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Council OKs plan to remove WWII airport chapel

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The City Council has approved a proposal for removal of a World War II chapel and airman’s housing project on Sioux City airport land. The Sioux City Journal reports that the council OK’d a memorandum of agreement Monday between the city, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office. The chapel anchors the entrance to Sioux Gateway Airport and is one of the last standing remnants of the wartime air base built for B-17 bomber training.

City documents say the two parcels containing the chapel and housing were developed with uses not compatible with operations of the airport. Plans say the chapel will be moved off airport property, and a nonprofit group will take ownership and maintain it at a new location as a memorial and make it available for event rentals.

Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions Report September 9-15, 2019

Ag/Outdoor

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 16, 2019) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Monday, commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly from April through November. “An unexpected complex of thunderstorms moved through the state on Saturday producing heavy precipitation. This put a damper on the annual Cy-Hawk game but helped improve conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor,” said Secretary Naig. “We also experienced a nice stretch of above-average temperatures last week which is helping the later-planted corn mature.”

The full weekly report is also available on the USDA’s site at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report:

Heavy rains fell across much of Iowa with just 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the week ending September 15, 2019, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork activities included harvesting hay and seed corn, chopping silage, and seeding cover crops. Topsoil moisture condition was rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Precipitation this past week helped increase topsoil moisture levels in all districts. However, the topsoil moisture rating in east central, south central and southeast Iowa districts remains above 25 percent short to very short. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 3 percent very short, 18 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Ninety-four percent of the corn crop was in or beyond the dough stage, over two weeks behind both last year and the 5-year average. Seventy-four percent of the crop has reached the dented stage, 15 days behind last year and 10 days behind average. Eight percent of corn reached maturity, 19 days behind last year and 13 days behind average. Corn condition improved slightly from the previous week to 65 percent good to excellent. Nearly all of the soybean crop has started setting pods at 96 percent statewide, over two weeks behind average. Forty percent of the crop has begun coloring, 11 days behind last year and 8 days behind average. Five percent of soybeans began dropping leaves, almost 2 weeks behind last year and 10 days behind average. Soybean condition also improved slightly from the previous week to 63 percent good to excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 84 percent, 4 days behind average. Pasture condition rated 43 percent good to excellent. There were a few reports of high numbers of insects around livestock and concerns for livestock in permanent pastures.

Board of Iowa insurance pool travels far for public meetings

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Board members of an obscure Iowa government insurance program have spent tens of thousands of dollars in public money traveling to out-of-state resorts for meetings. A review by The Associated Press finds that directors of the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool hold two meetings annually at posh locations such as Florida in February and Michigan in August.

Meeting minutes and spending records show that the practice makes the meetings virtually inaccessible to the public while increasing costs to the pool, which includes roughly 750 counties, cities, towns and other municipalities. One county supervisor says the board’s spending may be excessive, and an attorney calls the out-of-state meetings ridiculous.

Board chairman Jody Smith defended them, saying the Florida meetings coincide with a national conference and Michigan was close to the pool administrator.

Skyscan Forecast – Tuesday, Sept. 17th, 2019

Weather

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: Areas of fog this morning; Partly cloudy, warm & humid. High near 90. S @ 10-20.

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 70. S @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to cloudy. Scattered showers & thunderstorms. High 86. S @ 10-15.

Thursday: P/Cldy to Cldy w/scattered shwrs & tstrms. High 84.

Friday: P/Cldy. High 87.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 89. Our Low was 63. Last year on this date our High was 92 and the Low was 65. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 97 in 1925. The Record Low was 31 in 1980.

Area Volleyball scores from Monday, 9/16/19

Sports

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(3-2) Ar-We-Va 25-17-25-23-18, MVAOCOU 11-25-21-25-16
(2-0) Baxter 25-25, Collins-Maxwell 18-16
(2-0) Baxter 25-25, Madrid 16-14
(2-0) Collins-Maxwell 25-25, Madrid 12-23
(3-0) Coon Rapids-Bayard 25-25-25, Exira-EHK 17-10-15
(3-1) Essex 23-25-25-25, Diagonal 25-13-20-15
(2-1) Glidden-Ralston 25-18-15, Baxter 18-25-13
(2-1) Glidden-Ralston 24-25-25, Collins-Maxwell 26-13-17
(2-0) Glidden-Ralston 25-25, Madrid 18-18
(3-2) Lamoni 22-25-25-23-15, Central Decatur 25-12-16-25-9
(2-1) Martensdale-St Marys 19-25-16, Interstate 35 25-19-14
(3-0) Paton-Churdan 25-25-25, Orient-Macksburg 18-16-19
(3-0) Southeast Warren 25-25-25, Martensdale-St Marys 12-17-4

AAA Iowa spokesman says pump prices to rise as much as 25 cents this month

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — An attack on oil production facilities in Saudi Arabia will lead to higher prices at gas pumps in Iowa and elsewhere. Mark Peterson of Triple-A Iowa says the world’s largest oil facility was hit. “Attacks have taken about 5.7 billion barrels of oil off the market, which is about six percent of the global supply,” he says. “Prior to that, crude oil was healthy around the country. In fact, we were sitting on a global glut.”

Last weekend, gas prices were around two-dollars-and-40-cents ($2.40) a gallon. Experts predict the price will jump about 25-cents by the end of September. Peterson says how long the higher prices last depends upon how long the Saudi facilities are down. “Suffice it to say, we’re going to see some increases at the pump,” Peterson says.

Wholesale gasoline prices were 15 cents a gallon higher nationwide by midday Monday. President Trump has said he’s prepared to tap U.S. petroleum reserves if oil production in Saudi Arabia doesn’t rebound quickly.

ALBERT PETER “Pete” STEIN, 70, of Portsmouth (Celebration of Life 9/20/19)

Obituaries

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

ALBERT PETER “Pete” STEIN, 70, of Portsmouth, died Sunday, Sept. 15th, in Omaha. A Celebration of Life service for PETE STEIN will be held 7-p.m. Friday, Sept. 20th, at St. Mary/Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, in Portsmouth. Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home has the arrangements.

A Celebration visitation for Pete Stein will be held from 4-until 7-p.m. Friday, at St. Mary’s.; Online condolences may be left at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.

A private burial of ashes will take place in the Cass Township Cemetery at Portsmouth.

ALBERT “PETE” STEIN is survived by:

His wife – Patty Stein, of Portsmouth.

His sons – Jorge (Karen) Stein, and Sam Stein, all of Portsmouth; and Peter (Amanda) Stein, of Waukon, IA.

His daughter – Carly (Shawn) Prouse, of Omaha.

His brothers – Alfred (Jeanne) Stein, of Lansing (IA); Carl (Sandy) Stein V, of Odess, MO.; William Stein, of Shelby; Kenneth (Julie) Stein, and Lawrence (Carol) Stein, all of Portsmouth; and Paul (Denise) Stein, of Amana.

His sisters – Patricia (Randy) Pash, and Mary (John Murtaugh, all of Harlan.

7 grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Midwest Sports Headlines: 9/17/19

Sports

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

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

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Brett Phillips hit a tying home run off Liam Hendricks in the ninth inning, Adalberto Mondesi followed with an RBI double and the Kansas City Royals beat Oakland 6-5 to end the Athletics’ six-game winning streak. Oakland’s lead over Tampa Bay for the top AL wild card was cut to one game. Cleveland is 1½ games behind the Rays. Khris Davis’ RBI single off Kevin McCarthy gave Oakland a 5-4 lead in the eighth.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Marcell Ozuna drove in four runs and threw out a runner at home plate from left field, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Washington Nationals 4-2. St. Louis maintained a two-game NL Central lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs, who closed within a half-game of the Nationals for the top NL wild card. Nationals manager Dave Martinez missed the game following a heart procedure in Washington, and bench coach Chip Hale was in charge of the dugout.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes has won games for the Kansas City Chiefs without Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill, without a bell-cow running back or a defense capable of stopping just about anyone. He proved it once more on Sunday, putting together another dynamic performance on a sore ankle to lead Kansas City to a 28-10 victory in Oakland.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — When a Scott Frost offense is at its best, it’s moving fast and generating big plays. Nebraska has scored 12 offensive touchdowns and two field goals through three games. Seven of those 14 possessions featured plays between 30 and 75 yards. The Cornhuskers also have 15 non-TD possessions that failed to net 10 yards. Nebraska opens Big Ten play at Illinois on Saturday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa says it has contacted Iowa State after the Hawkeye Marching Band was subjected to “inappropriate actions” during Saturday’s football game between the two rivals. The statement from Iowa athletic director Gary Barta did not include details. Iowa rallied to beat Iowa State 18-17 on the road. The Iowa band, like the team itself, was booed heavily by the Iowa State student section when it entered the stadium before kickoff.

NEW YORK (AP) — Maya Moore stepped away from the WNBA before the season. She has spent much of her time trying to help a friend overturn his conviction. Jonathan Irons is serving a 50-year sentence for the nonfatal shooting of a homeowner during a burglary in Missouri in 1997. Moore says there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime and believes he was a victim of prosecutorial misconduct. Irons has asked a judge to reopen his case and will be in court next month for a hearing.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Board members of an obscure but influential Iowa government insurance program have spent tens of thousands of dollars in public money to travel to out-of-state resorts for meetings. A review by The Associated Press finds that directors of the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool for years have held two of their six annual meetings in other states, usually at posh locations in Florida in February and Michigan in August.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities suspect that two cybersecurity workers charged with breaking into an Iowa courthouse were responsible for a late-night entry into the courthouse in Des Moines. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that based on surveillance footage, investigators believe 43-year-old Gary Demercurio, of Seattle, and 29-year-old Justin Wynn, of Naples, Florida, entered the Polk County Courthouse on Sept. 9. The men were charged with burglary after being found in the Dallas County Courthouse.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque woman who authorities say stole more than $48,000 from her elderly aunt has been given two to five years of probation. Dubuque County District Court records say 54-year-old Kathryn Billmeyer was sentenced last week and was ordered to pay back the money to her aunt’s estate. Prosecutors say Billmeyer’s daughter, Anna, used the woman’s credit card to buy nearly $1,600 worth of items. She, too, was sentenced to probation.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. (AP) — A 43-year-old St. Joseph man could face up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in a Lake of the Ozarks boating accident that killed a man. Cletus Barsch pleaded guilty on Sept. 10 to one count of boating while intoxicated resulting in a homicide and two counts of boating while intoxicated resulting in serious physical injury. Sentencing will be March 11. The accident in May 2018 killed an Iowa man.

(UPDATE): Third round of flooding in 2019 likely along Missouri River

News

September 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal officials say the amount of water flowing down the lower Missouri River this year is approaching the 2011 record and a third round of flooding is expected this week after unusually heavy rains upstream.

Heavy rains dumped more than four times normal in parts of Montana, Nebraska, North and South Dakota last week. That triggered flood warnings and forced the forecast for how much water will flow down the Missouri River to jump to 58.8 million acre feet. That will be second only to 2011’s 61 million acre feet.

The Corps of Engineers doesn’t expect major problems or threats to cities with the latest flooding — provided the temporary repairs made to levees since the spring hold up. But communities along the river are bracing for problems.

Downstream, residents of Hamburg, Iowa, will be keeping a close eye on the repaired levees around their town that was inundated in the spring to be sure the patches will hold up. Completely repairing the levees damaged in the spring is likely to take several years and cost more than $1 billion. “Anybody I talk to I tell them to be prepared,” said Mike Crecelius, the emergency manager in the southwest Iowa county that’s home to Hamburg. “There’s been no relief at all this year.”

In March, massive flooding caused more than $3 billion in damage in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. In June, flooding returned and inundated many of the same places because most damaged levees remained broken. The river will remain high throughout the fall because the Corps of Engineers plans to continue releasing large amounts of water into the river to clear out space in the reservoirs ahead of winter.