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Iowa farmer sentenced to prison for bank, bankruptcy fraud

News

February 10th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Lake City farmer has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for committing fraud to get bank loans, crop insurance proceeds and ease a bankruptcy burden. Federal prosecutors say 36-year-old Clint Devries was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty in September to two counts of making false statements and one count of bankruptcy fraud.

Prosecutors say he lied from 2013 through 2015 to a bank about the amount of crops he had in storage and other things to obtain farm operating loans. He later defaulted on more than $400,000 in loans from the bank. Officials say he also lied to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to fraudulently obtain crop insurance proceeds, and that in 2015, he lied to a bankruptcy trustee about sales of his crops.

Posted in News |

Race for Supervisor’s seats in Cass County w/another candidate

News

February 10th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Another candidate has announced his intentions to file papers on March 5th, to run for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 2. Mark O’Brien announced Saturday he intends to run for the seat being vacated at the end of the year by current District 2 Supervisor Gaylord Schelling, who has decided not to run for re-election. O’Brien joins Pat McCurdy in his bid to claim the seat in the June Primary. There is also a two-man race for the District 3 Supervisor’s seat held by Mark Wedemeyer, who is not running for re-election. The candidates include Dana Halder and John P. Hartkopf.

In a press release, O’Brien said “As a lifelong resident of Cass County, I feel I would be a respected voice for my fellow constituents due to the years of knowledge and experience I have attained on both a professional and personal level.” His experiences include: Owning and operating Iron Specialties, Inc., specializing in metal building construction along with general contracting of commercial and agricultural projects for over 30 years; He’s a residential and commercial property owner; farm and land owner; He serves on various local boards and committees; and is involved with coaching and coordinating various youth activities, as well as volunteer work around the community.

Mark O’Brien says his key objectives as a potential member of the Cass County Board of Supervisors “Will be to focus on keeping spending in-check, creating smart budgeting for continued county growth, improvement and progress, and having an open-door policy to the voters who elect [him], so their voices can be heard.” He says also, he believes his “Diverse knowledge of the construction industry would be an asset to the Board in the capacities of both planning and budgeting.

O’Brien’s family includes his wife Trish, and their sons Chris, Jason and Kolby, along with their families. He said he has recently begun the process to retire, and passing his business on to his sons. He says “As my duties at the office come to an end, I am eager to put my time to use serving the county.” Anyone with questions may contact him at 712-249-4881, or by e-mail (marktobrien@msn.com). A reminder to person interest in running for office in Cass County, the first day for Democratic and Republican candidates for county offices to file nomination papers in the office of the county auditor is Monday, March 5, 2018.  The last day to file is Wednesday, March 28, 2018. Nomination papers may be circulated prior to first date for filing as well as during the filing period.  Nomination papers are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state ( www.sos.iowa.gov )

Posted in News |

4 injured in Red Oak collision Saturday morning

News

February 10th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police say four people were injured during a collision Saturday morning on Summit Street. Authorities say the driver of a 1993 Ford Explorer, 20-year old Benjamin Lee Thiel, of Red Oak, suffered possible broken ribs from impact to the steering wheel. The injury occurred after an apparent seat belt failure. Thiel was transported by Red Oak Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.

Three male children passengers in a 2007 Kia Sedona van, driven by 29-year old Nicole Ann Smith, of Red Oak, were also injured. They include a 7-year old, 3-year old and a 1-year old. The children suffered suspected minor, non-incapacitating injuries and were transported by EMS ground to MCMH. Two of the children were then flown to Omaha for further evaluation.

Nicole Smith was not injured in the collision that happened at around 11:30-a.m., Saturday. Smith and the children were properly secured in the vehicle.

Officials say Smith’s Kia was westbound going down Summit Street, while the Explorer was eastbound going up Summit. The SUV lost traction due to the road conditions and crossed the center line, into the path of the KIA. The Explorer hit the van on the front driver’s side. After the impact, the KIA swerved to the right and across Park Driveway before coming to rest in the southwest corner of the parking lot. The SUV came to rest on the road. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash.

The accident remains under investigation, with no citations issued prior to the outcome of the investigation.

Posted in News |

ROSEZETTA “JUDY” MYERS, 89, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 2/13/18)

Obituaries

February 10th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

ROSEZETTA “JUDY” MYERS, 89, of Guthrie Center, died Thursday, Feb. 8th, in Guthrie Center. Funeral services for ROSEZETTA “JUDY” MYERS will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Feb. 13th, at the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, Feb. 12th, from 5-until 7-p.m.; Online condolences may be left at www.twiggfuneralhome.com.

Burial will be in the Union Cemetery in Guthrie Center.

ROSEZETTA “JUDY” MYERS is survived by:

Douglas and Diane Myers, Arnie and Peg Myers, and Diane and Dick Bascom.

Posted in Obituaries |

Atlantic swimmer Landhuis 20th at State

Sports

February 10th, 2018 by admin

Atlantic boys swimmer Nick Landhuis competed at the State Swim meet at the University of Iowa Aquatics Center on Saturday.  Landhuis finished 20th overall in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 55.32.

The Team Title race was an exciting one as it came down to the last race for Ames and WDM Valley. Valley took the win in the 400 free relay but Ames came in second to hang on for the Team Title 221 to 220.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa State upsets No. 17 Oklahoma 88-80

Sports

February 10th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State freshman Lindell Wigginton upstaged Trae Young by scoring 26 points and the Cyclones upset No. 17 Oklahoma 88-80 on Saturday, handing the Sooners their sixth consecutive road loss. Fellow rookie Cam Lard had 19 points with 17 rebounds for the Cyclones (13-11, 4-8 Big 12), who beat a ranked team at home for the third time in a span of three weeks.

Iowa State built and then blew a 17-point lead, but Donovan Jackson’s 3 with 1:55 left put it ahead 80-77. Wigginton then beat the shot clock with a long 3, and Jackson hit a pair of free throws to clinch the win.

The Cyclones ran the Sooners (16-8, 6-6) out of the building in the first half, holding Young to just one 3 in the opening 19 minutes while building a lead that stretched to 40-23. Young finished with 22 points and 11 assists, but he was just 1 of 8 on 3s with six turnovers.

The Sooners fought back behind their defense. They held Iowa State without a field goal for eight minutes and eventually tied the game at 71-all on Young’s layup with 4:55 left. Christian James also had 22 points for Oklahoma.

After losing to West Virginia at home and to the Cyclones on the road, Oklahoma might find itself out of Monday’s poll.

Posted in Sports |

Class 2-A District Wrestling @ Harlan

Sports

February 10th, 2018 by Jim Field

106
1st Place – Benjamin Schmitz of Kuemper Catholic
2nd Place – Johnathon Erp of Red Oak
3rd Place – Trey Allen of Winterset
4th Place – Hunter Pierce of Woodward-Granger
1st Place Match
Benjamin Schmitz (Kuemper Catholic) 43-4, So. over Johnathon Erp (Red Oak) 40-12, So. (Dec 7-4)
2nd Place Match
Johnathon Erp (Red Oak) 40-12, So. over Trey Allen (Winterset) 29-8, Jr. (Fall 1:06)
3rd Place Match
Trey Allen (Winterset) 29-8, Jr. over Hunter Pierce (Woodward-Granger) 38-17, Sr. (Dec 6-2)

113
1st Place – Andrew Flora of ADM
2nd Place – Kaden Bolton of Creston/O-M
3rd Place – Aybren Moore of Atlantic-Cam
1st Place Match
Andrew Flora (ADM) 42-1, Jr. over Kaden Bolton (Creston/O-M) 33-14, Fr. (Fall 1:55)
2nd Place Match
Kaden Bolton (Creston/O-M) 33-14, Fr. over Aybren Moore (Atlantic-Cam) 37-18, So. (RULE)
3rd Place Match
Aybren Moore (Atlantic-Cam) 37-18, So. over () , . (Bye)

120
1st Place – Bryce Hatten of Winterset
2nd Place – Ryan Munoz of Woodward-Granger
3rd Place – Steele McLaren of Atlantic-Cam
4th Place – ETHAN LEMON of Harlan
1st Place Match
Bryce Hatten (Winterset) 37-10, So. over Ryan Munoz (Woodward-Granger) 36-20, Sr. (Fall 1:55)
2nd Place Match
Ryan Munoz (Woodward-Granger) 36-20, Sr. over Steele McLaren (Atlantic-Cam) 38-20, Fr. (Fall 1:56)
3rd Place Match
Steele McLaren (Atlantic-Cam) 38-20, Fr. over ETHAN LEMON (Harlan) 35-13, So. (Dec 7-5)

126
1st Place – Kole Hansen of Atlantic-Cam
2nd Place – Kolby Hulett of Creston/O-M
3rd Place – Colton Hauschild of Southwest Iowa
4th Place – Trenton Cook of Winterset
1st Place Match
Kole Hansen (Atlantic-Cam) 42-8, Sr. over Kolby Hulett (Creston/O-M) 34-12, Fr. (Inj. 0:01)
2nd Place Match
Kolby Hulett (Creston/O-M) 34-12, Fr. over Colton Hauschild (Southwest Iowa) 25-15, So. (RULE)
3rd Place Match
Colton Hauschild (Southwest Iowa) 25-15, So. over Trenton Cook (Winterset) 27-20, Sr. (Fall 1:55)

132
1st Place – Chase McLaren of Atlantic-Cam
2nd Place – Jack West of Winterset
3rd Place – Kelby Luther of Creston/O-M
4th Place – Cam Vanderhoof of Red Oak
1st Place Match
Chase McLaren (Atlantic-Cam) 54-4, Jr. over Jack West (Winterset) 39-3, So. (Dec 6-1)
2nd Place Match
Jack West (Winterset) 39-3, So. over Kelby Luther (Creston/O-M) 26-20, Sr. (Dec 5-1)
3rd Place Match
Kelby Luther (Creston/O-M) 26-20, Sr. over Cam Vanderhoof (Red Oak) 39-17, Jr. (Dec 6-4)

138
1st Place – Kruise Kiburz of Winterset
2nd Place – Cade Vicker of Creston/O-M
3rd Place – Collin Wiederin of Kuemper Catholic
4th Place – WYATT OBRECHT of Harlan
1st Place Match
Kruise Kiburz (Winterset) 42-13, So. over Cade Vicker (Creston/O-M) 26-19, Sr. (Dec 5-0)
2nd Place Match
Cade Vicker (Creston/O-M) 26-19, Sr. over Collin Wiederin (Kuemper Catholic) 27-22, So. (TF-1.5 5:45 (18-3))
3rd Place Match
Collin Wiederin (Kuemper Catholic) 27-22, So. over WYATT OBRECHT (Harlan) 10-11, So. (Fall 2:37)

145
1st Place – Mitchel Swank of Creston/O-M
2nd Place – OSCAR OLMOS of Harlan
3rd Place – Blake Ryerson of Winterset
4th Place – Colton Mudd of Atlantic-Cam
1st Place Match
Mitchel Swank (Creston/O-M) 40-7, Sr. over OSCAR OLMOS (Harlan) 38-12, Jr. (Fall 4:52)
2nd Place Match
OSCAR OLMOS (Harlan) 38-12, Jr. over Blake Ryerson (Winterset) 28-14, Sr. (RULE)
3rd Place Match
Blake Ryerson (Winterset) 28-14, Sr. over Colton Mudd (Atlantic-Cam) 20-37, Sr. (Fall 5:07)

152
1st Place – Nolan Harsh of ADM
2nd Place – Justin McCunn of Red Oak
3rd Place – Austin Scharlau of Woodward-Granger
4th Place – Payton Fewson of Atlantic-Cam
1st Place Match
Nolan Harsh (ADM) 23-3, Jr. over Justin McCunn (Red Oak) 45-8, So. (Dec 4-0)
2nd Place Match
Justin McCunn (Red Oak) 45-8, So. over Austin Scharlau (Woodward-Granger) 39-17, Sr. (RULE)
3rd Place Match
Austin Scharlau (Woodward-Granger) 39-17, Sr. over Payton Fewson (Atlantic-Cam) 4-19, Fr. (Fall 1:46)

160
1st Place – Connor Pellett of Atlantic-Cam
2nd Place – Zak Hulsing of Kuemper Catholic
3rd Place – Gabe Yingst of Woodward-Granger
4th Place – Kolby Tomas of Creston/O-M
1st Place Match
Connor Pellett (Atlantic-Cam) 42-17, Jr. over Zak Hulsing (Kuemper Catholic) 46-8, Sr. (Dec 6-4)
2nd Place Match
Zak Hulsing (Kuemper Catholic) 46-8, Sr. over Gabe Yingst (Woodward-Granger) 44-10, Jr. (RULE)
3rd Place Match
Gabe Yingst (Woodward-Granger) 44-10, Jr. over Kolby Tomas (Creston/O-M) 26-24, Sr. (Dec 11-5)

170
1st Place – Kyle Owens of Shenandoah
2nd Place – Carter Maynes of Red Oak
3rd Place – Brock Wuebker of Greene County
4th Place – Beau Barncastle of Creston/O-M
1st Place Match
Kyle Owens (Shenandoah) 50-7, Sr. over Carter Maynes (Red Oak) 27-9, So. (Fall 3:01)
2nd Place Match
Carter Maynes (Red Oak) 27-9, So. over Brock Wuebker (Greene County) 21-9, Jr. (RULE)
3rd Place Match
Brock Wuebker (Greene County) 21-9, Jr. over Beau Barncastle (Creston/O-M) 26-20, Jr. (Dec 8-4)

182
1st Place – Nick Dickerson of Shenandoah
2nd Place – Thomas Bentley of Red Oak
3rd Place – Charles Craigmile of ADM
4th Place – Sam Chapman of Creston/O-M
1st Place Match
Nick Dickerson (Shenandoah) 50-6, Sr. over Thomas Bentley (Red Oak) 39-8, Jr. (Fall 1:33)
2nd Place Match
Thomas Bentley (Red Oak) 39-8, Jr. over Charles Craigmile (ADM) 26-23, Jr. (Fall 2:37)
3rd Place Match
Charles Craigmile (ADM) 26-23, Jr. over Sam Chapman (Creston/O-M) 27-20, So. (Dec 7-4)

195
1st Place – NICK FOSS of Harlan
2nd Place – Cody Fisher of Woodward-Granger
3rd Place – Cole Nebel of Shenandoah
4th Place – Leo Tauke of ADM
1st Place Match
NICK FOSS (Harlan) 37-1, Sr. over Cody Fisher (Woodward-Granger) 51-2, So. (Inj. 0:09)
2nd Place Match
Cody Fisher (Woodward-Granger) 51-2, So. over Cole Nebel (Shenandoah) 46-12, Sr. (RULE)
3rd Place Match
Cole Nebel (Shenandoah) 46-12, Sr. over Leo Tauke (ADM) 9-7, Sr. (Fall 0:58)

220
1st Place – Kaden Sutton of ADM
2nd Place – Colton Kinnison of Red Oak
3rd Place – Tyler Courtier of Shenandoah
4th Place – Dillon Fogarty of Woodward-Granger
1st Place Match
Kaden Sutton (ADM) 30-8, So. over Tyler Courtier (Shenandoah) 41-5, Jr. (Dec 5-0)
2nd Place Match
Colton Kinnison (Red Oak) 37-20, Jr. over Tyler Courtier (Shenandoah) 41-5, Jr. (Fall 3:10)
3rd Place Match
Colton Kinnison (Red Oak) 37-20, Jr. over Dillon Fogarty (Woodward-Granger) 35-20, Sr. (Dec 13-6)

285
1st Place – John McConkey of Atlantic-Cam
2nd Place – Blake Sevier of Creston/O-M
3rd Place – Thomas Wilson of Southwest Iowa
4th Place – Bradley Tolley of Winterset
1st Place Match
John McConkey (Atlantic-Cam) 53-1, Sr. over Blake Sevier (Creston/O-M) 36-13, Sr. (Fall 1:52)
2nd Place Match
Blake Sevier (Creston/O-M) 36-13, Sr. over Thomas Wilson (Southwest Iowa) 26-5, So. (RULE)
3rd Place Match
Thomas Wilson (Southwest Iowa) 26-5, So. over Bradley Tolley (Winterset) 37-14, So. (Fall 1:03)

TEAM SCORES

  1. Atlantic/CAM  90
  2. Creston/O-M  82.5
  3. Red Oak  71
  4. Winterset  67
  5. Shenandoah  61
  6. ADM  60
  7. Woodward-Granger  44
  8. Kuemper Catholic  40
  9. Harlan  32
  10. Southwest Iowa  20

Posted in Sports |

Mom who left kids alone to visit Germany offered plea deal

News

February 10th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa mother accused of leaving her four children home alone to travel to Europe could avoid a prison sentence. The Des Moines Register reports that prosecutors have offered to drop a gun charge against 31-year-old Erin Macke and give her a deferred judgment if she pleads guilty to four counts of child endangerment.

Macke is currently charged with the four counts plus one count of making a firearm available to a person under 21. Police were called to her home in September by the children’s father, who said the kids — two age 12, one 7, one 6 — had been left alone. Police say Macke tried but failed to make child care arrangements before leaving Sept. 20 for a 10-day vacation in Germany.

A plea hearing is scheduled for Feb. 23.

Posted in News |

Atlantic-CAM District wrestling on KJAN today

Sports

February 10th, 2018 by admin

The Atlantic-CAM wrestling team has 8 wrestlers competing in District 4 at Harlan today. They’ll be trying to earn their way to the State Tournament next week at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Jim Field and Justin Williams will have full coverage of the action today on KJAN. Wrestling begins at noon and our coverage will start then and continue through the finals.

Posted in Sports |

Omaha zoo puts red panda on display ahead of schedule

News

February 10th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium in Omaha has a panda on display — but not the black-and-white animal from China. The Omaha World-Herald reports the zoo has a red panda on display ahead of completion of the zoo’s new home for the animals — set to open in the spring — in it Asian Highlands exhibit. Zoo officials say the 2-year-old red panda named Tofu arrived from the Detroit Zoo in January. Tofu will eventually be joined by another female and a breeding male.

The Omaha zoo first acquired red pandas in 1987, then phased out the species in 1997. Despite the name, red pandas aren’t related to giant pandas. Red pandas are close relatives to raccoons, skunks and weasels and are the size of a small raccoon.

Posted in News |