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Semi drivers exchange words: rigs collide on I-29, Tuesday

News

May 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol says a Missouri truck driver was cited following an accident Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 29, in Mills County. Officials say a semi driven by 54-year old Daniel Smoot, of Atlanta, MO, was traveling south near mile marker 35 on I-29 at around 4:20-p.m.

After Smoot and the driver of a semi who was near him exchanged words over the C.B. radio, Smoot merged in front of the other semi, driven by 61-year old Stephen Greever, of Red Oak, and slammed on the brakes. Greever’s semi hit the back of Smoot’s truck, causing Greever’s vehicle to become disabled. Both drivers suffered minor injuries, but refused transport to the hospital.

Smoot was cited for Failure to Signal a Stop or Rapid Deceleration. Damage to his 2012 Volvosemi, registered to Dickey Transport, was estimated at $10,000. Greever’s 2004 semi, registered to Sully Transport, sustained $4,000 damage.

Distracted driver spins out on I-80, hits tree

News

May 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol says a distracted driver and a deer caused a single-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County. Official say 19-year old Rashaund Lobdell, of Peoria, IL, was traveling eastbound near Walnut at around 2:55-a.m., when he became distracted while changing a CD. When he looked up, Lobdell saw a deer and swerved to avoid a collision. The move caused the car to veer into the south ditch, where it spun around and hit a tree before coming to rest in an adjacent corn field.

Neither the driver, nor his three sleeping passengers were injured during the crash. The Patrol says Lobdell was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Bluffs man arrested earlier this week in connection with fatal crash

News

May 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County say the driver of an SUV involved in a fatal crash last October, has been arrested on a warrant charging him with Vehicular Homicide. 21-year old Timothy Scott Mahan was also charged with two counts of injury by vehicle and OWI with Intent. Mahan was arrested April 30th at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. His bond was set at $35,000.

Authorities says Mahan was driving of a 2002 Jeep at an excessive rate of speed on Ellington Avenue (a gravel road) just east of Offutt Air Force Base just before Noon on October 19th, 2011. As he topped a hill, the vehicle went out of control, entered a ditch and rolled several times, for an estimated 50-yards. 

Three passengers in the Jeep,19-year-old Chance Erik Gunderson,23-year-old Felicia Marie Hansen, 19-year-old Jacob Alan Wahle were ejected as the SUV rolled. None of the victims were wearing a seat belt. Some of their clothes and other debris were found in nearby trees and strewn across the crash site. Gunderson died at the scene. Hansen and Wahle suffered critical injuries, while Mahan suffered serious injuries.

Iowa Courts Online didn’t list information pertaining to the charges against Mahan, as of late Friday morning.

Much of Iowa hit by severe weather overnight, likely tornado in SE Iowa

News, Weather

May 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Residents in southeast Iowa’s Henry County are getting a good look at the damage from last night’s (Thursday) apparent tornado. It touched down about halfway between Mount Pleasant and Washington. No one’s reported hurt but several homes and farmsteads were damaged, including a large turkey farm near Wayland. Dozens of neighbors gathered to help round up about a thousand turkeys after the barn was blown away. National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Zogg says much of the state had severe weather overnight.  “We received a lot of hail reports of one-inch or larger across the northern part of the state and then later in the evening those storms died out,” Zogg says. “The strongest storms occurred in the eastern part of the state where there were a lot of hail reports, a lot of flash flooding occurred.” 

Nickel-sized hail was reported early this (Friday) morning in Adams County. Emergency management officials said the hail fell near Prescott, at around 3-a.m. Zogg says there’s a chance for more thunderstorms across much of Iowa today and through the weekend. “We’re in for an unsettled weekend in terms of thunderstorm activity,” he says. “During the day today, there’s a chance of thunderstorms statewide, better chances this evening and tonight statewide. Some storms this evening and early overnight may be severe with hail and strong winds.” He says Iowans need to keep a close watch on the skies — and the forecast — as conditions can quickly change.

“Any thunderstorm that does develop will have the potential to produce heavy rains and possible flash flooding,” Zogg says. “It looks like there’ll be another chance of thunderstorms during the day on Saturday and into Saturday night and early Sunday. Finally, late this weekend, Sunday night into Monday, a cold front will push through the state and take a lot of the thunderstorm activity and humid weather with it.”  High temperatures topped off in many Iowa cities in the 80s and 90s this week. He says highs by Monday may only be in the 60s and 70s.

(Matt Kelley-Radio Iowa/Ric Hanson-KJAN)

Backyard and Beyond 05-04-2012

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

May 4th, 2012 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Carolyn Hartman about a Haiti Mission and Fundraiser to support it coming up at Dusty’s.

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Red Oak Tigers Relays Results

Sports

May 4th, 2012 by Jim Field

Team Scores:

  1. Glenwood  153
  2. Fremont-Mills  81
  3. Creston  80
  4. Shenandoah  59
  5. A-H-S-T  52
  6. Clarinda  47
  7. Tri-Center  39
  8. Riverside  22
  9. Red Oak  17
  10. Atlantic JV  3

Event Winners:

  • 100:  Ben Jacobsen (AHST)
  • 200:  Collin Bevins (Cr)
  • 400:  Alan Smith (Cr)
  • 800:  Jay Wolfe (Cr)
  • 110 Hurdles:  Jared Stansbury (Cl)
  • 1600:  Cade Cleaveland (R)
  • 3200:  Sean Skillern (S)
  • 400 Hurdles:  Derek Jones (G)
  • Discus:  AJ Scarborough (F-M)
  • High Jump:  Noah Bix (Cl)
  • Long Jump:  Clayton Wilson (F-M)
  • Shot Put Clayton Giesting (G)
  • 4 x 100:  A-H-S-T
  • 4 x 200:  Glenwood
  • 4 x 400:  Glenwood
  • 4 x 800:  Glenwood
  • Shuttle Hurdle:  Glenwood
  • Distance Medley:  Glenwood

Corning Red Raider Relays Results

Sports

May 4th, 2012 by Jim Field

Team Scores:

  1. East Mills  99
  2. Griswold  94
  3. I-35  55
  4. Stanton  48
  5. Central Decatur  46
  6. CAM  42
  7. Nishnabotna  36
  8. Sidney  34
  9. Bedford  22
  10. East Union  22
  11. Essex  21

Event Winners:

  • 100:  Nick Pittmon (EM)
  • 200:  Nick Pittmon (EM)
  • 400:  Jacob Tristan (N)
  • 800:  Casey Cruickshank (S)
  • 110 Hurdles:  Trevor McKee (CAM)
  • 1600:  Andrew Thompson (N)
  • 3200:  Andrew Thompson (N)
  • 400 Hurdles:  Andrew Morris (I-35)
  • Discus:  Devan Amdor (CAM))
  • High Jump:  Zak Doty (G)
  • 4 x 100:  Bedford
  • 4 x 200:  East Mills
  • 4 x 400:  CAM
  • 4 x 800:  Griswold
  • Shuttle Hurdle:  Central Decatur
  • Distance Medley:  Griswold

JOANNE “JODI” McMARTIN, 86, of Massena (Svcs. 5-7-12)

Obituaries

May 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JOANNE “JODI” McMARTIN, 86, of Massena, died Fri., May 4th, at the Heritage House, in Atlantic. Funeral services for JODI McMARTIN will be held 10-a.m. Mon., May 7th, at the United Methodist Church in Massena. Steen Funeral Home in Massena has the arrangements.

Family visitation will be held at the funeral home from 5-7pm Sun., May 6th. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.  

Memorials may be made to the Nebraska Medical Center in care of the Leid Transplant Center, in Omaha.

Burial will be n the Victoria Township Cemetery at Massena.

JODI McMartin is survived by:

Her daughters – Sherry Auer of Hebron, Maryland and Merry Brunson of Ashland, Nebraska.

Her sons – Greg McMartin and wife Denise of Massena and Scott McMArtin of Las Vegas, Nevada.

6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

8AM Sportscast 05-04-2012

Podcasts, Sports

May 4th, 2012 by admin

w/ Jim Field

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Additional details about Lewis Central bus accident released

News

May 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Pottawattamie County are investigating the circumstances surrounding a school bus rollover accident Thursday afternoon, near the Pott/Mills County line. Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator, Sgt. Dwayne Riche told KJAN news this (Friday) morning, the accident happened at around 3:20p.m. on Applewood Road.

A Lewis Central Community School District bus driven by 73-year old Floyd Claussen, of Council Bluffs, was traveling southbound on the gravel road, when he met an approaching car. When he pulled the bus over toward the edge of the road, Riche says either the tandem wheels slid off into the ditch, or the road gave way, which caused the bus to topple onto its side, into a ditch.

Claussen, and three students on-board the bus, all of whom are also from Council Bluffs, where transported to area hospitals. Claussen, and 11-year old Gage Lewis were taken by Lewis Township Fire and Rescue to Jenny Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. 14-year old Logan Harman, and 12-year old Paige Hickey were transported by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue to the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. A report on their conditions is not available, but their injuries reportedly including scrapes and bruises, and were not considered to be life threatening.

The accident remains under investigation.