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High School Softball Regional Scores from Friday

Sports

July 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A

Region 3 

Collins-Maxwell 7, Ankeny Christian 0
Earlham 7, Riverside 2

Region 4 

Martensdale-St Marys 12, Orient-Macksburg 0
Griswold 8, Fremont-Mills 0

Class 2A

Region 2

Audubon 6, Ridge View 0
MVAOCOU 4, Emmetsburg 1

Region 3

Van Meter 13, Logan-Magnolia 3
Treynor 7, Missouri Valley 2

Region 4

Ogden 3, Regina Catholic 2
East Marshall 9, Kuemper Catholic 1

Region 5

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 4, Cardinal 0
Pleasantville 6, Interstate-35  3

High School Baseball Substate Scores from Friday

Sports

July 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 3A

Substate 2 

North Polk 15, Greene County 0
ADM 6, Ballard 2
Algona 10, Webster City 5
Boone 9, Humboldt 0

Substate 6

Marion 11, South Tama 1
Xavier 2, Nevada 0
Saydel 1, Oskaloosa 0
Gilbert 2, Benton 1

Substate 8 

Bondurant-Farrar 10, Atlantic 0
Lewis Central 13, Glenwood 1
Harlan 11, Carroll 3
Creston 10, Denison-Schleswig 4

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: Saturday, July 13, 2024

Weather

July 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 103. South wind 10-20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph. HEAT ADVISORY in effect from 1-until 8-p.m.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 103. Southwest wind 10-20 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. South wind 10-20 mph.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 86. Our Low this morning was 64. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 84 and the Low was 62. The All-Time Record High in Atlantic on July 13th, was 108 in 1936. The Record Low was 44 in 1897. Sunrise: 5:58; Sunset: 8:53.

Atlantic Baseball falls to Bondurant-Farrar in first round of Postseason play

Sports

July 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Atlantic Trojans baseball team lost 10-0 against the Bondurant-Farrar Blue Jays in the first round of the Class 3A Substate 8 Friday night. The top of the first inning only saw one hit for Atlantic by Hudson McLaren as the rest of the batters were retied. Things quickly heated up for the Bluejays in the bottom of the first as an RBI single from Parker Ernst and Dawson Ehlers stealing home created a 2-0 lead for Bondurant-Farrar. The next two Bluejay batters were walked and Drew Peltz hit a 2 RBI single creating a larger 4-0 deficit at the end of the first inning.

The second inning saw neither team score as both pitchers seemed to take over. In the bottom of the third inning Bondurant-Farrar applied more pressure on Atlantic as the Bluejays managed to load the bases which brought in Hudson McLaren to a tough situation as a relief pitcher. He would have a 2 RBI double hit off of him, but recovered by throwing 3 strikeouts against the next five batters he faced. In total, the Trojans would give up 5 runs in the bottom of the third giving Bondurant-Farrar a 9-0 lead.

During the fourth and fifth innings Atlantic only had one hit which seemed to highlight their woes at the plate. But, on the mound Gavin McLaren proved to be an asset with his appearance in the bottom of the fourth as he gave up no hits and struck out 2, to keep the score at 9-0. The nail in the coffin for Atlantic was in the bottom of the fifth when the Trojans would intentionally load the bases with the go ahead run on third. McLaren’s second pitch to Parker Ernst turned into a passed ball and Fenton Smith sprinted towards home plate for the walk off at 10-0.

When looking back on the expectations for Atlantic’s postseason performance, Trojan Head Coach Nathan Block commended his players for the way they fought.

The pitching performances by both Hudson McLaren and Gavin McLaren were deemed praiseworthy. Hudson pitched 1 inning, gave up 3 runs, 1 hit, and had 2 strikeouts. Gavin pitched 1 1/3 innings with 1 run scored, no hits, 2 strikeouts, and 2 walks.

This past year was full of growth for the Trojans baseball program and Gavin McLaren is one player who has shown a lot of potential throughout the year.

Coach Block is optimistic about what next year will bring for the Trojans as he returns to a team with plenty of promise.

Atlantic’s loss will have their final record of the year at 1-23. Bondurant-Farrar advances with the win to the district semifinal against Lewis Central on Monday.

Davenport Man Sentenced to 137 Months in Federal Prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

News

July 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 to 137 months in federal prison, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Sylvester George Taylor Staples, 31, was found in possession of a firearm and 9.24 grams of cocaine base. Staples had multiple prior felony convictions, including a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing, the Court also found Staples violated the terms of his federal supervised release and ordered to serve an additional 24 months of imprisonment.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Staples will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors Visit Bike Farm

News

July 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by the Bike Farm on Thursday, July 11th, 2024. The Ambassadors gathered to view Steve Anderson’s new building at the Bike Farm, a full-service bike shop, located just off the T-Bone bike trail.

At the Bike Farm, Anderson services all models of bicycles and have a large inventory of parts and accessories on hand. Steve has been working in bike maintenance since college, with his first job being at Bike World in Ames. Steve Anderson continued his love for bike maintenance by opening the Bike Farm 10 years ago. The bike farm has been remarkably busy with the anticipation of the upcoming 2024 RAGBRAI.

Anderson said “RAGBRAI gets people interested in pulling their bikes out of the garage. He currently has over fifty bikes in storage to work on or sell, but he says loves what he does.

Ambassador’s Pictured Left to Right: Alden Harriman, Dolly Bergmann, Chris Parks, Paula Leverence, Megan Sramek, Cara Anderson, Krysta Hanson, Anne Quist, Steve Anderson, Paige Harden, Gary Anderson, Julie Waters, Jeremy Butler, Elaine Otte, Jennifer McEntaffer, Jeff Christensen, Nina Welter, Bill Saluk, Janet Cappel, Scott Benett, Kathie Hockenberry, Kelsey Beschorner, DeeDee Kalny and Sue Liston.

While the bike farm typically focuses on maintenance and repair of bikes, there are used and new bikes available for sale. Steve takes immense pride in helping people find good bikes that fit their needs, working closely with a biking company in Ankeny and Waukee, to ensure he finds the best option for all levels of riders.

The Bike Farm is located at 55717 Olive Street in Atlantic. For more information about The Bike Farm and the services they provide, contact Steve Anderson at (712) 249-3930.

SHERRY GETTLER, 62, of Adair (Memorial Svcs. 7/17/24)

Obituaries

July 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SHERRY GETTLER, 62, of Adair, died Friday, July 12, 2024, at Josie Harper Hospice House. Memorial services for SHERRY GETTLER will be held 10:30-a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (8301 NW Aurora Ave., Urbandale, IA 50322), with a luncheon to follow at the church. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair.

Private interment will take place at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery north of Adair.

Memorials may be directed to the Gettler Family. They will be designated in memory of Sherry at a later date. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

SHERRY GETTLER is survived by:

her husband – Daryl.

Her son – Curtis (Katie) Gettler.

Her daughter – Shannon (Jeff) Lee

4 grandchildren, and a host of family and friends.

KENNETH KELLY, 58, of Atlantic (Celebration of Life 8/3/24)

Obituaries

July 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

KENNETH KELLY, 58, of Atlantic, died on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. The family is planning a Celebration of Life service for KENNETH KELLY will be held 11-a.m. August 3rd (2024), at the First Church of Christ in Atlantic. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic is assisting the family.

A luncheon at the church will follow the Celebration of Life.

KENNETH KELLY is survived by:

His wife – Kristine, of Atlantic.

His son – Kenneth Kelly, of Glenwood.

His daughters – Laura Smith, of Council Bluffs; Angela Kelly, of Colorado; Christina Holaday, of Omaha, NE, and Kara Kelly of Primghar, IA.

condolences can be left at schmidtfamilyfh.com

Red Cross continues work in northwest Iowa

News

July 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Three weeks out from devastating floods in Northwest Iowa, recovery continues. The Red Cross has been on the ground in affected areas since the beginning of the disaster and will continue to assist residents in finding some sort of relief in the face of horrible loss. American Red Cross Public Affairs Manager Kim Mailes says things have progressed beyond finding people a place to stay to continuing to help them recover.

Mailes says at the beginning of operations, 14 shelters were opened, they recorded four-thousand overnight stays, served 30-thousand meals and supported 11 emergency operation centers. He says the Red Cross now operates two emergency shelters but still serve more than 14-hundred meals each day. The Red Cross also records damage assessments in a database and shares it with FEMA.

That’s when The Red Cross contacts people that have been recorded in the database and meets with them individually to determine their needs. Quite often it’s assistance with replacing furniture, clothing, medicines, etc., and once the Red Cross completes 85% disaster assessment, they start providing financial assistance. Financial assistance is in addition to anything received from other organizations such as an insurance settlement or FEMA payout and is not based on income.

Mailes says people who might have been missed during the assessment phase can call the Red Cross and an assessment crew will be dispatched to their location. That number is 1-800-Red-Cross (1-800-733-2767).

SWITA to celebrate Ride Transit Week July 15 th through the 19th

News

July 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) will be celebrating Ride Transit Week July 15 th through the
19th and encourages the public to find out more about public transit in the region and take a ride on SWITA.

Public transit gets Americans to work, to education, to healthcare, and more. It also helps job creation, alleviates traffic congestion, and reduces emissions. In 2023 Americans traveled 36.87 billion miles on public transit during 7.11 billion trips. 6 billion gallons of gasoline are saved each year by using public transportation and a 5-to-1 economic return is produced by long-term investment in public transit.

SWITA officials say they are proud to be part of that public transit equation right here in eight Iowa counties. SWITA has continued to support record public transit ridership in the region year-over-year with 520,000 rides in fiscal year 2023 and anticipating a total of over 550,000 for fiscal year 2024. SWITA’s ride services include taxis in six communities, medical transportation, student transportation, workforce transportation, and special/charter trips. SWITA vehicles are equipped with wheelchair accessibility and one personal attendant rides free.

SWITA will be celebrating Ride Transit Week with many offerings, highlighted by an appearance on Thursday, July 18th at Produce in the Park in Atlantic City Park. Stop by and see the SWITA crew for fun, prizes, and information. Mini SWITA buses will be hidden throughout the park for visitors to find and return to the SWITA table for a prize. Other activities will include kids’ handprint painting on a flag, a chance to check out a SWITA bus, information available about services and how to sign up, and other fun and giveaways.

Seven area communities have already issued or will be issuing Mayoral Proclamations supporting Ride Transit Week: Atlantic, Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Harlan, Missouri Valley, Red Oak, and Shenandoah. SWITA operates a taxi service in six of those communities and the Special Transit Service (STS) in Council Bluffs.

SWITA has earned major honors for its service this year. SWITA was named the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Regional Transit System of the Year and received the FTA Region 7 Rural Transit Systems Award of Excellence.

To find out more about SWITA and the services offered you can browse SWITA.com or call 800-842- 8065 or 712-243-2518. Follow us on Facebook for regular updates as well. SWITA services are open to the public. Help SWITA celebrate Ride Transit Week July 15-19, 2024!