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Pott. County man sentenced to 10-years on gun, drug & police assault charges

News

September 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Pottawattamie County man was sentenced to 10-years in prison Tuesday, after agreeing to plead guilty to three out of 11 charges filed against him. The Daily NonPareil says 34-year old Jesse Wilkinson, of Council Bluffs, will serve a 10-year term in prison for felony 1st-Degree theft, in connection with a stolen 2012 Chevrolet Corvette; 10 years for felony possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine, and five years on a felony charge of assaulting a police officer with intent to inflict injury. The sentences will be served concurrently, which means his prison term for state convictions should not exceed 10 years. He will be eligible for parole in approximately 39 months.

Wilkinson won’t start his 10 years on the Iowa charges until he fulfills his 84-month sentence on Federal charges. On Aug. 6th, Wilkinson was sentenced to seven years in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was prohibited from possessing a firearm after he was convicted in 2003 in Nebraska on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Wilkinson pleaded guilty on April 2nd, 2015, to the current charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Metro Fugitive Task Force arrested Wilkinson on Dec. 23, 2014, in Omaha. Court reports state that Wilkinson stole the Corvette between the hours of 2-p.m. on Dec. 12, 2014 and 10-a.m. on Dec. 13, 2014. On Dec. 23rd, 2014 Council Bluffs police officers Jarrod Poore and Corey Woodward found the stolen Corvette. As the officers exited their police cruiser, an unmarked Chevrolet Impala, Wilkinson placed the Corvette into reverse and backed into the police car. After Wilkinson hit the Impala, Poore fired two shots at Wilkinson.

According to police reports, in an interview on Dec. 24, 2014, Woodard said he believed Wilkinson, after reversing the Corvette into the Impala, turned the car to next run over Poore. He also said that Wilkinson was hit by the gunshots due to his body movements. Neither officer was injured during the assault.

When Wilkinson sped away, officers lost sight of him during the pursuit. Omaha Police later found the car abandoned, with blood found on the interior in the driver’s seat area. Authorities found Wilkinson in the area hours later.

Posted in News |

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Sept. 30th 2015

News

September 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Oil industry economists say a link between ending a 40-year oil export ban and lower prices at the gas pump is not as direct as Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush would have voters believe in his new energy proposal. Bush’s overall premise that lifting the ban would expand economic growth holds up to independent scrutiny. However, environmentalists say the negative impact on the planet would be too great.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A judge has granted a delay until at least mid-January for the trial of a 22-year-old man accused of killing his 3-week-old son in southeast Iowa. Randall Payne’s attorney, James Beres, asked a Des Moines County judge yesterday to postpone Payne’s trial, which had been scheduled to begin Oct. 13. He said he needs more time to prepare a defense. Payne has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge is upholding an Iowa law that requires the boards of corporations and labor unions to approve any money they spend to influence elections. U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt ruled yesterday that the board-approval requirement does not violate the right to free association or illegally restrain speech. He says the requirement lets the public know such spending is backed by the group and not “just an individual with access” to its bank account.

SERGEANT BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — More than 3,600 workers are helping construct a $2 billion fertilizer plant being built near Sioux City, and hundreds more workers will be hired soon. The Sioux City Journal reports that the workforce at the sprawling CF Industries plant is more than double what the company originally had planned. Project director Nick DeRoos says the construction peak will be in late October or early November, when more than 4,000 workers will be employed.

Posted in News |

Area Volleyball Scores from Tue., Sept. 29, 2015

Sports

September 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

(3-0) Adair-Casey 25-25-25, Woodbine 18-16-9
(3-1) A-D-M, Adel 21-25-25-25, Winterset 25-12-21-24
(3-0) Audubon 25-25-25, Riverside, Oakland 11-9-8
(3-0) Bedford 25-25-25, Lenox 21-18-11
(3-0) Boyer Valley 25-25-25, Charter Oak-Ute 23-21-23
(3-1) CAM, Anita 25-21-25-25, Paton-Churdan 14-25-19-19
(3-0) Carroll 25-25-25, Perry 12-19-19
(3-1) Clarinda 25-25-20-25, Denison-Schleswig 15-18-25-15
(3-0) Creston 25-27-25, Atlantic 10-25-6
(3-0) East Mills 25-25-25, South Page 12-3-11
(3-1) East Union 23-26-25-25, Southwest Valley 25-24-16-16
(3-2) Essex 18-22-26-25-15, Stanton 25-25-24-16-11
(3-1) Glenwood 25-25-20-25, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 23-17-25-8
(3-0) Glidden-Ralston 25-25-25, Coon Rapids-Bayard 23-23-23
(3-2) Harlan 23-25-24-25-15, Red Oak 25-23-26-22-12
(3-0) Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 25-25-25, Shenandoah 8-13-6
(3-1) Lewis Central 25-22-25-25, Creston 20-25-21-20
(3-0) Lewis Central 25-25-25, Atlantic 23-7-11
(3-1) Logan-Magnolia 17-26-25-25, Griswold 25-24-11-22
(3-2) Mount Ayr 25-25-16-23-15, Nodaway Valley 20-21-25-25-12
(3-0) North Tama 25-25-25, Meskwaki Settlement School 14-12-22
(3-0) Sidney 25-25-25, Clarinda Academy 1-2-13
(3-0) Treynor 25-25-25, AHSTW 9-11-11
(3-1) Tri-Center, Neola 25-25-25-25, IKM-Manning 27-21-15-15
(3-1) Underwood 26-23-25-25, Missouri Valley 24-25-19-13
(3-1) Van Meter 14-25-25-25, Panorama 25-23-19-13

Posted in Sports |

Cardinals vs. Pirates double-header today on KJAN

Sports

September 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The St. Louis Cardinals were forced to wait a day before resuming their charge toward the NL Central title. The Redbirds and second-place Pirates were rained out Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, keeping the Cards’ magic number at two. The two teams will play a day-night doubleheader today, with the first game getting underway at 12:35. We’ll begin our coverage with the pre-game show at 11:40-a.m., here on KJAN.

The Cardinals will start Michael Wacha (17-6, 3.15 ERA) in the opener against Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole (18-8, 2.60). St. Louis will send Tyler Lyons (2-1, 3.96) in the second game against Charlie Morton (9-8, 4.54). The second game is slated to start at 6:05-p.m.  The Cardinals will take the division with a victory in either game.

St. Louis is expected to activate right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright today. The three-time All-Star has been on the disabled list since April after tearing the Achilles tendon in his left leg.

 

Posted in Sports |

Cowboys add defensive end Irving from Chiefs’ practice squad

Sports

September 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Cowboys have signed defensive end David Irving off Kansas City’s practice squad a day after releasing defensive tackle Davon Coleman. Irving is an undrafted rookie free agent out of Iowa State. Dallas also released guard Ronald Patrick from its practice squad Tuesday, replacing him with defensive end Lavar Edwards.

Dallas was missing defensive end Jeremy Mincey because of a concussion last weekend against Atlanta, but Mincey is expected to return against New Orleans on Sunday. The Cowboys also get free agent pass rusher Greg Hardy back next week following his four-game suspension in a domestic violence case.

 

Posted in Sports |

Ferentz previews Wisconsin

Sports

September 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Wisconsin opened this season as the favorite to win the Big Ten West Division and that won’t draw an argument from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. The Badgers have made a habit of appearing in the Big Ten Championship game and have won three league titles in the past five years. Ferentz says the Badgers have been the dominant team in the division and one of the top programs in the Big Ten.

Paul Chryst is the third different Badger coach in four years but Ferentz says the style remains the same. Ferentz says the players did a good job of bouncing back after a disapointing season in 2014 and now need to show they can handle success after a 4-0 start.

Ferentz says running back Jordan Canzeri is one of several seniors who have stepped up their game this season. The native of New York has eight touchdowns already this season after failing to reach the end zone all of last year. Iowa’s red zone production is off the charts this season. The Hawkeyes have converted touchdowns on 14 of 16 opportunities for an 88 percent clip. That compares to 64 percent a year ago.

With top running back Corey Clement sidelined with an injury the Badgers have been riding the arm of quarterback Joel Stave. The Redshirt senior is completing 66 percent of his passes and is 24-8 as a starter.

(Learfield Sports)

Posted in Sports |

Northern Iowa seeks to replace star Seth Tuttle

Sports

September 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Northern Iowa broke into the top 10 last season thanks largely to the play of forward Seth Tuttle, arguably the best player in the school history. Tuttle has moved on and replacing him won’t be easy.

Tuttle’s departure will be the biggest challenge for the Panthers to overcome in 2015-16. Tuttle, a second-team All-American, anchored a team that won a school-record 31 games and was a dark horse Final Four candidate before falling to Louisville in the NCAA Tournament.

Tuttle isn’t the only frontcourt player the Panthers need to replace either. All three starters have moved on after combining for 27.7 points and 13.5 rebounds a game in 2014-15.

Posted in Sports |

BILLIE FLEMING, 74, of Atlantic (10-2-2015)

Obituaries

September 29th, 2015 by Jim Field

BILLIE FLEMING, 74, of Atlantic died Tuesday, September 29th at her home.  A Celebration of Life service for BILLIE FLEMING will be held on Friday, October 2nd at 3:00 pm at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

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Signing of the guestbook will be available daily from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm at Roland Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Burial in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah on Saturday, October 3rd at 12:00 pm.

BILLIE FLEMING is survived by:

Sons:  Glenn Fleming of Atlantic & Lyle Fleming of Atlantic

4 Grandchildren

4 Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

Backyard and Beyond 09-29-2015

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

September 29th, 2015 by Jim Field

Lavon speaks with Atlantic area farmer Denise O’Brien about some visitors from Afghanistan.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.3MB)

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Posted in Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts |

Fertilizer plant construction workforce likely to top 4,000

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SERGEANT BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – More than 3,600 workers are helping construct a $2 billion fertilizer plant being built near Sioux City, and hundreds more workers will be hired soon. The Sioux City Journal reports the workforce at the sprawling CF Industries plant is more than double what the company originally had planned.

Project director Nick DeRoos says the construction peak will be in late October or early November, when more than 4,000 workers will be employed. Work on the three-year project is about half complete and will likely continue into March. Inclement weather and other problems had slowed construction, prompting contractors to increase staffing to meet the targeted completion date.

When finished, the plant will triple the complex’s production of ammonia, which is used in nitrogen-based fertilizer.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |