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White nearly went to Kentucky, not Iowa State

Sports

March 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Royce White nearly ended up at Kentucky. If he had, Iowa State wouldn’t have gotten this far in the NCAA tournament. White is the main reason the Cyclones (23-10) have advanced to third round. He leads Iowa State in scoring, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. He and Iowa State will try to beat the top-seeded Wildcats (33-2) on Saturday — just over two years after White planned to become one of them. He was out of basketball and looking for a place to play. White initially signed at Minnesota, but never played for the Golden Gophers after a string of legal issues. Coach John Calipari wanted him at Kentucky. But White’s fear of flying and the upcoming birth of his first child kept him closer to his family in Minneapolis.

Posted in Sports |

Buehrle struggles, Marlins defeat Cardinals 5-0

Sports

March 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Mark Buehrle always wants to feel good when he’s pitching. The Miami newcomer says he felt “too good” on Friday in a 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Buehrle was tagged for five runs in 2 1-3 innings, allowing six hits and walking two. He threw 70 pitches against what could be the Cardinals‘ opening day lineup. Buehrle signed a four-year, $58 million contract in December to add depth to the Marlins’ rotation. He has a 9.95 ERA in two big league exhibitions. Buehrle allowed eight earned runs in five starts last spring with the White Sox before going on to post a 13-9 record with a 3.59 ERA. He also batted Friday for the first time since June 29.  Buehrle struck out looking with the bases loaded on a 3-2 pitch to end the second. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook tossed four shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out four. Matt Holliday hit his first home run of the spring and is batting .500 in exhibition play. St. Louis first baseman Lance Berkman returned to action for the first time since Sunday and doubled. He’d been out with a sore left knee.

Posted in Sports |

Unique foursome set for NCAAs in Ames

Sports

March 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The Ames portion of the NCAA tournament has some head-scratchers in it when it comes to seeding. Kentucky, the 12th-ranked team in the country, is a No. 2 seed for the first time in 30 years. One-loss Green Bay is ranked 10th in the nation and yet is just a No. 7 seed. Worse yet, both could end up having to go through unranked host Iowa State — which boasts of one of the nation’s top homecourt advantages. It’s a weekend for the fortunate and the not-so-fortunate in Iowa, one that tips off Saturday when the Wildcats (25-6) face 15th-seeded McNeese State (26-7). In the nightcap, the Phoenix (30-1) will take on 10th-seeded Iowa State (18-12).

Posted in Sports |

New Record High Temp for Atlantic today

News, Weather

March 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

For the third time in less than a week, Atlantic has broken the record for a High temperature. We topped out at 78-degrees this (Friday) afternoon, which beat the old record of 77 set on March 16th in 1966 and 2003.

Wednesday’s high of 78 broke the record of 72 set in 1908, and on Tuesday, our high of 79 in Atlantic broke a record set in 2007. The National Weather Service says near record highs across the area are possible again on Saturday. Here in Atlantic, we look for a high near 80.

Posted in News, Weather |

SHIRLEY JUNE QUIRK, 86, of Papillion, NE (Svcs. 3-20-12)

Obituaries

March 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SHIRLEY JUNE QUIRK, 86, of Papillion, NE, died Fri., March 16th, at the Hillcrest Country Estates. Memorial services for SHIRLEY QUIRK will be held 11-a.m. Tue., March 20th, at the Minden United Church of Christ. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

There is no public visitation.

Burial will be in the Minden Cemetery.

Shirley June Quirk is survived by:

Her daughter – Terri Thompson, of Shelby, & Lori (Darrell) Charlton, of Bellevue, NE.

Posted in Obituaries |

Vandalism reported in Stanton

News

March 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in identifying the person or persons responsible for an incident of vandalism, in Stanton. Officials say deputies today (Friday) investigated an incident where the front passenger window of a silver 2001 Hyundai Elantra was broken out in the driveway of a residence in Stanton. The damage was estimated at $250.

If you have information about the crime, call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

(3-p.m. News)

Posted in News |

IA Legislature Surviving Bills: School Reform, Nuclear Power

News

March 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Bills that may still make it through this year’s legislative session would give the state more control over local schools, permit a utility company to pursue building a nuclear power plant, and shut down traffic enforcement cameras. Those are among a few of measures that made it past the Legislature’s self-imposed funnel deadline this week. The education reform bill is one of Gov. Terry Branstad’s priorities. It passed the House on Wednesday. The Democratic-controlled Senate has its own version and the two must be reconciled. A bill that sets new procedures for permitting a nuclear power plant in the state is up before the Senate next and one that would shut down traffic cameras used in seven communities could still emerge from the stack of active proposals.

Posted in News |

Report: Alvarez, Bielema Shocked by Chadima Case

Sports

March 16th, 2012 by Jim Field

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new report says top Wisconsin athletic officials were shocked when allegations of sexual impropriety surfaced against a then-assistant athletic director.

The report released Friday was the second from former Dane County Circuit Judge Patrick Fiedler. It quotes athletic director Barry Alvarez and coach Bret Bielema as saying they’d never seen John Chadima do anything improper.

Chadima was suspended and resigned in January after a male student employee accused him of sexual assault at a pre-Rose Bowl party in December. Friday’s report details similar allegations from two more people — a former Wisconsin football player and another former male student worker.

Interim Chancellor David Ward says the report reinforces his belief that suspending Chadima was proper.

Chadima says he has been seeking help through counseling, particularly for alcohol use.

Posted in Sports |

Ailing Cardinals RHP Carpenter Throws Off Mound

Sports

March 16th, 2012 by Jim Field

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Ailing St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter has thrown off a mound for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Carpenter had been limited in workouts since March 3 because of a stiff neck.

Carpenter threw 30 fastballs at about 75 percent on Friday. He said he felt better than he had expected and was happy with the session. If he feels well Saturday, he could try to throw off the mound again Sunday or Monday, and pitch batting practice.

The Cardinals think they might have a better idea next week of when Carpenter would be ready for exhibition games.

Posted in Sports |

“Buy Iowa Online” to be the topic of the next P.R.I.D.E meeting in Cass County

News

March 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A development specialist for Iowa State University Extension/Community Development will be the guest speaker at the March 29th meeting of PRIDE (the Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise), in Anita. Lynn Adams, who also serves as the coordinator for the Southwest Iowa Coalition (SWICO) will describe the benefits of “Buy Iowa Online,” when the meeting is held 7-p.m. Thursday, March 29th, at the Anita Community Center.

Buy Iowa Online (www.buyiowaonline.com) is an internet commerce website owned by PRIDE, where eligible vendors can sell their Iowa products to the world, without having to create and maintain their own website. Additional business during the March 29th meeting will include the election of 2012 officers.

PRIDE is a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to development of all types, in and beyond southwest Iowa, for its member cities of Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, Marne and many other, individual members. For more information, call Frank or Kim Spillers at 712-250-0275.

Posted in News |