United Group Insurance

Elevated Fire Danger today for Cass & area Counties in Iowa

Weather

October 18th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

316 AM CDT Fri Oct 18 2024

…Elevated Fire Danger Today…

WHAT…Stronger winds from the south at 15 to 20 mph with gusts around 25 to 35 mph, dry surface vegetation and cropland, and low relative humidity between 25 and 30 percent will lead to elevated fire danger today.

WHERE…Across all of central Iowa.

WHEN… From 11am to 7pm today.

IMPACTS…Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become very difficult to control, especially in cropland.

PREPAREDNESS AND PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS…Burning is strongly discouraged under these conditions. Also, take extra care to prevent the start of accidental fires when smoking or operating vehicles around dry vegetation or crops.

Iowa tax collections down 11.6% over two years due to tax cuts

News

October 18th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State tax revenues are projected to drop by more than 11-and-a-half percent over a 24-month period — a decline the governor’s budget chief says was expected due to recently-approved tax cuts. Kraig Paulsen, director of the Iowa Department of Management, says there is enough available revenue to fulfill the spending promises outlined in the current fiscal year’s budget.

“There is no issue with meeting the needs of Iowans,” Paulsen says. “The state continues to be in a very strong financial position in no small part because of the continued spending discipline.” Paulsen and the other two members of the State Revenue Estimating Conference met Thursday. They project tax collections will fall five-point-three percent between this past July 1st and June 30th of next year. In the following 12-month fiscal year, the group estimates state tax revenue will fall even more — by six-point-three percent.

“The tax cuts are having the intended effect,” Paulsen says. “They’re leaving more money in Iowans’ pockets and they’re leaving more money in the pockets of Iowa’s employers.” Jennifer Acton, director of the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency, is another revenue-estimator for the state. “Major tax reductions began in January, 2023 and continue to slow the accumulation of General Fund revenue,” she said, “as expected.”

Governor Reynolds says she and her fellow Republicans in the legislature believe the government has been taking in too much taxpayer money and they’ve fixed that by cutting taxes. Democrats in the legislature say these new estimates show the state will be taking in a billion dollars less in taxes in the next budgeting year. Democrats say that means more tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Iowans, while more money will be siphoned away from public schools to support the state program for private schools.

Council Bluffs teen shot in the leg Thursday night

News

October 18th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Council Bluffs Police Department is investigating an incident that took place early Thursday night. Authorities say that at approximately 7:14 pm, Council Bluffs Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the area of East Pierce Street and South 1 st Street for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a 14 year old male who
sustained a gunshot wound to one of his legs. The victim was transported by Council Bluffs Fire Department medics to a
local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The initial investigation revealed that two juvenile males were confronted by two male suspects at the intersection of East Pierce Street and Grace Street. During the confrontation, one of the male suspects produced a handgun and shot the victim once in the leg. The investigation is ongoing and no suspects have been taken into custody as of this report.

Council Bluffs Police are asking for the public’s assistance with identifying the suspects. Specifically, investigators would like to speak with anyone with surveillance video that may have captured the suspect’s movements before or after the incident. Investigators believe that the suspects were walking in the North and East downtown areas of Council Bluffs prior to the
shooting. Suspect #1, the suspected shooter, is described as a clean shaven white male, 16 to 20 years old, wearing a
black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and Jordan shoes. Suspect #2 is described as a white male, 16 to 20 years old, red
hair and red facial hair, wearing a Nike brand zip-up style jacket with white on top and gray on the bottom and cream
colored slide sandals.

Council Bluffs PD Shield

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal
Investigation Division at 712-328-4728. To remain anonymous, they may call CrimeStoppers at 712-328-7867 or submit
an on-line crime tip at: https://www.councilbluffs-ia.gov/FormCenter/Police-Department-2/Online-CrimeStoppers-Tip-70

DOROTHY TWOMBLY, 93, of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 10/24/24)

Obituaries

October 18th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DOROTHY TWOMBLY, 93, of Greenfield, died Thursday, October 17, 2024, at the Perry Lutheran Home in Perry.  Celebration of Life services for DOROTHY TWOMBLY will be held 10-a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation (without the family present) is on Wed., Oct. 23rd, from 3-until 7-p.m., at the funeral home.

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow the burial at the church.   

Memorials may be directed to the family, for later distribution.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Mount Ayr XC Invite Results

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Boys: 

  1. Maryville
  2. Nodaway Valley
  3. Grand View Christian
  4. Martensdale-St. Marys
  5. Tariko
  6. Clarke
  7. Fremont-Mills
  8. Bedford
  9. Wayne Corydon
  10. Ankeny Christian
  11. Southeast Warren
  12. Southwest Valley

Nodaway Valley: 

2. Gabe Winkelmann, 17:55.10
3. Luke Kading, 18:10.20
21. Haden Colton, 19:25.80
25. Paul Kading, 19:42.30
37. Cherubim Mercado, 20:16.30
79. Dom Breheny, 22:52.40
Girls: 
1. Maryville
2. Martensdale-St. Marys
3. Grand View Christian
4. Wayne Corydon
5. Tarkio
6. Fremont-Mills
CAM: 
25. Lyndsey Chaney, 23:03.30
59. Ellen Gerlock, 29:28.40
62. Elizabeth Rouse, 29:44.80
Nodaway Valley: 
35. Jazz Christensen, 24:40.60
46. Kaylee Van Horn, 26:37.90

Boys and Girls West Central XC Meet Results

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Boys: 

  1. Des Moines Christian
  2. Ogden
  3. Earlham
  4. ACGC
  5. Van Meter
  6. Woodward-Granger
  7. Interstate 35
  8. Madrid
  9. Pleasantville

ACGC Individuals: 

9. Gavin Sloss, 17:36.80
13. Preston Kent, 17:50.80
26. Noah Kading, 18:22.60
27. Tate Fever, 18:28.70
35. Jonny Kading, 19:05.80
56. Jameson Pfrang, 20:16.40
59. Brody Beeler, 20:22.60
86. Cameron Mozingo, 21:28.20
116. Stetson Ellis, 23:50.20
121. Tai Riordan, 24:08.70
131. Ryne Noland, 28:02.20

Girls: 

  1. Van Meter
  2. Des Moines Christian
  3. Earlham
  4. Madrid
  5. ACGC
  6. Panorama
  7. Interstate 35
  8. Pleasantville
  9. Ogden
  10. Woodward-Granger

ACGC Individuals: 

3. Ava Campbell, 19:49.30
17. Cadence Petersen, 21:20.90
23. Jayla Hoover, 21:54.80
34. Adalyn Benson, 22:48.40
49. Emmarae Ellis, 23:53.30
52. Lillie Lauzon, 24:05.00
54. Paige Van Meter, 24:11.00
72. Elizabeth Drake, 26:05.40
73. Hannah Muller, 26:05.50

Thursday High School Volleyball Results

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Hawkeye Ten Conference

St. Albert 3, Atlantic 0

Lewis Central 3, Denison Schleswig 0

Glenwood 3, Creston 0

 

Western Iowa Conference Finals 

Consolation Finals:  Underwood 3, Tri Center 2

Championship:  Riverside 3, Treynor 0

 

Corner Conference Finals @ East Mills

Fremont Mills 3, East Mills 1

 

CBTJ Triangular with Southwest Valley and Shenandoah

Southwest Valley 2, Shenandoah 0

Southwest Valley 2, CBTJ

Sgt. Bluff Luton 3, Kuemper 2

Boys and Girls Cross Country Hawkeye 10 Results

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Boys: 

  1. Lewis Central
  2. Red Oak
  3. Kuemper Catholic
  4. St. Albert
  5. Shenandoah
  6. Atlantic
  7. Denison-Schleswig
  8. Glenwood
  9. Harlan
  10. Clarinda
  11. Creston

Top Ten Individuals: 

1. Kevin Coots, Lewis Central, 16:04.80
2. Kyle Wagoner, Clarinda, 16:10.26
3. Marshall Arkfeld, Lewis Central, 16:14.15
4. Parker Heisterkamp, St. Albert Council Bluffs, 16:38.87
5. Evan Lillie, Lewis Central, 16:46.12
6. Jackson Cox, Lewis Central, 16:46.60
7. Emmanuel Grass, Red Oak, 16:53.58
8. Dayton Wiederien, Kuemper Catholic, 17:04.17
9. Hayden Heitbrink, Red Oak, 17:30.19
10. Erik Heslink, Harlan, 17:34.78
Atlantic Individuals: 
21. Luke Irlmeier, 18:35.20
30. Xander Cook, 18:50.86
33. Christian Thompson, 18:59.85
38. Devon Fields, 19:27.15
42. Vincent Meisinger, 19:42.28
47. Preston Williams, 19:58.91
52. Caleb Andersen, 20:16.13
Girls: 
1. Glenwood
2. Lewis Central
3. Harlan
4. Creston
5. Denison-Schleswig
6. Atlantic
7. Clarinda
8. Shenandoah
9. Kuemper Catholic
10. St. Albert
Top Ten Individuals:
1. Lili Denton, St. Albert , 18:06.51
2. Lindsey Sonderman, Harlan, 18:17.91
3. Grace Berglund, Glenwood, 18:42.05
4. Delayna Reese, Lewis Central, 19:40.84
5. Ava Bussey, Lewis Central, 20:04.96
6. Breckyn Petersen, Glenwood, 20:05.21
7. Lola Mendlik, Denison-Schleswig, 20:25.64
8. Madelyn Berglund, Glenwood, 20:26.85
9. Alexa Tremblay, Denison-Schleswig, 20:30.34
10. Madelyn Hoss, Lewis Central, 20:40.03
Atlantic Individuals: 
14. Katrina Williams, 21:04.07
32. Hailey White, 22:47.97
33. Hailey Huffman, 22:56.50
36. Megan Birge, 23:20.90
41. Elynor Brummer, 23:36.64
50. Bella Brock, 24:32.44
53. Allison Middents, 24:47.85

IHSAA Golf Update

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The transition of golf seasons for Classes 3A, 2A, and 1A was discussed for the third consecutive meeting, with action taken Thursday to postpone any change in golf seasons for the foreseeable future.

The IHSAA and IGHSAU had announced in August a move for girls’ tennis and all boys’ golf classes to be played in the fall starting in 2025-26. However, the Board of Control voted to delay the boys’ golf change indefinitely, so the sport will remain in the spring for 2025-26 and until the board considers additional information.

“We considered the feedback from our member schools and the board ultimately decided it was worth reconsidering our initial vote,” said board chairperson Dr. Andy Crozier, superintendent at Central Lee. “It became clear that there were too many obstacles that need to be resolved in the short-term to make this change for the 2025-26 school year.”

The change was announced in August as a way to reduce spring schedule congestion for school activities and improve the student-athlete golf experience.

Since then, the IHSAA’s numerous committees and school feedback structures often cited challenges with small school participation in fall sports, coaching conflicts, and golf course availability.

Discussions among the board on Thursday turned the golf seasons from a discussion item to an action item and resulted in a 5-3 vote to delay moving the sport out of the spring at this time.

Class 4A boys’ golf will remain in the fall, where it has been exclusively since 1993 and concluded its championships Tuesday.

“We appreciate our Board’s desire to continue its due diligence as it more fully considers a possible move of Class 1A, 2A, and 3A golf to a fall season,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said.  “We will continue to provide them with whatever information they need regarding the impact on and perspective of our member schools.”

Davenport Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Distribution Quantity of Methamphetamine

News

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine.

According to public court documents, Richard James Murphy, 42, sold an ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential source in August 2023. Four days later, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Murphy’s Davenport residence and found approximately one-half pound of meth, which Murphy intended to distribute, and ten rounds of ammunition. Murphy is a felon and was on probation at the time he committed this offense.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Murphy will be required to serve a five-year term 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 Bettendorf Police Department, Davenport Police Department, and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.