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Iowa News Headlines: Wed., March 14 2012

News

March 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate committee has passed a bill that allows MidAmerican Energy to seek permission from regulators to move forward with a nuclear power plant. The measure allows MidAmerican to ask the Iowa Utilities Board for a rate increase from the company’s customers to fund the cost of permitting, licensing, and building a plant.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has passed a measure that would allow existing casinos and racetracks to offer Internet poker. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission would be in charge of the poker games, which projections show could generate between $3 million and $13 million in state tax revenue. The measure moves to the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says state law allows online schools as long as the curriculum is taught by a licensed teacher and students are supervised. The CAM and Clayton Ridge school districts have said they plan to launch online-only programs run by for-profit companies next school year.

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) — A former high school principal accused of pulling down the pants of a female student on January 20 has pleaded not guilty to a simple assault charge. Mike Loftin was fired from his position at West Harrison Community School District in Mondamin. Loftin had also coached the girls’ basketball team and allegedly pulled down a girl’s warm-up pants before a game.

Elderly Kansas City Couple injured in Fremont County Accident

News

March 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

(updated 3/15/12 – ISP corrected the couples’ ages)

The Iowa State Patrol says an elderly couple from Kansas City, KS were injured during a single vehicle accident Tuesday evening, in Fremont County. The driver of the car, 88-year old Charles Best, and his passenger, 99-year old Marie Best, were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where they were listed in “Fair” condition. 

The Patrol says the Bests’ 2004 Toyota Highlander was traveling north on Interstate 29 at around 6:45-p.m.,  when for reasons unknown, the SUV left the road, traveled into a ditch, a field and a creek before coming to rest in a field. Neither of the Bests’ were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation.

Iowa House to finish school reform Wednesday

News

March 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House delayed action an education reform plan after a drafting error was discovered at the end of a long day of debate, forcing the lawmakers to postpone the final vote until today (Wednesday). The bill gives the state more control over how student progress is measured and how teachers and administrators are evaluated. Those are among just a few aspects of education traditionally handled by local districts but passed on to state officials in the Republican-backed bill. Under the measure the Iowa Department of Education would establish new procedures to evaluate teachers and administrators annually. High school students would have to take new tests to determine if they’re prepared for college or a career and third graders not reading at grade level would be held back from fourth grade.

DELMAR DEAN LARSEN, 72, of Oakland (Svcs. 3-16-12)

Obituaries

March 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DELMAR DEAN LARSEN, 72, of Oakland, died Tue., March 13th, at home. Funeral services for DELMAR LARSEN will be held 11-a.m.. Fri., March 16th, at the Oakland Christian Church. Rieken-Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 AM , at the Oakland Christian Church, and last until the time of the funeral service.

Interment will be at the Oaklawn Cemetery at Oakland.

Delmar Larsen is survived by:

His wife – Carol of Oakland; His daughters – Kris Carlson of Council Bluffs, and Luann Thomsen of Ozark, MO; His son – Daniel Dean Larsen of Omaha; His brother – Duane Larsen of Omaha; His sister – Phyllis Starr of Denver, CO.

4 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren,other relatives and friends.

Iowa Rolls Past Dayton 84-75 in NIT Opener

Sports

March 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Freshman Aaron White scored a career-high 25 points, sophomore Zach McCabe tied a career high with 20 and seventh-seeded Iowa rolled past Dayton 84-75 on Tuesday night in the opening round of the NIT. Sophomore Melsahn Basabe added 15 points for the Hawkeyes (18-16), playing in their first postseason tournament game in six years, broke open a tie game with a 16-3 run midway through the second half to go ahead 65-52. Kevin Dillard had 23 points for Dayton (20-13), which beat Minnesota, Alabama and Mississippi this season. Though the Flyers were the higher seed, the game was played in Iowa City because Dayton’s home gym was hosting the NCAA tournament.  Iowa will play at Oregon in the second round on Sunday.  The Duck beat LSU 96-76 in their first round game Tuesday night.  Sunday’s game can be heard live on KJAN with the pre-game at 3:00 pm and tip-off at 4:00 pm.

Iowa attorney general says online schools OK

News

March 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says online schools are allowed under state law. Miller issued an opinion on Tuesday. It was in response to a request by a state senator after two districts, CAM and Clayton Ridge, said they plan to launch online-only programs run by for-profit companies next school year. Miller says online courses are permitted, as long as the curriculum is taught by a licensed teacher and that students enrolled in the course are supervised. Critics argue the schools are illegal under a clause in the Iowa Code that says school districts are only allowed to do what is expressly stated in law. Miller disputes that claim, but says education officials should monitor the emergence of online-only programs in Iowa.

Guthrie County Extension welcomes new Office Coordinator

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A native of Guthrie Center has returned home to become the new Office Coordinator at the Guthrie County Extension Office. Vicki Frohling (formerly Vicki Hansen) started working at the Extension office on March 5th.

Vicki Frohling

As Office Coordinator, Vicki has the responsibility of coordinating the office needs in Guthrie County, delivered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

She brings to the position a background in health care administration,  and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Russell, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce. Frohling graduated from Guthrie Center High School and attended Northwest Missouri State University. She and her husband Wyatt recently moved back to Iowa from Kansas, and live on an acreage three miles west of Guthrie Center.  The couple has two adult children who live in Kansas.

Frohling says she’s “Excited to be living back in Guthrie Center and working for the extension office,” and the she looks forward to becoming an active part of the community. ISU Extension invites you to stop by the Guthrie County Extension Office at 212 State Street in Guthrie Center and welcome Vicki back to Guthrie Center and to her new position.

Iowa State’s Risky Hire of Fred Hoiberg Pays Off

Sports

March 13th, 2012 by Jim Field

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The debate over Iowa State’s decision to hire Fred Hoiberg two years ago included at least one point everyone could agree on.

Even if Hoiberg could make the transition from NBA executive to Big 12 coach, it was going to take time.

Well, “The Mayor” has arrived and he’s way ahead of schedule.

The Ames native and former Iowa State star has improbably pushed his local legend to new heights. Just 23 months after taking his first coaching job at any level, Hoiberg was named the Big 12’s co-Coach of the Year and his Cyclones (22-10) are in the NCAA tournament for the first time in seven years.

Eighth-seeded Iowa State will face defending national champion Connecticut (20-13) on Thursday.

CCMH Foundation offers Scholarship

News

March 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation remind area graduates that the deadline for the Elsie and Louie Hansen Memorial Scholarship is April 2nd, 2012. To be eligible for a scholarship you must be a Cass County high school graduate who is enrolled in, or has been accepted to and will be attending, a college of nursing or medicine leading to an LPN, RN, or MD degree. The Louie and Elsie Hansen Scholarship was established through the generosity and careful planning of these two life-long Cass County residents.  The Hansen’s believed in higher education, so much so that over 70% of their estate was bequeathed for that purpose, including a gift to the CCMH Foundation. 

Under the supervision and guidance of the CCMH Foundation, scholarship opportunities are provided yearly.  Scholarship candidates must have graduated from a Cass County high school and be enrolled in an accredited nursing or medical doctor school. Applications are available on line at www.casshealth.org or may be picked up from the CCMH Foundation office.

ISAC to award scholarships to area students

News

March 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

More than 750 county officials will be traveling to Des Moines this week for education, skills training and networking.  The Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) will be holding its 69th Spring School of Instruction March 15-16 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. In addition, ISAC will award scholarships to eight outstanding high school students during ISAC’s Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony on March 15th. 

Scholarships in the amount of $3,000 will be awarded to: Amanda Kesterson, a student at the Denison High School; and Amanda Steffes, from the Audubon High School. A Runner-up scholarship in the amount of $1,500 will also be awarded to Paige Kennon, from the Atlantic High School. Ethan Westering from the Atlantic High School, will receive a $2,000 scholarship from the Iowa Counties Information Technology Organization.  And, Michaela Kennedy from Abraham Lincoln High School will receive the Past President’s Scholarship in the amount of $3,000. 

Criteria used in judging the scholarships are scholastic achievement, financial need, participation in extracurricular/community activities, and overall character.  Eligibility is limited to children of county officials or county employees. ISAC scholarships are funded through the ISAC Education Foundation.  Also during ISAC’s business meeting, county officials will review and approve the association’s budget for fiscal year 2013.