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Fatal crash in Exira Sunday afternoon

News

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Exira, Iowa) – A collision between a car and a semi tractor-trailer in Exira, Sunday afternoon, resulted in the death of a woman. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 2:48-p.m. in the area of 418 W. Washington Street, on the west side of Exira.

Authorities say a 2009 Ford Focus driven by 75-year-old Phyllis Elaine Hoffman, of Exira, was traveling eastbound, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle crossed the center of the road and struck a westbound 2016 Mack tractor-trailer, head-on. The semi was driven by 24-year-old John Joseph Schultes, of Exira.

Schultes was not injured in the collision. Hoffman died at the scene. She was wearing her seat belt. The accident remains under investigation.

STEVEN ALBERT LOVELL, 71, of Atlantic (& formerly of Adair) – Graveside Svcs. 10/15/22

Obituaries

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

STEVEN ALBERT LOVELL, 71, of Atlantic (& formerly of Adair), died Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Atlantic Specialty Care. Graveside services for STEVEN LOVELL will be held 11-a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at the Canby Cemetery, southeast of Adair. Schmidt Family Funeral Home is assisting the family.

A luncheon will be held following the service at the Casey Community Center in Casey, IA.

STEVEN LOVELL is survived by:

His sister – Linda Lovell of Atlantic.

Many other relatives and friends.

LLOYD REED, 95, of Atlantic (& formerly of Wiota): (Celebration of Life 10/14/22)

Obituaries

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

LLOYD REED, 95, of Atlantic (& formerly of Wiota), died Aug. 30, 2022, in Cookson, OK.  A Celebration of Life for LLOYD REED will be held 4-p.m. Friday, Oct. 14th, at the First Lutheran Church, south of Wiota. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

The service will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/flcwia and will also be available on the funeral home website by noon on Saturday.

A visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 13, 2022, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Burial, with a Tolling of the Bell ceremony by the Wiota Volunteer Fire Department and Military Honors by the Anita American Legion Post #210 and the Iowa Army National Guard, will be held in the First Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation to the Wiota Volunteer Fire Department.

LLOYD REED is survived by:

His sons – Denny (Sherri) Reed, of Des Moines; and Ron Reed (and his partner, Chuck Downs, of Tucson, AZ).

His daughter – Donna Watson, of Mesa, AZ.

His sister – Marlene Andersen of Atlantic.

7 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren; his sisters-in-law, other relatives and friends.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

BETTY ESBECK, 87, of Atlantic (Graveside Services 10/17/22)

Obituaries

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

BETTY ESBECK, 87, of Atlantic, died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, at Atlantic Specialty Care. Graveside services for BETTY ESBECK will be held on Oct. 17th at 11-a.m., in the Brighton Township Cemetery at Marne. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, Oct. 15th, from 10-a.m. until 2-p.m.

BETTY ESBECK is survived by:

Her sons – Rodney Esbeck, of Atlantic, and Dale Esbeck, of Audubon.

Her brothers – Carl (Darlene) Knutsen, and Raymond Knutsen, all of Atlantic.

His sister – Lovie (Roy) Andersen, of North Liberty.

1 grandchild and 3 great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

BRUCE STUEVE, 65, of Exira (No services)

Obituaries

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

BRUCE STUEVE, 65, of Exira, died Friday, Oct. 7th. As per his wishes, BRUCE STUEVE was cremated and there will be no service. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic is assisting the family.

The family requests donations to the Nebraska Medicine Cancer-University of Nebraska Foundation – https://nufoundation.org/give/nebraska-medicine/cancer/

BRUCE STUEVE is survived by:

His wife – Tammy Stueve.

His children: Aaron, Angela and Andrea, and their spouses.

4 siblings, and his mother.

10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

JERRY McCURDY, 62, of Cumberland (Mass of Christian Burial 10/15/22)

Obituaries

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

JERRY McCURDY, 62, of Cumberland, died Sunday, October 9, 2022, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.  A Mass of Christian Burial for JERRY McCURDY will be held 2-p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at the St. Timothy’s Catholic Church Reno south of Cumberland. You’re welcome to wear a Hawaiian shirt to celebrate Jerry’s life at the service. Lamb Funeral Home in Massena has the arrangements.

Rosary Service:  Will be held on Friday, October 14, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Massena. The family will greet friends on Friday, October 14, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Massena.  The family requests to wear casual attire.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Burial is in the St. Timothy’s Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Jerry McCurdy memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

JERRY McCURDY is survived by:

His children – Kristen McCurdy; Calie (Kevin) Freestone; Brad Penton; Crystal Kolthoff, and Curt Penton.

His siblings – Linda (Don) Reineke, of Massena; Mike (Sandy) McCurdy, of Bridgewater, and Karen (Kevin) Bower, of Polk City, Iowa.

Several grandchildren, great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

CHERYL SCHRODER, 74, of Lenox (Graveside Svcs. 10/17/22)

Obituaries

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

CHERYL SCHRODER, 74, of Lenox, died September 16, 2022, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Graveside services for CHERYL SCHRODER will be held at 11-a.m. on October 17, 2022, in the Fontanelle Cemetery (in Fontanelle, Iowa). Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be established at a later date.

CHERYL SCHRODER is survived by:

Her daughters – Heather (Marc) Johnson, of Van Buren, AR; & Brandie Perry, of Bentonville, AR.

Her brother – Donald E. (Connie) Beck, of Lenox.

6 grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Horse rescue in Pottawattamie County

News

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office posted on their social media page, Sunday morning, information about a horse rescue that occurred Saturday. Authorities say “Members of the Sheriff’s Office were called to assist in an animal rescue yesterday. A horse had fallen about 50 feet down to a creek bottom and was stuck in the mud and water. The horse was stuck for several hours until many hands were on scene to help get her out. The horse was very thankful to her rescuers and is now doing great.”

Responding agencies included the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Neola Fire and Rescue, and Dave Lyon Towing & Repair. (click on these images to enlarge. Photos via Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)

2 non-injury accidents in Union County on Friday

News

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office & Creston Police reports two separate, non-injury accidents occurred Friday. The first happened at around 7:10-a.m., on U-S Highway 34. Authorities say a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 27-year-old Robin Mae Johnson, of Leon, was traveling westbound, when a deer came out of a ditch and into the path of the vehicle. Johnson was unable to avoid the deer. Her car struck the animal, causing damage to the left front side of the car and its windshield. The damage was estimated at $2,000.

The second accident happened at around 4:05-p.m., Friday. Creston Police say a 2004 Volvo semi tractor-trailer hauling a full load of pigs, was traveling east on Highway 34 in Creston. A traffic light changed to yellow as the semi approached. Authorities say the driver, 74-year-old Dennis Michael Kinsella, of Creston, knew he couldn’t stop in-time, especially with a full load, so he continued through the intersection.

A 2009 Pontiac G5 driven by 24-year-old Charles Thomas Claytor, of Creston, was traveling to turn south onto Laurel Street from Highway 34. He told Police he was in the intersection waiting to turn, and did not see the semi before his car was struck. Following the impact, his car was sent sliding across the road. It struck a 2017 GMC Canyon (pickup) driven by 52-year-old Kara Sue Larson, of Corning, as it was stopped at the traffic light.

The semi and GMC Canyon sustained minor damage ($1,500 total) and were driven from the crash scene, but the Pontiac was totaled ($5,000 damage), and was towed from the scene. Police cited Charles Claytor for having no proof of insurance.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022

Weather

October 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 74. Light southwest wind becoming west 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 78. Light south southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. South wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Windy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: A slight chance of thunderstorms before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 65. The Low was 22. Last year on this date, our High was 75 and the Low was 56. The Record High for this date, was 87 in 1930, 1938, & 2020. The Record Low was 14, in 2000.