym, a new heat pump, and,a Resolution of Intent to Propose Reorganization  with Exira.

The EHK Board will also take action on: Approving a reduction in Force; the District Developed Special Education Service Delivery Plan; Contracts issued to staff and support staff; and, a revised Calendar for 2012-2013.

Atlantic Parks and Rec Board to meet Monday

News

May 20th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board of Directors are scheduled to meet Monday evening, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Action or New Business items on their agenda include: Updates on the various Capital Improvement Projects (including Park Maintenance Bldg., Sunnyside Park Improvements & Tennis Court reconstruction…Softball Field fencing and renovation…Swimming pool…entrance signs & the Park Shelter….City Park sidewalk improvements; Holt Park playground equipment; and, Sunnyside Skate Park equipment refurbishment).

There will also be updates on: the Summer Rec program enrollment numbers; the Schildberg Recreation Area Campground, Dog Park, and Eagle Scout bench project and other matters. In his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring will talk about the Cass County Community Foundation Grant, the Seasonal Personnel report, and Budget matters.

The meeting is slated to begin at 5:15-p.m.

“Click it or ticket” mobilization effort begins Monday

News

May 20th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

If you were traveling on Interstate 80 in western Iowa this (Sunday) afternoon, you noticed a heavy presence of State Troopers, many of them in unmarked vehicles. That was just a prelude to a national “Click it or Ticket” seat belt enforcement mobilization which officially begins Monday (May 21st). In Iowa, city, county and state law enforcement officers are teaming up with highway safety advocates across the country, to help save more lives by enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows in 2010, 61-percent of the 10, 647 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes which occurred between 6-p.m. and 6-a.m., were not wearing their seat belts. The daytime, unbelted traffic fatality rate is 42-percent. In 2011, there were 360 motorists killed in crashes on Iowa’s roadways. And, while that was a 66-year low, 115 of those deaths involved vehicle occupants who were not wearing their seat belts.  Iowa’s mandatory seat belt law has been in effect for nearly 26-years.

This year’s “Click it or Ticket” enforcement effort runs May 21st through June 3rd.