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Corps of Engineers: Missouri River levees in “critical condition”

News

January 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Missouri River levees that were damaged by last year’s floodwaters remain vulnerable, with spring a little over two months away. Congress has appropriated money for emergency repairs and more money is promised. Colonel Robert Ruch, Commander of the U-S Army Corps of Engineers’ Omaha District, says they’re focused on repairing the critical sections of levee first.  “Most of those levees held up very well through the flood of 2011,” Colonel Ruch says. “We know where our greatest weaknesses are and that’s where we’re putting our greatest strength.” Floodwaters breeched some levees in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska, damaged others, and put great strain on all the levees downstream. Ruch says it will take months to restore the basin’s levee system to where it was in early 2011.

“We probably need a full year to get things completely restored back to pre-flood conditions,” Ruch says. “We have ideas as to what the critical things are that need to be ready for as early as March 1st, when we consider the runoff season to begin and where we could be in some danger of rising waters.” Kim Thomas, chief of the Corps’ “Readiness Branch” in Omaha, acknowledges the Missouri River levee system remains vulnerable.  “Those levees are definitely in critical condition,” Thomas says. “We’ll get them closed up. We’ll get the bridges closed up. We’ll get all the critical repairs done but there’s still a lot to go there. We have a lot of seepage concerns that we have to go through and get geotech investigation on, do analysis, do design.” Thomas says the first order of business is to repair the sections of levee that are most severely damaged.

“Those pieces will be fixed,” she says. “It’s the under-foundation seepage issues that require extensive analysis and that takes time.” Some estimates indicate it could be late this year or even 2013 before repairs to the levee system are complete.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

NWS Forecast for Tue., Jan. 17, 2012 – Cass & area counties in IA

Weather

January 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

356 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

TODAY…CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. BREEZY. MUCH COLDER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. COLDER. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED FLURRIES AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW 10 TO 15. WEST WIND AROUND 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. COLDER. HIGH AROUND 20. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOW 10 TO 15. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW 15 TO 20. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S.

Beltran Pickup Gets Big Thumbs Up From Team

Sports

January 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — No St. Louis Cardinals player can be happier to have Carlos Beltran on their side than pitcher Kyle Lohse. The new right fielder is a .564 career hitter against Lohse with four home runs, six doubles and 12 RBIs. Add in 11 walks and the switch-hitting Beltran has a stunning .647 on-base percentage. Lohse, a 14-game winner last year, joked at the team’s Winter Warmup that Beltran was the greatest player in history. The 34-year-old Beltran got a two-year, $26 million free agent deal after a strong comeback season with the Mets and Giants, rebounding from two injury-plagued years. The Beltran pickup helps the World Series champions move on from the loss of Albert Pujols. The title team, minus Pujols, will be honored at the White House on Tuesday.

Monday High School Basketball Results

Sports

January 17th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
  • Lewis Central 63, Thomas Jefferson 48
  • East Sac County 66, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 44
  • IKM-Manning 56, Coon Rapids-Bayard 51
GIRLS BASKETBALL
  • Lewis Central 52, Iowa School for the Deaf 18
  • Abraham Lincoln 63, St. Albert 47
  • East Sac County 75, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 45
  • West Monona 52, Woodbine 45
  • Clarke 52, Creston 47
Corner Conference Tournament
First Round
  • Villisca 50, Sidney 29
  • Fremont-Mills 40, Clarinda Academy 18
  • Stanton 57, East Mills 29
  • Nishnabotna 49, Essex 41

    Special Weather Statement for parts of west central/Central IA

    Weather

    January 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

    ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD COUNTIES

    934 PM CST MON JAN 16 2012

    …SNOW HEADING INTO IOWA OVERNIGHT…

    AN AREA OF SNOW WILL DEVELOP TO THE WEST OF IOWA AND OVERSPREAD A LARGE PART OF SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL…AND NORTHEAST IOWA OVERNIGHT. THE MAIN AREA OF SNOW WILL BEGIN OVER SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL IOWA AROUND MIDNIGHT…AND SPREAD TO THE NORTHEAST COUNTIES BY 3 OR 4 AM. THE SNOW WILL END WEST OF INTERSTATE 35 BEFORE SUNRISE…AND OVER NORTHEAST IOWA BY MID MORNING. TOTAL NEW SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE IN THE ONE TO THREE INCH RANGE…WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

    NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 30 MPH…RESULTING IN DRIFTING OF THE SNOW…ALONG WITH  PATCHY BLOWING SNOW LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY.

    Fire engulfs semi cab near Atlantic (updated 8:45-pm)

    News

    January 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

    Atlantic and Marne Firefighters responded to the scene of a fully engulfed semi-tractor on Highway 173, one-mile south of Interstate 80, Monday night. The call came in at 7:23-p.m. The driver of the 2004 Volvo, 67-year old Sam Hoover, of Atlantic told KJAN News he was traveling south on 173 after having just turned off the interstate on his way home to Atlantic, when he noticed flames in the back of the truck. He said he locked the brakes up, got out of the cab and was going to grab his fire extinguisher, but by then the flames had started to consume the cab and the glass started to blow out.  He said there were flames coming from the engine compartment, also.

    Volvo semi tractor, engine compartment, right side view 1-16-12

    Hoover said he had just spent $4,000 on his rig in December, and was scheduled to have a wheel seals serviced by Volvo on Tuesday afternoon. Hoover owned the truck, which was contracted to Fremont Carriers, out of Fremont,  Nebraska. It’s not clear what exactly caused the blaze, which completely destroyed the tractor portion of the semi (no trailer was attached). The burned out hulk was still smoldering more than an hour after the first fire crews arrived. No injuries were reported.

    Burned out Volvo semi tractor/Driver's side view 1-16-12

    Iowa’s Derby to transfer after position change

    Sports

    January 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

    IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa football player A.J. Derby is leaving the program after a season in which coach Kirk Ferentz moved him to defense from quarterback. The school said Monday that Derby, an Iowa City native, had been granted a release from his scholarship and will transfer elsewhere. Derby thanked his coaches but said, “unfortunately, I don’t feel this is the best fit for me personally to reach my goals as a student-athlete.” He initially won the backup quarterback job last fall as a redshirt freshman, completing 3 of 6 passes for 30 yards. But he was suspended for two games in October after he was arrested on charges of public intoxication and criminal mischief. When Derby returned to action, Ferentz had him practicing at linebacker and playing in games on kickoff coverage.

    Attorney to conduct independent investigation into alleged hazing incident

    News, Sports

    January 16th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

    SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An attorney representing three alleged victims of a reported sexual assault involving the wrestling team at Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield says he wants an independent investigation. Two members of the wrestling team were arrested last week. Eighteen-year-old Mikel Anthony Feick and 17-year-old Jacob Wayne Schliessman, both of Greenfield, are charged with second-degree sexual abuse.  Fieck has been released from the Adair County Jail in Greenfield, on $25,000 bond. Schliessman plead not guilty to the offense last Friday, and has waived his preliminary hearing. He’s scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning (Jan. 19th). Schliessman is currently being held on $25,000 bond at the Juvenile Detention facility in Edlora.

    Attorney Martin Fisher, of Adair said Monday, that he’s hiring the Critelli law firm in Des Moines to investigate the allegations. Police say the alleged assault occurred on Dec. 19th in the high school’s wrestling room. Local law enforcement and the school district are also investigating.

    Griswold Coop Telephone Announces Fiber Optic Project

    News

    January 16th, 2012 by Jim Field

    After many months of planning, the Board of Directors and Staff of the Griswold Cooperative Telephone Company has announced their BROADBAND NETWORK EVOLUTION PROJECT.

    The end of December, Griswold Cooperative started the engineering and installation process of an advanced Broadband Network, that will result in what is generally referred to as Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH). This system will provide a platform for enhanced communications and entertainment services long into the future.

    GCTC customers receiving telephone service from the Cooperative today, including all rural customers, will have fiber optics connected right to your homes or businesses. The project will replace the existing copper network cabling that is currently used to provide telephone, Internet and cable television service. The BROADBAND NETWORK will bring all services to customers over fiber optic cable, individually to each location. The fiber “pipe” opens nearly endless opportunities for communications and entertainment services because of the sheer volume of space, or bandwidth, which is available to every customer.

    The entire project should be completed by 2015, but different portions or areas will be completed incrementally, at different times. As these steps are completed, those customers will be converted to the new fiber optic system and service offerings. For customers in Elliott and Grant, the initial phase of the project, you are seeing the engineering firm, RVW, Inc., in your neighborhoods and talking with each of you about the design parameters for each individual location GCTC is serving.

    GCTC says they believe it is their responsibility to have the technology in place to meet the needs of customers now, and in the future.

    The new fiber BROADBAND NETWORK will be capable of increased bandwidth per customer and will allow for higher quality TV channels, and the continued expansion of Internet speeds, data services and applications. The project covers the entire Cooperative service area with FTTH installations. Rural customers will be able to get TV services, which before have only been available to city residents.

    Associated Press Iowa Boys Basketball Prep Poll

    Sports

    January 16th, 2012 by Jim Field

    The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

    Class 4-A
    Record Pts Prv
    1. Iowa City West (12) 11-0 138 1
    2. Ankeny (2) 11-0 128 2
    3. Marion Linn-Mar 8-2 96 5
    4. West Des Moines Valley 9-2 94 4
    5. Cedar Falls 9-2 65 6
    T6. Dubuque Senior 9-1 62 3
    T6. Sioux City East 10-2 62 8
    8. Waukee 9-2 56 7
    9. Cedar Rapids Jefferson 9-2 34 10
    10. Des Moines Roosevelt 8-3 13 9

    Others receiving votes: Davenport Central 10. West Des Moines Dowling 7. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 3. Des Moines Hoover 2.

    Class 3-A
    Record Pts Prv
    1. Waverly-Shell Rock (12) 12-0 138 1
    2. MOC-Floyd Valley (2) 13-0 127 2
    3. Mount Pleasant 11-1 113 3
    4. Iowa Falls-Alden 11-1 79 5
    5. Davenport Assumption 8-3 64 7
    6. Webster City 9-2 63 6
    7. Epworth, Western Dubuque 8-2 56 9
    8. Sioux City Heelan 8-3 55 4
    9. Carroll 9-2 33 10
    10. Atlantic 10-2 18 NR

    Others receiving votes: Dallas Center-Grimes 9. Le Mars 7. A-D-M, Adel 2. Grinnell 2. Dubuque Wahlert 2. Maquoketa 1. Vinton-Shellsburg 1.

    Class 2-A
    Record Pts Prv
    1. West Marshall (9) 14-0 131 1
    2. West Fork, Sheffield (5) 12-0 129 2
    3. Denver 12-1 75 3
    4. Mount Vernon 9-2 74 4
    5. Des Moines Christian 11-1 70 5
    6. Fort Dodge St. Edmond 10-2 65 6
    7. Ogden 14-0 61 7
    8. Stanwood North Cedar 9-2 49 8
    9. Monticello 12-0 40 NR
    10. Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 12-3 12 NR

    Others receiving votes: Monroe PCM 11. Clarinda 10. Beckman, Dyersville 10. Hull Western Christian 9. Forest City 8. Monona MFL-Mar-Mac 8. Roland-Story 3. Sheldon 2. Sioux Center 2. IKM-Manning 1.

    Class 1-A
    Record Pts Prv
    T1. Danville (8) 13-0 132 1
    T1. Storm Lake St. Mary’s (6) 12-0 132 2
    3. Blairsburg NE Hamilton 13-0 102 3
    4. Boyden-Hull 11-1 91 4
    5. Treynor 12-0 78 5
    6. Harris-Lake Park 12-0 70 6
    7. Keota 13-0 50 7
    8. Troy Mills North Linn 12-1 30 NR
    9. Lone Tree 11-1 24 9
    10. Le Mars Gehlen Catholic 12-1 20 NR

    Others receiving votes: Greenfield Nodaway Valley 17. Buffalo Center North Iowa 12. Kalona Iowa Mennonite 3. Lawton-Bronson 3. Lynnville-Sully 3. Kingsley-Pierson 2. Algona Garrigan 1.