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Iowa early News Headlines: Sat., Feb. 6, 2015

News

February 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Governor Chet Culver has scheduled town meetings next week to talk to Iowans affected by the state’s plan to hire three private companies to run the Medicaid program. The public meetings will highlight the impact of the proposal on Iowa’s 560,000 people who rely on Medicaid.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says an Emmetsburg man who pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for sex, but later had the conviction overturned, can sue his defense attorneys for legal malpractice. In the ruling Friday, the court for the first time in Iowa declined to adopt proof of actual innocence as a prerequisite to sue one’s criminal defense attorney.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a high school teacher was arrested and charged with public exposure after an incident at a West Des Moines mall. West Des Moines police say 60-year-old Michael Madson exposed himself Saturday afternoon to an employee at Valley West Mall. Madson didn’t immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque officials have asked for increased funding to bring a dog to sniff out bedbugs at a public library. The Telegraph Herald reports that a specially trained Labrador named Cooper has been sniffing the library monthly since bedbugs were discovered in the folds of a couch at Carnegie-Stout Public Library in October. Library officials have requested $5,400 in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st.

Posted in News |

Exira-EHK earns sweep over Adair-Casey

Sports

February 5th, 2016 by admin

The Exira-EHK Spartans picked up a girls and boys basketball win at Adair-Casey on Friday night.

Fans ACvsExiraEHKGirls02052016packed the house for a top ten match-up in the girls game and the action did not disappoint.  After a slow start for both teams the game was knotted at 5 at the end of the 1st quarter.  The Spartans took a brief lead but the Bombers rallied back and took a 4 point lead into the halftime locker room after Zoey Dinkla hit a shot just before time expired off a nice assist from Madie Sorensen.  Adair-Casey was able to hang on to a lead of 3 points by the end of the third but much like the first time these teams met the Spartans owned the fourth quarter.   The Spartans outscored the Bombers 24-8 in the final period to stay undefeated.  Maggie Rasmussen led all scorers with 17 points.  Sophia Peppers had 15 points, all in the second half, and Kealey Nelson had 14 for the Spartans.  Miranada Plowman and Madie Sorensen each scored 11 for the Bombers.  Exira-EHK improves to 19-0 and Adair-Casey falls to 17-3.

 

The boys game ended up carrying over the excitement from the girls game for three quarters.  The Spartans raced out to a 20-8 lead at the end of the first quarter but Adair-Casey rallied to take a brief lead before Noah Pettepier ended the half with two three point buckets to put Exira-EHK up 30-26 at half.  It was still a tight game after three quarters at 42-37 Spartans but much like the girls contest the Spartans took over in the fourth quarter.  The Spartans outpaced the Bombers 23-12 in the fourth to pick up their 13th win on the year.  The Spartans had four players finish in double figures: Dakota Rold 18, Noah Pettepier 15, Drew Buckholdt 14, and Brady Hansen 14. Connor Westergaard was the Bombers top scorer with 16 points.  The Spartans are now 13-5 on the year while the Bombers dropped to 1-18.

ACvsExiraEHKBoys02052016

We’ll have coverage of Exira-EHK’s next outing, a doubleheader Monday night against Boyer-Valley.  Girls game at 6:00pm, Boys at 7:30pm.  Catch it on air, online, or on the app.  Live video will be available as well on our TV page at kjan.com

Posted in Sports |

Bottled water advisory lifted for Elliott

News

February 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa DNR said Friday, test results from two sets of water samples taken in Elliott show the water is safe to drink. The city has lifted the bottled water advisory issued Tuesday after an electrical failure in the Montgomery County town drained the water tower.

During the advisory, the city furnished bottled water to residents and advised them to drink only bottled water because pressure losses can allow bacteria to enter the water supply pipes.

Posted in News |

Board supports public safety monument in Council Bluffs

News

February 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors has unanimously supported a proposed monument honoring those who serve in public safety. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the site would take a small portion of county land in Council Bluffs.

Supervisor Justin Schultz says the board’s vote stipulates that it will work with Council Bluffs officials when necessary, such as transferring the deed of the impacted land and adjusting lot lines if requested. Council Bluffs resident Lloyd Marsh’s idea for the project drew financial support from two other local residents, Ron and Suzanne Mahoney.

The plaza would include four life-sized bronze sculptures of a firefighter, highway patrolman, police officer and a female deputy sheriff. Mayor Matt Walsh said he hopes the project will be completed by the end of the year.

Posted in News |

Court ruling makes defense attorney malpractice suits easier

News

February 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says an Emmetsburg man who pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for sex but later had the conviction overturned can sue his defense attorneys for legal malpractice without being required to prove his innocence. In the ruling Friday the court for the first time in Iowa declined to adopt proof of actual innocence as a prerequisite to sue one’s criminal defense attorney.

The case involves Robert Barker who was convicted in 2006 after entering a plea agreement. His conviction was later overturned when a judge found Barker’s actions didn’t correspond to the charge for which he was convicted. Barker sued his attorneys for advising him to plead guilty.

The court’s ruling says Iowa won’t require defendants to prove innocence before suing defense attorneys in such cases.

Posted in News |

RICHARD “DICK” WIECHMAN, 72, of Massena (Svcs. 2/9/16)

Obituaries

February 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

RICHARD “DICK” WIECHMAN, 72, of Massena, died Friday, February 5th, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center in Atlantic. Funeral services for DICK WIECHMAN will be held 11-a.m. Tue., Feb. 9th, at the St. Peter’s United Church of Christ south of Massena. Steen Funeral Home in Massena has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held from 4-until 7-p.m. Monday, Feb. 8th, at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena, where the family will be present from 5- to 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the Victoria Township Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the burial at the Massena Legion Hall. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be directed to the Dick Wiechman memorial fund to be established by the family.

DICK WIECHMAN is survived by:

His mother – Arline Wiechman, of Massena.

His sister – Jackie Ring and husband Tom, of Elk Horn.

His brother – William (Bill) Wiechman and wife Lynn, of Shenandoah.

Other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Adair-Casey hosts Exira-EHK for hoops doubleheader tonight on KJAN

Sports

February 5th, 2016 by admin

The Adair-Casey Bombers will play host to the Exira EHK Spartans in a varsity basketball doubleheader tonight that we will have for you on KJAN.

The girls game will be a battle of top ten ranked teams with Exira-EHK undefeated at 18-0 and ranked #2, while Adair-Casey is 17-2 and ranked #10 in the latest rankings just released on Thursday from the IGHSAU.  Exira-EHK won the first meeting in Elk Horn 49-36.  Kealey Nelson had 15 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Spartans to that win back on January 5th, Sophia Peppers also had 15 points and 7 rebounds in that game.  Bombers leading scorer Madie Sorensen had 13 points in the first meeting.

The boys game features a 12-5 Spartans team against a very young Bombers squad that is 1-17 on the year.  Exira-EHK won the first meeting of the season in Elk Horn by a score of 56-34.  Brady Hansen led the Spartans with 15 points in that game on January 5th.

We’ll have coverage of both games tonight on KJAN AM 1220 and FM 101.1.  You can also listen online or on the KJAN mobile app. You can also check out live video streaming of both games on our TV page at kjan.com

Posted in Sports |

Iowa bill aimed at Stanford band strikes wrong chord

News, Sports

February 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill that sought to punish Stanford University for its band’s Rose Bowl halftime show mocking Iowa has been all but buried in the Iowa Senate. Majority Leader Michael Gronstal told reporters Thursday that he wouldn’t schedule the measure for floor debate.

Stanford’s band is known for irreverent shows. It poked fun at Iowa in Pasadena on New Year’s Day, employing among other things a dancing cow and a frowning farmer formation. The Cardinal beat the Hawkeyes 45-16 in the game.

The bill by Ottumwa Sen. Mark Chelgren would ban collaboration between Iowa’s state universities and Stanford until Stanford officials apologize for the band’s behavior. The Des Moines Register reports that Gronstal told reporters “it would probably be good if senators from southern Iowa had a sense of humor.”

Posted in News, Sports |

Postseason begins Saturday for wrestling and boys swimming

Sports

February 5th, 2016 by admin

The postseason is upon us for the winter sports season. Wrestlers in Classes 1A and 2A will be competing in Sectional meets around the state on Saturday.  Boys swimming teams will also be in action Saturday with District meets that will determine state qualifiers.

Wrestling sectional assignments can be found here:

Class 2A Sites & Assignments

Class 1A Sites & Assignments

The 1st and 2nd place winners in each weight class will advance to district meets on Saturday, February 13th. The Atlantic/CAM wrestlers will be competing in Winterset in Class 2A, Sectional 4 along with Central Decatur, Clarke, Creston O-M, Van Meter, and Winterset. Atlantic will be the host site for the district 2.  The other sectional competing to get to Atlantic is Sectional 3 in Glenwood that features Bedford/Lenox, Clarinda, Glenwood, Harlan, Red Oak, and Shenandoah.

Boys swimming teams will be competing Saturday at 6 district meets around the states.  Time will be compiled electronically in Des Moines from all of the meet sites and the top 24 times will qualify for the state meet on Saturday, February 13th.

The Atlantic Boys Swimming team will be competing in Indianola at 12:30pm.  Included in the district at Indianola are: Atlantic, Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moine Roosevelt, Dowling Catholic, Indianola, Lewis Central, Oskaloosa, and Southeast Polk.

Listen in to our Saturday Morning Coaches Show at 8:30am to hear a preview from Atlantic Head Wrestling Coach Tim Duff and Atlantic Head Swimming Coach Dean Junker.

Posted in Sports |

Central IA area farmers direct $30,000 in donations to local nonprofits

Ag/Outdoor

February 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Monsanto report 12 central Iowa area farmers have directed $30,000 to area nonprofit organizations through America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. The winning farmers and organizations participated in a presentation at the Iowa Power Farming Show on Feb. 4th. Each farmer directed a $2,500 Grow Communities donation to a nonprofit organization of their choice.

AFGC logoThe winners include:

  • Roger Clayburg of Carroll County, who directed his donation to Coon Rapids – Bayard Education Corporation.
  • Thelma O’Brien of Guthrie County, who directed her donation to Cottage Pantry Charitable Services.
  • Jeff Tussey of Union County, who directed his donation to East Union Middle-High School.

The farmer-directed donations will help local organizations fund a variety of projects. America’s Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers in Iowa to donate over $1.9 million to local community organizations since 2010. Donations have been used to help fight rural hunger, purchase life-saving fire and EMS equipment, support ag youth programs, purchase education classroom resources and more.

Visit www.AmericasFarmers.com to learn more. And, from now through April 1st, farmers in eligible counties can nominate their local school district to compete for an America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant ranging from $10,000 to as much as $25,000. This year, the program will be awarding $2.3 million for math and science curriculum enhancement. Learn more about it at www.GrowRuralEducation.com.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |