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Gronstal thinks there’s a way to keep Carhart out of Council Bluffs

News

May 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The top Democrat in the Iowa Senate says he “thinks there’s a way” to ensure a Nebraska doctor who performs so-called “late-term” abortions cannot open a clinic in Council Bluffs. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal, who is from Council Bluffs, says work is underway to make changes in a bill that already cleared the Iowa House, a bill that would ban abortions in Iowa after the 20th week of a pregnancy.

“The legislation as drafted by the House I think significantly invites a very serious court challenge,” Gronstal says. “So I think we’re trying to look at some ways to fix that up in such a way that we can guarantee a new, late-term abortion clinic doesn’t open in Council Bluffs.” Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, was asked last week to examine the House-passed bill and lead the process of making changes.

“So I’ve spent part of last week and other the weekend studying the bill and working to craft some amendments that deal with what we think is the number one concern that the bill tries to address and that’s the establishment of a clinic by Dr. LeRoy Carhart in Council Bluffs,” Bolkcom says. Carhart is no longer able to perform so-called “late term” abortions at his clinic in Bellevue, Nebraska because a Nebraska law that took effect in mid-October bans abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. Other states like Oklahoma, Kansas and Idaho have recently passed similar laws and Iowa is among nearly a dozen other states with similar legislation pending, Bolkcom says there are concerns those laws are unconstitutional.

“I don’t think we should be about passing laws that we know on their face are unconstitutional,” Bolkcom says, “especially looking at the 20-week outright ban.” Bolkcom hopes to release details of the alternatives he’s exploring “within the next few days.”

“The issue we’ve heard repeatedly from people who care about this issue is the establishment of this clinic in Council Bluffs,” Bolkcom says. “And we are focused on that issue primarily.” Congressman Steve King, a Republican from Kiron, worked in 2003 to pass federal legislation that bans so-called “partial birth abortions.” King is urging state legislators in Des Moines to take the next step and pass a state law that would ban abortions after the 20th week of a pregnancy.

“I know a little bit about LeRoy Carhart and I’ve looked that man in the eye and it’s a disturbing experience, let me tell you,” King says. So far, the four other state laws that ban abortions after the 20th week of a pregnancy have not been challenged in court. Indiana’s governor last week indicated he’ll sign a similar abortion ban for his state.

(From Radio Iowa)

AHS Falls To Tri-Center

Sports

May 9th, 2011 by Jim Field

5/7/11 at Atlantic

Tri-Center 5, Atlantic 0

Alisha Welter with 22 saves
Reann Cappel with 7 steals & Ali Hosfelt with 8

Trojans 2nd at Kuemper Golf Invite

Sports

May 9th, 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

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.

Trojanns 3rd at DM Lincoln Tennis Invite

Sports

May 9th, 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
 
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.
 

Audubon County drug arrest & other activity

News

May 9th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County report four people were arrested over the weekend. 47-year old Bonnie Faye Wiggins, of Pomeroy, was arrested Friday night following a traffic stop near 235th Street and Highway 71. Wiggins faces charges which include Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Keeping a Place for Possessing Controlled Substances, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. She was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later posted bond. 

32-year old Joshua Robert Saunders, of Gray, was arrested early Sunday morning, after he turned himself in to the Audubon County Sheriff’s office. Saunders was wanted on a warrant issued on April 21st, for failure to appear on a Driving While Suspended charge. He was held in the Audubon County Jail until making an appearance in front of the magistrate. 

19-year old Dilan Seth Olesen, of Audubon, was arrested Saturday night by Exira Police, on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Olesen was taken into custody following a traffic stop in Exira. He was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later posted bond.

And, Sheriff officials in Audubon County say Jodi Kay Bails faces charges of OWI 2nd offense and Driving While Revoked, following an investigation into an accident which occurred on April 16th, near Mockingbird Avenue and 250th Street. Bails was scheduled to appear in court today (Monday).

05-09-2011 Backyard and Beyond

Podcasts

May 9th, 2011 by admin

Lavon speaks with Judy Kennedy, Master Gardener, about a plant sale coming up on May 14th.

Play

Hurried Iowa theft suspect arrested for theft

News

May 9th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A woman who was stopped on suspicion of shoplifting makeup items at a grocery store in Council Bluffs was in a hurry, so she asked the officer for a citation.

The Daily Nonpareil says the officer asked the woman last week: What’s the rush? The woman said she didn’t want to be late to court. Court? For what? Her reply: Theft.

The officer then arrested the woman on another theft charge.

Emerson woman injured in rollover accident

News

May 9th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Mills County woman suffered possible, unknown injuries during a rollover accident Sunday night. Sheriff’s officials say 43-year old Rebecca Ann Cates, of Emerson, was found at around 8:45-p.m., a short distance away from the crash site, near 200th Street and “A” Avenue.

Cates was driving a 1996 Geo Metro westbound on 200th Street, when the car crossed the center line of the road as it was rounding a curve. Cates overcorrected, sending the vehicle into the north ditch, where it rolled for an undetermined number of times before coming to rest on its top in a field.

Cates was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, by Red Oak Rescue. Officials say the car was a total loss.

The accident remains under investigation, and charges are pending.

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.