712 Digital Group - top

Iowa military museum may close amid financial struggles

News

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A museum that commemorates military milestones that took place in Des Moines is financially struggling and could close if it doesn’t find additional support. The Des Moines Register reports that the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center’s three volunteers only open the facility to the public one day a week or through appointments.

Matthew Harvey is president of the museum’s board of directors. He says the museum has received few monetary donations and some volunteers have given their own money to help pay the bills. The museum opened in 2004 but failed to attract many visitors and donors.

The fort was the site of the Army’s first black officer’s training class in 1917. It was later the first location to train women for the Army.

Atlantic School Board News (from the 11/8/17 meeting)

News

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic School District Board of Education met in a regular monthly session Wednesday evening, at the High School. Superintendent Steve Barber said they are continuing with discussion with regard to a name for the former Cass, Incorporated Building the District Purchased for use as the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC) and Links Building. He said the Board wants to see the name centered around “achievement,” so they are working on the final details as to what that might be. They will take ideas from students who will attend courses in the building and derive an appropriate name from those ideas.

The CCEOC students, he said, came up with three ideas, and the Links students another. The Links students came up with the acronym “Achieve.” He says they will work to combine those thoughts for what’s currently there, and a potential career academy or academies, down the road. It was also noted that the newly remodeled building is nearly finalized, with the price coming in very close to the bid price.

Mr. Barber said also, they took action with regard to Open Enroll-Out spending (granting that authority). And, High School Jennifer Gaesser) High School, Vocal Instructor, along with High School Instrument Instructor Jarrod O’Donnell, reminded the Board that four students, two choir members and two band members, will be participating November 18th, in the All-State Music Festival that runs from November 16th to 18th.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9th

Trading Post

November 9th, 2017 by Jim Field

FOR SALE:  7 1/2 ft. Norwegian Christmas tree, in good shape.  Asking $20.  Call 712-778-4672.

FOR SALE: Christmas lights and decorations. 3 full boxes. Asking $25 OBO for all of it. Call 712-249-2591.  SOLD!

SHARON ELAINE “Sherry” DOBERNECKER, 79, of Griswold (Svcs. 11/13/17)

Obituaries

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SHARON ELAINE “Sherry” DOBERNECKER, 79, of Griswold, died Wed., Nov. 8th, at home. Funeral services for SHERRY DOBERNECKER will be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, Nov. 13th, at the Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold.

Visitation with the family will be Sunday afternoon from 2:30 PM until 4:30 PM at the Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold.

Interment will be in the Griswold Cemetery.

SHARON “SHERRY” DOBERNECKER is survived by:

Her children: Mike Dobernecker and wife Raenita, of Bellevue, NE, Mitch Dobernecker and wife Kimberly, of Johnstown, CO, and Shelly Ridlen of Albia, IA

7 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Logan-Magnolia adds soccer to Spring sports

Sports

November 9th, 2017 by admin

The Logan-Magnolia school board voted 3-1 on Wednesday to add boys and girls soccer to the athletic offerings for spring varsity sports.  The Panthers will compete in the Western Iowa Conference as they do in other sports. Logan-Magnolia becomes the seventh WIC school to offer soccer along with: AHSTW, Missouri Valley, Riveride, Treynor, Tri-Center, and Underwood.  The Panthers will begin play this upcoming spring season.

IATC honors 2017 Cross Country Coaches of the Year

Sports

November 9th, 2017 by admin

 1A Cross Country

Girls Cross Country
1A Girls
State Coach of the Year
Greg Thompson – Panorama

At Large Coaches of the Year
Pat Wagner – Eastern Allamakee
Sherri Selenke – Hudson
Jenny Hamilton – AHSTW
Mike Szalat – Ft. Dodge, St. Edmonds
Scott Conway & Kevin Kearney – South Winneshiek

Boys Cross Country
1A Boys
State Coach of the Year
Darrell Burmeister – Nodaway Valley

At Large Coaches of the Year
Kelly Grothus – Madrid
Ryan Kobliska – Ogden
Scott Jess – Bellevue
Dennis Jarrett – Tri-Center
Charlie Gruman – Starmont

2A Cross Country

Girls Cross Country
2A Girls
State Coach of the Year
Mark Hostetler – Mid-Prairie

At Large Coaches of the Year
Dan Sauser – Monticello
Jill Gallagher – Woodbury Central-Kingsley Pierson
Jim Obermann – Crestwood
Bob Davidshofer – Cascade
Nick Nordheim – Williamsburg

Boys Cross Country
2A Boys
State Coach of the Year
Curt Fiedler – George-Little Rock/Central Lyon

At Large Coaches of the Year
Mark Hostetler – Mid-Prairie
Eric Walsh – Tipton
Brock Lehman – Sioux Center
Jeff Short – Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
Darrell Paulsen – South Hamilton

3A Cross Country

Girls Cross Country
3A Girls
State Coach of the Year
Cynthia Wagner -Dubuque Wahlert

At Large Coaches of the Year
Doug Cutler – Pella
Christy Nimrod – Decorah
Justin Droppert – Dallas Center-Grimes
Steve Leach – North Polk
Amanda Rahmiller – Charles City

Boys Cross Country
3A Boys
State Coach of the Year
Aaron Thomas – Gilbert

At Large Coaches of the Year
Kory Swart – Mt. Vernon-Lisbon
Matt Pries – Dallas Center-Grimes
Marty Mitchell – Carlisle
Ben Robison – Clear Creek-Amana
Brad Johansen – Decorah

4A Cross Country

Girls Cross Country
4A Girls
State Coach of the Year
Pat Hennes – Johnston

At Large Coaches of the Year
Abby Schmitz – Waukee
Louis Fischer – Dubuque Senior
Mike Parker – Iowa City West
Dan Davis – Urbandale
Sharon Klein – Dubuque Hempstead

Boys Cross Country
4A Boys
State Coach of the Year
Erik Belby – Pleasant Valley

At Large Coaches of the Year
Mark Ressler – Dubuque Hempstead
Bill Schwartz – Cedar Rapids Prairie
Tom Trygstad – West Des Moines Valley
Tim Ives – Dowling Catholic
Matt Jaschen – Johnston

John Deere ‘green’ to be seen in Cuba for first time since 1960s

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer, after a five decade absence, could soon be doing business again in Cuba. Deere and Company has announced an agreement to sell tractors to the Cuban government. Deere spokesman Ken Golden says shipments should begin later this month. “This equipment has to be tested and appraised by the Cuban Agricultural Ministry to ensure that it will work for their needs and their conditions,” Golden said. “If they agree that it’s equipment that would be appropriate for Cuba, then there will be shipments over the next four years.”

Most of the tractors will be from Deere’s 5,000 series, now made at a plant in Augusta, Georgia. But, there’ll also be a small number of the 7,000 series tractors, made in Waterloo, Iowa.  “It will mainly be smaller tractors and the implements that are used for farming pulled behind these tractors,” Golden said.  The cost of the contract between Deere and the Cuban government has not been disclosed. “Today, Cuba imports about 60-to-80-percent of its food and improvements in the agricultural sector there will help improve the availability and affordability of food for the Cuban population,” Golden said. John Deere is returning to Cuba after an absence of more than half a century. “Deere first entered the Cuban market in the 1800s and we were there until the early 1960s,” Golden said.

The machinery sent to Cuba will be mainly used in the dairy, row-crop and fruit and vegetable sectors. Deere’s announcement follows news that a Caterpillar dealer will open a distribution center in Cuba, becoming the first U.S. company to have a physical presence in the high-profile Mariel Special Development Zone. According to the Cuba Standard report, both companies seem to be racing to establish a foothold in Cuba before the Trump administration slams the door. In July, President Donald Trump announced he would prohibit sales to armed forces-controlled entities.

(Radio Iowa)

Winter is six weeks away but wintry weather may be here sooner

News, Weather

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Iowa’s past few winters haven’t been terribly harsh and some of us might be able to use refreshers on our driving and survival skills before the snowdrifts and ice arrive. Today (Thursday) is Winter Weather Awareness Day in Iowa and meteorologist Rod Donavon, at the National Weather Service, says a few reminders for motorists wouldn’t hurt. “Brush up on your winter driving skills and have your survival kit in place,” Donavon says. “Winter weather travel is the most dangerous portion of the year. If you get stuck, are you prepared for that? Slow down, really take your time driving.”

Have that survival kit in your trunk filled with things like: blankets, warm clothes, water, snacks like energy bars, a flashlight with extra batteries, a snow shovel, a tow rope, jumper cables, flares, a knife and a first aid kit. If you log on to weather-dot-gov or follow the National Weather Service on Facebook, you will notice some changes in how warnings, watches and advisories are issued. “They are changing a bit, we are consolidating some things,” Donavon says. “It may be more winter weather advisories instead of freezing rain or blowing snow advisories. It’ll all be combined into one product to give us more consistency. Certainly, all of the important information will be within the headlines itself.”

Blizzard Watches will no longer be issued, for example, though Blizzard Warnings will continue as needed. Some long-range forecasts indicate Iowa has equal chances for a whopper winter with more snow and very cold temperatures versus a lighter winter. He says the picture could change very quickly, as could our landscape.”We’re seeing that right now with the really warm air to the south and Arctic air across southern Canada,” Donavon says. “Any little system that comes through could certainly drag something through. Overall, it only takes one to two big events to have a significant impact.”

Learn more about Winter Weather Awareness Day at www.weather.gov/dmx.

(Radio Iowa)

JOYCE MOORE, 81, of Panora (Memorial Svcs. 11/13/17)

Obituaries

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

JOYCE MOORE, 81, of Panora, died Wed., Nov. 8th, at Panora Specialty Care, in Panora. Memorial services for JOYCE MOORE will be held 10-a.m. Monday, Nov. 13th, at the Twigg Funeral Home in Panora.

Burial of her urn will be in the Brethren Cemetery in Panora.

JOYCE MOORE is survived by:

Her sisters – Janice (Dale) Whitehead, of Perry, and Cheryl (Gordon) Castile, of Panora.

Her brother – Jerry (Nancy) Armstrong, of Panora.

5 nieces and nephews.

Atlantic man arrested on drug, assault, theft, OWI & other charges following Wednesday night accident

News

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Police late Wednesday night, arrested a man on numerous charges, after an incident in the 200 block on W. 3rd Street. Authorities say 18-year old Travis Osborn, of Atlantic, was the driver of a vehicle that was traveling west on 3rd Street at around 9:52-p.m.  After a passenger exited the vehicle and tried to stop Osborn, Osborn continued driving and struck the unidentified passenger before his vehicle struck a parked vehicle registered to Terry Madden, of Altoona, causing $3,500 damage altogether. The person who was hit by Osborn’s vehicle reported non-life threatening injuries.

Travis Osborn was arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree (for Possession of a Stolen vehicle), Assault while participating in a Felony, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While Suspended, and OWI/1st offense. He was subsequently booked into the Cass County Jail