United Group Insurance

Big Ten Network Announces 2023 College Football Broadcaster Lineup

Sports

July 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

CHICAGO, Ill. –With 40 game broadcasts surrounded by studio coverage, the Big Ten Network’s 2023 football season features a lineup of new faces and experienced voices.

Game broadcasts:

BTN’s rotation of game analysts for this season will include Jake Butt, a former All-American tight end at the University of Michigan, two-time NFL All-Pro and four-time Super Bowl Champion Matt Millen, and All-Big Ten and NFL alumni Anthony Herron and Brock Vereen.

They will accompany a veteran group of play-by-play talent, including Cory Provus, Mark Followill, Lisa Byington, Connor Onion, Jason Ross Jr., and Joe Beninati.

On-field reporters, including Brooke Fletcher, Elise Menaker, Meghan McKeown and Justine Ward, will provide updates from the sidelines.

Former NFL Vice Presidents of Officiating Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino will also return as rules analysts.

Studio:

B1G Tailgate is back for its seventh season with a new look, hosted in-studio by Rick Pizzo and featuring analysts Gerry DiNardo, Howard Griffith and Vereen. Host Mike Hall, and first-year analyst Tyvis Powell, will travel to a different Big Ten campus each week for interviews and on-site analysis. B1G Tailgate is the home for Big Ten football fans on Saturdays with original features, special guests and Big Ten analysis.

B1G Tailgate’s on-site locations for September has been confirmed:

Saturday, Sept. 2 (Noon ET)

Fresno State at Purdue

Saturday, Sept. 9 (3:30 p.m. ET)

Richmond at Michigan State

Saturday, Sept. 16 (Noon ET)

Georgia Southern at Wisconsin

 

Saturday, Sept. 23 (Noon ET)

Rutgers at Michigan

Saturday, Sept. 30 (Noon ET)

Louisiana at Minnesota

Dave Revsine, Pizzo and Hall will once again anchor studio coverage for the network, including The B1G Show, B1G Today, B1G Live: Football Game Break, B1G Live: Football Postgame and The Final Drive. The hosts will be joined by an accomplished group of analysts, including former NFL head coach Dave Wannstedt, Illinois standout J Leman, The Athletic’s Senior Writer Nicole Auerbach, Sports Illustrated’s Senior Writer Pat Forde, DiNardo, Griffith, Butt and Herron.

Urban Analysis, featuring Urban Meyer and DiNardo, will also return this fall.

Big Ten Network Originals:

The Emmy-nominated franchise The Journey: Big Ten Football 2023 will debut its 12th season this fall, and The B1G Moment returns for its third season with several football centric episodes. Those include:

  • The first night game at Michigan Stadium (2011), in which Denard Robinson led a fourth quarter comeback and threw the game-winning touchdown pass with two seconds remaining.
  • Ohio State’s 30-27, walk-off win in double overtime against Michigan in 2016.

Posted in Sports |

ACSD Booster Club Golf Tournament raises over $20k on July 14th

News

July 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Community School District’s (ACSD) Booster Club report that on Friday, July 14th the Club held their annual golf tournament at Nishna Hills Golf Course. This year’s tournament boasted a roster of 32 teams, 38 hole sponsors, 7 corporate sponsors, and multiple volunteers. Volunteers manned a variety of areas including individual betting holes, registration tables, and a team that helped prepare lunch. The 2023 Booster Club Golf Tournament raised just over $20,000. Funds from the tournament helped pay for a new shed at the Atlantic High School tennis courts.

Megan Roberts, ACSD Booster Club Scheduler commented,”Our partnership with Beth Johnsen, ACSD Superintendent and Lisa Jones, ACSD SBO have begun as both were out in full support of the event and were in attendance throughout the day!”  ACSD Superintendent Beth Johnsen commented on the overwhelming support from the community she witnessed as she attended her first official ACSD event, saying “The Boosters Club put on a well-organized golf outing to fund-raise money that supports our activities program!  The turnout of teams and local business support was outstanding. The Atlantic Community support was speaking loudly with how they are loyal supporters for taking care of the needs of our kids. I am very impressed with the overwhelming advocacy for the school district. I met a lot of awesome people at the event and I look forward to being part of the growing support and energy in Atlantic.”

This year’s tournament offered corporate sponsorship opportunities. Those sponsors included: Meredith Communications, Duke rentals, Brocker Karns & Karns, Rolling Hills Bank & Trust, Olsen Fuel Supply, AM Choron & Son, Mutual of Omaha – Stuart Dusenberry, State Farm – Megan Roberts.

The 2024 ACSD Booster Club golf tournament is scheduled for Friday, July 19th at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club.

The ACSD Booster Club holds monthly meetings on the third Monday of the month at 630pm, in the Atlantic High School media center. Stay up to date by following the Booster Club’s Facebook page:  “Atlantic School Booster Club“. Questions pertaining to the ACSD Booster Club should be directed to: boosterclubhelp@gmail.com

Posted in News |

Big Ten Announces Football Preseason Honors

Sports

July 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced its 2023 football preseason honors on Wednesday ahead of the start of Big Ten Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium. A media panel selected the 10-member preseason list, with five representatives each from the East and West Divisions.

 

The East Division list highlighted by a pair of returning consensus All-Americans in Michigan’s Blake Corum and Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. Corum and Harrison Jr. were joined on this year’s preseason East Division squad by Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, Wolverine quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Penn State offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu.

 

Four different schools placed students on the West Division preseason list, led by two representatives from Minnesota in tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and defensive back Tyler Nubin. They were joined on the list by Illinois defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton, Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean and Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen.

 

The 2023 Big Ten preseason honors list features two recipients of conference individual awards from a season ago in Corum (Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year) and Harrison Jr.  (Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year).

 

Corum, Harrison Jr., and Newton were also 2022 first-team All-Big Ten selections, joining second-team selections Allen, DeJean, Fashanu, Nubin and Tagovailoa, as well as third-team honoree McCarthy.

 

Nine of this year’s Big Ten preseason honorees — Allen, Corum, DeJean, Fashanu, Harrison Jr., Newton, Nubin, Spann-Ford, Tagovailoa — are scheduled to attend Big Ten Media Days this week in Indianapolis.

 

The full list of Big Ten football preseason honorees is as follows:

 

EAST

Taulia Tagovailoa, QB, Maryland

Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL, Penn State

 

WEST

Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois

Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE, Minnesota

Tyler Nubin, DB, Minnesota

Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin

Posted in Sports |

Largest-ever RAGBRAI rolls into Iowa’s biggest city on hottest day of the year so far

News, Sports

July 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – As many as 60-thousand cyclists are expected on today’s (Wednesday) leg of RAGBRAI from Ames to Des Moines, which would be the largest-ever day on the bike ride — and on one of the hottest days of the year so far. A heat advisory is posted for Iowa’s southern half and western Iowa as forecasters say the heat index may reach 105 degrees. Hans House, an emergency medicine professor at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, says people who are most vulnerable to heat stroke are the very young, the very old, and those on certain medications. “So a lot of elderly are on medications, either for blood pressure or for Parkinson’s or other psychiatric medications,” House says, “and all of these can adversely affect the body’s own heat regulatory mechanisms.”

House says signs of heat stroke include people who are hot, but who aren’t sweating, and are showing signs of an altered mental state like confusion. She says, “Since part of heatstroke is that change in mental status or that confusion, you may not recognize that you’re getting yourself in trouble, especially with the dehydration part.” The experts say to skip strenuous outdoor activities and if you have to be outside, drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the shade. That won’t be an option for most RAGBRAI riders as they head for Iowa’s largest city. Many of Des Moines’ main roads are closed to accommodate bike traffic with limited pass-through points for cars.

Des Moines Police Sergeant Paul Parizek says motorists should plan to take detours or to take extra time to get around today. “Our whole city is probably going to be impacted by an increased number of cyclists,” Parizek says, “so we need to make sure we keep our heads on a swivel and share the road and do everything we can to make sure they get where they need to go safely.” Parizek says the most issues may be on East 14th Street which will be completely closed from Euclid to University Avenue.

“That’s a main thoroughfare through our city,” Parizek says. “It’s a state highway and it’s going to be shut down for a long time, beginning up in Ankeny all the way into Des Moines, so that’s where we’re going to see the biggest impact.” Cyclists will take Des Moines’ Walnut Street through downtown, and Fleur Drive to Water Works Park where riders will camp overnight. Parizek says road restrictions will last until 6 o’clock tonight or later. Around 100 Des Moines police officers are working the RAGBRAI route to manage traffic throughout the city.

Posted in News, Sports |

Cooper DeJean Named to Big Ten Preseason Honors List

Sports

July 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior defensive back Cooper DeJean has been named to the Big Ten Conference preseason honors list. The announcement was made by the league office on Wednesday.

 

Ten members were selected by a media panel, with five representatives from the East and West Divisions.

 

DeJean (6-foot-1, 209 pounds) was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and second team by the coaches in 2022 after finishing with 75 tackles, five interceptions and eight pass breakups. He set Iowa’s single season record with three pick 6s in 2022. He also averaged a team-best 16.5 yards on 10 punt returns a year ago.

 

The Odebolt, Iowa, native was voted the 2022 Music City Bowl Most Valuable Player after notching seven tackles (six solo), including one for loss, and notching a 14-yard pick-6 against Kentucky. DeJean was named the Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Week versus Wisconsin (Nov. 12, 2022) after totaling 10 tackles (seven solo), including one for loss, and returning an interception 32 yards for a score. He was the recipient of Iowa’s Reggie Roby Special Teams Award (overall) and Team Hustle Award (defense) last season.

 

DeJean has also been named to the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele 2023 preseason All-America second teams, as well as earning preseason first-team All-Big Ten accolades by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and Pro Football Focus.

 

The Hawkeyes have had 10 players named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List in the last 10 seasons. They include DeJean (2023), linebacker Jack Campbell (2022), center Tyler Linderbaum (2021), defensive end A.J. Epenesa (2019), tight end Noah Fant (2018), linebacker Josey Jewell (2017), quarterback C.J. Beathard (2016), defensive back Desmond King (2016), defensive end Drew Ott (2015) and offensive tackle Brandon Scherff (2014). Campbell, Linderbaum, Epenesa, Fant, Jewell, Beathard, King, and Scherff were selected in the NFL Draft after making the list.

 

The Hawkeyes open the 2023 season against Utah State on Sept. 2, on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium, at 11 a.m. (CT).

 

Iowa’s first five home games are sold out. Tickets remain for the Hawkeyes’ final two home games of 2023 (Rutgers on Nov. 11; Illinois on Nov. 18). The UI Ticket Office phone number is 1-800-IA-HAWKS and ticket information is available at hawkeyesports.com/footballtickets.

 

EAST
Taulia Tagovailoa, QB, Maryland

Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR, Ohio State

Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL, Penn State

 

WEST
Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois

Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa 

Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE, Minnesota

Tyler Nubin, DB, Minnesota

Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin

Posted in Sports |

Creston man arrested on a warrant for Harassment

News

July 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report 22-year-old Jeremiah Lee Whitney, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday morning. Whitney was arrested at the Union County LEC (Law Enforcement Center), on a Union County warrant for Harassment 1st degree. His bond was set at $2,000.

Posted in News |

Red Oak man arrested for Felony OWI/3rd offense

News

July 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop a little before 9-p.m., Tuesday, in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Red Oak Police report 56-year-old James Kent Otte, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 100 block of Elm Street in Red Oak. He was charged with OWI/3rd offense – a Class D Felony, and Driving While Barred, an aggravated misdemeanor. Otte was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Posted in News |

Harlan Municipal Utilities declares a “Water Watch” now through Sept.1st

News

July 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with Harlan Municipal Utilities, Tuesday, declared a water watch effective from July 25 through September 1. HMU says its “Customers have been doing an awesome job watching their water consumption. Unfortunately, due to the prolonged drought, our raw water capacity has been reduced to a level that triggers a water watch. Well maintenance is ongoing. However, our test wells are at the lowest recorded level since the early 2000’s.” They thank you for your cooperation!

For more information please see: https://harlannet.com/public-notices-employment…/

Posted in News |

Methodist/Jennie Ed partners with Acadia Healthcare for a new behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs

News

July 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Omaha/Council Bluffs) – According to American Hospital Directory data, there is a shortfall of more than 300 inpatient behavioral health beds in Iowa and Nebraska. To address this need, officials with Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Acadia Healthcare, Tuesday, announced plans to build a state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The 96-bed hospital will include 24 inpatient beds dedicated to serving the mental health needs of children and adolescents, as well as provide outpatient services. This new facility will be a center of excellence, addressing the growing unmet need for accessible, high-quality behavioral health services in the region. (See computer renderings of the future facility below. Click on the images to enlarge.)

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is an affiliate of Omaha-based Methodist Health System. Pending regulatory approval, the hospital is anticipated to open in 2026. It will be operated through a joint venture partnership between Jennie Edmundson and Acadia, the largest standalone provider of behavioral health care services in the U.S. Together, the organizations will invest more than $55 million in expanding behavioral health resources in the region.

Methodist CEO and President David Burd says “This hospital will be a tremendous resource, and this partnership will help strengthen our level of expertise and implement proven best practices while enhancing the quality and number of behavioral health services available to patients throughout the area.”

Jennie Edmundson and Acadia are in the process of securing land for the hospital and will announce the location at a later date. Construction will begin once all regulatory approvals are obtained. Chris Hunter, CEO for Acadia Healthcare says “The new hospital will increase lifesaving services for individuals and families in the region. We look forward to partnering with local communities to bring hope and healing to those in need.”

This purposefully designed behavioral health hospital is anticipated to include large treatment rooms for group therapy sessions, centralized nursing stations to provide open lines of sight to all common areas, high ceilings and large windows to capitalize on natural light, serene outdoor spaces and high-tech features. Ultimately, this will allow patients from western Iowa and eastern Nebraska access to the services they need in an environment that promotes peace and well-being.

Posted in News |

Multi-vehicle accident on I-80 blocking traffic

News

July 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Stuart, Iowa) – A multi-vehicle accident with injuries has Interstate 80 westbound blocked in Adair County. The crash occurred at around 5-a.m. about one-mile west of Stuart (Between Exit 93: County Road P28 and Exit 88: County Road P20). Reports say as many as five semi-tractor trailers and a passenger vehicle were involved, with two of the semi’s on their side. Stuart Police report both lanes of westbound traffic are blocked. (UPDATE): Traffic off I-80 westbound is being rerouted through Stuart on P-28, and west on White Pole Road (Country 925)  to Menlo, then south to I-80. Please take your time if traveling in that area or take a different route, if possible. Stuart Police report also, there is an additional vehicle accident at exit 93.

Additional details are currently not available.

Posted in News |