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Dry weather allows fall harvest to begin

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The condition of the state’s corn and soybeans crops have improved and dry weather has allowed the fall harvest to begin in Iowa. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey released his weekly update on the condition of the state’s crops Monday, saying one-third of the corn crop is mature. That’s behind 56 percent at this time last year but ahead of normal, which is 30 percent. Fifty-seven percent of the corn crop is in good or excellent shape; 28 percent fair and 15 percent poor or very poor. About half of the state’s soybeans are turning color, behind 70 percent last year and behind the five-year average of 63 percent. Sixty-four percent of the soybeans are in good or excellent condition with 12 percent being poor or very poor.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Missouri River flooding damage bills adding up

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Federal flood insurance has already paid out $43 million to help policyholders deal with the damage caused by flooding along the Missouri River even though the floodwaters haven’t fully receded. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says those payments went to people who live and work along the river downstream from the Garrison dam in North Dakota. That total includes payments made by Sept. 1, it will grow as more claims are submitted. FEMA is urging people to submit claims as soon as possible. This year’s Missouri River flooding officially began June 1. Massive amounts of water from above-average spring rains and snowpack have been flowing down the river all summer. The Corps of Engineers predicts the river won’t be back inside its banks until sometime in October.

Posted in News |

Iowa group begins text tips for underage parties

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in southern Iowa will begin a program where people with information about underage drinking parties can tip them off about the party with a text message. The “Text-A-Tip” program will use a text-only phone line for tips about underage parties. Officials with the Iowa State Patrol say by texting a message about the time and whereabouts of the party, people can remain anonymous.

The program is sponsored by the patrol, law enforcement agencies and school districts in nine Iowa counties, including Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Ringgold, Taylor, Union and Wayne counties. Authorities say they hope the program will help shut down underage parties and prevent injuries and death. The phone number where tips can be sent by text message will be 641-799-2277.

Posted in News |

South Dakota man dies after being hit on I-80 in Council Bluffs

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Council Bluffs have identified the victim of Monday’s fatal semi-versus- pedestrian accident as a South Dakota man. 52-year old James Hoss, of Watertown, South Dakota, died at the scene of the accident on Interstate 80 eastbound, near the Manawa exit. Officials say Hoss was walking on the interstate when was struck by a semi being driven by 37-year old Sedrick Taylor, of Crestview, Florida.

The accident happened at around 1:10-p.m. Officials say while the incident remains under investigation, alcohol and speed were not believed to be factors in the collision. Instead, they‘re looking into the possibility Hoss may have intentionally walked into the path of traffic.

Posted in News |

Women misses deer but rolls her vehicle

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

An attempt to avoid a deer in the road resulted in a rollover accident, and Clarinda woman being sent to the hospital over the weekend, for treatment of possible injuries.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says 22-year-old Breanna Everett was taken by ambulance to the Clarinda Regional Health Center following the accident on 290th Street just west of the intersection with Wolf Avenue, in southeastern Page County.

Authorities say Everett’s 2004 Chrysler Pacifica was traveling west on 290th when it topped a hill and she noticed deer in the roadway. Everett lost control of the compact utility vehicle while swerving to avoid contact with the deer. The vehicle then entered the ditch and hit a tree on a fence line before rolling onto its top.

The accident happened at around 3:10-p.m. No citations were issued.

Posted in News |

Assault arrest in Adams County

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A Taylor County woman was arrested over the weekend on an assault charge in Adams County. Sheriff’s officials say 27-year old Carrie Sickels, of Lenox, was arrested Sunday evening, and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

Posted in News |

Theft investigation in Page County

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Page County are investigating the theft of a grain wagon from an area near Imogene. The Sheriff’s Office says a Westendorf 8-ton wood-side grain wagon was reported stolen Monday from the Mike Delehant residence at 4116 100th Street in Imogene. The wagon was taken during the course of the past few days, from a farm building where equipment is stored. Authorities say tracks were found where persons unknown had taken the wagon. Anyone with information on the stolen wagon should contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193.

Posted in News |

Pittsburgh Will Stick With QB Sunseri For Now

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

    PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pitt coach Todd Graham isn’t in a hurry to switch quarterbacks, yet he knows he needs to get more out of Tino Sunseri if the Panthers want to win Saturday at Iowa.  Sunseri threw a pair of interceptions during Saturday’s 35-29 win over Maine, and all but one of Pitt’s nine touchdowns this season have been scored by running backs.  After Sunseri’s first pick Saturday, freshman Trey Anderson started warming up on the sideline. Then, following Sunseri’s second interception early in the fourth quarter of a two-score game, Anderson stepped in under center.  Although Anderson led the Panthers (2-0) to a touchdown by completing 5 of 7 passes for 33 yards, Graham did his best to quell any budding controversy by insisting that Sunseri was his guy.  He, like many of Pitt’s players, just needs to play better.

Posted in Sports |

Associated Press Iowa Prep Football Poll

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

     The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school
football polls of the 2011 season with first-place votes in
parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last
week at right:
 Class 4A                         
                                   Record  Pts  Prv
  1. Cedar Falls (12)              3-0     155  1  
  2. Iowa City High (2)            3-0     136  2  
  3. West Des Moines Valley (2)    4-0     134  3  
  4. Ankeny                        4-0     116  5  
  5. West Des Moines Dowling       3-1     81   7  
  6. Marion Linn-Mar               3-0     62   8  
  T7.Cedar Rapids Xavier           3-0     52   10 
  T7.Davenport Assumption          3-0     52   NR 
  9. Southeast Polk                3-1     31   6  
 10. Eldridge North Scott          3-0     28   NR 
    
     Others receiving votes: 11, Bettendorf 24. 12, Muscatine 7. 13,
Marshalltown 1. 13, Iowa City West 1. 

 Class 3A                     
                               Record  Pts  Prv
  1. Sioux City Heelan (15)    3-0     150  1  
  2. Clear Lake                3-0     112  2  
  3. La Porte City Union       3-0     108  3  
  4. Webster City              3-0     93   5  
  5. Denison-Schleswig         3-0     78   4  
  6. Harlan                    2-1     55   6  
  7. Williamsburg              3-0     42   8  
  8. Solon                     2-1     41   7  
  9. Waverly-Shell Rock        3-0     33   10 
 10. Newton                    3-0     32   9  
    
     Others receiving votes: 11, Adel ADM 31. 12, Carroll 23. 13,
Boyden-Hull-RV 14. 14, Decorah 6. 15, Carlisle 5. 16, Keokuk 2. 
 

Class 2A                             
                                       Record  Pts  Prv
  1. Iowa City Regina (11)             3-0     146  1  
  2. State Center West Marshall (4)    3-0     137  2  
  3. South Central Calhoun             3-0     85   5  
  4. Fort Dodge St. Edmond             3-0     72   7  
  5. Spirit Lake                       4-0     70   8  
  6. Mediapolis                        3-0     62   6  
  7. Osage                             3-0     54   9  
  7. Sheldon                           4-0     54   10 
  9. West Union North Fayette          2-1     37   NR 
 10. Monroe PCM                        3-0     30   NR 
    
     Others receiving votes: 11, Dyersville Beckman 25. 12, Alleman
North Polk 13. 12, West Liberty 13. 14, Carroll Kuemper 6. 15,
Roland-Story 5. 16, Calmar South Winneshiek 4. 16, O-A/BCIG 4. 18,
Wellman Mid-Prairie 3. 18, Central Lyon-GLR 3. 20, Sioux Center 2.

 Class 1A                            
                                      Record  Pts  Prv
  1. Council Bluffs St. Albert (6)    3-0     137  2  
  2. Emmetsburg (9)                   3-0     135  1  
  3. Woodward-Granger                 3-0     111  3  
  4. Dike-New Hartford                3-0     105  4  
  5. Logan-Magnolia                   3-0     79   5  
  6. Aplington-Parkersburg            2-1     58   6  
  7. Stanwood North Cedar             3-0     39   7  
  8. Inwood West Lyon                 2-1     34   8  
  8. Lawton-Bronson                   3-0     34   9  
 10. Fairbank Wapsie Valley           3-0     21   10 
    
     Others receiving votes: 11, Panora Panorama 19. 12, Arlington
Starmont 16. 13, Des Moines Christian 14. 14, Nashua-Plainfield 7.
14, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 7. 16, St. Ansgar 4. 17, Alburnett 2. 17,
Garner-Hayfield 2. 19, IKM/Manning 1. 

 Class A                            
                                     Record  Pts  Prv
  1. Le Mars Gehlen Catholic (10)    3-0     140  2  
  2. Traer North Tama (4)            3-0     131  3  
  3. Lisbon (1)                      3-0     120  4  
  4. Postville                       3-0     86   6  
  5. Britt West Hancock              2-1     83   1  
  6. Lone Tree                       3-0     73   9  
  7. Bedford                         4-0     72   7  
  8. Mason City Newman               3-1     55   8  
  9. Brooklyn BGM                    2-1     25   10 
 10. Algona Garrigan                 2-1     12   NR 
    
     Others receiving votes: 11, Danville 10. 12, Marcus MMC 7. 13,
Akron-Westfield 5. 14, Rockford 4. 15, Lynnville-Sully 1. 15,
Madrid 1. 

 Class 8-Man                   
                                Record  Pts  Prv
  1. Armstrong-Ringsted (15)    4-0     150  1  
  2. Blairsburg NE Hamilton     3-0     131  2  
  3. Tabor Fremont-Mills        3-0     108  3  
  4. West Bend-Mallard          4-0     86   7  
  5. East Mills                 3-0     70   6  
  6. Janesville                 3-0     46   NR 
  7. Riceville                  3-0     45   10 
  8. Newell-Fonda               3-0     43   NR 
  9. Kingsley-Pierson           3-0     38   NR 
 10. Preston                    3-1     26   4  
    
     Others receiving votes: 11, Lansing Kee 21. 12, Moravia 14. 13,
Stanton 13. 14, Tripoli 11. 14, Clarksville 11. 16, Remsen-Union 7.
17, Wyoming Midland 3. 18, Dunlap Boyer Valley 1. 18, North Sentral
Kossuth 1.

Posted in Sports |

AP source: Carpenter, Cards Close on $21M Deal

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

     NEW YORK (AP) – A person familiar with the negotiations says pitcher Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals are closing in on a $21 million, two-year contract.       The person spoke to The Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because negotiations are not yet complete.  St. Louis has a $15 million option for next season as part of a $63.5 million, five-year contract agreed to in December 2006. That deal carries a $1 million buyout.  Carpenter is 9-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 30 starts this year. The
36-year-old right-hander won the 2005 NL Cy Young Award, then missed most of the followed two seasons due to elbow and shoulder injuries.  His talks for a new deal were first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Posted in Sports |