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Lawmakers optimistic about property tax changes

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After decades of failed attempts, lawmakers say this could be the session they succeed in at least beginning to overhaul Iowa’s property tax system. With hopes of adjourning this week, legislators are running out of time, but they express optimism that Republicans and Democrats will reach a deal. Lawmakers have considered changing Iowa’s property tax system for at least 30 years, but the issue is a nightmare for politicians because in Iowa, farmland, businesses and residential property are all taxed differently. To tinker with one means shifting the burden onto the others. This year, though, veteran legislators have reached a bipartisan agreement to address the matter. Republican Rep. Stewart Iverson of Clarion speculates there is a 60 to 70 percent chance that lawmakers will get something done on property taxes.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Iowa News Headlines: Sunday, April 22nd 2012

News

April 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — Two apparent tornadoes have touched down in northwest Iowa but no damage has been reported. National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Temeyer says that one twister touched down east of Spencer about 4:30 p.m. yesterday and the second was spotted 15 minutes later about 10 miles southeast of Dickens. Temeyer says the tornadoes were in rural areas and no damage was reported.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Caterpillar dealer is expanding its Sioux City business, creating up to 20 jobs. William Hoeft, chairman and CEO of Zeigler Caterpillar, says that the $6 million expansion will help the company offer more equipment and services in western Iowa. The city will vacate two acres of unused land along Interstate 29 and turn it over to Zeigler for the project.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A man has died after falling from a four-story balcony in Ames. Police say the 21-year-old man was found just before 2 a.m. yesterday outside an apartment building. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police say the man was visiting Ames and was not a resident. His name has not been released.

ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) — One person has died and another has been injured in a crash at an Atlantic intersection. The Iowa State Patrol says that 84-year-old Norma Jean Sothman of Atlantic pulled out of the intersection and into the path of another vehicle. She was killed in yesterday morning’s crash.

Posted in News |

Burnett Sparkles as Pirates Trip Cardinals 2-0

Sports

April 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A.J. Burnett pitched three-hit ball for seven innings in his injury-delayed Pittsburgh debut and the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 on Saturday night. Burnett, who missed the first three weeks of the year while recovering from a fractured right orbital bone sustained during a bunting drill in spring training, walked two and struck out seven while giving up just three hits. Joel Hanrahan worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth for his second save of the season. St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook (2-1) gave up a pair of RBI singles to Pedro Alvarez, walking two and striking out six as his ERA moved from 0.64 to 1.31. Westbrook was good but Burnett was better, throwing 53 of his 76 pitches for strikes and looking like the No. 1 starter the Pirates envisioned when they traded for him in February.

Posted in Sports |

FRANCES KEETON, 90, of Redfield (Svcs. 4-25-12)

Obituaries

April 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

FRANCES KEETON, 90, of Redfield, died Fri., April 20th, at the Stuart Community Care Center. Funeral services for FRANCES KEETON will be held 10-a.m. Wed., April 25th, at the Redfield United Methodist Church. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home will be held on Tue., April 24th, from 6-8pm, with an Eastern Star Ritual at 7:45-p.m. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Frances Keeton Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Chariton Cemetery in Chariton, at 2:30-p.m. Wednesday.

Posted in Obituaries |

MILDRED L. BETTS, 93, of Panora (Svcs. 4-26-12)

Obituaries

April 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

MILDRED L. BETTS, 93, of Panora, died Sat., April 21st, at her home. Funeral services for MILDRED BETTS will be held 11-a.m. Thu., April 26th, at the 1st Christian Church in Panora. Twigg Funeral Home in Panora has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home will be held from 4-8pm Wed., April 25th, with the family present from 6-8pm.

Burial will be in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Des Moines, at 2:30-p.m. Thu., April 26th.

Posted in Obituaries |

NWS: 2 twisters spotted in NW Iowa but no damage

News, Weather

April 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — Two apparent tornadoes have touched down in northwest Iowa but no damage was reported. National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Temeyer said one twister touched down east of Spencer about 4:30 p.m. Saturday and the second was spotted 15 minutes later about 10 miles southeast of Dickens. Temeyer says the tornadoes were in rural areas and no damage was reported. The storm system also brought hail, heavy rain and several funnel clouds that didn’t reach the ground.

Posted in News, Weather |

Gardner Says Body Told Him to Stop Comeback

Sports

April 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Rulon Gardner’s coach says the 40-year-old heavyweight trained like a madman to get back to the Olympics. But Gardner says his body told him to stop cutting weight just hours before he was set to weigh in for the Olympic Team Trials. Gardner says he reached 269 pounds Friday before he realized he’d been pushing himself too hard to reach the 264.5 pound limit for his weight class. Gardner declined to weigh in, ending his quest to reach the London Olympics. Gardner won the gold medal in Sydney in 2000 and bronze in Athens eight years ago before gaining nearly 200 pounds after retiring from wrestling. U.S. national Greco-Roman coach Steve Fraser says Gardner trained harder than anyone else on the team over the past few months.

Posted in Sports |

Western Iowa Boat Ramp Reopens After 2011 Flooding

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

April 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Missouri River boat ramp in Pottawattamie County has reopened almost a year after it was closed by flooding. Park Ranger Brian Orth said that it’s been a bad year or two for boating at Narrows River Park, so it’s exciting that the ramp reopened Wednesday. Pottawattamie County Conservation was forced to close the ramp after the river swelled last May. The water eventually filled the whole park. The ramp was also closed for several weeks in 2010 because of high water. Mark Shoemaker, executive director of Pottawattamie County Conservation, called the reopening of the boat ramp a good step toward recovery. He says there is still a lot of work to do in the park, such as fixing park shelters and playground equipment.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports |

Hazardous Weather Outlook: Issued 3:04-p.m. Sat., April 21 2012

Weather

April 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN IOWA: EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO- POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN- WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE- BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER- POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION– CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE- DAVIS-

THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT:

SCATTERED NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE DIME SIZED OR SMALLER HAIL.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY:

FROST IS POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL IOWA SUNDAY NIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN LATE IN THE WEEK OR ON SATURDAY. THE STORMS MIDWEEK HAVE A LOW PROBABILITY OF BEING SEVERE. THE CHANCES OF SEVERE WEATHER INCREASE BY SATURDAY…BUT SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THREAT IS VERY UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME.

Posted in Weather |

1 killed, three injured in separate Cass County crashes, Saturday

News

April 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

An Atlantic woman was killed during one of two separate crashes in Cass County, Saturday. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 84-year old Norma Jean Sothman of Atlantic died,  and 48-year old Julie Nash, of Walnut, was injured during one of the crashes, which took place 10:30-a.m., Saturday at the intersection of 4th and Poplar, in Atlantic. Officials say Sothman’s 2005 Buick LeSabre was westbound on 4th Street, when she stopped at the intersection before proceeding across the street and into the path of Nash’ northbound 2007 Toyota Tundra. The pickup hit the car broadside in the intersection. Sothman was wearing her seat belt, but Nash was not. Both women were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, where Sothman died from her injuries.

The second accident happened at around 12:25-p.m. Saturday, about 10-miles south of Atlantic, near the intersection of Highway 71 and Pella Road. Officials say a 2011 Buick Enclave SUV was traveling east on Pella Road at the same time a 1994 Olds Cutless was traveling west. The vehicles collided head-on at the crest of a hill, located about one-half mile east of Highway 71. The vehicles were driven by 51-year old Lori Johnson and 17-year old Bryce Wernimont, both of Atlantic. Neither driver suffered life-threatening injuries. Wernimont was transported by LifeNet helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, while Johnson was taken by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

Both accidents remain under investigation.

Posted in News |