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DAN SINNER, 80, of Greenfield (Svcs 2-17-12)

Obituaries

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DAN SINNER, 80, of Greenfield, died Tue., Feb. 14th, at the Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston. A Mass of the Resurrection for DAN SINNER will be held 1-p.m. Fri., Feb. 17th, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held from 4-8pm Thu., Feb. 16th, at the funeral home, where the family will greet friends from 7 to 8 p.m., and a Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Catholic Church or A.A.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery with full Military Graveside Rites by will be conducted by the Greenfield American Legion Head-Endres No. 265 and V.F.W. No. 5357.

DAN SINNER is survived by:

His daughter – Sandra Sinner, of San Diego, CA

1 grandchild, other relatives and friends.

Ailment suspected in western Iowa man’s death in Omaha

News

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities suspect a medical problem in the death of an Iowa man whose vehicle ran off an interstate ramp. Omaha police say officers were dispatched around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to a report of a collision. They found a sport utility vehicle that had come to rest between the ramp and Interstate 80 in east Omaha. They saw no evidence of a crash. Witnesses told police the vehicle had caught fire and the driver was pulled out, unconscious. His foot had been on the accelerator but the transmission was in neutral. Police say he was taken to an Omaha hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was identified as 60-year-old Stephen Gerharter, of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

PARKING AND TRAFFIC INFORMATION FOR UPCOMING HIGH SCHOOL STATE TOURNAMENTS AT WELLS FARGO ARENA

Sports

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

February 14, 2012 – With the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament starting tomorrow, officials are reminding fans traveling to Wells Fargo Arena of the various routes and parking options available to minimize wait times and ensure all fans have a positive experience in Des Moines from the time they drive in and park their car to the time they return home. This will be the first time since Wells Fargo Arena opened in 2005 that the State Team Dual Championships will take place on Wednesday, with the Individual tournament moving from four days to three (Thursday – Saturday). Signage will be available on Interstate 235 directing fans on which exits to use for easy access to parking and Wells Fargo Arena, while additional message boards located at major downtown access points will inform people which lots are full and which have availability. 

Parking for the tournaments is available at the following locations: 

          Iowa Events Center Parking Lot ($7 each time you enter) – Directly north of the Iowa Events Center, this lot is the closest to Wells Fargo Arena with entrances off Third and Fifth streets.

          Street Parking (metered) – Street parking is available throughout downtown with the convenience of parking meters. Pay attention to the location as many meters have different time limits, or parking restrictions during certain times (typically 4-6 p.m.)

          Parking Garages ($5 as you enter each time) – City parking garages are located throughout downtown with convenient skywalk access to Wells Fargo Arena from most of them. Payment is collected each time you enter the garage. Pay attention to signage alerting you if the garage is full or has availability. 

There is a limited amount of tickets still available for the Wrestling State Finals Saturday night, February 18. Tickets for all three high school state tournaments can be purchased upon arrival at Wells Fargo Arena for the cost of $8, or in advance by visiting the Wells Fargo Arena Box Office, all Dahl’s Foods locations, online at dahlstickets.com, or by phone 866-55-DAHLS.

Cyber theft leaves Nishna Valley YMCA with $30k loss

News

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The final numbers are in on a financial loss experienced by the Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic, due to Cyber Theft. In December, YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes announced that their computer systems had been infected by a virus that targeted their ACH financial transactions. At that time, he said the YMCA sustained losses amounting to about $54,000. According to Haynes, to date, $18,500 has been returned, and with a reimbursement from insurance the total loss amounts to about $30,000.

He said they found out about the questionable transactions after they were notified by their financial institution on November 23rd. In December, Haynes said it did not appear the virus went after their members’ personal financial information, but it’s possible some of that information, such as checking or bank account routing numbers, may have been compromised.

It was the first time the Nishna Valley Family YMCA has experienced a Cyber theft, and they are continuing to work with technology experts and local bank officials to make sure it never happens again. The FBI he says, have not yet provided the YMCA with a report into the agency’s investigation of the incident.

Cass County Extension Office to Host ServSafe Class in March

News

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ServSafe, the national food safety certification program for food service employees, will be held at Cass County ISU Extension and Outreach Office in Atlantic on March 12th and 19th, 2012. Participants must attend both sessions to successfully complete the training.  The cost of the course is $135 which includes 10 hours class time, a manual, and the national certification exam. 

Anyone interested in preparing and serving safe food is welcome to attend. The course is currently required by some companies such as restaurants, hospitals, schools, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, but beginning in July of 2012 food safety certification will be required for all licensed food service establishments. ServSafe is one of three certification programs that will fulfill this certification requirement.  

For more information or a registration form, contact the Cass County ISU Extension and Outreach office at 712-243-1132 or your local ISU Extension and Outreach office. A registration form may also be found online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.  Anyone needing to take the recertification exam only may contact the office for more information. Registration is required by March 5.

UNT’s McCarney confirms stroke, expects recovery

Sports

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DENTON, Texas (AP) – North Texas football coach Dan McCarney says he had a stroke but expects a full recovery.  McCarney told The Des Moines Register that he felt his left side go numb after a workout Sunday morning. Doctors later confirmed he had a stroke.  McCarney continues to undergo tests, but says he’s told he won’t have any permanent damage and should be out of the hospital in a few days. He calls himself a “pretty lucky guy.”  The 58-year-old McCarney became coach at North Texas in November 2010. He was the coach at Iowa State from 1995 to 2006 and an assistant at Florida, South Florida, Wisconsin and Iowa.  The UNT athletic department declined to comment.

ISU releases 2012 football schedule

Sports

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State has released its 2012 football schedule, which had been held up as Big 12 officials worked to finalize West Virginia’s move to the league. The Cyclones will host the Mountaineers, who won the Orange Bowl last month, in their regular-season finale on Nov. 24.  Iowa State opens Big 12 play at home against Texas Tech on Sept. 29. The Cyclones also host Kansas State, Baylor and Oklahoma in Big 12 games.  Iowa State’s league road games will be at TCU, Oklahoma State, Texas and Kansas.

2 accidents in Atlantic, Monday – No injuries

News

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department say no injuries were reported following two separate accidents, Monday. The first occurred at around 9:20-a.m., at 2nd and Poplar Streets. The P-D says David Schwery, of Lewis, received a warning for Failure to Yield from a stop sign, after his vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by John Bengel, of Atlantic. The accident caused $2,200 damage.

The second accident happened at around 6:20-p.m., at 7th and Linn Streets. Officials say Tiffany Benavides, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, after her vehicle rear-ended one driven by Crystal Christensen, of Atlantic. Authorities say Benavides was unable to stop in-time, due to the slick road conditions. Damage from the accident amounted to $8,500.

4 Cass County residents arrested on drug charges

News

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports four Cass County residents were arrested on drug charges Sunday. 29-year old Justin Taylor, 28-year old Cortney McIntire, and 26-year old Aaron Rayborn, all from Lewis, along with 35-year old Thomas Williamson, of Griswold, were each charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. They were booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

Another home invasion reported in Clarinda

News

February 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Clarinda Police Department is investigating another reported home invasion incident. Police Chief Keith Brothers told KJAN News the latest incident occurred today (Tuesday), at around 2:15-a.m. at a residence in the 400 block of South 12th Street.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers (photo from the P-D's Facebook page)

 Brothers says an occupant of the home was awakened by a loud noise, and discovered the intruder standing in the kitchen. The suspect…a white male, about 6-feet tall…forced his way into the home through a locked door. He took off on foot in an unknown direction of travel. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. The home was occupied by a female. A similar incident was reported to have occurred last Thursday morning in Clarinda. Officials say a 40-year-old woman was sexually assaulted during the incident, after a suspect entered through a window. Brothers says it’s not clear if the two crimes are related.

The Chief says there are some things residents can do to protect themselves and their homes from intruders. He says you should keep your doors, windows, vehicles and garage doors locked, check the quality of your locks, keep any exterior lighting on, and purchase motion sensors. Those actions will help to prevent someone from getting easy access to your home. Brothers says citizens should also report any unusual activity, especially during the wee hours of the morning. The Chief also recommends you call 9-1-1 immediately if you think there’s someone in your residence.

Anyone with information on either of the home invasion incidents should contact the Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194.