United Group Insurance

Tri-Center School District mourns the loss of student killed in a Monday evening crash

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A little more than six-years after a crash claimed the life of a female Tri-Center teenager and injured three others, tragedy has once again struck the school district. Crisis response and grief counselors will be available for students of the Tri-Center School District, Tuesday, as they process the death of a classmate and the injury of three others in a crash that happened Monday evening. According to KETV in Omaha, a pickup truck carrying four male high school students crashed and rolled over at around 5:45-p.m. near Neola.

Two of the teens suffered serious injuries in the crash when the truck rolled off the highway northeast of Neola, on Railroad Highway. All four were taken to hospitals in Council Bluffs, where one of the teens died from his injuries. No names have been released.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said the teens had just left track practice at Tri-Center High School when the single-vehicle crash happened. Additional details were not available as of 10:45-p.m. (Check back later for updates)

A message posted on the Tri-Center Trojans Facebook page late Monday evening said:

“Dear Trojan family, Tonight our family has suffered a terrible tragedy. 4 students have been involved in a tragic crash. It’s heartbreaking as one didn’t survive. These kids are great students, friends, brothers, sons of great families and we send these families our most deepest, sincere, whole-hearted condolences, sympathies, and prayers to the families involved. As well as to the students, the teachers, and the whole TC community as we mourn this awful tragedy. We pray for healing for one another during this time of hardship. God Bless these students, the families, and this great community.”

Some patrons of the district may remember a crash a few miles north of the Tri-Center/Neola High School campus on March 17th, 2010 that claimed the life of 14-year old Katie Dyer, of Honey Creek. That accident, which involved a car that rolled over numerous times, also resulted in injuries to the driver, 15-year old Samantha Reid, who was from Honey Creek, and her 16-year old passengers Cari Wilson and Chelsea Birtwell, both of whom at the time, were from Persia. In that crash, two of the girls, including Dyer, were wearing seat belts, the other two were not. All four were ejected from the vehicle. Reid was driving with a school license, which allowed students who are 14 ½ years of age or older, to drive to-and-from school.

Kiddie Korral at Sunnyside Park may be open by the end of May

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Director Seth Stasshelm, Monday, said work is continuing on renovations for the Kiddie Korral Shelter house at Sunnyside Park. Staashelm said so far this Spring, grass seed has been placed on the ground, and brick has been ordered from Sioux City Brick for placement around the roof support columns. What’s still left to do is install the water fountain, and work on the fire pit. The Atlantic Kiwanis will come out and help clean-up the playground equipment. Some of the toys are also being replace. Until then, that area will be cordoned-off.  He says they will hopefully have it open by mid-May.

A date for the newly renovated facility has not yet been set, but it’s hoped that will be sometime in May. Reservations will not be accepted for use of the shelter until the end of May. Staashelm said also, work on the East Shelter renovation at Sunnyside Park is their next objective. The roof, he said, needs to be replaced, and the skirting is twisted, something that’s out of the scope of his and Parks Director Roger Herring’s area of expertise. To that end, they contracted with Iron Specialties for the installation of a new, red, tin roof. Their bid amounted to $7,700.

A separate local contractor will handle painting of the columns and rafters, for a total project price of just under $12,000, which is what had been budgeted for using the Local Option Sales Tax Funds. The Parks and Rec Board approved the contracts for work on the Kiddie Korral. Other activities taking place at parks in Atlantic, includes the grading of land near the Dog Park at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The land will be used for a one-way entry/exit, 20 stall parking spaces for the Dog Park. Currently, there are flags in-place, marking where the grading will take place by a tiling company.

And, the East Nishnabotna River Boat Ramp near the Wastewater Treatment Plant is almost finished. Roger Herring said they need to removal piles of rip-rap and dirt for the building of a berm. The earthen berm will be covered with grass cloth and river rock, to dress it up. A drive will pass by the Waterworks berm, and a parking area near the upper end of the boat ramp.

In other business, Herring and Staashelm are awaiting Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors, to determine if their request for $40,000 in support of a Vision Iowa CAT grant application, will be approved. If it isn’t, or if the amount requested is less than received, Herring said that would have a big impact on the application. The Atlantic City Council has committed $100,000 in support of the $360,000 grant request for improvements to the Schildberg Rec Area campground site, and there is $40,000 for in-kind services that have been pledged. The grant requires a 50-percent local match (including 25% for in-kind services), or $180,000 altogether.

Iowa man resentenced to prison in 1977 shooting death

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man who was previously sentenced to life in prison for a murder committed in Nebraska when he was teenager has been resentenced. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Douglas County District Judge Mark Ashford on Monday sentenced 53-year-old Kelvin Anderson, of Waterloo, Iowa, to 82 to 100 years in prison for the 1977 killing of Robert McGinnis. Anderson will be eligible for parole in three years.

Anderson, who was 15 at the time, shot and killed McGinnis during a robbery in Omaha. The new sentence was prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says judges must have the ability to sentence juveniles to something other than an automatic life term.

Bluffs woman wanted for questioning in murder investigation is questioned & released

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs said late Monday evening that a woman wanted for questioning in connection with a March 7th murder and attempted murder investigation, has been interviewed by detectives, and released. 22-year old Rachel Lewis, of Council Bluffs, turned herself into detectives at the Criminal Investigation Division on Monday, in association with a Material Witness warrant that had been issued.

Once Lewis was interviewed by detectives, she was released. Authorities say they do not expect any additional arrests in the connection with the murder of Anthony J. Walker and the shooting of another man at an apartment complex in Council Bluffs that took place just before 6:30-p.m., March 7th.

Based on the completion of their investigation, officials say they believe that they have substantial evidence that has led to the arrest of three suspects in this murder investigation. Those suspects include 30-year old Markis Moses Davis, 19-year old Ben Lein, and 22-year old Wesley W. Correa-Carmenaty, all of Council Bluffs.

VIRGINIA LEE SMYSER, 97, of Avoca (Svcs. 03-24-2016)

Obituaries

March 21st, 2016 by admin

VIRGINIA LEE SMYSER, 97, of Avoca died Sunday, March 20th at Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center.  Funeral Services for VIRGINIA SMYSER will be held Thursday, March 24th at 11:00am at United Church of Avoca.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

Family will greet friends on Thursday, March 24th from 9:30am-11:00am at the church prior to services.

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.

VIRGINIA SMYSER is survived by:

Sons: John “Jack” (Janet) Smyser of Council Bluffs.  Albert “Gene” (Darlene) Smyser of Sioux City.  Randall (Annette) Smyser of Rock Port, MO.

Daughters: Twyla Watson of Omaha.   Sharon (Jerry) Gross of Earling.

15 Grandchildren

27 Great-Grandchildren

8 Great-Great-Grandchildren

Buchholz pitches into 5th inning, Red Sox top Cardinals

Sports

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Clay Buchholz pitched into the fifth inning, Pablo Sandoval and Jackie Bradley Jr. each drove in two runs and the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 Monday. Buchholz gave up one run and five hits in 4 2-3 innings. He missed much of last season with an elbow strain and had allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings earlier this spring.

Red Sox reliever Carson Smith left after only five pitches with forearm tightness. Manager John Farrell called the move precautionary and said Smith was returning to Fort Myers to be evaluated. In his 11th Grapefruit League at-bat, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina got his first hit of the spring, a single over shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Molina is still trying to strengthen his left hand following offseason thumb surgery.

 

Breaking News: Test Tornado Drill postponed until Thursday

News, Weather

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the National Weather Service in Des Moines have confirmed the Statewide Tornado Drill Scheduled for Wednesday, March 23rd, has been postponed until Thursday, due to the possibility of severe weather across the state, on Wednesday. The Test Tornado Watch will now be issued at 10-a.m. Thursday, with a Test Tornado Warning issued at 10:20-a.m. Thursday, and the all-clear between 10:30 and 10:30-a.m. The Test Tornado Watch will expire at 11-a.m. Thursday. Again, the Statewide Tornado Drill has been postponed until Thursday.

SHERYL “SHERI” LESLIE RUTHERFORD, 66, formerly of Hickman, NE (3-23-2016)

Obituaries

March 21st, 2016 by Jim Field

SHERYL “SHERI” LESLIE RUTHERFORD, 66, formerly of Hickman, NE died Friday, March 18th 66 in Atlantic.  Funeral service for SHERYL “SHERI” LESLIE RUTHERFORD will be held on Wednesday, March 23rd at 11:00 am at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 S 84th Street in Lincoln, NE.  Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home in Lincoln, NE is in charge of arrangements.

————————————————————————
Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6-8 pm at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.

SHERYL “SHERI” LESLIE RUTHERFORD is survived by:

Husband:  Kelly

Children:  Darrin (Dawn) Knudsen of Gretna, NE; Jon (Nikki) Knudsen of Roca, NE; Kari (Jon) Murray of Beatrice, NE; Brian Knudsen of Atchison, KS; Jason (Amanda) Knudsen of Lincol.

Sisters: Connie Davis and Vicki (Dan) Vavra.

Brothers:  Monte Wood and Kenny Wood Jr.

11 Grandchildren

and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

 

Red Oak woman arrested Monday for aggravated assault while displaying a weapon

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak, assisted by deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman today (Monday) on a charge of Aggravated Assault while displaying a weapon, following an incident at a residence in the 400 block of E. Oak Street, in Red Oak. Authorities say 19-year old Cara Belle Hale, of Red Oak, was taken into custody for without incident at around Noon, after allegedly attempting to assault a male with a knife. Hale was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Red Oak Rescue assisted in handling the incident. No injuries were reported.

Sac County couple wanted for child endangerment have been located

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Sac County Sheriff’s Office said Monday (Today) an Odebolt couple wanted on child endangerment charges have been located. Jennifer Kuhl and Justin Siegner, and their small child were believed to have been in the Denison area, but the Sheriff’s Office did not say in its social media post where the couple were found. Authorities credited more than 72,400 shares on its social media page, and media coverage, with the apprehension of the suspects.