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Powerball jackpot expected to grow to $400 million Wednesday

News

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The next Powerball winner will have a chance to claim one of the game’s 10 biggest prizes this week when the jackpot grows to roughly $400 million. Lottery officials say no one claimed Saturday’s $334 million prize, although someone from Pennsylvania won $2 million and three players from California, Connecticut and South Carolina won $1 million in the game.

When the jackpot reaches $400 million, it might exceed the size of the sixth-largest prize in Powerball history. That was a $399.4 million prize won in 2013 by someone from South Carolina. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The next drawing will be held Wednesday.

VA Gov. to campaign for Clinton in IA next weekend

News

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe will be in Iowa next weekend to Campaign for Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. McAuliffe, the 72nd Governor of Virginia, will be in the State on January 9th and 10th, organizing offices in Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Carroll, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, and speaking with Iowans about what’s at stake in the Nov. 2016 election.

On Saturday, Jan. 9th, he’ll be at the Hillary for Iowa office in Council Bluffs (1851 Madison Avenue), at Noon; at her office in Sioux City (401 S Lewis Boulevard) at 3:45, and in Clinton’s campaign office in Carroll (223 West 6th Street), at 6-p.m.

Villisca man arrested on drug charges Sun. morning

News

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak say one person was arrested on drug charges early this (Sunday) morning. 28-year old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater, of Villisca, was arrested at around 12:25-a.m. in the 600 block of E. Corning Street, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, With the Intent to Deliver. Fitzwater was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $100,000 cash bond.

Weather outlook for the week ahead – look for deteriorating travel conditions

Weather

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service says it will be cooler today (Sunday) and low clouds will work their way down from Minnesota and Wisconsin making for a cloudy day as well. Highs today and Monday will only be in the 20s. Temperatures will begin to rise some for Tuesday ahead of a weak disturbance. The weak disturbance will come through Wednesday with mainly light snow during the day and some mixed precipitation at night.

A stronger system comes in for Thursday through Saturday morning bringing more mixed precipitation which will change over to all snow by late Friday. Travel conditions may deteriorate mid to especially late week. Stay tuned for future updates regarding the end of the week.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sun., 1/3/2016

News

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Three people have been arrested in connection with an early morning New Year’s Day shooting in downtown Waterloo. The Courier reports that 22-year-old Kristopher Darquel Spates Junior of Waterloo faces weapons charges and interference with official acts. A 15-year-old and 16-year-old were charged with carrying weapons. Police responded to the area around 1:50 a.m. Friday following a complaint that people were refusing to leave a downtown bar.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man faces a first-degree robbery charge after he was accused of taking a PlayStation from another person at gunpoint. The Quad-City Times reports that 19-year-old Adrian Thomas Lard Junior of Park View was arrested Thursday by Davenport police.

GARNER, Iowa (AP) – A northern Iowa family with a child suffering from cancer received a year-end surprise from an Iowa State Patrol trooper’s union. The Mason City Globe-Gazette reports that the union voted unanimously to give its yearly $500 charitable donation to the family of 5-year-old Cohen Smith for medical and travel expenses. Smith was diagnosed with Burkitt leukemia in July, and has endured six rounds of chemotherapy to fight the aggressive cancer. Two troopers surprised the family with the check at their home on Thursday morning.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa veteran affairs commission is launching an effort to reach out to veterans on college campuses. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs Commission will begin its push next month.

Red Oak Police investigate hit & run property damage incident

News

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak are investigating a hit-and-run, property damage incident. Officials say on Saturday, the owner of a red, 2008 Chrysler Grand Caravan, notified authorities about her vehicle being struck while it was parked in the 1800 block of Forest Street, in Red Oak. The incident occurred sometime between Friday night and 2-p.m., Saturday. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,500.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Red Oak Police Department.

Carter Lake man arrested on child endangerment & other charges in Montgomery County

News

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a man from Pottawattamie County late Saturday night. 25-year old Jon Mark Gibb, Jr. of Carter Lake, was arrested at around 9:50-p.m. following an incident in the 1900 block of G Avenue, north of Red Oak.

Gibb, Jr., was charged with Simple Assault, Violation of a No Contact Order, and Child Endangerment. He was also taken into custody on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on a Domestic Assault charge. The man was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

LETHA MAE JOSEPHSEN, 94, of Audubon & formerly of rural Exira (Svcs. 1/6/16)

Obituaries

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

LETHA MAE JOSEPHSEN, 94, of Audubon (& formerly of rural Exira), died Dec. 29th, at Mercy Hospital Medical Center, in Des Moines. Funeral services for LETHA JOSEPHSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Jan. 6th, at the Anita United Methodist Church, in Anita. Kessler Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family will be present from 6-until 9-pm Tuesday (1/5).

Burial will be in the Exira Cemetery.

LETHA MAE JOSEPHSEN is survived by:

Her daughter – Shirley (Jerry) Karns, of Audubon.

Her son – Dan (Marilyn) Josephsen, of West Des Moines.

Her sister – Arvis McKeane, of Coon Rapids, MN.

13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

LAWRENCE ESKOV, 95, of Elk Horn (Svcs. 01/07/2016)

Obituaries

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

LAWRENCE ESKOV, 95, of Elk Horn, died Sat. Jan. 2nd, at the Salem Lutheran Home, in Elk Horn. Funeral Services for LAWRENCE ESKOV will be held Thursday, January 7th at 1:30pm at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn. Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton is in charge of the arrangements.

Burial will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.

Friends may call on Wednesday, January 6th at Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton.  Visitation will resume at 12:30pm on Thursday at the Church prior to services.

LAWRENCE ESKOV is survived by:

Son: Charles (Cheryl) Eskov of Moville.

Daughter: Mary (Scott) Graham of Tulsa, OK.

Iowa defense spurs rally for 70-63 upset at No. 14 Purdue

Sports

January 3rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Jarrod Uthoff scored 25 points, Peter Jok had 11 points and nine rebounds and Iowa erased a 17-point halftime deficit in a 70-63 upset victory over No. 14 Purdue on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes (11-3, 2-0 Big Ten) have won four straight and eight of nine, including two upsets of Top 15 teams this week. They beat No. 1 Michigan State on Tuesday night.

Kendall Stephens led Purdue (13-2, 1-1) with 12 points, and A.J. Hammons had 11. The Boilermakers had won 15 straight at hole. Purdue completely dominated the first half, using seven 3-pointers to build a 37-20 lead. But the Boilermakers collapsed in the second half.

Iowa used a 13-0 spurt to finally take the lead, 48-46 lead with 7:30 to go. And after Purdue tied it for the final time, at 48, Iowa scored five straight.