United Group Insurance

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the area, 12/11/16 (updated 5:30-a.m.)

Weather

December 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Today: Cloudy, with a temperature rising to near 34 by noon, then falling to around 27 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a light and variable wind becoming north northwest 11 to 16 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as zero. Northwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Wind chill values as low as 5. Light and variable wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Wind chill values as low as -5. West southwest wind 9 to 14 mph becoming north northwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 18. North northwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 20.

Our 24-hour High in Atlantic (ending at 7-a.m. today), was 31. The Low was 21. We received .6″ of snow at the KJAN studios Saturday, which melted into .05″ liquid precipitation. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 55 and the Low was 29. The All-Time Record High here on Dec. 11th was 64 in 1965. The All-Time Record Low was -14 in 1917.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, Dec. 11th 2016

News

December 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:30 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A county-owned hospital in western Iowa is refusing to reveal the amount of a settlement paid to the family of a woman who died from a botched colonoscopy, despite state law that says settlements made by government agencies are public record. Crawford County Memorial Hospital CEO Bill Bruce tells the Des Moines Register that he can’t release the settlement because of a judge’s order sealing records in the patient’s estate. Bruce says he will comply if a judge orders release of the settlement.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Burlington man injured earlier this week in an industrial accident at a snack food packaging plant has died. The Hawk Eye reports that 36-year-old Patrick Tisor was hurt Monday afternoon at Shearer’s Foods. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Des Moines confirmed that Tisor died Thursday night from his injuries. OSHA is investigating the fatal workplace accident. The company says it’s cooperating with the investigation.

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — Officials have identified a child killed earlier this week in a house near Perry as 4-year-old Harley Moore. A cousin of the boy’s, Jessica Goehring, tells the Des Moines Register that the family is in shock over Harley’s death. The fire was reported around 8 a.m. Thursday in the house northwest of Perry. Fire officials say that when crews arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames, and firefighters couldn’t reach the child in time to save him.

DUNLAP, Iowa (AP) — Improvements will be made to the downtowns of two Harrison County communities, thanks to the awarding of Main Street Iowa challenge grants. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that Gross and Company of Dunlap received $75,000 for continued renovation of its building, while Main Street Woodbine received $3,900 to help downtown retailers.

Spartans pick up tough road wins at Boyer Valley on Saturday

Sports

December 10th, 2016 by admin

The Exira-EHK Spartans traveled to Dunlap on Saturday for a Varsity Basketball Doubleheader against the Boyer Valley Bulldogs and came away with two hard fought victories: 59-44 in the girls game and 66-62 in the boys contest.

In the Girls contest the Spartans found themselves in a tight battle from the onset. The Spartans had to rally in the first quarter to take a 12-10 lead and then had to come back again in the second quarter to head to the locker room tied at 24 at halftime. The Spartans made took much care of the basketball in the second half and slowly pulled away for a 59-44 win.  Kealey Nelson had a big game for the Spartans with 26 points, 14 of those in the fourth quarter.

Exira-EHK had to win the game without their top scorer Sophia Peppers who went down late in the first quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. The third-ranked Spartans improve to 6-0 on the young season and next will host Coon Rapids-Bayard on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs were led by 10 points from Erin Weber. They fall to 4-2 on the season and next will travel to West Harrison on Tuesday.

The Boys game started in a similar fashion with the Spartans leading a tight game 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.  Senior Drew Buckholdt erupted for 13 points in the second quarter and the Spartans pushed their lead to 12 at the half 34-22.  Boyer Valley would find their way back into the game in the second half.  The Bulldogs splashed down 6 three-pointers in the third quarter to get back within 3. The Spartans started the 4th quarter with a couple of quick buckets to push the lead back to 7. The Bulldogs would try to rally late and got the margin back down to 3 but couldn’t get any closer. Dakota Rold came up with a huge offensive rebound off a Noah Pettepier free throw miss with under a minute to go and got fouled to get to the line for the double bonus. He hit the second of two free throws to make the lead 4 and that’s where it would stay. The Spartans won it 66-62.

Drew Buckholdt finished with 22 points to lead the Spartans, who improve to 5-0 on the season.  Next up the Spartans host Coon Rapids-Bayard on Tuesday.

Boyer Valley was led in the loss by Joe Weber with 24 points.  The Bulldogs are now 3-2 and will travel to West Harrison on Tuesday.

Names released in fatal Cass County crash

News

December 10th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol, Saturday evening, released the names of those who died and were injured during a crash Saturday morning on Interstate 80 in Cass County. Officials said 14-year old Jamison Steckler and 11-year old Gavin Steckler, both of Audubon, and 41-year old Rodney Shane Sanborn, of Gretna, Nebraska, died in the crash that happened at around 9:10-a.m. about 2.5-miles west of the Anita Exit.

Eight others were injured in the crash, including: 14-year old Haden Doggett, 47-year old Kim Doggett, and 50-year-old Daniel Doggett, all of Gretna, NE;  14-year old Tyler Sanborn, of Bellevue, NE.; 14-year-old Haden Rast, of Cedar Rapids; 43-year-old Toby Steckler, 43-year-old Pam Steckler, and 10-year-old Mason Steckler, all of Audubon. Tyler Sanborn was taken by helicopter to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. Kim Doggett and Haden Rast were taken by helicopter to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where Doggett was listed in serious condition. The Patrol said Haden Doggett, Daniel Doggett, Toby Steckler, Pam Steckler, and Mason Steckler, were all transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic. A report on their conditions was not available.

Officials say the accident happened when a 2007 Volvo semi driven by 31-year old Marcelas Engram, of Savannah, GA, was traveling west on I-80, crossed the median and collided with an eastbound 2014 Chrysler Town and Country van, driven by Toby Steckler, of Audubon. A portion of the semi containing the tractor and cab, as well as the van, entered the south ditch. An eastbound 2008 GMC Yukon, driven by Daniel Doggett collided with the trailer of the semi, which had remained on the roadway, blocking traffic.

Authorities said while the accident remained under investigation, weather was a definitely a factor. Many social media posts from motorists in the area at the time, claimed the “Black ice” was making the roads very slippery and for unpredictable driving conditions.

Specks helps Jackson St. pull away late to beat Drake 68-63

Sports

December 10th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Yettra Specks scored five of his 15 points in the final minute to help Jackson State pull away and beat Drake 68-63 on Saturday. The game was tied 60-60 with 1:31 remaining. The Tigers’ Dontaveon Robinson scored a layup, Specks made a 3-pointer and then a pair of free throws and Jackson State led 67-60 with 26 seconds left. De’Antae McMurray converted a 3-point play for the Bulldogs, and Specks added a free throw to cap the scoring with 20 seconds to go.

The Bulldogs had a turnover and McMurray missed a 3-point shot to end it. Paris Collins scored 16 points to lead Jackson State (3-6). Billy Wampler scored a career-high 20 points for Drake (1-8), who shot just 27 percent from the field. Reed Timmer added 19 points

It was Drake’s first game under coach Jeff Rutter, who took over following Ray Giacoletti’s resignation on Dec. 6.

Grants awarded to improve downtowns of Dunlap, Woodbine

News

December 10th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DUNLAP, Iowa (AP) – Improvements will be made to the downtown area in two Harrison County communities, thanks to the awarding of Main Street Iowa challenge grants. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports Gross and Company of Dunlap received $75,000 toward continued renovation of its building, while Main Street Woodbine received $3,900 to help downtown retailers.

Brad Gross says the $75,000 challenge grant will go toward a $305,500 renovation of the second floor of the red brick building, where his accounting firm is housed. Gross and Company is putting up the remaining $230,500. The second floor will feature one- and two-room apartments, along with one or two temporary-stay rooms available for short-term rent.

In Woodbine, the challenge grant will help downtown businesses improve the look and atmosphere of their stores.

Flags in Nebraska, Iowa ordered at half-staff to honor Glenn

News

December 10th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The governors of Nebraska and Iowa have ordered flags flown at half-staff in memory of the late astronaut-hero John Glenn. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday ordered U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset the day of Glenn’s burial. The orders were in keeping with President Barack Obama’s proclamation issued in the wake of Glenn’s death on Thursday at the age of 95.

Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962, and was the oldest man in space, at age 77 in 1998. A U.S. Marine and combat pilot, he also served as a Democratic U.S. senator, representing Ohio, for more than two decades.

Crawford County Hospital refuses to release terms of settlement

News

December 10th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A county-owned hospital in western Iowa is refusing to reveal the amount of a settlement paid to the family of a woman who died from a botched colonoscopy, despite state law that says settlements made by government agencies are public record. Crawford County Memorial Hospital CEO Bill Bruce tells the Des Moines Register that he can’t release the settlement because of a judge’s order sealing records in the patient’s estate.

The settlement was reached in April in a lawsuit filed by the husband of Carole Christiansen, who died in November 2014. The Carroll Daily Times Herald has asked the judge who sealed the estate records to release the settlement agreement, citing open records law. Bruce says he will comply if the judge orders release of the settlement.

Authorities ID child killed in house fire near Perry

News

December 10th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — Officials have identified a child killed earlier this week in a house near Perry as 4-year-old Harley Moore. A cousin of the boy’s, Jessica Goehring, tells the Des Moines Register that the family is in shock over Harley’s death. She said the boy’s older brother was in school when the fire broke out, and a younger infant brother was able to escape with the family.

The fire was reported around 8 a.m. Thursday in the house northwest of Perry. Fire officials say that when crews arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames, and firefighters couldn’t reach the child in time to save him.

The Iowa State Fire Marshall’s office is investigating. A cause hasn’t been determined, but fire officials said they do not suspect foul play.

3 dead, 8 others hurt in I-80 crash Saturday morning

News

December 10th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Interstate 80 was the scene of multiple accidents Saturday morning, stretching from just west of Shelby to near Anita. In an accident involving a semi, a van an a Chevy Suburban that took place 1.5-miles west of the Anita east, three people died and eight others including two juveniles, were hurt. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the injured were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, with at least one of those persons flown from CCMH to a hospital in Omaha.

The crash happened a little after 9-a.m., when a westbound semi went out of control, crossed the median and collided with an eastbound mini-van. The semi jack-knifed and ended up in a ditch. An eastbound Suburban then collided with the semi’s trailer.

The driver of the semi was not injured. No names have been released at this time. The Interstate remained closed in both directions as of 2-p.m. between Exit 64 (Wiota) and Exit 70 (Anita). Depending on their direction of travel, motorists were being rerouted off the Interstate at Highway 148 (Exit 70) to Anita, or N-28 (Exit 64) to Wiota, to Highway 83 and then back to I-80 via either Hwy 148 or N-28.