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Floodwaters approach makeshift levee at Iowa town

News

June 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

HAMBURG, Iowa (AP) – Floodwaters that breached a Missouri River levee near the Missouri-Iowa border are approaching a makeshift floodwall hurriedly built to protect the town of Hamburg.

Robert Michaels, the Army Corps of Engineers official who has overseen construction of the new levee, says the water is expected to reach the temporary structure guarding Hamburg sometime today (Thursday). The new levee was finished Wednesday, and most of those living in the threatened parts of town have cleared out.

Meanwhile, any hopes the breaches might alleviate the long-term flooding threat for communities downstream have been short-lived. River levels that dipped slightly from the release of pressure began their re-ascent Wednesday.

Boys Soccer Hawkeye Ten All-Conference Team

Sports

June 16th, 2011 by admin

First Team

  • Drake Ruth, Glenwood
  • Kyle Nolan, Glenwood
  • Pastor Rosales, Denison-Schleswig
  • Andrew McLaughlin, Harlan
  • Junior Jaime, Denison-Schleswig
  • Joey Stivers, Glenwood
  • Steve Gutschenritter, Glenwood
  • Miguel Ramos, Lewis Central
  • Trent Wendt, Harlan
  • Zach Irlbeck, Kuemper Catholic
  • Matt Schulz, Glenwood

Second Team

  • Zach Shea, Lewis Central
  • Ayri Limon, Denison-Schleswig
  • Zach Ahrens, Kuemper Catholic
  • Kolton Thatcher, Creston
  • Matt Reitz, Denison-Schleswig
  • Ross Klocke, Kuemper Catholic
  • Josh Axman, Kuemper Catholic
  • Trenton McNeel, Glenwood
  • Carl Reitz, Denison-Schleswig
  • Preston Myers, Atlantic
  • Mark Richwine, Lewis Central

Honorable Mention

  • Ryan Nightser, Lewis Central
  • Victor Paz, Denison-Schleswig
  • Austin Bolinger, Creston
  • Dakota Watson, Atlantic
  • Alex Voge, Harlan
  • Ben Landers, Creston
  • Derek VonSeggern, Atlantic
  • Jerry Orozco, Lewis Central
  • Zac Sorensen, Glenwood
  • Jose Medina, Denison-Schleswig
  • Taylor Pudenz, Kuemper Catholic

Girls Soccer Hawkeye Ten All-Conference Team

Sports

June 16th, 2011 by admin

First Team

  • Jordan Brelje, Harlan*
  • Hope Forman, Glenwood*
  • Mallory Hoyt, Glenwood*
  • Paige Flores, Lewis Central*
  • Brooke Jensen, Lewis Central*
  • Sam Richards, Glenwood
  • Michaela Moore, Glenwood
  • Katie Von Mende, Lewis Central
  • Sierra Edwards, Glenwood
  • Kenzie Evans, Glenwood
  • Mary Halverson, Kuemper Catholic

* Unanimous selection

Second Team

  • Taylor Hughes, Lewis Central
  • Gretchen Dehn, Glenwood
  • Michaela Ruis, Lewis Central
  • Cheryl Kleffman, Harlan
  • Chelsea Gubbels, Kuemper Catholic
  • Brianna Vis, Harlan
  • Taylor Hance, Creston
  • Alyson Mooney, Denison-Schleswig
  • Whitney Krohnke, Denison-Schleswig
  • Sarah Rohde, Atlantic
  • Brandi Johnson, Lewis Central

Honorable Mention

  • Kari Sandage, Atlantic
  • Alisha Welter, Atlantic
  • Angela Willems, Denison-Schleswig
  • Krystal Daggett, Creston
  • Sam McDonald, Creston
  • Amy Clark, Harlan
  • Kristine Arkfeld, Harlan
  • Rachel Grossman, Kuemper Catholic
  • Mellisa Wittrock, Kuemper Catholic
  • Megan Greteman, Kumper Catholic
  • Emma Ford, Lewis Central

Wednesday Baseball and Softball Results

Sports

June 16th, 2011 by admin

Baseball

  • Boyer Valley, Dunlap 3, Woodbine 1
  • CB Abraham Lincoln 9, Red Oak 0
  • CB St. Albert 11, Lewis Central 8
  • Coon Rapids-Bayard 3, Walnut 2:  Brett Carstens picked up the win, striking out eight.
  • Earlham 16, Winterset 1
  • Harlan 14, Logan Magnolia 8
  • Mount Ayr 17, Murray 5 (6 inn)
  • Perry 4, A-D-M Adel 1
  • Sidney 16, Stanton 3 (5 inn.):  Tyler Walter had two hits and three stolen bases for Stanton.
  • Sioux City, East 23, Denison-Schleswig 4 (Final 4 innings)
  • Woodbury Central, Moville 16, OA-BCIG 1
Softball

  • CB Abraham Lincoln 9, Red Oak 0
  • Creston 6, Harlan 1  (1st game)
  • Creston 2, Harlan 0  (2nd game)
  • East Union 7, Lenox 4
  • Lewis Central 5, CB St. Albert 0
  • Logan-Magnolia 2, Charter-Oak-Ute 0:  Kelsey Frisk pitched a three-hit shutout for the win.
  • Treynor 11, Griswold 1, 6 inn.:  Sarah Klahn had three singles and three RBIs.
  • Winterset 5, Boone 0
  • Woodbury Central 11, OA-BCIG 3
Baseball
Boyer Valley, Dunlap 3, Woodbine 1
CB Abraham Lincoln 9, Red Oak 0
CB St. Albert 11, Lewis Central 8
Coon Rapids-Bayard 3, Walnut 2: Brett Carstens picked up the win, striking out eight.
Earlham 16, Winterset 1
Harlan 14, Logan Magnolia 8
Mount Ayr 17, Murray 5 (6 inn)
Perry 4, A-D-M Adel 1
Sidney 16, Stanton 3 (5 inn.): Tyler Walter had two hits and three stolen bases for Stanton.
Sioux City, East 23, Denison-Schleswig 4 (Final 4 innings)
Woodbury Central, Moville 16, OA-BCIG 1

Atlantic Mayor seeks public input on TIFS and the Schildberg Quarry Rec Area

News

June 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones has announced he is accepting the names of people who may be interested in being on a committee that will set the groundwork on how the City determines which businesses and/or individuals would be eligible for Tax Increment Financing incentives. He says he wants to see those individuals hash out what’s worked for the City in the past, and what hasn’t worked. He doesn’t want to take a “cookie cutter” approach, using other cities’ methodology, just a program developed that is good for the City.

The citizens would provide input to the Community Development Committee. The matter of who gets a TIF has been a bone of contention for the council in the past. Most recently, the issue popped-up with the Boulders Inn and Suites project, which received a $166,000 grant and tax rebate incentives package. Some current business owners in Atlantic have complained they weren’t offered or were turned down for a TIF for their recent projects. Every time the issue comes up, the Council says its going to determine some ground rules to provide a more fair assessment of who is eligible, but to date, no such rules are in place.

The Mayor also indicated he wants to gather a group of citizens who will work on plans to develop the City owned portion of the Schildberg Quarry Recreation Area.  He says the City lost grant monies a couple of years ago because a solid plan wasn’t in place to develop and promote the area. Members of the committee would provide their input to the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Board.

Jones also urged property owners to “clean up their properties,” commercial and private, so the City looks good to the throngs of Ragbrai riders who will be coming through town at the end of July. He says John Lund, Assistant to City Administrator Doug Harris, has already send out letters to some residents and/or businesses, warning them to get rid of the junk in yards, and to mow their overgrown lawns.

VIOLA MUSICH (svcs. set for 6-17-11)

Obituaries

June 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

VIOLA CLARA MUSICH, 91, of Harlan, died Tue., June 14th, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial service for VIOLA MUSICH will be held 11-a.m. Fri., June 17th, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 5-9pm Thu. (6/16), with a Wake service at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

VIOLA MUSICH is survived by:

Her daughters – Patricia (Roger) Thomsen, of Harlan; Carol (Lee) Rasmussen, of Omaha; Nancy (Bill) Sniffin, of Lander, WY; & Tami (Frank) Rueschenberg, of Westphalia.

Her Sister – Helen Musich, of Westphalia.

Her sister-in-laws

20 grandchildren, & 28 great-grandchildren

Atlantic City Council approves Boulders agreement & incentives

News

June 16th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

After a public hearing as well as much discussion and explanation, the Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, approved by a vote of 5-to1, a Resolution approving a development agreement between the City and Boulders Inn and Suites, for Tax Increment Payments and the pledging of certain tax increment revenues. The Council also passed a Resolution authorizing an internal advance and loan, to fund a $125,000 incentive grant for the completed $1.5-million project on the City’s west side. The hotel opened for business, last month.

City Administrator Doug Harris said the City couldn’t offer the developer the same offer as last May, because it was based on a full tax assessment, rather than a partial assessment being in place as of January 1st. In addition, the City incurred additional legal costs associated with the delay. But in the end, he said the TIF savings to the City will amount to more than $48,000, and the tax rebates will be $41,000 spread out over nine years rather than $100,000 in four years.

During a public hearing on the Resolution, Atlantic resident, Dr. Keith Swanson said the reasoning behind the City paying an incentive after the hotel was finished, has not been fully explained and doesn’t make any sense. He says he thought an incentive was given to bring a business to town, not something paid out after they have arrived and built a business. Councilman Shaun Shouse said the development agreement was reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee, who thought that it was in the best interests of both parties.

Councilman Kern Miller said the City shouldn’t have to live up to its agreement, since Boulders’ officials failed to sign the original agreement over the course of the past year. He said it also brings into question the council’s judgment on this and other, similar matters.   Councilperson Kathy Somers said the City has an obligation to live up to its commitment, and failure to do so would set a bad precedence. Miller — who voted against the resolution — said he would agree, if the contract had been signed to begin with.

Wednesday, June 15th

Trading Post

June 15th, 2011 by admin

GARAGE SALE: JUNE 18TH FROM 8-12 AT 900 MULBERRY ST IN ATLANTIC. CLOTHES, TOYES, HOUSEWARES, ETC. GOOD PRICES – EVERYTHING MUST GO!

FOR SALE: 42″ YARD MACHINE RIDING MOWER, ALL NEW BELTS & SHARPENED BLADES $350. 712-249-3805

FOR SALE: 22″ LAWN MOY SELF PROPELLED LAWN MOWER, 6.5  HP RUNS GOOD $80; 21″ COAST TO COAST PUSH MOWER, 3.5 BRIGGS & STRATTON ENGINE, RUNS GOOD $60; 5 1/2 HP BRIGGS & STRATTON VERTICAL SHAFT LAWN MOWER ENGINE $50. 712-268-2656

FOR SALE: ELECTRIC TURKEY/FRYER $45; 5 GALLON TOTE FULL OF NEWBORN THRU 12 MONTH SLEEPERS, CLOTHES, BIBS, MOBILE AND OTHER MISC. ITEMS $40.  712-579-5538 OR 712-764-2572

FOR SALE: RX 75 JOHN DEERE RIDING MOWER, 30″ CUT, CAN DELIVER $300. 712-249-6930

I-29 now completely closed south of Iowa 2

News

June 15th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – June 15, 2011; 2:30 p.m. – The Iowa and Missouri departments of
transportation have now officially closed Interstate 29 from exit 10 (Iowa 2) in
Iowa to the U.S. 136 interchange (exit 110) near Rock Port, Mo. This is expected to
be a long-term interstate closure.
For current updates on road conditions – 24 hours a day, visit www.511ia.org or call
511.

Southbound I-29 closed at Iowa 2

News

June 15th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – June 15, 2011; 1:30 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is reporting the closure of southbound Interstate 29 at exit 10 (Iowa 2) due to flooding. The southbound I-29 closure extends to the U.S. 136 interchange near Rock Port, Mo.

Traffic from southbound I-29 is being directed to Iowa 2 east to U.S. 275 north back on Iowa 2 east to U.S. 71 south through Iowa into Missouri and U.S. 136 west to I-29 in Missouri.

Northbound I-29 is open between Rock Port, Mo., and Iowa exit 10 (Iowa 2). However, the Iowa and Missouri departments of transportation are working closely to monitor this very volatile situation. Northbound I-29 will be kept open as long as possible for local and emergency traffic. Other traffic is urged to find an alternate route around the flooding in southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri.

Alternative routes for northbound I-29 are as follows:

To reach destinations south of Council Bluffs, continue from U.S. 136 in Missouri to U.S. 71 north to Iowa 2 west to I-29 north. (I-29 north is closed north from exit 55 in Council Bluffs to exit 71 (U.S. 30 at Missouri Valley)).

Persons traveling to Sioux City can continue on U.S. 71 north to U.S. 20 west to Sioux City.

Persons traveling to Council Bluffs/Omaha should stay on U.S. 71 north to Iowa 2 west into Council Bluffs.

To avoid the impacted area of the I-29 corridor, the Iowa DOT is requesting interstate travelers use I-35 north in Kansas City through Iowa to I-90 west in Minnesota to I-29 south back into Iowa.