712 Digital Group - top

Montgomery County man arrested on drug charges

News

November 4th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Red Oak man was arrested Wednesday on two counts Delivery of Methamphetamine.

Robert Lee Bopp

40-year-old Robert Lee Bopp‘s arrested came as part of an ongoing  investigation into the trafficking of meth in southwest Iowa.

Bopp was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.

Atlantic City Council passes Stop Ordinance for 22nd & Olive

News

November 4th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed by a vote of 4-to 3, the third and final reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinance, with regard to “Stop Required” at 22nd and Olive Streets, making the intersection a four-way stop instead of the current, two-way stop.

Prior to passing the Ordinance, the Council City discussed the matter at length. Councilman Richard “Dick” Casady said he’s had people “on both sides of the fence” talk to him, and that he was of the opinion Atlantic has too many stop signs as it is. “I don’t know as it it’ll save any lives,” he said. “It might save some lives. Hopefully it would if we put ’em in.” Casady voted no on the measure.

Councilpersons Pat McCurdy and Linda Hartkopf voted in favor. McCurdy said he had spoken with four people in the affected area, and that “All four of them want it because of the extra traffic from {the new] quarry.” Councilperson Grace Garrett said she conducted her own traffic survey of the area on at least four separate occasions. Garrett said she concluded 22nd & Olive was “Not a safe intersection,” especially when the road is icy, and that a 25 mile per hour speed limit and more signs warning of the impending stop (especially for those coming down the hill), would be necessary, if the four-way stop is implemented.

Those voting in favor of the change include Councilpersons McCurdy, Hartkopf, Brink and Behrens. Casady, Garrett Councilwoman Somers voted no. Mayor Dave Jones said the proposal would include two “Stop ahead” and or “Dangerous Intersection” warning signs in-place well before the intersection.

Tom Cappel and Heather Rudolph cut the sleeves off of Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson’s uniform during the Nov. 4 2020 City Council meeting. (Ric Hanson/photo)

In other business, Dennis Rudolph and his wife Heather, representing Karl Emergency Vehicles, in Des Moines, and Tom Cappel with Deter Motor Company in Atlantic, each bid/donated $200 for the honor of cutting the sleeves off Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The sleeves came with a special pink patch with the Police Department insignia. Afterward, the Chief said there are still approximately 20 patches left to purchase individually for $10 each, or including the sleeves, for the highest bid.

Last week, Governor Kim Reynolds and Senator Joni Ernst each took the opportunity to cut off one of the department’s pink police patches from his uniform, while the two women were in town. Money raised from the sale of the patches will be donated to the Cass County Relay for Life.

The Council received an Annual report from Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen before taking action on passing a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Hotel Whitney Urban Renewal Area Revenue Fund for appropriation to the payment of annual appropriation TIF (tax increment financed) obligations,” which will be due in the next fiscal year.

The Council held and approved the first reading of an Ordinance vacating a certain City alley, as previously discussed. And, they approved the Fiscal Year 2020 Urban Renewal Report, which details everything related to TIF districts and projects, and must be submitted to the State prior to December 1st.  Toward the end of the meeting, Mayor Dave Jones strongly recommended the public wear mask as much as possible, and maintain a six-foot social distance.

He said healthcare workers, including his daughter-in-law in Ames, are stressed out over the pressure caring for COVID patients puts on those workers, to the point some are considering leaving the profession.

DENNIS MARCKMANN, 57, of Stuart

Obituaries

November 4th, 2020 by Jim Field

DENNIS MARCKMANN, 57, of Stuart died Wednesday, November 4th at his home.  According to his wishes, cremation has taken place and no services for DENNIS MARCKMANN are scheduled at this time.  Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

—————————————————————————————–

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

DENNIS MARCKMANN is survived by:

Wife:  Teresa Marckmann of Stuart.

Father:  Ivan Marckmann of St. Charles.

Sisters:  Brenda Fisckes of Truro and Sherri Marckmann of Waukee.

JOAN HENDERSON, 78, of Stuart (Svcs. 10/09/2020)

Obituaries

November 4th, 2020 by admin

JOAN HENDERSON, 78, of Stuart died Tuesday, November 3rd at the Stuart Community Care Center. Funeral services for JOAN HENDERSON will be held on Monday, November 9th at 10:00 a.m. at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory-Stuart Chapel. Johnson Family Funeral Home- Stuart Chapel has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 8th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory- Stuart Chapel.

Burial will follow the services in South Oak Grove Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Joan Henderson Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of the Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, IA 50250.

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com

Iowa turkey producers will feel impact of COVID hit on Thanksgiving travel

Ag/Outdoor

November 4th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Far fewer Iowans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year due to the pandemic which will likely mean smaller gatherings around dinner tables — and a potential drop in sales for Iowa turkey producers. Gretta Irwin, executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation, says many consumers will still be gobbling up turkey, just in different ways.

“This year, we anticipate we’ll have ample supply of turkeys in all variety of sizes, just like we normally do,” Irwin says. “If a group of friends and family are getting together and it’s a smaller group, they can still cook the large turkey and have lots of great leftovers, or they could choose turkey breast options or turkey tenderloins.” The global COVID-19 outbreak forced the cut-back of some turkey production in the Midwest earlier this year and some producers decided to stop raising turkeys for at least six months.

“Some farmers here in Iowa did not place turkeys and will not be processing turkeys come the first of the year,” Irwin says. “Those turkeys never would have been Thanksgiving turkeys. Those would have been turkeys that all would have been further processed so that does not have an impact on the holiday market this year.” The pandemic kept many people home from work and school for several months this year, which meant they were also eating out less frequently. That, too, hit the turkey industry.

“Mostly this summer when a lot of the quick service restaurants stopped serving turkey, places where you buy deli sandwiches and schools, those types of settings,” Irwin says. “That really impacted our ability to keep moving all of our products, specifically, the deli meats, the tenderloins, the breast meat.” Iowa ranks 7th in U-S turkey production, with about 12-million birds raised in the state every year.

Cass County Sheriff’s report (11/4)

News

November 4th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. On Tuesday, 37-year old Quintin John Perdue, of Stanton, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Perdue was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $5,000 bond.

And, on Sunday, Cass County Deputies arrested 33-year old Johnathon Dean Napier, Jr., of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Napier was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

Casino backer expects to open in Omaha, Lincoln next year

News

November 4th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Gamblers could see new casinos in Omaha and Lincoln by this time next year now that voters have ended Nebraska’s longtime ban on the industry. Lance Morgan, the president and CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., says the corporation plans to spend $300 million to add casinos at existing horse-racing tracks in both cities. Ho-Chunk is the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Morgan says casino backers and the state’s horse-racing industry want to open casinos as soon as possible and then expand them to include restaurants, hotels and other amenities. Roughly two-thirds of voters approved three constitutional amendments Tuesday to legalize casinos at Nebraska’s six licensed horse racing tracks.

 

State Volleyball Semifinal Schedule/Scoreboard Wednesday 11/04/2020

Sports

November 4th, 2020 by Jim Field

Class 5A Semifinals

(3-2) Iowa City Liberty 25-23-25-23-15, Dowling Catholic 19-25-15-25-12
(3-2) Ankeny 25-19-25-26-15, Pleasant Valley 15-25-22-28-7

Class 4A Semifinals

(3-0) Cedar Rapids Xavier 25-25-25, Western Dubuque 22-23-16
(3-0) West Delaware 25-25-25, Gilbert 19-13-16

Class 3A Semifinals

(3-1) Osage 23-25-25-25 Davenport Assumption 25-24-23-17
(3-0) Mount Vernon 25-25-25, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 16-22-13

Class 2A Semifinals

(3-0) Denver 25-25-25, Western Christian 22-22-20
(3-0) Dike-New Hartford 25-25-25, Wilton 17-21-16

Class 1A Semifinals

(3-0) Gladbrook-Reinbeck 25-25-25, Council Bluffs St. Albert 20-23-17 (St. Albert ends their season at 15-14) Box Score
(3-0) Burlington Notre Dame 25-25-25,  Gehlen Catholic 19-18-20

AP VoteCast: Iowa voters sour on state of nation

News

November 4th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(By The Associated Press undefined) – Voters in Iowa made their pick for president while holding negative views about the country’s direction, according to an expansive AP survey of the American electorate. The race between President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden concluded Tuesday as the nation remains in the throes of a global public health crisis and mired in the economic downturn it brought on. AP VoteCast found that 43% of Iowa voters said the U.S. is on the right track and 56% of voters said it is headed in the wrong direction.

Here’s a snapshot of who voted and what matters to them, based on preliminary results from AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of about 133,000 voters and nonvoters — including 2,401 voters and 299 nonvoters in Iowa — conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago.
TRUMP VS BIDEN
In the race for president, Trump was neck and neck with Biden among voters under 45 but Trump led Biden among older voters. Biden appeared to lead among college-educated voters while voters without a college degree were more likely to prefer Trump over Biden. Voters in cities were more likely to prefer Biden over Trump. Voters in small towns and rural areas were more likely to back Trump over Biden. Biden and Trump were neck and neck among suburban voters.
RACE FOR SENATE
In the race for U.S. Senate, Theresa Greenfield was roughly even with Joni Ernst among voters under 45. Ernst led Greenfield among older voters. Ernst appeared to lead among voters without a college degree. College-educated voters were divided. Voters in small towns and rural areas were more likely to back Ernst. Voters in cities were more likely to favor Greenfield over Ernst. Suburban voters were divided.
FACING THE PANDEMIC
The coronavirus pandemic has spread through the U.S. for roughly eight months, killing more than 230,000 Americans. Overall, 17% of voters said the virus in the U.S. is completely or mostly under control, and 31% said it’s somewhat under control. Fifty-one percent of voters think the coronavirus is not at all under control in this country.
ON THE ISSUES
The coronavirus pandemic was top of mind for many voters in Iowa. Thirty-eight percent said it is the most important issue facing the country today. Voters also considered the economy a major issue, with 29% saying it ranked at the top. Eleven percent named health care, 5% named racism and 5% named climate change.
NATIONAL ECONOMY
Voters were closely divided in their assessments of the nation’s economy. Overall, 50% described economic conditions in the U.S. as excellent or good, and 50% called them not so good or poor.
STAYING AT HOME
Among registered voters who chose not to cast a ballot in Iowa, 21% said that was because they don’t like the candidates, 20% said their vote doesn’t matter and 18% said they are concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus. In Iowa, 75% of nonvoters were younger than 45 and 85% did not have a college degree.

AP created this story automatically using results from AP VoteCast, a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for Fox News, NPR, PBS NewsHour, Univision News, USA Today Network, The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press. The survey of 2,401 voters in Iowa was conducted for eight days, concluding as polls closed. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. The survey combines a random sample of registered voters drawn from the state voter file and self-identified registered voters selected from nonprobability online panels. The margin of sampling error for voters is estimated to be plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. Find more details about AP VoteCast’s methodology at https://ap.org/votecast.

Republican Hinson ousts Democratic Rep. Finkenauer in Iowa

News

November 4th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in Iowa have flipped one U.S. House seat and are competing in a tight race to pick up another. Republicans were guaranteed to control at least two of Iowa’s four seats when the House reconvenes in January, up from the one they held during the current two-year session. Republican Ashley Hinson defeated first-term Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer in the district that includes Cedar Rapids and much of northeast Iowa. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks was competing to flip a second seat that came open with the retirement of Democrat Dave Loebsack. Miller-Meeks’ race against Democrat Rita Hart remained too close to call Wednesday.