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CWS: Vandy and VA advance

Sports

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The defending NCAA baseball champs have opened their College World Series schedule with a victory. Freshman Jeren Kendall’s two-run homer off Tyler Peitzmeier in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Vanderbilt a 4-3, come-from-behind victory over Cal State Fullerton. The Commodores were down 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning when heavy thunderstorms Sunday night forced the suspension of the game.

Virginia is 2-0 after Brandon Waddell limited Florida to a pair of hits in seven innings of a 1-0 verdict over the Gators. Robbie Coman supplied the game’s lone run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Arkansas was eliminated from the series when Jacob Heyward singled in the bottom of the ninth to give Miami a 4-3 win over the Razorbacks. Heyward opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the fifth, scored the go-ahead run in the seventh and delivered the walk-off hit after Willie Abreu doubled off the center-field wall.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., June 16, 2015

News

June 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WEST UNION, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of cutting off a GPS monitoring device on his ankle has been arrested in northeast Iowa. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Tom Cannon, of West Union, was taken into custody without incident. He was found in a house trailer. Authorities say Cannon had been scheduled to report to a county jail Monday for a sentence related to a sexual abuse charge. He failed to show up, and he is accused of cutting off a GPS monitoring device on his ankle.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a body found in the Des Moines River. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 32-year-old Bobby Lee Long was spotted floating in the Des Moines River on Friday. He was pulled from the river in Yellow Banks Park just southeast of Pleasant Hill. Additional information about Long’s death was not released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Several streets in Ankeny and other Polk County communities have been covered with runoff from heavy overnight rain. The National Weather Service says it has received reports that up to 3 inches of rain has fallen since midnight in southeast Ankeny and that up to 8 inches of water is covering some intersections and streets. Flooded and blocked streets have been reported in Altoona, and Des Moines reports that at least two streets and several trails have been closed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has declined to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an Iowa regulator who says he was fired in retaliation for investigating a gas station’s misleading marketing practices. District Judge Robert Hanson says Michael Manahl’s claims of whistleblower retaliation can proceed, rejecting the state’s motion to dismiss. He dismissed other claims, including an allegation that Manahl’s firing violated a law that gives hiring preferences to veterans.

SHIRLEY A. ARMSTRONG, 78, of Cumberland (No Svcs.)

Obituaries

June 15th, 2015 by admin

SHIRLEY A. ARMSTRONG, 78, of Cumberland, died Mon., June 15th at her home in Cumberland. Per her wishes, cremation has taken place, and no service or visitation is planned, for SHIRLEY ARMSTRONG. Roland Funeral Service of Atlantic is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences can be left at www.RolandFuneralService.com

SHIRLEY ARMSTRONG is survived by:

Her Daughter: Sandy (Elan Peron) Armstrong, of Cumberland

Her Son: Gene Armstrong, of Cumberland

2 Grandchildren and 3 Great Grandchildren.

New signs are in for Sunnyside Park asking you not to smoke

News

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Parks and Rec Board, Monday evening received signs from J&J Graphic Designs, that feature art work created by local Girl Scout Cadet Troop 40116.

Members of the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board, and Girl Scout Cadet Troop 40116 proudly display the new signs intended for the shelter areas at Sunnyside Park. (Ric Hanson/Photo)

Members of the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board, and Girl Scout Cadet Troop 40116 proudly display the new signs intended for the shelter areas at Sunnyside Park. (Ric Hanson/Photo)

The signs respectfully asks patrons of area parks not to smoke around playground equipment and other areas. The girl scouts came up with the idea while working on their Journey Books called “Breathe,” which teaches them about clean air.

The Parks Board last month approved the purchase of the signs, which cost $25 each, for a total of $300. The local Girl Scouts Troop picked up half the cost, with the Parks & Rec Dept. paying for the balance. The roughly 11″x14″signs will be placed at various locations within Sunnyside Park, as soon as possible.

Future plans calls for the locally designed and made signs to be posted throughout Cass County, and perhaps the State.

MARY FOOKEN, 74, of Manilla, IA (formerly of Bridgewater, IA) (Svcs. 6/19/15)

Obituaries

June 15th, 2015 by admin

MARY FOOKEN, 74, of Manilla (and formerly of Bridgewater), died Sunday, June 14th in Denison. Memorial Services for MARY FOOKEN will be held 11-a.m, Friday, June 19th,  at the Roland Funeral home in Atlantic.

Visitation at the funeral home will be held on Friday, June 19th from 10:30-a.m.until the time of service. Online condolences can be left at www.RolandFuneralService.com

Burial will be at the First Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Wiota.

MARY FOOKEN is survived by:

Her Sons: David (Brenda) Fooken, of Minburn; Pat (Sheila) Fooken, of Manilla, and Steve (Martha) Fooken, of Defiance.

5 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren

Bird flu likely spread on equipment, workers, rodents, wind

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Bird flu that’s devastated Midwestern farms likely spread by several means, including on machinery and workers, by rodents and possibly even by the wind. That’s according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Monday. The agency studied genetic properties of virus samples on more than 80 turkey and chicken farms.

USDA scientists say wild birds introduced the virus onto farms, but it appears the virus spread in other ways once there. The scientists found lapses in biosecurity on farms and environmental factors likely contributed to the spread of the disease.

More than 49 million birds died or were euthanized in 15 states this spring as the virus spread from the Pacific Northwest into Midwest farms. It’s the nation’s worst outbreak of bird flu.

 

IA Ag Sec Bill Northey to vist Cass County\

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced that he will be visiting Cass, Buena Vista and O’Brien Counties on Wednesday, June 17th. Northey will address an FFA Field Day for the Future in Lewis at Noon, at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm (53265 Hitchcock Ave.).

Later in the day he’ll speak at the grand opening for Farm Nutrients in Rembrandt, attend an avian influenza support/prayer dinner in Albert City and speak at Iowa Corn Growers BBQ in Sheldon.

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his third term as Secretary of Agriculture.

MYRTLE KINYON, 94, of Greenfield (Svcs. 6/19/15)

Obituaries

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MYRTLE KINYON, 94, of Greenfield, died Monday, June 15th, in Greenfield. Funeral services for MYRTLE KINYON will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., June 19th, at the United Methodist Church in Greenfield.   Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, June 18th from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., where the family will greet friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be at the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the committal services at the cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Myrtle Kinyon memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

MYRTLE KINYON is survived by:

Her husband – Keith Kinyon, of Greenfield.

Her son – James (Carol) Kinyon, of Roland.

Her daughters – Patricia (Steve) Kline, of Afton, and Carol (Rick) Wagers, of Redfield.

7 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren, other relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Around 10 tons of trash collected from Missouri River

News

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A nonprofit says around 140 volunteers have collected an estimated 10 tons of trash from the Missouri River in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that volunteers on Saturday morning picked up the trash at a number of sites along the river. The effort was part of an event by Missouri River Relief, a nonprofit based in Columbia, Missouri, that coordinates clean-ups from South Dakota to St. Louis.

Among the findings by volunteers were multiple propane tanks and an arrow. Missouri River Relief has other clean-up events scheduled into the fall in other states.

High School Football Changes Playoff Structure for 2016

Sports

June 15th, 2015 by Jim Field

Des Moines, IA – The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control has voted to adopt a nine game regular season schedule and 16-team qualifier field for all football classes in the playoffs starting in 2016. The change means a reduction from 32 teams who currently qualify for the postseason in each class.

The schedules for this fall and the 2015 regular season and playoffs remain unchanged as previously published at www.iahsaa.org.

The move comes after review of the current playoff system which allows fewer days of rest and recovery between each game in the postseason. In a nod toward player safety and risk-minimization, the IHSAA has been looking at several options.

“Today’s actions put in place a scenario for the football postseason which allows for one week between games,” said Alan Beste, IHSAA Executive Director. “The driving force behind this decision is player safety and keeping the best interest of our students at the forefront.”

At their meeting on April 29, the IHSAA Board of Control had a discussion regarding the football start date and schedule beginning with the 2016 season. The Board considered many options at that meeting, but decided to gather further input from the IHSAA membership through the IHSAA Representative Council, Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association (IHSADA), and Iowa Football Coaches Association (IFCA).

It was decided the best way to have a collaborative discussion among those groups was to provide information regarding various options and have a large-group discussion at the June 15 IHSAA Representative Council meeting. The move came about as an attempt to give the parties involved time to seek input from their constituents and be ready to have meaningful discussion at the IHSAA Representative Council.

At today’s meeting, representatives from the IHSADA and IFCA discussed the issue amongst the IHSAA Representative Council. Also present for the discussion were members of the IHSAA administrative team as well as the IHSAA Board of Control.

Following the Representative Council meeting, the IHSAA Board of Control convened and in a unanimous vote decided to retain nine regular season games and move toward a 16-team playoff qualifier structure.

Football is the largest high school participation sport in Iowa among males with 20,630 participants, according to the 2013-2014 IHSAA annual participation survey.