United Group Insurance

New Iowa DC Phil Parker to Stick to Basics

Sports

March 2nd, 2012 by Jim Field

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — First-year Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker says he isn’t planning any major tweaks for the Hawkeyes next season.

The 48-year-old Parker spoke with reporters Friday for the first time since coach Kirk Ferentz announced he’d been promoted from defensive backs coach to replace longtime defensive coordinator Norm Parker, who retired after 13 seasons.

Phil Parker, who is no relation to Norm, says his predecessor told him to run the defense the way he sees fit. But Phil’s unit will probably look a lot like Norm’s because it’s been so successful over the past decade and a half.

Phil Parker says the Hawkeyes will still use a 4-3 front and probably won’t blitz much more than they have in the past.

Class 4-A Girls State Basketball Semi-Finals

Sports

March 2nd, 2012 by Jim Field

Iowa City West 64, Waukee 50

A second-half shooting blitz sent Iowa City West back to the Class 4A championship game.

The second-ranked Women of Troy shot 74 percent in a second half filled with impressive offensive basketball and beat No. 6 Waukee 64-50 in semifinal action. West will take a 24-1 record into the championship game at 8 o’clock Saturday night.

In their first state tournament appearance a year ago, the Women of Troy lost to Des Moines East in the title game.

Ally Disterhoft, the only junior in West’s otherwise all-senior starting lineup, led her team with 18 points. Mckenzie Piper and Tatum Klein each scored 11 points, while Jessica Shull scored nine on perfect shooting — 3-for-3 from the field and 3-for-3 at the free throw line.

Disterhoft, who is getting attention from Division I universities, added three assists and two steals. Piper led the Women of Troy with seven rebounds.

Britney Boland led Waukee with 16 points and Megan Shryack scored 11.

Waukee used a 17-3 run to build a 19-10 lead early in the second quarter and led 22-15 at halftime. West made only five of 21 shots in the opening half, but found the range quickly in the third quarter, hitting Waukee with a 26-8 run to open a 41-30 lead. The lead was never below nine points after that.

West made 16 of its first 20 shots in the second half and finished the half 17-for-23. The Women of Troy pushed the ball up the court for fastbreak layups, hit mid-range jumpers and knocked down their first 3-point shots of the half after going 0-for-6 from long range in the first two quarters.

It was similar to Waukee’s sizzling shooting in a first-round victory over Mason City. The Warriors made 13 of 14 shots in the second half of that game and won 49-47.

Waukee, in the state tournament for the fifth straight year, finished 20-6.

King says he’ll work with Tyson to find new uses for the Denison plant

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Western Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King says he’s been in contact with Tyson Fresh Meats, Incorporated, and will work with the company’s leadership to explore new uses for its Denison beef processing plant. The company Thursday announced it was exploring closing its facility in Denison, because of planned improvements to its plant in Dakota City, NE. The move would effectively eliminate 400 jobs in Denison, although employees would be encouraged to apply for about 200 jobs created by the Dakota City plant improvements.

King says he knows closing the Denison plant is a “tough decision for Tyson to make, especially given the history of the Denison plant as the flagship location for the former IBP company.” He said in the coming months, he will continue to work with Tyson Foods to find other uses for the Denison facility, and is “Hopeful that a decision will be reached that will continue to put the plant and its workforce to good use.”

If the company closes the Denison facility, it will not come until sometime next year.

Atlantic to Host Free Herbicide Resistance Meeting March 14th

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

In response to rapidly expanding problems associated with herbicide resistant weeds, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will conduct a series of meetings in March to address the issue. The meetings will provide information about the causes of herbicide-resistant weed populations, objectively evaluate weed management programs currently used in Iowa and support the development of durable weed management programs. The meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude with a noon meal. One of the meetings will take place in Atlantic, on March 14th, at the Cass County Community Center.  

There is no cost to attend the program, due to funding provided by several partners. However, advance registration is appreciated for meeting logistics and lunch counts. Additional information regarding the program and online registration is available at http://www.aep.iastate.edu/weeds/ .

This is Your Nishna Valley 02-25-2012

Podcasts, This is Your Nishna Valley

March 2nd, 2012 by admin

w/ Jim Field and Stacie Linfor

Play

Atlantic Baseball Complex to Receive New Scoreboard

News, Sports

March 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Visitors to the Atlantic Trojan Baseball field will notice a modern, new scoreboard this Spring, thanks to a donation from the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Foundation. Trevor’s mother and Foundation spokesperson Melanie Petty along with her husband Darren, presented a ceremonial check to Atlantic High School Assistant Principal and Activities Director Josh Rasmussen this (Friday) morning, for just over $13,000.

(from left ti right: Josh Rasmussen, Melanie Petty, Darren Petty)

Rasmussen said the acquisition of a new scoreboard is something that’s been a long time in the making.  He said the new scoreboard, which will be place near the left-center field, will be a vast improvement over the current scoreboard.

It will allow up to 10-innings, feature “hits,” “errors” and “runs” indicators. The information will be controlled wirelessly, from the Press Box. The scoreboard will be 26-feet long, and approximately eight- to 10-feet high tall by then time advertising is included on the bottom.

Rasmussen says the scoreboard is expected to arrive in April, and installed shortly thereafter.

Conceptual Drawing of the new Trojan Scoreboard

In 2009, Trevor Fredrickson died in a Council Bluffs fire. Melanie Petty said the scoreboard was the perfect gift in his honor, and he would be smiling, because baseball was his life. She said he loved baseball since he was five-years old. Trevor was a four-year letter winner for the Atlantic Trojans, went on to play for Southwestern Community College in Creston, the Atlantic Braves, and “Treynor Wombats,” and other teams. Trevor played for the Wombats the night before he died in the 2009 apartment fire.

Petty said proceeds from the annual T-Fred Golf Tournament makes the scoreboard, and other donations from the Foundation possible. Since its inception, the Trevor Frederickson Foundation has given about $35,000 in donations to non-profit organizations in Atlantic. The 4th Annual T-Fred Golf Tournament and Silent Auction takes place August 11th.

Backyard and Beyond 03-02-2012

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

March 2nd, 2012 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Joyce Jensen about the Atlantic High School Alumni Scholarships.

Play

8AM Sportscast 03-02-2012

Podcasts, Sports

March 2nd, 2012 by admin

w/ Jim Field

Play

8AM Newscast 03-02-2012

News, Podcasts

March 2nd, 2012 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

Play

Heartbeat Today 03-02-2012

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

March 2nd, 2012 by admin

Jim Field speaks with Narcanon-Arrowhead agency about the risks and frequency of drug use during pregnancy.

Play