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Sioux County Schools locked down after threat

News

September 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Several Sioux County school districts were placed in a lockdown today (Thursday) following a threat. According to authorities, a threat was found written on a bathroom wall in the Sioux Center High School referencing a school shooting and mentioning schools in the Rock Valley and Boyden-Hull school districts as well. Authorities ordered Sioux Center schools and schools in the surrounding communities of Hull, Orange City, and Rock Valley to lock down and secure their buildings.

Sioux Center Community School Superintendent Gary McEldowny issued a statement saying school safety is priority. In the statement, he says law enforcement was engaged immediately, and a thorough investigation took place. He says he’s confident the threat has been resolved. No weapons were found.

Superintendent McEldowny says law enforcement will be present to provide assurance to students, staff, and families that our schools are safe.

Final Adair County Gen. Election candidates & ballot measures

News

September 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Auditor’s Office has released the final list of candidates and ballot measures for the Nov. 5th General Election. The candidates for County Offices include:

Partisan Offices

Supervisor (I= Incumbent)

District 1NW: Matt Wedemeyer (R) I
District 3SW: Jerry Walker (R) I
District 5GF: Michael Christoffersen (R)
Sheriff: Jeffrey L. Vandewater (R)  I
Auditor: Mandy Berg (R) I
Recorder (TFV): Kelly Mitchell (R)

Non-Partisan Offices

Washington Township Trustee (Vote for 1): No Candidate Filed
Washington Township Trustee (To Fill Vacancy) (Vote for 1): No Candidate Filed (To Fill Vacancy)

Richland Township Trustee (Vote for 1): Roy Maeder

County Public Hospital Trustees (Vote for 3): Willard W. Olesen; Jimmy Freeland; Deb Tindle

Soil and Water Conservation District (Vote for 3): Daryl Nelson

County Agricultural Extension Council (Vote for 4):Matt Mensing; Jessica Christensen; Trent Raasch; Amy Kading.

Judicial Retention

Supreme Court: David May

Court of Appeals: Tyler J. Buller; Mary Elizabeth Chicchelly; Samuel Langholz; Mary Ellen Tabor

District Court Judges (5B): Patrick W. Greenwood

Constitutional Amendments and Public Measures

Iowa Constitutional Amendments:

  • Shall the following amendment to the constitution be adopted?

Summary: Provides for only U.S. citizens aged 18 or older and meeting state and county residency requirements to vote in all elections. Further provides that 17-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the General Election are eligible to vote in the primary election, subject to the same citizenship and residency requirements.

  • Shall the following amendment to the constitution be adopted?
    Summary: Provides that the lieutenant governor will act as the governor if there is a temporary disability of the governor. Further provides that the lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect will be the governor or governor-elect in the case of resignation, death, or permanent disability of the governor or governor-elect thus creating a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect, as appropriate.

Benefited District Public Measures

Iowa Western Community College

Public Measure SB:

Shall the Board of Directors of the Iowa Western Community College (Merged Area XIII) in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $55,000,000 to provide funds to construct, furnish, and equip a new academic building and renovate, remodel, and improve existing buildings within Merged Area XIII?

CAM Community School District

Public Measure B:

Shall the Board of Directors of the CAM Community School District in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, and Cass, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $22,500,000 to provide funds to construct, furnish and equip a classroom addition to the High School building; to remodel, repair, improve, furnish and equip exterior and interior portions of the existing High School building, including mechanical, electrical, and fire systems improvements, secure entry improvements, and technology and security improvements; and improve the site?

Iowa defense prepares for Iowa State

Sports

September 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Iowa’s defense says there are areas to improve heading into the game against Iowa State despite a shutout in the opener. The 21st ranked Hawkeyes are coming off a 40-0 win over Illinois State. Linebacker Nick Jackson.

Safety Xavier Nwankpa says growing up in central Iowa he knows all about the rivalry.

Fellow safety Quinn Schulte grew up cheering for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa State’s J.R. Singleton previews Iowa

Sports

September 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Iowa State defensive tackle J.R. Singleton says Saturday’s showdown with 21st ranked Iowa is a big oppportunity for the Cyclones. ISU opened the season with a 21-3 victory over North Dakota and will be in search of a second straight win in Kinnick Stadium.

The Cyclone defense has smothered the Iowa offense in recent meetings, but Singleton says they expect a tougher challenge on Saturday.

North Dakota rushed for 174 yards last week, but Singleton is confident the issues against the run will be fixed.

Drake prepares for Eastern Washington

Sports

September 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Drake visits Eastern Washington on Saturday in what is now the Bulldog’s official season opener. A week ago, Drake led Quincy 10-0 at halftime, but the game was unable to resume due to thunderstorms and later was cancelled. Bulldog coach Todd Stepsis is looking at the bright side.

Stepsis says the first goal is to stay in the game. The Bulldogs have played several Missouri Valley and Big Sky foes the past few years and none of them have been competitive.

Stepsis says it is a huge opportunity for the Bulldogs.

Drake’s outstanding defense faces a big challenge. Eastern Washington quarterback Kekoa Visperas was 25 of 28 for 275 yards and five touchdowns in a season opening win over Monmouth University.

 

Glenwood football is preparing to be physical against Atlantic

Sports

September 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Glenwood Rams football team had a choppy start to the year losing their season opener 41-14 against the Sioux City East Black Raiders. When reflecting back on their loss to the Black Raiders, Rams head football coach Cory Faust noted how that game was a learning opportunity for his young squad.

When looking at positive takeaways from last Friday, Coach Faust liked the effort he saw from defensive leader senior Brodie Schafer who led the team in tackles in 2023 with 59. Last week against Sioux City East he got off to another hot start with 6.5 recorded tackles.

On the offensive side of the ball junior Scott Reed ran well picking up 81 yards on 20 carries. Senior quarterback Cole Staudt went 7/21, with 91 yards, and one rushing touchdown. Coach Faust was appreciative with Staudt’s performance considering the lack of reps he’s been given.

Now Glenwood is focused on Friday’s matchup against the 2-0 Trojans who have been looking to a powerful run game to give them wins against T.J. and Clarke. Coach Faust knows that Atlantic has no issues with playing physical football, it’s a mentality that he respects.

Atlantic has been seeing success from their back field with the bruising rushing from junior fullback Gavin McLaren with 5 TD’s and the quick acceleration by senior running back Tyson O’Brien who has amassed 350 yards on the ground. In order to keep the game close and to help the Rams stop the run game, coach Faust has been preaching to his team the idea of unity. That if every player does their part and trust’s one another, they have a good shot against the Trojans.

Kickoff for Atlantic at Glenwood is set for 7:00 PM, but the pregame show on KJAN begins at 6:30 PM.

2024 SECOND Iowa High School Volleyball Rankings

Sports

September 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 5A
School
Record
1
Dowling Catholic
6-1
2
2
Ankeny Centennial
5-2
3
3
Pleasant Valley
7-1
1
4
Ankeny
8-1
5
5
Indianola
10-1
6
6
Cedar Falls
4-2
4
7
Waukee Northwest
2-3
9
8
Sioux City East
5-2
NR
9
Waukee
2-2
12
10
Iowa City Liberty
2-4
7
11
Cedar Rapids Prairie
7-4
NR
12
Dubuque Hempstead
4-1
15
13
Bettendorf
4-5
13
14
Ottumwa
6-0
NR
15
Dubuque Senior
5-5
8
Dropped Out: WDM Valley (11), Linn-Mar (10), Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (14)
Class 4A
School
Record
LW
1
Cedar Rapids Xavier
2-0
1
2
Sioux City Bishop Heelan
4-0
2
3
North Scott
5-0
3
4
Clear Creek-Amana
5-1
6
5
Lewis Central
5-0
7
6
Glenwood
10-0
7
7
Dallas Center-Grimes
9-1
9
8
Norwalk
6-5
10
9
Pella
7-2
11
10
Knoxville
3-1
13
11
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
6-3
15
12
Grinnell
4-1
NR
13
Carlisle
7-4
4
14
Charles City
4-2
5
15
Marion
4-4
12
 
Dropped Out: Waverly-Shell Rock (14)
 
 
Class 3A
School
Record
LW
1
Mount Vernon
7-2
1
2
Davenport Assumption
3-2
2
3
Dubuque Wahlert
2-0
4
4
Western Christian
2-6
3
5
Sioux Center
3-0
5
6
Mid-Prairie
9-2
6
7
Kuemper Catholic
11-0
10
8
Cherokee
8-1
9
9
Solon
2-0
11
10
West Liberty
3-2
8
11
Center Point-Urbana
1-1
7
12
West Delaware
5-0
14
13
Union
4-2
12
14
Van Meter
3-1
13
15
Wilton
9-0
15
 
Dropped Out: None
 
Class 2A
School
Record
LW
1
Denver
8-1
1
2
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
8-0
2
3
Beckman Catholic
5-0
3
4
South Hardin
6-2
5
5
Hinton
4-1
7
6
Dike-New Hartford
3-6
6
7
Aplington-Parkersburg
7-0
8
8
Boyden-Hull
2-1
8
9
West Burlington
7-1
11
10
Wapsie Valley
6-4
4
11
Iowa City Regina
3-2
10
12
Grundy Center
3-1
14
13
Lisbon
2-1
13
14
Hudson
6-2
12
15
Sumner-Fredericksburg
5-2
NR
 
Dropped Out: South Central Calhoun (15)
 
 
Class 1A
School
Record
LW
1
Ankeny Christian
7-2
1
2
Riverside
6-0
8
3
River Valley
3-0
5
4
Janesville
2-2
4
5
Holy Trinity Catholic
1-2
2
6
Don Bosco
3-1
6
7
St. Ansgar
7-2
9
8
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
4-2
10
9
North Tama
5-6
2
10
Newell-Fonda
5-2
7
11
BCLUW
3-1
11
12
East Mills
7-1
NR
13
Burlington Notre Dame
6-1
NR
14
Sidney
1-3
14
15
Stanton
4-4
12
Dropped Out: Council Bluffs St. Albert (13), Edgewood-Colesburg (15)

Austin Blythe to Serve As Honorary Captain

Sports

September 5th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa standout offensive lineman Austin Blythe will serve as honorary captain when the Hawkeyes host Iowa State in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series contest on Saturday on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:40 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised on CBS.

Blythe was a four-year starter for the Hawkeyes from 2012-15, helping lead Iowa to 31 victories, including 12 wins and a Big Ten West Division title as a senior. In his final year, he was a finalist for the Rimington Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top center. Blythe also was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree and named a permanent team captain in 2015.

Blythe appeared in 50 contests during his career, starting at right guard as a redshirt freshman in 2012 before moving to center for his final three seasons. The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, helped lead the Hawkeyes to three January bowl games as the starting center (2014 Outback Bowl; 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl; 2016 Rose Bowl). He earned second-team all-conference laurels as a junior and was tabbed honorable mention all-league his sophomore campaign.

Blythe played seven seasons in the National Football League after being drafted in the seventh round by Indianapolis in 2016. He played four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (2017-20), and one year each with the Colts (2016), Kansas City Chiefs (2021) and Seattle Seahawks (2022). Blythe started at right guard in Super Bowl LIII for the Rams.

Blythe will accompany the Iowa captains to midfield for Saturday’s pregame coin toss. He will also be with the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game.

Officials say 10,000 publicly-funded housing units under development in Iowa

News

September 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The State of Iowa has recently distributed 770-million dollars in grants and tax credits for housing developments that will yield an estimated 10-thousand homes and apartment units in the state. Governor Kim Reynolds says there’s never before been that many publicly-funded housing units under development in Iowa.

“Housing is so much more than just four walls and a roof. It’s the foundation of a growing workforce and an unmatched quality of life and a thriving local economy,” Reynolds says. “Housing is the start of stronger communities and a more prosperous future for our entire state.” State officials say the bulk of the investment is 632 million dollars worth of federal tax credits awarded for Iowa housing projects over a ten-year period.

Debi Durham is director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority, which provides low income Iowans assistance on homes and rentals. “We often say, ‘Housing is the start,’ because a safe, stable home is where so many stories begin,” Durham said. “Our work helps to craft these diverse stories whether it’s a family finding stability, a young couple moving into their very first rental or a life-long renter purchasing their first home.”

Governor Kim Reynolds speaks at Housing Iowa Conference on Sept. 4, 2024. (RI photo)

About 80 million in state tax credits have been awarded for new construction or rehabbed housing in communities where there’s a shortage of homes and apartments for people who work in the community. Another 16 million is supporting the creation of new housing options in the downtown areas of Iowa cities with a population under 30-thousand. The National Housing Trust Fund also has awarded 11 million dollars in Iowa to produce or preserve rental units for low income residents.

SW Iowa crops still looking great heading into harvest

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network; Riley Smith) – There’s not much time left until harvest season will be upon us in Iowa, and the crops in the southwest part of the state are still looking great. SW Iowa Beck’s Agronomist Nate Meyer said he’s expecting a bumper crop for both corn and soybeans this year.

Meyer said now is the time to do some final crop scouting and think strategically about which fields to harvest first.

 

While some areas of the state are concerned about pod fill in soybeans, Meyer said the fields in his region have looked very full and healthy.

 

On top of practicing proper machine maintenance and safety habits, Meyer said it’s important for farmers to maintain their own bodies and get plenty of rest during harvest.

 

For more information, visit beckshybrids.com.