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Board permanently revokes license of a former Treynor Teacher/Coach

News, Sports

November 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A former Treynor teacher and coach accused of sexual abuse will never teach again in Iowa. According to the Daily NonPareil, the Board of Educational Examiners issued a permanent revocation of 46-year old Michael Travis’ teaching license last month after Travis pleaded guilty Aug. 18th to simple assault, a misdemeanor, and agreed to surrender his license to the state.

Travis did not have to register as a sex offender and did not serve any jail time. He received a deferred judgement, and he continued to maintain his innocence in a statement. He had been a teacher at Treynor Elementary School and an assistant softball coach at Treynor High School at the time of his arrest in May 2014.

A prosecutor with the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office said the alleged victims – three former softball players and a fifth-grader, with alleged incidents from 2002 through 2006 – were involved in the plea deal and wanted to make sure Travis wouldn’t remain a teacher. The Board of Educational Examiners voted Oct. 9th to revoke his license as well as endorsements as a K-12 athletic coach, K-6 elementary classroom teacher and K-8 physical education teacher. He also held an expired substitute license.

The revocation carries no possibility of reinstatement.

Iowa early News Headline: Tue., 11/3/2015

News

November 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of protesters have rallied at the University of Iowa campus to argue that the school’s new president shouldn’t have accepted the position. The Des Moines Register reports that about 100 protesters at the university challenged the qualifications of newly-hired president Bruce Harreld Monday afternoon. Harreld began as the university’s 21st president Monday.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Mike Hammond, who co-founded computer maker Gateway Inc. in a northwest Iowa farmhouse in 1985, has died at age 53. Hammond started Gateway with brothers Ted and Norm Waitt, selling what became among one of the most popular computers on the market. He managed the company’s operations in Iowa and South Dakota.

EARLY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has agreed with the murder conviction of an Iowa mother who shot and killed her 20-year-old neighbor in 2001. Tracey Richter is serving life in prison in the slaying of Dustin Wehde. Prosecutors say she fatally shot Wehde as part of a plot to frame her ex-husband during a custody battle, but Richter says her trial was tainted by errors from her defense attorney.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — About 2,000 farmers, grain handlers and corn exporters are suing Swiss biotechnology company Syngenta now that a federal judge has ruled their cases have merit and will move forward. The lawsuits allege Syngenta’s introduction of a new genetically modified corn seed interrupted trade with China in 2011 and may have cost the U.S. corn industry as much as $3 billion.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is paying $235,000 to settle a lawsuit from a woman who says she was kept in isolation at the Iowa Juvenile Home for 280 days. Jessica Turner’s lawsuit alleged she was held in small concrete cells for weeks at a time between 2011 and 2012. The governor closed the juvenile home in Toledo last year amid questions about the treatment of residents.

Wildwood Road in Shelby County has re-opened

News

November 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency said Monday, a bridge over Indian Creek along Wildwood Road is re-open to traffic. The bridge, located in the 700 Block of Wildwood Road, between Jackson Township Sections 35-36, was closed in early August for a complete rebuilding project.

IANG to close Corning Armory in 2016

News

November 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A spokesman for the Iowa National Guard says the Armory in Corning (at 1925 210th St.) will be closing next year, and the unit will move to Camp Dodge in Johnston. Col Greg Hapgood said in a press release Monday, that the closure is a result of force structure and stationing study findings. The unit currently assigned to the Corning armory, Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry, will move to Camp Dodge in 2016 and consolidate with the main body of Company B. Approximately 80 Soldiers are affected by the closure and move.IANG

Col Hapgood says the Iowa National Guard has a long history in Corning dating back to 1892 with the initial stationing of Company K, 3rd Regiment. Soldiers from the Corning armory have fought in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Constructed in 1993, the 20,598-square foot Corning armory is the 13th armory to be closed in Iowa as the result of a state-wide consolidation and facilities upgrade program initiated in 2000 by the Iowa National Guard.

The armory will be offered to the public for sale in the near future. Maj. Gen. Tim Orr, Adjutant General for the Iowa National Guard, said “It was a very difficult decision to make as an organization, but with the fiscally-constrained environment all Department of Defense entities face today, consolidating this unit and closing the Corning armory was the best course of action for responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources and for future readiness of our Soldiers. We are incredibly grateful for the strong support of the Corning community for nearly 125 years.”

Since 2000, as part of the Iowa National Guard plan to relocate military units into higher demographic areas, close outdated armories, consolidate units on a regional concept to better utilize training resources, and upgrade existing facilities through renovation and new construction, the Iowa National Guard has consolidated units and closed armories in Sioux Center, Villisca, Mapleton, Atlantic, Clarinda, Glenwood, Hampton, Jefferson, Chariton, Newton, Eagle Grove and Centerville.

Farmer corn trade lawsuits against Syngenta reach 2,000

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — About 2,000 farmers, grain handlers and corn exporters have filed lawsuits against Swiss biotechnology company Syngenta now that a federal judge has ruled their cases have merit and will move forward. The lawsuits allege Syngenta’s introduction of Agrisure Viptera, a new genetically modified corn seed, interrupted trade with China in 2011, costing the U.S. corn industry an estimated $1 billion to $3 billion.

More than 1,860 cases have been filed since December from 22 states including Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. The cases have been consolidated before a Kansas City, Kansas judge. Syngenta argues it had no duty to protect farmers from a drop in corn prices but the judge has ruled the law requires manufacturers to exercise reasonable care not to create a risk of widespread harm with products.

 

SW Iowa dentist trades cash for Halloween candy

News

November 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

In the unlikely event your child collected more Halloween candy than he or she can eat, a dentist in southwest Iowa is willing to take the excess sweets off their hands to keep it out of their mouths. Dr. Cary Jackson, at Broadway Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Council Bluffs, says he’s trading cash for candy.

“We are accepting candy from trick-or-treaters,” Dr. Jackson says. “Each pound they bring in, they get a dollar.” The dentist says the surplus chocolate bars, suckers and candy corn will be brightening the day for American troops who are stationed far from home. “We’re participating in Operation Gratitude,” Jackson says. “That’s based in California. We’re one of the local branches. We’ll ship the candy to California and they’ll ship it overseas to the troops.”

The candy will be accepted at the dentist’s office through November 13th.

(Radio Iowa)

Bluffs man injured in vehicle-vs-deer accident in Mills Co.

News

November 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Pottawattamie County man was injured when the vehicle he was driving struck a deer on Highway 34 last Thursday morning, in Mills County. The Mills County Sheriff’s Offoce says Brian Bray, of Council Bluffs, was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital by Glenwood Rescue, after his 2013 Chevy hit a deer that entered the road at around 7-a.m., Thursday.

The impact caused severe front end damage to Bray’s vehicle.

Clarinda P.D. make Felony Assault Arrest & Drug Arrests

News

November 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports his officers made arrests over the past weekend for assault and drug offenses. At around 12:25-p.m., Wednesday, October 28th,  officers in Clarinda responded to a report of an assault taking place at 417 E. Garfield Street. Upon further investigation, it was determined a resident of the home, 24-year old David Gene Gaunt, was assaulted with a blunt object. Gaunt was taken by ambulance to the Clarinda Regional Health Center and later transported by air ambulance to Nebraska Medicine for treatment of significant head trauma.

Early Saturday morning (October 31st) Police in Clarinda arrested 35-year old Eric Brandon Wise, of Clarinda, on an arrest warrant alleging Wise committed the offense of Willful Injury, a class “C” felony. Wise was arrested pursuant to a traffic stop at 12th & State. The warrant was issued subsequent to the investigation of the assault on David Gaunt. Wise was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Page County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond, pending an initial appearance before a magistrate.

And, Clarinda Police responded Saturday morning to a report of an individual attempting to enter vehicles in the parking lot at the Clarinda Regional Health Center. Officers arrested 52-year old Robert Clark Goff, a homeless man, for allegedly tampering with vehicles in the parking lot and for possession of a controlled substance believed to be marijuana.

Goff was taken into custody and booked into the Page County Jail, where he was being held on $1,000 bond, pending an initial appearance before a magistrate.

Pott. County City Elections set

News

November 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

There really aren’t a whole lot of contested races in eastern Pottawattamie County for Tuesday’s City Elections. Most of the communities have uncontested races for Mayor and City Council positions, and in some cases no candidates have filed to run for office. Those positions will have to be filled by write-in vote.

In Avoca, former Councilman Jerry Espeseth has filed to fill the seat of Mayor Jennie Maassen, who is not running for re-election. Two City Council persons have also decided against running for their seats, with Lori C. Hansen and former Councilman Fred G. Miller III running unopposed for those positions. Incumbent J. Christopher Olesen II will also run unopposed for another term on the Park Board, in Avoca.

In Carson, Tim Todd is running for Mayor. Michael Knudsen is running for one of two seats on the City Council. A write-in candidate will fill the other seat. In Crescent, Brian M. Shea is running for Mayor. Charles Hildreth and Jack Powers are the two candidates who have filed to run for three open seats on the Council.

In Hancock, no one has filed to run for Mayor. Current Mayor Jeff Gress is not seeking re-election. There are also three seats open on the City Council, with one incumbent, James Kock (coke) filing for re-election. Write-in votes will fill the Mayor’s job and remaining Council seats.

There are no candidates for Mayor in Macedonia, and two people, Shoan McCready and Bradley Swope, running for three seats on the city council. No candidate has filed to run for Mayor in McClelland, and one only candidate. Michael A. Kay, has filed for two seats on the Council. And, Kevin Dee Zimmerman is running for Mayor in Minden, while Timothy Ploen and Jason Schneckloth are running for two seats on the Council. Gerald McCool is the lone candidate to fill a vacancy, At-Large seat on the Minden City Council.

In Neola, Deb Schierbrock and Pete Sorensen are running for Mayor. Five people are vying for three seats on the City Council. The candidates include: Darrl Scott Brooks; Greg Heine; Austin Kay; Joseph Munch; Karla Pogge; Ty Ungrad and Ryan Ward. In Oakland, Betsy Moniz and Jeremy Perkins are running for the two open Council seats. Bryce Poland is the lone candidate for Mayor in Treynor, while Allen Hadfield and Megan Beattie Heath are running for the two open Council seats.

Underwood has two candidates for three seats on the City Council: Robert W. Dose, and Edward Freuck. And in Walnut, Mayor Gene Larsen filed papers for re-election. He’s unopposed in for his seat. Only one Council member, Trace Frahm filed nomination papers for re-election, with Karol Calabro filing to fill a seat being vacated by Kathy Humann.

Election Day preview: Guthrie & Shelby Counties

News

November 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Election Day Tuesday in the listening area features several races to watch in Guthrie County. In Bagley, where there are two city council seats open, Emily Chapman-Olesen, Kristi S. Irving and Vickie Sellers are the contenders. In Casey, there’s a three-way race for Mayor, where incumbent Forrest P. Schnobrich is running against David L. Kuster, Sr., and Barry Chalfant. There’s also six people running for three seats on the Casey City Council.

Names on the ballot will include Cris Ketchum, Nicholas Lindberg, Travis Peterson, Clair Richard Richter, Bruce Vorm, and Bret M. Wedemeyer. Voters in Casey also get to decide on Public Measure A, which asks if the Mayor’s term in office shall be two-years instead of 4, and, Public Measure B, which asks if the Library Board should be comprised of five members, with two members being non-residents of Casey, and the other three residents of the community.

In Guthrie Center, there are five candidates for three city council seats, including: Patrick Halsey; Michael A. Herbert; Carolyn J. Masters; Ian Steensen, and William T. Wagner. The situation is nearly the same In Menlo, with five candidates for three city council seats. On the ballot is Shannon M. Behnken, Michael J. Culver, Deanna L. Harwood, Dorothy Korradi, and Troy L. Miller. Four candidates are vying for two seats on the Panora City Council, including Andy Carson, Ryan M. Ketelsen, Kim Smith, and Rachel Vogel.

The only race of real interest in Shelby County, comes in the City of Shelby itself, where five persons, including Incumbents Sheila Rihner and Bob Richmond, along with Jackie Hursey, Doyle Gilland, and Kathie Pitt, have filed to run for three open seats the City Council.