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Atlantic School Board votes to cancel Superintendent Search firm hiring

News

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board Wednesday voted 4-to 1 (with Board Member Laura McLean the lone No vote), to forego the hiring of a Superintendent search firm, and instead act on renewing at their next regular meeting, a contract for full-time superintendent with the current, Interim Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen.

Prior to their vote, during discussion on the matter, McLean said she had made a promise to the community to make the effort try and hire a search firm, after the Board was rushed into getting an interim superintendent the last time around.

She acknowledged it would take a great deal of time and Board energy to go through the full process, but she wanted to hear more from the public and staff in moving forward. Board member Josh McLaren said he thinks hiring a search firm is a waste of time and money.

In other action, the Board approved a requested extension of the District’s share of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from 10-years to 15-years, following a request from Vision Atlantic, with regard to the Camblin Edition Housing Project, providing the district’s attorneys look over the agreement and give their blessing. The TIF funds will be used to focus on expanded childcare, quality housing and quality of life amenities. Earlier in the evening, the Board heard from Vision Atlantic President Christina Bateman and Vice President Nicholas Hunt.

Bateman warned of how not approving the TIF extension would impact the project financially, and emphasized how other entities have already passed the extension on their end.

In her report to the Board, Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen was pleased to report the District was awarded a Robotics grant that was applied for.

With that having been said, Dr. Johnsen said she would like the Board’s approval during a future meeting, to hire a Robotics Coach. She said she also received a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) from the City of Atlantic, with regard to the SRO (School Resource Officer) position the Atlantic Police Department has received a grant for.

The Board discussed Student Support Services, and approved the following personnel recommendations:

Resignations: Jordan Zarbano, Evening High School Custodian; Lindsey Thomas, Elementary Special Education paraprofessional (Effective Oct. 9th).

Retirements: Jon Peterson, Middle School Teacher (effective the end of the 2024-25 school year). And, recommendations to hire: Harrison Heogh, Volunteer HS Football Coach (Non-paid position); Dan Vargason, Interim HS Girls Soccer Coach; Mackenzie Morris, Elementary Special Education paraprofessional.

And: CTSO sponsors requirement for Perkins Grant Funds; 2024 Volunteer Coaches for Winter Sports; 2025 Spring Sports Coaches. The Board’s final order of business was to approve an FFA Fruit Sales Fundraiser request for Oct. 10th through the 30th.

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 10/9/24

News

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports six recent arrests.

On Oct. 3rd, 79-year-old Lloyd Lawrence Kolker, of Sioux City, IA, was arrested on two counts Possession of a Controlled Substance (Bond $2,000).

There were three arrests Oct. 7th: 30-year-old Roman Sifuentes, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, & possession of a controlled substance ($2,000 bond); 60-year-old Michael Robert Aguirre, of Red Oak, was arrested on a warrant for Failure To Appear (Bond $5,000); and, 34-year-old Taylor Christian Shanks, of Omaha, was arrested on warrants for two-counts Violation of Probation (Bond $4,000).

There were two arrests on Oct. 8th in Mills County: 52-year-old Scott Michael Hardman, of Malvern, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension (300 bond); and, 37-year-old Nicole Katherine Spracklin, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a Mills County warrant for FTA (No Bond).

 

Iowa Hoops Announces Start Times, TV Information

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa, in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference, announced Wednesday start times and television information for men’s basketball games for the 2024-25 season.

A minimum of 28 of Iowa’s 31 regular season games will be televised. The Hawkeyes will appear on FS1 12 times, BTN 10 times and NBC and FOX once, while the Jan. 11 home game against Indiana will be on either FOX or FS1.

Iowa will also be streaming services for seven games – Peacock (three games) and B1G+ (four games).

The Hawkeyes’ home game against Wisconsin on Jan. 7 will be televised on NBC, while the regular season finale at Nebraska on March 9 will be on FOX.

Iowa will be on FS1 for games at Michigan (Dec. 7), Iowa State (Dec. 12), at Wisconsin (Jan. 3), at USC (Jan. 14), at UCLA (Jan. 17), Penn State (Jan. 24), at Ohio State (Jan. 27), at Maryland (Feb. 16), Washington (Feb. 22), at Illinois (Feb. 25), at Northwestern (Feb. 28) and Michigan State (March 6).

Iowa will appear on NBC’s Peacock (subscription) three times – Northwestern (Dec. 3), Nebraska (Jan. 7) and Purdue (Feb. 4). The first three home games of the season along with the Nov. 19 game against Rider will be on B1G+ (subscription).

Hawkeye Wave Voted #1 College Sports Tradition

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — USA Today announced on Tuesday the ‘Hawkeye Wave’ as the 2024 Readers’ Choice Award for Best College Sports Tradition.

Surpassing some of the greatest traditions in college sports, 70,000+ Hawkeye and football fans alike turn their attention from the field to the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital overlooking Kinnick Stadium. At the end of the first quarter, fans wave to pediatric patients and their families watching the game, creating a moment of connection and hope.

The Wave began in 2017 and has quickly become one of the most beloved college sports traditions across the nation. The University of Iowa, along with the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital have collaborated on initiatives supporting young patients long before the distinguished Wave. In 2009, the Kid Captain program was introduced to honor these patients and share their inspirational stories. Each home Iowa football game features a Kid Captain, who receives a commemorative jersey, special recognition from both the hospital and the football team, and opportunities for behind-the-scenes experiences. Along with that, each Kid Captain chooses what song is played in Kinnick Stadium during the Hawkeye Wave.

There were several honorable mentions, including the Army-Navy Game, Purdue’s Big Bass Drum, and Wisconsin’s Jump Around, Texas A&Ms The 12th Man, Virginia Tech’s Enter Sandman and Script Ohio.

ISU Announces Men’s Basketball Times and TV Networks

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IRVING, Texas – Tipoff times and TV designations for the 2024-25 Iowa State men’s basketball season have been released by the Big 12 Conference.

Iowa State’s first three games will all tipoff at 7 p.m. and air on ESPN+. Following the Maui Invitational, Iowa State will host Marquette in the Big 12/BIG EAST Battle, tipping off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

The Cyclones will face Omaha in the first of two games airing on CBS Sports Network, with tipoff set for 12 p.m. Iowa State’s Big 12 opener at Colorado will also air on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m.

Iowa State will once again welcome the crew from CBS to Hilton Coliseum, as the game against Baylor on Jan. 4 with air on CBS at 1 p.m. Iowa State will also be honoring the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 teams that weekend. The Kansas Jayhawks come to Hilton Coliseum for a Jan. 15 game at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

The Cyclones will play back-to-back games on ESPN’s Big Monday, traveling to Arizona for a 9:30 p.m. tipoff on ESPN on Jan. 27, while playing the following Monday at Kansas for an 8 p.m. tipoff.

Arizona makes a trip to Hilton Coliseum for a Saturday night game at 8 p.m. on ESPN March 1. The regular season finale at Kansas State will air on CBS with a 12:30 p.m. tipoff.

The Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. from March 11-15.

A complete schedule, including non-conference games, can be found here.

 

2024-25 Season Ticket Information:

New Season Tickets – Demand for season tickets continues to be strong. We expect a variety of seating options will be available for Cyclone Club members and public ticket buyers. To join the waitlist please click here.

Single-Game Tickets – A public ticket on sale has been set for Wednesday, October 23. Current men’s basketball season ticket holders and Jr. Cyclone Club members and their families will have an exclusive presale. Detailed information will be shared with these groups in October.

Should you have questions in regard to requesting season tickets please contact the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office by phone at 888-478-2925 or by email at tickets@iastate.edu.

 

2024-25 Iowa State Basketball Schedule

Nov. 4 – Mississippi Valley State (Stripe Hilton) – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Nov. 11 – Kansas City – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Nov. 18 – IU Indianapolis – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Nov. 25 – Auburn (Maui Invitational) – 8 p.m. – ESPNU
Nov. 26 – North Carolina or Dayton (Maui Invitational) – 2:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Nov. 27 – Maui Invitational – TBD – ESPN/ESPN2
Dec. 4 – Marquette (White Out!) – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Dec. 8 – Jackson State – 5 p.m. – ESPN+
Dec. 12 – at Iowa – TBA – TBA
Dec. 15 – Omaha – 12 p.m. – CBS Sports Network
Dec. 22 – Morgan State – 12 p.m. – ESPN+
Dec. 30 – at Colorado – 8 p.m. – CBS Sports Network
Jan. 4 – Baylor (2000/2001 MBB Reunion) – 1 p.m. – CBS
Jan. 7 – Utah – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Jan. 11 – at Texas Tech – 1 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Jan. 15 – Kansas – 6 p.m. – ESPN2
Jan. 18 – at West Virginia – 4 p.m. – ESPN+
Jan. 21 – UCF – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Jan. 25 – at Arizona State – 1 p.m. – ESPN+
Jan. 27 – at Arizona – 9:30 p.m. – ESPN
Feb. 1 – Kansas State (White Out) – 1 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Feb. 3 – at Kansas – 8 p.m. – ESPN
Feb. 8 – TCU – 12 p.m. – ESPN+
Feb. 11 – at UCF – 6 p.m. – ESPN+
Feb. 15 – Cincinnati (Color-It-Cardinal) – 3 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Feb. 18 – Colorado – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Feb. 22 – at Houston – 1 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Feb. 25 – at Oklahoma State – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
March 1 – Arizona (Gold Rules!) – 8 p.m. – ESPN
March 4 – BYU (Stripe Hilton) – 8 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
March 8 – at Kansas State – 12:30 p.m. – CBS
March 11-15 – Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship
(All Times Central)

2024 SEVENTH Iowa High School Volleyball Rankings

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 5A
School
Record
LW
1
Ankeny Centennial
24-3
1
2
Pleasant Valley
22-2
2
3
Ankeny
33-4
3
4
Dowling Catholic
20-7
4
5
Indianola
26-4
5
6
Waukee Northwest
24-8
6
7
Cedar Falls
18-3
7
8
Cedar Rapids Prairie
23-9
9
9
Waukee
11-13
8
10
Iowa City Liberty
11-15
11
11
West Des Moines Valley
9-15
12
12
Sioux City East
14-10
13
13
Iowa City West
10-11
NR
14
Iowa City High
14-10
10
15
Linn-Mar
14-12
14
Dropped Out: Ottumwa (15)                                           
Class 4A
School
Record
LW
1
Cedar Rapids Xavier
23-4
1
2
Sioux City Bishop Heelan
29-2
2
3
North Scott
20-4
3
4
Clear Creek-Amana
30-5
4
5
Lewis Central
19-6
5
6
Pella
31-7
6
7
Glenwood
27-5
7
8
Carlisle
21-8
9
9
Marion
17-11
8
10
ADM
15-7
10
11
Norwalk
22-13
11
12
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
14-11
12
13
MOC-Floyd Valley
12-9
13
14
Ballard
13-11
NR
15
Grinnell
11-11
14
 
Dropped Out: North Polk (15)
 
 
Class 3A
School
Record
LW
1
Mount Vernon
32-3
       1
2
Western Christian
19-11
2
3
West Delaware
28-3
3
4
Dubuque Wahlert Catholic
20-7
4
5
Davenport Assumption
18-6
5
6
Sioux Center
22-2
6
7
Kuemper Catholic
27-2
7
8
Mid-Prairie
23-5
8
9
Cherokee
19-2
9
10
Wilton
24-3
10
11
Solon
22-10
11
12
Anamosa
27-5
12
13
Roland-Story
20-2
13
14
Clarinda
22-5
14
15
Nevada
26-9
15
 
Dropped Out: None
 
Class 2A
School
Record
LW
1
Denver
38-3
1
2
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
26-2
2
3
Beckman Catholic
26-6
3
4
Dike-New Hartford
15-12
4
5
Aplington-Parkersburg
24-5
6
6
South Hardin
21-6
5
7
Boyden-Hull
13-8
7
8
Pella Christian
20-8
9
9
Iowa City Regina
15-11
8
10
Hinton
15-4
10
11
Grundy Center
20-10
11
12
Sumner-Fredericksburg
20-13
13
13
Wapsie Valley
22-12
NR
14
West Burlington
34-6
12
15
Shenandoah
21-7
14
 
Dropped Out: Jesup (15)                                                                                                                                    
 
Class 1A
School
Record
LW
1
Ankeny Christian
26-4
1
2
Holy Trinity Catholic
20-5
3
3
St. Ansgar
22-6
4
4
Riverside
25-3
2
5
BCLUW
19-7
5
6
Janesville
18-14
6
7
North Tama
18-14
8
8
Don Bosco
13-10
7
9
Sidney
20-6
12
10
River Valley
24-2
9
11
Akron-Westfield
15-4
10
12
Stanton
16-13
NR
13
Fremont-Mills
17-9
13
14
Southwest Valley
22-3
14
15
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
16-15
15
Dropped Out: East Mills (11)

DINNEBIER AGAIN NAMED TO BECKY HAMMON MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESEASON WATCH LIST

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

HOPEWELL, N.J. – Drake senior guard Katie Dinnebier has again received national recognition with her inclusion on the 2025 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List, announced this morning by Her Hoop Stats.

Dinnebier, the reigning MVC Player of the Year, was named a Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List member in both 2024 preseason and mid-season iterations. She was also a semifinalist and finalist for last season’s award.

A Waukee High School graduate, Dinnebier became ninth player in program history to win Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year last season and was also named to All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team. She earned MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team honors and collected Patty Viverito MVC Tournament Most Outstanding Player award. The Waukee High School graduate was included as a finalist for Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award. She led Drake and was atop or near the top of the league with 18.1 points, 6.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game and eclipsed 1,000 career points as a junior, currently sits at 1,333. Dinnebier ranks 10th all-time with .370 career three-point percentage and second all-time with .856 career free throw percentage, fourth all-time with 548 career assists, marking the seventh player in program history to dish out 500+ assists, and cracked top 10 on all-time steals list with 188.

This year’s watch list includes representatives from 22 teams and 15 conferences. Three teams — Fairfield, Norfolk State and South Dakota State — placed two players on the watch list, and three conferences — the AAC, MAAC and Summit League — placed three players on the preseason list.

Five players become the first to represent their school on any Hammon Award watch list: Delanie Crawford (Tulsa), Akasha Davis (Lamar), DeeDee Hagemann (Memphis), Bella Smuda (Liberty), and Harmoni Turner (Harvard).

2025 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List

Meghan Andersen, So., F, Fairfield

Anastasia Boldyreva, Sr., C, Middle Tennessee

Janelle Brown, Gr., G, Fairfield

Delanie Crawford, Sr., G, Tulsa

Akasha Davis, Sr., F/C, Lamar

Katie Dinnebier, Sr., G, Drake

Yvonne Ejim, Sr., F, Gonzaga

Allyson Fertig, Jr., C, Wyoming

DeeDee Hagemann, Sr., G, Memphis

Emani Jefferson, Gr., G, FGCU

Jordyn Jenkins, Sr., F, UTSA

Diamond Johnson, Jr., G, Norfolk State

Grace Larkins, Jr., G, South Dakota

Megan McConnell, Jr., G, Duquesne

Brooklyn Meyer, Sr., F, South Dakota State

Paige Meyer, Sr., G, South Dakota State

Ny’Ceara Pryor, So., G, Sacred Heart

Emma Ronsiek, Gr., F, Colorado State

Rachael Rose, Sr., G, Wofford

Adrianna Smith, Sr., F, Maine

Bella Smuda, RSr., C, Liberty

Harmoni Turner, Sr., G, Harvard

Chellia Watson, Gr., G, Buffalo

Kierra Wheeler, Sr., F, Norfolk State

Katelyn Young, Sr., F, Murray State

To be eligible for this award, players must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be “mid-major.” The following conferences are considered high-major for the purposes of this award and thus ineligible: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, and SEC. Additionally, players from Oregon State and Washington State are ineligible this year as membership in the Pac-12 Conference evolves.

The 15-player midseason watch list will be announced in January, followed by 10 semifinalists announced in February. The five finalists will be announced in early March, with the winner announced around the Final Four. The list is fluid, and players may play their way on or off it over the course of the season.

Hammon was a three-time All-American at Colorado State and led the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999, the program’s only appearance to date. She was signed by the New York Liberty in 1999 and traded to the San Antonio Stars in 2007, where she played the rest of her career. Hammon retired in 2014 as a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. In 2016 she was named one of the top 20 players in WNBA history and was recently named to the W25.

Hammon became the second female coach in NBA history when she began coaching for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Additionally, Hammon is the only woman to be a head coach in the NBA Summer League and the only woman to be a member of an NBA All-Star coaching staff. Currently, Hammon is the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces and won the 2022 and 2023 WNBA Championships.

Her Hoop Stats was founded in 2017 to unlock better insight about women’s basketball at all levels. We began as a statistics site focused on providing consistent, reliable, and easy-to-access data about women’s basketball for both mobile and desktop environments. Her Hoop Stats has expanded to become a leading independent voice in the women’s game providing content through our newsletter, podcast network, YouTube channel, and social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

Corner Conference Volleyball Tournament Schedule Released

Sports

October 9th, 2024 by Christian Adams

The 2024 Corner Conference Volleyball Schedule has been released. The Tournament will start on Monday October 14th with the championship game scheduled on Thursday the 17th. The games were scheduled based on seeding determined by the teams’ conference winning percentage with overall record with serving as a tie breaker. There will also be two consolation games on the 15th and a third-place game on the 17th.  The games will take place at multiple in-conference locations.

Monday October 14th

#5 Griswold vs #4 East Mills – 5:30 pm at Sidney High School

#3 Fremont-Mills vs #6 Bedford – 5:30 pm at Stanton High School

#1 Sidney vs #8 Hamburg – 7 pm at Sidney High School

#2 Stanton vs #7 Essex – 7 pm at Stanton High School

Tuesday October 15th

Semi-Final #1 – 5:30 pm at Sidney High School

5th place consolation game: 3rd highest remaining seed vs 4th highest remaining seed – 5:30 pm at TBD

7th place consolation game: Highest remaining seed vs 2nd highest remaining seed – 7 pm at TBD

Semi-Final #2 – 7 pm at Sidney High School

Thursday October 17th

3rd place game – 5:30 pm at East Mills

Championship Game – 7 pm at East Mills

Congresswoman Hinson says FEMA should focus on U-S citizens

News

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is defending her social media comments that Americans hit by Hurricane Helene were “left in the lurch” because FEMA funding was used for illegal immigration. The Administration and FEMA have pushed back after criticism of their handling of hurricane relief, saying there is a lot of misinformation and it is confusing for people. Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she first raised the issue five months ago during a hearing with the FEMA director before the current Hurricanes.

“These were programs that they had to prop up because of a crisis they created. And the contrast here is that I don’t think a taxpayer dollar, a single one should be spent bailing out sanctuary cities or incentivizing illegal immigration,” Hinson says. Hinson says FEMA’s mission should be clear.

“Their mission should be to singularly focus on helping American citizens. But if you roll back the tape on this, isn’t the first time that the administration has put illegals over Americans,” Hinson says. “They tried to divert resources for veterans to the southern border, trying to take doctors from the V-A and healthcare providers, and then they have diverted federal air marshals from protecting Americans on commercial flights to the southern border.”

Hinson says she has first-hand experience on these issues. “I was down at the border twice, and on one of my trips down there, they had employees helping to navigate the situation at the southern border from FEMA and from T-S-A, and those were just the ones I came into contact with on my short border tour. So Americans are tired of this administration putting illegal immigrants first while families are suffering, and that’s the intention behind my tweets,” Hinson says.

Hinson made her comments during a conference call with reporters.

Feenstra opponent Melton questions Netanyahu’s prosecution of war

News

October 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa [follow-up to previous story]) -Ryan Melton, the Democrat running against Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra, says the U-S should support Israel’s defense and its response to the October 7th attacks — but there should be limits.  “Hamas is horrible. Everything that can be done that still respects the dignity of the Palestinian folks in Gaza, in the West Bank…should be done to try to rid Palestine of Hamas,” Melton says. “However…we should not be providing offensive military funding to Netanyahu.” Melton says the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians last October were horrible and indefensible.

“But I think Netanyahu has really amplied problems here and has played into the hands of Hamas here,” Melton says. “…There have been tens of thousands of Palestinians that have lost their lives, the dropping of non-precision munitions upon densely populated areas, while Hamas fighters were in the tunnels, unscathed from those.” Melton points to a recent poll showing 64 percent of Israeli citizens favor a cease fire linked with the release of hostages held by Hamas.

“I think it’s hard for anyone to really put together a robust argument that what Netanyahu is doing in Palestine is increasing the likelihood that Israelis will have a longer lasting peace as well,” Melton says. Israel is fighting Hezbollah, another Iranian-based terrorist group, in Lebanon. Melton says Hezbollah is obviously a horrible organization, but that doesn’t mean Netanyahu’s decision-making can’t be questioned.

“Is the person on the Israeli side that’s leading the offensive cognizant and necessarily concerned about minimizing civilian casualties?” Melton asks. “And his track record pretty clearly since October 7 has been no.”

Melton made his comments during a recent appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S. As Radio Iowa reported this (Wednesday) morning, Congressman Feenstra says the United States must stand with Israel as it roots out terrorism.