United Group Insurance

Legislators consider banning bets on Iowa college games as part of bill legalizing sports betting in Iowa

News, Sports

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — It appears a bill that would legalize and tax sports betting in Iowa may ban bets on games involving college and university teams FROM IOWA. Representative Vicki Lensing of Iowa City says there were concerns some athletes might be pressured to miss a free throw or drop a pass in order to secure certain outcome. “I’m not assuming that young athletes would be swayed, but we want to take away that temptation,” Lensing says.

A House committee endorsed the proposal to ban bets on the performance of athletes in games or matches involving Iowa college teams today (Wednesday). Another panel in the House also has voted to tack the concept onto the sports betting bill. Lensing says she’d prefer to ban bets on ANY college sport, but she’s pleased there’s momentum for at least banning bets on Iowa college and university teams.

“They are playing for the sport of the game and not to be influenced by money or anything else that might change how they play the game,” Lensing says. Members of the House and Senate are considering a plan that would let the state-licensed casinos offer an “app” for placing bets on professional and college sports. Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton is the House Republican who’s been assigned the task of rounding up “yes” votes for legalized sports betting.

“Historically, gambling bills are not partisan,” Kaufmann said during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting today. “This isn’t going to pass without bipartisan votes and so I commit today to work with all of you to ensure that we have the conversation that can make this palatable for everyone.”

The proposal calls for imposing a state tax on the bets placed on sporting events. Bill backers warn it won’t yield millions in extra revenue for the state, but will police, regulate and tax a currently illegal activity.

KEVIN E. SPRAGUE, 53, of Casper, WY (Svcs. 03/30/2019)

Obituaries

March 20th, 2019 by Jim Field

KEVIN E. SPRAGUE, 53, of Casper, WY died Tuesday, March 12th in Casper, WY. Celebration of Life Services for KEVIN E. SPRAGUE will be held on Saturday, March 30th at 11:00am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Family will greet friends on Saturday, March 30th from 9:30am-11:00am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan.

Burial of cremains will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com

KEVIN E. SPRAGUE is survived by:

Parents: Ken and Elaine Sprague of Harlan.

Son: Alexander Sprague of Casper, WY.

Brothers: Shawn (Shelli) Sprague of Des Moines. Brad Sprague of Council Bluffs. Corey (Andrea) Sprague of Muscatine.

Other Relatives and Friends.

2 arrested on warrants in Page County

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on separate Page County Probation Violation warrants, Tuesday. 22-year old Jared Douglas Comstock, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Comstock was being held in the Page County Jail on a $5,000 cash only bond. pending future court proceedings.  And, 52-year old Ronald Leslie Burden, JR., of Hopkins, MO., was transported to the Page County Jail where he was also being held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. Burden was arrested at the Andrew County Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

Union Pacific, BNSF working to restore rail traffic

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific says its crews are working around the clock so rail traffic can return to normal in Nebraska and adjacent states hard hit by floodwaters from a late-winter storm and snowmelt. Spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza said Wednesday that workers are clearing trees and other debris off the Omaha-based railroad’s tracks and have begun repairing them and bridges. Some of the lines run between Nebraska and Iowa or merely within Nebraska.

She says water remains over portions of the tracks between Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Kansas City, Kansas. The company is unsure when that line can be reopened. Levees have been breached or overtopped in southwest Iowa. Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF Railway says it also is confronting flood-related washouts in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Semi strikes stop sign south of Shenandoah and becomes disabled

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a singe-vehicle accident occurred about one-half mile south of Shenandoah just before 10-p.m. Tuesday. The incident resulted in about $1,500 damage altogether, but no one was injured. Authorities say a 2017 Freightliner semi driven by 50-year old Kenneth William Perrigan, of Piney Flats, TN, was stopped at the intersection of Highways 59 and 2, facing west. Perrigan decided to turn north onto Highway 59, but then didn’t allow for space for the sharp turn, as he had not gone into the right turning lane of the intersection.

The semi drove over the stop sign causing an estimated $500 damage to the sign. The vehicle then attempted to continue north, however the stop sign damaged the air lines to the brakes, disabling them. The result was about $1,000 damage to the semi, owned by PRD Trucking INC of Newland, NC. No citations were issued. The Shenandoah Police Department assisted at the scene by providing traffic control.

Integrated Crop Management News

Ag/Outdoor

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Officials with ISU Extension and Outreach acknowledge this past winter and early spring have been challenging to crop producers and those in the Ag Industry. The Extension has, therefore, published several crop news articles that are timely to producers. The latest articles include: Equipment Considerations for Anhydrous Ammonia Application; Effects of Unharvested, Shattered, or Hailed-out Soybean Fields on Nutrient Supply for Corn; and, Spring Burndown Treatments for Winter Annual Weeds.

Click on this link to read those articles and more, as you prepare for the planting season: https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews

Officers hailed for catching kids dropped by mom from window

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four Des Moines police officers are being hailed for catching children dropped by their mother from a third-story window during an apartment fire. The officers had been dispatched around 3:15 a.m. Tuesday to help firefighters at the complex in northern Des Moines. Officials say the officers arrived before firefighters and quickly arrayed themselves on the ground to help the mother save the three young children.

Top L, SPO Cole Johnson; Top R SPO Craig Vasquez; Bottom L SPO Casey Sanders, Bottom R SPO Tyler Kelley. (Photo from Dsm PD Facebook page)

On a video released by Des Moines police, one officer can be heard yelling over the sound of sirens, “I got ’em, yup. Drop ’em!” Fire Lt. Rick Thomas says none of the children, firefighters or officers was injured. The fire cause is being investigated. The Police Department posted on its Facebook page praise for officers Cole Johnson, Tyler Kelley, Casey Sanders and Craig Vasquez.

Glenwood woman arrested on assault, theft & burglary charges

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Police in Glenwood report a woman was arrested on a trio of charges this (Wednesday) morning. 34-year old Elizabeth Horn, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, Theft and Burglary. Horn was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a magistrate judge.

Griswold School Board to list Elliott Bldg w/a Realtor

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Members of the Griswold School Board met earlier this week. Superintendent Dave Henrichs says the Board decided to list the Elliott Building with a Realtor to try and sell the property. Henrichs says they’re also planning on holding a surplus auction on June 8th, for materials or equipment that’s no longer needed. Much of those items will come from the Elementary Building, but some are from the High School, as well. He says to be on the lookout for Sale Bill postings as we get closer to June.

The Board also approved the 2019-2020 Budget, which calls for a levy of $14.01/$1,000 assessed valuation. That’s just under what they promised the public it would be [$14.02]. He said they held a public hearing prior to acting on the budget. There were no comments or objections. The levy rate breaks down to: $10.68 for the General Fund; 73-cents for the Management Fund (which pays for property insurance, unemployment insurance, workman’s comp); PPEL (Physical Plant & Equipment Levy, 33-cents; and Debt Service (to make a payment on the Elementary Building, $2,28).

The Griswold School Board also raised the Driver’s Education fees for this coming summer. He said the student fee went from $300 to $325. The out-of-district student fee was set at $425, as long as there is room for those students. The instructor’s pay was increased as well. A straight fee is paid for classroom time, regardless of how many students there. The fee went from $1,300 to $1,400, and the driving instructor’s paid an hourly wage for drive time, went from $25 to $30.

The Board decided also, to purchase a used vehicle for Driver’s Ed. They vehicle they’ll be looking for will cost between $10,000 and $15,000. The old Driver’s Ed car will be sold at the surplus auction. Henrichs said also, they have missed 75 Instructional Hours of the required 1,080 days, but they’ll make those up. The dates have not yet been finalized. In other business, the Board evaluated Board Secretary Nancy Taylor in a closed session. Henrichs said that went very well. Another closed session was held for the purpose of Collective Bargaining Strategy. The Griswold School Board also agreed to continue a mowing contract with Bob’s Mowing, since there were no other bids, and he’s done the work for several years. The price was nearly identical to last year.

Northwest Missouri State earns trip to Elite Eight

Sports

March 20th, 2019 by admin

The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team is on to the Elite Eight after winning the NCAA Division II Central Region Final on Tuesday over Missouri Southern State 82-70.

The Bearcats struggled a bit early but Atlantic alum Ryan Hawkins helped Northwest keep pace by scoring the team’s first 13 points of the game. The Bear cats came alive when Joey Witthus hit a three with more than 11 minutes gone in the game to give the Bearcats the lead. Ryan Welty hit three straight long balls to spark a 17-4 run that put the Bearcats up by 9 at half.

Northwest was strong from the foul line in the second half to secure the win. Ryan Hawkins led all-scorers with 28 points. Freshman Trevor Hudgins finished with 22 and was 12-12 from the free throw line.

Kinzer Lambert had 27 points and 11 rebounds for Missouri Southern State as they finished the season 25-8.

Northwest improved to 35-0 on the season and will now head to Evansville, Indiana for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight March 27-30. The Bearcats will be the top seed in the Elite Eight and will face Mercyhurst in the Quarterfinal round at 2:30pm on Wednesday the 27th.

Ryan Hawkins and Joey Witthus were both named to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team.