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UCF Evens Series, Downs ISU in Six

Sports

May 5th, 2024 by admin

AMES, Iowa – After a run-rule win in five innings in the series-opener, Iowa State (20-29, 6-17 Big 12) got a taste of its own medicine in game two, as UCF (29-22, 11-15 Big 12) responded on Saturday, evening the series at one apiece at it run-ruled the Cyclones, 12-3, in six innings of action.

The UCF bats that produced just two hits on Friday came alive on Saturday, as the Knights produced 13 hits – eight of which went for extra bases. Four Knights had multiple hits on the game while three had multiple RBI.

For the Cyclones, Alesia Ranches was the only player to earn more than one hit, as the fifth-year senior blasted a home run in her second straight game. Tiana Poole, Milaysia Ochoa and Ashley Minor also procured hits on the day.

After a dominant outing at Drake where she picked up her third save of the season, Jaiden Ralston (4-8) was unable to subdue the UCF bats as she gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits. Aziza Rodriguez also saw time in the circle, matching Ralston’s six runs given up and picking up a pair of punchouts.

Shannon Doherty had a game-high three hits for the Knights as well as a game-high three RBI. Third baseman Jada Cody also had a monster game for UCF as she had two RBI on two hits with a walk. She also flashed the leather on multiple occasions at the hot corner, preventing Cyclone hits.

Kaitlyn Felton (11-5) picked up the win for the Knights, tossing five innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Felton notched three strikeouts before being replaced by Katelyn Cochran who hurled the final stanza, recording two punchouts.

How it Happened

The first inning was scoreless on each side – and was the only scoreless frame of the afternoon.

UCF got the scoring started in the second inning. Chloe Evans laced a leadoff double to the wall and would eventually steal third, putting the Knights in a good spot with no outs. A Jasmine Williams sac fly would bring her in and make it 1-0 early.

UCF tacked on two more in the third. Another RBI from Williams, this time a double, scored one and then a Cyclone error allowed another to cross.

The Knights then proceeded to plate three runs in the next four innings, running their team total to 12 by the end of the game.

ISU’s first run would come in the fourth via Minor who blasted a leadoff, first-pitch solo shot to put ISU on the board.

Then, in the fifth inning, losing 9-1 and down to their final strike, Alesia Ranches belted a two-run homer to trim the Knight lead to six and avoid a five-inning run rule.

UCF would ultimately secure the run rule victory with their fourth-straight three run inning in the sixth, as the Knights tied the series up at one apiece heading into Sunday.

On Deck

Iowa State will conclude the regular season tomorrow, May 5, when it hosts the UCF Knights at the Cyclone Sports Complex for the third and final game of the regular season finale series. Sunday’s game is also Senior Day. Tomorrow’s action begins at noon and will be livestreamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

Posted in Sports |

Hawkeyes Top Illini

Sports

May 5th, 2024 by admin

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Iowa softball team defeated Illinois, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon at Eichelberger Field.

Freshman Jaylee Ojo (4-3) got the start for the Hawkeyes and had a career day throwing her third complete game of the season. Freshman Soo-Jin Berry was the only Iowa hitter to have a multi-hit game going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Hawkeyes were able to load the bases in the top of the second with one out and sophomore Skylinn Pogue capitalized with and RBI single to left field. Senior Grace Baes followed suit with an RBI single of her own to give Iowa the, 2-0, lead. Illinois got one back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

Iowa kept its offense going in the top of the third with an RBI double from freshman Soo-Jin Berry to score Devin Bowman from first base making it a, 3-1, game. Ojo continued to mow down the Illini hitters picking up three strikeouts in the bottom of the third inning.

The Hawkeyes added insurance in the top of the sixth on an RBI double from Avery Jackson and a sac fly from Banes to extend the lead to three. Ojo got into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh as the Illini loaded the bases with no outs. Illinois plated one run on a sac fly to make it, 5-3, and loaded the bases once again. Ojo locked in and got the final two outs to secure the Hawkeye victory.

Iowa finished the game with five runs on nine hits and one error

Posted in Sports |

Woman tries to ride freight train rather than drive home drunk

News

May 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A woman from the small town of Hinton in northwest Iowa was arrested early Friday morning on the freight train she’d climbed aboard in Sioux City. The Sioux County sheriff says 46-year-old Shannon Heckler called 911 to report that she was riding on a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train car that was north of Sioux Center.

Heckler said she climbed on the train in Sioux City, in an attempt to get to her home in Hinton. Hinton is between Sioux City and Sioux Center.

Sioux County Sheriff’s Office photo of Shannon Heckler

Sioux County officials contacted the railroad and the train’s crew stopped the train near Sioux Center. Officers found Heckler, she was taken to the Sioux County Jail and charged with public intoxication and trespassing.

Posted in News |

MARTY MILLS, 84, formerly of Cumberland (Mass of Christian Burial 5/10/24)

Obituaries

May 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MARTY MILLS, 84, of Lee’s Summit, MO (formerly of Cumberland), died Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the St. Lukes Hospice Home in Kansas City, Missouri. A Mass of Christian Burial for MARTY MILLS will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday, May 10, 2024, at  St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, in rural Cumberland. Lamb Funeral Home in Massena is in charge of the arrangements.

The family will greet friends on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Massena from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Burial is in the St. Timothy’s Catholic Cemetery.  A luncheon will be at the church hall following the burial. 

Memorials may be directed to the Marty Mills Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

MARTY MILLS is survived by:

His sons – Derek (Pam) Mills, of Raymore, MO, and Mark (Michele) Mills,  of Lee’s Summit, MO.

His daughter –  Andrea Schaap (& David Peterson), of Conifer, CO.

His step-children: Shari Exceen, of Cumberland, and David Powell, of West Palm Beach, FL.

12 twelve grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

RON DANT, 88, of Atlantic (Graveside Svcs. 5/11/24)

Obituaries

May 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

RON DANT, 88, of Atlantic, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Caring Acres in Anita. A portion of RON DANT‘s cremated remains will be placed next to each of his wives.  He will be laid to rest next to Norma at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 11th in the Atlantic Cemetery.  Immediately following, at approximately 11:30 a.m., he will be laid to rest next to Helen at Oaklawn Cemetery in Oakland with military honors performed by the Atlantic Color Guard. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic is handling the arrangements.

RON DANT is survived by: his daughter – Cindy Blair, of Wiota; 4 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Report of shots fired results in the arrest of a Griswold man Saturday night

News

May 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – (Corrects location of incident to Elliott)  A report of shots fired at a residence in the 100 block of Oak Street, in Elliott, Saturday night, resulted in the arrest of a man from Griswold. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies responded to the scene at around 10:16-p.m., in Elliott Upon investigation, Deputies arrested 42-year-old Justin Michael Strong, of Griswold, for: Assault with a dangerous weapon – an Aggravated Misdemeanor; Reckless Use of a Firearm – a Simple Misdemeanor; Possession of a firearm by a Prohibited Person – a Class-D Felony; Dangerous weapon used in a Crime – an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Interference with Official Acts – a Simple Misdemeanor.

Justin Strong was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Posted in News |

Kentucky Derby watch party raises funds for an Iowa City hospital’s nurses

News

May 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – A Kentucky Derby watch party in Iowa City on Saturday was about more than horses and hats—it was a fundraiser to support nurses in a field with a lot of burnout and turnover. KCRG says specifically, the money raised will support the nurses who work on the 11th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital with pediatric oncology patients. It’s a tough job, and so the money goes to keeping up morale.

The American Nurses Association said a 2020 survey indicated almost two-thirds of nurses experience burnout. According to the most recent staff engagement survey at Children’s Hospital, 33% of staff reported that they have an unreasonable amount of job stress.

The nurses on the 11th floor face particular intensity and stress. Crystal Walter, with Northwestern Mutual, said, “The turnover rate because of—pediatric oncology is very difficult. And with COVID, there was just a lot of burnout and stress. And so it was very difficult for them to keep nurses on that floor particularly.”

The company started the fund after winning a grant.

Posted in News |

Griswold man arrested Saturday in Red Oak

News

May 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man from Cass County (IA) was arrested Saturday, on an Assault charge. 39-year-old Michael Scott Stafford, of Griswold, was arrested just before 7-p.m., at 3rd and Elm Streets, in Red Oak. Stafford was charged with Domestic Assault/2nd Offense-causing bodily injury – an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Stafford was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Sunday, May 5, 2024

Weather

May 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 67. E/SE winds 5-10.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow: Partly sunny & windy, w/a 40% chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High near 73. S/SE winds 15-30 mph.

Monday Night: A 90% chance of showers & thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 52.  New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday: Thunderstorms ending in the morning; Becoming mostly sunny & breezy. High near 73. W/SW winds 10-25 mph.

Wednesday: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, otherwise mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Saturday’s High temperature in Atlantic was 62. The Low was 37. Last year on this date, the High was 62 and the Low was 56. The Record High set on May 5th in Atlantic was 96 in 1909. The Record Low was 28 in 2021. Sunrise: 6:12. Sunset: 8:22.

Posted in Weather |

Letter from more than 5 dozen Iowans asks for formal investigation into SW IA fertizler spill

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A letter to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from more the five-dozen Iowans from 18 counties, are asking state agencies for a formal investigation of an “unprecedented” fertilizer spill that in March killed 750,000 fish in a Southwest Iowa river. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reports 63 people signed onto the letter asking for the DNR to pursue “penalties and civil actions,” including referring enforcement to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, which can pursue bigger fines.  Signers of the letter include people from Cass, Clayton, Crawford, Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Johnson, Linn, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscatine, Page, Polk, Pottawattamie, Story, Warren, Wayne and Winneshiek counties.

(View a copy of the letter HERE)

Around March 9, someone at the NEW Cooperative in Red Oak left open a hose valve that leaked about 265,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer into a drainage ditch that went to the East Nishnabotna River. An employee noticed the spill March 11 and alerted the Iowa DNR.

The Gazette reports Neil Hamilton, a Drake University emeritus professor of agricultural law, wrote in the letter dated April 29th, “The extent of this pollution event is unprecedented and requires the attention of all Iowans. The devastation of life in over 50 miles of the river, including the death of 750,000 fish as reported by your dedicated staff, is difficult to even comprehend.”

New Cooperative spill (File photo from the Iowa DNR)

Enforcement action was still being considered by the DNR. The agency can pursue civil penalties of up to $10,000, but the Iowa Attorney General can pursue penalties of up to $5,000 per day, per violation, for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit holders.

In addition to seeking higher penalties for offenders, the letter asks the Iowa DNR to work with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to review rules about agricultural chemical storage to see if they are adequate to protect waterways.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |