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DNR investigating blue liquid near West branch of the East Nishnabotna River in Oakland

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a bright blue liquid observed near the West Branch of the East Nishnabotna River near Oakland, in Pottawattamie County.

On August 22, the DNR Field Office in Atlantic received reports of a blue liquid in an inlet area on the east bank of the East Nishnabotna River in Oakland. According to information provided anonymously to the DNR, the blue liquid was first observed around August 11th.

By the time DNR officials were notified, the blue liquid was found in the recessed area near the river and not in the river. Soil staining in the area shows the blue liquid likely reached the East Nishnabotna River before the DNR was notified.

A bright blue pool of unidentified liquid near the East Nishnabotna River in Oakland

A large storm sewer outlet was identified directly above the pooled water. Oakland city officials were notified, and assisted DNR with placing booms and absorbent pads to avoid further release into the river.

Water samples were collected and submitted to the State Hygienic Lab for analysis. No dead fish were observed.

If anybody has any information on the incident, please contact the DNR Field Office in Atlantic at (712) 243-1934.

To report a release after hours, please call the DNR’s emergency spill line at (515) 725-8694. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of an incident. The DNR website has more information about spill reporting requirements.

Sioux City woman out of federal prison after serving time for voter fraud

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A Sioux City woman who is the wife of a Woodbury County Supervisor has been released from a federal prison in Minnesota after serving time for voter fraud. Fifty-year-old Kim Taylor will now spend four months on home confinement in Sioux City. She was convicted last November by a federal grand jury on 26 counts of providing false information in registering and voting, three counts of fraudulent registration, and 23 counts of fraudulent voting.

Taylor was released from the minimum security prison in Waseca, Minnesota Friday. Her sentence is under appeal.

The charges all stem from signing up voters during her husband Jeremy’s runs for supervisor and Congress. He was never charged but did decide not to run for another term on the Board of Supervisors.

Diesel spill near Mapleton reaches Willow Creek

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MONONA COUNTY – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a diesel spill in a tributary of Willow Creek in Monona County. On August 25, the DNR Atlantic Field Office was notified by the Monona County Sheriff’s Department of a pickup truck running off the road into Pumpkin Run, a small tributary that travels east to Willow Creek, northwest of Mapleton.

Officials say the truck was carrying a 50 gallon drum of red diesel when the driver, Christopher Kreger, lost control near the intersection of Highway 141 and Plum Avenue. The tank’s contents emptied upon the pickup truck entering Pumpkin Run, in addition to a small amount of oil.

Willow Creek with booms

Red diesel fuel flowed downstream reaching Willow Creek. Booms were placed in Pumpkin Run and downstream in Willow Creek south of the 120th Street and Hwy 141 intersection. DNR Staff did not observe diesel fuel or any odors downstream of Simmons Creek.  The driver is cooperating with the DNR and local sheriff to clean-up the diesel fuel. No injuries were reported and no dead fish were observed. The investigation is ongoing.

To report a release after hours, please call the DNR’s emergency spill line at (515) 725-8694. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of an incident. The DNR website has more information about spill reporting requirements.

Boil advisory issued for City of Sidney

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES — A boil advisory has been issued for the City of Sidney in Fremont County due to a water main break. The incident occurred when a contractor hit a water main, resulting in pressure loss.

Repairs are being made and the advisory will remain in place until bacteria lab samples have come back negative. City officials are notifying residents via Facebook, the city website, and door to door notification.

Officials say there is no reason to believe water quality has been compromised, but as a precaution, customers are encouraged to boil water that will be consumed or used for food preparation. Water should be boiled for two minutes and allowed to cool before use. Water is safe to use for showering, laundry, general washing and outdoor use without boiling.

Radio Iowa High School Football Poll 8/26/2024

Sports

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Class 5A
1. Ankeny vs #7 Ankeny Centennial
2. WDM Valley @ #3 S.E. Polk
3. Southeast Polk vs #2 Valley
4. Dowling Catholic vs #5 Kennedy
5. Cedar Rapids Kennedy @ #4 Dowling Catholic
6. Waukee @ Ames
7. Ankeny Centennial vs #1 Ankeny
8. Iowa City High @ Joliet Catholic Academy
9. Waukee Northwest vs #10 Johnston
10.Johnston @ #9 Waukee Northwest

Class 4A
1. Lewis Central @ 3A #10 Harlan
2. North Scott @ Central DeWitt
3. Cedar Rapids Xavier vs #10 Waverly-Shell Rock
4. Western Dubuque vs 3A #5 West Delaware
5. Gilbert @ Dallas Center-Grimes
6. Bondurant-Farrar @ #7 North Polk
7. North Polk vs #6 Bondurant-Farrar
8. Indianola @ Urbandale
9. Decorah @ Waukon
10.Waverly-Shell Rock @ #3 Xavier

Class 3A
1. Williamsburg @ West Branch
2. Clear Lake vs Forest City
3. Algona @ 2A #1 Spirit Lake
4. Solon vs Davenport Assumption
5. West Delaware @ 4A #4 Western Dubuque
6. Independence vs North Fayette Valley
7. Humboldt @ Spencer
8. Nevada vs West Marshall
9. Mount Vernon @ Monticello
10.Harlan vs 4A #1 Lewis Central

Class 2A
1. Spirit Lake vs 3A #3 Algona
2. Van Meter vs 1A #4 Underwood
3. West Lyon vs Sioux Center
4. Caroll Kuemper vs Sioux City Heelan
5. Western Christian vs Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley
6. Mid-Prairie @ 1A #6 Wilton
7. PCM (Monroe) @ 1A #10 Sigourney-Keota
8. Clarinda @ Shenandoah
9. Central Lyon/GLR @ Emmetsburg
10.Roland-Story vs South Tama

Class 1A
1. Dike-New Hartford @ #3 Grundy Center
2. OABCIG @ Estherville Lincoln Central
3. Grundy Center vs #1 Dike-New Hartford
4. Underwood @ 2A #2 Van Meter
5. Treynor vs St. Albert
6. Wilton vs 2A #6 Mid-Prairie
7. MFL MarMac @ Crestwood
8. Iowa City Regina @ West Liberty
9. AHSTW (Avoca) @ Tri-Center
10.Sigourney-Keota vs 2A #7 PCM

Class A
1. Woodbury Central vs Lawton-Bronson
2. Madrid vs Woodward-Granger
3. AC/GC @ Ogden
4. West Hancock @ Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
5. Lisbon vs Durant
6. Wapsie Valley @ Jesup
7. Saint Ansgar @ Osage
8. Nashua-Plainfield vs Postville
9. Logan-Magnolia vs Missouri Valley
10.Starmont vs South Winneshiek

Eight-Player
1. Algona Garrigan vs St. Edmond
2. Bedford vs Moravia
3. Lenox vs Stanton
4. Remsen St. Mary’s @ Harris-Lake Park
5. CAM (Anita) vs #8 Audubon
6. Don Bosco vs #10 Gladbrook-Reinbeck
7. WACO (1-0) vs Coon Rapids-Bayard at Valley Stadium (Sat)
8. Audubon @ #5 CAM
9. Iowa Valley (1-0) vs Lone Tree
10.Gladbrook-Reinbeck @ #6 Don Bosco

Fate of collapsed Plymouth County bridge unknown

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The future of a rural Plymouth County bridge south of Struble that collapsed last week under the weight of a semi load of round hay bales remains in doubt. Mark Utesch farms land on both sides of the bridge, and thinks it may not be rebuilt.

“How you could see, potentially, depending on what kind of funds are available, you know, with the county and the state, how they might handle this bridge, if it’s an inconvenient factor for just a few people, you know, it might be considered not worth replacing. So if I had to think about who’s the most impacted by this bridge, I’m the guy,” he says. Utesch says he went around the bridge with heavy loads.

“This particular bridge is only rated for about 24 ton, so a loaded truck and trailer, or a heavier piece machine like a combine, I have to go a mile to the north, north, and then I come through Struble, and then I come a mile to the south, and then I go over this bridge that’s right next to us to go around,” Utesch says. “So I already have the extra couple miles of travel for with my heavier and wide equipment.”

The semi driver was not hurt in the bridge collapse. The truck has been pulled from the scene while a number of round bales that were on the truck remain.

Water buffalo runs loose in Pleasant Hill

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Police in a central Iowa city are telling residents to not approach a water buffalo that is roaming around.

Police in Pleasant Hill southeast of Des Moines say they were called about an animal in the road Saturday and it turned out to be a water buffalo. The owner of the animal told police it is aggressive and that proved to be true when Animal Control tried to contain it.

A police officer eventually fired one round from a shotgun at the water buffalo after police say it became aggressive toward them. The water buffalo fled and remains on the loose. The animal was last seen in Little Fourmile Creek heading southbound toward Scott Avenue and Oakwood Drive.

Pleasant Hill police are working with the Polk County Sheriff’s office to use a drone to try and find the animal.

Page County Sheriff’s report, 8/26/24

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests taking place from July 26th through August 5th. Here are the most recent arrests:

On August 5th: 34-year-old Nicholas Allen Gould, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance. two counts of Child Endangerment, Interference with Official Acts causing bodily injury, possession of drug paraphernalia, and making a false report; and 22-year-old Kaitlyn Elizabeth HeMiller, of Clarinda, was arrested on an active warrant for Failure to appear.

On August 4th, 36-year-old Thomas James Slater, of Shenandoah, was booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.

On August third, Page County deputies arrested: 43-year-old Timothy Lee Strange, of Shenandoah, for domestic abuse and possession of a controlled Substance; and, 47-year-old Jason Charles Allison, of Clarinda, was arrested for Domestic Abuse with a weapon.

There were three arrests on August 2nd in Page County: 42-year-old Shaun Allan Davidshofer, of Coin, was arrested for Driving while barred/habitual offender; 31-year-old Johnathan Blake Tucker, of Lawrenceburg, TN, was arrested on an active warrant for FTA; and, 40-year-old Corey Burton Dugger, of Onawa, was booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.

Read about the other arrests here: 7-27-24–8-5-24

ACGC Football is relying on depth for success

Sports

August 26th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The ACGC Chargers Football team is excited for the beginning of the 2024 season. The Chargers efforts last year saw an 8-0 regular season start, a district title, and a close 21-14 loss to the Madrid Tigers in the Class-A Quarterfinals to end their season with a 10-1 record. Now ACGC football is stacked with a 53-man roster and Head Coach Cody Matthewson is motivated by what he saw this past offseason.

After the work his team continually put in throughout the offseason and the size of this year’s squad. Coach Matthewson noted how much confidence that brings.

Players like senior Mason Wahl and senior Ben Franzeen have seemed to elevate their game to a higher standard. Franzeen had an impressive 2023 campaign with 41 tackles and 9.5 tackles for a loss.

On the offensive side of the ball ACGC is bringing back two 1,000-yard rushers in senior quarterback Jathan South and senior fullback Mike Fuller. Both players contributed to a positive scrimmage experience against the Des Moines Chrisitan Lions.

The Chargers first game of the regular season will be on the road against the Ogden Bulldogs. Last year’s matchup between these two turned into a nailbiter as ACGC escaped with a 20-19 win.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM Friday between the Bulldogs and Chargers.

Traffic stop in Creston results in a collision Monday afternoon

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – An attempt by police in Creston to stop a speeding vehicle, resulted in a collision this (Monday) afternoon. According to the Creston Police Department, a 2015 Toyota RAV 4 (SUV) driven by 40-year-old Alberto Alvarez Arronte, of Houston, TX, was traveling west on Townline Avenue at around 12:45-p.m., when the vehicle turned into a Bunn driveway and struck a 2015 Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by 32-year-old Jordan Leigh Killmon, of Creston, as she was in the driveway after having just dropped-off an employee of the company.

The Toyota had been clocked on radar traveling 80 mph on Osage Street, prior to the collision. Officers were attempting to pull Arronte over for the speeding violation, when he turned into the parking lot. Arronte was cited for speeding. No injuries were reported.

The damage to both vehicles amounted to $1,500 altogether.