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UNI’s Mark Farley wraps up spring drills

Sports

April 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley says game-like conditions were valuable for the Panthers. UNI closed out spring drills on Friday night.

Farley liked the way the offense communicated at the line of scrimmage.

There has been no decision on a starting quarterback. Arkansas State transfer and former Southeast Polk star Jaxon Dailey and former Dubuque Hempstead standout Aidan (ay-din) Dunne (done) are competing for the starting job. Dunne was the backup last season to three year Panther starter Theo Day.

Farley says the Panthers need to build depth on defense.

UNI opens at home on August 31st against Valparaiso.

Posted in Sports |

Marshall County murder suspect arrested Saturday, in Des Moines

News

April 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa [KCCI] — The man Marshall County authorities believe killed two people in rural Marshalltown is now in custody. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office says 29-year-old Ilias Julian Lasley was taken into custody in the 4700 block of Merle Hay Road in Des Moines on Saturday afternoon. Authorities have been searching for Lasley since Friday.

Lasley has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Marshall County authorities identified the victims as 28-year-old Mario Murillo and 33-year-old Frances Tillie Gasca, both of Marshalltown.

According to a news release: “Marshall County Deputies were dispatched to the 2600-mile of 182nd Street, Marshalltown Iowa for a welfare check on occupants of the residence. When deputies arrived, they located a male and female deceased.”

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Sunday, April 21, 2024

Weather

April 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: FREEZE WARNING until 8-a.m (widespread frost before 9am). Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 60. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 34.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny & windy, w/a slight chance of rain late in the day. High near 72. S/SW winds @ 10-30 mph gusting to around 35 during the afternoon.
Tom. Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 46. S/SW winds 15-25mph decreasing after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny & windy, with a high near 66.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 52. Our Low this morning was 26. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 46, and the Low was 32. The All-Time Record High on April 21st in Atlantic, was 88, in 1980. The Record Low was 16, in 1907. Sunrise: 6:31. Sunset: 8:08.

Posted in Weather |

Work release escape of Brandon Michael Hanners

News

April 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Ottumwa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, late Saturday night, said 41-year-old Brandon Michael Hanners, who was convicted of Habitual Offender in Des Moines County, failed to report back to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required, Friday.

Hanners is a 6’1″ tall, 191 pound white male. He was admitted to the work release facility on 03/07/2024. Persons with information on Hanner’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Brandon M. Hanners (Iowa DOC photo)

For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910 

Posted in News |

LARRY “Zoomer” WESTPHAL, 70, of Fontanelle (Svcs. 4/24/24)

Obituaries

April 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

LARRY “Zoomer” WESTPHAL, 70, of Fontanelle, died Saturday, April 20, 2024, at his home.  Funeral services for LARRY WESTPHAL will be held 10:30-a.m. Wednesday, April 24th, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle has the arrangements.

Open Visitation:  Will be held at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Family Visitation:  The family will greet friends on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Burial is in the Fontanelle Cemetery.  A luncheon will be held at the church in Fontanelle following the burial.

Memorials:  May be directed to the Fontanelle Fire Department.

LARRY “Zoomer” WESTPHAL is survived by:

His sister, Mary (Ron) Rink, of Burlington.

Other relatives and friends.

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

Posted in Obituaries |

Atlantic Fire Dept. responds to call about smoke coming from a bldg. Saturday afternoon

News

April 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Fire Department was paged-out to a report of smoke coming from the Edward Jones building this (Saturday) afternoon, at 508 Poplar Street. The Cass County Communications Center received numerous calls about smoke coming from the northwest side of the building, at around 2:25-p.m.

Atlantic Police and Cass County Deputy Kyle Quist also responded, with Quist using a drone to get an aerial view of the roof and surround area. Firefighters hosed-down a corner of the building where most of the smoke was observed, and the shingles had apparently burned.

According to Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel, a discarded cigarette caught some leaves on fire outside/next to the building. The flames moved up the corner of building and into the awning. Damage to the building was estimated at $2,500. There were no injuries.

(Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson)

 

Posted in News |

Freeze Warning for Iowa from midnight to 8-a.m. Sunday (4/21/24)

Weather

April 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

147 PM CDT Sat Apr 20 2024

FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM CDT SUNDAY

* WHAT…Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 expected.

* WHERE…Portions of central, north central, northeast, northwest, south central, southeast, southwest, and west central Iowa.

* WHEN…From midnight tonight to 8 AM CDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS…Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent water pipes from freezing; wrap or drain or allow them to
drip slowly.

Posted in Weather |

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. Coli Contamination

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

The raw ground beef items were produced on March 28, 2024. The products have a “Use/Freeze by” date of April 22, 2024, and packaging date of “032824.” The list of products that are subject to the public health alert can be found here. The labels for these products can be found on the FSIS website [view labels].

The products subject to the public health alert bear establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to food service institutions and retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered by the establishment while conducting an inventory of product that was on hold because it was found positive for E. coli O157:H7. The company notified FSIS that they inadvertently used a portion of the contaminated beef to produce ground beef products that they subsequently shipped into commerce.

There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ and food service institutions’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and food service institutions are urged not to serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.

Consumers and members of the media with questions about the public health alert can contact Gina Adami, Greater Omaha Packing Co., Inc. Representative, at 402-575-4702 or gadami@gmail.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

DERALD “Bucky” LEE ANDERSEN, 69, of Atlantic (4-24-2024)

Obituaries

April 20th, 2024 by Jim Field

DERALD “Bucky” LEE ANDERSEN, 69, of Atlantic died Friday, April 19, 2024 at his home under hospice care.  An Open visitation with the family of DERALD LEE ANDERSEN will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic.

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Private burial will be held at Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Derald. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

DERALD ANDERSEN is  survived by:

His children sons – Brian (Megan), and Daniel.

His daughter – Sarah (Isaac).

His Brother – Larry and his son.

His spouse Brenda and her children: Bradley (Carley), and Jennifer.

Together they had 13 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

Council Bluffs Police ask for help in locating a missing man

News

April 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing Council Bluffs man. Authorities say 48-year-old David Wittwer was last seen Tuesday, April 16th, at the Walmart Store in Council Bluffs (1800 N. 16th St.).

Wittwer was wearing grey shoes, blue jeans and a black leather coat.He is 5-feet 7-inches, tall, weighs 160-pounds, has brown hair and a mustache. (see the attached photo)

David Wittwer

His family has not seen or heard from him, and are concerned for his well-being. If you know where David Wittwer is, or have seen him recently, please call 9-1-1 or the Pottawattamie County Communications Center, at 712-328-5737.

Posted in News |