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Schedule Set at Cancun Challenge

Sports

August 8th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The schedule for the 2024 Women’s Cancun Challenge, held at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula, is set for the University of Iowa women’s basketball team, it was announced Thursday by Triple Crown Sports.

The Hawkeyes will play two games, competing in the Riviera Division against Rhode Island on Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. (CT) and BYU on Friday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.

It will be the Hawkeyes’ fifth appearance in the tournament (2007, 2010, 2013, 2016). Iowa was scheduled to participate in the event in 2021, but its two games south of the border were canceled due to Covid.

The Hawkeyes are 7-2 all-time at the tournament, including winning the title in 2013.

For fan travel package information, contact Danielle Kouba at danielle@triplecrownsports.com or via phone at 970-672-0535, or visit cancunchallenge.net.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa State’s Stevo Klotz talks expectations

Sports

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State tight end Stevo Klotz says the Cyclones are not focused on preseason expectations. With 18 starters back from a team that finished 7-6 the Cyclones are considered by many to be a title contender in the Big 12.

Klotz began his career as a walk-on fullback and his ability to block in the run game at tight end helped him earn second team All Big 12 honors in 2023.

Klotz says the continued growth of sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht gives the offense a lot of confidence.

Iowa State opens the season at home against North Dakota on August 31st.

Posted in Sports |

Receiver Jarriett Buie on Iowa’s new offense

Sports

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa redshirt freshman receiver Jarrett Buie likes the balance Iowa’s new offense features. New coordinator Tim Lester is trying to fix an offense that was one of the worst in the nation.

Buie says it was a big adjustment to the new offense during spring drills.

Buie says installing a new offense gives everyone a chance to step up.

The Hawkeyes host Media Day Friday afternoon in Iowa City. They open August 31st at home against Illinois State.

Posted in Sports |

Anita Mobile Food Pantry set for August 14, 2024

News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The next Cass County (IA) mobile food pantry distribution will be held August 14, 2024. Anita’s Mobile Food Pantry is located at the Anita Mobile Food Pantry. The mobile pantries are hosted by community partners across Cass County.

A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. Each car can take food for up to two households at a time. For any additional information or questions please contact Grace McAfee, Community Wellness Coordinator, at (712) 250-8170 or by email at mcage@casshealth.org.

Additional mobile food pantries have been scheduled for Atlantic, Anita, Griswold, and Massena. (See below for details)

 Atlantic 2024 Mobile Food Pantries

Where: Cass County Fairgrounds (1000 Fair Ave. Atlantic, IA 50022)

2024 Dates: September 11, October 9

Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Anita 2024 Mobile Food Pantries

Where: Anita Food Pantry (208 Chestnut St. Anita, IA 50020)

2024 Dates: August 14, October 16

Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Griswold 2024 Mobile Food Pantries

Where: Central Church of Christ (51 Harrison St. Griswold, IA 51535)

2024 Dates: November 2

Time:  10:00 am – 11:30 am

Massena 2024 Mobile Food Pantries

Where: East Side of Massena’s City Park (500 5th St, Massena, IA 50853)

Dates: September 11, October 9

Time: 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries in the county, visit https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/. For information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

Posted in News |

$25 million project to restore Iowa State Fair’s livestock barns

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A 25 million dollar project to restore the historic livestock barns Iowa State Fairgrounds is being celebrated on the first day of this year’s fair. Peter Cownie, executive director of Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, says work on the Sheep Barn is nearly complete and the Horse Barn is next on the list. “The livestock barns represent the culture and the agricultural heritage of the Iowa State Fair and we’re so proud to continue that, as that is the backbone of the Iowa State Fair,” Cownie said. The opening ceremonies for this year’s Iowa State Fair were staged in front of the Sheep Barn, where sheep shows were already underway. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig wished the exhibitors who’ve brought their livestock to the fair good luck.

“There are so many life lessons that a young person especially can learn from planning and preparing and working hard and competing and then, well, you have to deal with the results of the competition and do so with grace and know that you put it all out there,” Naig said, “or maybe you didn’t and you can do better next year.”

Brick work on the east façade of the Iowa State Fair’s Sheep Barn to be finished after the 2024 Fair. (RI photo)

Darwin Gaudian, president of the Iowa State Fair Board, says this year’s Fair may provide a welcome distraction for Iowans who’ve been dealing with damage from this year’s severe storms. “With the tornadoes, the floods, so this Fair, I hope we can bring those people here,” he said, “and forget those problems at home and relax.”

The Big Boar competition at the State Fair is on today’s (Thursday) calendar. Last year’s winner weighed in at just over a thousand pounds.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Cass County Sheriff’s Office warns residents/businesses about a payroll scam

News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa)-  Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday (Today), that they have been made aware of yet another scam making the rounds, including here in Atlantic. Authorities say the scammers are posing as employees of legitimate businesses, asking their employers via email, to change their direct deposit accounts into a new account. This “new account” is falsely set up with different numbers having nothing to do with the ACTUAL employee.
The Sheriff’s Office says “Please be aware and fact check information before taking any action. Many times, these emails are coming from email addresses clearly not linked to the actual employee. This scam could largely impact employees receiving their hard-earned paychecks and businesses losing thousands of dollars. Please take caution!”

Posted in News |

(UPDATE) – 4 grain railroad cars derail in Red Oak

News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – In an update to an earlier post, Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman says one-person suffered minor injuries, when a Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad train derailed a little after 6-a.m. today (Thursday), in Red Oak. The train derailed in the area of Bluegrass Road and East Nuckols St., in Red Oak. Emergency crews arrived on scene and found a BNSF train with (4) grain cars derailed in the south ditch, with one grain car on top of a parked Railcrew Xpress transportation vehicle.

The driver of the transportation vehicle was able to self-extricate from the vehicle under his own power. He was transported to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.(Photos courtesy Brian Hamman/MC EMA)

Hamman said “There is no current threat or hazard to the public at this time. East Nuckols Street and Bluegrass Rd will be closed for an extended period of time for cleanup.”

Agencies assisting on scene include:

  • Red Oak Fire & Rescue
  • Red Oak Police Department
  • Red Oak Public Works
  • Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
  • Montgomery County Emergency Management
  • Montgomery County 9-1-1 Communications
  • Montgomery County Secondary Roads
  • Mid American Energy
  • BNSF

Posted in News |

2 injured in a collision that occurred in an eastern IA roundabout

News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Clinton County, Iowa) – A collision this (Thursday) morning in an eastern Iowa roundabout caused two people to be transported to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 BMW X3 SUV was traveling north on Highway 67 in Camanche just before 5-a.m., and approaching the roundabout with 7th Avenue. A 2007 Toyota Camry was in the roundabout heading toward Camanche/7th Avenue exit.

Both vehicles collided in a broadside fashion, causing the SUV to roll several times before coming to rest north of the roundabout. The Patrol’s report said two people were injured, but their names were not immediately released. The victims were transported to the University of Iowa Hospital by MedForce and Comanche EMS.

The crash remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Camanche Police.

Posted in News |

Ernst to NCAA: Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports

Sports

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and 22 of her colleagues sent a letter urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker to update its student-athlete policy to ensure only biological female students can participate in women’s sports.

“Amid the Biden—Harris administration’s unprecedented assault on Title IX, we write to urge the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to update your student-athlete participation policy to require that only biologically female students participate in women’s sports. The 2024 Summer Olympics are upon us, and the NCAA has boasted about its athletes’ participation. Yet the NCAA has still taken no steps to protect a critical portion of these athletes,” said the senators.

Riley Gaines, Concerned Women for America, Heritage Action, the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, Independent Women’s Forum, the Independent Women’s Law Center, Champion Women, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and the Our Bodies, Our Sports Coalition have endorsed this letter.

Click here to read the letter.

Background:

Ernst supports the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which bans recipients of federal funding from operating, sponsoring, or facilitating athletic programs that permit a male to participate in a women’s sporting event.

Posted in Sports |

Successful “Pots and Popsicles” event held on August 6, 2024

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee reports the Cass County Grow Another Row Committee hosted a free potting event at Mollett Park on August 6th (2024). The weather was great, McAfee says and there were 28 participants who attended the event, which taught community members how to plant late-season patio plants. Participants planted herbs, radishes, peas, lettuce, and spinach. Those crops grow in cooler temperatures, making them perfect patio plants in the early fall months.

Participants also had the opportunity to plant extra pots to donate to the local food pantry. A total of 15 patio pots will be donated to the Atlantic Food Pantry. The Grow Another Row Committee will care for these plants until they are distributed at The Atlantic Food Pantry. (Photos courtesy Grace McAfee)

Thrivent Funding, Atlantic Parks and Rec, and The Grow Another Row Committee made the event possible. Grace McAfee said “We are looking forward to planning more events, such as sharing gardening tips and promoting local foods.” If you are interested in learning more about local food, workshops, and Grow Another Row events, check out the monthly Grow Another Row Newsletter.

Contact Grace McAfee at mcage@casshealth.org to get signed up.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |