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Iowa ranks 6th in number of children removed from parents’ home

News

March 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Advocates say it’s time for legislators to investigate the recent increase in Iowa court orders to terminate parental rights. “What’s going on here? Are all of a sudden the parents in Iowa becoming evil?” That’s Nancy Augustine. She became an advocate for change after her son and daughter-in-law were investigated by state government social workers in 2012.

“They went through the whole court system — the juvenile court, which I refer to as a kangaroo court system because everything about it is the opposite of ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ etc.,” Augustine said. “They got their children back after going through all the hoops and whistles…but, but I could not let this drop.” Toya Johnson of Iowa Citizens for Justice says Iowa ranks 36th in population, but sixth in the number of children who are removed from their parents’ home after an allegation of abuse.

“We have a serious problem that needs to be addressed not only with the Department of Human Services, but it also needs to be addressed in the way our judicial policies and procedures are going,” Jackson says. Jackson and Augustine testified yesterday (Wednesday) before the Iowa House Government Oversight Committee. The panel’s chairman said state officials will be given a chance to respond to the allegations at a future committee meeting.

(Radio Iowa)

Girls State Basketball Schedule: Thu., March 3rd 2016

Sports

March 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(@ Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines)
Class 1A Semifinals
10:00-a.m. Turkey Valley vs. Burlington Notre Dame
11:45-a.m. Springville vs. Newell-Fonda

Class 2A Semifinals
1:30-p.m. Western Christian vs. Okoboji
3:15-p.m. Unity Christian vs. Iowa City Regina

Class 3A Semifinals
5:00-p.m. Pocahontas Area Community (PAC) vs. Cherokee
6:45-p.m. Center Point-Urbana vs. Nevada

The Class 4A and 5A Semifinals take place on Friday along with the Championship games in Class 1A and 2A.  The rest of the title games will be held on Saturday.

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA, 3/3/16

Weather

March 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY. NOT AS COLD. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.
TODAY…CLOUDY THROUGH MID MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST AFTER MIDNIGHT.
FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 20 MPH.
SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.
SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., March 3rd 2016

News

March 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has passed legislation that would expand state oversight of Iowa’s Medicaid program under private management, but the measure’s future is unclear. The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 32-18 Wednesday for the measure, which would expand the state’s authority to review how three private companies handle the $4.2 billion program when they take over on April 1st.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are disputing a claim by University of Iowa public safety director David Visin that they harassed his hospitalized stepson with questions about whether Visin was involved in a hit-and-run. The Associated Press reported Monday that David Visin is accused of interfering with the investigation into the June 25th accident involving stepson Sean Crane. Visin says that officers “badgered” Crane in his hospital room with questions about Visin and Crane told them “the truth, that I knew nothing.”

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. Labor Department initiative has found that a handful of Ames restaurants violated federal labor standards and owed thousands of dollars to workers. Department officials announced Wednesday that Ames employers owed nearly $100,000 to 158 restaurant and hotel workers after investigators looked into hospitality industries in Midwest college towns.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — City Council members have declined to allocate public funds to support a 30-foot sculpture on pedestrian mall in Iowa City. KCRG-TV reports a majority of the council on Tuesday night voted against a plan to give $50,000 to the Iowa City Downtown District for the project.

Kolten Wong agrees to $25.5M, 5-year deal with Cardinals

Sports

March 2nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – Making a long-term commitment to Kolten Wong as their second baseman, the St. Louis Cardinals agreed Wednesday to a $25.5 million, five-year contract with the 25-year-old. Wong gets $1.25 million this year, $2.5 million in 2017, $4 million in 2018, $6.5 million in 2019 and $10.25 million in 2020. St. Louis has a $12.5 million option for 2021 with a $1 million buyout.

He would have been eligible for salary arbitration next winter and for free agency after the 2019 World Series.

Girls State Basketball Tournament scores from Wed., 3/2/16

Sports

March 2nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Class 4A State Tournament
State Quarterfinal
Marion 46, Harlan 38
Pella 47, Lewis Central 41

Class 5A State Tournament
State Quarterfinal
Ankeny Centennial 56, Davenport, North 52
Cedar Falls 48, Waukee 46
Johnston 60, Southeast Polk 48
Linn-Mar, Marion 60, Indianola 39

Atlantic City Council approves Resolution for CAT Grant matching funds

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 2nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved a Resolution in support of the Schildberg Recreation Area Committee and Atlantic Parks and Rec Department Board, to secure a Vision Iowa CAT (Community Attraction and Tourism) Grant for Phase 1 of the Schildberg Recreation Area improvements. The project will cost $635,000, but Atlantic Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said they anticipate reducing that amount by as much as $13,000 by working with local vendors and local contractors.

Schildberg Rec Area Master Plan

Schildberg Rec Area Master Plan (click on image to enlarge)

The application to Vision Iowa, which must be submitted by April 15th, will request $360,000. It requires a 50-percent match, meaning $180,000 would have to be raised through other sources. The City Council, in its action Wednesday, approved $100,000. The rest, according to Herring, will possibly come from a REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection) grant, and local sources, which would help fund some portion of the proposed, phased-in improvements to the Schildberg Rec Area.

Campground area site plan

Campground area site plan (click to enlarge image)

He says within the next 2-3 years, they could fund the playground, an ADA compliant fishing pier, the west side shelter house, and parking lot, not only through REAP, but through the Local Option Sales Tax, the Hotel-Motel Tax and the regular budgeting process, as well as local donations. In addition, the Schildberg Rec Area Committee will talk with the Board of Supervisors for a possible contribution. The CAT grant, according to Herring, allows for up to 25-percent of what the request is as in-kind, or about $40,000. He says they’ve already met that requirement “Three-times over,” because of all the time, labor, and other efforts put into improvements.

The goal of the CAT grant application, he says, is to make Atlantic, a “Destination Point [Place], a place where people can spend time and money while they are enjoying the outdoors and our community. The City should know sometime late this Summer or early Fall at the latest, whether it’s request for grant funds will be met in whole, or in-part.

Cord to step down from Atlantic City Council seat

News

March 2nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones announced Wednesday, At Large Councilman Bob Cord will be stepping down from his seat sometime in the near future, due to relocation to another community. A more precise time-frame for his departure has not yet been set. Jones said anyone with interest in filling the soon-to-be vacant seat, should let him know, or contact City Hall. The position is available for anyone within the City Limits of Atlantic. Jones said he’d like to get some names as soon as possible so the process of finding a replacement for Cord can begin.

Whomever fills the seat will do so until the next election for that position is on the ballot. Jones thanked Cord for his service, and letting him know well in advance he intends to depart from his position on the Council.

In other business, Atlantic Public Library Director Natalie Struecker reported to the City Council, that there is changes in-place at the library this month, that patrons will want to be aware of. She said for adults, no new classes will be offered except on how to download e-books on March 16th. Technology classes will be offered March 10th and 24th, and again April 4th and 18th. Cass County Master Gardeners will talk about adding vegetable plants to your landscape or garden, on March 22nd.

Looking ahead to next month (April), Struecker says anyone with documents to shred will want to plan to bring them to the library April 4th, from 1-untiol 4-p.m., when a mobile shredder will be available in the parking lot. She said you can drive up and drop-off up to three containers of paper or documents to be shredded.

And, two traveling exhibits “History of the Book,” and “At Home in the Heartland: Forgotten Stories of how Iowans got to be ‘us’,” will be at the library, thanks to sponsorship from the Cass County Genealogy Society. The “History of the Book,” from stone tablet to the inventing of the printing press, will be on display from April 18th thru May 15th, while the other exhibit on what makes Iowans and the Midwest different from other areas of the country, will be on display April 29th, from 9-a.m. until 12-p.m. For more information on the programs and activities available at the Atlantic Public Library, go to www.atlantic.lib.ia.us, or call 712-243-5466.

Atlantic Mayor Jones to run for County Board of Supervisors

News

March 2nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones announced Wednesday evening, his intention to run as a Republican in June, for a seat on the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 1. That seat is currently held by Duane McFadden, who announced in February that he would not be running for re-election after 12 years on the Board.

Jones said he’s spoken with McFadden since last year about running for the seat, and since “The Council’s in pretty good shape…the City’s in pretty good shape, so maybe {it’s time to] move up a little bit on the ladder of the political scene.”

Jones said infrastructure and economic development are his primary focus. He says the people he’s spoken with tell him the County roads infrastructure is their main concern. They’ve mentioned the base is gone from many of the gravel roads, especially north and west of town.

Dave Jones

Dave Jones

Jones was elected to the City Council At Large in 1996,and later was elected Mayor.
He says his goal has been and will continue to be to never say “I will cut taxes, because I don’t want to lie to the public.” He says his philosophy is to manage tax money like a business…make the tax base grow…you don’t have to worry about raising taxes.”

He’ll be running for the District 1 seat against Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green, who is also a Republican, in the June Primary. The other seat up for grabs in November is in District 4, which is currently held by Chuck Rieken, of Griswold. Rieken has also announced he will not be running for re-election. No one has presently filed to run for that seat.

Marion knocks off Harlan in Girls 4A Quarterfinals

Sports

March 2nd, 2016 by admin

The upsets keep coming in Class 4A.

The latest victim was No. 3 Harlan, winner of the last two state championships. A young Marion team with no state tournament experience hit a slew of early 3-pointers, then countered Harlan’s comeback attempt to post a 46-38 quarterfinal victory.

With the win by the seventh-ranked Indians, the top four teams in the rankings were out of the tournament before the semifinal round. No. 1 Western Dubuque, No. 2 Lewis Central and No. 4 Ballard also were eliminated.

Marion starts three sophomores and two freshmen, but they played relaxed and easy from the start. The Indians’ first six field goals were 3-pointers as they bolted to a 20-4 lead, forcing Harlan into a near impossible game of catchup.

The Cyclones went without a field goal in the first quarter, trailed 20-6 at halftime and were down 32-16 late in the third quarter. But they finally started hitting some shots and fashioned a 13-1 run that Taylor Frederick capped with a banked 3-pointer, cutting the lead to 33-29 midway through the fourth quarter.

Harlan twice more got the lead down to four, the last time at 38-34 on Emma Ahrenholtz’s corner 3 with 2:18 remaining. The Indians stemmed the comeback there by making six free throws down the stretch, getting a key offensive rebound from Mia Laube along the way.

Laube rebounded Chloe Rice’s missed free throw and that resulted in two more free throws for Rice, who made both for a 45-36 lead with 39.2 seconds left.

Freshman Sophie Willette led Marion with 12 points and Rice, a sophomore, scored 10. Freshman Maddie Knapp added nine points in three 3-pointers.

Jordyn Moser and Taylor Frederick, veterans of Harlan’s title teams, led the Cyclones with 13 points each. The 5-foot-7 Moser also grabbed 14 rebounds. Frederick was bottled up early by a collapsing defense but broke free for 10 fourth-quarter points.