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Four Iowa cities to get help applying for federal flood mitigation grants

News

December 8th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Four Iowa cities are getting technical assistance in seeking federal grants for projects to prevent future flooding. The Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa will help Columbus Junction, Dubuque, Manchester and Muscatine compile the data to make the best argument for federal funding. Iowa Flood Center program manager Kate Giannini says they’re working with the American Flood Coalition on the project.

“We have a lot of tools and equipment and infrastructure to help with those communities during the grant application process,” Giannini says, “and the American Flood Coalition has the administrative experts and policy experts to help them navigate the process of accessing those federal funds and what’s the best source of funding for the projects they identify.” Federal grants are typically awarded to larger cities that have professional grant writers on staff.

“We really see the federal infrastructure funds as historical funds that can have some generational impacts,” Giannini says. “..This effort is really working with those smaller communities that don’t really have the access or the capacity to go after these larger infrastructure funds that are available right now.” According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, one-point-eight BILLION dollars in grants will be awarded between now and the end of September for flood mitigation projects.

Graphic of American Flood Coalition’s Iowa Flood Resilient Communities Cohort (Used with AFC’s permission)

Dubuque had significant Mississippi River flooding this spring. In 2008, Columbus Junction was major flooding from the Iowa and Cedar Rivers. In Manchester, the Maquoketa River caused major flooding in 2018. Manchester City Manager Tony Vick says the river will rise again — and the city wants to be prepared. “We really want to make sure we maximize the bang for the buck when we do something,” Vick says, “…whether it’s protecting existing houses, whether it’s being able to do some removal nutrients from the water so we’re not having some of that pollution and control issues.”

Vick says this is a great opportunity for Manchester to be part of pilot project in Iowa that’s modeled after an American Flood Coalition project in South Carolina. “We have some ideas of what we’d like to do or think need to be done in order to help us with flood protection and this is a way for us to be able to identify what programs are available for us through the federal government,” Vick says. “There are different opportunities that are available and we want to make sure we find the ones that are the right fit.”

Muscatine officials have been working on a long-term project to shore up an island levee to protect businesses from Mississippi River flooding. Staff from the American Flood Coalition and the Iowa Flood Center will meet with officials from each of the four Iowa cities monthly and hopefully file grant applications next summer or fall. The Walton Family Foundation is providing the money to support the work of the American Flood Coalition and the Iowa Flood Center on this pilot project.

ATM service person’s vehicle broken into Thursday in Council Bluffs

News

December 8th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Council Bluffs (IA) Police Department report that at around 2:34-p.m. Thursday (12/7/23), officers were dispatched to the Casey’s General Store, 15 North 16th Street, for a report of a vehicle break-in. An investigation revealed that a suspect broke the window of an unoccupied vehicle belonging to a company who services ATMs while the vehicle was parked in the Casey’s lot.

The suspect gained access to the vehicle and removed a bag that contained a yet to be determined amount of US Currency.

Suspect’s vehicle

The suspect was driving a silver Hyundai Tucson SUV with paper dealer plates. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect vehicle.

The suspect vehicle is similar to one that has been used in a previous ATM robbery in Omaha, NE. Please see the attached photograph.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information that could assist in this investigation is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728 or on-line tips can be submitted at: https://www.councilbluffs-ia.gov/FormCenter/Police-Department-2/Online-CrimeStoppers-Tip-70

S.W.A.T. Girls Dominate at Atlantic Triangular

Sports

December 7th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

The S.W.A.T. girls’ wrestling team handled Red Oak 72-12 and beat Creston 54-30 Thursday night in Atlantic.

S.W.A.T. won nine of the 14 matches by forfeit against Red Oak. Mia South (145) won by fall, Stella Beattie (155) and Cadence Kinze won by fall. For Red Oak, Josie McCunn won by fall at (135), and Elaina Knipers (130) won by fall.

S.W.A.T. then won nine  matches against Creston. Three won by forfeit, six by fall, including unranked Haley Armstrong pinning Savannah Sisted at (235). Sisted was ranked 12th according to the latest iawrestle rankings.

The way S.W.A.T. competed at the Triangular brought Head Coach Tiffany South great pride to see how well her girls competed.

Coach South is hoping that the Valkyrie will learn from tonight’s success and continue to improve each week.

Saturday, December 9th is when S.W.A.T. returns to action in the WDM Valley Invite.

Atlantic Wrestling has strong showcase at Triangular

Sports

December 7th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Trojan Wrestling went 1-1 at home losing against Creston 48-27 and winning against Red Oak 42-39 Thursday night. Creston would go 2-0 defeating Red Oak 68-11.

Creston 48 Atlantic, 27

The Panthers won six matches by forfeit and notched pinpoints from Lincoln Keeler (132) and William Bollinger (175) with dominate performances by both.

The Trojans won six of the eight contested matches. Tayle Jordan (106) and Evan Sorensen (285) won by fall. Braxton Hass (113) won by decision; Aiden Smith (132) won by tech fall; Kalvin Hayes (144) won by major decision, and Cohen Bruce won by decision at (190).

Atlantic 42 Red Oak 39

Jayden Harter was looked to for getting a pin for the Trojans to win, and he delivered with a fall in 3:05 at (132), and Atlantic won 39-36. Atlantic won three matches by forfeit and four falls. Atlantic Head Wrestling Coach Tim Duff was proud of the way his team battled against Red Oak

Red Oak won five matches by forfeit, two falls, and one decision.

Creston 68 Red Oak 11

In the Red Oak match, Creston won four matches by forfeit, six falls, a tech fall, and two major decisions. Kyler Sandholm (144) won by a pin for Red Oak; teammate Andrew Johnson won by tech fall.

Next up for Atlantic is a road trip to Council Bluffs Classic.

The Council Bluff Classic is a two day tournament starting Friday at Noon.

KATHLEEN IONE RASMUSSEN, 94, of Audubon (private)

Obituaries

December 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

KATHLEEN IONE RASMUSSEN, 94, of Audubon died December 1, 2023.  Private family services and arrangements for KATHLEEN IONE RASMUSSEN have been made among her immediate family.

————————————————————————————————————

KATHLEEN IONE RASMUSSEN is survived by:

Daughters:  Nickoleen Wiederstein; Phoebe (John) Yencic; Jennifer (Edward) Harrison; Sara (Bruce) Rabun

Son:  Dirk Rasmussen

12 Grandchildren

16 Great-Grandchildren

 

An Iowa debate for GOP presidential candidates scheduled for Jan.10

News

December 7th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – C-N-N has announced it will host a debate on January 10th in Des Moines for G-O-P presidential candidates who have at least 10 percent support in three polls — and one of the polls must be of likely Iowa Caucus-goers. Three of the candidates who debated last (Wednesday) night in Alabama are heading to Iowa to campaign. Nikki Haley, who’ll speak a

“There was no question that the fellas came out with attacks on me and I appreciated it,” Haley says. “…I mean we are surging. They know it. They see it in the polls.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy criticized Haley for accepting campaign donations from Wall Street donors, including a Democrat who founded LinkedIn. Haley says they’re just jealous of her new donors. Haley says voters are most concerned about how candidates will fix the economy.

“We have got to get congress to where they stop all this reckless spending,” Haley says. “We saw it happen with Trump with $9 trillion in four years. Now you’ve got Republicans and Democrats spending like drunken sailors and so I’ll stop the spending, stop the borrowing. We’ll eliminate the earmarks and I’ll veto any spending bill that doesn’t take us back to pre-COVID levels.”

Haley, DeSantis, Ramaswamy and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley are scheduled to be in Sioux Center Saturday for an event Congressman Randy Feenstra is hosting.

Wartburg hosts North Central of Illinois in NCAA-D III semifinals on Saturday

Sports

December 7th, 2023 by admin

Wartburg hosts defending national champion North Central of Illinois on Saturday in the NCAA Division III football playoffs and with a victory will play in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the first time in school history.

That’s Wartburg coach Chris Winter. North Central has scored 55 points or more in three playoff wins and is averaging 62 points this season.

Winter says Wartburg’s run defense will be tested.

After dropping a heartbreaker in the semifinals at Mount Union last year the Knights are hoping to take the next step.

No. 1 Northwestern hosts No. 4 Georgetown of Kentucky in NAIA playoffs Saturday

Sports

December 7th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Top ranked Northwestern hosts number-four Georgetown of Kentucky on Saturday in the semifinals of the NAIA football playoffs. The defending national champion Red Raiders are 13-0 and coach Matt McCarty says Georgetown has a similar resume.

McCarty says Georgetown has an experienced team.

McCarty on the keys for the defense.

McCarty says on offense they need to stay committed to the run game.

Warren Opera House Board member reflects on Norman Lear’s movie in Greenfield

News

December 7th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – A man who was just a teenager in high school back in 1969, is reflecting back on his experiences with Director Norman Lear and the production of “Cold Turkey,” in Greenfield. Lear died Tuesday at the age of 101. E.E. Warren Cultural Center Board Member Dan Dickinson says he was a member of the Greenfield High School Band, and performed in one of the last scene’s of the movie.

He says the experience was “pretty neat.”

Being an Extra in the film gave Dickinson some spending money and a chance to talk with the film’s stars.

Dickinson said Norman Lear was very attentive to detail, but he never saw him upset, even if things weren’t going according to plan. Lear wrote, directed and produced the movie.

He said Lear was always “Down-to-earth guy,” and always held Greenfield and Iowa close to his heart.

Dan Dickinson says the last time Lear was in Greenfield was in the late 90’s, when they had a “Cold Turkey” Reunion. He said Lear “Was a great man, and it was nice to be a small part of his career.” In 2014, the Warren Cultural Center named its theater in honor of the famed producer.

 

Iowa Girls High School Basketball Rankings

Sports

December 7th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A
No.
School
Record
LW
1
North Linn
4-1
1
2
Newell-Fonda
3-0
2
3
Martensdale-St. Marys
3-2
3
4
Remsen St. Mary’s
4-0
4
5
Riceville
4-0
6
6
Council Bluffs St. Albert
4-1
7
7
Algona Bishop Garrigan
4-0
10
8
Calamus-Wheatland
4-0
11
9
Coon Rapids-Bayard
3-0
13
10
Earlham
2-1
9
11
CAM
3-1
14
12
Woodbine
2-2
5
13
East Buchanan
4-1
8
14
Lynnville-Sully
5-1
NR
15
Holy Trinity Catholic
4-0
NR
 
Dropped Out: Marquette Catholic (12), Boyden-Hull (15)
 
Class 2A
No.
School
Record
LW
1
Dike-New Hartford
4-1
1
2
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
5-0
2
3
Panorama
4-0
3
4
Iowa City Regina
3-1
4
5
Nodaway Valley
2-0
5
6
Westwood
4-0
6
7
North Mahaska
4-0
7
8
Aplington-Parkersburg
5-0
9
9
Sioux Central
4-1
8
10
Central Lyon
5-0
10
11
Hinton
4-1
11
12
MVAOCOU
3-0
12
13
Cascade
2-1
13
14
Treynor
1-2
14
15
Jesup
4-0
15
 
Dropped Out: None
 
Class 3A
No.
School
Record
LW
1
Solon
5-0
1
2
Mount Vernon
4-0
5
3
Des Moines Christian
5-1
3
4
Estherville-Lincoln Central
4-1
6
5
Benton
3-1
2
6
Dubuque Wahlert Catholic
3-1
4
7
Harlan
4-0
7
8
Forest City
5-0
9
9
Monticello
4-1
8
10
Clear Lake
2-1
10
11
Algona
2-2
11
12
Roland-Story
4-0
12
13
Cherokee
5-0
14
14
Williamsburg
2-2
13
15
Chariton
4-0
NR
 
Dropped Out: Center Point-Urbana (15)
 
Class 4A
No.
School
Record
LW
1
Dallas Center-Grimes
5-0
1
2
Clear Creek-Amana
4-0
2
3
Norwalk
6-0
3
4
North Polk
3-1
5
5
Waverly-Shell Rock
3-0
6
6
Mason City
3-1
4
7
Bishop Heelan
3-0
7
8
Ballard
3-2
8
9
Le Mars
4-0
9
10
Central DeWitt
4-0
10
11
Marion
5-0
14
12
Carlisle
0-2
12
13
Maquoketa
3-2
15
14
Western Dubuque
4-2
NR
15
Cedar Rapids Xavier
2-2
11
 
Dropped Out: Sioux Center (13)
 
Class 5A
No.
School
Record
LW
1
Johnston
4-0
1
2
West Des Moines Valley
5-0
5
3
Davenport North
3-2
4
4
Dowling Catholic
2-3
6
5
Ankeny Centennial
3-1
2
6
Waukee
5-0
7
7
Pleasant Valley
2-2
3
8
Ankeny
3-2
8
9
Cedar Falls
4-1
10
10
Sioux City East
1-2
9
11
Southeast Polk
3-2
11
12
Waukee Northwest
2-3
12
13
Cedar Rapids Prairie
2-1
14
14
Waterloo West
3-1
13
15
Sioux City West
2-1
NR
 
Dropped Out:  Muscatine (15)