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I-29 in Council Bluffs will be down to 1 lane beginning Tuesday

News

October 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation says motorists should plan to use extra caution on Interstate 29 on the south side of Council Bluffs, beginning on Tuesday. That’s when construction will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction. A northbound crossover pattern will be used. The area affected is I-29, south of the U.S. Highway 275/Iowa Highway 92 interchange, in Council Bluffs.Road work

The traffic configuration will be in place for about two months while crews work to wrap up construction of the new northbound lanes in the area of I-29 and the Highways 275/92 interchange. Motorists are urged to allow for extra travel time while the project is underway.

Iowa officials are reconstructing I-80, I-29 and I-480 in the Council Bluffs area. Officials said the redesign will modernize the Interstate system and improve the mobility and safety of about 18 miles of roadway. For more information about detours and traffic restrictions, go to CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov.

 

Posted in News |

Federal grants will help programs for new farmers, ranchers

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several Nebraska and Iowa organizations will receive some of the $17 million in grants the federal Agriculture Department is handing out to help new farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the grants recently. The money helps support programs to train and support beginning farmers and ranchers. An Iowa State University program will receive $698,393 to help aging farmers plan for succession at their operations.

 

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Wind Advisory today for Cass & area Counties

Weather

October 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION COUNTIES (330 AM CDT MON OCT 12 2015): WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10-A.M. TODAY UNTIL 6 PM.

* TIMING…NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AFTER SUNRISE…WITH STRONG WINDS INTO THE AFTERNOON. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 45 MPH OR HIGHER. DRIVING WILL BECOME DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY IN HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

Wind Advisory in effect for counties in tan on this map.

Wind Advisory in effect for counties in tan on this map.

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED OR WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH OR HIGHER ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

 

Posted in Weather |

Long-time local State Representative Jack Drake has died

News

October 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A man from southwest Iowa who has served area residents in the Iowa House of Representatives for 22-years, died Sunday, in Atlantic.  Jack E. Drake, a Republican from Griswold, died from natural causes Sunday, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. The 81-year old Drake was serving his 11th term. He was the longest tenured Republican in the Iowa House. He represented Walnut and eastern Pottawattamie County, along with much of Cass County and the entirety of Adams and Union counties.

Rep. Jack Drake (R), from Griswold.

Rep. Jack Drake (R), from Griswold.

In a statement released Monday (today) Representative Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, the incoming Speaker of the Iowa House, said “During his time in the Iowa House, Jack was a leader and trusted resource on agricultural issues, which are so important to the state of Iowa. We are all saddened to hear the news, but we will remember Jack as a strong advocate for his constituents, serving them honorably for nearly 23 years.”

Drake was born near Walnut, graduated from Atlantic High School and attended the University of Iowa. He was a farmer, and very active in local and state organizations, including his service as Secretary and board member of Walnut Telephone Company, member of Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Corn Growers Association, and many other such groups. Drake was chair of the Finance Committee and serving on the Audit Committee at the time of his death.

Jack Drake is survived by his wife, Shirley, two sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Oct. 15th, at the Griswold United Methodist Church.

Posted in News |

JACK E. DRAKE, 81, of Griswold (Svcs. 10/15/15)

Obituaries

October 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

JACK E. DRAKE, 81, of Griswold, died Sun., Oct. 11th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic. Funeral services for JACK DRAKE will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Oct. 15th, at the Griswold United Methodist Church. Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be at the Griswold United Methodist Church on Wednesday evening from 4:30-7:30 PM.

Burial will be in the Griswold Cemetery.

JACK DRAKE is survived by:

His wife – Shirley, of Griswold.

His sons – Scott (Myong) Drake, and Kyle (Janet) Drake.

His daughters – Marcia (Gary)Anderson, and Jo Ellen (Pat) McFarland.

11 grandchildren & 11 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Bears stun Chiefs 18-17

Sports

October 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jay Cutler led Chicago to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, including an alert toss to running back Matt Forte with 18 seconds left, giving the Bears a stunning 18-17 victory over Kansas City.

The 2-3 Bears trailed 17-3 early in the third quarter when Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles went down with a potentially serious knee injury. The preliminary diagnosis was a torn ACL and Charles will have an MRI exam Monday.

Cutler threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, the first a 22-yard strike to Marquess Wilson with 3:05 left in the game. After the Bears forced a quick three-and-out, Cutler drove them inside the 10-yard line, where he spotted Forte in the end zone.

The 1-4 Chiefs tried a 66-yard field goal that came up short as time expired.

 

Posted in Sports |

VIOLA S. SKALLA, 91, of Avoca (Svcs. 10/14/15)

Obituaries

October 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

VIOLA S. SKALLA, 91, of Avoca, died Fri., Oct. 9th, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial for VIOLA SKALLA will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Oct. 14th, at St. Mary/Our Lady of Fatima Church, in Portsmouth. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at St. Mary’s is from 4-until 8-pm Tue., Oct. 13th, with the family greeting friends from 5-until 8-pm, and at Wake service at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery at Portsmouth.

VIOLA SKALLA is survived by:

Her daughter – Connie (Wayne) Juhl, of Portsmouth.

4 grandchildren & 8 great-grandchilden.

Posted in Obituaries |

Cardinals bracing for Game 3 of NLDS against Arrieta, Cubs

Sports

October 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CHICAGO (AP) – St. Louis manager Mike Matheny says the Cardinals are preparing for Game 3 of the NL Division Series in “the same boring way” they have all season long. The Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs are tied at one game apiece heading into the first playoff game at Wrigley Field in seven years. Oh, the Cubs also will have Jake Arrieta on the mound on Monday night for his first start since he shut out Pittsburgh in the wild-card game.

Matheny says the Cardinals have been counted out before against ace pitchers in the postseason, and then had success. But the NL Central champions are heading for quite a challenge in Arrieta, who hasn’t lost at home since July 25. Arrieta says the Cubs are “in a great spot.”

Posted in Sports |

LILY GODDARD, 94, of Coon Rapids (Svcs. 10/16/15)

Obituaries

October 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

LILY GODDARD, 94, of Coon Rapids, died Sun., Oct. 11th, at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids. Funeral services for LILY GODDARD will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday, October 16th, at the United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids. Ohde Funeral Home in Coon Rapids has the arrangements.

Friends may call Thursday, October 15th between 5:00pm-7:00pm at Ohde Funeral Home in Coon Rapids. Visitation will resume on Friday at 9:30am at the United Methodist Church, in Coon Rapids.

Burial will be in the Manning Cemetery at 12:45-p.m., Friday.

LILY GODDARD is survived by:

Son: Marty (Rosemary) Paulson of Coon Rapids.

and 2 grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

BETH RUTH McCOOL, 91, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 10/14/15)

Obituaries

October 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

BETH RUTH McCOOL, 91, of Guthrie Center, died Fri., Oct. 9th, in Guthrie Center. Funeral services for BETH McCOOL will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Oct. 14th, at the 1st United Methodist Church, in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Visitation at the 1st United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center, will be held one-hour prior to the service on Wednesday (9:30-until 10:30-a.m.).

Burial will be in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

Posted in Obituaries |