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Midwest Sports Headlines: 1/31/2019

Sports

January 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — The polar vortex couldn’t stop college basketball in the Midwest. Despite the deep freeze, a dozen men’s games and four women’s games in major conferences went on as scheduled as temperatures approached or broke records.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Lindell Wigginton scored a season-high 28 points off the bench and 20th-ranked Iowa State cruised past West Virginia 93-68, its fourth win in five games. Marial Shayok scored 18 points for the surging Cyclones (16-5, 5-3 Big 12), who shot 26 of 40 inside the 3-point line and 29 of 32 from the free throw line.

CHICAGO (AP) — Cameron Krutwig hit his first 3-pointer of the season for a five-point lead with 48 seconds left and Loyola-Chicago held off Northern Iowa 61-60 for its seventh straight home win. Krutwig made a hook shot in the lane for a 57-55 lead and he blocked a shot under the basket at the other end.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Shamorie Ponds scored 26 points and St. John’s had its best shooting game of the season while forcing Creighton into its worst shooting game, rolling to an 83-67 win. Mustapha Heron added 17 points and LJ Figueroa 15 for the Red Storm (16-5, 4-5 Big East Conference), who snapped a two-game skid.

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Jared Harper scored 16 points while Chuma Okeke and Bryce Brown each had 14 to help Auburn snap a three-game losing streak with a 92-58 rout of Missouri. Auburn used a dominant second half to end the slide that sent the team tumbling out of the Top 25 following a six-week run in the Top 10.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Samajae Haynes-Jones scored 17 points and hit a dramatic layup with a second remaining to lift Wichita State to an 85-83 victory over SMU. SMU’s Jimmy Whitt Jr. hit a step-back 10-footer to tie the game at 83 with 19 seconds to go.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are planning more than $10 million in upgrades to Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs announced that the renovations will include a “modernization” of the Arrowvision scoreboard, along with waterproofing and new seats _ with cup holders _ in the stadium’s upper deck. The work could begin next week. The Kansas City Star reports the Chiefs are paying for the work but can ask in the future to be reimbursed by the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.

Iowa/Midwest early News Headlines: Thursday, Jan. 31st 2019

News

January 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

JAMAICA, Iowa (AP) — The central Iowa town of Jamaica is set to appoint a new mayor after its previous mayor was arrested earlier this month on charges related to marijuana found growing in her basement. Acting mayor Tim McDermott tells the Des Moines Register that city leaders are expected to appoint a new mayor at a meeting Monday. Former mayor LaDonna Kennedy and her husband, Randy Kennedy, were arrested Jan. 16 after sheriff’s deputies found marijuana plants in the home.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The clearest path for Democrats to reclaim the White House runs through the upper Midwest, and the party could soon have multiple presidential contenders who have deep roots in the region. The two biggest Midwestern Democratic names in the mix for 2020 are Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. They’ve succeeded in states where it’s critical to appeal to rural and working-class voters _ groups Democrats are eager to court as they work to defeat President Donald Trump.

CHICAGO (AP) — The painfully cold weather system that put much of the Midwest into a historic deep freeze is expected to ease Thursday, though temperatures could still tumble to record lows in some places before the region begins to thaw out. Disruptions caused by the cold will persist, too, including power outages and canceled flights and trains. Crews in Detroit will need days to repair water mains that burst Wednesday, and other pipes can still burst in persistent subzero temperatures.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — An Urbandale police sergeant is suing the city, saying he suffered harassment, discrimination and retaliation for the post-traumatic stress disorder he suffered in the wake of the 2016 ambush killings of a colleague and a Des Moines officer. The Des Moines Register reports that Sgt. Mark Jorgensen was one of the first responders on the scene when Urbandale Officer Justin Martin was shot as he sat in his patrol car.

Cass County Supervisors to appoint County Attorney, Friday

News

January 30th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday, will announce their appointment of a person to fill a vacancy position for the Cass County Attorney’s Office. Earlier this week, the Board interviewed four candidates who had submitted their applications by the deadline: Robert Engler (With the Cambridge Law Firm, in Atlantic); Anne Rohling, a lawyer from Council Bluffs who owns her own law firm; Marti Sleister, an experienced trial attorney in criminal and juvenile law, with the Sleister Law firm in Fremont, NE; and Vanessa Strazdas, a lawyer from Omaha.

On Wednesday (Jan. 30th), the Supervisors discussed the four applicants.  During their meeting, it was noted that all four were well qualified.  One applicant is a current county resident and the other three noted they would be able to establish residence by date of appointment, therefore the board determined that all were eligible for appointment.  After due consideration, the board reached a decision on whom they would choose to appoint. That individual was reached by phone and offered the position. They immediately accepted the offer.

The person appointed during the Board’s meeting at 9-a.m., Friday, will immediately succeed Michael Hooper, who Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Jan/ 11th appointed as a judge in the Fourth Judicial District. Following the appointment of the new County Attorney, the Board will act on a Resolution to approve the number of, and appointment of Administrative Assistants to the Cass County Attorney.

They will also act to fill the vacancy term of a Cass Township Trustee (an appointed position).

CATHERINE ACKERMAN, 80, of Atlantic (Svcs. 02/04/2019)

Obituaries

January 30th, 2019 by Jim Field

CATHERINE ACKERMAN, 80, of Atlantic died Wednesday. January 30th at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.  Mass of Christian Burial for CATHERINE ACKERMAN will be held on Monday, February 4th at 2:00pm at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Open visitation will be held on Sunday, February 3rd from 1:00pm-3:00pm at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Burial will be in the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic

Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com

CATHERINE ACKERMAN is survived by:

Children: Jolene (Todd) Leighton of Lewis. Christy (Bill) Pederson of Atlantic. Lori (Norman “Buke”) Petersen of Marne. Robin (Connie) Davis of Las Vegas, NV. Patrick Ackerman of Griswold. Ann Ackerman of Griswold.

9 Grandchildren

2 Step-Grandchildren

6 Great-Grandchildren

4 Step-Great-Grandchildren

University of Iowa student found dead amid cold

News

January 30th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The body of a University of Iowa student has been found on the campus in Iowa City, and officials say they believe his death was weather-related.

Television station KCRG reports that the body of 18-year-old Gerald Belz was found behind an academic hall just before 3 a.m. Wednesday by campus police. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. While officials believe his death was related to dangerously low temperatures at the time he was found, officials have not given a specific cause of death.

Belz’s family told KCRG that doctors did not find alcohol in his system.

The National Weather Service says the wind chill around 3 a.m. was negative 51 degrees (negative 46 Celsius).

The death is the eighth fatality linked to the extremely cold weather in the Midwest.

Harlan’s Mulligan headed to Briar Cliff

Sports

January 30th, 2019 by Jim Field

Harlan senior Preston Mulligan announced this past weekend that he has committed to play college football at Briar Cliff. The quarterback had a big season in his one full year as a starter for the Cyclones. He passed for 2,676 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just six interceptions in 2018.

Mulligan chose Briar Cliff over other offers from Southwest Minnesota State, Iowa Central, and Iowa Western.

Iowa town set to pick new mayor after previous one’s arrest

News

January 30th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

JAMAICA, Iowa (AP) — The Guthrie County town of Jamaica is set to appoint a new mayor after its previous mayor was arrested earlier this month on charges related to marijuana found growing in her basement. Acting mayor Tim McDermott tells the Des Moines Register that city leaders are expected to appoint a new mayor Monday. McDermott says former mayor LaDonna Kennedy submitted her resignation last week.

Kennedy and her husband, 58-year-old Randy Kennedy, were arrested Jan. 16 on various drug charges after Guthrie County Sheriff’s deputies searching for a suspect in a separate crime knocked on their door. The suspect wasn’t found, but deputies called for a search warrant after smelling an “overwhelming odor of raw marijuana” coming from the home.

Investigators say 18 marijuana plants, several bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found.

Group proposes ‘abortion victims monument’ near state capitol

News

January 30th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Four Republicans in the Iowa House are sponsoring legislation to erect they describe as an “abortion victims monument” on the state capitol grounds. “I saw a news article about a similar bill in Tennessee, where they had passed a bill to build such a monument, so I thought that would be a good idea for Iowa, too.” That’s Representative Dean Fisher of Montour.

There’s no spot picked out or even a design for the statue. The bill would leave those decisions to the state agency and the state commission that oversee the capitol grounds in Des Moines.  “I don’t envision something huge,” Fisher said. “Not a huge tower or anything, something a few feet tall.” Fisher emphasizes the bill calls for private funds to be used in designing, constructing and maintaining the monument.

“It will help people to remember and realize the loss that we’ve suffered by aborting thousands upon thousands of babies here in Iowa,” Fisher says. “Those are lives lost that could have been productive members of our society.” The Family Leader, a Christian conservative organization, is the only group registered TODAY in favor of the bill. The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is registered in opposition. Connie Ryan, the group’s executive director, says the bill would set a dangerous precedent. “I don’t understand why somebody would want to use state land to push forward their political agenda,” Ryan says.

There are nearly 50 monuments and memorials on the Iowa Capitol Grounds today.

Police chief says Marshalltown teen died after fall from communications tower

News

January 30th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Marshalltown police have released more information on a teenager who was found dead after a five-day search. Police Chief Mike Tupper talked about the findings in the death of 13-year old Corey Brown: “When you look at the preliminary autopsy results coupled with the investigation facts that we’ve uncovered — it is clear that Corey Brown died from a significant head injury after he fell from a considerable distance, after climbing onto a communication tower,” according to Tupper.

Police say Brown went over a fence and climbed the tower in a secluded area where his body was found Sunday morning. Brown left his home in the evening on January 22nd — after what was reported as a typical parent-teen dispute. Police are still waiting on results of chemical tests following the autopsy — but say there is no indication of criminal activity.

Mother sobs during trial when prosecutors show photos of son

News

January 30th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman charged in the death of her baby left the courtroom sobbing during the first day of her trial when prosecutors showed photos of her lifeless son in a swing set. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris caused a break in her trial Wednesday at the Plymouth County Courthouse in Le Mars.

Cheyanne Harris talks with her attorney during her court appearance on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 in Le Mars, Iowa. Harris, the mother of a baby whose lifeless body was found in an infant swing wearing a maggot-infested diaper is standing trial in his death. Court records say Harris has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. The trial was moved to Le Mars in Plymouth County from Chickasaw County because of publicity. (Jeff Reinitz/The Courier via AP)

Harris has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She was arrested in August 2017 after medics found 4-month-old Sterling Koehn dead in the swing in a dark, sweltering bedroom.

An autopsy shows he died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection caused by being left in a maggot-infested diaper for up to two weeks. The boy’s father, Zachary Koehn, already has been sentenced to life in prison .