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US brings fugitive from Cuba after stolen boat journey

News

December 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MIAMI (AP) — Authorities have brought back to the United States a man whom they identified as the first U.S. fugitive turned over by the Cuban government since its recent thaw in relations with the U.S. The Marshals said in a news release Tuesday that Shawn Wegmann, of Muscatine, is wanted in Iowa on federal firearms charges.

Investigators say Wegmann arrived in Havana on Oct. 31 aboard a 13-foot Boston Whaler that he stole from a Key West marina. He was arrested by Cuban border guards.

Wegmann is scheduled for a court hearing in Miami on Wednesday. Authorities say he is from Kirklin, Indiana. He is likely to be returned to Iowa to face weapons charges. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA, 12/9/15

Weather

December 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Early This Morning: Mostly clear. West wind near 10 mph.

Today: Mostly sunny. High in the upper 50s. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy until early morning then becoming mostly cloudy. Low in the lower 40s. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny through mid morning then clearing. Breezy. High in the upper 50s. West wind 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny. High in the mid 50s. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph shifting to the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday: Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. High in the mid 40s.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., 12/9/15

News

December 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NEOLA, Iowa (AP) — A small western Iowa city will need help with emergency services from neighboring communities after 12 members of its volunteer fire department resigned. A consultant for the city of Neola says the firefighters quit and four remain. Clint Fichter says Neola will be covered temporarily by fire departments in Minden and Underwood. Fichter says he expects the city to hire new firefighters over several months.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Democrats want to have a “tele-caucus” at the same time people across the state gather for the leadoff presidential caucus on February 1. Their idea is to expand access by allowing out-of-state military members and Iowa residents living abroad to join by calling in or using Skype.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines city hall workers will soon relocate to temporary quarters and they will be there until 2018. City leaders have approved a nearly $1 million budget for the move as they prepare for a $5 million overhaul of the building.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A judge has sentenced a man who was shot by Cedar Rapids police officers. Kyle Orth will serve two 90-day stretches with a 30-day break in-between and three years of probation. Orth was shot in March after police say he aimed his vehicle at officers who’d been chasing him.

 

Northern Iowa pulls away late to beat George Mason 73-65

Sports

December 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Paul Jesperson scored nine of his 19 points in the final two minutes to help Northern Iowa pull away and beat George Mason 73-65 on Tuesday night. Jesperson made three 3-pointers and grabbed 12 rebounds. Wes Washpun had 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting for Northern Iowa (6-2).

Marquise Moore had 15 points and Otis Livingston II 13 for George Mason (4-6). Shevon Thompson added eight points with 10 rebounds. Jesperson made a 3 to stretch the Panthers’ lead to 53-47 with eight minutes left. Thompson made a layup and Livingston a 3-pointer to pull George Mason to 53-52 with five minutes to play. Matt Bohannon answered with a 3, and Washpun made a layup to make it 58-52.

Jesperson made a 3-pointer and six free throws, and the Panthers led 67-54 with a minute left. Livingston’s first shot in the opening minute gave the Patriots their only lead.

 

Moore wins House District 21 election

News

December 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Information provided by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office indicated Tom Moore, a Republican from Griswold, has won a Special Election to fill a vacant Iowa House District 21 seat. The vacancy was created by the death in October, of Jack Drake, a Republican from Griswold.

According to the polls results, Moore received a total of 1,409 votes. His opponent, Democrat Tim Ennis, of Corning, received 853 votes. Both men were nominated to run in the Special Election by separate nominating conventions held last month.

The results are unofficial until the votes are canvassed.

By County, here is the vote break-down: (candidate/votes/% of votes cast)

Cass – Ennis 327 (30.94%)      Moore – 730 (69.06%)     [Write-In’s  2]

AdamsEnnis 255 (57.3%)    Moore – 189 (42.3%)

Pottawattamie – Ennis 16 (17.2%)    Moore – 77 (82.8%)

Union – Ennis 255 (38.2%)    Moore 413 61.8%)

Iowa Transportation Commission approves FY 2017 Traffic Safety Improvement Program projects

News

December 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) approved nearly $9.3-million in total funding for 44 separate projects from Iowa’s Traffic Safety Improvement Program (TSIP). Among the projects is the east pavement widening of County Road H-34, in Montgomery County. The commission approved $500,000 toward the $695,644 total cost of the project. And, in Crawford County, $500,000 was approved toward the $1.7-million dollar cost of work at the intersection of the Donna Reed Road (M-36)/U-S Highway 30/County Road E-53.
The program was created in 1987 for the purpose of increasing traffic safety on all of Iowa’s roadways. This funding is available for use on city, county, or state roads through an annual application process.
The complete list of projects can be viewed at www.iowadot.gov/pdf_files/FundedTSIPProjects.pdf.
(The map below project locations for FY 2017 TSIP)
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Montgomery County arrest report

News

December 8th, 2015 by admin

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office released details on two recent arrests and one stolen vehicle recovery.

On December 5th at approximately 12:36pm the Sheriff’s Office recovered a 2002 Buick LeSabre that was reported stolen from Moline, IL.  The vehicle was found parked in the 400 block of East 6th Street in Villisca.  The theft is still being investigated by the Moline, IL Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, December 8th at 11:25am Officers arrested 26-year-old Mykel Allen Thoren of Atlantic on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear on 3rd Degree Burglary and 3rd Degree Theft charges.  Thoren is being held on $10,000 bond.

Also Tuesday at 12:50pm Deputies arrested 54-year-old Ronald Dean Kammerer Jr. of Red Oak on a Pottawattamie County Warrant for Failure to Appear on non-payment of child support.  Kammerer Jr. is being held on $1,000 bond.

Big 12 teams will have to play non-conference vs. Power 5

Sports

December 8th, 2015 by admin

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Big 12 football teams will now be required to play at least one non-conference game against a team from one of the other Power Five leagues.

The Big 12 announced Tuesday that teams will have to annually play against a team from the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 or SEC, or Notre Dame.

Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says the move will strengthen the resumes for all 10 of the Big 12 teams. Schedule strength is a key component in College Football Playoff selections.

No. 4 Oklahoma is in the four-team playoff this season. But Baylor and TCU were both left out of the first playoff last year when both went 11-1 and shared the Big 12 title.

The new requirement doesn’t affect existing non-conference game contracts, including next season’s games.

 

Backyard and Beyond 12-08-2015

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

December 8th, 2015 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Laura Kath, Media Specialist, about a visit to Solvang, CA: A Danish Village.

GENE HANS MOHR, 75, of Waukee (formerly of Avoca) – Svcs. 12/10/15

Obituaries

December 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

GENE HANS MOHR, 75, of Waukee (formerly of Avoca), died Mon., Dec. 7th, at home. Funeral services for GENE MOHR will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Dec. 10th, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 5-until 8-pm on Wed. (12/9).

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.

GENE MOHR is survived by:

His wife – Nancy [Robinson] Mohr, of Waukee

His son – Jeffrey (Mary Jane) Mohr, of Council Bluffs.

His daughters – Michelle (Geff) Gescheidler, of Urbandale; Jennifer (Vic) Bradley, of Johnston; Katrina (Brandon) Donahoe, of West Des Moines, and Kristin (Ryan) Clayton, of Waukee.

His brother – Gary (Jane) Mohr, of Davenport.

His sisters – Sally (Gary) Paulsen, of Council Bluffs, & Carol BeBruyn, of Long Grove, IA.

and 13 grandchildren.