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Fatal motorcycle-vehicle accident in Cedar Rapids

News

June 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – Officials with the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Saturday, reported on a fatal collision that occurred  Friday night between a motorcycle and another vehicle. Authorities said that at approximately 8:47-p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of 1st Ave. and 27th St. NE, following the report of a motorcycle-vs-car accident.
Officers arrived on scene, along with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and Area Ambulance, and began life saving measures on the driver of the motorcycle. The motorcycle driver was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased a short time later. The Identity of the motorcycle driver is being withheld pending notification of family.
Preliminary field findings indicate the motorcycle, traveling south on 1st Ave struck a northbound vehicle vehicle making a left turn from 1st Ave onto 27th St NE. No other injuries were reported at the scene.
There is an ongoing investigation into this incident.

High speed pursuit in three western Iowa counties, Friday afternoon

News

June 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Denison, Iowa) – KJAN’s sister station KDSN in Denison reports they were informed of a pursuit that occurred Friday afternoon, that ended in a field. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office told the station they were made aware of a stolen vehicle out of Woodbury County, and that at approximately 3:12-p.m.. authorities located the vehicle in Denison.

When a traffic stop was initiated by Denison Police, the stolen vehicle driven by a male, fled North on Highway 59 and escalated into a high speed pursuit towards Schleswig. Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in the chase when it crossed into the County.

The stolen vehicle eventually turned east onto County Highway E-16 in Schleswig, and continued toward County Highway 39, before turning north onto Highway 39. Speeds at that point increased to as much as 110-miles per hour, with vehicle being passed in No Passing Zones.

The Sheriff’s Department terminated the pursuit due to public safety concerns. Approximately 20-to 30-minutes, later Sac County Sheriff’s Deputies came into contact with the driver and engaged in a pursuit. The stolen vehicle eventually came to rest in a field.

KDSN says there are unconfirmed reports suspect driver of the stolen vehicle died from self-inflicted wounds. Additional information is currently not available.

Eastern Iowa man injured in a motorcycle-pickup collision Friday afternoon

News

June 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Butler County, Iowa)  – The operator of a motorcycle was injured in a collision Friday afternoon in northeast Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports 34-year-old James Cummings, of Greene, was hurt when the 2008 Honda motorcycle he was riding, struck a 2016 Chevy pickup truck, as the pickup was turning from southbound Yale Avenue onto eastbound Highway 188, west of Plainfield. The accident happened at around 3:20-p.m.

The Patrol says Cummings, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected from his motorcycle during the collision, and transported by helicopter to Unity Point/Allen Hospital in Waterloo. The driver of the pickup, 46-year-old Patrick Lentz, of Plainfield, was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign, and Yield the Right-Of-Way.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Clarksville Ambulance, Waverly paramedics, Plainfield 1st Responders, Plainfield Fire Dept. and Mercy One Airmed 3 helicopter.

Orange City man killed in a crash early Friday morning

News

June 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Woodbury County, Iowa) – A vehicle traveling about the posted speed limit crashed on the southeast side of Sgt. Bluff, Friday morning, resulting the death of its driver. The Iowa State Patrol says a Woodbury County Sheriff’s Deputy was trying to catch-up to a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero driven by 24-year-old Donovan Burrell, of Orange City, when the crash occurred at around 3-a.m.

The car was traveling on S. Lakeport/Old Lakeport Road near Wilde Street, when it went out of control and traveled southbound in the northbound lanes. The vehicle then went off the east shoulder, back on to the road and crossed over both lanes onto the west shoulder, before it struck a shed and came to rest.

Burrell, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to St. Lukes Hospital by Sgt. Bluff Fire/Rescue, and died from his injuries. The State Patrol says excessive speed, alcohol &/or drugs, and erratic driving were all contributing factors in the crash.

The Patrol was assisted by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office.

Elk Horn (IA) Mayor reports alleged/possible child abduction attempt; issues a reminder to parents

News

June 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – Elk Horn Mayor Stan Jens issued a reminder to parents, Friday afternoon, to talk to their children about stranger danger, and letting their children know to be familiar with their surroundings and to stay vigilant to suspicious persons and/or vehicles. His notice, posted on social media, followed an incident that allegedly occurred at around 3:30-p.m., Friday.
Mayor Jens said staff at the Elk Horn Pool were notified by the Audubon County Communications Center about a the driver of a white van that had allegedly attempted to lure a child into the vehicle after leaving the facility to walk home. All surrounding law enforcement agencies were notified immediately conduct a sweep of Elk Horn.
All facilities were placed on lock-down until the all clear was given. At the time, the driver was described as a white male, bald and wearing a black shirt. Law enforcement searched the area, including the Highway 173 I-80 entrance to Elk Horn, and surrounding roadways, but were apparently unable to locate the vehicle.
No other details are currently available.

High School Softball Scores from Friday

Sports

June 15th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Hawkeye Ten 
#1 Williamsburg 14, Atlantic 3 (Fort Dodge Softball Invite)
Atlantic 12, Central Springs 7 (Fort Dodge Softball Invite)
#11 Clarinda 8, Glenwood 1

Western Iowa Conference

Riverside 14, IKM/Manning 0
#7 Missouri Valley 8, Logan-Magnolia
Treynor 5, Tri-Center 4

Rolling Valley Conference

Glidden-Ralston 6, CAM 0
Woodbine 10, Ar-We-Va 0

Corner Conference
Fremont-Mills 4, Stanton 3
#11 Griswold 13, Sidney 0

Pride of Iowa Conference 
#1 Martensdale-St Marys 11, #11 Central Springs 4
#1 Williamsburg 3, Martensdale-St. Mary’s 1
Southwest Valley 13, Mount Ayr 8
#2 Wayne 13, Central Decatur 0
Lenox 5, Bedford 4
Nodaway Valley 14, East Union 2

West Central Activities Conference 
Woodward Granger 16, Saydel 1
Woodward-Granger 7, Grand View Christian 6
Ogden 13, Greene County 3
#13 PCM 6, Pleasantville 3

High School Baseball Scores from Friday

Sports

June 15th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Hawkeye Ten 

Clear Lake 4, Red Oak 1
Mid-Prairie 14, St. Albert 2
Creston 10, West Central Valley 2
Harlan 7, Clarinda, 5
Sioux City West 3, Denison-Schleswig 0
Mount Vernon 8, Atlantic 3

Western Iowa Conference
Underwood 9, AHSTW 2
Underwood 16, AHSTW 1
I-35 13, Audubon 1

Rolling Valley Conference
Woodbine 13, Ar-We-Va 3
Boyer Valley 14, Exira-EHK 0
CAM 12, Glidden-Ralston 2

Corner Conference
Stanton 13, Fremont-Mills 3
East Mills 25, Essex 10

Pride of Iowa Conference
Bedford 5, Lenox, 4
Southwest Valley 13, Mount Ayr 9
Martensdale-St Marys 5, Southeast Warren 4

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Saturday, June 15th, 2024

Weather

June 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2pm. High near 84. Southeast winds 10-20 w/gusts to near 30 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight: A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 70. S @ 15-30 mph. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday: Sunny & breezy. High near 92. S/SW winds 15-30 mph.
Monday: Sunny & windy. High near 93. S @ 15-35 mph.
Tuesday: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm, otherwise mostly sunny & windy, with a high near 90.
Friday’s High in Atlantic was 91. Rainfall up until 7-a.m. at KJAN was .45″.  Our Low this morning was 63. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 89 and the Low was 55. The record High for June 15th was 99 in 1918. The record Low was 40 in 1906 and 1969. Sunrise: 5:45. Sunset: 8:56.

Crash in NW Iowa claims a life Friday afternoon

News

June 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Lyon County, Iowa) – One person died and another was injured during a collision Friday afternoon in northwest Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a car and an SUV collided head-on at around 4:30-p.m. near Rock Rapids. The Patrol says a 2004 Chevy Impala driven by 48-year-old Joni Wulf, of Rock Rapids, was traveling north on Highway 75, when it crossed the center line of the road.

A 2018 Jeep Compass SUV driven by 29-year-old Megan Klapperich, of Orange City, was traveling southbound on Highway 75 and swerved to the left to avoid striking the car, but the vehicles collided in the northbound lane.

Joni Wulf died at the scene. Klapperich was injured and flown by helicopter to a hospital in Sioux Falls. Both women were wearing their seat  belts.

Boyer Valley gets shutout win against Exira-EHK

Sports

June 14th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Boyer Valley Bulldogs earned a 14-0 win against the Exira-EHK Spartans Friday night in Elk Horn. The high scoring tone was set early in the game with back-to-back RBI Doubles from Cooper Petersen and Robert Brasel to quickly put Boyer Valley up 2-0. The Bulldogs then used a 2 RBI single from Levi Reineke to give them a 4-0 lead at the end of the first. Exira-EHK made solid contact with the ball but struggled to earn base hits on the night by the sharp infield play of Boyer Valley. The Bulldogs continued to add pressure by adding 3 more runs to their lead at the end of the second inning to make the game 7-0 and taking confidence away from Exira-EHK pitching. In the top of the third Boyer Valley was held scoreless, but thanks to the determined pitching Logan Thompson Spartan Batters could never get comfortable enough to round second.

The Bulldogs scored 3 more runs in the 4th and 4 in the fifth to achieve the run rule after 5 innings of play with the final score being 14-0. Boyer Valley was led in hitting on the night by Levi Reineke who went 3-3 at the plate with 4 RBI’s. Starting pitcher Logan Thompson pitched 5 innings, had no runs, 5 hits, 3 strikeouts, and no walks. Exira-EHK’s best batter on the night was Austin Rasmussen who went 2-2 with two singles.

Spartans Head Coach Randy Kelly noted that his team was making contact with the pitches.

Coach Kelly’s message to his team after the game was that in baseball, things will not always go your way.

The loss drops Exira-EHK to 4-7 on the year and their next game is on Monday where they will host Glidden Ralston. In that contest coach Kelly hopes to hear his team communicate better throughout the game.

The win for Boyer Valley bumps the Bulldogs record up to 4-6 and they will travel home to take on Coon Rapids-Bayard on Monday.