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Cardinals Hit 3 HRs, Beat Reds 7-1

Sports

April 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CINCINNATI (AP) — Matt Holliday, David Freese and Yadier Molina homered during the St. Louis Cardinals’ big first inning, and Jake Westbrook found his control after a rough start, beating the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 on Monday night. The defending World Series champions improved to 4-1 with an offense that hasn’t missed Albert Pujols so far. Only 20 pitches into the game, Reds starter Homer Bailey (0-1) trailed 4-0. It was the second time this season that St. Louis hit three homers in an inning. Molina also doubled home a pair of runs in the eighth. Westbrook (1-0) overcame an early bout of wildness, allowing only three hits and one unearned run in seven innings. Reds All-Star second baseman Brandon Phillips left the game with a hamstring cramp.

Posted in Sports |

Forecast for Cass & surrounding counties in IA: 4-10-12

Weather

April 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

344 AM CDT TUE APR 10 2012 National Weather Service/Des Moines

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING and FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM CDT WEDNESDAY…

TODAY…SUNNY. PATCHY FROST THROUGH MID MORNING. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH INCREASING TO NORTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF FROST EARLY IN THE MORNING. LOW IN THE MID 20S. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

WEDNESDAY…SUNNY. AREAS OF FROST THROUGH MID MORNING. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. NOT AS COOL. LOW IN THE UPPER 30S. SOUTHEAST WIND AROUND 5 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING…THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 50S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 50 PERCENT.

THURSDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE UPPER 40S. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 60 PERCENT.

FRIDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE MID 60S.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE LOWER 50S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 50 PERCENT.

SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT…THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 60S. LOW IN THE LOWER 50S. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 60 PERCENT.

Posted in Weather |

Iowa (early) New Headlines: Tue., April 10th 2012

News

April 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An education reform measure continues to move through the Iowa Legislature. The Senate yesterday approved a measure that would emphasize reading in early elementary school classes and expand core classes to include arts and technology. It’s vastly different from the House-backed plan that has Governor Terry Branstad’s approval, which calls for more testing.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A federal appeals court has rejected a legal challenge to the Iowa commission that nominates candidates to serve on the state’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. The lawsuit, brought by conservatives, challenged the Judicial Nominating Commission’s makeup at a time when the panel was vetting applicants to replace three justices ousted by voters after legalizing gay marriage.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has asked a federal appeals court to reconsider a ruling that could hurt its ability to pursue class-action discrimination lawsuit against an Iowa trucking company. The agency filed the suit on behalf of more than 100 women who claimed they were sexually harassed by male drivers in the training program at Cedar Rapids-based CRST Van Expedited.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man accused of shooting a kitten is charged with reckless use of a firearm and animal abuse. Roger Brass was arrested after an off-duty police officer heard a gunshot Saturday night and saw a small kitten fly from the front of the house. Police say Brass said he shot at the kitten because he was “mad at his parents.”

Posted in News |

Freeze Warnings in effect for the entire State of Iowa today and Wednesday

Weather

April 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

…A FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 9AM TODAY AND FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM CDT WEDNESDAY…

TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING THIS MORNING…BUT WILL WARM RAPIDLY AFTER SUNRISE. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL BELOW FREEZING AGAIN LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 30 WILL BE IN THE 20S THIS MORNING…WITH UPPER TEENS AND 20S AGAIN LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. MOST AREAS SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 30 WILL BE IN THE LOW 30S THIS MORNING…AND FALL INTO THE MID 20S TO AROUND 30 LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

YOUNG TENDER VEGETATION WILL LIKELY BE DAMAGED OR EVEN KILLED BY THESE COOL TEMPERATURES AND FROST. A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/

Posted in Weather |

Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds take property tax relief message to Southwest Iowa

News

April 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Monday, announced that they will travel to Southwest Iowa to promote their plan for permanent property tax relief for all classes of property. The events, which take place in Clarinda and in Red Oak, will be held on Friday, April 13th.

Branstad and Reynolds will hold a Page County town hall meeting at the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum – Community Room, 122 West Clark Street in Clarinda, beginning at 1:30 p.m., Friday.  The Montgomery County town hall meeting is at the Fountain Perk Coffee Shop, 322 East Coolbaugh Streetin Red Oak,beginning at 3:15-p.m.

For more information, please visit www.governor.iowa.gov<http://www.governor.iowa.gov>. To view their plan on permanent tax relief, follow this link: https://governor.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Property-Tax-handout-2.20.12.pdf

Posted in News |

Bike/Trails Expo in Atlantic, April 30th

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

April 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Nishna Valley Trails association is inviting the public to a “Bike/Trails Expo” to be held at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic on Monday, April 30th, beginning at 7 p.m.  Mark Wyatt, the president of the Iowa Bicycling Coalition will be the speaker for the evening, talking about trends in bicycling as recreation and transportation, and about Iowa as the “Bike Trails Capitol of the World”.  There will be informational displays, a bicycle show, and refreshments will be served.  By registering at the door, participants can enter a drawing for door prizes, including bicycles and biking accessories.  For more information contact Ed Kail at 243-4265.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports |

Atlantic School Board to act on agreement to share tennis court resurfacing costs

News

April 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will take action on several matters during their meeting Tuesday evening at the High School. Among the action items is: Approval of Driver’s Education fees for this Summer; An agreement with the City of Atlantic to share the resurfacing costs of the tennis courts at Sunnyside Park and the Washington Elementary School; Approve a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the Atlantic Education Association, and a substitute teacher/substitute support staff rate.

The Board will also act on approving teacher recommendations for the 2012 Summer School, and, discuss a 5-year Capital Needs Plan. The meeting begins in the Atlantic High School Media Center, at 7:30-p.m.

Posted in News |

Atlantic Planning and Zoning Commission to act on retail gun sales

News

April 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet Tuesday evening at City Hall. New business on their agenda for the 5:30-p.m. session includes: A review of the site plans for Custom Body and Sound; A ruling on retail gun sales (as applied to Ordinance Article 19: Home Occupations); and a review of the site plans for Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ proposed communications building.

The Commission will also discuss progress being made on updating the Zoning Ordinance.

Posted in News |

Cass County Farmer Wins $2,500 for Griswold Fire Department

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Monsanto say Mike Noll, of Griswold, has been selected as a winner in the America’s Farmers Grow Communities contest, which gives farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite local nonprofit organizations. The donations are available through the Monsanto Fund. Noll has designated the Griswold Fire Department to receive the award in Cass County.

Griswold Fire Chief Jim Wyman, farmer Mike Noll and a Monsanto representative will participate in a check presentation ceremony Thursday, April 12th, 6:30 pm at the Griswold Fire Station (405 Main St. in Griswold).

In 1,245 eligible counties in 39 states, farmers could win $2,500 for their favorite community nonprofit.  The Monsanto Fund expects to invest more than $3.1 million in local communities. Nearly 60,000 farmers participated in the second annual Grow Communities program, which is designed to benefit nonprofit groups such as ag youth, schools and other civic organizations.

For more information and to see a full list of winners, visit www.growcommunities.com.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Dozens of cattle reported stolen in northwest Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

HINTON, Iowa (AP) — Dozens of cattle are missing from a feedlot in northwest Iowa. The Plymouth County sheriff’s office says 56 steers valued at over $81,000 were reported stolen from the Bio Beef Feed Lot near Hinton last week. The feedlot says 30 Holstein steers were missing, and a customer reported being short 26 Holstein steers. Lot operator Roger Ruhland says he suspects someone cut a chain at the main gate and opened several gates to barns, letting cattle run free in the compound. He believes the thefts occurred within the past two weeks.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |