(Radio Iowa) — Former Benton Community star pitcher Amber Fiser has been named the Big Ten Softball Pitcher of the Year. The Van Horne native was a unanimous choice for the honor after turning in a 25-9 record for the Minnesota Golden Gophers with a league-leading 1.25 earned run average. She was 14-1 in Big Ten play. The Big Ten Tournament opens today in Bloomington, Indiana.
Amber Fiser says this is an award she embraces
Fiser says she has grown a lot since being a star at Benton Community
(Radio Iowa) — Despite international trade tariffs and a series of other challenges, Iowa livestock producers are seeing hog prices rise in recent weeks, which comes as a welcome surprise to many. Lee Schultz, an ag economist with the Iowa State University Extension, explains the rollercoastering of pork prices on the commodities market. “I think what was driving the lower prices in the early part of 2019 was impacts of retaliatory tariffs and impacts on the trade that we expected,” Schultz says. “And then really, through late March and April, we really saw the impact of the ASF situation in China.”
That’s African Swine Fever which has reportedly spread to every region of China and several surrounding countries, dropping the hog population in China by nearly 40-million head compared to last year. Shultz says U-S pork producers are also seeing the potential for significant growth in global protein demand. “Recently, I think it has been the markets, the supply situation weighing on it a bit as well as the new news of the delay in the trade negotiations talks,” he says, “I think it’s all been working on the market and why we’ve seen such volatility lately.”
Now that we’re well into spring and the warmer weather will soon bring us to summer grilling season, Schultz says we are entering a key period of demand for pork, which should keep prices higher.”We have three big holidays in front of us with Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Father’s Day,” he says. “While a lot of purchases have already been made for Mother’s Day, we’re looking still at several holidays in front of us and demand is very strong.”
Schultz says profitability levels are higher for the pork producer than what has been seen for the last few years and he remains optimistic for the remaining months of 2019 and into 2020.
Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 9-p.m. Wednesday, of 40-year old Shawn Lyle McKenzie. The Red Oak man was taken into custody for Theft in the 5th degree, a simple misdemeanor. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.
Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — Michael Brantley homered twice, Brad Peacock pitched seven innings and Josh James completed the 3-hitter in Houston’s 9-0 win over the Kansas City Royals. Peacock (3-2) allowed three hits and set a career high with 12 strikeouts to help the Astros bounce back after a 12-2 loss on Tuesday night. Peacock also rebounded after allowing seven runs in just 3 2/3 innings in his previous start. James hit one batter and struck out five in the last two innings.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jerad Eickhoff allowed three hits in eight innings, César Hernández homered and drove in three runs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0. Aided by a pair of double plays, Eickhoff faced just two batters over the minimum through the first seven innings as the Phillies took two of three from the Cardinals and won for the fifth time in their last seven games. Eickhoff threw a season-high 106 pitches and has allowed one run over 20 innings in his last three starts.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln women’s tennis coach has pleaded guilty to drunken driving. Lancaster County Court records say Scott Jacobson entered the plea Tuesday. The records say Jacobson was sentenced to seven days in jail and fined $500, and his driver’s license was revoked for six months. The records also say he’ll be allowed to apply for house arrest. Police say testing showed Jacobson’s blood alcohol level registered more than 1.5 times the legal driving limit the night of March 7.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials have announced that a portion of Interstate 29 in southwestern Iowa has reopened after being damaged by flooding in March. The Iowa Department of Transportation says I-29 between U.S. Highway 34 near Pacific Junction and the Missouri border has reopened, but that travelers should expect some lane closures and slower travel times. Nebraska Highway 2 between Nebraska City and the Iowa state line remains closed.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A stretch of interstate highway in northwestern Missouri is open again for the first time since floodwaters shut it down in March. Interstate 29 reopened Wednesday to the Iowa state line. Historic flooding in March forced closure of the busy north-south roadway. I-29 also is open in Iowa, but with some restrictions. Many other roads and highways in northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa remain closed due to flood damage.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a measure into law that gives her greater control over the way judges are selected and weakening the influence of attorneys. Reynolds signed it Wednesday with no fanfare, announcing her approval in an email that also noted four other bills. She says she’s proud to sign it “to give all Iowans a greater voice in the process.” Democrats accused Republicans of trying to stack the courts in their favor after losing abortion and same-sex marriage cases.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University employee will get a settlement of more than $27,000 from the state after claiming discrimination in the way the university managed its health insurance for transgender employees. Elyn Fritz-Waters sued the state in January when her employee health insurance denied care for gender dysphoria, which included her request for hormone therapy and a sex reassignment surgery.
The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, approved the 2018-19 Amended Certified Budget. Their action followed a public hearing, during which there were no comments. It allows the district to complete building improvements this summer without overspending the certified budget.
Atlantic School Board 5-8-19
Among the expenditures included in the amended budget and not budgeted for during the current school year is: A sewage problem at the Washington School; Replacing two small sections of the Middle School auditorium roof; LED lighting for the High School Commons area; Replacing a bus transmission, and Technology expenses. Officials said there will be no increase in taxes to be paid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.
In his report to the Board, Superintendent Steve Barber said “There is a lot of excitement for next year in the Atlantic Trades Program. Initial enrollment numbers are averaging 13-to 15 students. Given most of these classes are shop classes, these are good manageable numbers in maintaining safety.” Barber said the Steering Committee continues “To be active in helping design workplace skills and expertise necessary in creating a world class program.”
And, he said Atlantic is in the process of identifying equipment needs to get an Aviation curriculum implemented this fall. “Early indication,” he said, is that “A large number of students [who] have expressed interest in the class.” And, the high school will be offering a Coding training curriculum, once a steering committee comprised of community members in the technology world is formed. Coding is used to communicate, create and problem solve in computer and device programming.
In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the resignation of Taylor Williams, Student Council Advisor, and as previously announced, contract recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment for several individuals, with the addition of Susan Wedemeyer, High School Art Teacher, and Bryce Casey, Summer Grounds keeper. In addition, the Board approved a 2.20 % total package increase for Central Office staff, Technology staff, and all Directors including the Business Manager. The amount recommended was between the settlement of the two Unions of 2.14% and 2.24%.
They also approved several, previously mentioned Winter Sports Coaching Contracts, 2019-20 sharing agreements with CAM & Exira-EHK for Girls Soccer, and Griswold, with regard to Industrial Technology and Transportation Director.
Their final piece of business was to approve a recommendation from Superintendent Steve Barber to change the surface of the Trojan Bowl turf from natural grass to synthetic turf, with the $600,000 cost paid by private fundraising and donations. In previous meetings, it was pointed out that seeding a natural grass surface at the athletic facility would require the loss of one season of activity at the Trojan Bowl, and using sod has a number of negative consequences. Private members of a fund raising committee have said they could secure $300,000 over the duration of the improvements, with the intent to raise all $600,000 to turf the Trojan Bowl and not lose a football season. If the committee is unable to raise the entire $600k, the district would be responsible to cover the remaining costs.
The Nodaway Valley and CAM School District Boards of Education, Tuesday night, agreed to hire Grundmeyer Leader Search, to support the search for a new, shared superintendent. School officials say the search will begin immediately, and conclude with the hire of a new, successful leader.
To that end, the Boards are requesting feedback from the public, with regard to what “desired qualifications” are most important for the position, to ensure the person selected is a good fit for the school districts and their respective communities.
Patrons of both districts are invited to take an online stakeholder survey accessed by a computer or mobile device, at: https://tinyurl.com/NVCAMSuptSurvey. The survey is completely anonymous, unless you provide your name voluntarily.
The Stakeholder survey is available until May 19th. The search team will produce a general report based on the information gathered in the survey. The report will be shared with the board to advise them on what priorities the district and community stakeholders are looking for in a new leader.
The hiring timeline is as follows:
LARRY FREEMAN, 74, of Fontanelle, died Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle. Funeral services for LARRY FREEMAN will be held 10-a.m. Monday, May 13th, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, with Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle in charge of the arrangements.
Open Visitation: Will be held from 1-until 5-p.m. Sunday, May 12th, at Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield, where the family will greet friends from 3-until 5-p.m.; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.
Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the committal services at the cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Larry Freeman memorial fund to be established by the family.
LARRY FREEMAN is survived by:
His daughter – Kami Winther, of Polk City.
His sister – Sharlene Murphy, of Menlo.
4 grandchildren; brother-in-law, Randy Kingery of Bellevue, Iowa; other relatives and friends.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jerad Eickhoff is making up for lost time.
Eickhoff allowed three hits in eight innings, César Hernández homered and drove in three runs and the
Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 on Wednesday.
Aided by a pair of double plays, Eickhoff (2-1) faced just two batters over the minimum through the first seven innings as the NL East-leading Phillies took two of three from the Cardinals and won for the fifth time in their last seven games. Eickhoff threw a season-high 106 pitches and has allowed one run over 20 innings in his last three starts.
“Early on it was just really fastball, slider,” Eickhoff said. “In the third inning I started dropping a curveball in there. I was having a hard time getting it over for a strike. Once that came, it kind of opened up everything else.”
Eickhoff, who missed most of the 2018 season with a right lat strain, has not allowed a home run this season, a span of 30 innings.
Seranthony Dominguez worked the ninth to complete the three-hitter.
After winning 20 of their first 30 games, the Cardinals lost for the sixth time in their last seven.
Odúbel Herrera sparked a four-run fifth inning for the Phillies with an RBI double. Herrera has hit safely in 16 of his 18 career games at Busch Stadium.
Hernández capped the rally with a two-run double. A fielding error by Matt Carpenter helped set up the big frame for the Phillies. It was one of two errors by the Cardinals, who also committed two miscues Tuesday night that led to six unearned runs for the Phillies in the second inning of an 11-1 loss.
Hernández drove a slider from Giovanny Gallegos into the right-field bullpen in the seventh. He went 3 for 5 and has hit in 10 straight games against St. Louis.
Jack Flaherty (3-3) faced just one batter over the minimum in his first four innings before getting derailed by a 43-pitch fifth.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jake Arrieta (4-2, 3.40 ERA) will kick off a three-game road series against the Royals and RHP Homer Bailey (3-3, 5.25) on Friday night. Arrieta is 2-0 with a 3.70 ERA in four career starts against the Royals.
Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (2-0, 5.17) gets the start in the opener of a four-game series against the visiting Pirates and RHP Joe Musgrove (1-3, 2.63) on Thursday night. Wacha received a no-decision in his last start, but had a pair of hits and drove in two runs at the plate for his first multi-hit and multi-RBI game since 2015.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University employee will get a settlement of more than $27,000 from the state after claiming discrimination in the way the university managed its health insurance for transgender employees.
Elyn Fritz-Waters sued the state in January when her employee health insurance denied care for gender dysphoria, which included her request for hormone therapy and a sex reassignment surgery.
Fritz-Waters was born male but says she has felt most of her life that she is female.
She claimed discrimination and violations of the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Before the lawsuit could go to trial the state offered to settle. The State Appeal Board approved the settlement Wednesday.
Fritz-Waters will get about $18,000 and her attorney receives around $9,000.
In June 2018, a state judge ruled the Iowa Department of Human Services violated the state constitution and civil rights laws by denying two transgender women Medicaid coverage for sex reassignment surgery.
The Legislature responded by approving a bill that prohibits Medicaid money for sex reassignment surgery. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law, though it’s likely to be challenged in court.
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