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Adam Wainwright may miss Cardinals’ season opener

Sports

February 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Adam Wainwright won’t pitch in exhibition games until mid-March because of his abdominal strain, a delay that could prevent the St. Louis Cardinals ace from starting the major league season opener at the Chicago Cubs on April 5.’

Wainwright was hurt Monday while putting a 45-pound weight back on a rack. He returned to St. Louis for an examination by Dr. Michael Brunt, who said the injury was minor. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is open to the idea of pushing back Wainwright’s season debut a couple of days if the right-hander doesn’t respond to proscribed rest as quickly as doctors expect.

Suburban lawmaker questions tax break for farm, construction equipment fuel

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa D-O-T estimates the state could collect about 40-million dollars a year from farmers and construction companies if the tax exemption for so-called “red dye” fuel was lifted — and a few lawmakers are questioning why that tax advantage is being maintained. Farmers and construction companies that primarily operate diesel-powered machinery off of the state’s roads buy fuel that has a dyed with a red tint, to signify it is NOT subject to the state’s fuel tax. Representative Ralph Watts, a Republican from Adel, says the size of farming operations has grown significantly and heavy farm equipment is now being driven on more miles of road to get from field to field.

“If you live in a rural area, you meet them all the time,” Watts says. “The heavier equipment with cleated tires place more stress on the roadway than vehicles with road tires.” That “additional stress” is taking a toll on rural roads and bridges, according to Watts. “The need for moving manure from hog confinements has become a huge factor for rural roads where the movement of manure is done by large tank wagons pulled by farm tractors over the roads,” Watts says. “My personal experience in watching this happen showed me those movements literally pulverize the existing gravel, which requires replacement.” Watts tried, but failed this past week to get his fellow legislators to go along with charging just a 10-cent-a-gallon state tax on red dye fuel.

“Some misguided miscreant might ask: ‘What do you have against farmers?'” Watts said during House debate of the bill that raised the state’s motor fuel tax by a dime a gallon. “I have nothing against farmers. Although I am not a farmer, I am a member of the Farm Bureau — at least I was earlier this morning.” The Iowa Farm Bureau opposes the idea of taxing the diesel fuel that’s used in farm equipment. Only eight other members of the Iowa House joined Watts this past Tuesday to try to force a debate over his proposal, while 87 voted against Watts and his idea was permanently tabled.

(Radio Iowa)

NWS weather forecast for Cass & area Counties, 2/28/15

Weather

February 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

357 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2015

EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY. NOT AS COLD. SOUTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW BEFORE NOON. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 20S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 50 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW. NOT AS COLD. LOW 15 TO 20. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SUNDAY…CLOUDY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW BEFORE NOON. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 40 PERCENT.

SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW 10 TO 15. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING…THEN CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

MONDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SNOW THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN A CHANCE OF RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN AFTER MIDNIGHT. NOT AS COLD. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 50 PERCENT.

TUESDAY…RAIN LIKELY IN THE MORNING…THEN SNOW LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT.

Area Boys H.S. basketball scores from Fri., 2/27/15

Sports

February 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

4A Semifinals
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 75, Lewis Central 57
Sioux City, North 78, Sioux City, East 73

Semi’s collided on I-29 in Harrison County, 1 injured

News

February 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A collision between two semis Friday afternoon in Harrison County resulted in a Missouri man being sent to the hospital. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 36-year old Jason Durham, of Bates City, MO., was transported by Mondamin Rescue to the hospital in Missouri Valley, after the 2007 Freightliner semi he was driving went out of control and hit another semi at around 3:40-p.m. on southbound Interstate 29, about seven-miles north of the Mondamin exit.

Officials say the semi entered the west ditch and hit a large sign before re-entering the interstate and hitting a second southbound 2007 Freightliner, driven by 52-year old Jose Ramirez, of Atascosa, TX. Ramirez’ semi was in the right lane when it was hit. After the collision, Durham’s semi entered the west ditch again, went through fence and hit a culvert before coming to rest in a wooded area.

Ramirez was not injured in the crash. He pulled his semi onto the shoulder of the road, and stopped. His vehicle sustained damage to its trailer. Durham’s semi was considered a total loss. The accident remained under investigation.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sat., Feb. 28th 2015

News

February 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’re investigating a letter left at an Ames mosque that contained anti-Muslim messages and threats. Ames Police spokesman Jason Tuttle says officers responded around 4 p.m. Thursday to a report that the note had been left on the door of Darul Arqum Islamic Center.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport officials are seeking state funds for a proposed youth sports complex that would include a hotel and other amenities. The Quad-City Times reports that Davenport plans to apply for Iowa Economic Development Authority grants for the project comprised of a 200-room hotel, a water park, a shopping and restaurant area and a youth sports complex.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court is dismissing a lawsuit brought by chiropractors who claimed the state’s dominant health insurer was engaging in illegal price-fixing. The lawsuit challenged Wellmark’s practice of making its negotiated reimbursement rates for medical providers available to self-insured employers and out-of-state insurers in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. It contended those deals violated Iowa antitrust law by restricting competition.

GRIMES, Iowa (AP) — Police say they have discovered a body in the area where a car had earlier been found in an icy Iowa creek. Authorities say the car was found Friday morning just north of Grimes with no one inside. The body was later discovered nearby. KCCI-TV reports that the car belongs to a woman who was reported missing on Monday.

ROBERTA J. BESCHORNER, 72, of Wiota (Svcs. 3/3/15)

Obituaries

February 27th, 2015 by admin

ROBERTA J. BESCHORNER, 72, of Wiota, died Thursday, Feb. 26th,  at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Funeral Sevices for ROBERTA BESCHORNER will be held 10:30-a.m. Tuesday, March 3rd, at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family at the funeral home, will be from 5- until 7-pm Monday, with a Rosary service is set for 5-pm.

Burial will be at the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic.

ROBERTA BESCHORNER is survived by:

Her husband – Leo Beschorner, of Wiota.

Her son – Brad (Kim) Beschorner, of Atlantic

Her daughter – Lisa Perkins and friend Mike Huey, of Harlan.

Her sister – Susan Marsh, of Atlantic

5 grand children and 1 great grandchild.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27th

Trading Post

February 27th, 2015 by admin

FOR SALE: Several Bags of Black Walnuts. 243-6594 leave a message if no answer.

DELBERT “DEL” LEROY CHRISTENSEN, 75, of Council Bluffs (Svcs. 3/8/15)

Obituaries

February 27th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DELBERT “DEL” LEROY CHRISTENSEN, 75, of Council Bluffs, died Feb. 22nd, at home. Funeral services for DEL CHRISTENSEN will be held 2:30-p.m. March 8th, at the New Horizon Presbyterian Church in Council Bluffs (30 Valleyview Dr.), with a luncheon to follow. Cutler-O’Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home in Council Bluffs has the arrangements.

Visitation at the New Horizon Presbyterian Church is from 1:30-until 2:30-p.m. March 8th.

Interment, with Military Honors,  will be held 11-a.m. March 9th, at the Canby Friends Cemetery, in Canby (IA).

Memorials are suggested to New Horizon Presbyterian Church (30 Valleyview Dr, Council Bluffs, IA 51503) or Hospice of Southwest Iowa (427 E. Kanesville Blvd., Council Bluffs, 51503)

DELBERT “DEL” CHRISTENSEN is survived by:

His wife – Janet.

His daughter – Karen Hansen & friend Andy Colburn.

His sons – Brian Christensen, and Craig (Meribah) Christensen.

His sister – Donna Christensen.

His brothers – Larry (Evelyn) Christensen, and Kenneth Christensen.

11 grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.

HELEN M. SHIFFLETT, 95, formerly of the Earlham area (Svcs. 3/9/15)

Obituaries

February 27th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

HELEN M. SHIFFLETT, 95, (formerly of the Earlham area) died Feb. 18th, at Asbury Park in Newton, KS. Funeral services for HELEN SHIFFLETT will be held 11-a.m. March 9th, at the Worthington Methodist Church, in rural Madison County, IA. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham has the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Helen Shifflett Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.