712 Digital Group - top

Menlo ethanol plant nixes water contact rate hike

News

May 9th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

BOUTON, Iowa (AP) – An ethanol plant in Menlo won’t agree to raise the contracted rate it pays for water from a financially

troubled rural district. According to The Des Moines Register, Xenia Rural Water District officials say Flint Hills Resources refuses to amend its 20-year contract to allow a 60 percent rate increase.

Xenia’s other, mostly residential customers likely face another rate hike. The average residential bill is about $90 a month, up from $55 last year. Another rate increase could raise that to more than $100 a month.

Xenia’s aggressive expansion plans never materialized, leaving it with crushing debt. It serves portions of 12 west-central Iowa counties.

Mo. Valley Fire

News

May 9th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Harrison County say flames from an unattended brush fire whipped by winds of up to 35-miles per hours, destroyed a machine shop Sunday afternoon, in Missouri Valley. More than 30 volunteer firefighters from five towns responded to the blaze, which was reported shortly after 2 p.m.  No one was injured, but the damage amounted to an estimated $38,000.
Missouri Valley Fire Chief Eugene Shaeffer says the shop’s owner had been burning brush in a pit on the property Sunday morning, and the fire was left unattended. The flames eventually  spread to the nearby, one-story, wooden-structure shop.
Shaeffer said there was little Firefighters could do except spray water on adjacent houses to keep them from catching on fire as well.

DN Lincoln Girls Tennis Tourney Results

Sports

May 8th, 2011 by Jim Field

Team Standings:

1. Ames 30
2. WDM Valley 25
3. Atlantic 23
4. Red Oak 22
5. Ottumwa 15
6. DM Lincoln 14
7. Kuemper Catholic 8
8. Dowling Catholic 7

Individual Results:

#1 Singles Championship Final Jessica King, Ames over Carli Thornton, Atlantic 6-0, 6-0
Consolation Final Emily Pierson, Red Oak over Emily Cox, DM Lincoln 6-0, 6-1

#1 Doubles Championship Final Rachel Pierson/Britt Walker, Red Oak over Adriana Pitcher/Diane Wang, Ames 6-2, 6-0
Consolation Final Jenni Aldrich/Lucy Korsakov, Valley over Ashley Salgado/Ally Schulz, Ottumwa 2-6, 7-5, 1-0(4)

#2 Singles Championship Final Sophia Smarandescu, Ames over Nicole Peterson, Valley 6-0, 6-1
Consolation Final Sarah Schreiner, Atlantic over Stephanie Sanders, DM Lincoln 6-2, 6-2

#2 Doubles Championship Final Lisa Pusin/Chloe Stewart, Valley over Meredith Stabel/Taylor Thone, Ames 6-2, 6-2
Consolation Final Morgan Allen/Tierney Kamies, Atlantic over Rosa Brunner/Zoey Baker, Red Oak 6-2, 6-1

Atlantic results —

#1 Singles 1st Round Carli Thornton, Atlantic over Abbey Albrecht, Kuemper 6-4, 6-1
Semifinal Thornton over Emily Cox, DM Lincoln 7-5, 6-3
Final King, Ames over Thornton 6-0, 6-0

#1 Doubles 1st round Aldrich/Korsakov, Valley over Liz Metheny/Shelby Svoboda, Atlantic 5-7, 6-1, 1-0(3)
Cons. Semi Metheny/Svoboda over Emily Webb/Sara LaSuer, DM Lincoln 6-0, 6-0
5th place match — Metheny/Svoboda over Zoe Henderson/Elizabeth Lang, Dowling 6-1, 6-0

#2 Singles 1st Round Sarah Schreiner, Atlantic over Paige Vannausdle, Red Oak 6-2, 6-4
Semifinal Nicole Peterson, Valley over Schreiner 6-2, 7-6(4)
Cons. Final Schreiner over Sanders, Lincoln 6-2, 6-2

#2 Doubles 1st Round Morgan Allen/Tierney Kamies, Atlantic over Jessi Black/Katie Wellman, Ottumwa 6-2, 6-1
Semifinal Stabel/Thone, Ames over Allen/Kamies 6-3, 6-0
Cons. Final Allen/Kamies over Brunner/Baker, Red Oak 6-2, 6-1

Coach Shawn Petersen Comments —

Great day of tennis for Atlantic girls — each girl went 2-1 on the day, and to finish solo 3rd in this tournament, with all girls medaling is a tremendous accomplishment for the team.  I was most proud of how they competed — it’s probably as tough mentally as we’ve been all season, up and down the lineup.  Liz and Shelby had things going their way in their first round match over a tough Valley team, but lost their feel a bit in the 2nd set and couldn’t get it going again in that match; it was nice to see them bounce back and dominate their final 2 matches to finish a respectable 5th — they were probably the 3rd or 4th best team in their draw, but that’s the way the draw fell.  Carli at #1 received a favorable draw, avoiding King and Pierson’s side of the bracket; having said that, she still had to beat two very capable players, and was largely in control of both matches before running into a tremendous opponent in the final; Carli was outstanding all day, and even in that match played very well.  Sarah was probably the biggest surprise of the day, getting her first win over a Red Oak opponent in several tries, controlling her match and her nerves and winning handily in Rd. 1.  She then played very well against Peterson from Valley, rallying to force a 2nd set tiebreak before falling; she bounced back nicely and won easily her 3rd place match — Sarah’s best tournament performance in her career.  Finally Morgan and Tierney — they beat a pair of seniors from Ottumwa who went on to win their next two matches, before falling to a tough Ames duo in the semis.  They played extremely well against Baker and Brunner in the 3rd place match, serving big and controlling the net to win easily.  I was very proud of all of the girls — hopefully they can ride the momentum they gained against a very difficult Denison at home on Monday.

Atlantic 2nd at Kuemper Golf Tourney

Sports

May 8th, 2011 by Jim Field

Here are the results from the Kuemper Tournament on Saturday, May 7, 2011

Sam Markham   81
Ben Nelson  77
Matt Thielen   77
Travis Olsen   90
Evan Schuler  82
Sam Renaud  85

Team
Kuemper  298        1st place
Atlantic  317           2nd place
Spencer  328            3rd place
Storm Lake  328       4th place
Carroll 329                 5th place
Harlan  334                6th place
Ballard 338                 7th place
Prairie Valley  340      8th place
Denison  352                9th place
Lewis Central  363       10th place
Shenandoah   366        11th place
Humbolt   372               12th place
Webster City 378          13th place
Red Oak                          No Score

Coach Ed DenBeste says:

This was a excellent win for us on an away course.  There are some very good
teams in the tournament.  Normally 4 to 5 teams from this tournament make it
to state.  Hopefully we can continue this through our final tournaments.
Ben Nelson and Matt Thielen played some great rounds.  Ben was one under on
the first nine.  Matt Thielen had 6 to 7 pars in a row.  Nice to see Sam
Markham and Evan Schuler played well.  Sam Renaud had a good score.  Travis
struggled but I know he will get it in the next round.

Western Iowa learning center for sustainable farming folds

News

May 8th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An organic school in western Iowa has folded less than two years after opening.

The Burr Oak Center for Durable Culture on the edge of Turin was devoted to teaching about sustainable farming and fuel conservation. It opened in fall 2009 and closed its doors late last month amid what organizers call community resistance. Executive director Michael Luick-Thrams says neighbors were opposed to solar panels planned for the center, considering them eyesores, and complained about the long grass and the bevy of frogs, dragonflies and butterflies it attracted.

He says the community wasn’t receptive to its missions and the opposition was difficult to contend with as the center fought to attract employees and a steady stream of interns.

Community leaders couldn’t be reached for comment.

Wabash Trace receives accolades

News

May 8th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

SHENANDOAH – One of the best-kept secrets in southwest Iowa, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, recently received national attention by being added to the National Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame. Bill Danforth, President of Southwest Iowa Nature Trails, Inc., explained the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, based in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit organization that promotes railroad right-of-way conversion to trail use.

Danforth said the Trace received the honor for its success and significance. He said that because of the national recognition, the Trace will bring more tourist dollars to the communities situated on the Trace, like Shenandoah, Malvern, Imogene, Coin, and Blanchard.

In addition to an article in the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy magazine, the Trace will be presented with signage signaling it’s induction into the Hall of Fame.

– World-Herald News Service

New signs to mark Iowa’s scenic, heritage byways

News

May 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s scenic and heritage byways are getting new signage marking the designation.

Troy Seifert with the Department of Transportation office in Ames told the Tribune that the Lincoln Highway between Clinton and Council Bluffs is the first to get the news signs. The first of an estimated 1,000 signs have gone up along the highway between Ames and Boone. The rest will be up by the end of the June. Signs will be installed along the state’s nine other byways by mid-November.

The project began in 2006, and Seifert secured a $580,000 grant for the signs.  Seifert says information about Iowa byways will soon be available online at www.iowabyways.org.

Arrests reported in Glenwood

News

May 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County said Friday, two people were arrested Thursday on separate charges. 34-year-old Billy Ray Hunter, of Council Bluffs was taken into custody Thursday afternoon on charges which include possession of drug paraphernalia, trespassing and violation of a protection order. His bond has been set at $600.

And, a little later that same afternoon, 28-year-old Keith Alan Wilson II, of Glenwood, was arrested by Mills County Sheriff’s deputies, for violation of the state’s sex offender registry. Wilson’s bond was set at $5,000.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a Tabor man was arrested this week. 21-year-old Thomas Cash faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Cash was brought to the Mills County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

Nice weather means it’s the time for scams

News

May 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Warmer weather brings chirping birds, leaves to the trees, and in Council Bluffs, the scammers come out of hibernation. According to the Omaha World Herald, at least two separate scams have drawn the attention of local law officers over the past week.

Pottawattamie County Treasurer Judy Miller said she has received complaints from citizens about telephone calls demanding more property tax money. Miller said the callers identify themselves as working in the Treasurer’s Office and demand more money. She says at least two complaints have been received about the high pressure tactics.

In one instance, a male caller asks the victim to send the extra payment to a post office box. Miller said there are no male employees in her office, and the employees she has would always properly identify themselves over the telephone. They would also never ask for money to be sent to a post office box.

In a separate incident, a Council Bluffs man reported to police that he received a prize alert that purported to be from Reader’s Digest. Capt. Terry LeMaster said the man, who did not wish to be identified, received a notice claiming he had won $500 in a Reader’s Digest sweepstakes.

The letter also contained a check for $2,900 and asked that the man call a telephone number to receive instructions on getting his $500. LeMaster said the scam likely entailed cashing the check for $2,900, keeping $500 and wiring the remainder back to the “company.”

However, at some point the check would have been found to be a forgery and the victim required to refund the bank’s money that had already been wired. Luckily, the man emailed Reader’s Digest before acting on the letter, and the company told him it was a forgery, therefore, there was no victim.

Even so, LeMaster cautioned the public to be aware of those types of scams.

Law Enforcement Seeking Information on Missing Carroll Woman

News

May 7th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Carroll, IOWA — The Carroll Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are asking the public for help and additional information related to the disappearance of 50 year old Dawn Allen of Carroll, Iowa.

Allen was last seen at her home on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at approximately 8:30 PM.  Then on May 5th, her employer reported Allen missing to the Carroll Police Department.  On the morning of Thursday, May 5, 2011 Allen’s vehicle was recovered in the parking lot of the Piranha Club, located on the east edge of Carroll, Iowa.  No one has seen or heard from Allen since Wednesday night.  At that time she was wearing bright blue knit pants and a multi-colored shirt.  Allen is a 50 year old white female with short, blonde, spiked hair.

Carroll Police Chief Jeff Cayler asks citizens to call-in any information they may have related to Allen’s whereabouts, “We’d like to narrow our timeline.  If anyone saw Ms. Allen or talked to her after 8:30 PM on Wednesday, we should know so we can further focus our search efforts.”

If you have information related to the whereabouts of Dawn Allen, please call the Carroll Police Department at 712-792-3536.

Dawn Allen is listed on the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse:

http://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic/Controller.aspx?cmd=personDetailCommand&id=23842