United Group Insurance

Boulders Development agreement rescinded by Atlantic CC

News

May 5th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening approved an order to rescind a resolution approving an expired development agreement and tax increment financing with Boulders Inn and Suites. City Administrator Doug Harris says the council agreed to back away from the agreement because Boulders’ officials didn’t make good on their promise to the City.

He says they didn’t meet the requirement of getting the property on the tax roles by January 1st and certification of that agreement, along with the minimum assessment that would be placed on the property. A required landscaping plan was also not signed by company officials. City Attorney Dave Wiedersteen recommend the agreement be rescinded and a new contract drafted.

Harris said there are some new “wrinkes or considerations” that must considered before any agreement is signed by both parties. He says there are proposals for commercial/industrial tax rollbacks which would affect the tax flow on the projects and the City’s ability to fund them.

Last May, the Atlantic City Council approved a package which included $125,000 in an up-front incentive payment (upon completion of the building), and $100,00 in tax rebates…$25,000 per year, for a period of 4-years, for the 1.5-million dollar, 32-room, four-suit hotel. Construction began last Fall. The hotel was expected to be completed and open for business this month.

In other business, the Council passed a resolution setting the date for a public hearing on an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget, for May 18th, and, on a five-to one-vote, they approved their consent agenda which included a resolution authorizing bids for the 2011 Parks Improvement, Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) and Portland Cement Concrete (or, PCC) paving and storm sewer improvement projects.

The opening date for bids was also set for May 18th.

Western Iowa Golf Tourney

Sports

May 5th, 2011 by Jim Field

Western Iowa Conference Golf Championship
(Wednesday, May 4 @ Atlantic Golf & Country Club)

Boys
1.  Treynor             347
2.  Audubon         361
3.  Tri-Center         370
4.  Griswold         390
5.  AHST             391
6.  Riverside         409
7.  Underwood         412
8.  Missouri Valley     426

Individual
1.  Brad Bailey (Treynor )         77
2.  Eric Rock (Riverside)         82
3.  Todd Schmidt (AHST)         83
4.  Nick Fett (Audubon)             87
5.  C.J. Coughlin (Griswold)         87
6.  Michael Bylund (Audubon)         88

Girls
1. Treynor             383
2. Missouri Valley         400
3. Audubon             439
4. Underwood         458
5. Griswold             480
6. Tri-Center         574

Individual
1. Taylor Hill (Treynor)                 79
2. Janell Smithson (Missouri Valley)         93
3. Meagan Gothenburg (Missouri Valley)     97
4. Gracie Myers (Treynor)             98
5. Susie Bylund (Audubon)             100
6. Anna Hildebrand (Riverside)         101

Second arrest made in connection w/Ringgold & Union County gun Thefts

News

May 5th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Afton report a second arrest has been made in connection with the theft of weapons from residences in Ringgold and Union Counties. According to the Afton Police Department, 17-year old Tanner Jonathon Dean Harvey, of Afton, was taken into custody without incident late Wednesday morning.

Harvey was charged with six-counts of felony Burglary – Class C, and one-count of

Felony burglary – Class D. He was transported to the Central Iowa Detention Center in Eldora, and his case referred to juvenile court.

Union County Sheriff Rick Piel says four of the burglaries occurred Union County. Two were in Ringgold County. About 40 stolen guns were recovered at a farmhouse near Afton.

On Monday, authorities charged 18-year old Eric Kristopher Downey, of Afton, with second-degree burglary. Downey was being held in the Union County Jail.

Downtown blaze damages Manilla fire station

News

May 5th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MANILLA, Iowa (AP) – A fire in Manilla has damaged the fire station. Officials say the fire erupted after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in a vacant building next to the station. Early reports say two structures were reduced to rubble. No injuries were reported.

There’s no word yet on how the fire started.

Friends remember Iowa soldier – SSgt. James Justice

News

May 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Friends of Staff Sergeant James Justice told of the fallen Iowa National Guard soldier’s love of his family and life during his funeral today (Wednesday) at the I-K-M Manning High School gym in Manning. Hundreds turned out to honor the 33-year-old who died on a mission to rescue downed helicopter pilots in Afghanistan on April 23rd. Jessica Fine worked with Justice’s wife Amanda, and became friends with James too. Fine talked about how Justice would play with his three-year-old daughter Caydence, and the relationship he had with his wife.

“Since James left for Afghanistan, he has sent the cutest love notes to Amanda and Caydence,” Fine said, “He never said much , but just enough that you could tell how much he missed and loved them.” Fine says she was brought to tears as she looked at their Facebook pages and saw the notes they left for each other. Fine says Justice made an impression on her that she will never forget.

She says while she only knew him for a few years, he always made her feel like a special friend. “And I am honored to have known James because of the husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend that he was,” Fine said, “he died serving a country that he loved, and I can’t wait until the day when I can tell Caydence about what a hero and honorable man her daddy really was.” Justice was born in Manning and grew up in Manilla. Jason Erb was a longtime friend of Justice’s and fellow soldier. He said Justice was a die-hard Iowa Hawkeye fan, and had a hard time with it when Erb decided to play football for the Cyclones.

Erb says he would give Justice tickets for the home football games and Justice still wouldn’t root for Iowa State. He says Justice would go out and buy the opposing team’s t-shirt and root against Iowa State while sitting in the Cyclone parents’ section. Jeremy Venick said he had tried to write something down to say about his friend, but ended up with a blank piece of paper. He instead spoke about how his friend would win over others.

“James was one of a kind, and his personality was infectious,” Venick said. He says they’d walk into a bar and when they left, “he’d have 10 new friends, or four new enemies, and it was one way or the other every time.” Venick says usually it was new friends that Justice made, and he said he was not surprised so many people turned out to honor him.

Venick says Justice made so many friends every where he went, and since his death he keeps running into people who he hasn’t seen in 10 years and they start telling stories about Justice. Tyler Christianson told a story of a prank he and Justice pulled on another soldier, and how they laughed when they got caught. He says those are the things he will remember about his friend.

“James was an amazing, husband, son, brother, friend to all,” Christianson said,” I know the reason that we cry is because those times were so great.” Justice lived in Grimes and was a fulltime guard member with the First Squadron 113th Calvary that is stationed at Camp Dodge. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

(Radio Iowa)

Arrest in Montgomery County

News

May 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A Red Oak man was arrested this (Wednesday) morning on a warrant out of Mills County. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office reports 19-year old Nathan Allen Aldrich was taken into custody on felony warrants for eluding and Theft in the 1st degree/Possession of Stolen Property.

Aldrich was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $15,000 cash bond. He’s scheduled to appear before a judge on Thursday.

Authorities arrest Afton man, recover firearms

News

May 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say they have arrested an 18-year-old Afton man and recovered dozens of stolen firearms from an abandoned Union County farmhouse.  About 40 guns were recovered.  The Des Moines Register reports that authorities Monday charged Eric K. Downey with second-degree burglary. He remained Tuesday in the Union County Jail.

Authorities say they also are searching for a 17-year-old in connection with six break-ins in Union and Ringgold counties. Union County Sheriff Rick Piel says four burglaries were in Union County. Two were in Ringgold County.

Besides the sheriff’s offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Afton police worked on the case.

Union County fatal

News

May 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A man from Osceola was killed and a woman from Tingley was injured, during a crash this (Wednesday) morning between an SUV and a pickup in Union County. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of the pickup, 51-year old Dick Downing, from Osceola, died, when his vehicle rear-ended an SUV driven by 35-year old Brandi Shay, of Tingley.

The accident happened at around 7:40-a.m on Highway 34, near Afton. Officials say the Downing and Shay vehicles were traveling west on the highway when Shay’s Chevy Suburban slowed down and was rear-ended by Downing’s Chevy pickup.

Shay was injured in the crash, while Downing died at the scene. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. The accident remained under investigation.

Officials at Southwestern Community College say Downing was a Carpentry instructor at the school. Counselors will be on-hand for students and staff to help them deal with their loss.

Cass Co. Board of Supervisors report

News

May 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have passed the third and final reading of a Rural Addressing ordinance. The action came and subsequent adoption of the ordinance came during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning, in Atlantic. The ordinance will provide for an orderly street and address system in the unincorporated areas of the County.

The Board also acted on approving a Cooperative Reimbursement agreement for 2012 with the Department of Human Services Bureau of Collections for Child Support Recovery. Cass County is the host for the program as a political subdivision.

Auditor Dale Sunderman says the amendment, which is effective as of July 1st, 2011, changes three sections of the original agreement, including IRS confidentiality. Another section deals with records, and requires those records to be maintained for a period of seven-years. A new, the third section is with regard to audits, for amounts over $500,000. Since the County received a grant in excess of that amount last Fiscal Year, an audit has already been conducted, so that requirement has been met.

The Board also discussed at length the replacement of sidewalks in the City Park, with Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director, Travis Garrett. The City of Atlantic will be replacing its portion of the sidewalks in the City Park. About one-third of the sidewalk which need to be replaced are owned by the County.

Garrett said if the County were to share in the cost for labor and materials, it’s portion would be about $3,245. The total cost of the project was estimated to be $30,625. Garrett says the County’s share of the project was calculated at 13.6-percent. He says with the added engineering fees, the total would be approximately $4,165.

After much discussion the Supervisors authorized Garrett to go out for bids on the project, but they thought it unnecessary for the County to pay for engineering costs in its section, when it already has an Engineer. The Board said while the bids are being obtained, they would get a separate cost estimate on the County’s share of the project and compare that with the bids received.

There is a time crunch in getting the project started and completed. City Officials have said they would like the park’s sidewalks finished in-time for RAGBRAI, on July 24th.

05-04-2011 Backyard and Beyond

Podcasts

May 4th, 2011 by admin

Lavon speaks with Catherine Howe, VP for Opera House Association, about the Simon Estes concert @ Nodoway Valley School in Adair County May 8.
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