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Nebraska detective pleads guilty to OWI in Iowa

News

August 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) — A detective with the Omaha, Neb., police department has pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge in Iowa. Online court records show 37-year-old Wendy Redding pleaded guilty on Monday in Harrison County District Court to first-offense OWI. She was arrested on July 3rd.

Redding was sentenced to 30 days in jail with 28 days suspended, placed on probation for a year and fined $625. Court records show as an alternative, Redding can serve two days in jail and attend an impaired driver’s course. But if she completes a weekend OWI diversion program, she won’t have to serve any jail time or take the course.

Omaha police spokeswoman Lt. Darci Tierney told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Redding is on paid administrative leave.

Posted in News |

3 Hospitalized Iowa Players Quit The Team

Sports

August 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — When Iowa opens the season Saturday, three of the 13 players who were hospitalized after a now-scrapped weightlifting exercise in January won’t be on the team. One walk-on player and two who were on scholarship quit the team following their hospitalization with rhabdomyolysis, a muscle disorder that caused discolored urine and extreme soreness, according to a report released this week by a committee appointed by President Sally Mason to investigate the injuries.

The walk-on quit before spring practice to concentrate on academics. One of the scholarship players left the team before spring practice, considered transferring and then stayed at Iowa but decided not to play football. The other completed spring practice but left the university for what the report described as unrelated personal reasons. The report, e-mailed to the Iowa Board of Regents and posted online Tuesday, does not identify any of the players. The second player is believed to be reserve senior cornerback Willie Lowe, who had asked for a release from his scholarship last spring to consider transferring but later decided to remain enrolled at Iowa but not rejoin the team.

The committee concluded that all 13 players appear to have completely recovered and it’s considered possible but unlikely they will develop any long-term health problems. It also noted the athletics department has reaffirmed its commitment to never again use the workout that caused the injuries and taken steps to educate employees, athletes and others about how to prevent and identify rhabdomyolysis. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has downplayed the potential impact of the offseason workouts on the Hawkeyes, saying he’s been pleased with his players’ recovery and that he and his staff members were cleared of any misconduct in the matter. Iowa hosts Tennessee Tech at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday.

The regents had asked the committee for a follow-up report in six months after its initial findings earlier this year. Board of Regents President Craig Lang praised the university’s multi-layered response in a letter to regents dated Tuesday. “I thank the university for its ongoing careful attention in responding to the individual needs of each player,” he said. He added he was “very pleased” the university halted the workout in question and added: “I commend the University for its commitment to improved education, communication, and medical practices for increased awareness of rhabdomyolysis and other serious health issues that could impact our student-athletes.”

Posted in Sports |

Intermittent lane closures on Iowa 192 in Pottawattamie County begin Sept. 6th

News

August 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Aug. 31, 2011 – Road construction work on Iowa 192/South Expressway Street just north of Interstate 29/80 at exit 3 near Lake Manawa will cause intermittent lane closures in both directions beginning Tuesday, Sept. 6th, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Council Bluffs construction office.
Flaggers will be used to control traffic during the closure. The roadway will return to normal traffic patterns when workers are not present. Motorists are asked to consider using an  alternate route during this construction project.  This project is expected to be completed by Jan. 9, 2012.

Posted in News |

Logan-Magnolia Cross Country Meet Results

Sports

August 31st, 2011 by Jim Field

Girls Team Scores (top 3):

  1. Tri-Center  55
  2. Audubon  59
  3. Denison  80

Individual

  1. Megan Diest, Audubon

  2. Ashtyn Alfers, Tri-Center

  3. Breezy Weaver, Missouri Valley

  4. Dana Johnson, Audubon

  5. Krisann Stephany, St. Albert

  6. Michelle Mumm, Tri-Center

  7. Paige Pauley, Missouri Valley

  8. Alexa Beeck, Denison-Schleswig

  9. Ruby Johnson, Audubon

  10. Kaylee Grote, Tri-Center

Boys Team Scores (top 3):

  1. St. Albert  49
  2. Maple Valley-A-O  86
  3. Missouri Valley 91

Individual:

  1. Josh Sindelar, St. Albert
  2. Ted Hanson, MVAO
  3. Brian Steele, Boyer Valley
  4. Scott Theulen, St. Albert
  5. Jacob Wiley, West Monona
  6. Dylan Bailey, MVAO
  7. Kaleb Young, OA-BCIG
  8. George Doll, St. Albert
  9. Colin Freese, OA-BCIG
  10. Josef Rogers, Denison-Schleswig

 

Posted in Sports |

Iowa CCI tactics called “unproductive & embarrassing”

News

August 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party has publicly rebuked a liberal activist group that has gained media attention by confronting politicians of both parties. Martha Scarpellino, a member of the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, described her group this way after they pestered presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the Iowa State Fair: “I’m with these guys: the loud, noisy question-askers.” The group also heckled the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee spoke at the Fair.

This past week Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement sent out a press release with details of how the group had “confronted” Republican Senator Chuck Grassley at a town-hall meeting in Carroll “for over an hour” and “demanded” that the senator not cut Social Security. A columnist for the newspaper in Carroll blasted the group’s “ambush tactics” during and after the event. Sue Dvorsky, chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party, issued a statement, calling the actions of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement members “unproductive and embarrassing.” She accused the group of being “less focused on results and more focused on creating chaos” that gets written about by the media.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement issued a statement in response, saying Dvorsky’s attack was “baseless” but it also quoted another C-C-I member as saying “sitting back quietly while career politicians debate cuts to our livelihood would be unacceptable.”

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

PATRICIA HANSEN, 76, of Audubon (svcs 9-2-11)

Obituaries

August 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

PATRICIA HANSEN, 76, of Audubon, died Tue., Aug. 30th, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services for PATRICIA HANSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., Sept. 2nd, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is open, with the family present 6-pm Thu., Sept. 1st.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

PATRICIA HANSEN is survived by:

Her children – Cindy (Mark) Miller, of Audubon; Mike (Pam) Hansen, of Des Moines;  & Joni (Doug) Griffin, of Exira.

Her sister – Raydell (Robert) Wahlert, of Walford, IA.

Her good friend – Roma Murray, of Audubon.

10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Cass Supervisors award contracts for bridge/road projects

News

August 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have awarded contracts for two bridge and two road repair projects within the county. Cass County Engineer Charles Marker said the bids were received during a state letting on August 16th. One of the bridges, number 306, is located on Olive Street (or 620th), about two-miles south of Atlantic. The low bid of $725,996 was received from Murphy Heavy Contracting Corporation, out of Anita. The bid was slightly below the engineer’s estimate.

The other bridge, number 61, crosses Seven Mile Creek on Victoria Road, or south of Highway 92. There were also seven bids received, the lowest was from A-M Cohron, of Atlantic, in the amount of $644, 089, was also below the engineer’s estimate. The Supervisor’s approved both contracts, which will be forwarded back to the State for disposition. The Board also approved local letting Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) road maintenance or repair projects within the County.

Henningsen Construction of Atlantic was the lone bidder for the HMA patching project. Their bid amounted to $155,555. Marker says the project includes: 740th Street, from Anita, west of the school, on north; Glendale Road (or, County G-27) from near Canby to Highway 148 south of Anita, and County Road G-43/Fletcher Chapel Road between Highway 71 and County Road N-28.

And, there were three bids for the PCC repair project. Marker says that includes: Atlantic Airport Road (G-30), west from the airport to the Pottawattamie County line; from the Airport south, on M-56 for a few miles. Gus Construction Company’s bid of $63,828 was the lowest of the three received. The Supervisors awarded the contract to the company, which is located in Casey.

And, the Supervisor’s approved the purchase of a John Deere excavator from Murphy Tractor, in the amount of $175,690. The machine will be used to clear away ditch debris.

Posted in News |

Iowa Creates New Express Lanes at Kinnick Stadium

Sports

August 31st, 2011 by Jim Field

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa fans who travel light – really light – will be able to get into Kinnick Stadium faster at football games this season.  Fans who bring nothing to the game but their tickets will be able to go through four new express lanes at Gates C, G, I and M.  All other fans must enter at regular gates where their purses will be checked for prohibited items like alcohol and firearms.  Only small purses, fanny packs, binocular cases, blankets and seat cushions will be allowed into the stadium.  Iowa is expecting a sellout of about 70,000 fans for Saturday’s game at 11 a.m. against Tennessee Tech.

Posted in Sports |

Texas A&M Plans to Leave Big 12 by July 2012

Sports

August 31st, 2011 by Jim Field

HOUSTON (AP) – Texas A&M has told the Big 12 Conference it plans to leave the league by July 2012 if it is accepted by another conference.  The move, which had been  expected, may set off another round of conference realignment in college sports. The Aggies have made it clear they want to join the 12-member Southeastern Conference.
University President R. Bowen Loftin notified the Big 12 in a letter and said it departing the Big 12 “is in the best interest of Texas A&M.” He said he hopes the move can be amicable and presumably hopes to negotiate a reasonable exit fee.  Texas A&M had been in the Big 12 since its founding in 1996.  Loftin says the school wants greater visibility nationwide as well as “the necessary and stable financial resources” need to support athletics.

ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard Statement on Texas A&M:

“It is unfortunate that Texas A&M is moving forward with plans to depart the Big 12. They have been highly competitive in the conference and represented our league well on the national stage. Although our preference is for them to stay in the Big 12, we wish them well in the future and respect their decision. The Commissioner, Presidents and Directors of Athletics are poised to move quickly and aggressively in studying alternatives for the conference.”

Posted in Sports |

H. CLAIR MATTHEIS, 85, of Massena (svcs 9-3-11)

Obituaries

August 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

H. CLAIR MATTHEIS, 85, of Massena, died Tue., Aug. 30th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.  Funeral services for CLAIR MATTHEIS will be 11-a.m. Sat., Sept. 3rd,  at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 9-11am Saturday (prior to the service).

Burial will be in the Massena Center Cemetery.   Memorials may be directed to the family.

Clair Mattheis is survived by:

His wife – Shirley, of Massena.

His children – Alan Mattheis, Sandra (Doyle) Kneisel, all of Griswold; & Nina (Larry) Carley, of Clarendon Hills, IL.

His brother – Phil (Marion) Mattheis, of Des Moines.

Posted in Obituaries |