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Coast Guard opens parts of Missouri River to boats

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have reopened stretches of the Missouri River in South Dakota, Nebraska and Missouri to boat traffic. The Coast Guard announced Saturday that the river is open from just below Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, S.D., to the southern border of Ponca State Park in Nebraska. The river is also open to boats from St. Louis to about 10 miles upriver from Kansas City, Mo. The river has been closed to boat traffic for months amid record flooding.

The Coast Guard warns that the river remains high and boaters should use caution, particularly near levees.

Iowa pounds Tennessee Tech 34-7

Sports

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The only thing that could slow down Iowa in its impressive season opener was the weather, which only delayed the inevitable. James Vandenberg threw for 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Marvin McNutt and Iowa pounded Tennessee Tech 34-7 on Saturday for its 11th straight win in a home opener. McNutt had 140 yards receiving for the Hawkeyes, who along with Tennessee Tech had to wait through an 84-minute delay because of lightning. “We’re pleased to get the win. Needless to say it was pretty unusual circumstances,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I give our players credit for doing a good job of handling that.” Iowa overwhelmed the Golden Eagles of the FCS with 24 points during a dry second quarter. McNutt took a Vandenberg pass 88 yards for a touchdown, and Shaun Prater returned an interception 89 yards for a TD late in the first half to put the Hawkeyes ahead 27-0.

Vandenberg’s 19-yard TD pass to McNutt gave Iowa a 34-0 lead with 6:19 left in the third quarter, as McNutt wove through Tennessee Tech’s defense off a screen pass. The game was delayed shortly thereafter and the stadium was cleared – but by then all that was left to do was run out the clock. “It was nasty out there,” Vandenberg said. “I remember gripping down the laces and … just kind of shot-putting it out there to make sure I wasn’t messing it up.” Dontey Gay rushed for 108 yards for Tennessee Tech, including a 1-yard TD run with 5:02 left. The game kicked off in a driving rain, which led to three first-quarter fumbles.

The clouds parted to start the second, allowing the Hawkeyes to impose their will on the overmatched Golden Eagles. Wide receiver Keenan Davis, who the Hawkeyes are counting on to take pressure off of McNutt, leapt over Tennessee Tech’s Richmond Tooley, tipped the ball and caught it at the 1-yard line. Vandenberg’s plunge put Iowa up 10-0 early in the second quarter. Vandenberg then floated a pass to McNutt in coverage, and McNutt sprinted past the Golden Eagles’ secondary for the sixth-longest TD reception in school history, making it 17-0 just over three minutes later.

Tech quarterback Tre Lamb, whose interception to Iowa linebacker James Morris set up Mike Meyer’s 20-yard field goal, tried to force the ball to the sidelines late in the first half. Prater, an All-Big Ten pick in 2010, was waiting for it, and he saw little resistance on an 89-yard TD return that gave the Hawkeyes a 27-0 lead with 10 seconds left in the second quarter. Lamb finished 14-of-24 passing for 128 yards and those two costly picks. Vandenberg, a junior in his first start since taking over for Ricky Stanzi, was 13-of-21 passing, including a few drops from his receivers. The rain returned right around the time Vandenberg and McNutt hooked up for their second touchdown. It brought some hail and the threat of lightning with it, and Kinnick Stadium was cleared as officials and players waited out the weather.

“We hadn’t had one drop of rain in preseason, and I am just dumb enough to never work with a wet football. Well, we don’t have to worry about it the rest of the year. We got plenty of wet football work (Saturday),” Tennessee Tech coach Watson Brown said. About the only hiccup for Iowa besides the conditions came from its running backs – a source of considerable consternation for the Hawkeyes of late. Coker, last seen ripping apart Missouri’s defense for 219 yards and two TDs in the Insight Bowl, fumbled the ball away on Iowa’s opening possession. He put it on the ground again in the first quarter and was subbed out for freshman Mika’il McCall – whose debut was impressive but brief. McCall, the son of former heavyweight boxing champion Oliver McCall, rushed for a team-high 61 yards on nine carries before breaking his ankle late in the first quarter. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said after the game that McCall will miss the rest of the season.

“We’re all disappointed,” Ferentz said. “He’s just a really tremendous young guy with a great attitude, great spirit.” Coker finished with 41 yards on 11 carries. The Hawkeyes are coming off one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory. Picked by many to contend for the Big Ten title in 2010, Iowa stumbled to an 8-5 finish and just 4-4 in league play. The Hawkeyes have just 10 starters back on offense and defense. But that didn’t matter against the Golden Eagles, who simply couldn’t match up with them.

Iowa’s first true test comes next Saturday at rival Iowa State. “We’re 1-0 and have a lot of work to do. Pretty much simple as that,” Ferentz said.

Cass County Supervisor passes away

News

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A three-term Republican member of the Cass County Board of Supervisors passed away Saturday, at his home in Atlantic. Charles “Chuck” Kinen, who had been re-elected to his fourth, four-year term, last Fall, had suffered from pancreatic cancer. Auditor Dale Sunderman says Kinen was first elected as a Cass County Supervisor in 1998. He assumed his duties on November 10th, 1998, following a canvass of the 1998 General Election.  He immediately succeeded incumbent Julie Schmidt, who resigned from the Board to move out of state, along with her husband, where he was moving his opthamology practice.  Kinen served as chair of the Board of Supervisors in 2006 and 2007.

Current Board Chair Duane McFadden said Kinen was a faithful public servant to the residents of Cass County.

Dmf1 (McFadden said Kinen would always strive to be at the various committee meetings he volunteered to attend, and he will be missed, because he played a role in moving the county forward.)

Kinen had been in hospice care for about two-weeks prior to his return home. McFadden said there is a process that is in-place to fill Kinen’s position on the board.

Dmf2  (He says the county auditor, treasurer and recorder will schedule interviews with persons who apply and are interested in filling the position.)

 It’s not clear how soon that process will begin, though, especially with the Labor Day weekend closing down the courthouse until Tuesday.

Funeral services for Chuck Kinen will be held Wednesday morning, in Atlantic. Duane McFadden said the courthouse will shut down for one-hour prior to and after the services at 11:30-a.m, so that county employees may attend his funeral.

CHARLES “CHUCK” WILLIAM KINEN, 70, of Atlantic (svcs 9-7-11)

Obituaries

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

CHARLES “CHUCK” WILLIAM KINEN, 70, of Atlantic, a member of the Cass County Board of Supervisors, died Sat., Sept. 3rd, at his home. Funeral services for CHUCK KINEN will be held 11:30-a.m. Wed., Sept. 7th, at the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be from 5-7pm Tue., Sept. 6th, at the funeral home, where a Scripture service will begin at 7-p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the family, for later designation.

CHUCK KINEN is survived by:

His wife – Colette Kinen, of Atlantic.

His daughters – Lynn (Michael) McCabe, of Creston, & Tara (Nathan) Trexel, of Altoona.

His siblings – Eugene (Shirley) Kinen, of Atlantic; Doris (Waldo) Leander, of Cedar Bluffs, NE; Charlotte (Roy) McLaughlin, of Caldwell, ID; Larry (Cheryl) Kinen, of Papillion, NE; & Mary Jo Kinen & friend Kari Kaser, of Omaha, NE.

5 grandchildren & 1 great-grandchild.

MALINDA DAMMANN, 88, of Manning & formerly of Manilla (svcs 9-6-11)

Obituaries

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MALINDA DAMMANN, 88, of Manning (& formerly of Manilla), died Fri., Sept. 2nd, at the Manning Plaza Nursing Home. Funeral services for MALINDA DAMMANN will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Sept. 6th, at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Ohde Funeral Home in Manning has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4-p.m. Mon., Sept. 5th.

Burial will be in the Manning Cemetery.

MALINDA DAMMANN is survived by:

Her children –  Diane (Larry) Cross, of Waukee; Darlis (Rex) Wambold, of Van Meter; & Darwin Dammann & his fiance’ Liz Richards.

Her sister – Milda Malone, of Carroll.

9 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren & 2 step great-grandchildren.

FERN MARIE (RABER) BRUE, 92, of Glendale, Az & formerly of Stuart (svcs 9-10-11)

Obituaries

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

FERN MARIE (RABER) BRUE, 92, of Glendale, Az ( & formerly of Stuart), died Thu., Sept. 1st, at the Glencroft Care Center in Glendale. Funeral services for FERN BRUE will be held 1-p.m. Sat., Sept. 10th, at the 1st Congregational Church, in Stuart. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 5-7pm Fri., Sept. 9th.            

Burial will be in the South Oak Grove Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfuneralhome.com

Audubon Vet’s Program Notice!

News

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Audubon Mayor Sam Kauffman says today’s Veteran’s program at the Audubon City Park (11-a.m.) has been moved inside to the Memorial Building, due to the weather.

Bluffs Firefighter accused of torching his own car

News

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A firefighter in Council Bluffs has been charged with arson, in connection with an early morning car fire which occurred in mid-February. 44-year old Henry Hinkel II, is accused of second-degree arson and fraudulent submissions to an insurer in a car fire that took place at around 3:30-a.m. on February 21st in Hinkel‘s driveway.

According to court documents, the fire destroyed Hinkel’s 2002 Jaguar. In an arrest warrant affidavit, State Fire Marshal investigator John Ticer wrote that his investigation determined an “ignitable liquid (gasoline)” was used to light the vehicle on fire. The court document also said the car was normally kept in the garage but was in the driveway that morning. The affidavit said Hinkel had a video surveillance camera monitoring the driveway, but the car was parked outside of the camera’s view. The camera does not show Hinkel until after the fire.

Council Bluffs Fire Chief Alan Byers said he has been advised not to comment on the charges. He directed questions about the case to the City Attorney’s Office. City Attorney Richard Wade was not available for comment, Friday. A trial in the matter is set for Nov. 22nd. Hinkel has been released on his own recognizance.

News podcast, Sat., Sept. 3rd, 2011

News, Podcasts

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the latest area news, from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson…

Play

Strong winds/storms cause brief power outages Friday night

News

September 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Thunderstorms bringing winds gusting up to 60-miles per hour may have been responsible for a power outage in Elk Horn Friday night, and an accident on Interstate 80 near Avoca. The Elk Horn Fire and Rescue Department reported on its Facebook page at around 11-p.m. Friday, a large part of the community was without power. Officials with Mid-American Energy were working to restore power to the community, and as of early this (Saturday) morning, there was only one customer in Shelby County who was reported to be without electricity.

Elk Horn Fire officials said at the time also, that there were no immediate signs of damage from the storms that passed through the area, other than a few trees branches down.

Severe storm warnings were issued at around 9-p.m., Friday, for southeastern Harrison, northern Pottawattamie and southwestern Shelby Counties. At 9:32-p.m., a 60-mile per hour gust of wind was recorded in Shelby. The Iowa Department of Transportation reported, that at about that same time, a semi jack-knifed on Interstate 80 westbound, at the Avoca exit. A detour was established and the road reopened to traffic about 90-minutes later. There were no reports of injuries.

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued as well, for Audubon, Carroll, northwestern Greene and southwestern Guthrie Counties, at around 9:40-p.m. The National Weather Service said a 60-mile per hour wind gust occurred just before 11-p.m., two-miles northeast of Guthrie Center, as the storms maintained their intense winds, having moved northeast out of Cass and Audubon Counties.