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Iowa GOP chair to nominate Trump at next week’s national convention

News

July 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The chairman of the Iowa Republican Party is scheduled to deliver the speech that officially nominates Donald Trump for president. Jeff Kaufmann says it will be an honor to speak Monday afternoon at the G-O-P’s national convention. “There’s an energy in the room when you’ve got that many people gathered together for one cause,” Kaufmann said. Party officials believe this is the first time an Iowan has nominated the G-O-P’s presidential candidate.

Kaufmann’s son ran Trump’s 2024 Iowa Caucus campaign. The elder Kaufmann says his mission at next week’s convention will be to secure Iowa’s spot at the beginning of the 2028 presidential race. “Anything that we do to get Donald Trump elected at this point is going to be helpful for us keeping first in the nation status because unlike Joe Biden, I believe he’s going to ask us to the first in the nation state again,” Kaufmann said, “and unlike the Iowa Democratic Party, I will fight and not take, ‘No,’ for an answer.”

David Barker, a member of the Iowa G-O-P’s governing board, says by giving Kaufmann Monday’s speaking slot, the Trump campaign is acknowledging the role Kaufmann and the Iowa G-O-P had in managing the 2024 Iowa Caucuses. “We ran the Caucuses in a very neutral and even handed way so that the voters could decide,” Barker says, “and the way it ended up was they decided on him.” Trump finished with just over half of the Caucus Night votes — and nearly 30 points ahead of his closest challenger.

Republican Party of Iowa chairman Jeff Kaufmann on the “Iowa Press” during a recent appearance on the program. (Iowa PBS photo)

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird was the only statewide elected official who endorsed Trump before the Caucuses and she is scheduled to speak at the party’s national convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. The evening’s theme is “Make America Safe Again” and Bird, in a written statement, says the last three and a half years have made it clear Trump’s leadership is desperately needed back in the White House.

At the Republican Party’s National Convention in 2016, the Trump campaign scheduled Iowa Senator Joni Ernst for a prime time appearance on the convention’s opening night. However, people who took the stage before Ernst spoke so long that Ernst’s started speaking well past 11 p.m. — as most convention delegates were leaving the arena.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: Friday, July 12, 2024

Weather

July 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 86. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts to near 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 101. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 95.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Monday Night: A 30% chance of showers & thunderstorms after midnight. Low around 68.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 85. Our Low this morning was 59. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 84 and the Low was 60. The All-Time Record High in Atlantic on July 12th, was 106 in 1939. The Record Low was 47 in 1895 & 1975. Sunrise: 5:56; Sunset: 8:54.

Regional High School Softball Scores from Thursday

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 3A

Region 2

PCM 10, Greene County 2
Clarke 8, Des Moines Christian 0
Clarinda 5, Harlan Community 0
Atlantic 13, Red Oak 0

Class 4A

Region 2

Mason City 9, Boone 7
Webster City 6, Nevada 1

Region 3

Carroll 5, Bishop Heelan 3
Perry 6, Denison-Schleswig 0

Region 4

Indianola 10, Creston 0
Glenwood 5, Lewis Central 4

Region 6

Ballard 3, Newton 0
Pella 16, South Tama 4

Atlantic Softball flies by Red Oak in second round of Regionals

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Atlantic Trojan Softball team won 13-0 against the Red Oak Tigers on Thursday night to advance to the semifinals of their postseason region. Atlantic’s starting pitcher Riley Wood got to work quickly in the top of the first retiring the first 3 Red Oak batters. Then in the bottom of the first inning Atlantic took complete control of the ball game tallying 9 runs in the inning. It started with a Makenna Schroeder RBI triple to put the Trojans up 1-0. Later on, in the inning the bases became loaded, and Jillian Saathoff capitalized thanks to a 2 RBI single, creating a 3-0 lead. The runs continued to pour in for Atlantic with an error thrown at home and 6 straight hits to hang a 9-0 advantage after one inning.

In the top of the second inning Wood seemed to slow down as she gave up a base hit and a walk, but still held the Tigers scoreless. The Trojans response in the bottom of the second was to load the bases again after 3 players were hit by a pitch. Makenna Sonntag came up to hit a sac fly making the game 10-0 for Atlantic. Two additional runs were scored off of mistimed throws at home plate and Schroeder would get her third RBI of the day to make a daunting 13-0 score. The top of the third inning saw Peyton McClaren come in as a relief pitcher for Wood and she threw 3 consecutive strikeouts to end the game.

Atlantic looked sharp throughout the day thanks to the efforts of Wood in the circle pitching 2 innings, with 1 hit, 1 walk, and no runs. In the batter’s box the Trojans were assisted by Schroeder going 3-3, with a triple, and 3 RBI’s.

Atlantic Head Coach Terry Hinzmann liked the difference in execution from his team compared to the first time they played Red Oak on Monday.

The Trojans next game will be a semifinal matchup against a familiar opponent the Clarinda Cardinals on Saturday. Atlantic is 1-1 against Clarinda on the year and to get a win on Saturday the Trojans have to be consistent with every aspect of the game.

Red Oaks ends their season with a record of 3-24.

Iowa State Fair to feature butter sculptures of Johnny Carson, Steve Higgins & Jimmy Fallon

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa — Late-night TV icons with Iowa ties will be immortalized in butter at next month’s Iowa State Fair. Johnny Carson, who was born in Corning, and Des Moines native Steve Higgins will be in the Agriculture Building’s cooler next to the wildly popular butter cow and another special guest — “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon. State Fair butter sculptor Sarah Pratt and her team will also make a butter version of the sky glider to celebrate its 50th year.

Fallon, known for his on-air impressions, will get his own impression in butter at the 2024 Iowa State Fair. Fallon will be sculpted alongside the Tonight Show’s announcer, producer and Des Moines, Iowa, native Steve Higgins in celebration of 10 years with Jimmy Fallon as the host of the show.

Another Iowa native will also be featured in butter – longtime Tonight Show host Johnny Carson. Johnny Carson lived in Corning, Avoca and Red Oak as a child. Carson took over the Tonight Show in 1962 for a run that lasted three decades.

The butter cow, along with butter versions of Higgins, Carson and Fallon, will be featured alongside an iconic sky glider chair as the main Sky Glider celebrates 50 years in 2024. All of the sculptures will be on display in the John Deere Agriculture Building 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., during the Fair, August 8-18.

The butter cow has been an annual attraction at the State Fair since 1911. Sarah Pratt of West Des Moines was named the fair’s fifth butter sculptor in 2006 after 15 years as an apprentice to Duffy Lyon. Companion sculptures of the butter cow have been a tradition since at least 1996 when Grant Wood’s famous “American Gothic” painting was immortalized. Last year’s fair featured iconic Iowa athletes Jack Trice, Kurt Warner and Caitlin Clark.

The 2024 Iowa State Fair annual parade kicks things off Aug. 7 in downtown Des Moines.

Josef Newgarden on the IndyCar Series weekend at the Iowa Speedway

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Josef Newgarden will try to keep his winning streak alive at the Iowa Speedway this weekend. The back-to-back Indy 500 champion has won six times at the Iowa Speedway, including both ends of an IndyCar twinbill last year. The first of two races this weekend is Saturday night’s Hy-Vee Homefront 250. Newgarden says the Iowa Speedway is a uniqiue oval track in terms of the physical challenge it offers.

Newgarden says the partial repaving in both sets of turns will make it a different track this weekend.

Newgarden says Friday afternoon practice runs will be even more important.

The weekend concludes with Sunday’s Hy-Vee One Step 250.

Drought monitor looks a lot different than one year ago

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The latest Drought Monitor report for Iowa is dramatically different than it was one year ago. One year ago 100 percent of Iowa was either in drought or abnormally dry conditions. The latest Drought Monitor map shows just Scott County and a small part of Clinton County now show abnormally dry conditions. That amounts to less than one percent of the state.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the last time Iowa had no abnormally dry areas was in early May of 2020. The state has been free of actual drought conditions since late May of this year – which stopped four-years of drought conditions.

2024 FINAL Class 3A/4A/5A Iowa Girls High School Softball Rankings

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 5A
School
 Record
LW
1
West Des Moines Valley
34-4
1
2
Pleasant Valley
35-3
2
3
Muscatine
25-10
4
4
Waukee Northwest
31-7
5
5
Johnston
29-10
3
6
Ankeny Centennial
28-9
6
7
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
23-15
7
8
Iowa City Liberty
22-11
9
9
Ankeny
19-20
8
10
Southeast Polk
19-20
10
11
Urbandale
20-18
11
12
Dubuque Senior
26-12
13
13
Waukee
18-17
14
14
Des Moines Roosevelt
26-14
12
15
Des Moines Lincoln
26-12
15
 
Dropped Out:  None
 
Class 4A
School
Record
LW
1
North Polk
34-4
1
2
Dallas Center-Grimes
30-8
2
3
Norwalk
27-7
3
4
Cedar Rapids Xavier
29-10
7
5
ADM
27-9
5
6
Fort Dodge
28-12
       4
7
North Scott
28-5
6
8
Carlisle
32-8
9
9
Western Dubuque
28-9
8
10
Clear Creek-Amana
24-12
12
11
Winterset
22-16
10
12
Bondurant-Farrar
28-10
11
13
Burlington
22-5
13
14
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
28-6
14
15
Storm Lake
22-3
15
 
Dropped Out: None
Class 3A
School
Record
LW
1
Benton
28-7
1
2
Williamsburg
27-12
2
3
Dubuque Wahlert
26-10
3
4
Mount Vernon
29-11
4
5
Davenport Assumption
22-12
5
6
Estherville Lincoln Central
28-6
6
7
Sumner-Fredericksburg
30-3
7
8
PCM
21-4
8
9
Clarinda
31-7
9
10
West Lyon
20-3
10
11
West Liberty
20-10
11
12
Washington
23-11
13
13
Albia
18-12
12
14
West Marshall
23-8
14
15
Atlantic
26-12
NR

Dropped Out: Central Lee (15)
 

Craig Ballard Named Assistant Gymnastics Coach

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Craig Ballard has been named an assistant coach for the University of Iowa gymnastics team, head coach Jen Llewellyn announced Thursday.

“I am thrilled to welcome Craig to our coaching staff,” said Llewellyn. “I have known Craig for over a decade and have high respect for the career he has built for himself. Craig brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience for our sport. He has had many great accomplishments in his 17-year coaching career, and I am confident he will have an immediate impact on our program through his passion, work-ethic and vision for greatness.”

Ballard joins the Hawkeyes after 13 seasons at Kent State where he served as an assistant coach for 12 seasons before being named associate head coach in 2024. Prior to Kent State, Ballard served as an assistant coach at Bowling Green and Rhode Island.

In his time with the Golden Flashes he helped lead them to six regular season Mid-American Conference championships and nine NCAA postseason appearances. During his tenure, he coached six MAC Gymnast of the Year, three MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year, three MAC Specialist of the Year, and two MAC Freshmen of the Year. Ballard was instrumental in having eight individual MAC champions and two WCGA All-Americans. In the classroom the Golden Flashes had 153 student-athletes recognized as WCGA Academic All-Americans.

Prior to his arrival at Kent State, Ballard spent three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bowling Green. There, Ballard helped spearhead a turnaround that saw the Falcons go from last place in the MAC to fourth and improve seven positions in the final national rankings. He guided six gymnasts to NCAA Central Regional berths in three years.
Ballard spent the 2008 season as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Rhode Island, earning Eastern College Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year honors as the Rams took second place at the conference championships.

Ballard got his start in collegiate coaching as a team manager/student coach at West Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies in 2006.
A native of Morgantown, W.V., Ballard and his wife, Allyson, have two sons, Reed and Carter Thomas.

Hawkeyes Top Nation in Attendance for 17th Straight Year

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s wrestling program led the nation in attendance for the 17th straight year, it was announced Thursday by the National Wrestling Media Association.

The Hawkeyes drew an average of 14,847 fans per home date during the 2023-24 season with 89,082 fans entering the doors of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa drew capacity crowds of 14,847 in all six of its home duals.

Along with having the top home attendance figures, Iowa was the top draw for seven opponents in 2023-24 – Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Penn, California Baptist, Illinois and Northwestern.

The 14,847 average is the third-highest average attendance in college wrestling history, second only to the Hawkeyes’ 14,905 average in 2021-22 and 14,858 average in 2022-23.

Iowa has led the nation in attendance in each season of head coach Tom Brands’ tenure (attendance totals weren’t tracked during the 2020-21 season due to most venues having no-spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This was the 15th straight year the Hawkeyes have averaged more than 8,000 fans.

Iowa has led the nation in home attendance in 21 of the 22 seasons it has been tracked. Penn State was second (51,360/7,337 avg.) in 2023-24, while Iowa State (40,150/6,691 avg.) ranked third.