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Iowa to play No. 19 Missouri in Music City Bowl

Sports

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Hawkeyes will play Missouri in the Music City Bowl in Nashville on December 30th. The Hawkeyes are 8-4 and beat Kentucky in the 2022 Music City Bowl.

That is Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson is entering the NFL Draft and will not play in the bowl game. Ferentz says as of right now there are no other players opting out.

For Fertentz this will be his first meeting with Missouri coach Eliah (Eli) Drinkwitz. The teams were slated to meet in the 2020 Music City Bowl but the game was cancelled after a Covid outbreak in the Tiger program. Ferentz says Drinkwitz is building a consistent winner at Mizzou.

The Tigers beat Ohio State in last season’s Cotton Bowl and they are 19th in the final college football playoff rankings.

Posted in Sports |

No. 18 Iowa State will play No. 12 Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl

Sports

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State will play Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl on Saturday, December 28th in Orlando, Florida. The Cyclones are 10-3 after a 45-19 loss to Arizona State in the Big 12 title contest and the last time they played in this game it was called the Cheez-It Bowl.

That’s ISU coach Matt Campbell who says it gives the Cyclones a chance to end a record breaking season with a win.

With a win the Cyclones would be the first team in program history to record 11 wins.

The Cyclones are 18th in the final playoff rankings. Miami is 10-2 and ranked 13th.

Posted in Sports |

2 Cedar Rapids women in a head-on crash during a pursuit in eastern Iowa

News

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

UPDATE 9:30-a.m. 12/9 (Washington County, Iowa) – A pursuit in eastern Iowa Sunday afternoon resulted in a double-fatal, head-on crash. According to Muscatine Police, at approximately 3:15 p.m. the Muscatine Police Department responded to multiple reports of a woman later identified as 36-year-old Brittany Miles, of Cedar Rapids, driving a 2021 Nissan Rogue SUV through Muscatine shooting at people. Officers located the vehicle along Park Avenue and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Miles refused to yield, and the pursuit lead out of Muscatine along 231st Street, police say.

A Muscatine Police Officer was who involved in the chase lost control of his car and crashed near the Cedar River. According to authorities, the officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The pursuit continued west onto US Highway 218 and was picked up by outside law enforcement agencies. Miles began driving the wrong direction into oncoming traffic and eventually struck a 2017 Ford Explorer head on. The crash occurred at around 3:50-p.m.

Brittany Miles died upon impact. 27-year-old Olivia Alvarez, of Cedar Rapids, who was driving the Ford, died after life-saving measures were performed.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the DNR officers, Washington County EMS, 911, the Medical Examiner’s Office, Riverside Fire/EMS, Ainsworth Fire/EMS, the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office and Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office.

Posted in News |

Fatalities reported in boat accident on Mississippi River in Bellevue

News

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

BELLEVUE – The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources says that on Sunday, December 8th, at approximately 11 a.m., a boat with three occupants capsized below Lock and Dam No. 12 in Bellevue on the Mississippi River. The victims were fishing in a restricted area directly beneath the dam when their boat overturned.

According to preliminary reports, the boat was pulled into the hazardous waters below the dam due to a strong back flow current created by the dam’s operation.  The men were pulled from the water and taken to shore. Emergency responders arrived and administered lifesaving measures, but two were confirmed dead at the scene. One victim was transported by ambulance to the MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center and was later pronounced dead.

The names of the victims are currently being withheld pending notification of their families. The incident is under active investigation. Iowa DNR was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff, Bellevue Fire & Rescue, Bellevue EMS, Illinois DNR, Key West Fire/EMS, University of Iowa Air Care 3, University of Iowa Air Care 4, Jackson County Emergency Management, and Springbrook Fire/EMS.

Posted in News |

Gov. Reynolds Extends Disaster Proclamation for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Sioux and Palo Alto Counties

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES— Gov. Reynolds today (Sunday) announced the extension of a disaster proclamation for Sioux and Palo Alto Counties effective immediately through January 7, 2025. The USDA has confirmed positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in both counties.
This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.
The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

DONALD A. AKERS, 74, of Exira (Svcs. 12/13/24)

Obituaries

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DONALD A. AKERS, 74, of Exira, died Saturday, December 07, at his home in Exira. Funeral services for DON AKERS will be held 11-a.m. Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Exira.

Visitation with the family will be held one hour before the funeral (10-until 11-a.m.) at the funeral home, on Friday.

Following his funeral service, a luncheon will be held at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Parish Center in Exira. Interment will be held at a later date in Exira Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Akers Family, to be designated at a later date. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.

DON AKERS is survived by:

His wife – Becky Akers.

His daughters – Holly (Eddie) Madsen, and Heidi (Paul) May.

His sons – Brandon (Shelbie) Akers, and Daniel (Amanda) Akers.

His siblings – Alice Jean and Norman Nielsen and their families, Gary Akers and his families, JoAnn and Jim Mellor and their families, Peggy and Bill Grimes and their families, Sherry Frenske and her families, Bruce and Lermes Johnson and their families.

11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Posted in Obituaries |

FRANKLIN “Frank” NELSEN, 76, of Avoca (Celebration of Life 12/10/24)

Obituaries

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

FRANKLIN “Frank” NELSEN, 76, of Avoca, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. A Celebration of Life for FRANK NELSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in the Trinity Lutheran Fellowship Hall in Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Monday (12/9/24), from 5-until 8-p.m.

Burial is in the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.

FRANKLIN “Frank” NELSEN is survived by:

His wife – Marlene Nelsen, of Avoca.

His son – Josh (Janese) Nelsen, of Alabama.

His daughter – Linsey (Evan) McCarthy, of Avoca.

His brothers – Darrell (Sue) Nelsen; Tom Nelsen.

His sister – Vitta Rattenborg.

6 grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

ISP aircraft pilot clocks a driver in eastern Iowa traveling at 126 mph

News

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MANCHESTER, Iowa — The Iowa State Patrol social media team tipped their caps to Trooper Pilot Taylor Grim on Saturday for spotting an alleged super-speeder in eastern Iowa. “Trooper Pilot Grim with a nice catch,” they posted on Facebook with a photo showing an aerial reading of 126 mph.

On top of driving over 50 mph above the speed limit near Manchester, ISP says the Ford Mustang driver had their license revoked for a previous OWI and didn’t have insurance.

Posted in News |

No. 16 Iowa State Falls in Big 12 Title Game

Sports

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ARLINGTON, Texas – No. 16 Iowa State (10-3, 7-2 Big 12) fell to No. 15 Arizona State (11-2, 7-2 Big 12) in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game Saturday afternoon, 45-19.

After both teams scored on their first two drives of the game, the Cyclones eventually found themselves trailing by two touchdowns at halftime, 24-10. Carson Hansen scored on a three-yard reception on ISU’s opening drive of the game and Kyle Konrardy split the uprights on the next drive.

A mistake-riddled third quarter quickly dampened any hope of a Cyclone comeback. Iowa State turned the ball over on its first three drives of the second half and Arizona State cashed in touchdowns following all three to break open a 45-10 lead.

Rocco Becht was 21-of-35 and finished with 214 yards and two touchdowns. Jayden Higgins had 115 yards on seven receptions while Jaylin Noel turned in five catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 38 yards and another score. Quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 12-of-17 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns.

Iowa State awaits its bowl destination after its first 10-win season in program history. Stay tuned to cyclones.com for the latest updates.

Posted in Sports |

No. 17 Hawkeyes Fall to Tennessee, 78-68

Sports

December 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

BROOKLYN, New York – The nationally ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team fell to Tennessee, 78-68, at the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes are now 8-1 on the season.

In the first quarter, Tennessee jumped out to an 8-0 lead within the first few minutes, but the Hawkeyes answered after committing five turnovers. Iowa had the game tied at 10 at the first media timeout. Lucy Olsen recorded a game-high 11 points to give the Hawkeyes a 22-18 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.

In the second quarter, it was a balanced effort for the Hawkeyes. With Addi O’Grady and Olsen sidelined with foul trouble, Iowa held serve with efficiency from junior forward, Hannah Stuelke. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, contributed seven points, a game-high six rebounds, and three assists in the first 20 minutes. Iowa and Tennessee were tied at 35 at halftime despite the Hawkeyes offense turning it over 18 times. 23 of the Lady Vols’ 35 points were provided by Iowa turnovers.

In the third quarter, Iowa did a better job protecting the ball only committing five turnovers. The game was back and forth in the period, but Tennessee regained the edge, 55-52. Olsen led all scorers with 19 points and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe through three.

In the final frame, Tennessee’s defense continued to give Iowa fits. The Lady Vols closed the game on an 11-1 run over the last three minutes. Olsen and O’Grady combined for 40 of Iowa’s total points.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will return home to host #20/19 Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. (CT) inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game is set to broadcast on FS1 and the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Posted in Sports |