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F. LeROY ALEXANDER, 81, of Grimes & formerly of Montezuma (Svcs. 9/9/15)

Obituaries

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

F. LeROY ALEXANDER, 81, of Grimes (& formerly of Montezuma) died Fri., Sept. 4th, at home. A Funeral Mass for LeROY ALEXANDER will be held 10-a.m. Wed., Sept. 9th, at the All Saints Catholic Church, in Stuart. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the All Saints Catholic Church on Tues., Sept. 8th, from 6-until 8-pm, with a Rosary recited at 7:30-p.m.

Burial will be in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the LeRoy Alexander Memorial Fund, in care of the Johnson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 246, Stuart, IA, 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

ERNEST RUSSELL “ERNIE” LITTLE, 85, of Stuart & formerly of Menlo (Svcs. 9/12/15)

Obituaries

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ERNEST RUSSELL “ERNIE” LITTLE, 85, of Stuart (& formerly of Menlo), died Fri., Sept. 4th, at the Stuart Community Care Center. A Military Graveside service for ERNIE LITTLE will be held 10-a.m. Sat., Sept. 12th, at the Rosehill Cemetery in Menlo. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation will be from 6-until 8-pm Friday, Sept. 11th, at the Stuart-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Ernie Little Memorial Fund, in care of the Johnson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 246, Stuart, IA, 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Iowa man accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old girl

News

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man has been charged with sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that 50-year-old Chung Huynh has been charged with two counts of third-degree sexual assault of a minor and one count of child endangerment. He remained jailed Sunday in lieu of $50,000 bond.

Authorities say Huynh performed sexual acts on the girl and showed her pornography on his computer. The girl said Huynh would pay her $40 not to tell anyone after the assaults happened this summer. Police seized two computers when officers searched Huynh’s home on Aug. 20.

Posted in News |

Villisca man arrested on assault charge Saturday

News

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An arrest was made Saturday evening in connection with an incident that took place Thursday, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say 54-year old Hubert Edward Scherer, of Villisca, was taken into custody in the 600 block of E. 6th Street in Villisca, at around 6:30-p.m.. He was charged with Simple Assault. Scherer was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Posted in News |

Stuart woman escapes injury in Montgomery County crash

News

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon, about five-miles northwest of Red Oak. 67-year old Sharon Mae Huddleson, of Stuart, was traveling north on E Avenue from 150th Street at around 2:15-p.m., when she lost control of her vehicle on the loose gravel. Her 2003 Oldsmobile van entered the west ditch, crashed through a fence and came to rest in a corn field. Damage from the accident amounted to $2,300.

Posted in News |

Pott. County officials discuss the need for a new jail

News

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS — As the Pottawattamie County Jail nears capacity, officials are discussing a $27.6 million renovation. The Omaha World-Herald reports, according to Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker, the prison population at the jail, which has 288 beds, has reached roughly 270 inmates this summer. Of the 288 beds, 40 are set aside for female prisoners and several times this year, there have been more female inmates than available beds, which has led to some inmates being added to work-release programs.

While Danker, who has been Pottawattamie County sheriff for 23 years, said that the prison population rises and falls, the facility’s 2015 population has been much higher than recent years. Danker said a sudden influx of federal prisoners could fill every bed. In 1999 when the jail was built, Pottawattamie County officials agreed to house up to 75 federal prisoners. Currently, the jail houses approximately 40 for the federal government with no room for the other 35 inmates it is contractually obligated to shelter.

To alleviate the congestion, Danker in August proposed a jail and sheriff’s office renovation to the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors. The estimated cost for a 160-bed jail expansion is $25 million, while expansion of the administrative area is estimated at $2.6 million. The Sheriff said those costs are based on today’s estimates of construction costs, with architects estimating costs are rising at 8 percent annually.

Pottawattamie County Attorney Matthew Wilber told the paper there are several reasons the jail is near capacity. Wilber and Danker said housing inmates with mental health issues has become a problem. Danker said there is not enough space at mental health facilities to house or even evaluate inmates with mental health concerns. As troubled inmates wait, they wait in Council Bluffs.

And, as the county starts mental health court, the Fourth Judicial District may be ending drug court, which helped keep drug offenders out of jail. Because of a lack of funding from the state, drug court is slated to end on Oct. 1st. Another reason the jail is near capacity, according to Wilber, is that many people can’t afford to post bail and then must stay in jail until trial. He said most of the time local judges hand out government-mandated bail rates, and for many people, the rates are too high.

Along with starting discussions on a new jail, Danker has said that his staff has grown while office space has not. In 1999, the Sheriff’s Office had 46 employees on the uniform side. That number has grown to 63. Instead of having their own office to conduct investigations, Danker told the paper detectives are all in one room working in tight quarters.

Posted in News |

Area High School Volleyball Scores from Sat., 9/5/2015

Sports

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

(2-1) Adair-Casey 18-21-15, Iowa Christian Academy 21-16-12
(2-1) Adair-Casey 19-21-15, Coon Rapids-Bayard 21-19-7
(2-0) Adair-Casey 21-21, Paton-Churdan 11-18
(2-0) AHSTW 21-21, Whiting 7-12
(2-0) Ankeny Centennial 21-21, Lewis Central 12-11
(2-1) Ankeny Christian Academy 12-21-16, CAM, Anita 21-12-14
(2-0) Audubon 21-21, Greene County 14-19
(2-0) Boyer Valley 21-21, AHSTW 14-14
(2-0) Boyer Valley 22-21, Exira-EHK 20-11
(2-0) Cedar Rapids, Kennedy 21-21, Harlan 15-16
(2-0) Clarinda 21-21, East Mills 15-12
(2-0) Clarinda 21-21, Griswold 11-11
(2-0) Clarinda 21-21, Shenandoah 12-14
(2-0) Clarinda 25-25, East Mills 15-11
(2-1) Coon Rapids-Bayard 21-19-18, CAM, Anita 19-21-16
(2-0) Coon Rapids-Bayard 21-21, Ankeny Christian Academy 14-11
(2-0) Coon Rapids-Bayard 21-21, Iowa Christian Academy 15-16
(2-1) Exira-EHK 21-21-15, AHSTW 23-13-7
(2-1) Exira-EHK 24-21-16, Whiting 26-14-14
(2-1) Harlan 18-21-16, Ankeny 21-10-14
(2-1) Harlan 21-11-15, Valley, West Des Moines 9-21-9
(2-0) Harlan 21-21, A-D-M, Adel 8-18
(2-0) Harlan 21-21, Des Moines, Abraham Lincoln 11-16
(2-1) IKM-Manning 21-11-15, Manson-NW Webster 15-21-7
(2-0) IKM-Manning 21-21, Glidden-Ralston 18-16
(2-0) IKM-Manning 21-21, South Central Calhoun 18-18
(2-0) Missouri Valley 21-21, AHSTW 4-10
(2-0) Missouri Valley 21-21, Exira-EHK 9-14
(2-0) Missouri Valley 21-21, Whiting 5-2
(2-0) Missouri Valley 21-22, Boyer Valley 11-20
(2-1) MOC-Floyd Valley 16-21-15, Denison-Schleswig 21-19-11
(2-0) Shenandoah 25-25, Bedford 22-20
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, AHSTW 6-19
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Boyer Valley 11-13
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Exira-EHK 11-9
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Whiting 7-8
(2-0) Sidney 21-23, Missouri Valley 14-21
(2-0) South Central Calhoun 21-25, Audubon 12-23 (Game 1)
(2-0) South Central Calhoun 23-21, Audubon 21-15 (Game 2)
(2-1) South Hamilton 21-15-15, IKM-Manning 18-21-10 (1st game)
(2-0) South Hamilton 21-21, IKM-Manning 15-11 (2nd game)
(2-1) St. Albert, Council Bluffs 16-22-15, Treynor 21-20-8
(2-0) St. Albert, Council Bluffs 21-21, Bedford 9-7
(2-0) St. Albert, Council Bluffs 21-21, Stanton 8-11
(2-1) St. Albert, Council Bluffs 25-19-15, Treynor 18-25-13
(2-0) St. Albert, Council Bluffs 28-25, East Mills 26-5
(2-0) St. Mary, Storm Lake 21-21, Coon Rapids-Bayard 16-15
(2-1) Stanton 21-18-15, Bedford 12-21-8
(2-0) Treynor 21-21, Bedford 11-12
(2-0) Treynor 25-25, Clarinda 9-16
(2-0) Tri-Center, Neola 21-21, AHSTW 18-6
(2-0) Tri-Center, Neola 21-21, Boyer Valley 14-11
(2-0) Tri-Center, Neola 21-21, Exira-EHK 15-4
(2-0) Tri-Center, Neola 21-21, Missouri Valley 19-17
(2-0) Tri-Center, Neola 21-21, Sidney 15-15
(2-0) Tri-Center, Neola 21-21, Whiting 4-7

Posted in Sports |

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, Sun. 9/6/15

Weather

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Today: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 101. Breezy, with a south wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

**Flash Flood Watch in effect from 7-p.m. Sunday until 10-a.m. Monday**

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 69. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Labor Day: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast 5 to 8 mph in the morning. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 66. East southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. East northeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 77.

Posted in Weather |

Iowa State turns back Northern Iowa 31-7 before record crowd

Sports

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Sam Richardson threw two touchdown passes and Iowa State got rolling in the second half to open the season with a 31-7 victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday night. Iowa State bottled up its FCS opponent for most of the steamy night and provided a key victory for coach Paul Rhoads, who is under scrutiny after winning only five games over the last two seasons.

The Cyclones also ended a two-game losing streak to FCS teams and won its opener for the first time since 2012, delighting a record crowd of 61,500 in newly expanded Jack Trice Stadium. Illinois transfer Aaron Bailey totaled 199 yards and threw a touchdown pass in his first game at quarterback for the Panthers. But he was sacked five times and UNI was hurt throughout by poor field position.

Posted in Sports |

Drake defeats William Jewell 44-30

Sports

September 6th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Conley Wilkins ran for three touchdowns to lead Drake past William Jewell 44-30 Saturday night. Drake built a 26-9 in the third quarter on Andy Rice’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Yarwood with 7:54 left. But the Cardinals’ Anthony Mullins ran the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown making it 26-16. Josh Lee hit a 24-yard field goal making it 29-16 to end the quarter.

Nick West then led the Cardinals 69 yards in eight plays, capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass to Cody Edwards cutting the lead to 29-23. Drake countered with its own eight-play drive, which ended with a 22-yard touchdown toss from Rice to Eric Staubert with 9:08 left. The two-point conversion extended the lead to 37-23. Wilkins, who had 110 yards rushing, concluded the Bulldogs’ scoring with a 4-yard run.

Posted in Sports |