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Iowa 39 from Odebolt south to Denison will close on Wednesday, March 27

News

March 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – March 26, 2024 – If you drive on Iowa 39 from Odebolt south to Denison you need to be aware of an upcoming construction project that may impact your trip.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27, until late April, weather permitting, the road will be closed as crews work to improve the surface of the road, according to the Iowa DOT District 3 Office. You will be directed to a marked detour route while the roadway is closed.

While the road is closed, you will still be able to get to local homes and businesses.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through 511ia.org.

Libby Selected For NCAA Regional

Sports

March 26th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa sophomore Bailey Libby has been selected to compete in the 2024 NCAA Regionals, it was announced Tuesday by the organization. Libby will compete along with the three GymHawks that were selected yesterday, Ilka Juk, Karina Muñoz and Emily Erb.
Libby will compete on floor at the California Regional held at the Walter A. Haas Jr. Pavilion on the campus of University of California, Berkeley. The Iowa City, Iowa, native has a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 9.895 and a season-high of 9.900, which she scored five times throughout the season. She most recently hit a 9.900 at the Big Ten Championships this past weekend where she was named to the all-championship team.
NCAA Regionals begin on Thursday April 4, and will run through the weekend. Full regional information can be found at ncaa.com.

Caitlin Clark Named a Naismith NPOY Finalist

Sports

March 26th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior guard, Caitlin Clark, was named a finalist for the 2024 Wade Trophy the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced on Tuesday. The prestigious award is presented by the WBCA each year to the best player in college women’s basketball. Clark won the award in 2023.
Clark owns a career 3,800+ points and she recently became the first Division-I player to record 1,000+ points in back-to-back seasons. A native of West Des Moines, Iowa, Clark is once again a finalist for every major national player of the year award. Clark leads the nation in assists (8.7 assists per game) and in scoring (31.8 points per game) after becoming the first player to finish No. 1 in both categories in back-to-back seasons. She is also the only player in NCAA DI men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons.
Clark was recently tabbed as the Big Ten Player of the Year and is the first player in program history to be named First Team All-Big Ten four times in four years of competition. She has also led the Hawkeyes to three straight Big Ten Championships for the first time in program history.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 47th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
Carol Blazejowski of Montclair State was the first recipient of the Wade Trophy. Two-time winners include Nancy Lieberman (1979, 1980) of Old Dominion, Seimone Augustus (2005, 2006) of LSU, Brittney Griner (2012, 2013) of Baylor, Breanna Stewart (2015, 2016) of Connecticut, and Sabrina Ionescu (2019, 2020) of Oregon. Maya Moore (2009, 2010, 2011) of Connecticut is the only three-time recipient.
NCAA Division I head coaches who are WBCA members may nominate players from their own teams for Coaches’ All-America. They then vote for the top eight players in their respective regions from among those players who are nominated. The WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee, which is composed of head coaches from each region who are elected by their peers, may select up to 12 additional at-large finalists from the remaining pool of nominees.
The committee will meet in Cleveland in conjunction with the annual WBCA Convention to select the 2024 Wade Trophy winner and the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America team. Both will be announced on April 4.

Attempted ATM thefts under investigation in Creston

News

March 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials in Union County are investigating the attempted theft of two ATM’s from a bank in Creston. According to Creston Police, at around 3:16-a.m. today (Tuesday), an unknown number of individuals attempted to steal two ATM’s from the PCSB Bank in Creston. Entry was gained into one of the machines, with an unknown amount of cash taken. The second machine was recovered nearby, unopened.

PCSB Bank, Creston, IA

Anyone with information regarding the incident, is asked to contact the Creston Police Department, at 641-782-8402.

Lipsey Earns CSC Academic All-District Honors

Sports

March 26th, 2024 by admin

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State sophomore point guard Tamin Lipsey has been named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team, the organization announced Tuesday morning.

The award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Student-athletes must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and the proper athletic accomplishments to make the ballot. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced April 17.

So far this year, Lipsey has been named a finalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year, the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year and the Lute Olson National Player of the Year. He was also named an AP Honorable Mention All-American.

The awards have been rolling in for Lipsey, who was selected to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team after leading the Cyclones to their sixth Big 12 Championship. He was also named an NABC First Team All-District selection. Lipsey has also been named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team this season.

Lipsey has been stuffing the stat sheet all season, averaging 12.5 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. He is one of just 17 NCAA Division I men’s basketball players since 1996-97 to average those numbers in a season.

The No. 4 Cyclones return to action Thursday night, facing No. 10 Illinois in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa State is seeded second in the East Region, while the Fighting Illini are a No. 3 Seed. Tipoff is set for 9:09 p.m. (CT) in Boston and will be broadcast on TBS.

Caitlin Clark Named a Naismith NPOY Finalis

Sports

March 26th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior guard, Caitlin Clark, was named a finalist for the 2024 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Tuesday. Clark won the award a season ago.
Clark owns a career 3,800+ points and she recently became the first Division-I player to record 1,000+ points in back-to-back seasons. A native of West Des Moines, Iowa, Clark is once again a finalist for every major national player of the year award. Clark leads the nation in assists (8.7 assists per game) and in scoring (31.8 points per game) after becoming the first player to finish No. 1 in both categories in back-to-back seasons. She is also the only player in NCAA DI men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons.
Clark was recently tabbed as the Big Ten Player of the Year and is the first player in program history to be named First Team All-Big Ten four times in four years of competition. She has also led the Hawkeyes to three straight Big Ten Championships for the first time in program history.
“These players’ remarkable talent and unwavering commitment to college basketball shine throughout their achievements,” said Eric Oberman, President of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Their invaluable contributions have significantly contributed to their teams’ triumphs this season. It would be an honor to crown any of these exceptional student-athletes as winners of the prestigious Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy.”
“Jersey Mike’s proudly congratulates these outstanding eight basketball players for their well-deserved recognition as finalists for this esteemed award,” said Jeff Hemschoot, Vice President of Marketing at Jersey Mike’s. “Their remarkable prowess and unwavering commitment have captivated and inspired us throughout the season. We take great pride in celebrating their remarkable achievements.”
The 2024 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy for Women’s Player of the Year will be awarded on Wednesday, April 3, at a press conference at the Key Bank Club in Cleveland Browns Stadium during the Women’s Final Four.
Fans will once again be able to support their favorite finalist through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike’s, which runs Tuesday, March 26, through Tuesday, April 2, at naismithfanvote.com. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall final vote. Fans may also vote by visiting @naismithtrophy, @MarchMadness and @MarchMadnessWBB Twitter pages to vote for their favorite men’s and women’s coaches.
The four finalists for each category were chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, all of whom base their selections on outstanding coaching performances during the 2023-24 college basketball season. The vote was tabulated and verified by the Atlanta team of J.S. Held, a global consulting firm.
Each winner will be awarded with the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy, produced and provided by Herff Jones, leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. A replica trophy will be donated by Herff Jones to the player’s university.
For more information, visit naismithtrophy.com.

MIKE STANLEY, 75, of Harlan (Memorial Svc. 3/30/24)

Obituaries

March 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MIKE STANLEY, 75, of Harlan, died Sunday, March 24, 2024, at MercyOne Hospital – Downtown. A Memorial Service for MIKE STANLEY will be held 2-p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the AHSTW High School Gymnasium in Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends at the AHSTW High School Gym on Saturday, from 1-until 2-p.m.

MIKE STANLEY is survived by:

His wife – Michaele [Silcox] Stanley, of Harlan.

His sons – Sean (Mary) Stanley, of Johnston; David Stanley, of Omaha, & James Stanley (Amy Asbahr), of Avoca.

and 2 grandchildren.

The search is on for the ‘coolest thing’ that’s manufactured in Iowa

News

March 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) is sponsoring its first annual “Coolest Thing Made in Iowa” competition. A-B-I spokesperson, Kelsey O’Conner says you don’t have to be a member to nominate a cool thing. “We’re joining about 20 other state associations who have hosted a successful competition like this in their state and it’s really meant to highlight all the cool products that the manufacturing industry in Iowa produces,” O’Conner says. She says it also shows the varied jobs available in the state. O’Conner says agriculture is a major part of the state’s economy, but not the only industry.

“We do tend to go the Ag way when we think of what I will produces, as we should, but we also have lots of cool products that are made that support the ag industry and a lot of other industries worldwide,” she says. You can make a nomination at www.coolestthingIA.com. “And under contest information you’ll find the nominate a product tab and you go there fill out the simple form, it’s not too intimidating. We just ask for a logo and an image of the product and a short description and then you submit the nominations and we will review those here at A-B-I,” she says.

They will take nominations through April 8th and then move through until they have a final four. “And once those top four are announced they’ll go head to head with each other all four of them and in the final round of voting and then we will announce the winner at A-B-Is annual taking care of business conference,” she says. “That conference moves around the state different years. This year we’re going to be in the Quad Cities.”

She says the Coolest Things website can also answer any of your questions about the contest.

Public hearing for acting director of Iowa Dept of Education

News

March 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A senate committee will likely vote on the governor’s nominee to lead the Iowa Department of Education tomorrow (Wednesday). McKenzie Snow took over as acting director of the department in late June, but she must win 34 yes votes in the Iowa Senate to be confirmed for the role. Taryn Frideres, the governor’s chief of staff, was the first person to testify in favor of Snow at a subcommittee hearing this (Tuesday) morning. “I am here to say she is eminently qualified for the position,” Frideres said, “and exactly the type of leader the department needs at this time.” Iowa State Board of Education president John Robbins, a retired superintendent, also spoke on Snow’s behalf.

“Director Snow’s experience in state agencies in Virginia and New Hampshire along with her experience at the U.S. Department of Education have positioned her to successfully address the unique challenges of state leadership in Iowa.” Critics say Snow is not qualified for the role and its 200-thouand dollar salary because she has never been a licensed teacher or school administrator — at a time when the department is absorbing other agencies. Jackson Kleinmeyer, a student at Kirkwood Community College, is urging senators to reject Snow’s nomination. “You’re going to put a lot of faith in someone to run our entire education system,” he said, “and never mine this person is not legally qualified to run an elementary school.”

Jessica Roman of North Liberty, a special education consultant with the Grant Wood A-E-A, says Snow’s experience lies in policy writing, in four different jobs over the past seven years. “If you’re having heart surgery, who do you want to consult, the surgeon or the person who wrote the hospital handbook?” Roman asked. Snow delivered an opening statement to start the hearing and answered questions from the three senators on the panel. “I’ve heard, maybe a few times, that I didn’t come up through the ranks of education in Iowa and that’s true. I bring something different,” Snow said. “…I am a leader experienced in managing teams of experts and large scale budgets with a track record of results for students.”

Snow was the deputy director of Virginia’s Department of Education when Governor Reynolds hired her.

Montgomery County Supervisors approve Weed Resolution & change in VA Affairs office hours

News

March 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, during the public comments portion of their meeting today (Tuesday), heard a plea from Barb Nelson, who lives near Stanton, to put discussion and action on an ordinance pertaining to pipelines, on their agenda for the next meeting.

The request was acknowledged by Board Chair Mike Olson, but no action was taken at this time. The Montgomery County Supervisors received a report on the destruction of noxious weeds and passed a Resolution to that effect. Here’s a portion of the Resolution as read by Supervisor Mark Peterson….

The Supervisors also received a report from Montgomery County Zoning Commissioner/Assistant to Engineer Karen Albert, Barry Byers. He said road crews have been spotting rock, conducting cold patching, building equipment maintenance

And, they discussed at length, increasing the County Veterans Affairs Office hours, effective April 1st. County V-A Executive Director Curtis White requested the change in hours, due to the number of claims and contacts made, and to take care of the added work load.

A motion to set the White’s hours at 30-hours per week through June 30th (pro-rated), to include sick time, failed. A second motion for 28-hours from April 1st until June 1st, with a review to see how that fits in with the FY 25 Budget, after that time, passed as presented.