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Two Harlan men charged with drug delivery among other charges

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Two Shelby County men have been charged with drug delivery.  38-year old Matthew Tamms, of Harlan, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and prohibited acts.  Tamms is accused of having meth, a scale and baggies during a traffic stop on October 8th.  A December 11th trial date has been set for Tamms.  If found guilty of the charges, Tamms could face a sentence of 12 years in jail with fines totaling $12,500.

22-year old Alexander Lamarr, of Harlan, has been accused of having methamphetamine with a scale and packaging after a traffic stop in Harlan on October 8th.  He has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of  a controlled substance – marijuana – third offense and possession of stolen property.  Lamarr is also accused of having marijuana in  his possession as well as two stolen tvs, removed from his bedroom at his address on October 8th.  Lamarr also has a December 11th trial date and if found guilty, he faces a sentence of 14 years in jail and fines of up to $15,000.

Charges upgraded for Kenkel after second person dies

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Officials have upgraded charges against an Iowa man after a second person has died following a collision on Nebraska Highway 36 two weeks ago.  According to our sister station KNOD, 28-year old Tony Kenkel, of Earling, is now charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide. Kenkel waived his preliminary hearing and will stand trial in the case. The man had posted $10,000, or 10 percent of $100,000 bond to be released from jail on Oct. 17th. Last Friday, prosecutor Ryan Lindberg asked that Kenkel’s bail amount be increased to $250,000, but Douglas County, NE. Judge Sheryl Lohaus decided to keep it at $100,000.

Authorities have said Kenkel had a blood-alcohol level of .091 at the scene of the collision near Lake Cunningham Park Road. Two and a half hours later, his blood-alcohol level tested at .08, the legal limit. Kenkel was driving a 2017 Chevy Silverado east on Highway 36 when the pickup crossed the center line and entered westbound traffic, officials said. Kenkel struck a 1995 Mitsubishi 3000 GT head on — killing the driver, 21 year old Joseph Daniels, of Council Bluffs, at the scene.  21 year old Thomas Greise, a passenger, had been in a medically induced coma until he was taken off life support on Monday. Kenkel has no prior criminal record other than speeding tickets. He’s part of the 24/7 sobriety program that requires check-ins in Omaha twice a day. Kenkel does that by commuting an hour each way from Earling.

Authorities say man died when farm machine backed over him

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DORCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man died when a farm machine ran over him in northeast Iowa’s Allamakee County. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office says first responders were called Tuesday to a farm field northwest of Dorchester. The sheriff’s office says a combine had backed up over the man when it was being maneuvered to unload corn. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are withholding his name until his relatives have been notified about his death. He lived in Minnesota.

Biden says America is better than current political climate

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Former Vice President Joe Biden urged a crowd of more than a thousand in Cedar Rapids last (Tuesday) night to help reset the country’s moral compass and choose candidates this November who will “dial down the temperature” in politics. “Before we are Democrats and Republicans and independents, we are Americans — for real,” Biden said, to cheers. “Folks, America is so much better than this.” Without directly mentioning President Trump, Biden argued Americans are seeking more “authentic” political leaders. “They’re looking for someone who never belittles the other guy, who treats everyone — like my dad did — with dignity and respect,” Biden said, to cheers. “They’re looking for people to tell the truth. They really are.”

Biden spent part of his speech praising the two Iowa Democrats who shared the rally stage with him last (Tuesday) night. Both had a chance to make their own case to the crowd. Democratic candidate for governor Fred Hubbell criticized a string of G-O-P priorities Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has enacted, like “defunding” Planned Parenthood. “It’s time to work across the aisle for the benefit of all Iowans,” Hubbell said, to cheers from crowd. Abby Finkenauer is the Democrat challenging Republican Congressman Rod Blum in the first district. She urged the crowd to keep the “pedal to the floor” until November 6th. “One week to make sure that Washington hears from all the Iowans they have forgotten,” Finkenauer said, to cheers.

Finkenauer worked on Biden’s 2008 Iowa Caucus campaign and his return to Iowa last (Tuesday) night showcased the message he might present voters if he runs for president a third time. Retired educator Steve Regan of Cedar Rapids says the anger and hostility in politics today is worrisome. “I would be a Biden supporter for 2020 today,” Regan says. “I just don’t see any other candidates who could pull it off.” Regan says he believes Biden is the only Democrat right now who could win the party’s nomination and beat Trump in 2020. Biden is headed to Missouri today (Wednesday), part of a tour to campaign for dozens of 2018 candidates around the country.

Around 350 Iowa National Guard soldiers coming home

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Events are planned at the end of the week in four cities to welcome back Iowa National Guard soldiers from their overseas deployment. Guard spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Wunn. He says about 350 members of the 248th Aviation Support Battalion will be recognized. He says they have been gone for one year. “The 248th is comprised of aircraft maintainers, test pilots and logistical support personnel. They were part of a larger unit that was in the Central Command Theatre of Operations,” Wunn says.

The Central Command is comprised of 20 nations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries. Wunn says the Iowa National Guard has been called on many times in the last decade or more. “Since 9-11 we’ve had almost 19-thousand Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen who have deployed in support of overseas contingency operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places,” according to Wunn. “So, the Iowa National Guard has been very busy supporting those types of operations. And of course we’ve been supporting things here at home as well.”

The return cuts the number of Iowa guard soldiers who are deployed by more than half. “This is actually our largest single unit deployment since 2010 and 2011,” Wunn says, “so right now with these soldiers returning we have probably about 200 soldiers with the Iowa Army National Guard who are still deployed.” Wunn says the ceremonies are open to the public. “The homecoming ceremonies are some of the funnest things that we get to do in the Iowa National Guard. When we get to reunite our soldiers with their families, it’s really a special day. It’s an opportunity to say thank you and to honor their service,” Wunn says.

The soldiers of the Headquarters Support Company and Detachment 4, Company B will be honored at a 1 p-m. ceremony in the Davenport Army Aviation Support Facility. Soldiers of Company A and Detachment 3, Company B will be honored at a 1 p-m ceremony at the Waterloo Army Aviation Support Facility. The events are all Friday (Nov. 2nd). Soldiers of Detachment 1, Company A will be honored at a 5 p-m ceremony in the Iowa National Guard Readiness Center in Muscatine. And soldiers from Detachment 1, Headquarters Support Company and Company B will be honored at a 5 p-m ceremony in the Boone High School gym.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area, 10/31/18

Weather

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly cloudy. High near 60. NW winds @ 10-15 mph.

Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 30. Winds light & variable.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High near 60. S @ 10-15.

Friday: Mostly cloudy w/a chance of light rain. High 46.

Saturday: Mo. cldy w/showers possible. High 56.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 61. Our Low was 38 Last year on this date our High was 36 and the Low this morning was 21. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 83 in 1950 & 1953. The Record Low was 11 in 1954.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., 10/31/18

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Vice President Joe Biden has made a campaign stop in Iowa, where he bemoaned the tone of Trump-era politics and gave a preview of how he might take on the Republican president should he seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. In Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Biden said, “It’s our leaders who need to set the tone and dial down the temperature and restore some dignity to our national dialogue.” Biden was on a trip across the Midwest campaigning for Democrats ahead of the midterms.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Republican campaign official is criticizing conservative Rep. Steve King of Iowa for his remarks in support of a European political party founded by former Nazis. House Republican campaign chairman Steve Stivers called King’s comments and social media posts “completely inappropriate.” The Iowa Republican is still favored to win another term from his rural district in next week’s election. But after King’s latest remarks, some campaign donors say they will no longer support him.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal investigators say a broken rail caused the fiery 2017 derailment in northwest Iowa that released 322,000 gallons of ethanol. The National Transportation Safety Board ruled Tuesday that Union Pacific’s maintenance was inadequate before the March 2017 derailment near Graettinger, Iowa, and Federal Railroad Administration inspectors didn’t do enough to identify flaws in the track.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa environmental officials say they’re investigating the spill of about 1,000 gallons of lime slurry into a tributary of a central Iowa creek. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the spill happened over the weekend, when a storage tank overflowed at the Air Gas plant in Ankeny. Officials say a construction company on Monday noticed the discharge of the milky white substance into a tributary of Four Mile Creek.

Regional Volleyball Scores from Tuesday (10/30/18)

Sports

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Class 1A

Region 1: (3-0) Gehlen Catholic 25-25-25, Westwood, Sloan 16-13-20
Region 2: (3-1) East Mills 25-20-25-25, Fremont-Mills 13-25-23-15
Region 3: (3-1) Gladbrook-Reinbeck 25-18-25-25, Ar-We-Va 15-25-19-22
Region 8: (3-0) Holy Trinity Catholic 25-25-25, East Union 10-11-5

Class 2A

Region 3: (3-2) Treynor 25-26-25-21-15, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 23-28-15-25-12
Region 4: (3-0) Tri-Center, Neola 25-25-25, BCLUW, Conrad 22-14-17
Region 5: (3-0) Sidney 25-25-25, Pella Christian 11-6-11

Midwest Sports Headlines: Wed., Oct. 31st 2018

Sports

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

UNDATED (AP) — No. 19 Iowa’s hopes of a run at a playoff spot were dashed last weekend in a late loss at Penn State. The Hawkeyes can still win the Big Ten West if they win out and if Wisconsin loses one more time. The Hawkeyes have a daunting road ahead, starting with Saturday’s visit to Purdue. That is followed by a home game against division-leading Northwestern.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State freshman quarterback Brock Purdy has played so well so quickly that sophomore Zeb Noland has already decided to play elsewhere. A shakeup caused by Purdy’s progression is a good problem for the Cyclones to have. But it’s still a problem. Noland intends to transfer and that leaves Iowa State thin behind Purdy at quarterback. The Cyclones visit Kansas on Saturday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jason Hammel’s $12 million mutual option has been declined by the Kansas City Royals, who will pay the 36-year-old right-hander a $2 million buyout. Hammel set a career high for losses, going 4-14 with a 6.02 ERA in 18 starts and 21 relief appearances. He was dropped from the rotation in early July after losing six straight starts. He agreed to a $16 million, two-year contract before the 2017 season and went 12-27.

Meth in reach of toddler, two arrested in West Union drug raid

News

October 30th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A man and woman are facing child endangerment and drug charges in northeast Iowa’s Fayette County. Twenty-five-year-old Ryan James Smith and 30-year-old Erika Pipkin, both of West Union, were arrested Monday at an apartment where police say they uncovered a drug trafficking operation.

Police say meth was in reach of Pipkin’s two-year-old child. Officials with the Department of Human Services have launched their own investigation and took the child. The Fayette County Sheriff’s office reports more charges could be filed and more arrests are possible.