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Warm January feeling more like spring

News, Weather

January 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Many Midwesterners hope for a January thaw, when the temperatures briefly inch above freezing. But this winter, some are wondering if the thaw will ever end. Temperatures have been higher than average for most of the winter, and in the past week they soared into the 50s and record-setting 60s in parts of Iowa and Nebraska. Although the spring-like temperatures are pleasant, Iowa climatologist Harry Hillaker says weather more common to the Upper Midwest could be on its way. Hillaker says history indicates that a warm December and January are often followed by a colder-than-average February and March.

Bluffs robbery under investigation

News

January 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating an armed robbery that took place Saturday night. Officials say at around 7:42-p.m., an armed robbery was reported at 1900 8th Avenue, in Council Bluffs. Two victims, whose names were not released, claimed cash and a cell phone were taken from them by two men. The victims said one of the suspects brandished a revolver during the robbery. Both suspects, a black male and a white male, were wearing dark-colored clothing. They fled the area in a small red car.

Officials say when two Council Bluffs Police Officers located a vehicle matching the suspects’ vehicle at a local gas and convenience store, two suspects fled the scene on foot, as the officers approached a group of people standing near the vehicle.

Two people were detained for questioning, one of whom was identified as having been involved in the robbery. The suspects’ name has not been released. The incident remains under investigation by the Council Bluffs Criminal Investigation Division.

JAMES LEWIS, 54, of Atlantic (visitation only)

Obituaries

January 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JAMES LEWIS, 54, of Atlantic, died Saturday, January 7th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.  No services are planned for JAMES LEWIS.  Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

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Open visitation will be held on Wednesday & Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm and on Friday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.  Family visitation will be Friday from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the funeral home.

James Lewis is survived by:

Brothers: Jon Lewis of Atlantic; William (Rocel) Lewis of Centerville, OH.

Sisters: Patricia Light of Lincoln, NE; Peggy Ponder of Pratt, KS

 

Adair County Board of Supervisors to hold Special Session

News

January 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Session Monday morning, in Greenfield.The Board will meet at 9-a.m., to hear Fiscal Year funding requests from: the Ag Extension Office; Adair County Home Care; Adair County Health Systems; MATURA; the Adair County Historical Society, and Adair County Tourism representatives.

Northern Iowa 83, Drake 68

Sports

January 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Anthony James scored 26 points and Jake Koch added 18 as Northern Iowa pulled away for an 83-68 victory over Drake on Saturday night. Northern Iowa (12-4, 2-2 Missouri Valley) trailed 35-34 at halftime. About halfway through the second half, Northern Iowa went on a 13-2 run after a tie and Drake (8-7, 1-3) could not recover. Northern Iowa got help from its bench players, who combined to score 17 points. Northern Iowa had a successful night at free-throw line, converting 27 of 34. Koch was 13 of 14. Koch also had eight rebounds to help his team build a 34-25 advantage. Drake’s Rayvonte Rice led all scorers with 27 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Jordan Clarke had 11 rebounds.

Saturday High School Basketball Results

Sports

January 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
  • Atlantic 53, Norwalk 33 (Jerry Hayes Video Highlights)
  • Blair, Neb. 72, Abraham Lincoln 39
  • Carroll 64, Dallas Center-Grimes 57
  • Clarinda 71, Corning 44
  • Nodaway Valley 64, CAM 40
  • Guthrie Center 51, Woodward-Granger 31
  • Kuemper Catholic 68, East Sac County 66
  • West Monona 94, West Harrison 55
  • Sterling, Neb. 50, Sidney 28
GIRLS BASKETBALL
  • Charter Oak-Ute 51, West Harrison 37
  • Clarinda 48, Corning 46
  • Abraham Lincoln 52, Blair, Neb. 47
  • Dallas Center-Grimes 51, Carroll 34
  • Nodaway Valley 53, CAM 28
  • Kuemper Catholic 69, East Sac County 50
  • Panorama 87, Earlham 29
  • Sterling, Neb. 63, Sidney 23
  • Treynor 71, Red Oak 33
  • Woodward-Granger 52, Guthrie Center 48

Audubon Community Banquet Awards

News

January 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon Chamber of Commerce and Audubon County Economic Development held their annual joint Community Banquet and Auction Saturday night, at Saint Patrick’s Parish Center. Receiving a Special 2011 Community Service Award for their service, commitment and sacrifice to the community, was the Audubon Fire Department. Audubon Fire Chief John Ballou said the fire department is one of the few businesses, associations or groups in the community that actually hope their customers DON’T call them, but when they do, their 40 volunteer members, nine of whom are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s), two of whom are First Responders, one Paramedic and two who are taking EMT classes, are ready to respond to those calls. He said he is extremely proud of each member of his department. He says in his years serving at the State Fire Training Bureau, he’s trained many firefighters from western Iowa and elsewhere around the State, and “The Audubon Fire Department takes a back seat to none of them.” Ballou thanked the community for its support and said the recognition they received Saturday night meant as much as anything else the community could do for the department.

Presenting the 2011 Audubon Citizen of the Year Award Saturday, was the 2010 Citizen of the Year, Thomas R. Nielsen. Nielsen said it was his honor to present the award to Lyle H. Hansen, Junior, who was born and raised in Audubon County, and is a dedicated servant to the community. He said Lyle has been a constant supporter and promoter of the community. When asked to serve, he says Hansen was always there to help, and could be counted on. Not only to serve on a committee, but to committed and active in the community. Hansen said he’s “Always been proud to call Audubon home.”
He says it’s “A great place to grow up and a great place to come back to. A great place to raise kids,” and great to his kids back from college and close to home.

Other recognition went to several sponsors of “Light Up Audubon”, which was tasked with raising money for all new LED lights to be hung in the downtown area. The lights were damaged in an ice storm a couple of years ago. To date, Light Up Audubon has raised over $4,800 toward replacing the lights, but the goal is raise $12,000, which will allow the lights to be replaced as needed, and kept on year around, during special celebrations and community events, not just for the holidays.  And, Audubon County Economic Development President Troy Wessel, Saturday night, recognized 13 businesses and two individuals at the Ceremony, who marked significant milestones over the past year, in the areas of expansion, new business, and/or who have received awards or recognition from their respective industries.

No. 1 Baylor 57, Iowa State 45

Sports

January 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Brittney Griner scored 26 points and her teammates contributed just enough to carry No. 1 Baylor past Iowa State 57-45 on Saturday night. Baylor (15-0, 2-0 Big 12) continued the best start in school history but had to work to do it against a feisty Iowa State team that played deliberately and milked the shot clock. The Cyclones (9-4, 0-2) led briefly in the first half, trailed by three at the half and were down just 26-24 when Nikki Moody hit a 3-pointer early in the second half. Baylor responded with a 10-0 run that included five points from Griner to open a 36-24 lead, and though the Cyclones kept threatening, that was enough of a cushion for the Lady Bears to hold on and protect their No. 1 ranking. Anna Prins, a 6-foot-7 junior who gave the Cyclones their best chance against the 6-8 Griner, led Iowa State with 17 points.

Jordan Madden added 11 points for Baylor, 10 in the second half, to help the Lady Bears pull away. Odyssey Sims, averaging 17.8 points, scored only two but came up with four steals and pressured Moody throughout. Moody scored only three points on 1-for-7 shooting. It was Iowa State’s first game against a No. 1 team at home and was much closer than the Cyclones’ three previous games against a team at the top of the Associated Press poll. The Cyclones lost those games by an average of 26 points.

Iowa State 74, Texas A&M 50

Sports

January 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Iowa State forward Royce White fought the flu all week, but hid his sickness well against Texas A&M on Saturday. Thanks to White’s triple-double, the Cyclones whipped the Aggies 74-50. White tallied 18 rebounds, 10 points and 10 assists. He notched the first triple-double by a Big 12 player versus a conference foe in six years (Iowa State’s Curtis Stinson against Colorado on Feb. 5, 2006). The Cyclones (12-3, 2-0 Big 12), coming off a home victory over Texas, leaped to a 42-23 halftime lead and the Aggies (9-5, 0-2) never threatened in the second half of the blowout. Iowa State shot 46.7 percent from the field (28 of 60), and held the Aggies to 31.3 percent (21 of 67), their second-worst showing of the season. Melvin Ejim led a balanced Iowa State scoring effort with 15 points, while Scott Christopherson followed with 13. Ray Turner paced Texas A&M, losers of four of its last five, with 13 points. Five Cyclones scored in double figures.

The Cyclones won at Texas A&M for the first time in 11 years, and defeated the Aggies for the first time in seven years overall. Iowa State has won seven straight games under Hoiberg, in his second year as coach. Texas A&M suffered its worst home loss since 2000 (a 78-51 setback to Texas), when Melvin Watkins coached the Aggies. Iowa State also dominated Texas A&M down low, in outscoring the Aggies 32-20.

Bomb threat cleared in Council Bluffs rail yard

News

January 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A bomb threat at the Union Pacific rail yard in Council Bluffs has been cleared after no device was found. Police searched the rail yard for four hours late Friday and early Saturday before determining the area was safe. Police ended their search about 12:30 a.m. Saturday. No other information about the incident has been released.