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Class 1-A Girls State Basketball Semi-Finals

Sports

March 1st, 2012 by Jim Field

Bedford 45, LeMars Gehlen Catholic 36

In its third state tournament appearance, Bedford has a chance to win its first championship.

The third-ranked Bulldogs got outstanding balance on offense, played solid defense and beat No. 9 Le Mars Gehlen Catholic 45-36 to reach the Class 1A title game.

Bedford held Gehlen Catholic to one field goal during a 14-minute stretch while building a nine-point lead, then held off the Jays’ comeback attempts down the stretch.

Savanna Thornton led Bedford with 11 points, while Caila Raymond scored 10 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Kayla Lindenmeyer added nine points for the Bulldogs, Peyton Russell scored eight and Kendyl Gruttemeyer scored seven to go with 10 rebounds.

North Mahaska 46, West Sioux 38

North Mahaska will get a chance to write a perfect ending to its dream season.

Junior Mallory Boyle led a game-changing run in the third quarter and the top-ranked Warhawks advanced to the Class 1A state championship game with a 46-38 victory over No. 5 West Sioux.

North Mahaska recovered from a frigid start to remain unbeaten through 27 games and will play third-ranked Bedford for the title at 6 p.m. Friday. West Sioux finished 25-2 after playing in the state tournament for the first time.

Boyle led the winners with a strong stat line, putting up 12 points, six rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks. Kate Ray added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Warhawks and Hannah Ferguson scored eight.

Posted in Sports |

Cyclone Women Beat K-State on Senior Night

Sports

March 1st, 2012 by Jim Field

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (18-10, 9-8 Big 12) rolled over Kansas State (18-11, 9-8 Big 12), outscoring the Wildcats 36-16 in the second half en route to a  57-33 Big 12 victory Wednesday in Hilton Coliseum on Senior Night. The victory, the school’s first ever on Feb. 29, moved Iowa State into fourth-place in the Big 12 by virtue of sweeping Kansas State this season.

Iowa State’s defense limited Kansas State to 29 percent shooting. The Wildcats’ 33-point scoring total was the fewest Iowa State has conceded in a conference game in the Big 12 era. Nikki Moody led the Cyclones with 15 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Hallie Christofferson tallied 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds and Lauren Mansfield had 13 points.

The Cyclones swamped the Wildcats despite having leading scorer and rebounder Chelsea Poppens on the floor for just 17 minutes because of foul trouble. She scored four points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Iowa State quickly built on its 21-17 halftime lead with a 14-4 run out of the gate after intermission that included 3-pointers by Christofferson and Mansfield. The Cyclones led 35-21 at the 14:34 mark of the second half and never looked back.

Neither team was in sync during the first half as the two squads combined for 19 turnovers. Iowa State got a bump in the final two minutes of the first stanza as two Christofferson free throws, a 3-pointer by Moody and a bucket by Christofferson with three seconds remaining gave Iowa State at its four-point lead at halftime.

Iowa State outscored Kansas State 22-4 off turnovers.

Iowa State can finish lower than fifth in the Big 12, and concludes the regular season Saturday at 11 a.m. CST at No. 1 Baylor in Waco, Texas. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net.

Posted in Sports |

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: March 1st, 2012

Podcasts, Weather

March 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the forecast for Atlantic, and the KJAN listening area.

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Posted in Podcasts, Weather |

Economist says more Midwest industries in recovery

News

March 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An economist who oversees a monthly economic survey of nine states in the Midwest and Plains says the economic recovery has spread to more industries. The Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose last month to 58.4 from 55.9 in January. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the region’s growth had been limited to agriculture and energy sectors. He says the February survey indicates the growth has spread to most industries, except construction.
 
The survey of supply managers and executives uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say that any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor. The states are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Posted in News |

Montgomery County Accident Under Investigation

News

March 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating a non-injury accident that took place Wednesday morning, just west of Red Oak. Officials say a semi driven by David Ficke, of Pleasant Dale, NE, was attempting to make a left-hand turn off of Highway 34 onto Boxelder Avenue, at the same time a car driven by Martha Morton, of Hopkins, MO, was attempting to pass the semi.

As the 2003 Peterbilt semi driven by Ficke turned onto Boxelder, it came into contact with Morton’s 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. Both vehicle came to rest in the intersection. The accident happened at around 10:30-a.m., Wednesday.

Posted in News |

Iowa News Headlines: Thu., March 1st, 2012

News

March 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved two gun-rights measures that sparked Democrats to stage a walkout earlier in the day, stalling action for six hours. One bill would allow people to use deadly force to protect themselves and the other called for writing gun rights protections into the Iowa Constitution. The second measure would have to be approved by another legislative assembly next year and then be referred to voters.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an Iowa State Patrol trooper was injured when a semitrailer hit his patrol car while the trooper was assisting in another crash in north central Iowa. Trooper Jeremy Schaffer was injured yesterday afternoon on an entrance ramp from U.S. Highway 20 onto Interstate 35 in Hamilton County. The road was slush-covered and high winds and blowing snow created poor visibility at the time.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The trial of two cousins accused in a deadly shooting in Cedar Rapids has been delayed from March until July. Eighteen-year-old Justin Ross of Cedar Rapids, and 19-year-old Donovan Ross of Hiawatha are charged with first-degree murder in the death of 30-year-old Andre Herron. He was shot on a city street on November 26th.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A famed Jackson Pollock painting that’s owned by the University of Iowa is coming to the Des Moines Art Center. The Des Moines Register reports the art center announced yesterday that it will display Pollock’s “Mural” from April 5th to July 15th.

Posted in News |

NWS forecast for Cass & surrounding counties: March 1st, 2012

Weather

March 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

353 AM CST THU MAR 1 2012 National Weather Service/Des Moines

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. WARMER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. EAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SPRINKLES THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AND LIGHT SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.

FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AND LIGHT SNOW IN THE MORNING. BREEZY. HIGH AROUND 40. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 20S. NORTHWEST WIND AROUND 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 20S. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S.

Posted in Weather |

Sioux City won’t show bullying film

News

March 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Students in Sioux City public schools won’t be seeing a documentary on bullying because of the film’s R rating for foul language. The Sioux City Journal says Superintendent Paul Gausman says the district doesn’t show movies with foul language or graphic material, meaning “The Bully Project” won’t be used an educational film. He also says at 94 minutes, the film is too long to show. Parts of the documentary were filmed in a local elementary school, and one of the students featured is a former Sioux City student. The Motion Picture Association of America has voted to uphold the film’s R rating, sparking a backlash from those who believe it will prevent the film from being shown to students to demonstrate the impact of bullying.

Posted in News |

Another gun-related proposal clears Iowa House Wed. Night

News

March 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Republicans in the Iowa House and that lone Democrat also voted for a bill that would give Iowans the right to use “reasonable force” to stop a crime in a public place. Representative Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, is the chief sponsor of that bill.
“The basic intent is to provide Iowans the upper hand in their own self-defense,” Windschitl said.

Under current law, Iowans may use “reasonable force” — even “deadly force” to defend themselves in their home or place of business. This bill would extend those legal protections to a person’s vehicle when it comes to using a weapon as self-defense or to prevent a crime. Critics like House Democratic Leader Kevin McCarthy suggest the proposal would make Iowa the “wild, wild west” again. “Maybe loading groceries in the back of a car in the Walmart parking lot, you look over, somebody’s taking a sack out — boom!” McCarthy said during debate, yelling that last word to signify a gunshot. A couple of hours later, Windschitl responded.

“I trust Iowans,” he said. “I believe in them. Let’s give them an opportunity to defend themselves without the fear of frivolous prosecution.” This bill and the proposal for a constitutional amendment focused on gun rights now go to the Senate, where passage is not likely.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Cardinals agree to terms with 24 players

Sports

March 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Postseason stars David Freese and Allen Craig will make slightly more than the major league minimum this season for the St. Louis Cardinals, who agreed to one-year contracts with 24 players. Freese, the NL championship series and World Series MVP, will make $508,000, just $28,000 above the minimum of $480,000. If the 28-year-old third baseman from St. Louis County is optioned to the minors he’d make $249,600.

Craig also gets a split contract. He will make $495,000 in the majors and $248,400 if he is optioned. Craig, who hit three homers in the World Series last year, gives the Cardinals another option in the outfield but will miss at least the first month of the season while recovering from knee surgery. St. Louis announced the deals Wednesday.

Posted in Sports |