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NWS forecast for Cass & surrounding counties, 3/22/16

Weather

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Early this morning: Partly cloudy. Not as cool. Low in the lower 40s. South wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.
Today: Partly sunny. High around 70. South wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy before midnight then becoming mostly cloudy. Low in the upper 40s. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. A chance of light showers in the morning…then light showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Breezy…cooler. High in the mid 50s. East wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph shifting to the northeast 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
Wednesday Night: Rain likely with possible thunderstorms and snow through midnight…then a chance of light snow after midnight. Windy…colder. Light snow accumulations possible. Low in the upper 20s. North wind 20 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Breezy…colder. High in the upper 30s.
Friday: Partly sunny. Warmer. High in the mid 50s.

Villisca enters the dark side when street lights are shot out

News

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Some streets in Villisca were dark over the weekend, but not because of a power outage. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said personnel with the Villisca Municipal Power Plant reported that, sometime over the weekend, someone had shot out 17 different street lights, with the repair cost estimated at $3,400. The damage occurred sometime between Friday and Sunday in an area primarily on the south and southeast sides of Villisca.

Anyone with information about the crime was asked to call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-888-434-2712.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 22nd, 2016

News

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NEOLA, Iowa – One male teenager died, three others were injured when a pickup rolled over Monday evening, near the Tri-Center High School, in Neola. The crash happened at around 5:40-p.m. The names of the victims have not been released. Grief counselors will be on hand at the school today to assist students and staff.

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) — A Dayton man has been charged in connection with a car crash that killed two people. Twenty-year-old Colten Bills faces two counts of vehicular homicide in the May 2015 deaths of 85-year-old Velma Castenson and her son, 56-year-old David Castenson. The crash occurred on Iowa Highway 175 in Dayton. A criminal complaint says Bills, who was driving a pickup truck, failed to stop at an intersection and struck a car carrying Velma and David Castenson. Both vehicles ended up in a ditch and the Castensons died as a result of their injuries. The complaint alleges Bills was texting before the crash.

FROSTBURG, Md. (AP) — Maryland State Police say an Iowa woman was driving drunk when she crashed into a state police cruiser parked on the shoulder of a highway with its emergency lights flashing. Thirty-five-year-old Karen Keister of Des Moines, Iowa, was charged Saturday night after the collision on U.S. 40 near state Route 36 in Frostburg.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he won’t question Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley’s decision to not hold nomination hearings for the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy. Branstad says he supports Grassley and won’t “second guess or criticize” the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee holds confirmation hearings and votes on federal court appointments.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An off-duty Iowa State Patrol trooper tried to get out of a drunken-driving arrest by repeatedly refusing to cooperate and then berating the arresting officer. Audio and video from the arresting officer’s body camera and car show Patrick Steinbach acting belligerently during the Dec. 20 arrest, which prompted his resignation from the patrol and the removal of a booking officer who gave him special treatment at the Iowa County jail.

TUESDAY, MARCH 22nd

Trading Post

March 22nd, 2016 by Jim Field

FOR SALE: Around 50 small square bales of oat hay @ $3.  Call 641-740-1058.

FOR SALE:  1977 Ford cab over grain truck. Can haul 550 + bushel. $6500.  Call 641-740-1058.

!cid_ii_1539a823a1fbc573

FOR SALE:  I have an apartment size portable small washer that you can hook up to your sink.  Haier brand. Asking 100.00 for it. (FIRM) You can have it solid on its legs or use the rollers to roll it around. Contact # is 712-249-2603 and ask for Dana.   SOLD!!

FOR SALE:  Haier air conditioner, 10,000 BTU, remote on/off/temp setting.  Like new, in excellent condition.  Used very little.  Approximately 4 years old.  Asking $100.  Call Don at 712-249-0135.

FREE: We have a large tractor tire to give away. It was used for a sandbox, now the kids have outgrown it. 249-3863.

Tri-Center School District mourns the loss of student killed in a Monday evening crash

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A little more than six-years after a crash claimed the life of a female Tri-Center teenager and injured three others, tragedy has once again struck the school district. Crisis response and grief counselors will be available for students of the Tri-Center School District, Tuesday, as they process the death of a classmate and the injury of three others in a crash that happened Monday evening. According to KETV in Omaha, a pickup truck carrying four male high school students crashed and rolled over at around 5:45-p.m. near Neola.

Two of the teens suffered serious injuries in the crash when the truck rolled off the highway northeast of Neola, on Railroad Highway. All four were taken to hospitals in Council Bluffs, where one of the teens died from his injuries. No names have been released.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said the teens had just left track practice at Tri-Center High School when the single-vehicle crash happened. Additional details were not available as of 10:45-p.m. (Check back later for updates)

A message posted on the Tri-Center Trojans Facebook page late Monday evening said:

“Dear Trojan family, Tonight our family has suffered a terrible tragedy. 4 students have been involved in a tragic crash. It’s heartbreaking as one didn’t survive. These kids are great students, friends, brothers, sons of great families and we send these families our most deepest, sincere, whole-hearted condolences, sympathies, and prayers to the families involved. As well as to the students, the teachers, and the whole TC community as we mourn this awful tragedy. We pray for healing for one another during this time of hardship. God Bless these students, the families, and this great community.”

Some patrons of the district may remember a crash a few miles north of the Tri-Center/Neola High School campus on March 17th, 2010 that claimed the life of 14-year old Katie Dyer, of Honey Creek. That accident, which involved a car that rolled over numerous times, also resulted in injuries to the driver, 15-year old Samantha Reid, who was from Honey Creek, and her 16-year old passengers Cari Wilson and Chelsea Birtwell, both of whom at the time, were from Persia. In that crash, two of the girls, including Dyer, were wearing seat belts, the other two were not. All four were ejected from the vehicle. Reid was driving with a school license, which allowed students who are 14 ½ years of age or older, to drive to-and-from school.

Kiddie Korral at Sunnyside Park may be open by the end of May

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Director Seth Stasshelm, Monday, said work is continuing on renovations for the Kiddie Korral Shelter house at Sunnyside Park. Staashelm said so far this Spring, grass seed has been placed on the ground, and brick has been ordered from Sioux City Brick for placement around the roof support columns. What’s still left to do is install the water fountain, and work on the fire pit. The Atlantic Kiwanis will come out and help clean-up the playground equipment. Some of the toys are also being replace. Until then, that area will be cordoned-off.  He says they will hopefully have it open by mid-May.

A date for the newly renovated facility has not yet been set, but it’s hoped that will be sometime in May. Reservations will not be accepted for use of the shelter until the end of May. Staashelm said also, work on the East Shelter renovation at Sunnyside Park is their next objective. The roof, he said, needs to be replaced, and the skirting is twisted, something that’s out of the scope of his and Parks Director Roger Herring’s area of expertise. To that end, they contracted with Iron Specialties for the installation of a new, red, tin roof. Their bid amounted to $7,700.

A separate local contractor will handle painting of the columns and rafters, for a total project price of just under $12,000, which is what had been budgeted for using the Local Option Sales Tax Funds. The Parks and Rec Board approved the contracts for work on the Kiddie Korral. Other activities taking place at parks in Atlantic, includes the grading of land near the Dog Park at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The land will be used for a one-way entry/exit, 20 stall parking spaces for the Dog Park. Currently, there are flags in-place, marking where the grading will take place by a tiling company.

And, the East Nishnabotna River Boat Ramp near the Wastewater Treatment Plant is almost finished. Roger Herring said they need to removal piles of rip-rap and dirt for the building of a berm. The earthen berm will be covered with grass cloth and river rock, to dress it up. A drive will pass by the Waterworks berm, and a parking area near the upper end of the boat ramp.

In other business, Herring and Staashelm are awaiting Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors, to determine if their request for $40,000 in support of a Vision Iowa CAT grant application, will be approved. If it isn’t, or if the amount requested is less than received, Herring said that would have a big impact on the application. The Atlantic City Council has committed $100,000 in support of the $360,000 grant request for improvements to the Schildberg Rec Area campground site, and there is $40,000 for in-kind services that have been pledged. The grant requires a 50-percent local match (including 25% for in-kind services), or $180,000 altogether.

Iowa man resentenced to prison in 1977 shooting death

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man who was previously sentenced to life in prison for a murder committed in Nebraska when he was teenager has been resentenced. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Douglas County District Judge Mark Ashford on Monday sentenced 53-year-old Kelvin Anderson, of Waterloo, Iowa, to 82 to 100 years in prison for the 1977 killing of Robert McGinnis. Anderson will be eligible for parole in three years.

Anderson, who was 15 at the time, shot and killed McGinnis during a robbery in Omaha. The new sentence was prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says judges must have the ability to sentence juveniles to something other than an automatic life term.

Bluffs woman wanted for questioning in murder investigation is questioned & released

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs said late Monday evening that a woman wanted for questioning in connection with a March 7th murder and attempted murder investigation, has been interviewed by detectives, and released. 22-year old Rachel Lewis, of Council Bluffs, turned herself into detectives at the Criminal Investigation Division on Monday, in association with a Material Witness warrant that had been issued.

Once Lewis was interviewed by detectives, she was released. Authorities say they do not expect any additional arrests in the connection with the murder of Anthony J. Walker and the shooting of another man at an apartment complex in Council Bluffs that took place just before 6:30-p.m., March 7th.

Based on the completion of their investigation, officials say they believe that they have substantial evidence that has led to the arrest of three suspects in this murder investigation. Those suspects include 30-year old Markis Moses Davis, 19-year old Ben Lein, and 22-year old Wesley W. Correa-Carmenaty, all of Council Bluffs.

VIRGINIA LEE SMYSER, 97, of Avoca (Svcs. 03-24-2016)

Obituaries

March 21st, 2016 by admin

VIRGINIA LEE SMYSER, 97, of Avoca died Sunday, March 20th at Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center.  Funeral Services for VIRGINIA SMYSER will be held Thursday, March 24th at 11:00am at United Church of Avoca.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

Family will greet friends on Thursday, March 24th from 9:30am-11:00am at the church prior to services.

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.

VIRGINIA SMYSER is survived by:

Sons: John “Jack” (Janet) Smyser of Council Bluffs.  Albert “Gene” (Darlene) Smyser of Sioux City.  Randall (Annette) Smyser of Rock Port, MO.

Daughters: Twyla Watson of Omaha.   Sharon (Jerry) Gross of Earling.

15 Grandchildren

27 Great-Grandchildren

8 Great-Great-Grandchildren

Buchholz pitches into 5th inning, Red Sox top Cardinals

Sports

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Clay Buchholz pitched into the fifth inning, Pablo Sandoval and Jackie Bradley Jr. each drove in two runs and the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 Monday. Buchholz gave up one run and five hits in 4 2-3 innings. He missed much of last season with an elbow strain and had allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings earlier this spring.

Red Sox reliever Carson Smith left after only five pitches with forearm tightness. Manager John Farrell called the move precautionary and said Smith was returning to Fort Myers to be evaluated. In his 11th Grapefruit League at-bat, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina got his first hit of the spring, a single over shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Molina is still trying to strengthen his left hand following offseason thumb surgery.