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(UPDATED) – Mass resignation of staff at Cass County Treasurer’s Office

News

June 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Persons wanting to conduct business with the Cass County Treasurer’s Office can expect to find changes in how often the office is open for business, as a result of what can only be described as a mass exodus of office staff. Cass County Board of Supervisors Chair Steve Baier confirms most of the staff have resigned and taken other jobs, while another will be retiring. Baier said he didn’t want to speculate on why the staff quit, but that “Sometimes the dynamics can change a little bit and all of the sudden you’ve got more than just a ‘tempest in a teapot.” Baier said those who have resigned include one who Treasurer Tracey J. Marshal had recently hired because the person “felt like she didn’t get any training, and she felt awkward trying to help people,” according to Baier.

He said “Tracey’s been involved in the State Treasurer’s organization and hasn’t always been in [her] office, been out of the Treasurer’s Office a lot since January, and I don’t think that’s helped matters.” Baier said also, in his view, “Ashley McDermott knew how to do just about everything there. I’m not sure she had certifications (such as CDL),” but she “had the broadest scope of knowledge,” and “that’s like losing your All-Star pitcher.” McDermott was offered a job with Solutions in Atlantic, he said.

Tracey Marshal issued the following statement Wednesday evening:

“Sometimes change happens unexpectedly, over the last few months we have been losing staff. I have hired one new staff member and interviewed several others, waiting for the posting time period and approval. I have always had a good relationship with my staff. It’s been a bit stressful with many changes from federal and state mandates, along with county conflicts. My staff have been recruited by other companies with better paying positions and more flexible for their families. I support each one of them for the dedication while they worked here and there new adventures. As you know the work force is changing everywhere. I hear it every day from other counties and businesses. I am very proud of my accomplishments, including the presidency of the state association. We are working on finding and training employees.

A notice posted on the Courthouse main entrance states “Cass County Treasurer’s Office Hours Starting June 3, 2022,” as:

8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Closed on Tuesday’s

Property Taxes and Motor Vehicle Renewals: The best way is by mail or online. www.iowatreasurers.org

A BILL OF SALE is required for all Motor Vehicles purchases. We will process your payments as they come in. Please provide a telephone number in the event we need to contact you.

Please use the yellow drop box outside- envelopes are in the side box.”

Posted in News |

Cyclone Men’s Basketball Coach T.J. Otzelberger earns extension & salary increase

Sports

June 1st, 2022 by admin

Ames, Iowa—After leading the Iowa State men’s basketball program to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015-16 and the third-best turnaround in NCAA history in his debut season on the Cyclone bench, head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been rewarded with a contract extension and salary increase, ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.

“T.J. Otzelberger and his staff orchestrated arguably the greatest turnaround in college basketball history this past year, inheriting a two-win program and leading it to 22 victories and the Sweet 16 in their first season, and I’m grateful that we are able to reward that success with this extension,” Pollard said. “I believe T.J. is building a championship culture within our program that fosters academic excellence, on-court success and accountability, and I believe that the momentum our program enjoys will lead to future success under his direction.”

Otzelberger’s contract now runs through June 30, 2027, and his additional guaranteed compensation will increase from $700,000 annually to $1.2M effective immediately with an annual increase of $100,000 starting on July 1, 2023. All other terms of his original contract are unchanged.

Otzelberger’s debut season in Ames produced a 22-13 overall record, the school’s 21st NCAA Tournament bid and sixth Sweet 16 appearance en route to a season-ending ranking of No. 23 in the coaches poll. ISU registered the third-best improvement in NCAA history, a +20-win improvement over the program’s 2020-21 record. That 20-win improvement trailed only Towson (+21) and Middle Tennessee (+21) on the all-time charts.

Unanimously picked last in the Big 12 Conference preseason poll, the Cyclones defied all odds in making the NCAA Tournament and finishing seventh in the nation’s toughest conference. ISU climbed as high as No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25 and was ranked for a total of 10 weeks during the season as it was one of the nation’s last two undefeated teams before falling to an unbeaten Baylor squad in the conference opener for both teams.

Otzelberger became the eighth head coach in school history to lead the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament, and just the third coach in NCAA Tournament history to lead his program to the Sweet 16 in the first season after taking over a team with a losing record the previous year. The 11th-seeded Cyclones advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins over LSU and Wisconsin before falling to Miami, Fla., in the Sweet 16.

Posted in Sports |

Kris Murray returning to Iowa

Sports

June 1st, 2022 by admin

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Kris Murray (24) during a photo shoot at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA on Monday, September 13, 2021. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa men’s basketball student-athlete Kris Murray announced on Wednesday that he is returning for his junior season.

“These past two months have been a tremendous learning process for me,” said Murray. “By going through the NBA Draft process, I believe that it will help me in the long run and this upcoming season at Iowa. I can’t wait to get back to work with my teammates and coaches to play for the best fan base in the world. Go Hawks!”

Murray (6-foot-8, 211 pounds) posted single season bests in every statistical category last season. He improved his scoring average by +9.1 points per game and rebounding average by 3.7 per outing.

Murray was Iowa’s leading scorer (9.7 ppg) and rebounder (4.3 rpg) off the bench, which ranked fourth and third overall, respectively. His 31 blocks and 43 3-point field goals rank seventh and eighth most, respectively, by a Hawkeye sophomore. He ranked second on the squad in 3-point accuracy (.387, 43-of-11), blocked shots per game (0.9) and field goals made (124), third in offensive (1.6) and defensive (2.7) rebounds, and fourth in steals (0.8). He made at least one 3-pointer in a team-best 17 consecutive games (Jan. 22-March 13) and recorded multiple steals in 10 games and multiple blocks in nine contests.

“Everyone in our program is very excited to have Kris back,” said Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. “We are happy that Kris had a positive experience going through the NBA process. He gained valuable feedback through workouts and conversations with NBA personnel. Kris will be awesome next year.”

Posted in Sports |

2022 Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced

Sports

June 1st, 2022 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Letterwinners Club and the University of Iowa Athletics Department announced its 2022 Hall of Fame Class on Wednesday.

The 33rd Hall of Fame Class includes Dallas Clark (football), Amy Fowler (field hockey), Dan Holm (wrestling), Kari Knopf (softball), Keith Noreen (baseball), George Roddy (men’s golf) and Nancilea Underwood (women’s swimming & diving).

The seven-person class will be inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 – the evening prior to the Iowa football team’s season opener against South Dakota State.

The induction ceremony, which is open to the public, will be held in the Feller Club Room at Carver-Hawkeye with doors opening at 5 p.m. (CT) and the ceremony will follow at 6:30 p.m. Cost for the evening is $25 and includes heavy appetizers and a cash bar will be available. Reserve your spot today! (https://bit.ly/3PUnJ2Y)

All Iowa athletes who have earned at least one varsity letter at Iowa are eligible for the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame. Athletes must have completed their eligibility 10 years and coaches/administrators five years prior to their induction.

2022 Hall of Fame Class

Dallas Clark, Football (2000 – 2002)

Dallas Clark was a consensus first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten, and John Mackey Award recipient in 2002. Clark was selected by Indianapolis with the 24th pick of the first round in the 2003 NFL Draft. An All-Pro selection in 2009, Clark appeared in two Super Bowls, including the Colts’ victory over Chicago in 2007.

Amy Fowler, Field Hockey (1989 – 1992)

Amy Fowler was a three-time All-American, earning first-team honors in 1991 and 1992. Fowler was an All-Region and first-team All-Big Ten honoree in 1990, 1991, and 1992. In 1991, Fowler was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and she participated in the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival.

Dan Holm, Wrestling (1972 – 1975)

Dan Holm won the 158-pound NCAA championship in 1975, leading Iowa to its first ever NCAA title. Holm was a three-time All-American and led Iowa to back-to-back Big Ten championships in 1974 and 1975.  He was the runner-up at 158-pounds both years.

Kari Knopf, Softball (1994 – 1997)

Knopf was a three-time All-American and a four-time All-Region and first-team All-Big Ten selection from 1994-1997.  She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1994 and led Iowa to three-straight Women’s College World Series appearances. Knopf holds school records for games played (254), at bats (802), hits (305) and RBIs (163).

Keith Noreen, Baseball (1987 – 1990)

Keith Noreen was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and an ABCA All-Region honoree in 1989. Noreen led the Hawkeyes to the 1990 Big Ten Championship and NCAA Regional appearance. He still holds school records for hits (267), RBIs (193), total bases (441) and game-winning RBI (27), while ranking second in games played (216), and runs (200).

George Roddy, Men’s Golf (1930 – 1931)

George Roddy was the first Black Hawkeye golfer and the first Black athlete inducted to the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame. He was a two time All-University of Iowa champion in 1929 and 1930. Roddy was team captain in 1930 and 1931. He finished his career with an undefeated individual match record and set the Finkbine course record of 72 in 1930. Roddy was a member of State Championship and State Collegiate Championship Teams in 1931.

Nancilea Underwood, Women’s Swimming and Diving (2001-03, 2004-06)

Nancilea Underwood was a five-time All-American in the diving well. She earned All-America status off the 3-meter in 2003 and the 1-meter and 3-meter in 2005 and 2006. Underwood was the Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient in 2006 and she competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Posted in Sports |

Vilsack unveils $2.87 billion in USDA grants, loans to boost food supply

News

June 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is unveiling hundreds of millions of dollars in new U-S-D-A grant and loans to do things like establish grocery stores in underserved areas, build more cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables and support training for employees in the meat and poultry industry. “With these investments, the transformed food system will mean more, new and better markets, generating better income for producers,” Vilsack says, “and better choices and prices for consumers.”

Vilsack says 155 million dollars in federal grants will be available to set up grocery stores in rural and urban communities that are considered “food deserts.” Six-hundred million will be awarded to expand or build new facilities that process and store fruits and vegetables. Three-hundred million is set aside to bolster organic food production. “The process for becoming an organic producer is complicated and financially difficult, especially during the early days of transition when expenses can be high and income limited,” Vilsack says. “I believe a transformed food system needs to make that process less complicated and the financial costs of that transition easier to bear.” Vilsack says other U-S-D-A initiatives will be expanded to support urban gardening as well as public schools that buy locally produced food.

Vilsack is using 400 million dollars to set up a new network of U-S-D-A centers that will help food producers and buyers connect on a regional basis and navigate their financial options. “Our transformed food system will expand capacity and competition and increase that competition in all sectors,” Vilsack says, “and, when it does, both producers and consumers will benefit.”

A new 100 million dollar fund will be for companies that come up with healthy, but less expensive menu items for school lunch programs. Vilsack says the goal is to spur innovation — but to also make school lunch options more attractive to the kids who eat the food. All of this new U-S-D-A spending was approved by congress in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan.

Posted in News |

Racing and Gaming Commission likely to pause new license process with bill pending

News

June 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill passed late in the legislative session that places a two-year hold on new gambling licenses will impact the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s meeting Thursday in Emmetsburg. Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko says he anticipates the Commission will pause the licensing process. “At least at this point, it’ll be difficult to do much in terms of moving forward with an application process and until that moratorium is out — if indeed that bill goes into law,” Ohorilko.

Governor Kim Reynolds has not yet indicated if she will sign the casino moratorium bill into law. Organizers in Cedar Rapids wanted to Commission to consider an application for a casino there after the Linn County gambling referendum passed. “The Commission at the March meeting had indicated that they were prepared to accept applications and that occurred after the commission had been approached by stakeholders in that community that they were ready to file an application. Obviously, that was after the referenda had passed in November 2021,” he says. Ohorilko says the process was just getting started. “There really hasn’t been any due diligence or any considerable amount of time put in by the commission members with regard to the process,” Ohorilkoh says.

Many things could change in the Iowa casino landscape in two years if the bill goes into law. One of those is the start up of gambling in Nebraska. “Rules have been filed in that state, ground is broken in a number of locations, the different locations have different timelines. I think it’s possible that we’ll see some temporary facilities this fall or winter,” Ohorilko says. He says all of the Nebraska facilities will likely be up and running next year — which will have an impact on Iowa casinos. Ohorilko says it’s hard to know what other changes might happen if the moratorium happens. “Two years can go fast, but it’s also a lot of time in terms of economic conditions with respect to casinos,” he says. “If you were to look two years back from today’s date, no one would have expected the ups and downs that that industry would have gone through and so, so I can’t say for sure.”

Two other attempts to get a gambling license in Cedar Rapids were denied.

Posted in News |

MERLE PHILLIPS, 89, of Atlantic (Memorial Svc. 6/4/22)

Obituaries

June 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

MERLE PHILLIPS, 89, of Atlantic, died May 26, 2022 at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. Memorial services for MERLE PHILLIPS will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the Loess Hills Funeral Home, in Carson.

Visitation at the funeral home will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Burial will be in the Carson Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Jennie Edmundson Foundation for Cancer Care.

MERLE PHILLIPS is survived by:

His daughters: Teresa Phillips (and friend Harvey Moyer), of Council Bluffs, and Pamela (Brent) Rairdin, of Cedar Rapids.

His sisters – Alice Phillips, of Mason City, and Ilene Phillips, of Carson.

3 grandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren, his sisters-and brother-in-laws.

Posted in Obituaries |

National T-Bone Trails Day: T-Bone Trail Ride set for June 4th!

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

June 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Conservation Board will hold a National Trails Day T-Bone Trail Ride, on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Program participants will meet at the I-80/T-Bone Trail Trailhead, North of Atlantic, beginning at 1-p.m.  There is no charges. Bike, walk, strollers…everyone is welcome! Come out and celebrate National Trails Day!  All ages/abilities welcome and Free!

The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports |

Research and Demonstration Farm Reports Available for 2021

Ag/Outdoor

June 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – The latest version of Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms summary reports are now available online and in print. Nine farm reports are available, with a new look that includes larger headings, expanded tables and color photography. “I think the public will be excited by the new look, but they will also appreciate the fact that the reports contain the same data and the same information people are used to, just in a modernized package,” said Tim Goode, director of research and demonstration farms at Iowa State.

The reports date back to the early 1930s and were part of the agreement made with farmers and Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, when the first research farm was established in north central Iowa. “Part of the agreement was that we would publish site-specific research from each area, and that is what these publications do,” said Goode. “The reports provide replicated, unbiased, site-specific research that is published annually.” 

The reports can be downloaded from the Iowa State Extension Store and are also available at research farm field days and association meetings. They contain summary articles about crop and livestock research, including row crops, small grains, forages, specialty crops and other research being conducted across the state. The information is used by farmers, seed companies, veterinarians and nutritionists – essentially anyone who is involved with agriculture. Specialists with Iowa State conduct research at the farms year-round, with field days held during the spring, summer and fall. About 20,000 people visit the farms each year, including school-age youth. More than 130 Iowa State faculty members use the farms for teaching, research and extension.

Goode said the COVID pandemic presented some unique challenges for the farm, and during 2020, most outreach was done remotely. However, the research continued mostly as usual, with the same results delivered each year since the pandemic. He said he’s looking forward to the in-person field days and educational events this year, and collecting data that will be included in next year’s reports. “Another season is already starting and as data is compiled throughout the year, we’ll be ready to publish yet another research farm report,” said Goode.

The following 2021 farm reports are available:

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

LOUENE “LOU” [Nelson] PALMER, 80, of MN a former area resident (Graveside services 6/4/22_

Obituaries

June 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

LOUENE “LOU” PALMER, 80, a former area resident, died Monday, May 30, 2022 at Brookside Assisted Living in Montevideo, MN. Graveside services for “LOU” PALMER will be held 3-p.m. Saturday, June 4th, in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends at the funeral home, from 1-until 2:30-p.m., Saturday.

LOU PALMER is survived by:

Her son – Todd (Kristie) Palmer.

Her daughter – Ronda (Brian) Kimpling

4 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and her in-laws.

Posted in Obituaries |