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Polk County man arrested for allegedly making a fake bomb threat

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Authorities say a Des Moines man was arrested today (Friday) for calling in a fake bomb threat to Prairie Meadows Casino. KCCI reports 29-year-old David Bailey is charged with making a false report of an explosive or incendiary device.According to a criminal complaint, Bailey called Polk County 911 Thursday to report that “several individuals” placed explosive devices around the building. Police said Bailey reported being told by a friend at the casino that “money was falling from the sky,” which he b lieved meant the casino blew up.

Bailey is accused of fabricating information about explosives being placed at the casino, which caused Prairie Meadows to activate its bomb threat protocol. Police arrested Bailey following an initial investigation and transported him to Polk County Jail.

Posted in News |

LINDA LARSEN, 77 (7-30-2021)

Obituaries

July 23rd, 2021 by Jim Field

LINDA LARSEN, 77 died November 12, 2020.  A Celebration of Life service for LINDA LARSEN will be held on Friday, July 30, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

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Visitation will be held on Friday at 1:00 pm prior to the service at the funeral home.

Inurnment will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

LINDA LARSEN is survived by:

Husband:  Gailyn

Son:  Jeffrey of Delray Beach, FL

Daughter:  Andrea (Robert) Hayden of Sewickley, PA

Brother:  Robert Booth of Boone.

2 Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

Another handgun found in carry-on luggage at Dsm Intl. Aiport

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials, today (Friday), announced that TSA officers stopped a loaded handgun from making it onboard a plane at the Des Moines International Airport.TSA officers located the gun around 4:15 a.m. Thursday while screening carry-on luggage via X-ray.
Iowa TSA Federal Security Director John Bright said. “We want to remind everyone planning to fly out of Des Moines to carefully inspect your bag before you pack it and head to the airport. This simple act could save you lots of time and money, along with avoiding possible arrest with local law enforcement.”Authorities confiscated the firearm and issued a citation to the passenger. Passengers may travel with unloaded firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be packed separately from ammunition in a hardback case and declared at the check-in counter.

It is the fourth firearm detected at the airport in 2021.

Posted in News |

Council Bluffs Businessman Convicted of Sex Trafficking

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFF, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports that on Friday, July 23, 2021, 71-year-old Hershal James Ratliff, of Council Bluffs, a long time businessman and owner of Jimmy’s All American Malt Shop and Grill in Council Bluffs, was found guilty of four counts of sex trafficking minors, two counts of sex trafficking adults and two counts of distributing a controlled substance to a person under twenty-one years of age. The verdict came after a four-day trial in Council Bluffs U-S District Court.

Evidence presented at trial showed that RATLIFF, over the last ten years, would have minor girls come to his house an perform sex acts on him and with his friends in exchange for money, drugs, and other material things. The testimony showed that Ratliff provided the minor girls with alcohol, prescription Xanax, and marijuana both before and after they participated in sex acts at his residence.

In addition, the evidence showed that Ratliff obtained sex acts for his friends from adult women by the use of force and coercion. No sentencing date has been set. The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Posted in News |

Atlantic finishes historic season with 4th Place finish at 3A State Softball

Podcasts, Sports

July 23rd, 2021 by admin

The Atlantic Trojans softball team once again fought to the bitter end of the game but came up short 3-0 to Williamsburg in the Class 3A 3rd Place Game on Friday afternoon.

The Raiders plated 2 runs in the third on a single by Carly Campbell. They would add one more in the 5th on a single by Charlotte Wetjen. Atlantic was able to keep hope alive in the 7th by getting base hits from Olivia Engler and Kennedy Goergen. Two batters later Lauren Nicholas was hit on the leg to load the bases with one out. Raiders pitcher Peyton Driscoll was then able to strike out Caroline Pellett and make a nice snag on a grounder up the middle by Ava Rush and toss it to first to end the game.

Williamsburg finishes the season with a 33-11 record and the third place finish.

Atlantic ends the most successful season in program history with a record of 34-7. The Trojans picked up their first ever winners bracket win at State with their thrilling extra inning victory over Anamosa on Monday. Certainly a legacy to be proud of for a group of 7 seniors.

Olivia Engler was named to the 3A All-Tournament Team as well. Listen to full interviews with Atlantic Head Coach Terry Hinzmann and Engler below.

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Posted in Podcasts, Sports |

HELEN RUTH BLUM, 99, of Atlantic (7-31-2021)

Obituaries

July 23rd, 2021 by Jim Field

HELEN RUTH BLUM, 99, of Atlantic died February 22, 2021 at Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center. Mass of Christian Burial for HELEN RUTH BLUM will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 10:30 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling.

HELEN RUTH BLUM is survived by:

Daughters: Marilyn Munchrath of Omaha. Linda (William) Ebbinga of Griswold. Dr. Cynthia Schneider of Mobile, AL.

Sons: Kenneth (Connie) Blum of Lenexa, KS. Keith (Tonya) Blum of Lenexa, KS.

53 Grandchildren

Many Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

MILDRED SPORRER, 91, of Manning (Mass of Christian Burial 7/28/21)

Obituaries

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

MILDRED SPORRER, 91, of Manning, died Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Accura Nursing Home, in Manning. A Mass of Christian Burial for MILDRED SPORRER will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., July 28th, at the Sacred Heart Church in Manning. Ohde Funeral Home in Manning has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the Sacred Heart Church in Manning, on Tuesday (7/27), from 5-until 7-p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7-p.m.

Burial is in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

MILDRED SPORRER is survived by:

Her daughters – Patricia (Richard) Treinen, of Sioux City; Marilyn (Nolan) Tillman, of Santa Fe, NM; Alice Sporrer, of Sioux City; Lynn Sporrer, of Atlantic; and Jennifer Sporrer, of New Hope, in Carroll.

Her son – Larry (Gemma) Sporrer, of New York.

Her sister – Kay Loughran, of Breda.

Posted in Obituaries |

Nebraska players preview the season

Sports

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Nebraska football players say a focus on details will help the Huskers maker strides this season. Nebraska was 3-5 during a COVID shortened 2020 season, the program’s fourth straight losing record. Senior defensive end Ben Stille…

Stille says the Huskers have the talent and now it is about limiting mistakes.

Tight end Austin Allen says practice habits make a difference.

The Huskers get an early start to the season when they visit Illinois on August 28.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz addresses B1G Media Day

Sports

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) -Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the Hawkeyes will need to be good out of the starting gate this season. The Hawkeyes have a rare season opener against a Big Ten opponent when they host Indiana on September fourth.

Ferentz says a key this season will be replacing a number of players on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

The Hawkeyes are experienced at the skill positions

Ferentz made his comments at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis.

Posted in Sports |

Olympic wagering is allowed in Iowa

News, Sports

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Olympics are getting underway and Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says they will give Iowa’s growing new sports betting industry a boost. “The Olympics will really be a good shot in the arm during this period of time for sports wagering. Sports wagering the summer is typically just a very slow type of period,” Ohorilko says. This is the first summer with the Olympics since the industry got up and running in Iowa. “It will be interesting to see how it impacts the numbers — I know the sportsbooks are excited,” Ohorilkoh says. “There are a number of wagers that they can offer.”

He says there are also a few things that are off limits for sports betting. “There are some wagers they cannot offer — individuals events for example where participants are under 18 cannot be on the board — but all team events can be,” according to Ohorilkoh, “and it likely will be very popular as we move into the summer. And should help the sports wagering industry during this typically slow period.”

The Olympics will fill some of the gap in the sports world before the fall college and pro football seasons get underway. More than one point-two BILLION dollars was spent on sports in Iowa in the first full fiscal year of betting that ended June 30th.

Posted in News, Sports |