United Group Insurance

Insurance broker expanding into Dyersville

News

July 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say expansion by a Dubuque-based insurance broker is expected to bring more than 25 jobs to Dyersville. The Telegraph Herald reports that Cottingham & Butler announced Monday that it will begin operating this fall in leased space that’s under construction.

Cottingham & Butler’s Andy Butler says company officials have considered new locations as a way to accommodate current and future employees who live outside Dubuque. He says the new location is a way “to reach out to them and access an even larger talent pool.”

Cottingham & Butler employs 950 workers across 19 locations. About 650 work in the Dubuque area.

Griswold hires new personnel; Public Hearings set for Aug. 19th on Lewis & Elliott properties

News

July 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Griswold School Board, Monday evening, approved two new hires and three resignations. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said the new hires include: Theresa Engler – Middle School High School Para-educator/Head Cross Country Coach; and Gene Straight – Middle School Science Teacher, They accepted the resignations of: Helen Riley – Middle School/High School Para-educator; Matt Leighton – Head High School Wrestling Coach, and Steve Vance – Assistant Wrestling Coach.

Henrichs said also there was a bit of a snag in getting the District’s Lewis property deed transferred to the new owners. He said ownership of the Lewis Building was transferred on July 2nd, but they learned from Cass County representative said that the legal description was not accurate, so they have to back through a couple of processes and hold a public hearing to finalize the deal. With regard to the Elliott Building, Henrichs said that legal description has recently been finalized, and the Board, Monday, approved a Resolution of Intent to sell. The final step, a public hearing date, was also set on the sale of the property. Both Public Hearings will take place August 19th. A Special Board meeting will then be held August 22nd to finalize the transfer of the Deeds.

In other news, Superintendent Henrichs said the Administration shared with the Board information about tax rates for next year. He said the District’s Budget was approved March 18th, but the State made some changes to the funding formula after that date. That means the levy rate increased one-tenth of a penny, from a Board approved $14 and 1.8-cents to $14 and 1.9-cents. Their goal was a standard $14.02, so that keeps them in-line with what was acceptable.

Henrichs said the same school officials currently in place (Business Manager/Treasurer, Board Secretary and District Attorney), were re-appointed by the Board for the 2019-2020 School Year. He said they also received an update from Estes Construction with regard to the Elementary Building project, and variety of changes orders were approved. All those changes affect the District’s Budget. He said currently the budget is approximately $76,000 over. The biggest factor was $190,000 in change orders. However, because the District invested the bond proceeds, it received $140,000 in interest, which compensates for the overage and leaves them still under budget for the project.

Backyard & Beyond 7-16-2019

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

July 16th, 2019 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen visits with Tova Brandt, the Albert Ravenholt Curator of Danish American Culture at the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn.

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Iowa and Iowa State land players on Maxwell and Bednarik watch lists

Sports

July 16th, 2019 by admin

Iowa State and Iowa have landed a player each on the Maxwell Award and Bednarik Award preseason watch lists.

The Maxwell Award is given annually to America’s College Player of the Year. Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley and Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy were both named to the preseason watch list for the award.

Stanley passed for 2,852 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The senior has 52 career touchdowns, which ranks fourth in program history. He also ranks ninth in career passing yards for the Hawkeyes.

Purdy took over the signal-caller duties in the fifth game of the 2018 season and lead the Cyclones to a 7-2 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl. He was and Honorable Mention All-Big 12 pick.

The Bednarik Award is given annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year. Iowa defensive end AJ Epenesa and Iowa State defensive end JaQuan Bailey were named to the preseason watch list for the award.

Epenesa led the Big Ten and ranked 12th nationally in sacks with 10.5. He was a first-team All Big Ten selection in 2018.

Bailey is a two-time All-Big 12 selection, including a second-teamer in 2018. He is tied for the most career sacks in Iowa State history with 18.5.

Final Class 3A and 4A Baseball Rankings

Sports

July 16th, 2019 by admin

2019 IHSBCA Baseball Rankings
Week 8 Rankings – FINAL 3A AND 4A RANKINGS

Class 4A (Record)

  1. Johnston (30-5)
  2. Iowa City West (30-6)
  3. Southeast Polk (28-10)
  4. Ankeny Centennial (26-10)
  5. Epworth, Western Dubuque (29-9)
  6. Dowling Catholic (24-11)
  7. Des Moines, Roosevelt (26-7)
  8. Waukee (24-11)
  9. Urbandale (23-14)
  10. Mason City (22-13)

Others: Iowa City High; Linn-Mar, Marion; Pleasant Valley; Sioux City East

Class 3A (Record)

  1. Xavier, Cedar Rapids (35-2)
  2. Davenport, Assumption (27-4)
  3. Central DeWitt (31-2)
  4. Marion (27-5)
  5. Harlan (23-6)
  6. Fairfield (23-4)
  7. North Polk (24-4)
  8. Gilbert (23-5)
  9. Centerville (20-5)
  10. Ballard (23-6)

Others: Bishop Heelan, Sioux City; Glenwood; Grinnell; Washington; Winterset

Class 1A and 2A Baseball District Semifinal Schedule 07/16/2019

Sports

July 16th, 2019 by admin

Class 1A and 2A Baseball postseasons roll on tonight with District Semifinals being contested. Here is a look at area match-ups.

CLASS 1A

District 13 Doubleheader at Martensdale
Lamoni vs. Bedford 5:00pm
Martensdale St. Marys vs. Lenox 7:00pm

District 14 Doubleheader at St. Albert
Logan-Magnolia vs. Stanton 5:00pm
St. Albert vs. AHSTW 7:00pm

District 15 Doubleheader at Milo -ON KJAN Pregame at 4:45pm
CAM vs. Audubon 5:00pm
Southeast Warren vs. Nodaway Valley 7:00pm

District 16 Doubleheader at Coon Rapids
Woodbine vs. West Harrison 5:00pm
Coon Rapids-Bayard vs. IKM-Manning 7:00pm

CLASS 2A

District 13 Doubleheader at Ogden
Kuemper Catholic vs. Southeast Valley 5:00pm
Ogden vs. South Central Calhoun 7:00pm

District 14 Doubleheader @ Van Meter
I-35 vs. Panorama 5:00pm
Van Meter vs. Mount Ayr 7:00pm

District 15 Doubleheader @ Treynor
Clarinda vs. Underwood 5:00pm
Treynor vs. Red Oak 7:00pm

District 16 Doubleheader @ Hinton
MVAOCOU vs. Alta/Aurelia 5:00pm
Hinton vs. Missouri Valley 7:00pm

Regional Softball Final Schedule Class 4A and 5A 07/16/2019

Sports

July 16th, 2019 by admin

The Class 4A and 5A Regional Softball Finals are scheduled for tonight around the state. Games are set for 7:00pm starts.

Class 4A

Region 1 – ADM vs. Oskaloosa
Region 2 – Carlisle vs. Boone
Region 3 – Charles City vs. Mason City
Region 4 – Dallas Center/Grimes vs. Ballard
Region 5 – Independence vs. Iowa City Liberty
Region 6 – North Scott vs. Fairfield
Region 7- West Delaware vs. Central DeWitt
Region 8 – Denison/Schleswig vs. Bishop Heelan

Class 5A

Region 1 – Waukee vs Sioux City North
Region 2 – WDM Valley vs. Des Moines Hoover
Region 3 – Fort Dodge vs. Ankeny
Region 4 – Cedar Rapids Kennedy vs. Cedar Rapids Prairie
Region 5 – Iowa City High vs. Dubuque Hempstead
Region 6 – Indianola vs. SE Polk
Region 7 – Muscatine vs. Ottumwa
Region 8 – Johnston vs. Pleasant Valley

State Softball Pairings for Class 1A, 2A, and 3A

Sports

July 16th, 2019 by admin

The State Softball Tournament Brackets are set for Class 1A, 2A, and 3A after Regional Finals were completed on Monday.

Class 1A- Quarterfinals Monday, July 22

11:00am- #1 Collins-Maxwell (25-1) vs. #8 Gehlen Catholic (21-9)
11:30am- #4 Newell-Fonda (37-5) vs. #5 Lynnville-Sully (26-8)
1:00pm- #2 Lisbon (32-6) vs. #7 Wayne (23-8)
1:30pm- #3 Clarksville (31-1) vs. #6 Bishop Garrigan (29-6)

Class 2A- Quarterfinals Monday, July 22

3:00pm- #1 North Linn (39-4) vs. #8 Wapello (17-12)
3:30pm- #4 Mount Ayr (25-2) vs. #5 Beckman Catholic (29-13)
5:00pm- #2 East Marshall (31-4) vs. #7 Ogden (25-7)
5:30pm- #3 Central Springs (28-7) vs. #6 Alta-Aurelia (20-9)

Class 3A- Quarterfinals Monday, July 22 and Tuesday, July 23

Monday 7:00pm- #1 Davenport Assumption (38-2) vs. #8 Algona (17-10)
Monday 7:30pm- #4 Albia (27-4) vs. #5 Columbus Catholic (35-4)
Tuesday 11:00am- #2 Louisa-Muscatine (33-4) vs. #7 Mount Vernon (27-11)
Tuesday 11:30am- #3 West Liberty (28-5) vs. #6 Treynor (30-3)

Woman accused of stealing cash from dead mother’s account

News

July 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City woman has been accused of transferring to her own account more than $650,000 without authority from her mother’s account on the day her mother died in 2016. Records say 56-year-old Edith Hora has been charged with theft. It’s unclear whether she has an attorney. An Iowa City number listed for her rang busy during several calls Tuesday.

Relatives told police that Josefina Sexton’s will says her husband, Marion Sexton, was supposed to get 70 percent of the money left by his wife. Authorities say the transfer deprived Marion Sexton of access to the money.

Pott. County Sheriff’s report (7/16)

News

July 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Glenwood man was arrested at around 1:40-a.m. today (Tuesday) in Council Bluffs, following an investigation into a hit-and-run accident in the area of 20104 Concord Loop. 58-year old James Ray Clark was taken into custody for Violation of Probation. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail. And, a woman being held in the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, in York, Nebraska, was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail, Monday morning. 32-year old Christina Diondra Bryant, of Sioux City, was wanted on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation.