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Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., April 19th 2016

News

April 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

WILLIAMSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farm equipment maker Kinze Manufacturing says it must lay off 121 workers as low grain prices have slowed farmer purchases. The Williamsburg-based company announced Monday that office and factory worker cuts will be effective June 18. The company says it implemented a 30-hour work last year and started “aggressive marketing campaigns” to address market conditions, but the current demand for farming equipment doesn’t support staff size.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The leaders of a legislative budget group say lawmakers are at odds over how to pay for some proposed renovation projects in Iowa, including upgrades to a flagship history museum and a deteriorating building that houses some state agencies. Senate Democrats and House Republicans on the subcommittee that approves infrastructure and transportation funding said Monday they can’t agree on whether to borrow money through bonding to pay for the projects.

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man who pleaded guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk on the Fourth of July has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. A judge sentenced 26-year-old Austin Arndt, of Logan, Monday afternoon after he pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge of vehicular homicide while intoxicated. Authorities say the body of 50-year-old Charlotte Anderson was found on July 4th last year in Logan.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A stretch of sunny and dry weather has given Midwest farmers a good start on corn planting. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop progress report was released Monday. It shows 13 percent of Iowa’s corn crop is planted, significantly ahead of the five-year average of 3 percent planted by mid-April.

Federal warrant executed in Council Bluffs, subject of the warrant not found

News

April 19th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, Monday, said just after 2-p.m. that afternoon, officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department were dispatched to 1727 5th Avenue to assist United States Marshals with attempting to serve a federal warrant for probation violation on a subject who was believed to be in the basement apartment of the residence.

Upon going to the door the Marshals were denied entry to the apartment. A federal search and seizure warrant was then obtained by the Marshals for the wanted subject and was executed with the assistance of the Council Bluffs Police Department Emergency Services Team.

The subject of the warrant was not found, however three other persons were inside the apartment. Each was released without being charged. All traffic was stopped in both directions in the 1700 block of 5th avenue for approximately 3 hours. No injuries were reported in reference to the incident.

Vision Iowa grant application submitted – now we wait

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

April 18th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department has completed the Vision Iowa CAT grant application and turned it in by last Friday’s deadline. The application seeks $360,000 for improvements to the Schildberg Recreation Area campsite and related matters. Assistant Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm said during Monday’s meeting of the Parks and Recreation Dept. Board, that Director Roger Herring burned the midnight oil last week putting together a thick binder full of information. He says they hope to hear something back in the next month or two.

A 5-minute dvd virtual tour of the Schildberg Rec Area was included in the application. The video was shot by a drone under the guidance of Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Tim Snyder. Staashelm added the c-g graphics and special effects. Herring said he hopes the Vision Iowa judges take a moment to view the dvd and note that the intent is to make Atlantic a “Destination Point,” which will in-turn benefit the County in the form of tourism. Parks and Rec Board member Charlene Beane suggested the video be included on the Chamber’s website.

In other business, the Parks and Rec Board Monday evening gave the go-ahead for the purchase of an interlocking basketball court surface at the Harl-Holt park. The low bid was from Versa Court, at $13,806. Seth Staashelm said a grant will help to pay for new court surface, which will come with pre-printed, versatile lines for different sporting activities. It’s much safer to use than hard surfaces, and only requires assembly, a job which the parks and rec crew will be able to handle, thereby saving on costs.

The surface has a 10-year warranty. And, costs for the summer recreation programs in Atlantic, including youth tennis, swim team and men’s slow pitch softball, are unchanged. New this year, is Adult Tennis, Pickleball and Sunnyside Activity Hour.
Updated information about those programs will be on the Parks and Rec Department website, later this week. http://www.atlanticiowa.com/atlantic/city-departments/parks-recreation/

Midwest farmers get head start on corn planting

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 18th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A stretch of sunny and dry weather has given Midwest farmers a good start on planting corn. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop progress report was released Monday. It shows 13 percent of Iowa’s corn crop is planted, significantly ahead of the five-year average of 3 percent planted by mid-April.

Missouri farmers have 58 percent planted, ahead of their average of 21 percent. Kansas has more than a third of the corn crop planted, compared to the average 16 percent. Other states ahead of average are Kentucky and Minnesota. Nebraska is at 7 percent, ahead of its five-year average of 3 percent.

Planting corn early can result in an improved harvest because plants can mature to the pollination stage before summer heat stresses them.

Western Iowa man sentenced to prison for July 4 fatal crash

News

April 18th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man who pleaded guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk on the Fourth of July has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. A judge gave 26-year-old Austin Arndt, of Logan, the maximum sentence Monday afternoon after he pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge of vehicular homicide while intoxicated.

Authorities say the body of 50-year-old Charlotte Anderson was found on July 4th last year along Iowa Highway 127 on the north side of Logan. Friends and family told investigators they think Anderson had been walking from her home nearby to watch a band perform in downtown Logan.

Authorities say Arndt told officers he’d been at a bar and drank 15 to 17 beers within less than six hours before the accident.

Iowa farm equipment maker Kinze lays off 121 workers

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 18th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

WILLIAMSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farm equipment maker Kinze Manufacturing says it must lay off 121 workers as low grain prices have slowed farmer purchases. The Des Moines Register reports the Williamsburg-based company announced Monday that office and factory worker cuts will be effective June 18. The eastern Iowa company makes planters and grain carts.

The company released a statement Monday that says it implemented a 30-hour work last year and started “aggressive marketing campaigns” to address market conditions, but the current demand for farming equipment doesn’t support the company’s staff size. Kinze also cut 215 workers last June also citing slowed business and the farm downturn.

More charges for two Montgomery County Inmates

News

April 18th, 2016 by admin

The Red Oak Police Department announced additional charges Monday on two current Montgomery County Jail Inmates.  Officers arrested 40-year-old Misty Schalome Currin of Red Oak and 32-year-old Gordon Leroy Currin III of Red Oak on valid Polk County Warrants for Unauthorized Use of Credit Cards.  Both were already being held in Montgomery County Jail on other charges and will be held on no bond pending an initial appearance in Polk County.

Fate of Walnut school building unknown with district merger

News

April 18th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

WALNUT, Iowa (AP) — The city of Walnut is debating how to best preserve a historic school building as it prepares to launch a new school district this summer. The Daily Nonpareil reports that it’s unknown what will happen to the building when the Walnut Community School District merges with the Avoca-based AHST district July 1st.

The reorganization was prompted when Walnut saw the second largest enrollment decline in the state. It became unfeasible to operate the more than 100-year-old school. The Walnut school board would like to give the building to the city, which could then decide how to best use the space.

If a decision isn’t made by the time the Walnut district ceases to exist independently on June 30, the school board of the new district, called the AHSTW Community School District, would be responsible for the building.

Council Bluffs check-cashing business robbed Monday

News

April 18th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in locating a man who robbed a check-cashing business late this (Monday) morning. Authorities say at around 11:37-a.m., a man walked into Check ‘n Go, located at 1702 West Broadway, and displayed a black semi-automatic handgun before he demanded money from the two clerks on duty.

After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, the man left the store and walked toward the west. No one was injured during the incident. The suspect was described being as a white male in his late twenties or early thirties, approximately 5’10” to 6’0” and 170 to 185 lbs. He was wearing a dark green hoodie, blue jeans, black shoes, gray gloves, baseball cap and a white surgical mask.

Anyone with information about the crime is urged to call 712 328-STOP. Your tip/information could be eligible for a cash reward and you can remain anonymous.

Surveillance video of the suspect

Still-frame from Surveillance video of the suspect.

Ruben Tejada activated from disabled list by Cardinals

Sports

April 18th, 2016 by admin

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Shortstop Ruben Tejada has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the St. Louis Cardinals after recording from a strained left quadriceps that he hurt in the last game of spring training on March 31.

Infielder Greg Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Memphis after Sunday’s victory over Cincinnati.

The 26-year-old Tejada figured to be the starter in place of Jhonny Peralta, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Rookie Aledmys Diaz and Jedd Gyorko have both played well, in the field at the plate, and Garcia also started at shortstop.

St. Louis signed Tejada on March 19 after he was released by the New York Mets. In three injury rehabilitation games with Double-A Springfield last week he was 3 for 9 with a double.