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Fast start leads No. 19 Iowa State over No. 22 TCU

Sports

February 16th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State raced out to a 15-2 lead as the 19th ranked Cyclones beat 22nd ranked TCU 70-59 in Ames. Jaz Kunc had a career high 22 points as ISU bounced back from a home loss to Oklahoma State.

Kunc also had a career high five three pointers as the Cyclones improved 8-5 in the Big-12 after holding off a second half rally by the Horned Frogs.*

The Cyclones started quickly in both halves. ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger.

Sidney (IA) man arrested following a brief pursuit Wednesday night

News

February 16th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Sidney, Iowa) – An attempted traffic stop Wednesday night on a speeding vehicle in Fremont County, resulted in a brief pursuit and an arrest. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports his Deputies attempted to stop a 1995 Ford truck at around 10:30-p.m., west of Riverton. The vehicle failed to yield, and a short pursuit was initiated. The driver, 34-year-old Blake Tobin, of Sidney, was arrested without incident. Tobin was placed under arrest for:

  • Eluding (OWI), a Class D Felony
  • Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense, a Serious Misdemeanor
  • Possession of Controlled Substance, (Marijuana), a Serious Misdemeanor

    Blake Tobin (Fremont County S/O photo)

And, upon being booked into the Fremont County Jail, Tobin was found to be concealing a controlled substance on his person and subsequently charged with: Possession of Contraband in a correctional facility, a Class D Felony

Tobin is being held on $12,000 cash bond. Other charges are pending.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Thursday, 2/16/2023

Weather

February 16th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Early this morning: Snow. Patchy blowing snow after 5am. Steady temperature around 19. Wind chill values as low as 5. Blustery, with a north northeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Today: **Winter storm warning until 6-p.m.** Snow, mainly before noon. High near 26. Wind chill values as low as 5. Blustery, with a north wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 7. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 32. Wind chill values as low as zero. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Wednesday High in Atlantic was 30. The Low was 18. We received 1″ of snow overnight at KJAN (as of 5:55-a.m. today). Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 46 and the Low was 14. The Record High on this date was 64 in 2017. The Record Low was -33 in 1958.

 

Bill to reinstate death penalty in Iowa clears first hurdle in senate

News

February 16th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa)- A bill to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa for kidnapping, raping and murdering a person under the age of 18 has cleared one hurdle in the Iowa Senate, but it faces key opposition in the Iowa House. Senator Brad Zaun, a Republican from Urbandale, says with new members making up about a third of the legislature this year, he’s making another try.

“I know we haven’t been successful before,” Zaun says, “but I do plan on running it through Judiciary. This is very narrowly written.” Zaun is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison is chairman of the HOUSE Judiciary Committee. Holt says he could support the death penalty on moral grounds, but there are too many practical problems with it. Getting the drugs for a lethal injection has become increasingly difficult and Holt says there are people who’ve been sentenced to death who have later been exonerated.

“It’s just extremely expensive to keep someone on death row,” Holt says. “…Unlike in a lot of other states, life in prison is life in prison in Iowa.” During a Senate subcommittee hearing yesterday (Wednesday), a representative of the state’s four Catholic bishops spoke out against the death penalty. Reverend Heather Wachendorf of New Beginnings Christian Church in Urbandale was among three pastors who testified.

“When the punishment is the same as the crime, we should stop and question the law,” she said. “Taking another person’s life is never OK.” Terry Pierce of West Des Moines was the only member of the public at yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) hearing who spoke in favor of the limited form of capital punishment outlined in the bill. “We’re talking about an adult committing a crime against an innocent child,” he said. “In my mind, the penalty couldn’t be harsh enough.”

Iowa abolished the death penalty in 1965. In 1995, the Iowa House narrowly voted to reinstate capital punishment, but the bill was defeated in the Senate.

House sends governor fix to $133 million glitch on residential property taxes

News

February 16th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa)- The Iowa House has approved a bill to prevent the statewide 133 million dollar increase in residential property taxes that legislators say was the unintended consequence of a 2021 law. The fix cleared the Senate February 1st and it passed the House yesterday (Wednesday). Representative John Forbes of Urbandale is among the Democrats who say it’s unfair to city and county officials who’ve already built slightly bigger budget plans.

“When you look at the cities budgeting for about 50% for public safety, that’s probably where most of the cuts are going to come from,” Forbes says. “In my city alone, we’re looking at close to a million dollar budget cut.” The bill gives cities and counties until April 30th to complete their spending plans for the budgeting year that begins July 1st.

Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says that gives cities and counties an additional 30 days to redo budgets based on the new information about how much property taxes will be paid. “There will not be one dime cut from public safety due to this piece of legislation and if someone does choose to do that, that’s a local decision, that’s a poor decision and it’s one that I don’t think is actually going to happen,” Kaufmann said. “…This is not a cut. This is not a receipt of tax dollars into a checking account that we’re then going to be taking it.”

The glitch that’s being fixed was caused when lawmakers decided apartment buildings, nursing homes and mobile home parks would no longer be taxed like commercial property — but as residential property, starting this fall.

Pence in Cedar Rapids

News

February 16th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Former Vice President Mike Pence is backing parents who object to the transgender policies in an eastern Iowa school district. Last year the Linn-Mar School Board adopted a policy that lets student use a different name at school, without notifying parents. A group of parents filed a lawsuit challenging the policy and Pence held an event in Cedar Rapids yesterday (Wednesday) to show his support.

Over 50 protesters gathered outside the Pizza Ranch where Pence was speaking, holding signs in support of trans children. Hiawatha City Council member Aime Wichtendahl says Pence’s message is harmful.

Pence is among the high-profile Republicans visiting Iowa this month, less than a year before Republicans here will host the first-in-the-nation Caucuses. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott will be here next week. Former U-N Ambassador Nikki Haley announced yesterday (Wednesday) she’s running for president and she’ll visit Iowa Monday. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson was in central Iowa yesterday (Wednesday).

DCI investigate & arrest Kingsley Police Chief

News

February 16th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Plymouth County, Iowa – On February 13, 2023, the Hinton Police Department requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to investigate a potential criminal matter that involved Kingsley Police Chief, James Dunn. On February 15, 2023 James Dunn was taken into custody at his residence in Kingsley, Iowa without incident by Agents of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Dunn was transported to the Plymouth County Jail and has been charged with the following criminal charges:.

  • Three counts of: Falsely Obtaining Criminal Intelligence Data. Class D Felonies.
  • One count of: Non-felonious misconduct in office. Serious Misdemeanor
  • One count of: Stalking. Aggravated Misdemeanor

The criminal investigation being conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is on-going and no further details will be released at this time.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Girls Regional Basketball Scoreboard 02/15/2023

Sports

February 15th, 2023 by admin

Class 3A Regional Semifinals

Region 5

Des Moines Christian 67, Clarke 52
Harlan 46, Atlantic 37- ON KJAN

Class 4A Regional Quarterfinals

Region 1

Carroll 69, Perry 30
Fort Dodge 67, Webster City 49

Region 3

LeMars 67, Storm Lake 33
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 63, Denison-Schleswig 16

Region 8

Winterset 55, Oskaloosa 33
Glenwood 60, Creston 52

Class 5A Regional Quarterfinals

Region 2

Des Moines Lincoln 62, CB Thomas Jefferson 34

Atlantic City Council introduced to the new Parks & Rec Dept. Director

News

February 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic met the City’s new Director of Parks and Recreation. Mayor Grace Garrett introduced Wyatt Adderton, who’s from Savannah, GA.  He said he has been in town since February 7th. Adderton thanked the committee who selected him as the new Parks Director.

He said they were diligent in their task and he’s excited to get started and work with City officials to work on accomplishing the goals they seek to attain. Wyatt says he worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for nearly eight-years at a park and worked his way up from a part-time maintenance Ranger to Assistant Park Manager. He added that he was involved with $5-million worth of reinvestment in the park infrastructure, including a new Visitor’s Center, several playgrounds, campground renovations and upgrades.

Wyatt Adderton (2/15/23) Ric Hanson photo

He said he’s excited to bring that experience to the position here in Atlantic. Adderton was one of two finalists for the job. While he’s living in a condominium currently, his plan is to build a home in the community. His spouse is a pilot who will be based in southwest Iowa.

Adderton was one of two finalists for the position. He succeeds Bryant Rasmussen, who served as Parks and Rec Director for three-years. Wyatt will be introduced to the Parks Board during their meeting at 5:15-p.m. Monday, Feb. 20th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

Northeast Iowa livestock company and managers sentenced in fraud scheme

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa livestock company and four managers have been sentenced in federal court in a scheme to defraud livestock producers throughout Iowa and the Midwest. Fifty-one-year-old Joe Wickham of Waucoma, 65-year-old Charlie Lynch of Waucoma, 60-year-old Leland “Pete” Blue of Fredericksburg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud. While 31-year-old Tyler Thoms of Fayette pled guilty to one count of causing a livestock dealer to keep inaccurate accounts and records.

The charges came from their work with Lynch Livestock, where they were accused of downgrading cattle and manipulating scales to defraud customers during nearly two decades. Wickham and Lynch were fined three-thousand dollars and Blue one thousand. Wickham was sentenced to six months in prison, and the others were each given probation. The company was fined 196-thousand dollars and ordered to pay more than three million dollars in restitution.