Iowa DB Amani Hooker headed to NFL

January 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa junior defensive back Amani Hooker says he will enter the NFL draft.
Hooker, a first-team All-Big Ten pick and the league’s defensive back of the year, announced Saturday on social media that he’s leaving school early and turning pro.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Hooker starred as a hybrid safety/linebacker for the Hawkeyes (9-4) in 2018, picking off three passes while making 65 total tackles. He had six tackles in Tuesday’s 27-22 win over Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl.

Posted in Sports |

Carleton’s 33 leads No. 25 Iowa State women by Kansas 82-73

Sports

January 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Bridget Carleton scored 33 points on 11-of-17 shooting, moving up two spots in Iowa State’s all-time top 10 scoring last, and the No. 25 Cyclones defeated Kansas State 82-73 on Saturday. Kristin Scott had a perfect day shooting going 7 for 7 with three 3-pointers for 17 points for the Cyclones (12-2, 2-0 Big 12). Carleton moved up to seventh on the career list with her 29th 20-point game.

Iowa State, which has won six straight, outscored the Jayhawks 22-12 in the second quarter to lead 39-29 at the half. The Cyclones were 5 of 10 from 3-point range and shot 57 percent overall in the first half. They stretched the lead to 17 after three quarters and 21 early in the fourth quarter before Kansas raced back. An 8-0 run, followed by a 10-0, had the Jayhawks within 63-71 when Kylee Kopatich hit a 3-pointer with 3:14 to play. Kopatich had a 3 on the next possession to make it a seven-point deficit but the Jayhawks couldn’t stay hot and Iowa State made 9 of 10 from the foul line in the final 2½ minutes.

Christalah Lyons led Kansas (10-2, 0-1) with a career-high 24 points. The Jayhawks were off to their best start since opening 13-1 eight seasons back and had won seven straight at home before losing their seventh-straight to Iowa State.

Posted in Sports |

Eastern Iowa man sentenced to life for killing cab driver

News

January 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of an Iowa City cab driver. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that 42-year-old Curtis Cortez Jones was sentenced Friday after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in November for the 2017 death of Ricky Lillie.

Jones maintained his innocence in a statement read to the sentencing judge. Lillie’s mother said in a victim statement that she wishes Iowa had the death penalty. Jones is also charged in the fatal shooting of Iowa City bail bondsman Jonathan Wieseler. That trial is scheduled to begin on Friday at the Polk County Courthouse. Both trials were moved because of intense publicity.

Posted in News |

Eastern Iowa siblings get probation for sham marriage scheme

News

January 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been turned over to immigration authorities and his sister sentenced to probation after they set up a sham marriage to keep the man in the United States. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 27-year-old Selmir Salkanovic, of Waterloo, was accused of marrying a U.S. citizen purely to obtain an upgraded immigration status after he overstayed a tourism visa.

His sister, Sanela Dedic, was accused of paying off an unidentified American woman to be the bride in the fake marriage. The siblings pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Dedic allegedly offered to pay the woman $5,000 and gave her a Ford Taurus. She also allegedly asked the woman to fill out immigration paperwork and travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for a hearing for her brother.

Posted in News |

Northern Iowa nature center to get $386K in renovations

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa nature center is getting $386,000 in renovations this year. The Globe Gazette reports that the Lime Creek Nature Center announced plans to replace the center’s original main-level exhibits with “museum-quality,” ”interactive” and “durable” ones that will highlight the area’s natural resources and the unique features and history of the Lime Creek Conservation Area. It’s also designed to provide an engaging educational experience for visitors.

The nature center opened in 1984 and was one of the first in Iowa. It features displays that include mounted animals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and natural resources as well as an auditorium and library. Managers say some of the center’s current displays are outdated and deteriorating.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

New Proving Grounds park near Dubuque honors Deere history

News

January 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A panel has named a new 137-acre park near Dubuque ahead of work to add a mountain bike trail system and disc golf course. The Dubuque County Conservation Board announced this week it had named the park Proving Grounds Recreation Area, according to the Telegraph Herald . Deere & Co. donated the land for the park, and the name reflects how Deere had long used the property to test its equipment.

The park has been open for hiking and bow hunting. Crews began working on park projects since fall and have added a paved parking area, restrooms and a pavilion. Upcoming work includes building a 7½-mile mountain bike trail system and an 18-hold disc golf course.

The development costs, which are expected to total about $300,000, will be covered by the county, state grants and fundraising. The mountain-biking trail will be the third in Dubuque County, along with one in Asbury’s Cloie Creek Park and another being completed at the Interstate Power Co. Forest Preserve. Brett Errthum, president of Tri-State Mountain Bike Riders, said his group is partnering with the county and expects work on the trails to start in the spring or summer. The trail will open in phases.

Brett Blewett, a member of Dubuque Disc Golf, said the new course will be the county’s first featuring 18 holes. Two other county courses include nine holes.

Posted in News |

SHIRLEY HARRY, 89, of Orient (Svcs. Jan. 8, 2019)

Obituaries

January 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

SHIRLEY HARRY, 89, of Orient, died Friday, January 4, 2019, at the The Every Step Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston. Funeral services for SHIRLEY HARRY will be held 11-a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8th, at the Orient United Methodist Church. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield on Monday, January 7^th, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 5-until 7-p.m.; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Orient Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Orient United Methodist Church following the committal services at the cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Jude’s Cancer Research.

SHIRLEY HARRY is survived by:

Her daughters – Chris (Jim) Corkrean, and Deb Harry all of Orient

Her sons – Dan (Peggy) Harry, of Chinook, Montana and Scott (Lynne) Harry, of Orient

Her sister – Betty Craig of Cedar Rapids.

10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Saturday Morning Coaches Show 01/05/2019

Podcasts, Sports

January 5th, 2019 by admin

KJAN Sports Director Chris Parks talks Atlantic Trojans winter sports. This week we speak with Head Girls Basketball Coach Dan Vargason, Head Boys Basketball Coach Jeff Ebling, and Head Wrestling Coach Tim Duff.