Lewis Central student faces possible charges associated w/threat of a weapon

February 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department said late Monday evening, that they were notified at around 2-p.m. Monday, a student had threatened to bring a weapon to Lewis Central High School. The student had expressed his disdain for the school then made the threat, which was overheard by a staff member, who immediately reported the incident to school administration. The students name is not being released.

Lewis Central administrators contacted police regarding the threat. An investigation into the incident was started immediately. The student’s family has been contacted and they are cooperating with the on‐going investigation. Charges are pending at this time. Officials said that while they do not believe the threats made by the student are credible, officers will be present at Lewis Central today (Tuesday).

Authorities say “Anyone who hears or sees another person making threats to shoot up a school or other location should immediately report the event to someone in authority. Notification of law enforcement is paramount in stopping these types of events before they become tragedies.” Officials said also, “The Council Bluffs Police Department takes any threat to shoot up a school or other location very seriously. [They/We] aggressively investigate each of these claims and work with [our] prosecutors to charge those responsible.”

Posted in News |

Iowa early News Headlines: Tuesday, 2/27/18

February 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa mother accused of leaving her four children home alone to travel to Europe has taken a plea deal. Johnston resident Erin Macke entered Alford pleas Monday in Polk County District Court to four counts of child endangerment. In an Alford plea, a person doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 19.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators have seized a trove of electronic devices from a northeastern Iowa cabin owned by a youth basketball coach under investigation for allegedly making videos of naked boys. Greg Stephen, co-director of the Iowa Barnstormers, left the traveling youth organization Thursday after agents searched his Monticello home. Newly available documents show agents also searched a cabin in a recreation area near Lake Delhi and seized smartphones, tablets and flip phones.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say a driver accused of hitting and killing a pedestrian provided a false name to officers. A news release Monday said officers expect more charges will be leveled against 22-year-old Oleaf Teoh, who provided a different name proved false by fingerprint examination. Police say a man walking west was struck from behind around 9 p.m. Sunday. He’s been identified as Des Moines resident Matthew Otto. It’s unclear whether Teoh has a lawyer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Public Health Department says in its latest report that 157 Iowa residents have died of flu-related illnesses since Oct. 1 _ the worst flu season since the swine flu outbreak in 2009. The department says that at this point last flu season, just 50 confirmed flu deaths had been reported in Iowa.

Posted in News |

(CORRECTION on date) Collective Bargaining & Special meeting of the Atlantic School Board set for 2/8/18

February 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet Wednesday afternoon in the High School Media Room, for collective bargaining sessions, and a Special meeting that includes a resignation.

The meeting begins at 4-p.m. with the Certified Staff Collective Bargaining Unit (Atlantic Education Association) Proposals. The Unit will present its initial contract proposal for the 2018-19 School Year, and, the Board of Education will present its initial proposal. Afterward, the Employees Association will present the Non-Certified Staff Bargaining Unit Proposals and the Board of Ed will present theirs. Both sessions are open to the public.

During the Special Meeting, the Board of Education will discuss upcoming dates, including: The End of the 3rd Quarter as March 2nd; March Regular Board Meeting date set for March 14th, and Spring Break March 19th-23rd.

Other discussion items include IASB Updated Board Policies and 400 Series Board Policies. The Action item on their agenda includes a Resignation, which is likely related to the hiring of Matt Alexander by the OA-BCIG School Board.

Posted in News |

Colorado State basketball coach Larry Eustachy to resign

February 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Larry Eustachy has agreed to step down as men’s basketball coach at Colorado State, ending a “climate assessment” of the program led by athletic director Joe Parker. Eustachy agreed to resign and amend his contract, which will now pay him $750,000 in three installments over the next two years. He’ll remain on paid leave until June 30, at which time he’ll formally resign, the university announced Monday. The assistant coaching staff will be retained through the end of June.

Eustachy’s decision to resign and amend his contract means there will be no conclusions or recommendations associated with Parker’s investigation into Eustachy’s behavior and interactions with players and staff, the school said.
Parker has not divulged what prompted the investigation.

Eustachy was in his sixth season at Colorado State, which first looked into his behavior in 2013-14 when Jack Graham was athletic director. That investigation determined Eustachy emotionally and verbally abused his players and created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, but he retained his job.

In a statement Monday, Eustachy said he was honored and thankful to serve as the Rams’ coach but added, “At the end of the day, it is time for me to step aside and allow Colorado State to open a new chapter of Rams basketball. Likewise, this also gives me a chance to hit the reset button and then put all my energy into future opportunities.”

Eustachy was 122-79 at CSU and is 524-337 in 27 seasons at Colorado State, Southern Mississippi, Iowa State, Utah State and Idaho. His best season was 1999-2000, when Eustachy had Jamaal Tinsley and Marcus Fizer running the show and helping Iowa State to a 32-5 record, along with a spot in the Elite Eight. For that, Eustachy was named AP coach of the year. Shortly after his resignation at Iowa State in 2003, Eustachy went into rehabilitation to treat alcoholism.

Posted in Sports |

JEANETTE CLAYTON, 81, of Walnut (3-3-2018)

February 26th, 2018 by Jim Field

JEANETTE CLAYTON, 81, of Walnut died Sunday, February 25th at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. Funeral service for JEANETTE CLAYTON will be held on Saturday, March 3rd at 10:00 am at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

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Visitation will be held at the funeral home Friday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Family will greet friends Friday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial in the Harlan Cemetery.

JEANETTE CLAYTON is survived by:

Husband: Eugene “Jack” Clayton of Walnut

Daughters: Janine (Bob) Berndt of Avoca; Janelle (Dwayne) Bornholdt of Atlantic; Julie (Kurt) Schwarck of Spencer

Son: John (Michelle) Clayton of Walnut

10 Grandchildren

11 Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

NANCY BRAMAN, 77, of Omaha (Svcs. 3/1/18)

February 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

NANCY BRAMAN, 77, of Omaha, died Sunday, Feb. 25th, at home. Funeral services for NANCY BRAMAN will be held 11-a.m. Thursday, March 1st, at the Roland Funeral Home, in Atlantic.

Visitation with the family is on Wed., Feb. 28th, from 4-until 7-p.m., at the Crosby-Burket-Swanson-Golden Funeral Home, at 11902 West Center Road, in Omaha.; Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Burial will be in the Lorimor Cemetery, in Lorimor, 1:30-p.m. Thursday.

NANCY BRAMAN is survived by:

Her husband – Richard Braman.

Her daughters – Mary Ann (Thomas) Atilano, and Audra (Tim) Crandell.

Her son – Boyd (Angela) Braman.

7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

Mom who left kids alone to visit Germany takes plea deal

February 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa mother accused of leaving her four children home alone to travel to Europe has taken a plea deal. Johnston resident Erin Macke entered Alford pleas Monday in Polk County District Court to four counts of child endangerment. In exchange prosecutors will drop a charge of making a firearm available to a person under age 21. In an Alford plea, a person doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 19.

Police were called to her home in September by the children’s father, who said the kids — two age 12, one 7, one 6 — had been left alone. Police say Macke failed to make child care arrangements before leaving Sept. 20 for a 10-day Germany vacation.

Posted in News |

Audubon Police Report (2/26)

February 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports three arrests. On Feb. 18th, 32-year old Skielynn Laverne Stephens, of Audubon, was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Public Intoxication, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possessing a Controlled Substance in a Detention Facility. Stephens was transported to the Audubon County Jail and released the following day after appearing before a magistrate.

On Feb. 20th, 20-year old Jay Robert Edwin Pedrin, of Audubon, was arrested on an active Cass County Warrant, and was released to Cass County authorities. And, on Feb. 23rd, 23-year old Collin Jacob Wernimont, of Carroll, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. Wernimont was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he later posted bond and was released.

(12:40-p.m. News)

Posted in News |

AP Men’s Basketball Top 25 02/26/2018

February 26th, 2018 by admin

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ men’s college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Feb. 25, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

	Record	Pts	Prv
1. Virginia (48)	26-2	1608	1
2. Michigan St. (17)	28-3	1571	2
3. Xavier	25-4	1422	4
4. Villanova	25-4	1416	3
5. Duke	24-5	1362	5
6. Kansas	23-6	1272	8
7. Gonzaga	27-4	1231	6
8. Purdue	26-5	1178	9
9. North Carolina	22-7	1140	10
10. Cincinnati	25-4	1013	11
11. Wichita St.	23-5	945	13
12. Texas Tech	22-7	887	6
13. Ohio St.	24-7	791	16
14. Auburn	24-5	781	12
15. Michigan	24-7	753	17
16. Tennessee	21-7	564	19
17. Rhode Island	23-4	558	18
18. Clemson	21-7	499	15
19. Arizona	22-7	450	14
20. West Virginia	21-8	429	21
21. Nevada	25-5	386	20
22. Saint Mary’s (Cal)	27-4	318	22
23. Kentucky	20-9	174	–
24. Middle Tennessee	23-5	144	24
25. Houston	22-6	45	23

Others receiving votes: TCU 41, Butler 34, St. Bonaventure 29, NC State 28, Creighton 26, Loyola of Chicago 8, Southern Cal 7, Florida St. 4, Seton Hall 3, Arkansas 3, Virginia Tech 2, Oklahoma 1, Florida 1, Boise St. 1.

Posted in Sports |

Agents search Iowa AAU coach’s cabin in nude videos case

February 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DELHI, Iowa (AP) — Investigators have seized a trove of electronic devices from a northeastern Iowa cabin owned by a prominent youth basketball coach under investigation for allegedly making videos of naked boys. Greg Stephen, co-director of the Iowa Barnstormers, left the traveling youth organization Thursday after agents searched his Monticello home.

Newly available documents show agents also searched a cabin in a recreation area near Lake Delhi. Investigators say Stephen occasionally spent weekends there and used it for summertime group gatherings with players. Agents seized smartphones, tablets, flip phones, hard drives, thumb drives, memory cards and digital video cassettes.

Stephen hasn’t been charged and his father says he’s done nothing wrong. The searches came after a source gave police a device from Stephen’s home that contained video clips of underage males disrobing in a hotel bathroom.

Several Barnstormers players have gone on to play Division I college basketball.

Posted in News, Sports |

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