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More road construction in western Iowa

News

June 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Persons who travel through the Oakland area should be prepared for road construction. The Daily NonPareil reports work should start next month on a $5 million road improvement project in rural Pottawattamie County. The project covers an 8.5-mile stretch of County Road M16/G42. County Road M16 stretches for 3.5 miles west of Oakland before it turns north, becoming County Road G42. The project will continue on for 5 more miles until its intersection with County Road G30.

The Pott. County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, awarded the work to Western Engineering Co., out of Harlan, based on its bid of $5,292,327. Approximately $4.2 million will come from the county’s Secondary Roads budget, with the remainder coming from the state’s Farm to Market Fund generated by road use tax revenue.

The project calls for the removal of the current asphalt surface followed by concrete improvements below that. Finally, six-inches of new asphalt will be applied on top to provide additional strength, with the existing surface to be recycled. Drainage improvements alongside the road will allow for better water runoff, as well.

Work should start in mid- to late July and be completed by mid-fall, weather permitting Detours will be required during this project except for local traffic.

Carroll woman injured in Greene County accident

News

June 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A woman from Carroll County was injured during a collision between her car and a semi, Tuesday afternoon, in central Iowa’s Greene County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 58-year old Patricia Peters, of Carroll, was traveling west on Highway 30 at around 1:50-p.m., when for reasons unknown, her 2008 Chevy Impala crossed the center line and hit the front, driver’s side of an eastbound 2014 Peterbilt semi, driven by 52-year old William Moffett, of Crane, MO. Following the collision, the Impala came to rest on the north shoulder of the road, while the semi stopped in a corn field, north of Highway 30.

A 2001 Chevy Tahoe traveling behind Peters’ car swerved to avoid the collision, entered the north ditch and rolled over. The driver, 27-year old Paul Daggett, of Minburn, was not hurt. Patricia Peters, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by Jefferson Rescue to the Greene County Hospital. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., June 17th 2015

News

June 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After a six-day break with no new bird flu cases, the Iowa Department of Agriculture says another egg-laying chicken farm has tested positive. A farm in Wright County with 1 million chickens has experienced increased deaths among the flock and a preliminary test indicates the presence of the bird flu virus. Iowa’s last reported case was June 9.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Three relatives charged in a conspiracy to ship weapons from Iowa to Lebanon are pleading not guilty. Ali Herz; his brother, Bassem Herz; and Bassem Herz’s wife, Sarah Zeaiter, entered the pleas Tuesday in federal court in Cedar Rapids. The fourth suspect, Ali Herz’s son, Adam Herz, is expected to follow suit during an arraignment hearing Wednesday. The four were arrested last month after agents intercepted shipping containers headed from Cedar Rapids to Beirut that had many guns and rounds of ammunition hidden inside construction equipment.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — All new homes built in Waterloo must include garages under a plan approved by the City Council. The council voted to change a zoning ordinance and require all new single or two-family homes built after July 1 to have a garage. Habitat for Humanity has built many homes without garages, but officials say the group was consulted and supported the requirement.

GARWIN, Iowa (AP) — An investigation by the state auditor has found more than $500,000 in improper and unsupported spending by the eastern Iowa city of Garwin. Auditor Mary Mosiman says an audit requested by city officials found $562,089 of improper and unsupported spending. That includes 203 payments traced by credit card statements to former City Clerk Anna Lori Leytham. Payments on those credit card accounts date from December 2000 to September 2013.

Atlantic City Council to honor former Councilwoman & SWITA

News

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council will hold a regularly scheduled session Wednesday evening, at City Hall. During the meeting, which begins at 5:30-p.m., Mayor Dave Jones is expected to sign a proclamation declaring June 15th-through the 19th as “Ride SWITA Transit Week.” The Southwest Iowa Transit Agency serves as the public transportation system for Atlantic and the surrounding region, operating under the umbrella of the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO). SWITA provides rides to school, work, shopping and medical appointments for local citizens.

The Mayor and Council will also recognize former 5th Ward Councilperson Lori Stuart, for her contributions to the community. Stuart resigned last month and her family moved to Cedar Rapids. The Council approved the appointment of Richard “Dick” Casady to fill her seat on June 4th. Casady hold the position until at least the November General Election.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an order for the Mayor to enter into a marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners, Inc., for the Service Line Warranty Program. The Council has stipulated the company should use local contractors for any repairs or warrant work, as much as possible. City Administrator John Lund has contacted three other communities in Iowa to get their opinion on the value of the service USP provides. According to his report, no complaints have been received from the citizens of those communities, but two of the three Public Works officials contacted strongly suggested an informational media campaign be conducted to make the public aware of the optional warranty service.

And, the Council will act on passing a Resolution that repeals and replaces a section of the City’s Personnel Policy manual, with regard to longevity pay. The pay scale section of the Personnel Policy, according to Lund, has not been updated since 1997. Salaried employees and Union members will not be affected by the adjustments, which pertain to 11 employees, and would cost to the City just under $3,800.

Finally, Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday, will make a proclamation calling for “No Parking on the entire length of 22nd Street and west of the 900 block of Olive Street.”

Cardinals play through rain, beat Twins 3-2 again

Sports

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Hours after a federal investigation into possible computer hacking by the Cardinals became public, St. Louis extended its winning streak to five by beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2 behind Michael Wacha’s pitching and Mark Reynolds’ two-run single.

Before the game, manager Mike Matheny said he was in the weight room when he first learned of the investigation into whether the Cardinals had hacked Houston’s computer database. The Cardinals then completed a soggy homestand in which three games were delayed and another against Kansas City was postponed until July 23.

St. Louis is 43-22 overall and 26-7 at home, both tops in the major leagues, and matched a franchise best by reaching 43 wins in 64 games.

Minnesota has lost seven of eight.

 

Bird flu leads to cheaper chicken in US

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bird flu outbreak in the Midwest has actually resulted in cheaper chicken meat in the U.S. because exports have been restricted, leaving a plentiful domestic supply. In a monthly poultry market report published Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says importers halted shipments even though chickens remain unaffected by bird flu. Wholesale prices in the Northeast are 32 percent lower than a year earlier. Drumsticks are down 33 percent.

The bird flu outbreak did cause egg prices to increase. Egg prices more than doubled from pre-bird flu prices but in recent days have fallen. Roasting turkey prices are 3 percent higher than a year ago and may increase a little more toward Thanksgiving.

After a 6-day break Iowa reports an egg farm with bird flu

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After a six-day break with no new bird flu cases, the Iowa Department of Agriculture says another egg-laying chicken farm has tested positive. A farm in Wright County with 1 million chickens has experienced increased deaths among the flock and a preliminary test indicates the presence of the bird flu virus.

The frequency of new cases has slowed dramatically with no new cases in Minnesota in 11 days. Iowa’s last reported case was June 9. The bird flu has cost Minnesota, the leading turkey producer, 9 million birds. Egg farms in Iowa, the nation’s leading producer, have lost over 25 million laying hens.

State officials say all 76 previously affected farms have removed the 32 million birds that already died or were euthanized. Disposal of the dead birds continues.

Titans Release Shonn Greene, Choose Youth at Running Back

Sports

June 16th, 2015 by Jim Field

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s decision to release veteran Shonn Greene kicks the Titans’ youth movement at running back into full gear.

Greene, a former Iowa Hawkeye standout, had stayed away from the Titans’ offseason program until the start of the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. He showed up, passed his physical and then was released with one year left on his contract at $3.25 million.

That leaves the Titans with Bishop Sankey and Dexter McCluster among the running backs with NFL experience in that group.

They drafted running back David Cobb and fullback Jalston Fowler in May, and Antonio Andrews was undrafted last year.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt says all the young running backs have looked good this offseason and that is why the Titans feel this is the direction to go right now.

 

Report: Cardinals Allegedly Hacked Astros Player Information

Sports

June 16th, 2015 by Jim Field

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Major League Baseball says it is cooperating with a federal investigation into an illegal breach of the Houston Astros’ internal database after a report that the St. Louis Cardinals were responsible for the hack.

The New York Times, citing unidentified law enforcement officials, reported Tuesday that the FBI and Justice Department are investigating whether Cardinals’ front-office officials were behind the effort to steal player information.

MLB said the Astros’ “baseball operations database” was breached, but declined further comment until the federal investigation is completed. The U.S. attorney in St. Louis, Richard Callahan, says he is unaware of the investigation. Messages seeking comment from FBI officials in St. Louis, Houston and Washington were not returned.

The Cardinals and Astros both confirmed they are cooperating with the investigation but declined further comment.

 

Chiefs release WR Da’Rick Rogers ahead of minicamp

Sports

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs released wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers and offensive lineman Kelvin Palmer and signed offensive lineman Tavon Rooks before the start of their mandatory minicamp Tuesday.

Rogers, once a college standout for Tennessee, was kicked off the team for disciplinary issues and transferred to Tennessee Tech. But he’s been unable to make it in the NFL, catching just 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns while bouncing through three franchises. In May, Rogers spent one day in jail after pleading guilty in Indianapolis to drunken driving.

The release of Palmer and the signing of Rooks, a former Kansas State player, is basically a swap of players deep on the depth chart.