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Brown Punches Ticket to Paris Olympics

Sports

June 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

EUGENE, Ore. – Former Hawkeye Brittany Brown qualified for the Paris Olympics with a 21.90 personal record in the 200 meters on Saturday night at Hayward Field.

Brown started in lane nine and finished second overall. Lanes seven, eight and nine produced the qualifiers, with Gabby Thomas (21.81) winning from lane seven. McKenzie Long earned bronze with a 21.91 from lane seven.

Brown is Iowa’s 26th Olympian and first since Kineke Alexander, Troy Doris and Diane Nukuri-Johnson qualified for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 2024 Paris Olympics begin on July 26.

Senior Paige Magee concluded her run at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a 15.57 in the semifinals of the 100-meter hurdles.

Magee ends her season as a second-team All-American in the 60-meter hurdles and the 100-meter hurdles. She is also Iowa’s school-record holder in both events.

HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY:
“We are all so proud of Brittany and everything she has overcome to make her first Olympic team! She had her PR performance at the perfect time to punch her ticket to Paris and we are so excited for her. Tonight wasn’t Paige’s best performance, but this weekend doesn’t take away from the tremendous season she had. The 12.88 at the NCAA Championships and school record to finish as a second-team All-American were spectacular accomplishments. She has had an amazing career and thankfully, she’s coming back for her last indoor season next year, where she has some unfinished business.”

UP NEXT: The Olympic Trials conclude Sunday in Eugene with James Carter Jr. in the triple jump finals at 5:55 p.m. (CT). Austin Kresley competes in the 200 meters at the Mexico Olympic Trials tomorrow morning.

HAWKEYE RESULTS

Paige Magee (100-Meter Hurdles)

Semifinals

  1. 15.57

Brittany Brown (200 Meters)

Semifinals

  1. 21.90, PR, Q

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE

Austin Kresley (200 Meters)

Mexico Olympic Trials

James Carter Jr. (Triple Jump)

Finals (5:55 p.m.)

Posted in Sports |

Motorcycle accident Saturday evening in Atlantic

News

June 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Cass EMS, Atlantic Rescue and Law Enforcement were called to the scene of a motorcycle accident this (Saturday) evening, on Atlantic’s north side. The accident was reported at around 6:37-p.m. It occurred in the Schildberg Campground area near the playground.

A female was said to have suffered a head injury. She was transported to Cass Health (CCMH). Additional information is currently not available.

Posted in News |

Storm/tornado report from June 28, 2024

Weather

June 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service in Des Moines, compiled a list of tornado events in Cass County, Iowa, for the evening of Friday, June 28, 2024:

9:00 PM Storm chase reports a funnel Cloud 5 miles SSW of Anita; Brief funnel cloud but structure becoming more ragged with time.

8:46 PM Storm chaser reports a brief tornado spun-up 2 miles SW of Wiota.

7:58 PM Law enforcement reports a tornado 3 miles W of Atlantic; Another small rope tornado south of Marne.

7:49 PM Storm chaser report a tornado 4 miles SSW of Marne; Rope tornado reported west of Atlantic.

Posted in Weather |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Saturday, June 29, 2024

Weather

June 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: A slight chance of showers & thunderstorms this morning, otherwise mostly sunny & breezy. High near 80. N/NW winds 10-20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. N/NW winds 10-20 mph.
Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 75. East northeast wind around 10 mph.
Tom. Night: Partly cloudy w/a 20% chance of showers after midnight. Low around 58.
Monday: Mostly cloudy & windy, w/a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 75.
Monday Night: A 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Breezy. Low around 68.
Tuesday: Partly sunny w/a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 89.

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 86. The Low was 691. Rainfall in Atlantic at KJAN, amounted to .38″. This day last year in Atlantic the high was 90 and the low 65. The Record High in Atlantic on June 29th, was 102 in 1934. The Record Low was 46, in 1950. Sunrise today: 5:48 am. Sunset: 8:58 pm.

Posted in Weather |

High School Softball Scores from Friday

Sports

June 28th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Hawkeye Ten 

#7 West Monona 11, Harlan 0
Atlantic 9, Lewis Central 4
St. Albert 4, Glenwood 0

Western Iowa Conference

AHSTW 14, Fremont-Mills 0

Rolling Valley Conference 

Ar-We-Va 8, Glidden-Ralston 3
CAM 12, Boyer Valley 8
Woodbine 4, Coon Rapids-Bayard 0

Corner Conference 

Lenox 11, East Mills 1

Raccoon River Conference

#1 North Polk 5, Dowling Catholic 1
#12 Urbandale 7, Ballard 0
#6 Ankeny 7, Ballard 0
#15 Gilbert 8, Nevada 2
ADM 6, Johnston 1
ADM 8, Des Moines Roosevelt 0

Pride of Iowa Conference 

Lenox 11, Central Decatur 2
Nodaway Valley 6, Orient-Macksburg 3

West Central Activities Conference 

#1 Martensdale-St Marys 3, #10 Interstate-35 1

Posted in Sports |

High School Baseball Scores from Friday

Sports

June 28th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Hawkeye Ten 

Kuemper Catholic 12, Atlantic 4
Sioux City North 5, Lewis Central 4
Underwood 5, Harlan 0
Kuemper Catholic 5, Carroll 4

Western Iowa Conference

Riverside 18, Westwood 3

Rolling Valley Conference 

Ar-We-Va 4, Glidden-Ralston 2

Raccoon River Conference

Johnston 6, Boone 5
Winterset 14, Perry 0

Posted in Sports |

Weak tornadoes form near Atlantic, Marne & other towns in Cass County; No early reports of damage

News, Weather

June 28th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Many people were caught off-guard this (Friday) evening, when the tornado siren blew in Atlantic. There was no prior warning from the National Weather Service. Instead, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said he too, was surprised when he received word from Marne Fire Chief Josh Krause, that he had observed a funnel cloud south of Marne, west of Atlantic.

Photo courtesy Jeremiah Bruning, of Atlantic, taken just west of Atlantic on June 28th

The sirens in Marne and Atlantic were set-off a little before 8-p.m. Kennon said he saw a lot of rotation in the clouds, a rope tornado that primarily maintained its form as a funnel cloud, but others saw the twister connect with the ground. Its movement was very slow, Kennon said.  The first warning from the National Weather Service was issued at 7:55-p.m.

“That was only the beginning,” he said. “Lewis had a lot of rotation in the clouds, so we set-off the sirens.” There were also reports of a funnel east of Atlantic. “A lot of people were watching it closely,” Kennon said, as “We were really prepared for setting those sirens off again if something came down.”

The sirens were then set-off for the communities of Wiota and Anita. Kennon said he stopped in Wiota. “I believe everybody in town was out watching the rotation as it spun on the south side of town.” He reported there  was also a funnel cloud or two by Lake Anita.

Funnel cloud taken from West 29th Street at 8:01 p.m. Friday night SW of Atlantic (courtesy Brett Altman)

Another Tornado Warning was issued for NE Cass County and NW Adair County, at 8:47-p.m.  There have been no reports of damage, as the weak tornadoes were mainly in the rural areas. Kennon said “There were a lot of people in their yards and a lot of people out, parked along the edge of the roads,” looking for rotation, and tornadoes on the ground. “With the sunset the way it was, you could really see what was going on, for sure.” Kennon says unless you are a trained storm spotter, being outside in the storm is “Not something I would recommend.”

Photos courtesy of Zach Ploen & Evie Scott, west of Anita at around 9:30-p.m. Friday

One of the questions KJAN was asked on our Facebook page, was why there was no “All Clear” siren given after the danger appeared to have passed. He said “It’s been some time since we’ve had an All-Clear. The reason for that was…in general, people don’t know what the “All-Clear” means. It’s just a siren that’s going off, so they take it as another warning of some kind.” He recommends have a way to receive emergency messages, whether it’s by radio, NOAA Weather Radio or phone app, so that you can get information and know when it is safe to get out of your shelter. (Sign-up HERE for emergency alerts on your cell phone, in Cass County).

Mike Kennon reminds area residents tornadoes can form any time of the year, including during the month of December, as was the case on December 15, 2021, when 63 tornadoes touched down that day, making it the biggest single-day tornado outbreak in Iowa’s recorded history, according to the Weather Service. His advice: “Be weather aware.”

Posted in News, Weather |

Riverside Softball takes a win against Westwood

Sports

June 28th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Riverside Bulldogs softball team won an 11-1 slow paced contest against the Westwood Rebels on Thursday night. Early on for Westwood they realized it would be a long evening against Riverside pitcher Peyton Schafer who had 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in the top of the 1st. In the bottom Riverside got on the board with a passed ball into the backstop with a runner on third to put them up 1-0. In the top of the 2nd, Westwood hit an extra base hit but again Schafer struck out 2 more batters and left Westwood scoreless. The Bulldogs then used that momentum in the bottom of the 2nd to score 3 runs from, 5 walks, and an RBI single off of Madison Kelley. Riverside was then up 4-0 heading into the top of the 3rd. The Rebels scoring troubles continued until the top of the 4th where they had back-to-back base hits to finally bring in a run. The game was at 5-1 heading into the bottom of the 4th where Riverside had an RBI single towards right field and boosting their lead to 6-1.

The Bulldogs finally brought the game home in the bottom of the 5th where they had 6 runs come in due to 2 hits by pitches, a walk, and 3 hits including Peyton Schafer’s Walk off single to end the game at 11-1 with the run rule being achieved. Riverside’s key factor on the night was the patience at the plate with 7 Bulldog batters being walked, 5 hit by a pitch, and 6 solid hits. Westwood’s best batter on the day was Kayla Gray hitting an RBI single with her two at bats.

Some of the strong performances for Riverside came from Peyton Schafer pitching 5 innings, having 1 earned run, 2 hits, 5 strikeouts, and 4 walks. Batting wise Schafer went 3-4 with 2 RBI’s and second baseman Kayden Schanck had an RBI Triple.

Riverside Head Coach Lacie Patterson the overall show by her team on the evening.

Riverside improves to 17-11 on the year thanks to their win and will head off to Essex on Monday. The Rebels now sit at 6-14 with their loss and travel to Sioux Central on Monday.

Posted in Sports |

Lee Named to Team Canada for 2024 Paris Olympics

Sports

June 28th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

TORONTO, Ontario – Incoming University of Iowa gymnast Cassie Lee has been named to Team Canada for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Earlier this month, Lee competed at the 2024 Canadian National Championships where she placed fifth on beam and 11th in the all-around. The Toronto, Ontario, native has been a member of Team Canada at the 2023 Pan American Games, 2023 Pan American Championships and the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships. Lee joins fellow incoming freshman Aurélie Tran as Hawkeyes representing Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Posted in Sports |

Special Atlantic City Council meeting Monday morning regarding TIF Variance letter, re: Vision Atlantic

News

June 28th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council will hold a Special Meeting at 9-a.m. Monday, July 1st, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. The  only item on their agenda is a presentation, and discussion, with regard to a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) letter received from IEDA (the Iowa Economic Development Authority), as it pertains to the Vision Atlantic Housing Development project.

During their regular meeting on June 5th, the Atlantic City Council approved making an application to IEDA for a waiver to allow a more flexible use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funding to help pay for the proposed housing project. The TIF request  for $10.5 million, is the largest request in Atlantic’s history. TIF funding can be used for market rate housing, but due to regulations, a certain percentage of the TIF funding needs to be set aside for low to moderate income housing. That percentage for the city of Atlantic is 47%, but if the waiver is approved, that percentage could go to 10%.

The idea to use TIF funding was part of the original proposal from Vision Atlantic that included the sale of 48 acres of land for $1 from the city to the group.

As previously mentioned, the project will invest $4,129,597 in infrastructure, $48,800,000 into housing, and a $10,700,000 child development center on the land.

Posted in News |