United Group Insurance

Chain-reaction tractor-trailer injury accident on I-80 in Adair County Wednesday afternoon

News

November 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Adair, Iowa) – One person was injured and flown by helicopter to Des Moines, following a crash Wednesday afternoon in Adair County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened just before 1-p.m. on I-80 eastbound, about two-miles west of Adair.

Authorities say a 2019 Freightliner semi driven by 50-year-old Geno Khorava, of Palm Coast, FL, a 2007 Freightliner semi driven by 50-year-old Nicholas Cates, of Nampa, ID, and a 2007 Kenworth semi driven by 59-year-old Jeffrey Mokol, of Lenexa, KS, were all eastbound at the 73.5 mile marker.

Half of Cates’ semi was in the right lane with its hazards on for slower speed due the weight of its load. The semi driven by Khorava was behind Cates in the right lane. Khorava attempted to change lanes to avoid a rear end collision with Cates’ semi. The Kenworth was in the left lane near Khorava’s semi. The Kenworth went off the road to the left and struck a high tension cable barrier.

After Khorava’s semi rear ended Cates’ Semi, both rigs came to rest on the traveled portion of I-80. The Patrol says Geno Khorava, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported by Mercy One helicopter to Mercy Hospital, in Des Moines.

CINDY ANN HOLLOWAY, 61, of Exira (Funeral svcs. 11/8/21)

Obituaries

November 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

CINDY ANN HOLLOWAY, 61, of Exira, died Tuesday, Nov. 2nd, at her son’s home in Massena. Funeral services for CINDY A. HOLLOWAY will be held 10-a.m. Monday, Nov. 8th, at the Kessler Funeral Home, in Exira.

A family visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, Nov. 7th, from 3-until 5-p.m.

Burial is in the Resthaven Memorial Garden Cemetery, in LeMars, at 2-p.m. Monday.

CINDY A. HOLLOWAY is survived by:

Her son – Shawn (Chastity) Holloway, of Massena.

Her daughter – Pamela Schumacher (And Wayne Broad), of Carroll.

Her sister – Donna Shieffer, of Omaha.

9 grandchildren, her in-laws, other relatives, and many friends.

Atlantic City Council News from 11/3/21

News

November 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council breezed through their scheduled session Wednesday evening. They approved several matters, including

  • The Street Finance Report for Fiscal Year 2020-2021
  • An Order to Approve the FY21 Urban Renewal Area Report
  • The third and final reading of an Ordinance pertaining to the Fire Department and how volunteer personnel are appointed.
  • An Order to Appoint Geoff Barrick to the Planning & Zoning Commission, for a term of five-years. Barrick replaces Rich Tupper, who is resigning from the seat on the Commission.
  • The Council, Wednesday, passed a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Hotel Whitney Urban Renewal Area Revenue Fund for Appropriation to the Payment of Annual Appropriation Tax Increment Financed [TIF} obligations,” that are coming due in the next fiscal year.
  • And they passed a Resolution “Providing for [the] Reduction of [the] Interest Rate on [the] Taxable Sewer Revenue Bond.” John Lund says the City received word a few weeks ago from its creditor on the Wastewater Treatment Plant project [the State Revolving Fund] that they were reducing the interest rate from 3-percent to 1.75-percent for the remainder of the loan, thereby saving the City $922,300 over the next 16 years. In June, 2011, the City issued debt for the WTP project for slightly more than $11.7-million.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council set their meeting on Nov. 17th as the date for a public hearing on the sale of City-Owned real estate at 901 Birch Street. A local person looking to start a “House-flipping” business is interested in purchase the dilapidated home and giving it renewed life before selling it. The interested party has proposed paying fair market value for property and investing a significant amount of money to properly restore the home. The individual’s credentials and presentation to the Personnel & Finance Committee, were impressive, according to John Lund.

In his report to the Council, Lund said a meeting was held last week with the City’s contracted Retail Coach, and that he’s “absolutely in love with their data base.” The information it revealed, among other things, who the people were from outside of Atlantic, who visited the most.

The day after Christmas and an extended period in late January are the lowest periods of visits from out-of-towners. Lund says the Retail Coach had some “good news and some great news” for Atlantic.

During the Council Committee reports, Councilman Pat McCurdy said beginning next year, the City’s refuse will be transported to a site in Glenwood. He credits Councilperson Kathy Somers for helping negotiate the arrangements with a local sanitation provider.

Earier this year, the Cass County Landfill had sought bids for hauling services as they convert from a landfill to a transfer station.

MARLENE L. (Barrett) JENSEN, 75, of Rochester, MN (formerly of Audubon)

Obituaries

November 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

MARLENE L. (Barrett) JENSEN, 75, of Rochester, MN, died Monday, Nov. 1st, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, MN. Graveside services for MARLENE (Barrett) JENSEN will be held 11-a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6th, in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

MARLENE L. (Barrett) JENSEN is survived by:

Her husband – Rob Jensen.

Her sons – Joel (Cindy) Jensen, and Ryan (Cara) Jensen.

Her sister – Jo Albertsen.

3 grandchildren, her brother- and sister-in laws, other relatives and friends.

JOANNE POTTS, 94, of Elk Horn (Funeral Svcs. 11/6/21)

Obituaries

November 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

JOANNE POTTS, 94, of Elk Horn, died Wed., Nov. 3rd, at the Salem Lutheran Home. Funeral services for JOANNE POTTS will be held 11-a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6th, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, in Elk Horn. Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church on Sat., Nov. 6th, from 10-until 11-a.m.

JOANNE POTTS is survived by:

Her daughter – Karen (Mark Tompkins), of Ames, and Gloria (Bruce) Ahrendsen, of Panora.

Her son – Tom Potts, of Elk Horn, and Tim (Tracey) Potts, of Shelby.

Several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Fire Department text scams making the rounds

News

November 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Area) – Area residents have been receiving text messages regarding “Limited edition” t-shirts. On Tuesday, a text for the Anita Fire Department was circulated. On Wednesday, the Adair,  Audubon, Avoca, Bayard and Bagley Fire Departments were mentioned on the text messages. The sender asks you to click on a link or send a text to “Opt out.”

This is a SCAM. Do not click on any link. Anita Fire Chief Eric Steffensen said his department never sends texts messages to the public. Do not respond to the message. Simply delete it. (Sample text messages received 11/3/21 shown below)

Shelby County election results Final (Updated 11/3/21)

News

November 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Shelby County Auditor’s Office has updated the results from Tuesday’s elections. Only partial results were available late Tuesday night. (additional results can be found HERE)

City of Harlan Public Measure TE:

Shall the following public measure be adopted? “Shall the Board of Trustees of Harlan Municipal Utilities, City of Harlan, in the County of Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to discontinue and dispose of the municipally-owned communications utility by sale?” YES 449             NO 281

The following are result from cities where there were contested races in Shelby County:

Defiance:

Mayor – No Candidates ( 9 write-in)

City Council At Large (elect 3) – No Candidates; (23 write-in)

Panama

Mayor – No Candidates; (25 write-in)

City Council At Large (elect 3) – No Candidates; (64 write-in)

Earling

City Council At Large (3) –

Troy Langenfeld, 27

Jackie Frum, 30

No candidate. (13 write-in)

Elk Horn

City Council At Large (2) –

Jerry Hoffman, 28

Derick Hogberg, 66*

Nolan Teegerstrom, 76*

Kirkman

Mayor – No Candidates; (5 write-in)

City Council At Large (2) – No Candidates; (9 write-in)

School Board candidates/Public Measures:

Harlan School – District 1: Alan Hazelton [I], 885*                    Missy Cox, 363

Harlan School – District 2: Mathew Worthey, 478                    Jade Albertsen, 722*

Harlan School – District 3:

Seth Piro [I], 595

James Reischl, 651*

Harlan School – District 4:

Gregory Bladt, 832*

Chris Swensen, 436

IKM-Manning – Director At Large (2):

Phil Stracke,127*

Luke Potthoff, 56

Sam Hansen, 60*

Mike Blum, 53

IKM-Manning – Director District 1B:

Megan Reis, 76

Amy Ferneding, 77*

IKM- Manning – Director District 2B:

Josh Linde, 82*

Steven A. Wiskus, 81

COVID-19 Vaccine now available for children 5-11; supply available in Cass County

News

November 3rd, 2021 by admin

ATLANTIC- The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available to children aged 5 to 11 years old. Cass County Public Health is holding vaccination clinics for children on November 10th and 17th from 2 to 6 pm at Cass Health.

Appointments are required. Parents and guardians can schedule appointments online using the link at casshealth.org/covidvaccine. The required checklist and consent form are available on the same web page; paper copies will also be available the day of the appointment.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to park in Lot C and use the Rehabilitation Services entrance for these appointments.

Please note that after the vaccination, patients will need to be monitored for fifteen minutes. During the monitoring period, snacks will be provided in the Cass Health cafeteria.

Patients are always encouraged to talk to their primary care provider about their questions and concerns regarding vaccines. More information about booster shots can be found at cdc.gov, vaccines.gov, or casshealth.org/covidvaccine.

AHSTW schools excited and grateful for passage of bond issue

News

November 3rd, 2021 by admin

Voters in the AHSTW school district unofficially approved a bond referendum Tuesday night that will allow for bonds not to exceed $12,900,000 to fund remodel, repair, and improvements to the existing K-12 facilities; and to build, furnish, and equip additions to and renovations of learning environments, including related site improvements. AHSTW Superintendent Darin Jones was thrilled and thankful for the result.

Jones spelled out what these funds will allow them to do.

A second referendum question for $6,750,000 additional dollars to build a new auditorium received over 50% support but didn’t reach the 60% threshold to pass. Jones said that shows promise for further discussion.

All voting results from Shelby County were slow to officially come in but there won’t be any significant changes to the results for the district vote.

Audubon fights to get back to the dome with road trip to WACO

Sports

November 3rd, 2021 by admin

The Audubon Wheelers will be fighting to get back to the dome for the second time in three years when they travel to face WACO in the 8-Player football quarterfinals on Thursday. The Wheelers were State Runners-Up in 2019 and came up just shy of a semifinal trip again last year.

The Wheelers are coming off a very impressive road win in round 2 over Montezuma 62-14. The Wheelers dominated the top-ranked Braves from the outset and raced to the quarters. WACO also impressed in round 2 as they earned their way into the quarters with a road win over Martensdale-St. Marys 50-8.

WACO comes in at 10-0 on the season and their unblemished district mark earned them the home field this round. The Wheelers enter at 9-1.