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2 arrested in Onawa shooting

News

March 6th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) — Two men face charges in a shooting in Onawa that reportedly happened during a burglary that police now say was fabricated. 32-year old Darren Hieber and 24-year old Brady Chapman were arrested Tuesday in the Feb. 5th shooting at Hieber’s trucking business. Hieber told police he was shot in the leg while interrupting a burglary. Police say Hieber devised a scheme to have Chapman, his employee, shoot him with a .22-caliber rifle, to distract him from his personal problems. The Omaha World-Herald reports Hieber missed his estranged wife, and hatched the plan to try and get her back.

Hieber faces conspiracy and reckless use of a firearm charges. Chapman faces felony charges of reckless use of a firearm and willful injury. Both men face a charge of making a false report to law enforcement. The men are currently free on bond.

Former AP bureau chief Burt Wittrup dies in Iowa

News

March 6th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ELK HORN, Iowa (AP) — Burt Wittrup, a former chief of bureau for The Associated Press in New Mexico, has died in his home state of Iowa, where he returned in 2008. His wife, Carolyn, says he died of congestive heart failure on March 1st at a hospital in Harlan. He was 77. The couple returned to Elk Horn, where Wittrup was born in 1934.

Wittrup served in the Navy and attended the University of New Mexico. He joined the AP in New Mexico, becoming news editor and bureau chief. He left the AP after 19 years. He worked for the Albuquerque Tribune, taught journalism at the University of New Mexico and joined the El Paso Times before retiring in 1994. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton.

2013 US Senior Open in Omaha Looks for Volunteers

Sports

March 6th, 2012 by Jim Field

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Online volunteer registration for the 2013 U.S. Senior Open Championship to be held at Omaha Country Club is now open.

More than 3,000 volunteers are needed to fill positions on more than 30 committees, including marshals, transportation, leaderboards and merchandise. Early submission of the application allows volunteers to specify their committee preference.

People interested in volunteering can visit www.2013ussenioropen.com. A full description of committee responsibilities is provided on the website to assist volunteers in determining their preferences.

All volunteers are required to purchase the volunteer package for $125. It includes two championship golf shirts, one windbreaker, one ball cap or visor, one water bottle and one volunteer credential valid for all seven days of the championship.

Volunteers also receive free food and drink on the days they work.

Iowa State Finally on High Note for Big 12 Tournament

Sports

March 6th, 2012 by Jim Field

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State heads to the Big 12 tournament filled with hope rather than dread for the first time in years.

The 25th-ranked Cyclones haven’t won a conference tournament game since 2005. But Iowa State has accomplished a lot of things recently that it hasn’t in years, including the program’s first Top 25 ranking since November 2005.

The Cyclones (22-9, 12-6 Big 12) head to Kansas City as the third seed and with much larger goals than simply snapping their six-game losing skid in the league tournament.

Iowa State opens Thursday night against Texas (19-12, 9-9), which it split with during the regular season.

Coach Fred Hoiberg says he likes the way the Cyclones are playing right now, adding that they’ve got a lot of confidence.

Corps: Missouri River reservoirs ready for runoff

News, Weather

March 6th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the Missouri River reservoirs have begun the spring runoff season with slightly more space than the normal amount for flood control storage. The corps says that as of Thursday, the system storage had an extra 300,000 acre-feet of storage. Runoff is expected to be near normal this year. Corps officials say the reservoirs were at desired levels last spring, but a late buildup of snow in the Rockies and heavy rains in Montana and other upstream areas in May led to record runoff. The corps was forced to release massive amounts of water from the dams, causing record flooding downstream. The more than 2,300-mile-long river flows from Montana through North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

EXTREME FIRE DANGER WARNING EXPANDED

News, Weather

March 6th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service says the Grassland Fire Danger Index will be in the “Extreme” category today across parts of southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska. As of 11:30-a.m., that includes Monona, Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont and Page Counties.

Extreme Fire Danger means that fires can start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. All outdoor burning should be avoided in areas with Extreme Fire Danger! South to southwest winds at 15- to 30-mph today, will also bring an “Elevated Fire Danger” risk to the rest of the listening area.

Bluffs Police search for 4 attackers

News

March 6th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A search is underway in Pottawattamie County for four men Council Bluffs police say attacked 33-year old Jason Muller outside of his home on South 8th Street Sunday afternoon. The suspects include one black male and 3 white males. Council Bluffs Police Dept. Sgt. Chad Meyers says they do not have a lot to go on. He says authorities are looking for a blue sedan. In each case, the descriptions are vague, but it’s all officials have to work with. 

Sgt. Meyers says around 3:00 Muller was working on his car and had gone into the house when he heard someone near his vehicle.  When he went outside to check it out he was attacked. Muller suffered severe facial injuries but will recover.  He says this is the same area where 40 year old Andrea Moulton was badly beaten on February 28th.  Meyers said there’s nothing to indicate at this time, that the two incidents are related. 

Both Moulton and Muller remain hospitalized.

(Karla James/Radio Iowa)

Backyard and Beyond 03-06-2012

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

March 6th, 2012 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Cass County Youth Coordinator Susan Oliver about the upcoming Mardi Gras youth event and the 4-H pancake supper.

Play

Arrests reported in Cass County

News

March 6th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports today (Tuesday) three arrests occurred over the past couple of weeks. On Monday (March 5th), 33-year old Bridget Lea Barnholdt, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Barnholdt was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was being held on $10,000 bond. This past Sunday, 24-year old Raymond Carl Egner, of McClelland, was arrested on charges of OWI 3rd or Subsequent offense, Driving While Barred, and Driving Under Revocation. Egner was taken to the Cass County Jail where he posted $7000 bond and was released. And, on February 25th, 23-year old Raymond Lee Miller, of Casey, was arrested on a charge of Driving While Barred. Miller was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

STACY LYNN GRIMES TAYLOR, 40, of Winterset & formerly of Earlham (Svcs. 3-9-12)

Obituaries

March 6th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

STACY LYNN GRIMES TAYLOR, 40, of Winterset (& formerly of Earlham), died Sat., March 3rd, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services for STACY TAYLOR will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., March 9th, at the Earlham Church of Christ. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 6-8pm Thu., March 8th.

Burial will be in the Penn Center Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Stacy Lynn Taylor Memorial Fund, which will be used for her children, and may be sent to the funeral home (at P.O. Box 171, Earlham, IA, 50070).  Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.