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Richter announces her official run for Cass County Supervisor – District 3

News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – In a follow-up to our reports about Cass County Primary Election candidates, Wendy Richter has officially announced her candidacy for the Cass County Board of Supervisors, representing District 3. Richter says “I’ve been a resident of Cass County for most of my life, the exception while at college. For nearly twenty-seven years, I have worked and held numerous positions on local boards, as well as regional and state boards/committees. As the Director of Family Crisis Support Network, I served not only Cass County residents, but 7 other counties in southwest Iowa. During that time, I was trained as an expert witness for the State of Iowa, a certified advocate on behalf of crime victims and spent many hours collaborating with individuals & groups in each county working to get services for their residents.

Wendy Richter (Photo submitted)

“I worked with the State of Iowa and numerous other entities to begin programs and bring public and private funds to the area. Without going into details of every committee, group, and volunteer efforts I’ve participated with, I want people to know that I have a vested interest in making Cass County and our communities a place that people are proud to call home and look forward to returning to.”

In announcing her candidacy, Wendy Richter said, “I believe I have the qualifications necessary to hold the position as a Supervisor, making decisions to lead the county in the right direction. The skills I’ve gained have taught me to know how important it is to work together, listen to people, work together, to do your due diligence to get the accurate information, work together and that everyone has a voice to be heard – yes, work together needs to be in there multiple times!”

Public Meeting to discuss Blue Lake (Lewis and Clark State Park) dredging and restoration efforts

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Onawa, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting at 6 p.m., March 31, at the Lewis and Clark State Park’s Visitors Center to discuss ongoing lake restoration efforts at the park, including a hydraulic dredging project slated for the 2022 open water season. Restoration activities planned for the park will be presented at the meeting, along with an opportunity for the public to ask questions about the dredging operations and potential impacts to the park throughout the construction season.

Over the past decade, members of the community have worked with DNR and other project partners to develop and implement a comprehensive lake restoration plan to improve water quality and recreational opportunities at Blue Lake. Hydraulic dredging is a significant step in the restoration process for improving water quality in the lake.

Blue Lake, Onawa, Iowa (Via Lewis-Clark.org)

The dredging project at Blue Lake wildlife area is being completed in two phases: phase one, completed in 2021, constructed a sediment containment site for holding dredge materials from the lake, and phase two will hydraulically remove approximately 434,000 cubic yards of sediment from the main basin of the lake to minimize sediment resuspension and improve water clarity. For more information about the Blue Lake Restoration project, check out the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAlqglIxTBU

Blue Lake was added to the State’s list of Impaired Waters in 2004 due to poor water transparency attributed to sediment resuspension within the water column. A water quality improvement plan (TMDL) was completed for the lake in 2009, but water quality remains poor. Restoration planning efforts began in 2011 to address sediment resuspension within the lake and better manage water levels and nutrient inputs at Blue Lake.

Lewis and Clark State Park is a very popular recreation destination with more than 40,000 visitors each year. The campground is consistently one of the busiest in Iowa. The park is a popular place for boating, camping, relaxing, hiking or walking the trails, and fishing.

Five northwest Iowa men plead guilty to 48 wildlife violations

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Ida Grove, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports, an investigation that began as a turkey poaching case last fall has concluded with five individuals pleading guilty to 48 wildlife charges and assessed nearly $83,000 in fines and liquidated damages. State conservation officers were executing a search warrant at the home of 26-year-old Devon Lewis, of rural Washta, Iowa, on Nov. 21, when they discovered evidence of other poaching activity. Once an additional search warrant was secured, investigators uncovered evidence of a year-round poaching network involving at least 70 deer, four turkeys, ducks, raccoons and red fox dating back to at least 2018.

State Conservation Officer Kirby Bragg said evidence from the lengthy investigation showed that these individuals would shoot wildlife out of season, over bait and from vehicles, often without the proper tags. The deer were primarily bucks with antlers.

Iowa DNR photo

The following individuals pleaded guilty in January in Ida County court.

  • Devon Lewis, 26, of rural Washta, pleaded guilty to 23 citations with fines and damages totaling $37,600 and a minimum seven-year hunting license suspension;
  • Taylor S. Luvaas, 27 of Schaller, pleaded guilty to 14 citations, with fines and damages totaling $31,118 and a minimum seven-year hunting license suspension;
  • Jacob R. Fouts, 23, of Cherokee, pleaded guilty to six citations, with fines and damages totaling $5,861 and his hunting license will be suspended;
  • Dylan D. Lewis, 22, of Cushing, pleaded guilty to three citations, with fines and damages totaling $5,251 and his hunting license will be suspended;
  • Austin T.L. Lewis, 19, of Cushing, pleaded guilty to two citations, with fines and damages totaling $4,300.

The judge condemned five rifles, three shotguns and three bows used to commit the crimes. “Our best chance to catch poachers is when the public provides us with timely information after witnessing illegal activity take place,” said Officer Bragg. “It was apparent that this activity had been going on for quite some time.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was assisted by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, Woodbury County Conservation Board, Ida County Sheriff’s Office and the Ida County Conservation Board.

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 3/29/22: 1 arrest, 1 injury accident

News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday evening, of a man from Woodbury County. Authorities say 53-year-old Darrin Lee Sulsberger, of Hornick, was arrested at the Woodbury County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Contempt of Court. Sulsberger was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Authorities said also, a woman from Silver City was injured during a single-vehicle accident that took place at around 10-a.m. today (Tuesday) on Barrus Road at 250th Street. 67-year-old Sharon Grauer was driving a 2013 Ford westbound on Barrus Road, when her vehicle went onto the north shoulder and then into the ditch. The accident happened as her vehicle was rounding a curve in the road.

In the ditch, the vehicle hit a culvert pipe and drove over 250th Street, before coming to rest on the northwest side of the intersection. Grauer told Deputies she accidentally went off onto the shoulder and over-corrected, causing the vehicle to enter the ditch. The woman was transported by Silver City Rescue to Mercy Hospital.

Atlantic girls soccer hopes to build on winning campaign

Sports

March 29th, 2022 by admin

Trojan LogoThe Atlantic girls soccer team is looking to build off a winning season last year. The Trojans finished 10-8 in 2021 and a lot of experienced players return this season. Head Coach Dan Vargason said they have things to work on, but expectations are to take the next step.

It will be a very athletic team for Coach Vargason. Top-scorer Jada Jensen returns after a huge 27-goal season a year ago. Lindley Eblen returns after 7 goals last season, and keeper Edria Brummer is back. Quinn Grubbs, Aubrey Guyer, Eva Steffensen, Paytn Harter, Maddie Dvorak, and Irelyn Gundy are expected to be big contributors as well. Coach Vargason said it will be fun to have a wealth of athleticism on the field.

Coach Vargason said they will need to improve their offensive diversity to be successful.

The Trojans open up the season on Thursday at home against Perry at 7:00 p.m.

Backyard & Beyond 3-29-2022

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

March 29th, 2022 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen visits with Sandy Nissen of the Audubon Country Players about their upcoming production.

Play

Grassley on: Jackson nomination vote, Ginni Thomas’ texts

News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Several U-S senators have already declared how they’ll vote on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the U-S Supreme Court, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s not yet ready to commit one way or the other. “No, and I don’t think I’ll announce it until next Monday when we have a committee meeting,” Grassley says. “I might make up my mind before then but right now I’m going through the — I don’t know — 35 to 40 hours the hearing went on, through the records, because I had other committee meetings and couldn’t be there for all of it.”

Grassley says he and members of his party asked “tough, thorough” questions of Jackson and conducted a “fair” hearing, though he remains unhappy the Judiciary Committee didn’t have access to all of her non-public documents. “We’re still, as Republicans, some documents we’re trying to get,” Grassley says. “We may not get them but we’re not going to hold up the nomination from going forward just for that reason but I’m sure that most people are going through the same process I am.”

The Judiciary Committee has a vote on Jackson scheduled for Monday. As yet, there are no Democrats who have indicated they’ll oppose Jackson’s nomination, while no Republicans have yet said they would support her.
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Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he has no worries about Justice Clarence Thomas and any possible cases that may come before the U-S Supreme Court regarding the January 6th riot. Several agencies report Thomas’ wife, Ginni, exchanged more than two dozen texts with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about efforts to overturn the election.  “I think a wife has a right to have her own personal views on anything she wants to have them on,” Grassley says. “I mean, I don’t want to tell Mrs. Grassley what she can say or not say.”

Grassley, a Republican, says Justice Thomas is “a person of integrity” and it’s Thomas alone who should decide if he should recuse himself from any future proceedings. “It’s pretty well established in the Supreme Court that each justice themselves make a determination for recusal,” Grassley says, “and it’s worked this way for 240 years and that’s the way it’s going to have to work now.”

In the past, Ginni Thomas has said there is no conflict of interest between her husband’s position and her conservative activism.

ISU’s Tre Jackson enters transfer portal

Sports

March 29th, 2022 by admin

Iowa State backup point guard Tre Jackson has entered the transfer portal. Jackson averaged 3.7 points this season for the Cyclones, averaging 12.8 minutes in 28 games.

Jackson’s playing time was up and down this season but he was part of the rotation during the Cyclones NCAA Tournament run. Jackson appeared in 74 games over three seasons at Iowa State.

The 6-foot guard from Columbia, SC will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Cardinals and Albert Pujols reunited

Sports

March 29th, 2022 by admin

ST. LOUIS, MO., March 28, 2022 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have reached an agreement with Albert Pujols on a one-year contract for 2022, re-uniting the franchise with one of its most decorated players of all-time.  Pujols, 42, was drafted by St. Louis in 1999 (13th round) and played his first 11 seasons with the Cardinals, nine of those as a National League All-Star.

“We are pleased and excited to have Albert return to the Cardinals for the upcoming season,” stated Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr.  “This reunion with Albert is a wonderful opportunity for not only him and the Cardinals, but also for our great fans, the St. Louis community, our players and staff, and everyone connected to the St. Louis Cardinals organization.  “We look forward to seeing Albert in the “Birds on the Bat” once again, and wearing his familiar uniform number 5.”

A member of the Cardinals 2006 and 2011 World Series Champions, Pujols compiled a .328 batting mark, 445 home runs and 1,329 RBI in his 11 seasons (2001-11) with the Cardinals, earning National League MVP honors in 2005, 2008 and 2009.

“Seldom does one get to share in watching or being a part of ‘living’ history,” said Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak.  “From the day we called Albert’s name in the draft room back in 1999, to now, as we set our sights on 2022, this reunion just makes sense in so many ways.  We are all looking forward to reuniting Albert with his Cardinals family, and for the fan in all of us, including myself, this feels like looking through the pages of a favorite scrapbook or baseball card album and seeing those images and memories jump off the pages.”

Pujols currently ranks among the top-10 in Major League Baseball’s all-time career leaders in RBI (2,150, 3rd), home runs (679, 5th), doubles (672, 5th), extra base hits (1,367, 4th), total bases (6,042, 4th) and  at-bats (11,114, 8th) and his 3,301 career hits rank 12th.

In his 11 seasons with the Cardinals, “El Hombre” posted franchise career top-10 totals for slugging pct. (.617, 1st), on-base pct. (.420, 2nd) home runs (445, 2nd), RBI (1,329, 2nd), doubles (455, 2nd), walks (975, 2nd), games (1,705, 8th), runs (1,291, 3rd) and batting average (.328, 6th).

Albert is a 10-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger, two-time Rawlings Gold Glover, 2001 N.L. Rookie of the Year, 2004 N.L. National League Championship Series MVP, 2003 National League batting champion (.359), and 2008 Roberto Clemente Award honoree.

Pujols led the National League in runs scored five times, hits once (212 in 2003), home runs twice, and RBI once (118 in 2010).   He holds the 2000s decade (2000-09) National League “Triple Crown” for batting (.334), home runs (366) and RBI (1,112) despite the fact he didn’t debut until 2001.

Pujols has appeared in 74 career postseason games for the Cardinals, hitting a franchise postseason record 18 home runs with 52 RBI, including a World Series record-tying 3 HR’s in Game 3 of the 2011 Fall Classic.

Pujols ranks among the all-time Busch Stadium III leaders in games played (462, 5th), home runs (112, 1st), RBI (358, 2nd), runs scored (314, 3rd) and hits (544, 2rd).

The St. Louis fan-favorite spent the 2012-21 seasons in Los Angeles with the Angels and Dodgers, earning an All-Star selection in 2015 with the Halos.  Pujols had six seasons with 20 or more homers for the Angels and four 100-plus RBI seasons.   He batted .254 with 12 HR’s and 38 RBI in 85 games with the Dodgers last season, and hit .294 with 13 HR’s and 34 RBI with a .939 OPS in his 146 plate appearances versus left-handed pitching in 2021.

Pujols will wear his iconic uniform no. 5, which the team never re-issued after its 2011 World Series Championship season.

Frederickson Memorial Fund donates to ACSD Archery Program

News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund has donated a set of 3D shooting targets to the Atlantic Community Schools’ archery program.  The program which continues to grow each year offers students in 6th through 12th grade the opportunity to shoot at both bullseye and 3D tournaments.  This year the Atlantic High School became the State Champions and several students from both the middle school and high school division will be traveling to Salt Lake City, UT at the end of April to compete in the NASP Western Nationals.

Frederickson Fund spokesperson Melanie Petty (Trevor’s mom), said “We look forward to watching this group continue to grow in the sport for years to come.”

Pictured: Grant Petty and Coach Clint Roland (Photo & info. courtesy Melanie Petty)