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DNR investigates two spills in Southwest Iowa, Wednesday

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 26th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources report staff from the DNR’s Atlantic field office were in the field Wednesday checking for the sources of a spill in Fremont County and a manure spill that reached a tributary of East Tarkio Creek in Page County.

In Fremont County west of Hamburg, DNR staff investigated the report of a whitish liquid running into a ditch near Draper Bottoms Wildlife Management Area. Staff identified the liquid as an unknown amount of a wheat gluten and water mix land applied by Ben Shinn Trucking for Manildra Milling company.

DNR staff collected water samples for laboratory analysis, but have not found any dead fish. The investigation continues.

In Page County, staff responded to a Wednesday morning report of a manure spill that occurred the previous evening when a stuck pump valve caused manure to pool at the Lee Brooke confinement northwest of Clarinda. DNR staff found manure pooled at the site, and in roadside and drainage ditches that flow into an unnamed tributary of the East Tarkio Creek.

An estimated 7,000 gallons of manure was released during manure pumping by commercial manure applicator Jason Sickles. Sickles immediately limed the ditch and placed hay bales to keep manure from moving downstream. DNR is requiring him to build a temporary dam in the ditch and excavate soil to prevent more manure from reaching the stream. Staff found no dead fish, but the investigation is ongoing.

In both cases, the DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action.

Arrest made in connection with C. Bluffs armed robbery

News

October 26th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Police in Omaha arrested a man wanted in connection with the armed robbery Monday night of a man from Council Bluffs. The Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal Investigations Division reports 21-year old Renante B. Perry, of Omaha, was arrested on a Probation Violation in Omaha. His arrest was handled by Nebraska State Probation and the Omaha Gang Unit. He is currently incarcerated in Douglas County Corrections and wanted in Iowa for 1st Degree Robbery.

Renante Perry

Official says at around 10:15-p.m., Monday, Council Bluffs Police Officers responded to the area of 204 South 10th Street, regarding a Robbery. Officers arrived on scene and made contact with the victim, 19-year old Donavan Belt. Donavan Belt reports that he was in the area on foot when he was approached by a male party (later identified as Renante Perry). Perry showed Belt a handgun and demanded his money before fleeing the area on foot.

Wastewater discharge Wed. in Council Bluffs

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 26th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa DNR late Wednesday afternoon, received a report from the city of Council Bluffs that untreated wastewater had discharged into Indian Creek and then into the Missouri River near Gifford Road in Council Bluffs.

City staff estimate about 360,000 gallons of wastewater discharged during maintenance work on a force main. City workers quickly stopped the release, made repairs and collected water samples in the creek and in the Missouri River.

The DNR recommends keeping children and pets away from the area for the next 24 to 48 hours. The city reports no fish were killed. City staff will follow up at the site this (Thursday) morning.

Midwest Sports Headlines: 10/26/17

Sports

October 26th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jamaal Charles envisioned playing his entire career with the Chiefs, retiring from the organization that drafted him. But the business of the NFL put a twist in those plans. Now their career rushing leader is returning to Kansas City with the rival Denver Broncos for a crucial AFC West showdown Monday night.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Every year, Iowa State fans scour the schedule before the season in hopes of finding a path to the six wins needed for bowl eligibility. It’s those exceedingly low expectations _ from supporters and players _ that second-year coach Matt Campbell has worked so hard to change.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The schedule worked out well for injured Denver linebacker Shane Ray. The Broncos placed him on injured reserve to start the season after he broke his left wrist in training camp. He had to stay out eight weeks but the Broncos’ bye counted as one and Week 8 technically ends Sunday night. So, he’ll be eligible to play Monday night when the Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets have signed tight end Neal Sterling of the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad and placed cornerback Xavier Coleman on injured reserve. Sterling had one catch for 8 yards while playing in three games with the Jets earlier this season after being signed as a free agent on Sept. 3. Coleman injured a shoulder while playing special teams at Miami last Sunday.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, 10/26/17

News

October 26th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — The lawyer for a man charged with killing a gender-fluid Iowa teenager is urging jurors not to treat the case any differently knowing that a prominent federal prosecutor is involved. Curt Dial, attorney for 23-year-old Jorge Sanders-Galvez, says the “law applies the same whether we have one prosecutor or three prosecutors.” He was referring to Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to assign hate crimes prosecutor Christopher Perras to assist at the first-degree murder trial.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa employment board has released more complete results from union elections linked to a new collective bargaining state law. The Iowa Public Employment Relations Board released data Wednesday afternoon that shows 436 union locals secured enough votes to keep representing public workers. Separately, 32 locals will essentially dismantle. The impacted workers will be barred from unionizing for two years.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — An elderly Iowa man is suing First National Bank in Sioux Falls claiming its employees set up an account that enabled a relative to take hundreds of thousands of dollars from an annuity. Ninety-four-year-old Harold Wittrock, of Rock Rapids, says a relative established an account by forging Wittrock’s signature at the First National Bank and began withdrawing funds beginning in 2009.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ruled that the Muscatine City Council wrongly removed the mayor from office. The Muscatine Journal reports that Judge Mark Cleve said in his ruling Tuesday that the removal violated Mayor Diana Broderson’s right to due process. The judge overturned the council’s vote and ordered the city to pay her legal fees.

IHSAA releases postseason wrestling sites and assignments

Sports

October 25th, 2017 by admin

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released the postseason sites and assignments for the upcoming 2017-18 wrestling season. Atlantic will be a sectional site host in Class 2A.

2018WrestlingAssignmentsfinal3A

2018WrestlingAssignmentsfinal2A

2018WrestlingAssignmentsfinal1A

IHSAA releases info on football classifications for 2018-19 cycle

Sports

October 25th, 2017 by admin

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released information on football classification for the next two-year cycle on Wednesday night. The changes will reduce the number of teams in the large classes and allow for more schools to choose the 8-player option. No formal decisions on postseason qualifying and districting have been made yet. Read the memo below for details.

Football_classification_changes_2018

Board releases more data on union elections

News

October 25th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Latest on results determining the future of some Iowa union locals (all times local): 4:30 p.m.

An Iowa employment board has released more complete results from union elections linked to a new collective bargaining state law. The Iowa Public Employment Relations Board released data Wednesday afternoon that shows 436 union locals secured enough votes to keep representing public workers. Separately, 32 locals will essentially dismantle. The impacted workers will be barred from unionizing for two years.

In the end, more 28,400 workers voted by phone and online to keep union representation. A little over 620 voted for decertification of their locals. Those who didn’t participate, which totaled more than 4,000 people, were counted as “no” votes.

The elections are required under a provision of a collective bargaining law approved in February by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Unions now must hold so-called recertification elections before each new contract.

Wind Advisories posted for Thursday

News, Weather

October 25th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a WIND ADVISORY for Harrison County from 10-a.m. Thursday until 7-p.m., and from 10-a.m. Thursday until 10-p.m., for Monona County. Winds are expected to be out of the northwest from 30-to as much as 50-mph during the Advisory time frames.

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Freeze Watch in effect Friday and Saturday mornings for parts of western Iowa

News, Weather

October 25th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a FREEZE WATCH for Shelby and Harrison Counties, from 5-a.m. Friday to 9-a.m., and from 1-a.m until 10-a.m. Saturday; a FREEZE WATCH is also in effect from 1-a.m. Saturday until 10-a.m. for Pottawattamie, Mills-Montgomery-Fremont and Page Counties.

* TEMPERATURE…Around freezing Friday morning, then in the mid-20s Saturday morning.

* IMPACTS…Cold temperatures will result in a killing freeze ending the growing season this year.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Freeze Watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible. These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.