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Midwest Sports Headlines: 3/4/21

Sports

March 4th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Grace Berger, Mackenzie Holmes, and Ali Patberg each scored 22 points as 10th-ranked Indiana rallied from a seven-point deficit in the third quarter for an 89-80 Big Ten home victory over Iowa. The Hoosiers (17-4, 15-2 Big Ten) pulled to within a half-game of No. 8 Maryland (19-2, 15-1) for the regular-season conference crown. Indiana has one game remaining while the Terrapins have two. Iowa freshman guard Caitlin Clark, the nation’s second-leading scorer at 26.9 points per game, led all scorers with 32 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Manika Czinano added 20 points for the Hawkeyes (14-8, 10-8).

UNDATED (AP) — The Nebraska basketball team is hitting its stride late in the regular season. The Cornhuskers head into their game at No. 5 Iowa on Thursday night off consecutive Big Ten wins for the first time since February 2018. They’ve done it mostly without leading scorer Teddy Allen. He left the team Monday after being benched for most of the win over Minnesota on Saturday. The Huskers have shot a combined 53% overall and 41% on 3-pointers in their last two games and have clamped down on defense. Nebraska hasn’t won in Iowa City since 2012.

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Justin Moore scored 24 points and helped No. 10 Villanova capture the Big East title with a 72-60 win over No. 14 Creighton. Creighton coach Greg McDermott is under fire for using language evocative of slavery. McDermott had apologized for urging his players to “stay on the plantation” in a postgame locker room talk. McDermott says he did not resign because “our guys wanted me to coach.” The Wildcats lost star guard Collin Gillespie to a left knee injury in the first half. He writhed in pain on the court and immediately needed help to the locker room. Mitch Ballock led Creighton with 14 points.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Dru Smith scored the game-winner, banking a baseline drive reverse layup off the glass with 0.7 seconds on the clock and Missouri held on to defeat Florida 72-70 for the Tigers’ first-ever win in Gainesville. Florida had made up a 10-point gap by fighting through the entirety of the second half to close on an 8-0 run and tie at 70-70 with 18 seconds left. Dru Smith scored 17 points and had nine assists and a season-high six steals to lead Missouri, Mitchell Smith scored 14 and Mark Smith 11. Xavier Pinson scored 14, making four 3-pointers, and Jeremiah Tilmon added 12 points. Tre Mann scored 21 points to lead Florida, Tyree Appleby added 12 with five assists and Noah Locke scored 11.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 2 Michigan and Michigan State will meet twice in four days, Thursday and Sunday. The rivals will close the regular season against each other with plenty at stake. The Wolverines are motivated to strengthen their case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans have been in college basketball’s showcase 22 times in a row and everyone in the program desperately wants to extend the streak. The first scheduled matchup in February was postponed and moved to Thursday, two days after Michigan was routed by No. 4 Illinois and Michigan State outlasted Indiana.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Esmery Martinez scored 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds to help No. 20 West Virginia beat Kansas State 72-64. Kysre Gondrezick added 14 points, Kirsten Deans and 13 points and nine assists, and Jasmine Carson scored 11 points for West Virginia (19-4, 13-4 Big 12). Ayoka Lee, a 6-foot-6 sophomore center, scored 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds for Kansas State, which led for just 30 seconds. The rest of the Wildcats made just 14 of 45 (31%) from the field. The Mountaineers play No. 6 and Big 12-leading Baylor on Monday with a chance to lock up the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, which begins March 11.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Ta’lon Cooper had 17 points off the bench to lift Morehead State to a 61-54 win over Southeast Missouri in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tourney. Eric Reed Jr. led the Redhawks with 17 points. Morehead State will play third-seeded Eastern Kentucky or No. 6 seed Austin Peay in the semifinals.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, March 4, 2021

News

March 4th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine during her weekly news conference to encourage Iowans to get vaccinated as soon as they can. The governor, her husband Iowa Department of Public Health Administrator Kelly Garcia were vaccinated Wednesday during the televised event. Reynolds says she wanted to wait to get vaccinated until after nursing home residents and staff, essential workers and other priority groups had the chance to do so. Iowa is one of several Republican-led states that have lifted most mask and distancing requirements against the advice of top health experts. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that lifting mask mandates now would be a mistake and urged state leaders to follow the science.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A decision by the superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district to stick with remote learning in the midst of a pandemic could end up costing him his job. Television station WOI reports that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is seeking to strip Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Ahart of his administrator license. The board says it found probable cause that Ahart failed to submit or implement a lawful plan to return students to the classroom for the 2020-21 school year as required by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The license is a state requirement to hold the position of schools superintendent in Iowa.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Police say the discovery of a live pipe bomb at a central Iowa polling place forced an evacuation of the building. Police responded Tuesday morning after a device that looked like a pipe bomb was found outside the Lakeside Center in Ankeny, where residents were voting on an Ankeny school district special election. No one was injured. The building was evacuated, and the State Fire Marshal and agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in. Technicians safely detonated the device, and the center was reopened around 12:30 p.m. Police later confirmed that the device was a pipe bomb. Officials don’t know whether the pipe bomb was related to the election and police say an investigation into who left the device is continuing.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Cities along the Mississippi River will take part in a global system to determine where plastic pollution comes from and how it ends up in waterways. Officials said Wednesday the project is a first step toward solving one of the top environmental crises for the world’s oceans. The project enables “citizen scientists” using a mobile application to log types and locations of litter found along the river. The Mississippi drains 40% of the continental U.S. and sends huge volumes of plastics into the Gulf of Mexico.

Posted in News |

SAMUEL “SAM” GRABILL, 78, of Audubon (Svcs. 03/08/2021)

Obituaries

March 3rd, 2021 by admin

SAMUEL “SAM” GRABILL, 78, of Audubon died March 3rd at The Friendship Home in Audubon. Funeral Services for SAMUEL “SAM” GRABILL will be held on Monday, March 8th at 10:30 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.  Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

An open viewing will be held on Sunday, March 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

SAMUEL “SAM” GRABILL is survived by:

Wife: Shirley Grabill of Audubon.

Sons: Brian Jensen of Grimes. David Grabill of Manning. Clint Grabill of Mitchellville.

Brothers: Keith Grabill of Audubon. Rex (Judy) Grabill of Audubon. Alvin (Peggy) Grabill of Kimballton. Larry (Gayle) Grabill of Lander, Wyoming.

Sister: Helen Jorgensen of Audubon. Nancy Fulmer of Cameron, MO.

Brothers-in-law: Jim Doyle of Mason City. Richard Jensen of Audubon. Robert (Pam) Jensen of Audubon. Clark (Chris) Jensen of Ankeny. Orville (Diane) Kruger of Marion.

Sisters-in-law: Marilyn (Richard) Petersen of Audubon. Shirley Jensen of Exira.

Nieces, Nephews, Other Relatives, and Friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

FERN KNUDSEN, 92, of Elk Horn (Svcs. 03/08/2021)

Obituaries

March 3rd, 2021 by admin

FERN KNUDSEN, 92, of Elk Horn died Tuesday, March 2nd at Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn. Funeral Services for FERN KNUDSEN will be held Monday, March 8th at 2:00 p.m. at Faith Family Church in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Family will greet friends on Monday, March 8th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Faith Family Church in Harlan prior to services.

Burial will be in the Jacksonville Cemetery.

FERN KNUDSEN is survived by:

Daughter: Krisie (Rich) Williams of Harlan.

Sons: Jamie Knudsen of Harlan. Monte (Peggy) Knudsen of Mount Pleasant.

Son-in-law: Lyle Becnel of Broken Arrow, OK.

Sister: Helen Blunk of Atlantic.

15 Grandchildren

13 Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

VERNIE JOSEPH MILLER, 86, of Irwin (Svcs. Private)

Obituaries

March 3rd, 2021 by admin

VERNIE JOSEPH MILLER, 86, of Irwin died Tuesday, March 2nd at Bergan Mercy Medical Center. Private Family Mass of Christian Burial for VERNIE MILLER will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

A private family visitation will be held on Sunday, March 7th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance.

VERNIE JOSEPH MILLER is survived by:

His wife: Mary (Eckermann) Miller, of Irwin.

His sons: Michael Miller, of Carroll; Ric Miller, of Lincoln, NE.; & Ron (Jill) Miller, of Corinth, TX.

His daughters: Julie Johnson, of Bedford, TX; Joan (Jerald) Bieker, of Defiance; & Jean (Gary) Muhlbauer of Defiance.

His brothers: Don (Alice) Miller, of Defiance, & Larry Miller of Zephyrhills, FL.

His sister: Mary (Joe) Gross of Donahue, IA.

16 Grandchildren & 22 Great-Grandchildren & his sister-in-law Audrey Miller, of Omaha.

Posted in Obituaries |

Atlantic City Council news

News

March 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council breezed through their agenda in about 30-minutes, Wednesday evening. Following Public Hearings…

  • The Council authorized Library Director Michelle Andersen to apply for a USDA/Rural Development grant for financial assistance to purchase new Atlantic Public Library computers, computer desks, related equipment, and to help finance new flooring in the Library, along with painting of the upper level.

Combined, both projects are expected to cost $80,970, with grants and other proceeds available, amounting to $69,440. The Library Gift Fund is likely to pick up the balance of the bill.

  • The Council passed a Resolution pertaining to FY2022 Maximum Property Tax Dollars for Certain Levies, as previously explained.
  • They also passed a Resolution “Taking additional action on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Refunding Loan Agreement” (as previously explained), and “Authorizing the use of a Preliminary Official Statement in Connection” with the agreement.
  • And, the Atlantic  City Council passed a Resolution Adopting the Preliminary FY2022 Budget and set the date for a public hearing on the Budget as well as the proposed FY2022 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Budget. Both will take place during the Council’s next meeting on March 17, 2021.
  • A separate Resolution was passed to enter into a solid waste management loan agreement, with regard to the 28-E organization that operates the Cass County Landfill.

In other business, the Council approved the setting of April 1st as the bid date, and April 7th as the date for a  public hearing, on the Atlantic Animal Shelter building addition. You may recall, the engineer’s original estimate for the project was $151,620, but the lowest bid came in at $180,300. Snyder and Associates Engineer Austin Sonntag said Wednesday, there were some adjustments to the dates for the project completion.

Sonntag was asked by Councilman Dick Casady if Snyder’s had increased the amount of their estimate. Austin said they have spoke recently with the original contract bidders about that.

The Lorene Eppelsheimer estate has gifted the City $135,000 to benefit animals at the shelter, with the intention of increasing the number of cat cages and moving them to a separate area away from the dogs. It will also have a proper food storage area, an exam and grooming table, in addition to a more efficient water heater. Additional gifts have been received in the amount of $2,000, and City officials will be looking for grants and funds from the budget to help make up for the deficit.

In other business, the Council approved the reappointments of Melissa Ihnen to the Board of Adjustment as well as the Planning & Zoning Commission, along with Dave Sturm and Ted Robinson, to the Utility Board of Trustees.

Posted in News |

Des Moines police arrest 2 in man’s shooting death

News

March 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have arrested two men in the shooting death of a Clive man last month. Fifty-one-year-old Columbus Plum Lewis, of Des Moines, has been charged with first-degree murder. Police also arrested 55-year-old Virgil Alva See, also of Des Moines, for first-degree theft and accessory after the fact. Lewis is accused of shooting 52-year-old Darrell Merriweather, of Clive, who died on Saturday.

Police say Lewis fled the scene after Merriweather was shot. He was arrested Sunday on several unrelated warrants. Investigators say See was at the scene of the shooting and they later found Merriweather’s ID card, debit card and credit cards at See’s home.

 

Posted in News |

Exira-EHK advances to Semis with win over MMCRU

Sports

March 3rd, 2021 by admin

The Exira-EHK Spartans followed a familiar script to advance to the Class 1A State Semifinals; build a halftime lead, let it slip away in the third, and then finish strong. Exira-EHK grabbed a 60-55 win over MMCRU on Wednesday evening in Des Moines.

The Spartans fell behind 6-0 out of the gate but answered with a 7-0 to grab a lead. MMCRU led 10-9 at the end of the first. Sparty then went on a late 8-0 run to lead 30-21 at halftime. Shay Burmeister hit back to back threes in that stretch to gain the edge. Burmeister talked about being confident in the moment.

MMCRU rallied back in the third quarter, outscoring the Spartans 24-13 in the frame. The Royals took a two point lead into the fourth and then Quinn Grubbs took over. The outstanding sophomore scored 12 of her game high 25 points in the fourth. The biggest shot perhaps was a tie-breaking three midway through the fourth that gave the Spartans a 52-49 lead that they would not relent. The Spartans got to the foul line and hit 6 of 9 down the stretch to grab the win. Exira-EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen said the team just continues to deliver.

Aside from Grubbs the Spartans had three other players in double figures. Burmeister with 14, Mollie Rasmussen 11, and Macy Emgarten 10. The Spartans improve to an impressive 24-0 on the season and advance to the 1A Semifinals. They will take on top-seeded Bishop Garrigan on Friday afternoon. Coach Petersen continues to be in awe of this small but mighty team.

MMCRU was led by 20 points from junior Emily Dreckman and 17 from fellow junior Ellie Hilbrands. The Royals closed their season at 21-3.

We’ll have coverage of the Spartans and the Golden Bears on Friday afternoon on KJAN. Pregame will start at 1:00 p.m. with tipoff at 2:00 p.m. Check out full postgame comments from Shay Burmeister and Head Coach Tom Petersen below.

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Posted in Sports |

Girls State Basketball Schedule/Scoreboard Wednesday 03/03/2021

Sports

March 3rd, 2021 by admin

Class 2A Quarterfinals

#2 Dike-New Hartford 44, #7 Treynor 36
#3 West Branch 49, #6 Grundy Center 33

Class 1A Quarterfinals

#1 Bishop Garrigan 48, #8 Springville 42
#4 Exira-EHK 60, #5 MMCRU 55 -ON KJAN
#2 Newell-Fonda 88, #7 Kingsley-Pierson 47
#6 Montezuma 50, #3 Saint Ansgar 45

Posted in Sports |

HELEN CONARD, 75, of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 3/7/21)

Obituaries

March 3rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

HELEN CONARD, 75, of Greenfield, died Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at the Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.  A Celebration of Life Service for HELEN CONARD will be held 3:30-p.m. Sunday, March 7th, at the United Methodist Church in Greenfield. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends on Sunday, March 7, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Greenfield United Methodist Church.; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to CJ’s Foundation (In Memory of her grandson Cale) or to the Greenfield United Methodist Church.

HELEN CONARD is survived by:

Her daughters – Jodi (Pat) Corcoran, of Van Meter, and Jaci (Gary) Jarmes, of Sigourney.

Her sister – Ruby O’Brien, of Surprise, AZ.

4 grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |