United Group Insurance

Hawkeyes Hold Off Purdue, 4-3

Sports

March 23rd, 2024 by admin

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The University of Iowa baseball team knocked off Purdue, 4-3, in thrilling fashion at Alexander Field on Saturday afternoon. 

All three phases of the game contributed to Iowa’s victory, beginning with a strong start from sophomore Cade Obermueller on the mound.

“I was happy with how our guys bounced back today,” head coach Rick Heller said. “This was a good team win where we showed a lot of toughness and grit. Our team cleaned things up defensively and held them to five hits. We came out ready to play and put some runs up in the first inning. We had a good start from Cade Obermueller. He battled and logged some innings for us.”

Obermueller pitched five innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs. The Iowa City, Iowa, native struck out four Boilermaker batters. Iowa was led offensively by designated hitter Davis Cop, who went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. Andy Nelson collected three singles and reached base four times, while SamPetersen had a pair of hits for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa scored first, plating two runs in the first on a two-RBI single by Cop. The Boilermakers would answer with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. An RBI-single by Petersen in the second inning gave Iowa the lead once again. Purdue would tie the game again in the fourth.

Obermueller turned duties over to the bullpen in the sixth in a 3-3 game. In the seventh inning, Kyle Huckstorf led off with a single. He would advance to third base after two wild pitches. Cop collected Iowa’s clutch hit with a single to bring home Huckstorf, giving Iowa the 4-3 lead.

Aaron Savary earned the win by firing 2 1/3 innings, striking out two batters and allowing just one hit. Jack Young followed and got the Hawkeyes out of trouble in the eighth. After Purdue put two runners on base, Young was called in from the bullpen. The Leclaire, Iowa, native allowed another runner to reach, setting up a bases-loaded situation for Purdue with one out. Young would secure a strikeout and a sharp lineout to Ben Wilmes in right field to end the threat unscathed.

“The bullpen was outstanding today,” Heller added.  “Aaron Savary did a really nice job and then Jack Young bailed us out in the eighth. It was a tough situation, but Jack continues to do a great job out of the bullpen for us.”

Benjamin DeTaeye came in with the save opportunity for Iowa in the ninth inning. Leadoff hitter Mike Bolton Jr. sent a fly ball to deep center. Huckstorf turned and sprinted towards the warning track before making an over-the-shoulder catch to keep Bolton Jr. off base. DeTaeye earned his first save of the season after forcing a groundout and flyout to secure the win.

“We are pleased to have Ben (DeTaeye) back in the mix. He’s feeling confident and beginning to throw like we all knew he could,” said Heller. “He came in and closed the door. Huckstorf made an unbelievable, Willie-Mays-like catch and that completely changed the ninth inning.”

Iowa outhit Purdue, 14-5. The Hawkeye pitching staff stranded nine Boilermaker baserunners.

UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes (12-10, 1-1 B1G) go for the series win over Purdue on Sunday at Alexander Field. First pitch is slated for Noon (CT) in West Lafayette.

 

Posted in Sports |

Hawkeyes Open Spring with Wins over Drake, Wayne State

Sports

March 23rd, 2024 by admin

DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa volleyball team opened its spring scrimmage season with two wins on Saturday, knocking off Drake and Wayne State.

“This was a really nice start to our spring scrimmages,” head coach Jim Barnes said. “We demonstrated great teamwork and tenacity. We had kills from every player and I was impressed with our offensive performance.”

Newcomer Claire Ammeraal led the Iowa offense with 84 assists and 11 kills. Redshirt freshman Alyssa Warden registered a team-high 17 kills, whileGabby Deery and Nataly Moravec notched 13 and 12, respectively.

“Claire showed that she is a game-changing setter,” Barnes added. “She can set, attack and block. She also features a jump serve that produces aces. Claire disrupts the opponent blocks.”

Arizona transfer Joy Galles led the team in digs and passed well for the Hawkeyes. Defensively, Anna Davis paced the team in blocks. Davis also had a strong hit percentage of .345.

“Joy led our team on defense and in serve receive,” said Barnes. “Her veteran leadership combined with the leadership from Anna, Claire and MichelleUrquhart has improved our team quickly.”

The Hawkeyes continue their spring schedule with a scrimmage in Ames, Iowa, on March 30.

Posted in Sports |

Collision in Creston Friday afternoon: Pain & Possible injuries reported

News

March 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Two women complained of pain and possibly injuries, but refused medical treatment at the scene, after their vehicles collided Friday afternoon, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, a 2014 Chevy Cruze driven by 55-year-old Gena Ann Chumbley, of Creston, struck a 2017 Chevy Cruze driven by 76-year-old Christine Marie Mansour, of Creston, a little after 4-p.m., Friday. The accident happened near the Casey’s Store on Sumner Avenue.

Authorities say Chumbley told an Officer on the scene, that she was in the inside lane wanted to turn right. She claimed she put on her turn signal before changing lanes, and struck the car driven by Mansour.

Mansour told police she did not see the turn signal, and barely had time to react before the vehicles collided. Both cars sustained functional, but significant damage, and were able to be driven away after the accident. Damage from the collision amounted to $10,000. Both drivers complained of neck/shoulder stiffness. Chumbley called-in shortly after officers left the scene, and complained of pain in her neck and back.

No citations were issued, but the Police report said an improper or erratic lane change by Chumbley contributed to the crash.

Posted in News |

Fire reported at the Cyclone Lodge in Harlan, Saturday

News

March 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Harlan, Iowa)[Update] – Firefighters from Harlan, Westphalia and Avoca responded to a fire in one of the rooms at the Cyclone Lodge at 2004 23rd Street, Saturday afternoon.

The call went out at 12:50 p.m. According to Harlan Chief Roger Bissen, arriving crews saw smoke coming from around a door in one of the rooms. Upon entry to the room, contents found left near the furnace were seen on fire, along with the curtains. The lodge was evacuated. No injuries were reported.

The motel room sustained smoke and water damage from the sprinkler system. With smoke damage observed on the ground floor of the business.

(Photos courtesy of Zach Ploen)

Posted in News |

Four Hawkeyes Earn All-America Honors

Sports

March 23rd, 2024 by admin

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Three University of Iowa wrestlers – Real Woods (141), Jared Franek (157) and Michael Caliendo (165) – capped their 2024 NCAA Championships run during Saturday’s medal rounds at the T-Mobile Center.

All three Hawkeyes finished as All-Americans at their respective weights at the championships. Woods finished fourth at 141, Caliendo finished fourth at 165 and Franek placed eighth.

Iowa’s fourth All-American –third-seeded Drake Ayala — will be the second of 10 matches in Session VI where he will face eighth-seeded Richard Figueroa of Arizona State in the 125-pound finals.

Iowa sits in fourth place with 67 points. Penn State is in first with 155.5 points, followed by Michigan with 71 points and Cornell with 68.5 points.

Woods went 1-1 during Session V, first winning a 4-0 decision over Iowa State’s Anthony Echemendia to advance to the third-place match. He fell to Nebraska’s ninth-seeded Brock Hardy, 7-6, to place fourth.

“Reflecting back on my career and my time at Iowa, I have a lot of gratitude,” said Woods. “I am grateful for all the people that are in the Iowa wrestling program, as well as in the Stanford wrestling program. I have had a lot of great experiences in my college career, and it has taught me a lot, helped me grow up as a man and helped me prepare for life ahead.”

The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native finishes his career with an 85-14 record. He is a four-time All-American, earning the honor twice at Iowa.

“As we all know, this time in life can be particularly challenging as you move ahead into adulthood,” said Woods. “I think that I am well prepared because of the environments I have been in at Iowa and at Stanford.”

Caliendo also went 1-1, winning 9-8 against Oklahoma State’s seventh-seeded Izzak Olejnik, in his first match before ending his season with a loss to top-seeded Keegan O’Toole of Missouri, 12-8. The All-America honor is the second of his career.

“The Iowa experience has been everything I could ask for,” said Caliendo. “I have all the resources to succeed, and I am going to keep taking advantage of that.”

The Geneva, Illinois, native ends his season with a 28-6 record.

“I had some good wins along the way,” said Caliendo. “But you always strive to get on top of the podium. That is what I am going to keep doing. I am going to keep training to get on top of the podium.”

After earning a spot on the podium in the blood round on Friday, Franek dropped the seventh-place match Saturday to finish eighth. He fell 11-2 to Nebraska’s Peyton Robb.

“The Iowa experience has been awesome,” said Franek. “It was everything and more than I could have imagined. Having the coaches that I have had the pleasure to work with and the teammates. Not only the guys on the team but also the RTC guys like Alex Marinelli, Kaleb Young, Jaydin Eierman, Spencer Lee and guys like that. They are around the program and have been here, done that. It is super cool to have guys like that around, pick their brains and get to work out with them, too.”

The Harwood, North Dakota, native finishes his career as a two-time All-American with an 119-28 career record.

“Overall, what I came here for is what I ultimately got out of it,” said Franek. “I am super happy. I wouldn’t take back the decision that I made.”

CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL RESULTS

141 | #3 Real Woods (Iowa) dec. #5 Anthony Echemedia (Iowa State), 4-0

165 | #6 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) dec. #7 Izzak Olejnik (Oklahoma State), 9-2

THIRD PLACE RESULTS

141 | #9 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) dec. #3 Real Woods (Iowa), 7-6

165 | #1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) dec. #6 Michael Caliendo (Iowa), 12-8

SEVENTH PLACE RESULTS

157 | #8 Peyton Robb (Nebraska) major dec. #10 Jared Franek (Iowa), 11-2

UP NEXT
Session VI of the NCAA Championships will begin at 6 p.m. (CT). The finals matches will be televised live on ESPN.

Posted in Sports |

Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 20 east of Moville to Lawton begin on Monday, April 1

News

March 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa –  If you drive on U.S. 20 in Woodbury County you need to be aware of an upcoming construction project that may impact your trip.

Beginning on Monday, April 1, until Friday, Aug. 30, weather permitting, crews will work on patching, milling, and resurfacing of U.S. 20 from east of Moville to Lawton according to the Iowa DOT Sioux City construction office. You will be shifted onto the lane where work is not taking place in the work zone.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Posted in News |

Severe Weather Awareness week is March 25th through the 29th

News, Weather

March 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD), National Weather Service (NWS), and Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) have joined together to promote Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 25-29. The week is an opportunity to review the severe weather hazards, exercise your sheltering plan, and increase awareness before the typical peak of severe weather season.

Chad Hahn, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines, says severe weather can happen ANY TIME of the year, including during the Winter months, as demonstrated by the tornadoes and damaging straight-line winds along with hail that’s occurred in Iowa and the rest of the country.

During the Spring and Summer, Hahn says, the weather pattern can be less predictable based on a variety of factors that typically aren’t seen during the Winter.

During Severe Weather Awareness Week, a different weather topic will be highlight each day. For instance, the topic on Monday (March 25th) is Lightning Safety.

Tornadoes are the focus of severe weather preparedness, on Tuesday. Hahn says Iowa averages around 50 tornadoes each year across the State. If you haven’t experienced the weather phenomenon, you shouldn’t take it for granted.

The annual statewide tornado drill will take place on Wed., March 27, beginning with a test at 10 a.m., of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radio alert system. Hail and Wind Safety will be the topic for Thursday. Severe Thunderstorms are defined as containing wind gusts of 58 miles per hour or more, and/or hail of one-inch in diameter or more. Friday, the severe weather focus will be on Flash Floods.

Anytime you encounter flooding on the roadways, remember to “Turn around, don’t drown.”

All Iowans should have a severe weather emergency plan. Preparations include:

  • Being aware of weather hazards by signing up for emergency notifications through Alert Iowa (alert.iowa.gov) or use a NOAA Weather Radio or other type of alerting tool.
  • Think about where you will go and what actions you will need to take to stay safe if you are impacted by severe weather. Designate a shelter – Establish shelter zones at home and work. Look for a secure place underground, like a basement or cellar. If these options aren’t available, choose a small room without windows, such as a closet, on the lowest level of the structure.
  • Make a family emergency plan and have a conversation with your loved ones about the importance of being prepared. Practice your disaster response plans at least twice a year. Regular drills help everyone learn the safety procedures and they let you test and tweak your plan so you can be better prepared in a real emergency.
  • Build an emergency kit with items you and your family will need if you must evacuate your home. In the event of a power outage or severe weather, it’s good to have certain supplies on hand, including a first aid kit, a tool kit, blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, and a list of important phone numbers.
  • Additional severe weather tips and information can be found at www.weather.gov, and on social media.

Posted in News, Weather |

Des Moines area video production company owner arrested on child porn-related charges

News

March 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa [WHO-TV] — The owner of a Des Moines area video production company was booked into the Polk County Jail Thursday on multiple child pornography-related charges. 57-year-old Frederick Amundson, of West Des Moines, is charged with 22 counts of Purchase/Possess Depiction of Minor in Sex Act 1st Offense. The charges stem from an investigation started in April of 2022.

An application for a search warrant in the case said an employee at Gate House Pictures, located at 6611 University Avenue #104, contacted the Windsor Heights Police Department after finding images of child pornography in the trash file of a shared computer. The officer who responded to the initial call observed the photos on the computer.

Windsor Heights police spoke with Amundson, the owner of the business, a few days after the initial call. According to the application, Amundson admitted to possessing approximately 12 images of nude underage girls. He claimed he downloaded the photos onto a work computer.

The computer and other electronic storage devices were seized during the investigation and the FBI did a digital forensic examination, according to court documents. In February of this year, the FBI passed along evidence that 22 pictures depicting child pornography involving nude females between the ages of 6 and 12 had been found on Amundson’s computer.

A $100,000 cash-only bond has been set for Amundson. A no-contact order was also put in place prohibiting him from having contact with anyone under the age of 18. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 1.

Posted in News |

Atlantic City Council… extra news

News

March 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, Wednesday, held a Public Hearing on authorizing the submission of a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) application for the Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) Water Project/improvements. Dani Briggs, SWIPCO Community Development Specialist, attending the meeting by phone, summarized the scope of the project.

AMU will provide a local match of approximately $1,054, 479. The total project cost is estimated at more than $1.08-million. The City will apply for the grant funds, and when received, will act as a pass-through agency for the funds to AMU. There is no cost to the City for its role in the matter.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed an Order to Adopt a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the Nishna Valley YMCA, for 2024 management of the Sunny Pool. Councilperson Elaine Otte said the matter was previously discussed and reviewed in a Personnel and Finance Committee meeting.

The new management agreement includes pay for lifeguards at $15 per hour, an hourly pool manager rate of pay of $25, and a management fee of $20,000.

All lifeguards will be employed, hired, trained, provided with uniforms, and scheduled through the Y. The city will reimburse the Y for the lifeguards’ wages, the pool manager’s fee, and the management fee. The city will be responsible for all other costs associated with running Sunnyside Pool.

The Council set their meeting on April 3rd as the date/time for a Public Hearing/additional action, on proposals to enter into General Obligation Loan Agreements, and to Borrow Money for the same. City Administrator John Lund offered an explanation for the hearing.

And, the Atlantic City Council agreed to accept a recommendation from the Personnel & Finance Committee, with regard to FY 2025 Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Progress and Beautification Budgets.

They approved an updated retainer agreement with Otto, Lorence and Wiederstein, which increases compensation from $2,000 per month, to $2,500 per month, and reflects changes in who the Assistant City Attorney is.

Most of the work for the City in legal matters, will be performed by David Wiederstein.

Posted in News |

Ft. Dodge Police identify Officers involved in a fatal shooting

News

March 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

FORT DODGE, Iowa — Officials with the Fort Dodge Police Department, Friday, identified the four police officers who were dispatched to a scene that turned deadly, when an officer shot and killed a suspect. On March 16th, police shot and killed 24-year-old Tyler Stansberry of Fort Dodge, after he reportedly charged at the officers, while carrying two knives. Officers were called to the scene following a report of a person in a home, who was out of control, and had injured a dog. When they entered, Stansberry allegedly ran at the officers while holding the knives, leading to an officer shooting Stansberry.

The four officers involved were:

  • Officer Nicholas Ruggles
  • Sergeant Matthew Webb
  • Officer Andrew Lane
  • Officer Matthew English

All four are still on critical incident leave as the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations continues to investigate the fatal shooting.

Posted in News |