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Iowa State Beats Defending Champs in NCAA Tournament

Sports

March 15th, 2012 by admin

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Chris Allen led four Cyclones in double figures with 20 points, and Iowa State scored their final 14 at the free throw line Thursday night to beat Connecticut 77-64.

It’s the first time since UCLA in 1996 that the defending champs have lost in the opening game and only the second time the Huskies have lost their first game of the NCAA tournament. UConn coach Jim Calhoun was already on his feet before the final buzzer, walking to congratulate Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg.

Scott Christopherson tallied 15 and Melvin Ejim scored 11 for the Cyclones.  Royce White finished with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Iowa State will now play overall #1 seed Kentucky on Saturday in Louisville, KY.

Posted in Sports |

Bard Hit Hard, Cardinals Beat Boston

Sports

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Bard was hit hard, with Shane Robinson’s bases-loaded triple in the eighth inning chasing the Boston pitcher Thursday as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Red Sox 9-6. Bard allowed seven earned runs in 2 2-3 innings. Dustin Pedroia and Darnell McDonald hit home runs that gave Boston a 4-1 lead going into the sixth, and Bard took over. Red Sox starter Alfredo Aceves struck out four in four innings while allowing one run. St. Louis starter Kyle Lohse gave up three earned runs in 3 2-3 innings. Rafael Furcal had two hits for St. Louis. Jacoby Ellsbury had two hits for the Red Sox.

Posted in Sports |

Cass County Supervisors approve amended budget and compensation board recommendations

News

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors this week approved a proposed amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Cass County Budget. The appropriation adjustments (or, changes in spending authority) for Fiscal Year 2012 included – General Basic Fund: increase Local Health by $62,340 (for flow thru of revenues for grants, etc); Increase Non-departmental by $44,150 (for Public Safety Communications); Decrease Local Option Sales Tax capital projects function by $199,372 and increase LOST debt service function by $199,372; Increase General Basic non-departmental by $520,000 (for return of appropriation borrowed for URA Amaizing Energy capital projects expenditures 8/31/11); and, increase URA Amaizing Energy Debt Service Fund by $520,000.

The Supervisors also unanimously approved Cass County Compensation Board recommendations for a 2.5-percent across the board compensation increase for all elected officials. They voted 3-to 2 in favor of the compensation boards’ recommendation the Board of Supervisor members also receive a 2.5% salary increase, with Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors receive $1,000 above the normal compensation. Frank Waters, Chuck Rieken and Duane McFadden voted in favor of the recommendation, Gaylord Schelling and Mark Wedemeyer voted against it.

Approval of the Compensation Boards’ recommendations means for FY 2013: The Cass County Attorney’s annual salary will be $87,468 (an increase of $2,133 over FY 2012); Auditor, Recorder and Treasurers annual salaries will be $50,198 (an increase of $1,224); Sheriff, $62,683 (an increase of $1,529); and, each Supervisor will be paid $26,202 (an increase of $639), with $1,000 additional for the Board Chair.

The Board Wednesday morning approved adoption of the proposed FY2013 Cass County budget, and the Secondary Roads/Iowa Department of Transportation expense budget for FY 2013. And, they unanimously approved the use of County Road N-28 as an official detour route (beginning at Iowa Highway 83, south for 10-miles to Iowa Highway 92), while work is being done on Iowa Highway 148 from Anita south, to Highway 92.

Posted in News |

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK – POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

News, Weather

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service and other preparedness partners will conduct a Severe Weather Awareness Week to promote severe weather safety to citizens the week of March 19-23, 2012. The National Weather Service will promote weather safety by issuing informative daily Public Information Statements. Citizens can also get this information by following the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency on Facebook. Topics will include: Severe Weather Terminology, Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Tornado Drill, Lightning, Flooding and Social Media.

The annual TORNADO DRILL DAY will be Wednesday, March 21st. (In case of severe weather, the drill will be postponed to Thursday March 22nd) The drill sequence will begin at 10a.m. with sirens sounding at approximately 10:10a.m. The test warning will be valid for 20 minutes. All citizens, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and public facilities are encouraged to participate in this drill by practicing what you would do in a real tornado warning.

The County 911 Center will activate outdoor warning sirens for the communities of Avoca, Carson, Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Crescent, Macedonia, McClelland, Neola, Oakland and Underwood. Citizens in other Pottawattamie County communities are encouraged to contact their City Hall or local Fire Department to see if sirens will sound during the drill.

The Emergency Management Agency would like to remind all citizens that outdoor warning sirens have limited to no effectiveness when you are in your home or traveling in your vehicle. Pottawattamie County residents and residents of our communities are strongly encouraged to sign up for the Code Red Emergency Notification System. The service is free of charge and you will receive a phone call (home and/or cell) when severe weather threatens.

This is a very important, potentially life-saving tool, especially where there are no sirens or you are in a place where sirens would be ineffective in warning you and your family. Residents should sign up for the service, free of charge at www.pottcounty.com.

Posted in News, Weather |

Rural economy appears strong in 10 states

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Higher fuel prices haven’t slowed the economy much in rural areas of 10 Midwest and Plains states. A monthly survey of rural bankers showed no change in March. The overall economic index registered 59.6 again this month, and any score above 50 suggests the economy will grow. The bankers appear quite optimistic about the next six months because the confidence index rose to 63 in March from February’s 60.3. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says there is still a fair amount of uncertainty about the economy, so many farmers and businesses are reluctant to expand. The hiring index rose to 60 in March from February’s 53.7, suggesting businesses are hiring. The survey covers Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Realtors say Iowa farmland value up 11 percent

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The value of Iowa farmland is up by nearly 11 percent over the last six months as commodity prices remain strong. A survey of real estate agents shows the value of good quality farmland jumped by 10.8 percent to an average of $9,370 an acre. The Iowa Farm and Land Chapter No. 2 of the Realtors Land Institute released its survey on Thursday. The gains varied from 9 percent in northeast Iowa to nearly 13 percent in southwest Iowa from Sept. 1 to March 1. Troy Louwagie of Hertz Farm Management says several factors are driving up values, including high commodity prices and low interest rates. He says land sales have been strong in the last six months, and the survey results are not surprising.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

LORRAINE KILLION, 88, formerly of Lewis (3-17-12)

Obituaries

March 15th, 2012 by Jim Field

LORRAINE KILLION, 88, formerly of Lewis died Thursday, March 15th at the Heritage House in Atlantic.  Funeral services for Lorraine Killion will be held 1:30-pm Saturday, March 17th, at the United Congregational Methodist Church in Lewis.  Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

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Open visitation will be held Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

Family visitation will be held Friday from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial in the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis.

Lorraine Killion is survived by:

Son: Doug (Jane) Killion of Honey Creek

Daughter: Mary (Ted) Carter of Aspen, CO

3 Grandchildren

2 Great Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

Hawkeyes 4th After 1st Session of NCAA Wrestling Championships

Sports

March 15th, 2012 by Jim Field

Team Scores
1. Penn State 25.5
2. Minnesota 25.0
3. Oklahoma St. 17.5
4. Cornell 17.0
4. Iowa 17.0
6. Illinois 14.0
7. Nebraska 12.0
8. Edinboro 11.0
8. Ohio St. 11.0
8. Oklahoma 11.0
8. Purdue 11.0

Iowa Hawkeye Results:

  • 125 – Round 2 – Matt McDonough (Iowa) 32-1 won by pin (3:24) over Jared Germaine (Eastern Mich.) 23-10
  • 133 – Round 2 – Tony Ramos (Iowa) 29-3 won by 9-2 decision over Brian Owen (Boise State) 8-2
  • 141 – Round 2 – Montell Marion (Iowa) 28-3 won by 8-4 decision over Mike Morales (West Virginia) 18-3
  • 157 – Round 2 – Derek St. John (Iowa) 18-2 won by 9-1 major decision over Drake Houdashelt (Missouri) 27-6
  • 165 – Round 2 – Michael Evans (Iowa) 26-6 won by 5-2 decision over Kyle Blevins (Appalachian S.) 34-7
  • 174 – Round 2 – Ethen Lofthouse (Iowa) 26-7 won by 7-2 decision over Seth Creasy (Lock Haven) 17-14
  • 184 – Round 2 – Ryan Loder (Northern Iowa) 33-4 won by 2-1 decision over Grant Gambrall (Iowa) 10-11
  • 285 – Round 2 – Bobby Telford (Iowa) 26-7 won by 6-1 decision over Blayne Beale (Northern Iowa) 28-12

Posted in Sports |

ISU’s Sorenson Advances in NCAA Wrestling Tourney

Sports

March 15th, 2012 by Jim Field

ST. LOUIS – Iowa State’s Andrew Sorenson advanced to the second round of the NCAA Wrestling Championships Thursday, scoring a 9-5 first-round decision over Drexel’s Jon Booth in the Scottrade Center.  Sorenson will wrestle Marshall Peppelman of Cornell in the second round. Sorenson beat Peppelman earlier this season by technical fall, 21-6.  Four Iowa State wrestlers are still alive in the consolation round that begins again this evening.

Penn State leads the team scoring with 25.5 points. Iowa State sits 42nd with two points.

Sorenson gave up a first-period takedown but tallied a three-point near fall in the second period and had 1:17 of riding time in a 9-5 first-round victory.

Ryak Finch scored an early takedown at 125 pounds but got reversed and fell to Tyler Iwamura of Cal-Bakersfield, 13-2. Luke Goettl scored a late takedown at 141 pounds,  but dropped a 6-4 decision to eighth-seeded Darius Little of North Carolina State. Boaz Beard relinquished a 9-3 decision to Victor Avery of Edinboro. At heavyweight, Iowa State’s Matt Gibson lost a 6-5 decision to Peter Capone of Ohio State.

Posted in Sports |

Poppens Earns WBCA All-Region Accolades

Sports

March 15th, 2012 by Jim Field

ATLANTA – Iowa State junior forward Chelsea Poppens was named a WBCA All-Region 5 nominee for the 2012 Division I Coaches’ All-America Team Thursday.

Poppens, an Aplington, Iowa native, was one of seven players in the region to be recognized after earning All-Big 12 honors this season. She was one of three players in the conference to earn unanimous recognition this season after posting career-highs of 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds.

Poppens, the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double, became the first Cyclone since All-American Angie Welle to grab 300 rebounds in a season. She has posted double-digit scoring in 22 games and recorded 10 or more rebounds 16 times.

On Monday, March 19, the selection committee will review the 52 All-Region nominees and trim the list to 40 finalists, all of whom will be in the running for selection to the 10-member WBCA Division I Coaches’ All-America Team.

Region 5
Chelsea Poppens, Iowa State
Carolyn Davis, Kansas
Angel Goodrich, Kansas
Tyra White, Texas A&M
Brittney Griner, Baylor
Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Destiny Williams, Baylor

Posted in Sports |