GOP senator lauds Koch acquisition of Iowa Fertilizer Company

February 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A state senator from southeast Iowa says the Iowa Fertilizer Company near Wever has been a massive economic success for the region and is poised for possible expansion. The Dutch company that owns the facility is selling it to Koch Industries for three-point-six BILLION dollars, if federal regulators approve the deal. Senator Jeff Reichman is a Republican from Montrose, which is about 20 miles northeast of the plant.

“I am personally excited about the sale and I share the excitement with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning, Greater Burlington Partnership and Lee County Economic Development about the possibilities of expansion and investment,” Reichman says. Democrats in the Iowa House say the sale will make consolidation in the fertilizer industry worse and will likely lead to higher fertilizer prices for Iowa farmers. They also say the tens of millions in state and local tax breaks awarded more than a decade ago to the company that built the plant were intended to spur competition with Koch Industries, which is the country’s largest privately-held company.

Reichman says liberals are obsessed with Koch Industries because Charles and the late David Koch have been influential donors to Republican candidates. “They are a leader in this fertilizer market and do want to continue to grow,” Reichman says. The fertilizer plant was first proposed in 2012 as a project of Orascom, a construction company based in Egypt. Orascom was purchased the following year by O-C-I, which is headquartered in the Netherlands.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Pipeline bill among many facing Friday deadline in Iowa legislature

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill to set new standards for future pipelines and electric transmission lines as well as wind farms and solar arrays is among the many bills that face a deadline. Bills have to clear a committee in the Iowa House or Senate by the end of this week or they’re set aside for the year. Republican Senator Dennis Guth of Klemme says one goal of his bill is to ensure companies that install pipelines and electric generating facilities on farmland are responsible when problems — like sink holes — crop up long into the future. “It’s pretty scary when you’re going through a field with combine and suddenly there’s a hole right in front of me,” Guth says. “I stopped one time with my corn head hanging over the hole going, ‘Oh! I need to back up here.’”

Guth’s bill would require that all pipelines and any underground transmission lines be buried at least eight feet deep to ensure proper drainage through tile lines. “It also makes sure that landowners that are resistant are not harassed by the companies. It allows for initial contact and, after initial contact, the landowner has to sign off on a letter to say: ‘Yeah, it’s OK. I want to continue negotiating,’” Guth says. “I know there have been some landowners, especially older landowners, that finally gave in just because they just wanted these people to go away and that’s really not the way to win a contract.”

Governor Reynolds has said she’s open to changing state regulations for pipeline permits in the future, but she says it would be unfair to change the rules for carbon pipeline developers Summit and Wolf. Guth’s bill is not retroactive. “It does not actually affect the current pipelines,” he says. “Kind of wish it did, but I know that anything that’s doing that is not getting anyplace in the senate.”

Earlier this month, the GOP leader in the senate said there’s no consensus among the 34 Republican senators on a pipeline-related bill.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Fighting fair may be a key in keeping relationships healthy

News

February 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – With Valentine’s Day this week, one expert says the best gift some couples can give each other is a healthier relationship based on honest communication. Amber Sherman, a licensed clinical social worker in Iowa, says all couples have disagreements, but to keep things from spiraling out of control, she suggests couples set ground rules for “fair” fights when they’re not in the middle of one. “Having that conversation when we’re not arguing is a big deal, you know? So we’re going to take some time as a couple just to decide when things get heated, this is how we want to handle it,” Sherman says. “I might take a timeout, I might walk away, we might develop a phrase that kind of checks the other person and says, ‘Nope, this is too much and we’re going to step away and come back to this conversation.'”

She says conflict resolution for a couple is much easier when that couple isn’t already embroiled in a conflict. Disagreements need to be productive, Sherman says, not nasty, which is why some basic rules are really helpful. “Deciding on that outside of an argument is huge, because I think that what happens is, our fight-or-flight instinct kicks in and we can’t make rational decisions,” Sherman says, “and so we really encourage people to decide how to fight fairly when you’re not fighting.” Some people face relationship challenges based on how they were brought up, their personal preferences and personality types, but Sherman says everyone is capable of having a healthy relationship. For some, she says counseling may help, as it takes work.

“Self-reflection is important, whether you’re in a relationship or whether you’re not,” Sherman says, “being able to kind of seek to understand how you tick and what you need in a relationship, or even in the rest of your life, is really something that a therapist or counselor can help you sort through.” Sherman is manager of the Employee Assistance Program at Gundersen Health System, which has clinics in Fayette, Decorah, Waukon, Lansing, Postville and Calmar, and a hospital in West Union.

Posted in News |

BETTY ANN LUNDERGARD, 94, of Avoca (Svcs. 2/17/24)

Obituaries

February 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

BETTY ANN LUNDERGARD, 94, of Avoca, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at Avoca Specialty Care. Funeral services for BETTY ANN LUNDERGARD will be held 10:30-a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, Feb. 16th, from 5-until 7-p.m.

Burial is in the Grange Cemetery at Honey Creek (IA).

BETTY ANN LUNDERGARD is survived by:

Her daughters – Luanna Lundergard, of Omaha, and Donna (Ron) Peters, of Tennant.

3 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and her sisters-in-law.

Posted in Obituaries |

Five-Run Seventh Inning Comeback Lifts ISU over LBSU, 7-5

Sports

February 12th, 2024 by admin

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – In the most up-and-down game of the tournament, Iowa State (2-2) defeated Long Beach State (0-4) by a score of 7-5 on Sunday afternoon, using a five-run seventh inning and a triad of home runs to close the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge the way it started – with a win.

The Cyclones went down 3-0 and slowly chipped away, using three solo homers to eventually knot the game in the top of the seventh. The team would then add four more insurance runs. Iowa State has now hit six long balls in the first four games, mashing one per game in the previous three before exploding for three today against The Beach.

Angelina Allen led the way for the Cyclones, going 3-of-4 at the plate with three singles. Milaysia Ochoa and Olivia Wardlow each had two hits and four other Cyclones notched hits. Ochoa, Carli Spelhaug and Isabelle Nosan each had solo homers on the day, while Ashley Minor and Spelhaug each had multiple RBI.

Aziza Rodriguez got her first collegiate start this afternoon, going 1.2 innings and allowing just two hits. Saya Swain (2-1) replaced Rodriguez, going the remaining 5.1 innings and striking out three as she picked up her second win of the season.

Both Ochoa and Swain were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Jacquelyn Bickar led The Beach with three hits. Lilyanna Martinez led LBSU with two RBI. Long Beach had just two extra-base hits on the day.

Shannon Haddad (0-2) pitched six innings for The Beach, allowing four runs and striking out five. Kate Barnett and Sophia Fernandez replaced Haddad and finished out the seventh inning as ISU made its comeback.

How it Happened

Iowa State and Long Beach felt each other out the first two innings, as neither team was able to score a run. ISU was held hitless for the first two innings while LBSU tallied a pair but was unable to cash them in.

Long Beach did most of its damage in the third inning, scoring three of its five runs. A leadoff single and an ISU error allowed for the first run to come across. With a runner on and one out, LBSU strung together a single and a double to plate two and take an early 3-0 lead.

The Cyclones got their first hit in the top of the third but were still held scoreless in the third and fourth. They broke through though in the top of the fifth, as with two outs and no one on, Ochoa belted her first long ball of the season to cut the deficit to two.

A scoreless bottom of the fifth gave way to the sixth, where Spelhaug cranked her second homer of the season. Swain would lock down LBSU in the bottom of the frame to set up a one-run game headed to the seventh.

The inning began with a pinch hit. Isabelle Nosan came to the plate for her first-ever collegiate at bat and promptly sent a ball over the left-center fence to knot the game up at three-all. A pair of singles from both Ochoa and Allen followed by a Tatum Johnson walk loaded the bases with one out. Minor then broke it open, singling through the right side of the defense to plate two and give ISU its first lead – 5-3. A Spelhaug sac fly would plate another and an Olivia Wardlow single scored the seventh run before the inning ended.

Long Beach didn’t go down quietly though, stringing together two singles and a triple to tack on two more but weren’t able to finish the job as they fell 7-5.

Sunday Notes

Home Runs

Iowa State: Milaysia Ochoa (1), Carli Spelhaug (2), Isabelle Nosan (1)

Long Beach: N/A

WP – Saya Swain (2-1): 5.1 IP, 7 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

SV – N/A

LP – Shannon Haddad (0-2): 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

On Deck

Iowa State will return to action next weekend when it travels to Las Vegas for its second tournament of the season – the UNLV Desert Classic. The Cyclones will open tournament play against UC Santa Barbara on Friday, Feb, 16. Friday’s game is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Posted in Sports |

Kent Leads, Hawkeyes in Third at Puerto Rico Classic

Sports

February 12th, 2024 by admin

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The University of Iowa men’s golf team concluded day one of play at the Puerto Rico Classic. The Hawkeyes currently sit in third place after posting a first round 274 (-14).

Freshman Noah Kent leads the field by three strokes after firing an opening-round 63 (-9). Kent’s 63 ties Alex Schaake ’21 for second for the lowest round in program history (4/21/2019 Hawkeye Invitational).

Kent’s 63 is just one stroke off the all-time low round in program history, set by Chad McCarty with a round of 62 at the Johnny Owens Invitational in 1997. Kent was bogey free on Sunday and led the field with nine birdies.

Sophomore Hogan Hansen also completed his first-round bogey free. Hansen shot 3-under par and currently sits in a tie for 17th place. Graduate Josh Lundmark knocked in five birdies to get to 2-under par. Lundmark is in a tie for 35^th place.

North Florida currently leads the field at 17-under par trailed by Tennessee in second place at 16-under par.

HAWKEYE SCORECARD

3rd	Team	274	—	—	-14	274
1	Noah Kent	63	—	—	-9	63
T17	Hogan Hansen	69	—	—	-3	69
T35	Josh Lundmark	70	—	—	-2	70
T54	Mac McClear	72	—	—	E	72
T82	Max Tjoa	75	—	—	+3	75
T69	*Ian Meyer	73	—	—	+1	73

*Competing Individually

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH

“We’re happy with that start. The guys have been good in practice, so I’m pleased to see that translate in a tournament. We know there’s more work to do the next two days.

“What needs to be said about bogey free 63? Just an awesome round of golf from Noah. He was in total control of his game today. It was fun to watch.”

HAWKEYE NOTABLES

Iowa’s par four average of 3.94 (-3) was third of all the teams in the field.
Noah Kent’s par four average of 3.50 (-5) led all players in the field.
Noah Kent led all players with nine birdies. Josh Lundmark was second on the Hawkeyes with five birdies.
Noah Kent was one stroke away from tying the lowest round in program history (62, Chad McCarty, 4/3/1997, Johnny Owens Invitational).

UP NEXT

Round two is tees off Monday morning at Grand Reserve Golf Club.

Posted in Sports |

Hawkeyes Fall to No. 13 Utah

Sports

February 12th, 2024 by admin

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of Iowa softball team fell to 13th-ranked Utah, 3-1, on Sunday morning to close out the NFCA Leadoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

Sophomore Jalen Adams (1-1) got the start for the Hawkeyes. She gave up three runs on nine hits and struck out one Utah hitter.

Freshman Soo-Jin Berry was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic all-tournament team after collecting hits in four out of five games.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Utes threatened in the bottom of the first getting runners on the corners with two outs. Adams was able to strand both, getting a ground out to third base to end the inning. Senior Brylee Klosterman had a leadoff single to start the second inning but wasn’t able to make it past second base.

Utah struck first in the bottom of the second after their leadoff batter reached on a double and came around on an RBI single to make it 1-0. Freshman Jena Young and Klosterman made back-to-back diving grabs to get the Hawkeyes out of the inning. Iowa was able to get runners on to start the third but some key defensive plays for the Utes kept the Hawkeyes off the board.

Junior Rylie Moss went over the right field fence to rob a home run for the first out of the home half of the third. The Utes threatened again the start the fourth as they had runners on first and third with no outs. Iowa caught a break as a Utah hitter was called out for being out of the box on a play where a run came home. The Utes continued to utilize the small ball as a run came home a squeeze bunt to make it 2-0.

Iowa caught some momentum in fifth as sophomore Anna Streff and Moss reached base with two outs but were unable to cash in as the top half of the inning ended. Adams escaped a jam in the bottom of the fifth to keep the score, 2-0, Utah heading into the sixth.

Berry continued to swing a hot bat as she drove a one-out double to left center. She came around to score on a ball put in play by freshman Devin Bowman to cut the deficit to one. Utah pushed their lead back to two on an RBI single to make it, 3-1, heading into the seventh. Iowa was retired in order in the top of the seventh to finish the game.

The Hawkeyes finished the game one run on four hits and had one error.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE

“There were a lot of great takeaways from this opening weekend. We played a really good Utah team to close out the tournament and if we clean up a few things on defense it’s a different ball game. This is just the beginning for team 46 and I am looking forward to what is to come the rest of the season.”

NOTABLES

Freshmen Berry (.438) and Young (.364) lead the team in hitting after the opening weekend.
Seven Hawkeyes started all five games with four of them hitting over .300 on the weekend.
The pitching staff finished the weekend with a 1.35 ERA and struck out 14 batters.
Iowa closed out the NFCA Leadoff Classic going 3-2 on the weekend.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes will return to action on Friday Feb. 16 at The Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla. Iowa will face Southern Illinois and Liberty on Friday with action beginning at 1:30 p.m. CT. Games will be streamed live on FloSoftball (subscription required) and be broadcasted on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Posted in Sports |

Dowling Catholic teacher pleads guilty to sexual exploitation

News

February 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(West Des Moines, Iowa/KCCI) — A teacher at a West Des Moines high school accused of having sexual contact with a student is pleading guilty. Kristen Gantt, of Des Moines, was teaching English at Dowling Catholic when she was arrested last April. Police say she admitted to inappropriate contact with a student at least five times in her classroom.

In a criminal complaint, police say they found evidence of “clear and concise grooming activity” in conversations between Gantt and the student, including some with “direct sexual overtones.” Court records show she pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation by a school employee.

Gantt faces up to two years in prison and must register as a sex offender.

Posted in News |

Western Iowa caregiver worked for months despite theft history

News

February 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Stuart, Iowa; Iowa Capital Dispatch) – For several months in 2023, an Iowa nursing home employed an aide with a history of theft, and a hospice program employed a caregiver on a registry of known abusers. The Iowa Capital Dispatch says State records indicate that in March 2022, Community Care Center of Stuart hired Justin Harlan to work in the facility as a dietary aide. In November 2023, the nursing home learned from local police that Harlan had outstanding warrants for his arrest due to alleged probation violations in the state of Arkansas.

The home’s management then contacted Arkansas authorities and allegedly learned that in 2018, Harlan had been convicted of felony theft by receipt of $25,000 or more, and that in 2022, after starting work at the Stuart facility, he had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance. Harlan was fired a short time later, with the company stating that because of his criminal record, state regulations barred him from working in an Iowa nursing home.

An administrative law judge recently presided over a hearing on Harlan’s application for unemployment benefits. The judge found that at the time of his hiring, Harlan had informed the care facility of his 2018 conviction. On the form where he was to provide specifics of the crimes, Harlan wrote “theft by receiving” but did not provide the location or date of conviction, and his application made no mention of having lived in Arkansas. The employer ran a background check at the time, but only for criminal charges initiated in Iowa, and so the check showed no criminal history and Harlan was hired, Administrative Law Judge Stephanie Adkisson found.

Adkisson ruled recently that Harlan is entitled to unemployment benefits, noting that at the time of his hiring he had disclosed his one criminal conviction and “had made no attempt to hide his criminal background.” The home, Adkisson found, “did not follow up with (Harlan) to gather additional information relating to his criminal history, despite his disclosure of a conviction on the application.”

Five other Iowa health care workers had their unemployment cases held recently before a judge. An administrative law judge recently awarded benefits to a fired caregiver who had been working in hospice care while on a state registry of abusers. The four other workers’ unemployment claims were denied by a judge.

Posted in News |