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Griswold man transports huge Christmas tree to Washington, D-C

News

November 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Washington, D-C) — The U.S. Capitol received a special delivery, Friday, when Tim Dean, a truck driver from Griswold (IA) arrived with a Christmas tree for the west lawn of the Capitol. The 63-foot-tall Norway Spruce was harvested from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Dean made over 19 stops in his two-week journey to D.C.

The giant tree was carefully transported along the way, with assistance from law enforcement and local fire department personnel. Along the way, Dean stopped in several communities so residents could give the tree a proper sendoff.

Dean said even though he has been driving for 35 years, nothing will ever top what he’s done these two weeks. He considers himself to be blessed to deliver the tree and the memories he will have of the journey that he can share for a lifetime.

The National Christmas Tree Lighting will take place November 30th in President’s Park, Washington, D-C.

Drake University plans to cut faculty positions & academic programs due to a huge budget deficit

News

November 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Faculty, staff and students at Drake University are preparing for some painful cuts. Declining enrollment is hurting the university’s operating budget, so now Drake is slashing more than $10 million in spending. KCCI-TV obtained the minutes of a recent faculty senate meeting, which show faculty positions and academic programs will have to be cut.

According to Drake University, the institution is working with a $128 million operating budget. The Board of Trustees recently approved a deficit of $4.3 million for the current fiscal year. According to meeting minutes, the university has reached an “understanding” with the board to have a plan in place by fiscal year 2025 to balance the operating budget by fiscal year 2026.

In a statement provide to KCCI by Drake University, officials said (in-part) “Colleges and universities across the United States have been impacted by an approximate 10% nationwide decline in college enrollment over the last decade, and no Iowa institution has been immune to this shift. Drake is fortunate to have an incredibly strong balance sheet with healthy cash reserves, and a low amount of long-term debt. However, as enrollment revenues have declined, our operating budget has been put under stress.” The University has a $128-million operating budget, according to the statement.

The University says its projections indicate they would start with a budget that is out of balance by more than $10 million, if no action is taken. “This figure”…according to the school…”does not account for more than $4 million in temporary reductions in the current year that, for the most part, will be converted to permanent reductions next year. And it does not account for any expected changes in enrollment.”

Drake officials say they will continue to make institutional changes in their expense structure, with the overall goal being a balanced budget, while preserving academic excellence. According to Drake University’s website, nearly 4,900 total students are enrolled, including close to 3,000 undergraduates. The university offers more than 140 majors from six colleges and schools.

Union County man arrested on a felony attempted murder & other charges

News

November 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

A Union County man faces a Class-B Felony attempted murder charge, for allegedly threatening to kill another man in Adair County who he says sexually abused three kids. KCCI reports 52-year-old David Matthew Hanson, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday, in Orient.

Court documents say Adair County sheriff’s deputies were called to a home outside which Hanson was seen. They say Hanson was upset that the homeowner had not been charged following allegations of sexually abusing children. Hanson allegedly shot at the home, and told deputies he would kill the homeowner if he came outside. Hanson also told deputies he had been drinking.

In addition to the Attempted Murder charge, Hanson was charged: with Burglary in the 1st Degree – A Class B Felony; Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon w/injury or provocation of fear – A Class C Felony; Going Armed with Intent – A Class D Felony, and Possession or carrying of a dangerous weapon while under the Influence – A Serious Misdemeanor.

He made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday (Nov. 15th). A preliminary hearing in his case was set for 10:30-a.m. Nov. 27th, in Adair County District Court. Hanson was being held in the Adair County Jail on $750,000 bond.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023

Weather

November 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 61. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.

Sunday:Partly cloudy to cloudy with a chance of rain in the afternoon. High near 56. SE wind 5-to 10-mph w/gusts to near 20 mph.

Sunday Night: Cloudy, w/a 60% chance of rain after midnight. Low around 39. E/SE winds 10-20 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected.

Monday: A 60% chance of rain through about Noon. Otherwise cloudy. High near 45. E/NE @ 10-20 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy w/a slight chance of rain before midnight. Low around 32.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny & windy, with a high near 47.

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 52. Our Low was 21. This day last year the high was 26 and the low 11. The record high for Nov. 18th in Atlantic was 72 in 1999. The record low was 0 in 1891.

2 injured in eastern Iowa crash, Friday

News

November 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Black Hawk County, Iowa) – A collision Friday afternoon south of Denver, in eastern Iowa, resulted in two people being transported to a hospital in Waterloo. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2007 Toyota Tundra pickup, driven by 45-year-old Matthew Richard Matthias, of Readlyn (IA), was stopped at a stop sign facing eastbound at Black Hawk County Road C-57 and U-S Highway 63, and a 2013 Honda CRV driven by 60-year-old Charles Farnam Stone, of Cedar Rapids, was traveling north on Highway 63 at around 2:54-p.m.

When Matthias failed to yield the right-of-way from the stop sign, his pickup was struck by the Honda, as the pickup was crossing Highway 63. Stone, and a passenger in his vehicle, 56-year-old Lily Leo Toy Stone, of Cedar Rapids, were hurt in the crash and transported to UnityPoint-Allen Hospital.

Matthias was arrested for OWI and Failure to Yield. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, along with Denver Fire and EMS.

Woman struck & killed by a pickup truck Friday evening in Clinton County

News

November 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

[See the updated report posted at 1:45-p.m., Saturday]

(DeWitt, Iowa) – A woman who was standing in the traveled portion of U-S Highway 61 southbound in Clinton County, Friday evening, died after she was struck by a pickup truck. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2020 Ford Escape SUV was disabled on left lane of the highway near mile-marker 148.

The woman and the SUV were struck by a 2012 Chevy Silverado pickup that was traveling in the left lane, after she and another occupant of the vehicle had exited the SUV. The woman died at the scene. Another person was injured and transported to Genesis East Medical Center, in Davenport.

The accident happened at around 5:25-p.m., near DeWitt. After the collision, the pickup came to rest in the west ditch, and the SUV came to rest in the median.  No names were released at the time of the report. The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and Dewitt Police.

Preseason Girls Basketball Rankings

Sports

November 17th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A
No.
School
2022-23 Record
1
North Linn
23-2
2
Newell-Fonda
24-3
3
Martensdale-St. Marys
21-5
4
Remsen St. Mary’s
24-2
5
Woodbine
23-3
6
Riceville
23-2
7
Council Bluffs St. Albert
17-7
8
East Buchanan
15-7
9
Earlham
18-5
10
Algona Bishop Garrigan
26-1
11
Calamus-Wheatland
19-6
12
Marquette Catholic
15-8
13
Coon Rapids-Bayard
16-8
14
Kingsley-Pierson
18-5
15
Exira-EHK
19-5
 
Class 2A
No.
School
2022-23 Record
1
Dike-New Hartford
26-1
2
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
24-1
3
Panorama
22-3
4
Iowa City Regina
21-5
5
Nodaway Valley
18-5
6
Westwood
21-2
7
North Mahaska
20-4
8
Treynor
21-3
9
Aplington-Parkersburg
20-5
10
Central Lyon
24-1
11
Hinton
20-4
12
Sioux Central
17-7
13
MVAOCOU
15-8
14
Kuemper Catholic
13-9
15
 Hudson
16-8
 
Class 3A
No.
School
2022-23 Record
1
Estherville-Lincoln Central
24-1
2
Solon
23-3
3
Benton Community
23-4
4
Des Moines Christian
21-4
5
Dubuque Wahlert Catholic
18-7
6
Mount Vernon
16-8
7
Clear Lake
21-3
8
Harlan
14-8
9
Monticello
18-6
10
Algona
17-7
11
Forest City
14-10
12
Center Point-Urbana
13-10
13
Clarke
16-7
14
Unity Christian
18-6
15
Spirit Lake
11-12
 
Class 4A
No.
School
2022-23 Record
1
Dallas Center-Grimes
23-3
2
Clear Creek-Amana
18-5
3
Ballard
19-4
4
Mason City
14-7
5
North Polk
23-3
6
Waverly-Shell Rock
16-7
7
Bishop Heelan
23-3
8
Humboldt
15-8
9
Carlisle
15-8
10
Le Mars
13-10
11
Central DeWitt
14-8
12
Xavier
16-8
13
Decorah
21-3
14
Maquoketa
13-10
15
Western Dubuque
5-19
 
 Class 5A
No.
School
2022-23 Record
1
Johnston
24-2
2
Pleasant Valley
26-0
3
Dowling Catholic
20-5
4
Davenport North
21-3
5
Ankeny Centennial
18-7
6
Cedar Falls
15-7
7
West Des Moines Valley
15-9
8
Waukee
11-12
9
Sioux City East
17-5
10
Waukee Northwest
8-13
11
Southeast Polk
15-8
12
Cedar Rapids Prairie
10-12
13
Ankeny
12-11
14
Waterloo West
22-2
15
Sioux City West
11-13

Friday Iowa High School Football State Championship Scores

Sports

November 17th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

FRIDAY, NOV. 17

CLASS 2A
Van Meter 24, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 21

CLASS 3A
Williamsburg 20, Bishop Heelan, Sioux City 0

CLASS 5A
Southeast Polk 49, Ankeny 21

Trojan Girls Basketball starts the season with a defeat

Sports

November 17th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

The Atlantic Trojan Girls Basketball team lost handily 70 to 43 against the Pella Dutch in their season opener.

The Trojans started the game behind with a 5-0 Dutch run and Pella led 17-12 at the end of the first. Pella continued their run in the second quarter to lead at halftime 33-18. The game turned in full favor of the Dutch early in the third quarter scoring 28 points and using Kennedy Van Vark’s momentum. Van Ark would score 26 points on the night and combined with the Trojans turnover troubles the Pella lead would be insurmountable. The fourth quarter would stay close with Pella only scoring 9 and Atlantic 8.

The Trojans got some of the looks they wanted throughout the night but just couldn’t avoid getting the ball stolen. Atlantic was helped by Junior Maddie Richter and 15 points with 8 coming from the third quarter. Even with Richter’s help, there was just too many mistakes by Atlantic. Trojan’s Head Coach Dan Vargason commented on the errors by Atlantic.

Atlantic did well grabbing boards on the night with 26 and it was one of the postives that Coach Vargason noted.

Next week Atlantic is still on the road against Denison Schleswig and Coach Vargason wants Atlantic to clean a few things up before their contest.

The Trojans start the season 0-1 and face off against the Monarchs Tuesday November 21st at 7:30pm.

Gov. Reynolds appoints Ashley Sparks as District Judge 

News

November 17th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced her appointment of Ashley Sparks as a district judge in Judicial Election District 2B.  Judicial Election District 2B includes Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Marshall, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster, and Wright counties.

Sparks, of Bondurant, Iowa, is the Owner of Sparks Law, PLLC and is a Boone County Magistrate. She received an undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University, a master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and her law degree from Drake University Law School.

Sparks fills a vacancy created following the retirement of the Honorable James C. Ellefson.