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Exira Fire called to a structure fire Sunday afternoon

News

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – Audubon County EMA/911 Coordinator Tyler Thygesen reports the Audubon County 911 Dispatch Center took a 911 call at approximately 2:00 pm today (Sunday, February 11, 2024), of a structure fire  northeast of Exira, at 2845 Pheasant Avenue (Johnson Helicopter, Inc). They were advised that the structure contained two helicopters and fuel. They were also advised a male victim had received burns. Exira Fire & Rescue and Brayton Fire & Rescue were paged at 2:02 pm. Exira Fire & Rescue requested assistance from Audubon Fire & Rescue at 2:11 pm.

The fire was determined to be under control and they were completing overhaul at approximately 3:37 pm. The male victim was transported to the Audubon Airport by Exira Fire & Rescue and then he was flown by helicopter to a burn center.

The name of the victim was not immediately released.

Posted in News |

No. 2 Iowa women stunned at Nebraska

Sports

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

It was another fourth quarter collapse on the road for the second ranked Iowa Hawkeye women.

(Rob Brooks with the call on the Hawkeye Network) Nebraska erased a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to stun the Hawkeyes 82-79. Iowa was outscored 27-10 in the final quarter.

That’s Iowa coach Lisa Bluder. The Hawkeyes made only four of 17 shots in the fourth quarter.

Caitlin Clark scored 31 points and dished out 10 assists. She is seven points shy of the NCAA all-time scoring record. Kate Martin had 20 points and connected on Iowa’s only two three pointers in the final quarter.

Iowa falls to 11-2 in the Big Ten and 22-3 overall.

Posted in Sports |

MICHAEL JEFFERSON WILLIAMS, 74, of Bellevue, NE (Graveside Svcs. 2/24/24)

Obituaries

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MICHAEL JEFFERSON WILLIAMS, 74, of Bellevue, NE, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at home. Graveside services for MICHAEL WILLIAMS will be held February 24, 2024, at 11-a.m., in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS is survived by:

His wife – Marla Williams, of Bellevue, NE.

His daughters – Brenda Williams, and Annette (Scott) Bradley, all of Bellevue, NE.

His brothers – Melvin Rose, of Seaside, OR, and John (Barbara) Rose, of Saint Helens, OR.

6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Posted in Obituaries |

BARBARA ACKER, 88, of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 2/21/24)

Obituaries

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

BARBARA ACKER, 88, of Greenfield, died Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the Greenfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.  Celebration of Life services for BARBARA ACKER will be held Wednesday, February 21st, 10:30-a.m., at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the Greenfield United Methodist Church, on February 20th, from 3-until 8-p.m., with the family present from 6-until 8-p.m.

A luncheon will immediately follow the service at the church.

Burial is at 2-p.m. February 21st, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter.

Memorials may be directed to the family, for later designation.

BARBARA ACKER is survived by:

Her children: Chris Acker, of Creston; Kim Coe, and Dale Acker, both of Greenfield.

Several grandchildren and great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Elliott man arrested for Public Intox. Saturday morning

News

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a man was arrested at around 12:40-a.m. Saturday (Feb. 10), for Public Intoxication. Authorities say 52-year-old Philip Luke Turner, of Elliott, was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond.

Posted in News |

ACLU report raises concerns about Iowa-Nebraska immigration proceedings

News

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Nebraska (KCRG) – A new report focused on deportation hearings in one immigration court finds there’s a lack of due process for immigrants.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska observed more than 500 hearings in the Omaha immigration court. About 40 percent of the removal proceedings in the court involve people living in Iowa.

According to the report, judges routinely compromised the due process rights of immigrants. The report outlines four specific areas: judges failing to consistently advise people of their rights, deficient interpretation services, a high number of cases without attorney representation, and the short duration of hearings – often lasting fewer than four minutes.

“As the backlog grows bigger and bigger every day, it has not been going down, you can imagine there’s pressure to get things done quicker. However, our constitutional rights cannot be affected by that. An immovable object that simply cannot be infringed on for the sake of expediency,” said ACLU of Nebraska Legal Fellow & lead author of the report Dylan Severino.

The report’s recommendations range from small adjustments, such as using telephone interpretation services whenever needed, to large actions by Congress, such as passing comprehensive immigration reform and reestablishing the immigration court system as an independent court system rather than a Department of Justice function.

The report also suggests state and local governments consider creating programs to guarantee legal representation in immigration court proceedings.

To view the full report, click HERE.

Posted in News |

Lawyer for Iowa kidnapping suspect asks court to review suspect’s mental capacity

News

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JEFFERSON, Iowa (KCAU) — The lawyer for a man accused of kidnapping his son and leading to a standoff is asking for court proceedings to be suspended so the court can determine his client’s mental capacity. Mark Rasmussen, the lawyer representing Brandon Duong, 34, filed a motion to determine competency Thursday. In the filing, Rasmussen wants to have Duong’s mental capacity determined as he said that he believes Duong “is not able to assist in his defense.

He added that he doesn’t believe Duong is “able to perform the reasoning and/or judgment necessary to consider pleas or to make decisions.” Rasmussen states that Duong suffers from a mental disorder, limiting him from understanding his charges, assisting the defense counsel, or understanding the proceedings. As such, the defense is asking for the court to suspend proceedings so the court can see if Duong is fit to stand trial.

Duong faces charges of second-degree kidnapping – armed with a dangerous weapon, a Class B felony, and violation of custodial order – relative, a class D felony. The charges stem from an incident on Jan. 30. On that day, authorities said that Duong kidnapped his son from Jefferson and sparked a state-wide Amber Alert.

Later that day, Duong’s vehicle was later spotted by law enforcement in Woodbury County, leading to a pursuit into Cherokee and Plymouth counties. Duong later crashed east of Remsen. While armed with a rifle, he allegedly fled into a field with his son, court documents state.

During the standoff, Duong allegedly carried his son over his shoulders while officers had their guns drawn. A criminal complaint also accuses him of “using [his son] as a shield and a hostage” during the standoff. Officers eventually found Duong in the field and, after an hours-long standoff, took him into custody.

A release from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office stated that Duong was a non-custodial parent. The Iowa State Patrol said in a release the night of the incident that a Dec. 2023 court order restricted Duong from having custody of his son.

Duong pleaded not guilty during a preliminary hearing. He is currently scheduled for an arraignment hearing on Feb. 19.

Posted in News |

Woman arrested in Iowa on drug & alcohol charges is a “person of interest” in MN man’s death

News

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI} — A woman authorities call a person of interest in a Minnesota homicide is in jail right now in Iowa.

Arlene Bell, 32, was taken into custody on unrelated charges in Dallas County following a traffic stop Monday, Feb 5th, on Interstate 80 near Van Meter. She faces several drug and alcohol charges, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft.

The Faribault (Minnesota) Police Department posted a news release on its Facebook page that the traffic stop in Iowa occurred before Gary Lehmeyer, 70, was found dead. Bell, who authorities say was in a “domestic relationship” with Lehmeyer at the time of his death, was driving his car when she was stopped in Iowa.

“Faribault detectives have worked with the Iowa State Patrol to take custody of Lehmeyer’s vehicle and transported it to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) in St. Paul for forensic processing,” according to the post.

“Faribault detectives have worked with the Rice County Attorney’s Office to issue a warrant for Bell’s arrest and extradition on a charge of Motor Vehicle Theft once her Iowa case is resolved. This remains an open and active case as we await forensic testing results and further investigation.”

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024

Weather

February 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 44. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 26. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. North northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 41. The Low was 20. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 47 and the Low was 25. The Record High for Feb. 11th in Atlantic, was 64 in 1951 & 1999. The Record Low was -26, in 1899. Sunrise today: 7:20. Sunset: 5:48.

Posted in Weather |

Class 2A, 3A Girl’s Regional Basketball Saturday Scores

Sports

February 10th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 2A: Region 2
West Central Valley 52 Ogden, 21
West Fork 56 South Hardin, 52

Class 2A: Region 3
Logan-Magnolia 56 Missouri Valley, 33
Shenandoah 48  Underwood, 43

Class 2A: Region 5
Kuemper Catholic 55 ast Sac County, 37
Belmont-Klemme 42 South Central, Calhoun, 27

Class 2A: Region 8
Madrid 46 Grand View Christian, 38

Class 3A: Region 2
Des Moines Christian 58 Saydel, 23
Algona 74 Eagle Grove, 31
Garner-Hayfield, 63 Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 57

Class 3A: Region 7
Harlan 67 OABCIG, 19
Clarinda 59 Red Oak, 31
Cherokee Washington 75 Greene County, 29
Atlantic 49  Southeast Valley, 38

Posted in Sports |