United Group Insurance

Oregon St. rallies after delay to beat Huskies 14-5 at CWS

Sports

June 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Oregon State kept things loose in the clubhouse during a weather delay that stretched to 4 ½ hours at the College World Series. Reserve outfielder Joe Casey entertained teammates by stuffing 30 pieces of gum into his mouth, a party game known as “Mafia” broke out and the tunes were cranked up.
When it was time to return to the field, the Beavers were all business.

Kyle Nobach hit a three-run homer to put Oregon State in control in the seventh inning, Kevin Abel pitched four strong innings of relief and Oregon State sent Pac-12 rival Washington home from the College World Series with a 14-5 win on Monday night.

“Crazy game. Long day,” Beavers coach Pat Casey said. “I thought our guys came out really prepared after the rain delay. We were kind of scuffling out of the chute. Really appreciate the way they hung with it and got themselves a win.” The Beavers erased early deficits, starting their comeback just before the teams were pulled off the field because of lightning near TD Ameritrade Park.

Oregon State (50-11-1), the No. 3 national seed, was coming off a loss to North Carolina in its CWS opener and still must win three more games to reach the best-of-three finals. Washington (35-26) went two games and out in its first CWS. Oregon State avoided going 0-2 at a CWS for the first time in five appearances since 2005.

Oregon State will play another elimination game Wednesday against the North Carolina-Mississippi State loser. That game was postponed until this (Tuesday) morning because of the long delay in the Beavers’ game and the threat of more rain Monday night.

Western Iowa woman who killed husband granted work release

News

June 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Parole has granted work release to a woman convicted in 2004 of fatally shooting her husband and leaving his body in a bedroom for more than a year. The Des Moines Register reports 50-year-old Dixie Shanahan Duty, of Defiance, was granted work release earlier in June.

Duty acknowledged killing her husband, Scott Shanahan, but said it was in self-defense. She argued her husband had battered and verbally abused her. A jury convicted Duty of second-degree murder, a conviction that carried a sentence of 50 years. Shortly before leaving office Gov. Tom Vilsack commuted her sentence so she only had to serve a minimum of 10 years before being eligible for parole.

When she begins work release, Duty will be able to leave a work release center for a job. Corrections Department spokesman Cord Overton says the center could later recommend that she be paroled. The parole board would make the final decision.

As of Monday, she remained in the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville, east of Des Moines. Prosecutors say Duty used a shotgun to kill her husband while he slept in August 2002. She told people he’d left the community.

Midwest Sports Headlines: 6/19/18

Sports

June 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Left fielder Marcell Ozuna dived for and missed Aaron Altherr’s two-run double with two outs in the 10th inning, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to rally for a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Tommy Pham hit a solo homer in the top of the 10th, one inning after a wild pitch on a strikeout kept the game going. But the Phillies rallied. Altherr won it with a sinking liner that appeared to skip off Ozuna’s glove before bouncing to the wall.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Right-hander Kelvin Herrera has been acquired by the Washington Nationals from the Kansas City Royals for three minor leaguers. The Nationals sent infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, outfielder Blake Perkins and right-hander Yohanse Morel to Kansas City in the deal announced during Washington’s doubleheader against the New York Yankees. Herrera has 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA this season. He’s allowed three earned runs in 25 2/3 innings while striking out 22 batters and walking two.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bartolo Colon earned his 244th win, passing Hall of Famer Juan Marichal for the most by a pitcher born in the Dominican Republic, and the Texas Rangers beat the skidding Kansas City Royals 6-3. Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer for the Rangers, who won their third straight. The 45-year-old Colon allowed three runs in six innings. Only right-hander Dennis Martinez has more victories among pitchers from Latin America. Martinez, a native of Nicaragua, won 245 games.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State coach Steve Prohm has added James Kane to his staff as an assistant.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., June 19th 2018

News

June 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Parole has granted work release to a woman convicted in 2004 of fatally shooting her husband. The Des Moines Register reports 50-year-old Dixie Shanahan Duty, of Defiance, was granted work release earlier in June. Duty acknowledged killing her husband, Scott Shanahan, but said it was in self-defense. A jury convicted Duty of second-degree murder, but shortly before leaving office Gov. Tom Vilsack commuted her sentence, making her eligible for parole after 10 years.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A city in southeastern Iowa has agreed to pay $2 million to the family of a woman who was mistakenly killed by a police officer. The settlement between the estate of Autumn Steele and the city of Burlington was reached earlier this month. An attorney for the estate announced the dollar amount on Monday. The disclosure of police video of the incident wasn’t part of the settlement. The estate’s attorney, Dave O’Brien, says the family wants the video released but the city is refusing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a 36-year-old Des Moines man was killed in a weekend motorcycle crash in nearby Pleasant Hill. The Des Moines Register reports that Timothy Cooper was riding in Pleasant Hill around 7 a.m. Sunday when he lost control and was thrown from his motorcycle. Pleasant Hill police say speed was a factor in the crash. Cooper was launched over a fence and found more than 500 feet from his motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Officials have recovered the body of a fisherman who went missing in southeast Iowa. KTVO reports that a local boater found the body of 79-year-old Richard Lewis Mart in the Des Moines River around 8:30 a.m. Monday. His body was found just north of the Blackhawk Road Access, northwest of Omaha.

Special Weather Statement: Audubon-Sac-Carroll Counties

Weather

June 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
132 AM CDT TUE JUN 19 2018
Audubon IA-Calhoun IA-Sac IA-Webster IA-Greene IA-Carroll IA-
Crawford IA-
...Strong Winds and Heavy Rain in Western Iowa...

At 131 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles north of Glidden to 6 miles south of
Carroll to Irwin. Movement was east at 15 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Rainfall amounts up to two inches will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Carroll, Jefferson, Audubon, Lake City, Manning, Coon Rapids,
Glidden, Lake View, Gowrie, Black Hawk Lake, Manilla, Scranton,
Arcadia, Breda, Vail, Churdan, Farnhamville, Lohrville, Templeton and
Auburn.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

Woman allegedly robbed outside C. Bluffs apartment complex

News

June 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs, Monday night, were sent to the Cottonwood Apartment Complex at 802 N. 34th Street, for a report of a robbery. The dispatch went out at around 8:52-p.m. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the 30-year old female victim from Omaha, who stated she was robbed at gunpoint by two black males in the parking lot. The suspects left the area on foot and officers were unable to locate them.

The victim suffered minor injuries. One suspect was said to be about 5’6” tall with short afro hair, and was wearing a red shirt and jeans; the second suspect was about 6’0” tall, thinner build, and also wore a red shirt.

If anyone has any information that would be helpful in this case, please contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (712)328-4765 or, to remain anonymous, (712)328-STOP.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Fremont/Montgomery/Mills/Page Counties

Weather

June 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Fremont IA-Montgomery IA-Mills IA-Page IA-
135 AM CDT TUE JUN 19 2018

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN FREMONT...MONTGOMERY...SOUTHEASTERN MILLS AND
NORTHERN PAGE COUNTIES...

At 135 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 5 miles east of Carson to 4 miles southeast of Emerson
to near Sidney, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Red Oak, Clarinda, Shenandoah, Villisca, Essex, Stanton, Elliott,
Grant, Yorktown, Imogene, Coburg, Hepburn, Pierce Recreation Area and
Viking Lake State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Board – meeting summary (6/18/18)

News

June 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board met Monday evening during a regular session, with Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm updating the members on various ongoing projects and Summer programs. Stasshelm said a search for someone to fill the part-time position of Park Foreman has ended, and the quality of the responses was less than he expected.

He said he had “Some poor applications. People weren’t following instructions,” especially with regard to providing a resume’ and cover letter. “Some didn’t have a cover letter. Some had a cover letter addressed to a different employer. Moms applying for their kids.” He said fortunately, long-time City employee, Ron Flory, who has worked as an operator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for over 35-years, expressed interest in the position.

Stasshelm said with the poor quality of resumes for the position and with Flory willing to step away from his wastewater treatment plant duties, he closed the position to any further applicants and talked with the City Attorney Mark Bosworth, City Administrator John Lund and City Clerk Barb Barrick, all of whom agreed he would be a perfect fit for the job. He said Flory would be taking a big cut in pay to $15 an hour part-time, but he’s okay with that. He said also, that while Flory is “Overqualified” for the position, he’s going to be a fantastic addition to the Department. Staashelm said Flory is highly organized and safety conscious. He’ll start on July 1st and average out to 1500 hours per year.

In other business, Staashelm said work continues on the Schildberg Recreation Area Shelters. One is up, but does not have a roof yet, thanks to the stifling heat and humidity. They hope to install that soon. The other (west) shelter is being constructed, with the concrete pads having been poured, including an ADA accessible pathway. The columns are in-place and within a couple of weeks the roof will be installed and electrical hook-ups ready by no later than July 13th, weather permitting.

Also, work on the east side playground will continue, as weather allows. And, there’s been more participation in Summer children’s programs this year, including tennis and the swim team. There are six softball teams, and the pickle-ball courts at Sunnyside are very active on the weekends, according to Staashelm.

He said also, attendance is up at the Sunnyside Pool, the number of passes sold are up (measured in family and single units), and concessions are up. Revenue since the pool opened are at $15,000, which is remarkable, according to Staashelm, considering the short amount of time it’s been available for use since the season opened a few short weeks ago.

Flood Advisory: Harrison County until 9:30-p.m.

Weather

June 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Flood Advisory
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
634 PM CDT MON JUN 18 2018

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a

* Flood Advisory for...
  Harrison County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 930 PM CDT.

* At 633 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to
  thunderstorms and some minor flooding was reported around Missouri
  Valley. Radar estimates 2 to 3 inches of rain fell in the advisory
  area as of about 630 pm and around another inch of rain is
  possible yet this evening.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Missouri Valley, Logan, Mondamin, Modale, Woodbine, Magnolia,
  Schaben Park, Willow Lake Recreation Area and Historical Village
  Welcome Center.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flood Advisory means river or stream flows are elevated, or ponding
of water in urban or other areas is occurring or is imminent.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 7:30-pm: NE Pott.,Eastern Harrison, & Shelby Counties

Weather

June 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
647 PM CDT MON JUN 18 2018

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northeastern Pottawattamie County in southwestern Iowa...
  Eastern Harrison County in southwestern Iowa...
  Shelby County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 730 PM CDT.

* At 647 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from 6 miles northeast of Logan to Minden, moving
  northeast at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Harlan, Avoca, Walnut, Shelby, Minden, Earling, Irwin, Persia,
  Defiance, Woodbine, Dunlap, Neola, Panama, Hancock, Portsmouth,
  Westphalia, Tennant, Kirkman, Prairie Rose State Park and Botna
  Bend Park.

This includes Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 23 and 48.