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Alston on Comeback Player of Year Award Watch List

Sports

August 7th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wide receiver Isaiah Alston has been named to the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list, presented by College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.

The watch list includes 90 college football student-athletes from 68 different schools. Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances.

Alston, a redshirt junior from Cateret, New Jersey, transferred to Iowa State from Army after the 2023 season. He played just four games last season due to an ankle injury suffered in a September game against Syracuse.

Alston finished the season with nine receptions and two touchdowns while averaging 29.6 yards per catch.

Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.

The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.

Miller-Meeks says on abortion issue, Democrats are extreme

News

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport says Democrats making abortion a key issue in their campaigns have nothing else to run on. “They have high gas prices, high food prices, high interest rates so young people can’t buy a house and don’t think they can get ahead in the United States,” Miller-Meeks said yesterday during a campaign stop in Mount Pleasant. “They have open borders with record amounts of fentanyl coming across the border.”

Christina Bohannan, the Democrat running against Miller-Meeks, has just released a campaign ad accusing Miller-Meeks of “pushing to ban all abortions nationwide with no exceptions for rape or incest.” On the campaign trail, Bohannan cites Miller-Meeks’ previous support of a constitutional amendment that says life begins “at fertilization,” which would ban all abortions. Miller-Meeks did not sign on as a co-sponsor of the proposal during the current two-year session of congress. “I am pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother,” Miller-Meeks said. “I’ve been very consistent on that.”

Last year, Miller-Meeks voted to set five-year-old prison sentences for health care providers who do not try to save the life of a baby that’s born alive during an attempted abortion. The bill was opposed by Democrats. “That is an extreme position such as North Korea and China have,” Miller-Meeks said. “That is not in keeping with the majority of Americans and the majority of Iowans.”

A 2003 federal law bans so-called “partial birth” abortions and it is considered murder to kill a baby that is born alive.

VIRGINIA MAAS, 89, of Atlantic (Celebration of Life Graveside Svc. 8/19/24)

Obituaries

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

VIRGINIA MAAS, 89, of Atlantic, died August 7, 2024, at Caring Acres in Anita. A Celebration of Life Graveside service for VIRGINIA MAAS will be held on 1-p.m. Monday, August 19th (2024),in the Massena Center Cemetery, north of Massena. Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

The service will be recorded and available on the funeral home website by noon on Tuesday, August 20th.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

9-mile High Trestle Trail extension to the Raccoon River Valley Trail expected to open Aug. 15th

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Perry, Iowa) – Officials with the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association have announced that a 9-mile extension of the High Trestle Trail to connect with the Raccoon River Valley Trail will now be completed on time. Work on the projects has taken more than a decade, with organizers raising millions of dollars to accomplish the feat. Last month it appeared that the opening of the connection between the two trails would be delayed. However, the contractor has informed Dallas County Conservation that the extension will be done on time, August 15th.
Grand opening for the trail, complete with a ribbon-cutting, will take place 1-p.m. August 17th, in Bouton. The event will be preceded by a leisurely (ride at your own pace) bike ride that starts at 11-a.m. at the trailhead in Perry, near the iconic Big Bike. Riders will traveling along the route from Perry to Bouton and Woodward before returning to Bouton for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Food and beverages are available at various businesses along the trail in Perry, Bouton, and Woodward. Helmets are strongly recommended for everyone’s safety. The event is being hosted by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and BIKEIOWA.com.

Attorneys General from Iowa & 10 other states seek EPA rule on Roundup

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The attorneys general from Iowa, Nebraska and nine other states are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to make it clear there’s a national standard for labeling of Roundup and other weed killers that contain glyphosate. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says a new E-P-A rule is needed because California has proposed cancer warnings on Roundup and other products that contain the world’s most commonly used herbicide. “If we don’t stop it now…the glyphosate situation — that is just the tip of the iceberg. There will be other things that states like California try to do to tell our farmers how to farm and that future will make it very hard for farmers to be able to grow their crops, which is what it’s all about,” Bird says. “Food does not come from a grocery store. It comes from a farm.”

The E-P-A has said glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer in humans and in November, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Monsanto — the maker of Roundup — and said California did not have authority to require a cancer warning on Roundup’s label. Bird says it’s time for the E-P-A to set things straight.”Farmers have a lot to deal with…sometimes low crop prices, high input prices, natural disasters,” Bird says. “They shouldn’t have to worry about the types of things that are happening in other states on the coasts to figure out how they’re going to make their family farm work.”

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers says it’s about protecting the freedom to farm. “What we’re trying to do with our action today is to ensure access to this critical input,” Hilgers says, “…to give our farmers the option that they’ve had for decades to be able to use this technology to be able to manage their own crops and be able to help produce the that come out of Iowa and Nebraska.”

Kevin Ross, a farmer from Underwood who’s a former president of the National Corn Growers Association, joined the attorneys general at a news conference this (Wednesday) morning in Omaha. Ross told reporters there is no real substitute for glyphosate. “It’s been one of the most tested chemicals ever on the marketplace and it’s known to be safe and very effective,” Ross said, “so EPA — set the regulations, do your job in DC and let us farmers do our job on the ground here in the U.S.”

Monsanto’s attorneys have argued that a warning label on Roundup violates the company’s First Amendment right to be free from compelled speech that it disagrees with. This spring, the Iowa Senate passed a bill to block lawsuits against farm chemical companies based on how the products are labeled, but it stalled in the House. Similar bills were introduced in other states. Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, has settled about 100-thousand lawsuits and the company estimates there are more than 50-thousand pending.

Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins previews the season

Sports

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins says an experienced Iowa State team is confident heading into the season. The transfer from Eastern Kentucky had 53 catches a year ago, and gave the Cyclones a big play threat by averaging 18 and-a-half yards per reception. He is one of 18 starters returning.

After a 7-6 season a year ago the Cyclones are picked by many to be a contender in the Big 12.

Taylor Mouser is ISU’s third offensive coordinator in three years but Higgins says the changes have been minimal.

The Cyclones open the season at home on August 31st against North Dakota.

Adair County Board of Supervisors meeting review

News

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday morning (Aug. 7), and approved certain Township Clerk wages. They acknowledged receipt of the Fiscal Year 24 Veteran’s Affairs Director and Commissioners report, and approved a Longevity Raise for Secondary Roads Dept. Employee Nathan Jensen. In his report to the Supervisors, Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman said bid letting will be held August 20th on crack-sealing projects. He mentioned also a couple of posted bridge weight reductions will be in effect soon due to deteriorating bridge pilings.

The Board will act next week on a Resolution to update all the bridge weight postings. Kauffman said they will try to get replacements for both bridges within the next couple of years, because repairs are just too expensive. Other projects include those affecting the Henry Wallace Road, and a bridge deck pouring.

Kauffman said also, they will receive a check next week from FEMA on tornado damage clean-up (such as tree grinding, etc.), and the County’s insurance company has agreed to let the Secondary Roads Department replace some of the equipment that was destroyed. FEMA representatives are expected to be on-site Friday to take a look at the clean-up efforts and costs incurred so far.

That includes the cost of equipment and personnel labor-rate hours. Kauffman said he’s had a good working relationship with FEMA officials since the EF-4 tornado destroyed a good part of Greenfield and sections of the Adair County.

State lake in Bremer County gets first major upgrade in decades

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa lake is seeing its first major renovation in about 70 years. Martens Lake has been a part of the Sweet Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Bremer County since the 1950s but has remained virtually untouched. That’s changing, as Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Dan Kirby says they’re widening the lake’s channels to improve boat access, and they’re making the channels deeper to improve habitat for fish and waterfowl. “This lake does have a history of having some invasive aquatic species,” Kirby says. “It should help us to have the ability to more easily manage a couple of those problems.”

The lake has battled watermilfoil and brittle naiad for the past several decades. Kirby says watermilfoil is particularly troublesome as it chokes out native aquatic plants and fish. “Because we have channels now, we should be able to draw that water down, confine the fish into a smaller area,” he says, “and deal with some of those aquatic plant issues we’ve been having in the past.”

The lake is about 30 miles north of Waterloo. The renovation is expected to be completed by September.

Atlantic Police report six arrests

News

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department say six people were arrested between July 27th and August 1st.

On August 1st, Atlantic Police arrested: 19-year-old Ryder Burk, of Atlantic, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Theft in the 1st Degree; and, 34-year-old Justin Hay, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree.

On July 30th, 33-year-old Sean Chamberlin, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI (Operating While under the Influence). 32-year-old Gage Ray, of Atlantic, was arrested July 28th, for Domestic Abuse Assault, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on two-counts of Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.

And, on July 27th, Atlantic Police arrested 26-year-old Jeff Edgar and 37-year-old Rinanten Amo, both of Atlantic. They were charged with Public Intoxication and Interference with Official Acts. Amo was additionally charged with Disorderly Conduct.

Each of those individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail, where they were booked-in. The Jail Roster shows none of the aforementioned persons remained in jail as of August 7th.

The Police Department reports also, two women were cited into court on shoplifting charges. 62-year-old Julie Peck, of Walnut, was cited July 25th, and 43-year-old Stacie Hansen, of Atlantic, was cited August 5th. In addition, 44-year-old Dawn Theisen, of Atlantic, was cited for Child Endangerment.

Cass County (IA) Engineer’s report

News

August 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken provided his regular report to the Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning. That included an update on storm damage and related clean-up, RAGBRAI and upcoming projects.

Wolken reminded the Board about the Cass County Safety Action Plan workshop, which takes place August 27th.

Once the County gets it’s Safety Action Plan put together, the County will be eligible for funding. Wolken said intersections and curves are some areas where he wants added safety measures installed that is provided by the funding.

Wolken says they’ll look at crash data to determine where additional illumination of intersections, sight-distance issues, and other measures would make it safer for drivers, but there’s not a whole lot of incidents in the county that are caused by those type of problems. “A lot of them are paved intersections with State roads, for some reasons.”

He said also, the Secondary Roads Department is looking at obtaining some additional equipment, such as boxes for trucks that are on-hand, and three pieces of equipment that are on-order.