United Group Insurance

Navigator Carbon Dioxide pipeline projects on hold for now

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Omaha, NE via Iowa Capital Dispatch)  – Officials with Navigator CO2, Tuesday moved to withdraw their carbon dioxide pipeline permit application in Illinois, effectively halting its project.The motion comes about a week before the Illinois Commerce Commission was set to hold an evidentiary hearing for the application. The company’s proposed 1,350-mile pipeline system suffered a setback in South Dakota in September when state regulators denied Navigator a construction permit. Later that month, the company asked to suspend its permit process in Iowa. At the time, Navigator indicated it would wait for a ruling on its permit in Illinois, which was expected by the end of February 2024.But the company now says it is “taking time to reassess the route and application.”

“Navigator will withdraw its current application with the intent to reinitiate Illinois permitting, if appropriate, when Navigator’s full evaluation is complete,” the company said in a prepared statement. A company spokesperson declined to comment further. Navigator had previously withdrawn its first application in Illinois and reapplied because of a route adjustment. Navigator proposes to transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and other facilities in five states to Illinois for underground sequestration and other commercial uses. Most of those sites are in Iowa. Opponents of the project say it poses a safety risk to residents and livestock, it would irreparably damage farmland, and that the use of eminent domain to build it is improper because it doesn’t serve the public.

The proposal is one of three in Iowa. Summit Carbon Solutions is near the end of its permit process with the Iowa Utilities Board. An evidentiary hearing is pending and expected to resume for days in November. The company hopes to have a decision on its Iowa permit by the end of the year. Summit was also denied a permit in South Dakota but plans to reapply. North Dakota utility regulators also denied Summit a permit but have agreed to reconsider the application. The Summit pipeline would carry carbon dioxide emissions from more than 30 ethanol plants in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The emissions would be buried in North Dakota.

Wolf Carbon Solutions wants to build a much smaller system in eastern Iowa, but the IUB has not yet set a procedural schedule to guide the rest of its permit process.

Navigator CO2 Ventures seeks to build about 1,350 miles of carbon dioxide pipeline in five states. (Map courtesy of Navigator CO2 Ventures)

 

 

Cass County Extension Report 10-11-2023

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

October 11th, 2023 by Jim Field

w/Kate Olson.

Play

Worker pinned in a Council Bluffs construction accident

News

October 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) –  One person was pinned and two other people were injured after a partial building collapse in Council Bluffs on Tuesday afternoon. The building is part of Decker Plastics, a packaging group, located near S 11th Street and 2nd Avenue. According to Council Bluffs police, there were roof rafters being put up as part of new construction at the building when one fell and pinned a worker.

Two other people were injured, but were able to walk out of the building, according to authorities. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.

Atlantic School Board to act on new hires, Director of Health Svcs. position, & expulsion of a student

News

October 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Education in the Atlantic Community School District will meet this (Wednesday) evening in the Atlantic High School Media Center, beginning at 5:30-p.m. Among the items on their agenda, is a presentation from Booster Club President Brian Wagner, and a Bryce Smith, Carry Pellett, Lori & Barry Reid, who are expected to talk about an Aviation program and related opportunities for students.

The Board will act on approving contract recommendations for: Lily Renfro – Elementary Paraeducator; Rick Boysen – Substitute Bus Driver, and the following Spring 2024 Sports Coach recommendations from High School Asst. Principal/Activities Director Andy Mitchell:

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will discuss the Director of Health services position. Earlier, it was noted the School Nurse had resigned, and the District was advertising to replace a person in the position. During the Board’s Work Session on Sept. 27th, it was mentioned two applications for the position had been received, and that administrators were looking at having a plan in-place to cover District health needs until the position is filled. The Board is expected to act on the Director of Health Services position following additional discussion items.

They are also expected to approve a request from Junior Class Sponsor Andy Mitchell, for a fundraising activity during the week of Oct. 16th. About 100 students will be involved in the activity, selling plain or frosted Krispy Kreme donuts to friends, family and interested District patrons. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards Prom 2024 and Graduation 2025. Following their regular business agenda, the Atlantic School Board is expected to enter into a Closed Session for the purpose of discussing whether to conduct a hearing or hearings, to suspend or expel a student, unless an open session is requested by the student or  their parent/guardian, if the student is a minor, as allowed under the Code of Iowa.

View the full agenda HERE. Watch the school board meeting beginning at 5:30-p.m. via YouTube, HERE.

Tuesday’s Local High School Volleyball Scores

Sports

October 11th, 2023 by admin

Corner Conference:

Sidney 3-Griswold 2 (25-22, 21-25, 20-25, 25-19, 19-17)

Hawkeye Ten Conference:

Clarinda 3-Shenandoah 1 (25-18, 25-27, 25-16, 25-21)
Lewis Central 3-St. Albert 0 (25-14, 25-15, 27-25)
Red Oak 3-Denison-Schleswig 0 (25-11, 25-23, 25-11)

Pride of Iowa Conference:

Lenox 3-Southeast Warren 0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-11)
Lenox 3-Southwest Valley 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-20)
Southeast Warren 4-Mount Ayr 1 (25-18, 25-12, 27-29, 25-21)
Southwest Valley 3-Mount Ayr 0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-20)

Racoon River Conference:

ADM 3-Carroll 0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-16)
Bondurant-Farrar 3-Humboldt 1 (25-20, 25-17, 17-25, 25-14)
Carlisle 3-Gilbert 1 (25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 25-15)
North Polk 3-Boone 0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-14)

West Central Conference:

Des Moines Christian 2-Earlham 0 (25-6, 25-10)
Des Moines Christian 2-Van Meter 0 (25-12, 25-7)
Earlham 2-ACGC 0 (25-22, 25-17)
Interstate 35 2-Madrid 1 (25-13, 19-25, 15-6)
Panorama 2-Pleasantville 1 (8-25, 25-20, 15-10)
Pleasantville 2-Ogden 0 (25-17, 25-16)
Van Meter 2-ACGC 0 (25-11, 25-19)
West Central Valley 2-Interstate 35 0 (27-25, 25-22)
West Central Valley 2-Madrid 0 (25-21, 25-16)
Woodward-Granger 2-Ogden 1 (25-19, 22-25, 15-8)
Woodward-Granger 2-Panorama 1 (25-18, 26-28, 15-13)

Western Iowa Conference:

Riverside 3-Tri-Center 0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-20)
Treynor 3-Audubon 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-20)

In the Match of the Season Sidney Defeats Griswold in Five Sets

Sports

October 11th, 2023 by admin

The Sidney Cowgirls were able to beat the Griswold Tigers in five sets of volleyball action as the match went all the way down to the wire. Griswold took the second and third sets of action as it looked like they were going to be able to take the entire match until Sidney came back and fought to the very end.

In the first set of action, Sidney took an early lead as the Cowgirls relied on Eve Brumsbaugh and Lilly Peters as they were both the driving forces in the entire match. Sidney ended up taking the first set 25-22 overall as they were able to keep Griswold on hold, even after the Tigers made a run late in the first set.

The second set saw Griswold get off to a 7-0 run to start things off over Sidney. After the Tigers realized the open spots in the back row, Griswold continued to dominate in the middle of the set. After Sidney went on a late run from the back row play of Gabi Jacobs, the Tigers were able to put them back down and take the set 25-21.

For Griswold, the third set went their way. The Tigers were led in the back row by the impressive play of Whitney Pennock as she cleaned up everything in the back row and continued to keep the serving game in the right direction. Gabbie Greiman was also a big impact in the middle as she continued to enforce the blocking game and helped in the quick sets in the middle against the Cowgirls. The Tigers ended up with a third-set win 25-20.

Set four saw a turn of events, as Sidney started with another early run. Fallon Sheldon helped in her serving and in the front-row play that she brought to the table in both the hitting and blocking games. Setter Addyson Foster was able to put together a great performance in the front row in set four, allowing the Cowgirls to run the offense on the strong side. The fourth set was a Sidney victory 25-19.

In the fifth and final set of action, Griswold started off on a good run as they went up by two, after back-and-forth play from both squads. Griswold continued to rely on the outside hitting of R’Nya Kirchhoff as she hit well out of the strong side all night long. Sidney was able to continue the blocking game and great defense from both Gabi Jacobs and Camdyn Hayes in the back row to help top the Tigers in the fifth set. Sidney won the fifth set 19-17 in one of the tightest matches all season.

Looking into the recorded stats on the night, Griswold was led by Gabbie Greiman with 18 kills followed up by R’Nya Kirchhoff with 10 and Marissa Askeland with nine. Askeland had three aces while Pennock and Addison Adams also earned one each. Carolina Arcia had a total of 37 assists on the night to top off the stats for Griswold.

For the Sidney Cowgirls, Eve Brumbaugh led in kills with 17 and was followed by Lilly Peters with 12 kills and two aces. Fallon Sheldon earned 10 kills on the night, one of her career highs this season. Both Myler Maher and Ashlee Moseley earned two kills on the night to add to the stat sheet. Libero Gabi Jacobs earned three aces and continued to hold the back row on the night.

Sidney continues to lead the series 18-4 overall and has held a winning streak over the Tigers since 2014. Sidney will travel to Lewis Central to play in their volleyball tournament this weekend. Griswold will wait to play on Monday while they take on Fremont Mills in the first matchup on Monday.

SWV POI Finals Night

Sports

October 11th, 2023 by admin

Tuesday night Southwest Valley faced Mount Ayr in Afton for the POI Semifinals. The Timberwolves did quick work and took the win in 3 straight sets advancing us to the championship match. The Timberwolves served aggressively keeping Mount Ayr out of system and allowing us to attack the ball. Mackenzie Fast had a team high 8 kills against Mount Ayr. SWV had a good spread at the net as we had multiple girls getting swings in. Madeline Bevington had 8 digs to lead the back row play. Charlee Larsen was fun at the service line with 6 of the team’s 10 aces.

SWV advanced past Mount Ayr into the Championship match where they faced Lenox and took home 2nd place. Mackenzie Fast again, had a team high 8 kills. Fast had no fear and was smart and past her years of experience on the court tonight. The Timberwolves struggled more at the service line and keeping the ball in system to get some more aggressive swings. SWV is proud to take home 2nd place in the POI. This team represents the school well. Southwest Valley has finished in the top 4 in the conference tournament every year for 9 years now. These girls are keeping that tradition alive and leaving their mark on our program.
Charlee Larsen also met a milestone tonight early in the first set of the Mount Ayr game. Charlee earned her 500+ career kill tonight. I am proud of the hard work she has put into her game and the leadership she brings to this team.

Harvest Moves Quickly With Dry Weather

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The amount of soybeans harvested statewide more than doubled last week, and corn wasn’t far behind. Dry weather saw farmers bump the bean harvest up from 24 to 52 percent in the latest U-S-D-A report. That’s one week ahead of the five-year average. The corn harvest hit 30 percent complete — up from 16 percent last week. The corn harvest is now five days ahead of last year and six days ahead of the five-year average.

Fourth billion dollar lotto jackpot this year up for grabs tonight

News

October 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Tonight’s (Wednesday) Powerball drawing is estimated at more than one-point-seven BILLION dollars. Iowa Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says we are in an extraordinary run for jackpots. “Twenty-23 marks the first time that four lottery jackpots have topped a billion dollars in the same year — I mean it’s ‘s incredibly unusual,” Neubauer says. There was a one-point-six BILLION Mega Millions jackpot won August 8th, a Powerball jackpot just above one BILLION was won on July 19th, and a nearly one-point-three-five BILLION Mega Millions jackpot was won January 13th. Neubauer says the jackpots came after the games were tweaked to match what players want.

“I know people love to joke about the odds in Powerball and Mega Millions, right. I mean, the games have long odds. There is no doubt about that,” she says. “But you don’t get the big jackpots without those long odds, so over time, some of the changes that have occurred in the games do mean that the odds are longer to win. But also the jackpots are so big because they they’ve been growing for months.” The jackpot drawing tonight is no exception.

“It was last one on July 19th with a ticket in California. So the interesting thing is that when you get just these long runs in between winners that also helps achieve the sky high numbers that we’re seeing today,” she says. Another factor is more players buy tickets once the jackpot reaches a certain level, which adds more money to the pot. Neubauer says this current jackpot has followed that pattern. “It seems like we’re to the point where it’s what we call water cooler talk where everybody’s talking about it you know we start to see office pools forming,” Neubauer says. “And we do see when the jackpot is really up there like it is now, we see first time and occasional players jumping in.” Neubauer says the key thing is to remember the shut off time for tickets.

“It is 8:59 p-m on the night of the drawing, If you buy a ticket after that time it will still be a valid ticket, but it will be for an upcoming drawing,” she says. The estimated prize for this drawing is now the second-largest in history behind the two BILLION dollar jackpot won last November.

Griswold Volleyball

Sports

October 11th, 2023 by admin

The Tigers fell just short tonight to Sidney 2-3 with set scores of 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 19-25 and 17-19. Whitney Pennock broke the previous school record for digs in a season in tonight’s match, picking up 59 digs on the night to put her at 484 digs for this season!! Carolina Arcia had 31 digs followed by R’nya Kirchhoff with 22 digs and Addison Adams and Marissa Askeland with 17 digs each.  Carolina ran the offense, putting  up 47 assists.  Gabbie Greiman scored 20 kills while Marissa had 15 kills and Rnya scored 12 kills. Marissa scored 5 ace serves and Addison, R’nya and Whitney each scored 1 ace.