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Property damage accident in Creston, Monday afternoon

News

February 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following an accident at the intersection of Jefferson and S. Bureau Streets, Monday. The incident happened at around 4:15-p.m.  Authorities say a pickup being driven by 71-year-old Jerry Huffman, of Creston, was making a U-turn at the intersection, and an SUV driven by 32-year-old Nicholas Neitzel, of Creston, was traveling north on S. Bureau Street.

The pickup, which was facing west after completing the U-Turn, stopped at stop sign for the intersection. As the SUV was passing through the intersection, Huffman failed to yield to Neitzel’s vehicle. The driver’s side front bumper of the pickup struck the passenger side of the SUV.

The SUV, a 2011 Ford Explorer, then veered over a curb and into the yard of a residence. The impact with the curb caused the left front tire to pop. The vehicle sustained $3,000 damage. Damage to the 2000 Ford Ranger pickup was estimated at $1,500.

The Police report said no citations were issued, but it noted Huffman made an improper turn.

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024

Weather

February 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind 10-20 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. S @ 15-35 mph.
Wed.Night: A 30% chance of rain. Low 46. S @ 20-35 mph.
Thursday: A 30% chance of rain, mainly before noon; Partly sunny & windy, with a high near 60.
Friday: Mostly sunny & breezy, with a high near 47.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 57. The Low was 20. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 55 and the Low was 32. The Record High for Feb. 6th in Atlantic, was 59 in 2009. The Record Low was -27, in 1982. Sunrise today: 7:27. Sunset: 5:42.

Posted in Weather |

House Democrats raise concerns about Koch purchase of Iowa Fertilizer Co.

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Democrats in the Iowa House are raising concerns about the pending sale of a southeast Iowa fertilizer plant. Koch Industries plans to buy the Iowa Fertilizer Company near Wever for three-point-six BILLION dollars. Representative J-D Scholten of Sioux City, says four companies already control 75 percent of the nitrogen fertilizer market in the U-S.

“Ask any row crop farmer and fertilizer is one of the number one costs they’ll bring up as an issue,” Scholten says. “This issue is not new and this is what Governor Branstad did when he gave to tax breaks to the Iowa Fertilizer Company over 10 years ago to create competition in the market.” In 2012, the State of Iowa provided 112 million dollars in tax credits and loans for the project. Lee County provided a 30 million dollar property tax abatement. Representative Elinor Levin, a Democrat from Iowa City, says state officials need to ensure Koch meets the terms for those incentives.

“Governor Branstad, when he awarded all of these tax incentives, pointed to competition specifically with Koch Industries as a reason to provide these incentives,” Levin says. “Well, now they’re being provided and incentivizing Koch to buy here in Iowa.” Scholten says the other concern is what happens to the 260 Iowa Fertilizer Company employees. “When the company has their monopoly power and they have record profits for these companies and they have these CEOs making huge amounts of money where workers get left behind, it’s a constant theme throughout our nation,” Scholten says, “so there’s nothing that won’t be the same.”

Koch’s acquisition of the southeast Iowa plant is being reviewed by federal anti-trust regulators, House Democrats have sent a letter to the U-S Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird that outlines concerns about the sale. Koch Industries already operates a fertilizer plant in Fort Dodge.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

AG Bird seeks asks for funding of ‘cold case’

News

February 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Attorney General Brenna Bird is asking the legislature for over half a million dollars to start a cold case unit in the Iowa Department of Justice. “There are 585 unsolved cold cases in Iowa,” Bird says. “About 400 of them could be considered active cold cases.” Bird proposes hiring three investigators and a prosecutor to dig into those unsolved murders.

“It’s important that we’re always trying to solve these cases because over time new evidence can come to light,” Bird says. “There’s new science available for DNA, but also witnesses after the passage of time may choose to come forward if they’re not as afraid of the person involved as they were in the past or if they have made changes in their life where they want to get certain things off their conscience that they know about.” Bird is asking legislators for money to hire three other prosecutors for her office as well as a prosecutor to focus on so-called cold cases.

“These cases are very difficult ones to try because of the passage of time,” Bird says, “so we do want the prosecutor involved from the beginning.” The Iowa legislature voted to create a cold case unit in the Iowa Department of Public Safety in 2008, but never provided the money for it to operate. More than a decade ago, state officials used a federal grant to hire a couple of investigators and a lab technician to cull through cold cases.

Posted in News |

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell on 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy

Sports

February 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell will be at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday when former Cyclone quarterback Brock Purdy leads the San Francisco 49ers against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58. Purdy became the ISU starter as a freshman and led the Cyclones to four bowl games, a trip to the Big 12 Championship game and a Fiesta Bowl victory. Campbell is not sure he will get a chance to see the former Cyclone.

Campbell says several of Purdy’s former ISU teammates will be at the game.

Campbell is not surprised by the success Purdy has enjoyed in the NFL.

Campbell says two weeks into fall camp Purdy’s freshman he knew he had someone special.

Campbell says Purdy has succeeded at all levels of football because he wins.

Posted in Sports |

Drake basketball coach Darian DeVries on bouncing back

Sports

February 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Drake basketball coach Darian DeVries says his team is focused on what is ahead and not what could have been. The Bulldog’s Missouri Valley regular season title hopes took a hit on Saturday with a loss at league leader Indiana State and they begin the week with a 9-3 record in conference play and 18-5 overall.

The Bulldogs host Southern Illinois on Wednesday night.

Posted in Sports |

CAM Basketball grinds out win against Ar-We-Va

Sports

February 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The CAM Cougars basketball team fought their way to a 68-54 victory against the Ar-We-Va Rockets on Monday night. The Cougars went back and forth throughout the first quarter, managing to scrape up three points at the end of the first to be up 20-13. In the second quarter Ar-We-Va came out fired up and erased a seven-point deficit thanks to a passionate speech from Head Coach Matt Wilken. Midway through the second, the Rockets had their first lead of the night at 26-25. Both teams went back and forth throughout the rest of the quarter swapping the lead until CAM managed to sink a few triples to be up 25-30 at half time.

In the third quarter the Rockets seemed to slow down as CAM sped up going on an 8-0 run to start the quarter. Ar-We-Va never got close to touching the Cougar lead throughout the rest of the game.

Collin Bower had another impressive night for CAM scoring 26 points. Chase Jahde was second in scoring with 15 points and Ryan Bower chipped in 11.  CAM head coach Ian Hunt commented on his players physical mindset heading into this game.

Coach Hunt wants to see his team’s physical defense carry over for the rest of the year.

 

Ar-We-Va was led by 15 from Harley Molina and 14 from Wade Ragaller. The Rockets fall to 12-8 on the season. CAM bumps up to 10-9 and stay at home to take on Nodaway Valley Tuesday night.

Posted in Sports |

CAM Girl’s Basketball knock down Ar-We-Va at home

Sports

February 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The CAM Cougars Girls basketball team looked as strong as ever with an intimidating home win over the Ar-We-Va Rockets on Monday night 88-30. The Cougars used a 13-3 run to start the first quarter and ended the first on a 13-0 run to blow the game open. CAM led 28-6 at the end of the first and grew the lead to 21 by half at 39-18. The Cougars led by as many as 55 down the stretch.

The Cougars were led by 25 points from Meredith Rich. Three other players finished in double figures with Eva Steffensen dropping down 19, Kiera Nichols added 16, and Courtney Follmann chipped in 11 points.

Ar-We-Va got 9 points from Amber Ragaller in the loss. CAM Head Coach Joe Wollum liked the quick start and execution from his team.

CAM improves to 19-2 on the season and will wait to face the winner of Orient-Macksburg versus Murray next Tuesday at home. With the playoffs starting next week for the Cougars, Coach Wollum noted that his team is tough to beat when they focus on getting into transition.

The Rockets fall to 4-17 and will head to West Bend-Mallard on Thursday.

Posted in Sports |

JUDY BAIER, 78, of Atlantic (Svcs. 2/8/24)

Obituaries

February 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JUDY BAIER, 78, of Atlantic, died Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Atlantic Specialty Care. Funeral services for JUDY BAIER will be held 11-a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic.  Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

A time to greet the family will begin at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 8th, at the church.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.  The family invites you to join them following the service at the cemetery for lunch and a time of visitation in the fellowship hall.

JUDY BAIER is survived by:

Her son – Kevin (Denise) Williamson, of Greenfield, MO.

Her daughter – Brenda (Joshua) Young, of Council Bluffs.

Her half-sister: Madonna (Larry) Nisson, of Atlantic.

and 4 grandsons.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralserivce.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Atlantic School Board set to meet Wednesday evening

News

February 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7th, in the Atlantic High School Media Center. The Consent Agenda/Action items include approving the resignations of:

  • Michelle Fritz, Middle School Teacher (effective at the end of the current school year)
  • Sarah Rose, H.S. Counselor (effective at the end of the current school year)
  • Maria Pearson, M.S. Librarian (effective at the end of the current school year)

And, Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment for:

  • Volunteer Coaches for 2024 Spring Athletic Programs
  • Caine Page, Substitute Van/Suburban Driver
  • Lori Hayes, Schuler Sped Para, long-term sub (February-End of School year).

The Board will also act on the advertising of, & the hiring for, a Director of Student Services.

The meeting will be available to view on You Tube.

Posted in News |