United Group Insurance

Essex woman sentenced to 2 concurrent prison terms for fatal crash

News

November 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

An Essex woman who had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide in connection with the deaths of two Cumberland boys was sentenced today (Monday) to serve two 10-year prison terms. 19-year old Karli Jo Brown,  will serve the sentences concurrently (at the same time).  She also was ordered to pay a yet-undetermined amount of restitution. Brown was the driver of a car that passed other vehicles in a no-passing zone on a hill and collided head-on with another vehicle, on November 28th, 2010. She driving almost 25-miles over the posted speed limit and texting her boyfriend when the crash occurred.

Two children in the other vehicle driven, by Nina McNeese, of Cumberland, died.  Five-year old Maliki and 4-year old Alex McNeese were properly buckled in, but died at the scene of the crash on Highway 48.  Brown and Nina McNeese were injured in the crash.

In April, Brown was charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of causing serious injury by motor vehicle. In return for a guilty plea, prosecutors later dropped the charge of causing serious injury by motor vehicle. The county attorney says the deal allowed Nina McNeese, to avoid the pain of a trial.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7th

Trading Post

November 7th, 2011 by admin

FOR SALE: 2 entertainment cetners in excellent condition. 1 is a corner unit, medium colored wood, the 2nd is off white larger unit. $125 each; computer desk, very good condition $45. 249-6835

FOR SALE: 6 – 6 1/2 ft. green Christmas tree, good shape $50. 268-2609

FOR RENT: 1 bedroom house, newly remodeled, must sign 6 month or 1 year lease, no smoking, off street parking $275 per month, $350 deposit. 712-249-6223.

FOR SALE: Patio set that includes an umbrella, table, and chairs.  $250 obo.  Also misc. computer items for sale.  249-6223.

FOR SALE: A nice computer cable…$25.  250-4533.

FOR SALE: 4 male, 6 week old Cockapoo puppies.  2 buff and 2 black colored puppies available.  Parents are on-site.  $250-$300.  249-6930.

WANTED: Willing to cut down trees if you cannot afford a tree service.  The work would be done to help people out, as he would not use the wood for personal use.  He would not be able to do anything more than 2 feet across…also could only cut down trees in more open areas.  Also has a quarter load of firewood for sale.  778-4672.

3 arrests in Atlantic over the weekend

News

November 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green reports three people were arrested over the weekend. On Friday, 24-year old Kelsey Swinnerton, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st offense. Saturday, officers arrested 27-year old Laura Madden, of Atlantic, on a charges of Burglary in the 3rd degree, Domestic Abuse & Assault, and Assault while participating in a felony. Any, on Sunday, 30-year old Steve Pedersen, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault.

All three of those individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Three injured in Cass County rollover accident

News

November 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three people suffered minor injuries during a rollover accident Friday northwest of Atlantic. Authorities say a 2000 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by 16-year old Cal Jeffrey Heuton, of Atlantic, was traveling east on Glacier Road when Heuton failed to stop at the controlled intersection with Buck Creek Road. The car left the road and overturned. Heuton was treated at the scene for minor injuries. One passenger in the car suffered minor injuries, while a second passenger was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by ambulance for treatment of leg injuries. The names of the passengers were not released. Heuton was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $5,500.

And, officials say no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday, on Tucson Road. A 2005 Pontiac Grand Am driven by 18-year old Chelsey Noel Nicklaus, of Griswold, was westbound on Tucson Road between 670th and 680th Streets,  when the woman lost control of the car, which slid into the north ditch and rolled through a fence. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $10,000.

JANE MILLER, 92, of Atlantic (& formerly of Anita) – Svcs 11-12-11

Obituaries

November 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

JANE MILLER, 92, of Atlantic (& formerly of Anita), died Sun., Nov. 6th, at the Cass County Hospice Center. Memorial services for JANE MILLER will be held 11-a.m. Sat., Nov. 12th, at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Anita. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home has the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

A private family burial is planned.

JANE MILLER is survived by:

Her sons – Gary (Gail) Miller, of LaVista, NE; David (Marilyn) Miller, of Des Moines; & Timothy (Pam) Miller, of Anita.

5 grandchildren & 6 great-grandchildren.

This is Your Nishna Valley 11-05-2011

Podcasts, This is Your Nishna Valley

November 7th, 2011 by admin

w/ Jim Field and Stacie Linfor

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Former Western IA woman convicted on murder charge

News

November 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa jury has convicted a woman of murder in the 2001 death of her neighbor, rejecting her claim that she shot him in self-defense during a home invasion. Forty-five-year-old Tracey Richter says she shot 20-year-old Dustin Wehde to protect herself and her three children after he and another man broke into her home in December 2001. She says the second intruder fled.

But Monday’s verdict supports prosecutors’ claim that there was no home invasion and Richter shot Wehde to keep him quiet about his role in a plot to frame her ex-husband. Richter was involved in a custody battle at the time.

Richter later moved to Omaha, Neb., where she was arrested last summer. She faces life in prison at sentencing.

Rebuild cost of flooded western roads at $50-million

News

November 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation said today the rush to repair western Iowa roadways has cost millions in man hours and materials. D-O-T director Paul Trombino was at the governor’s weekly meeting with reporters to provide an update, and he says the state will seek to get most of the money from the federal government.  Trombino says the costs right now are close to 50-million dollars, and they are all at this point eligible for federal reimbursement. Crews have been working long hours on a “fast track” system to get the roadways repaired and reopened. Governor Terry Branstad says that’s because the federal government requires the repairs to be made within 180 days of the flood to be eligible for reimbursement.

He says federal officials count from when the flood started, and this flood started in June and the water didn’t go down until September in many places. “So this made it a big challenge,” Branstad says. He says the D-O-T and all the contractors did a great job despite that challenge. Trombino says the 50-million is the total right up to today. Trombino says that’s what they know right now from the start of repairs in June, and it includes the repairs on all the roadways. Trombino says there will be some state costs, as on Highway 175 for example, they took this opportunity to add some protections to the roadways in areas as a precaution against future floods.

He says those improvements are considered betterment under the federal highway rules, but Trombino says they felt it was worthwhile for the long-term preservation of the roadway and the bridge to make additional improvements. Three major river crossings were closed by the Missouri River flood waters, with a total of 77 miles shut down by the flooding. As an example of how fast the repair work was done, the just over three mile section of I-680 was reopened to traffic just 34 days after the waters receded.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

No cause determined for fire in pile of donated goods in Atlantic

News

November 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A fire outside of the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Atlantic early this (Monday) morning sent flames shooting above the roof of the building, and destroyed numerous items left for donation in and near a drop box. Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees said a newspaper carrier reported the fire near the west side of the building located at 716 West 7th Street, at around 2:30-a.m. McNees says there were numerous items piled outside the building during the day, Sunday, including 4 or 5 mattress and box-spring sets, furniture, children’s toys, and clothing. No damage was reported to the building itself. He says the fire was investigated this morning by himself and Atlantic Police Officer Paul Woods. He says it appears the fire was accidental in nature and may have been smoldering for quite some time.

He says a second eyewitness confirmed the belief the fire was accidental. McNees says firefighters knocked down the flames quickly. They were on the scene for about 30-minutes. No injuries were reported.

Backyard and Beyond 11-07-2011

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

November 7th, 2011 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Marcia Rabe from the Diabetes Center at CCMH about November being Diabetes Month and they discuss upcoming informational programs in relation to the month of awareness.

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