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Egg executives to be sentenced today (Monday) in salmonella outbreak

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Two former egg industry executives are scheduled to be sentenced in Sioux City on Monday for their roles in a 2010 salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands. Austin “Jack” DeCoster and his son Peter DeCoster pleaded guilty last June to misdemeanor charges of shipping adulterated food.  The two hope to avoid jail time, but prosecutors have argued for tough punishment because of the widespread harm caused by the outbreak.

Prosecutors also say the DeCosters knew their Iowa egg facilities were at risk for contamination. Federal health officials linked 1,939 illnesses to the 2010 outbreak, but they estimate that up to 56,000 people may have been sickened. The Quality Egg company agreed to pay a $6.8 million fine as part of a plea agreement, and the DeCosters will pay $100,000 apiece.

Initial autopsy completed in Bluffs childs’ death

News

April 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An initial autopsy was conducted Saturday on the body of a Council Bluffs child who died at an apartment complex, last Friday. Bluffs Police Sgt. Chad Meyers says the results of the autopsy on 18-month old Jayden Suriano have not yet been released to authorities, and until that’s done, an investigation into the child’s death will continue. Foul play however, is not suspected.

Meyers says Jayden was playing with his 3-year-old brother when he fell off a ladder. The child’s father was home at the time. Emergency responders took the boy to a local hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. The accident happened around 10:30 a.m. Friday, at the Featherstone Apartments.

Last month, a 2-year-old boy survived a fall from a second-story window at the apartments.

VADIS J. JENSEN, 88, of Exira (Graveside Svcs. 4/14/15)

Obituaries

April 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

VADIS J. JENSEN, 88, of Exira, died Sun., April 12th, at the Exira Care Center. Celebration of Life Memorial Graveside services for VADIS JENSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., April 14th, at the Exira Cemetery. Kessler Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

Burial of cremains will be in the Exira Cemetery.

VADIS JENSEN is survived by:

Her children – Jerry (Connie) Jensen, of Larkspur, CO; Cindy Metz, of Ankeny; Brenda (Reggy) Crawford, of Minneapolis, MN; and Jeff (Joanie) Jensen, of Atlantic.

Her brothers – Jed Bengaard, of Dedham, and Terry “Buzz” Bengaard & wife Hazel, of Exira.

12 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, other relatives & friends.

NWS weather forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA, 4/13/2015

Weather

April 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

345 AM CDT MON APR 13 2015

EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

TODAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 60S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH INCREASING TO AROUND 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

TONIGHT…CLEAR. LOW IN THE UPPER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH THROUGH MIDNIGHT BECOMING LIGHT.

TUESDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 60S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN MOSTLY  CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE MID 40S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT SHOWERS. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT SHOWERS. LOW IN THE MID 40S.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT  SHOWERS. HIGH IN THE MID 60S.

 

LILLY MARIE PALMER, 89, of Oakland (Svcs. 4/15/15)

Obituaries

April 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

LILLY MARIE PALMER, 89, of Oakland, died Sun., April 12th, at the Oakland Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services for LILLY PALMER will be held 2-p.m. Wed., April 15th at the Oakland Congregational Church-UCC in Oakland. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, from 5-7 PM.

Interment will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery in Oakland.

LILLY PALMER is survived by:

Her children – Rodney Palmer and wife Vicky, of Oakland, and Barry Palmer and wife Darla, of Council Bluffs.

Her sisters – Rose Allen, Fern Kelsey, and Daisy Wiemen.

5 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

2 Iowa State football players arrested after spring game

Sports

April 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa State University football players were arrested in separate incidents after Saturday’s spring game. The Des Moines Register reports 20-year-old Jack Rhoads, who is the son of coach Paul Rhoads, was one of the two players arrested. The other player was 23-year-old Terry Ayeni.

Neither player appeared in court. They were no longer in custody Sunday morning. Coach Paul Rhoads said he’s aware of the situation and will gather more information before deciding what discipline the players will face. Police records say that Jack Rhoads was arrested around 11:30 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of public intoxication.

Ames Police Sergeant Joel Congdon says officers say Ayeni punch another man early Sunday when they were called to break up a scuffle. He is suspected of disorderly conduct.

Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, April 13th 2015

News

April 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers efforts to control the spread of nitrates in recent years appears to be helping but research shows that levels of the fertilizer byproduct have soared in the state’s major rivers. The Des Moines Register reports that nitrate levels have more than tripled since the 1950s to more than 7 milligrams per liter in 2010. Researcher Keith Schilling with the University of Iowa says the upward trend in nitrate levels is unmistakable.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Clinton is taking her newly announced presidential campaign into the heart of small town Iowa this week. Clinton will tour a community college in Monticello on Tuesday and visit a produce distribution company in Norwalk on Wednesday. That’s according to a schedule provided by her campaign Sunday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa State University football players were arrested in separate incidents after Saturday’s spring game. The Des Moines Register reports 20-year-old Jack Rhoads, who is the son of coach Paul Rhoads, was one of the two players arrested. The other player was 23-year-old Terry Ayeni. Neither player was in custody as of Sunday morning.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa men who were wounded by gunfire are now facing charges because they police say they tried to mislead investigators. The Quad-City Times reports the two men went to the hospital late Friday for treatment of their wounds, which are not life-threatening. The men were both arrested on suspicion of filing false police reports.

2 area School Boards to hold regular meetings, Monday

News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

(removes reference to Griswold School Board mtg. – that’s 4/20/15)

Two area school district Board’s of Education will hold their regular, monthly meetings Monday evening. The Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board will meet at 6:00-p.m. in the Family and Consumer Science Room at the High School in Elk Horn. During the meeting, the Board will hold a Public Hearing on the 2015-16 School Budget, followed later in the meeting by action on approving the budget. Other action items include approving the resignations of Kara Wilson/4th grade teacher, and Connie Wyatt/Head Volleyball Coach, and the approval of continued discussions with Audubon, with regard to the sharing of Wrestling.

And, the Atlantic Board of Education will meet in the High School Media Center, at 7:30-p.m. During their session, the Board will act on approving: A recommendation for 2014-15 Snow Days make-up; 2015-16 Lunch prices, bread and milk bids; Ratifying the Certified Employees 2015-16 Tentative Agreement, and the Termination of a Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) teacher contract, along with an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) recommendation.

Carpenter’s 2-run homer in 11th lifts Cards over Reds 7-5

Sports

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CINCINNATI (AP) – Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer off Kevin Gregg in the 11th inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals over Cincinnati 7-5 Sunday in a game that featured the major league debut of Cuban right-hander Raisel Iglesias for the Reds.
Carpenter’s 392-foot drive to center on a full-count pitch from Gregg (0-1) followed Kolten Wong’s single.  Carlos Villanueva (1-0) pitched two innings, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th by striking out Todd Frazier.

St. Louis took two of three in the series and has won 13 consecutive three-game series against Cincinnati. Iglesias allowed three runs and five hits in five innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Signed last July to a $27 million, seven-year contract, he became the first Reds player since Mike Leake in 2010 to reach the majors without playing a minor league game.

Research shows soaring nitrate levels in Iowa rivers

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers efforts to control the spread of nitrates in recent years appears to be helping but research shows that levels of the fertilizer byproduct have soared in the state’s major rivers. The Des Moines Register reports  that nitrate levels have more than tripled since the 1950s to more than 7 milligrams per liter in 2010.

Researcher Keith Schilling says the upward trend in nitrate levels is unmistakable. Schilling studies nitrate levels for the Iowa Geological Survey at the University of Iowa. Last month, the Des Moines Water Works sued Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac counties over high nitrate levels. The utility has invested in costly measures to control nitrates in drinking water.