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Bluffs Workshops teach kids to be safer when interacting online

News

October 5th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A program designed to help young internet users stay safe online was the subject of a workshop last night (Tuesday) for parents and students in Council Bluffs. Shannon Seeger, spokeswoman for the Internet Keep Safe Coalition or i-Keep-Safe, says children are growing up in a world where their social life is coordinated through interactions on-line or through a cell phone. Seeger says kids need to be reminded how to act and interact. “Keeping and maintaining a positive reputation, keeping your personal information to yourself, also, when you interact with people, how to be a citizen about it,” she says.

Children need to be aware of predators, cyber-bullying, harassment and other threats. While the Internet can be a great place to connect with friends, Seeger says some people use social networking sites to humiliate and degrade others. “It doesn’t just deal with bullying, it’s harassment of all kinds, child-to-child harassment, parent-on-teacher, child-on-teacher,” she says. “There are many, many different variations on cyber-bullying.”

Seeger says there are increasing reports of children missing school, dropping out and event taking their own lives because of non-stop bullying. “One-million children were cyber-bullied last year on Facebook alone,” she says. “That doesn’t take into count all of the other social media and all the networking and messaging that children are doing back and forth.”

The first workshop Tuesday in Council Bluffs was for teachers only and was directed at helping to teach their students to be responsible online. The second workshop last night was for parents and students, urging them to start their own at-home programs for safe, healthy and ethical internet use. Learn more at: www.ikeepsafe.org

(Radio Iowa)

Arrest follows accident in Adams County

News

October 5th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

One person was arrested late Tuesday night in Montgomery County following an investigation into an assault and personal injury accident. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 21-year old Kiley B. Caron, of Villisca, was taken into custody at around 10:40-p.m. at 5th Avenue and 1st Street.

Caron was found following his flight from the scene of a personal injury motor vehicle accident which occurred in Adams County. Authorities say he was visibly intoxicated, and emitted a strong odor of alcohol. Caron failed his preliminary breath test and was taken into custody on a charge of public intoxication.

He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Villisca teen wrecks pickup after brakes fail

News

October 5th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A Villisca teen escaped injury Tuesday night, when the pickup he was driving ran into a ditch and hit an embankment. 16-year old Damon Tyler Sunderman, of Villisca, told Montgomery County Sheriff’s Officials he was traveling east on 250th Street, and approaching the intersection with Highway 71, when he applied the brakes, which apparently failed.

The 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup he was driving went through the intersection and into the east ditch before coming to rest against the embankment. The accident, which happened about one-half mile north of Villisca, occurred at around 8:45-p.m.

The pickup, owned by Brad Sunderman, of Villisca, was considered a total loss.

Earling man arrested for supplying booze to minors

News

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Police in Harlan say an Earling man was arrested last week, for allegedly supplying alcohol to persons under the legal age. The incident allegedly occurred on May 28th. 21-year old Cody Betances was taken into custody September 28th on an active Shelby County warrant. Betances was brought to the Shelby County Jail. He posted a $1,000 bond on Monday.

A pre-trial hearing will take place October 17th in Shelby County District Court, with his trial set for November 15th.

Flood cleanup begins at Eppley Airfield

News

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Officials at Eppley Airfield in Omaha say crews have begun the cleanup of what was left behind by this summer’s flooding along the Missouri River.  Contractors have started removing the flood control infrastructure around the airport. They also say specially designed wells that kept floodwaters away from the runways will continue to operate through October. The Omaha Airport Authority says it has spent $17 million on flood control but will eventually spend $26 million to protect the airport. The flooding also left behind a 300-yard swath of sand and silt between the river and the airport’s levee system. It was a grassy mix of fields and farmland leased out by the airport and it’s not clear if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will restore the area.

ROY SOLL, 85, of MANNING (10-7-11)

Obituaries

October 4th, 2011 by Jim Field

Roy Soll, 85, of Manning died Tuesday, October 4th at the Manning Plaza Nursing Home.  Funeral services for Roy Soll will be held on Friday, October 7th at 10:30 am at the First Presbyterian Church in Manning.  Johnson & Woodhouse Funeral Home in Manning has the arrangements.

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Friends may call Thursday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Manning Cemetery.

Roy Soll is survived by:

2 Sons: Jim Soll of Audubon

Allen Soll of Tekamah, NE

1 Brother: Ernest Soll of Vancouver, Washington

4 Grandchildren

4 Great-Grandchildren

Trumpeter Swan Contest returns to Cass County

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

 It’s that time of year, when the Cass County Conservation Board asks residents of the county, “When do you think the first Trumpeter Swan will arrive at the Schildberg Quarry in Atlantic?”

A Trumpter Swan (file photo)

 Trumpeter Swans have visited the Schildberg Quarry for, at least, thirteen out of the last fourteen winters. 

Arrival and departure dates of the swans have been as follows:

1997/1998    December 18 – January 2

1998/1999    Nothing on record

1999/2000    December 25 – February 15

2000/2001    November 23 – March 6

2001/2002    December 25 – February 24

2002/2003    November 23 – March 15

2003/2004   November 26 – March 21

2004/2005    November 25 – March 18

2005/2006    November 17 – March 5

2006/2007 October 30 – March 9

2007/2008 November 22- February 14

2008/2009 November 18- March 12

2009-2010 November 19 – January 5

2010-2011 November 5 – February 10

Cass County residents may call in their prediction by no later than November 11th,  to the Conservation Board at 712-769-2372. You can leave a message and return phone number if their staff is not available to speak with you.  Duplicate dates will not be allowed.  For example, if a caller predicts November 25th, no one else will be allowed to predict that arrival date. 

Only one prediction per family will be allowed.  Sponsors of the contest will determine the official arrival of the swans.  The winner will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board.  Again, the contest is only open to residents of Cass County, Iowa.

Mid-American Energy reports tax payments to IA counties

News

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Mid-American Energy have reported their semi-annual property tax payments to Iowa counties, schools and cities for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. All together, the company has paid more than $45.7-million, which they say makes them the largest property tax-paying entity in the state.

In this area: nearly $299,520 was paid to Cass County on September 30th; Adair County received more than $419,335; Adams County $66,220; Audubon County $155,758;Guthrie County, $14,269; and Montgomery County, $343,182.

Pottawattamie County received the biggest chunk in property tax payments from Mid-American, at slightly more than $4.2-million dollars. Shelby County has received a nearly $119,000 payment. The same amounts will also be distributed to each of those counties on March 31st, 2012.

The single largest tax bill installment of more than $12.1-million was paid to Polk County. Mid-American Energy, which is headquartered in Des Moines, and is Iowa’s largest energy company, provides electric service to 729,000 customers, and natural gas service to 709,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.

MARIE M. EBERT, 93, formerly of Earling (svcs 10-8-11)

Obituaries

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MARIE M. EBERT, 93, formerly of Earling, died Feb. 12th, in El Paso, TX.  A Mass of Christian Burial service for MARIE EBERT will be held at Noon Sat., Oct. 8th, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Earling.

MARIE EBERT is survived by:

Her daughters – Joyce (Myron) Sustacek, of Ghent, MN; Janet (James) Friesen, of Denver, CO; & Jayne (James) Keiter, of Albuquerque, NM.

Her son – Dan (Marlene) Ebert, of Forest Lake, MN.

Her brother – Ivo Finken, of Earling.

13 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Audubon teens arrested on arson & theft charges

News

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say two local teenagers have been arrested following an investigation into the theft of a pickup which was burned in the 2900 block of Falcon Avenue, and an ATV that was stolen and burned in the 1500 block of 260th Street, during the evening hours on August 5th and early morning hours on August 6th.

 

Officials say 16-year old Dustin Joseph Hunter, of Audubon, was taken into custody at around 4-p.m. Monday. He was charged with Arson in the second-degree (aiding and abetting), Theft in the second-degree (aiding and abetting), and burglary.

17-year old James Rathmann, of Audubon, was also arrested in connection with the same incidents. Rathman faces charges which include Burglary in the third-degree, Theft in the second-degree, Arson in the second-degree (Accessory After the Fact), and Theft in the second-degree (Aiding and Abetting). Hunter was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs. Rathman was released to the custody of his parents and his case referred to Juvenile Court Services.

Last month, 20-year old Mackenzie Jacob Belnap, of Ottumwa, was also charged in connection with the crimes. He faces 1st- and 2nd-degree Arson charges, along with two counts of burglary in the 3rd degree and two-counts of theft in the 2nd degree. He’s entered a written plea of not guilty to the charges. A jury trial in his case will take place November 29th. Belnap remains in the Audubon County Jail on $25,000 bond.