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Arrest made in connection with Thursday SUV chase and fire

News

February 3rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a Missouri man was arrested Thursday on drug and other charges, following the chase of a stolen SUV, which later crashed and burst into flames. 37-year old Sean Christopher Schmidt, of St. Joseph, MO, was being held in the Fremont County Jail on pending charges of Conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance, Unauthorized transportation of anhydrous ammonia, Theft in the 2nd degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Precursor.

Officials say Schmidt was one of two people who escaped on foot after a 2002 Hyundai Sante Fe was stolen out of northwest Missouri Thursday morning, crashed into a levee just south of 270th Street and 300th Avenue, south of Sidney. The SUV burst into flames following the crash, and was a total loss.

The chase began when Fremont County authorities were notified by the Missouri Highway Patrol, that the stolen SUV was headed into the county. Deputies, along with DOT personnel began a search for the vehicle, which was observed by a female DOT officer on northbound Interstate 29. It left the interstate at Exit 20, and proceeded east towards Thurman. From there, the driver of the SUV tried to elude the officer. Several other officers joined in the pursuit, but they lost contact with the vehicle.

After it crashed and the occupants escaped, a report was received several hours later that a subject was seen running south on the West Nishnabotna levee. Deputies responded and took Schmidt into custody. The other suspect in the incident remains at large.

Winter Storm Watch Update 2-3-12

Weather

February 3rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

47 AM CST FRI FEB 3 2012 NWS/Valley NE

…HEAVY SNOW TO HIT THE REGION LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY…

A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY AND SATURDAY…AFFECTING WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEBRASKA TODAY…THEN EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. SNOW COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS FRIDAY EVENING IN PARTS OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA…BUT WILL REALLY BEGIN TO ACCUMULATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

FOR MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE COUNTIES IN IA…

WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING...

RAIN WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE OVER TO SNOW ACROSS THE AREA EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. SNOW IS EXPECTED THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY SATURDAY WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL OCCURRING SATURDAY MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL VARY FROM NEAR 4 TO 7 INCHES WITH THE HIGHER ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NORTH ALONG THE INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR. THE TIMING OF THE CHANGEOVER TO SNOW WILL AFFECT SNOW AMOUNTS GREATLY. IF THE CHANGE STARTS EARLIER IN THE NIGHT…SNOW AMOUNTS COULD BE SEVERAL MORE INCHES THAN FORECAST. TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT SATURDAY MORNING OVER THE AREA AND SOME BLOWING SNOW COULD DEVELOP. THE COMBINATION OF SNOWFALL AND WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO A HALF MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

Fed Reserve VP sees ag economy continuing its growth

Ag/Outdoor

February 3rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City believes the agricultural economy should remain in a growth period for at least another year. Speaking at an agricultural economics conference in Sioux City, Jason Henderson, says he sees comparisons of today to the boom times of the 1970’s. “You have the low value of the dollar which is supporting U-S agricultural exports overseas, you have stronger growing incomes in global markets, especially developing countries,like China,” Henderson says. “At the same time you have historically low interest rates which are turning record high farm incomes into record high farm values. So there are all of these similarities underpinning the agricultural economy.” One of the primary differences though between now and the 1970’s, is the level of debt.

“In the 1970’s U-S agriculture leveraged themselves up, quite a bit, and increased the accumulated debt over that decade, and that’s one thing that we haven’t seen yet at this stage in terms of the agricultural boom of today,” Henderson says. Henderson says the general economy will probably remain stagnant for a while until unemployment goes down. He says the agricultural economy has given some support to the general economy, particularly in the midwest, where there has been the strongest employment growth, lowest unemployment rates, and the strongest income gains of any region of the country.

“I think going forward what you are going to see its going to be more agriculture in terms of its size of the economy will provide some support going forward, and we’ll need to have some stronger growth in terms of the overall broader economy to help stimulate that agricultural demand domestically, and support of our liberties on our debt and that of what we have been accumulating here recently,” Henderson says. Henderson says government regulations may play a significant role in determining how fast the general economy may rebound. The Federal Reserve Official says he doesn’t see the Board of Governors making many drastic changes to interest rates in the near future.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

Man who drove 188-mph in 2009 on I-29, found guilty of eluding. Will be sentenced in March.

News

February 3rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs man who the State Patrol says likely set a state record for speed on a public highway when he reached 188 mph on his motorcycle while fleeing from authorities in 2009, was found guilty Wednesday by a jury in Pottawattamie County, of eluding a peace officer. A pilot who tracked 39-year old James Foldenauer said Thursday, that Foldenauer drove on shoulders and the centerline to pass traffic.

James Foldenauer (Pott. Co. Jail photo)

District Associate Judge Craig Dreismeier convicted Foldenauer for excessive speed for driving 188 mph in a 70-mph zone. The man is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8th.  Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney Tom Nelson said he will likely seek the maximum penalty, which is two years in prison for the eluding charge, an aggravated misdemeanor.

The chase started after a trooper clocked Foldenauer and another motorcyclist traveling at 89 mph in a construction zone on Interstate Highway 29 near Missouri Valley, on August 5th, 2009.  Trooper Bryan Michelsen with the Iowa State Patrol, said the other motorcyclist, a woman, stopped, but Foldenauer accelerated and reached 188 near, Honey Creek.  He was driving a 2003 Suzuki Hayabusa. Two Iowa State Patrol officers on the ground and one in the air pursued Foldenauer, but neither of the police cars could keep up with the cycle.

While the Troopers on the ground couldn’t keep up with the cycle, Iowa State Patrol pilot Pigsley followed it by air to an Omaha residence, where Foldenauer was arrested by Omaha police. Foldenauer’s lawyer, Michael Murphy, says that the motorcyclist the Iowa State Patrol tracked that day was not Foldenauer. He told the jury Foldenauer’s motorcycle was “An orange motorcycle, kind of a bright orange.” He said the witnesses identified a red motorcycle as being involved in the chase, but the jury didn’t buy it.  Murphy said that as of Thursday, Foldenauer still had his driver’s license, but Dena Gray-Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Transportation, said that Foldenauer’s license will be revoked one year for excessive speeding, and that he can request a work permit. Online court records show Foldenauer has been cited for previous, less serious traffic offenses.

Trooper Michelsen said no one knows for sure why Foldenauer didn’t stop, and the man hasn’t confessed to the incident. Michelsen said he thought the speed the motorcyclist reached that day was a state record and possibly a national record, although Iowa Department of Transportation officials could not confirm that. The closest record he says he could find, was the Minnesota Highway Patrol clocking a motorcycle at 205 mph. The manager of a Des Moines Suzuki dealership told the Des Moines Register that  188 mph is about as fast as a Hayabusa could reach, but an owner could modify one to go even faster. The bike retails for about $14,000.

Thursday High School Basketball Results

Sports

February 3rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

  • CAM 58, Griswold 50
  • St. Albert 53, Elkhorn Mount Michael, Neb. 39
  • Martensdale-St. Mary’s 63, Ankeny Christian 56
  • Essex 59, Heartland Christian 18

GIRLS BASKETBALL

  • Griswold 39, CAM 33
  • Abraham Lincoln 74, Thomas Jefferson 24
  • St. Albert 50, Boys Town, Neb. 42
  • Essex 71, Heartland Christian 34

Western Valley Tournament:

 

  • Ar-We-Va 60, Lawton-Bronson 58
  • Westwood 22, Boyer Valley 18
  • Kingsley-Pierson 47, West Harrison 40
  • Ridge View 57, Woodbine 42
  • Woodbury Central 56, West Monona 37
  • River Valley 41, Charter Oak-Ute 32
  • Maple Valley 49, Whiting 33


THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd

Trading Post

February 2nd, 2012 by admin

WANTED: World War II German or Japanese bayonets and World War II binoculars (must have date).  Cal 243-4131.

FOR SALE:  A bedroom set that includes:  a dresser with mirror, chest of drawers, a night stand, a queen sized bed frame and head board (no mattress)…$150 for all.  Also a chest of drawers where one of the shelves can be removed to make room for a TV…$100.  243-3061 and 249-1326.

JENNIFER RUHL, 53, of Anita (2-6-12)

Obituaries

February 2nd, 2012 by Jim Field

JENNIFER RUHL, 53, of Anita died Wednesday, February 1st at her home.  Memorial services for Jennifer Ruhl will be held on Monday, February 6th at 11:00 am in the St. Marys Catholic Church in Anita.  Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home has the arrangements.

———————————————————————

There will be a rosary on Monday at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church followed by visitation with the family, from 10:30 am to 11:00 am, aslo at the church. The family will also have a time for visiting at a lunch directly following the memorial service, also in the church.

Burial of the cremains will take place in the Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Council Bluffs

Jennifer Ruhl is survived by:

Husband: Lyle of Anita

Daughter: Lindsey Jensen of Des Moines

Son: Andrew Jensen of Des Moines

Sisters: Vicky Myers of Council Bluffs; Jane Showers of Council Bluffs; Karen Brandenburg of Council Bluffs; Jeanette Jerkovich of Council Bluffs; Judy Lunn of Arizona; Mary Jerkovich of Winterset.

Brothers: John Jerkovich of Council Bluffs; Gary Jerkovich of Wisconsin.

(Update) Search called-off for SUV thieves

News

February 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Stolen, burned-out Hyundai Sante Fe (photo courtesy IA State Patrol)

Authorities in southwest Iowa have reportedly called-off their search for two people who stole an SUV from Missouri and led law enforcement on a chase throughout several southwest Iowa counties. The chase ended when the 2002 Hyundai Sante Fe, which was stolen from a residence this (Thursday) morning, in Burlington Junction, MO., crashed into a levee south of Sidney, and burst into flames. The two male suspects fled on foot, and remain at large. During the chase, the Iowa State Patrol set-up a roadblock on Interstate 29 near Nebraska City, NE. The Patrol said that’s where a Fremont County sheriff’s deputy fired two shots at the vehicle’s tires to try to stop the suspects. The vehicle was being tracked by GPS, but the signal was lost at around 10-a.m. 

Officials said a short time later, a farmer in Fremont County saw the SUV drive through one of his fields. He engaged in his own pursuit, and watched as the vehicle crashed into a levee near a gravel road off of Highway 275, and catch fire. The Iowa State Patrol said two of its cruisers were disabled during the chase: one blew an engine, while the other had cooling issues associated with the radiator.

2011-2012 10th Iowa Girls High School Basketball Rankings

Sports

February 2nd, 2012 by Jim Field

Class 1-A
School
Record
LW
1
North Mahaska
19-0
1
2
Bedford
19-0
2
3
North Butler
16-1
3
4
Lynnville-Sully
18-2
5
5
West Sioux
18-1
4
6
LeMars Gehlen Catholic
16-2
7
7
Ar-We-Va
14-3
6
8
Newell-Fonda
14-5
9
9
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn
17-3
12
10
Boyden-Hull
13-5
13
11
Central Lyon
16-3
8
12
North Tama
17-3
10
13
Adair-Casey
17-2
14
14
Burlington Notre Dame
14-5
11
15
Coon Rapids-Bayard
15-4
NR
Dropped Out: Villisca (15)
Class 2-A
School
Record
LW
1
OA-BCIG
20-0
1
2
Estherville-Lincoln Central
19-1
2
3
IKM-Manning
18-1
3
4
West Hancock
18-0
4
5
Mediapolis
18-0
6
6
Kuemper Catholic
16-4
7
7
Western Christian
16-3
8
8
Lawton-Bronson
15-4
9
9
Fort Dodge St. Edmond
16-1
5
10
Pella Christian
15-2
10
11
Panorama
17-1
11
12
Maquoketa Valley
20-0
12
13
Van Buren
18-1
13
14
Sumner-Fredericksburg
18-0
14
15
Gilbert
18-2
15
Dropped Out: None
Class 3-A
School
Record
LW
1
Benton Community
17-0
1
2
Davenport Assumption
17-1
2
3
MOC-Floyd Valley
19-0
3
4
Sioux City Bishop Heelan
16-1
4
5
Glenwood
16-1
5
6
South Tama
17-1
6
7
Dubuque Wahlert
13-4
7
8
Williamsburg
16-3
9
9
Union
15-2
11
10
Waverly-Shell Rock
13-4
13
11
Bondurant-Farrar
16-2
10
12
Denison-Schleswig
12-6
14
13
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
12-5
8
14
Ballard
13-5
NR
15
Washington
13-4
NR
Dropped Out: Spirit Lake (12), Marion (15)
Class 4-A
School
Record
LW
1
Southeast Polk
18-1
2
2
Iowa City West
16-1
1
3
Ankeny
16-2
4
4
Mason City
15-2
3
5
Cedar Rapids Xavier
13-5
5
6
Waukee
14-5
9
7
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
10-6
14
8
Dowling Catholic
12-6
12
9
Iowa City High
13-5
6
10
Cedar Rapids Washington
11-6
7
11
Muscatine
15-3
13
12
Cedar Rapids Prairie
11-5
10
13
West Des Moines Valley
12-6
NR
14
Lewis Central
15-2
11
15
Cedar Falls
11-6
NR

Dropped Out: Ames (8), Des Moines East (15)

Duplex fire in Atlantic

News

February 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters in Atlantic were called to the scene of a residential fire this (Thursday) afternoon, in a duplex located at 2101 Chestnut Street.

South side of 2101 Chesnut Street in Atlantic

 Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees said the fire was called in by a person living on one side of the home. He says the resident was awoken by smoke and tried to find her neighbors, but they were already gone. The chief says the house was fully engulfed in flames along the south, or back side of the structure, when fire fighters arrived. He says after speaking with the owners, it appears discarded smoking materials on the deck fanned by winds created the sparks that caused the fire.

McNees said they were still trying to determine exactly where the flames started, but he thought it might have been on some patio furniture.

Fire at 2101 Chesnut, closer view (Ric Hanson photo)

 The house sustained severe fire and smoke damage and will likely be declared a total loss. A single female lived in one half of the duplex. McNees says he believes a couple and their child lived on the other side. No injuries were reported.