United Group Insurance

Clinton picks Kaine, NOT Vilsack, as running mate

News

July 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was rumored to be one of the finalists to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate, but she announced Friday evening her final choice is Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. Vilsack and Clinton have known one another for four decades.

Vilsack’s first connection to Hillary Clinton runs through his wife and late brother-in-law. Tom Bell worked with Clinton on the investigation into the Watergate scandal. Clinton responded to the call when Tom Vilsack was running for governor in 1998, trailing badly in the polls and short of campaign cash. Clinton, who was the nation’s first lady at the time, hosted a fundraiser for Vilsack in Washington, D.C.

Clinton has described the speech Vilsack gave at the event as one of the best she’s ever heard. Vilsack and his wife have backed both of Clinton’s bid for the White House. Vilsack served two terms as Iowa’s governor. Hehas been President Obama’s first and only agriculture secretary. Vilsack and his wife own a home in central Iowa, near where his son, daughter-in-law and grandkids live.

Vilsack, who is 65 years old, talked last year about life after the Obama Administration. He said he wants to move back to Iowa full-time — at some point. That leaves the door open to staying in Washington and working in the next administration, if Clinton wins in November.

(Radio Iowa)

State Baseball Tournament: Day 1 scores (7/22/16)

Sports

July 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The State Baseball Tournament got underway with the quarterfinals in Class 1A Friday evening at Principal Park, in Des Moines. It was a back-and-forth contest in the first game, as the Remsen St. Mary’s Hawks topped the Highland Huskies 10-5 Friday night. Brody Burton took the mound for Highland but was chased after one inning of work after giving up four runs off three hits, a walk and two hit batters. Remsen St. Mary’s advances to the 1A semifinals that will take place on Thursday. They will face Newman Catholic.

In game two, Newman Catholic took an 12-2 run-rule victory over Nodaway Valley in six innings. Caden Kratz took the mound for Newman allowing two runs — one earned — in the first and then followed with five scoreless innings. Kratz finished the night with 10 strikeouts, one walk and allowed three hits through six innings of work.

Nodaway Valley struck early after a pair of errors by Newman’s Ben Fitzgerald and a RBI single by Tyler Vandewater put two on the board for the Wolverines in the top of the first. Jackson Lamb got the ball for Nodaway Valley and gave up seven earned runs off six hits in one inning of work. Newman Catholic responded in the bottom of the first, batting around the order with a trio of singles and a stand-up triple by Josh Fitzgerald that allowed the Knights to jump out to a 5-2 lead.

Ben Fitzgerald extended the Knights’ lead with a solo shot over the right field fence. Bryce Ball followed with another stand-up triple for Newman and ultimately scored off a RBI-single by Parker Dondlinger. Matthew Fitzsimmons made it 8-2 Knights with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Knights added three runs in third inning and one in the sixth including a two-run homer to right field by Ball. He finished the night 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Ben Fitzgerald paced the Knights’ offense, batting 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a RBI. Brandon Mangles entered to pitch for the Wolverines in the third and would throw for three innings, allowing just two hits and no earned runs after facing 10 batters.

Newman Catholic advances to the Class 1A semifinals and will face Remsen St. Mary’s on Thursday at Principal ParkToday’s (Saturday’s) schedule pits #2 seed West Sioux (25-2) against #7 Edgewood-Colesburg (21-12), @ 5-p.m., followed at 7:30 by #3 Don Bosco (34-4) vs. #6 Tri-Center/Neola (19-8).

2016 State Softball Tournament All-Tournament Teams

Sports

July 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Class 3A: Jaicee Lyons, Benton Community; Sophie Van Severen, Davenport Assumption; Shelby Hulsebus, Benton Community; Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley; Bryn Hanrahan, Solon; Sydney Lawson, Solon; Payge Jurgens, CMB; Nicole Timmons, Davenport Assumption; Alyssa Wiebel, Benton Community; Emma Valainis, Davenport Assumption; Amber Fiser, Benton Community (captain)

Class 2A: Katie Bracken, Iowa City Regina; Dion Shirley, Van Meter; Olivia Callaway, BCLUW; Jenna Peschel, Logan-Magnolia; Kylan Straight, Logan-Magnolia; Kennedy Brown, Iowa City Regina; Meagan Blomgren, Van Meter; Emma Corkery, Iowa City Regina; Mackenzie Blomgren, Van Meter; Sarah Lehman, Iowa City Regina; Bailey Richards, Van Meter (Captain).

Class 1A: Nicki Wood, Kee; Brynn Van Eldik, Akron-Westfield; Jamie Jordan, Martensdale-St. Marys; Jordan Wilken, Newell-Fonda; Kyla Morris, Martensdale-St. Marys; Ann Hedlund, Akron-Westfield; Kendra Cooper, Kee; Bailey Davis, Akron-Westfield; Chloe Severson, Kee; Katie Johnson, Akron-Westfield; Courtney Cooper, Kee (captain).

Class 4A: Alexis Westercamp, Oskaloosa; Alyvia Dubois, Carlisle; Ashley Kindley, Oskaloosa; Breanna Hunter, Boone; Kenady Waugh, Fairfield; Alli Deao, Fairfield; Laurens Calkins, Boone; Alyssa Brown, Carlisle; Aubrey Miller, Oskaloosa; Gabby Schnathorst, Carlisle; Alexis Groet, Oskaloosa (Captain).

Class 5A: Ally Schaer, Johnston; Rachel Tebbe, Pleasant Valley; Alexia Lara, Pleasant Valley; Lauren Kuch, Cedar Rapids Prairie; Bella Crow, Urbandale; Mandi Roemmich, West Des Moines Valley; Skyler Shellmyer, Urbandale; Alex Honnold, West Des Moines Valley; Brooke Wilmes, Johnston; Ellie Spellhaug, Pleasant Valley; Haylee Towers, Johnston (captain).

State Softball Championship Scores from Friday, 7/22/16

Sports

July 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Class 3A

3rd Place

Solon 6, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 3

Class 3A State Championship

Benton 8, Davenport Assumption 0

Class 4A

3rd Place

Fairfield 10, Boone 0 (5-innings)

Class 4A Championship

Oskaloosa 6, Carlisle 5

Class 5A

3rd Place

West Des Moines Valley 7, Urbandale 1

Class 5A Championship

Johnston 3, Pleasant Valley 2

Class 1A

3rd Place

Martensdale-St. Mary’s 5, Newell-Fonda 2

Class 1A Championship

Kee 7, Akron-Westfield 3

Class 2A

3rd Place

Logan-Magnolia 3, BCLUW 0

Class 2A Championship

Van Meter 3, Iowa City Regina 0

Cards win 16-inning marathon over L.A., 4-3

Sports

July 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The St. Louis Cardinals won a 16-inning marathon late Friday night, by edging the L.A. Dodgers 4-3. Matt Adams ended it with a walkoff homer in the 16th. The Cards have won five in a row, their longest win streak of the season. It was the second consecutive game that the Cardinals won in their final at-bat. They beat the Padres on Thursday after scoring a run in the ninth inning.

The Cardinals have used only five starting pitchers this season, the lowest total in the majors. They will likely need a sixth starter for the Sunday night game against the Dodgers, thanks to a rain out earlier in the homestand. RHP Kenta Maeda (8-7, 3.25) will face RHP Mike Leake (7-7, 4.30) in the second game of the three-game set this (Saturday) evening. Maeda is 5-2 with a 3.31 ERA in nine road starts this season. Leake has not walked a batter in the last 19 innings covering three starts.

Iowa early News Headlines: Saturday, 7/23/16

News

July 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:00 a.m. CDT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Woodbury County jury has found a Sioux City man guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of another man in the northwest Iowa community of Sloan. The jury found 30-year-old Timothy Schroeder guilty Friday for the Jan. 9, 2015, death of 29-year-old Dustin Wilder at Wilder’s home. The verdict came only hours after closing arguments in the case were made.

GRIMES, Iowa (AP) — Police in a suburban Des Moines city say a young boy has been found dead and his mother unresponsive inside a home. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that police and medics responded to the Grimes home following a 911 call just after 10 a.m. Friday. Polk County Sheriff’s Major Brent Long says a child about 7 or 8 years old was found alone outside in the yard when officers arrive. The mother and dead boy were found inside.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An idled steel castings foundry in Keokuk may come to life again and create 200 jobs with approval of state incentives. The Iowa Economic Development Board on Friday approved $1 million in loans and additional tax breaks to reopen the former Keokuk Steel Manufacturing Co.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say heavy rainfall caused a section of roof on the former Dubuque Brewing & Malting building to collapse. The Telegraph Herald reports that the collapse happened after storms dropped about 1.5 inches of rain on the area Thursday night. The building, erected in 1920, currently houses Auto & Truck Parts Inc.

Cass County Public Health Partners with CCHS

News

July 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) say as of July 1st, CCHS is now the official public health agency for Cass County. Public Health’s goal is to improve and protect the health of area residents, and the department will continue to partner with the Local Board of Health, healthcare providers, organizations, and the Iowa Department of Public Health to provide quality services for Cass County residents.

Public Health Staff

Public Health Staff

Beth Olsen, RD, who is the new director of Cass County Public Health, says “Our goal as your local public health agency is to prevent injuries, promote healthy behaviors, protect against environmental hazards, strengthen the public health infrastructure, prevent the spread of disease, and manage public health emergencies.”

Current Public Health programs include: Parents as Teachers, Care for Yourself, Wise Women, maternal child health, family planning, lead poisoning surveillance, immunization programs, disease surveillance and volunteer transportation.

Questions about Cass County Public Health services should be directed to 712-243-7546 or their office at 1408 East 10th Street.

Fremont County Roads to be closed for RAGBRAI

News

July 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports three roads will be closed to thru traffic from 9-a.m. to 7-p.m. Sunday, July 24th, due to RAGBRAI. The roads are:

  • 120th Street (J-18) from US Highway 275 to US Highway 59.
  • 330th Avenue (L-68) from Waubonsie Avenue to State Highway 2, and
  • 190th Street (J-32) from 330th Avenue to US Highway 59.

Ballots for Atlantic School District V-PPEL now available

News

July 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports ballots for the September 13th, 2016 Atlantic Community School District public measure election are now available at the Cass County Auditor’s office. If you are a resident of the Atlantic Community School District and will be unable to go to the voting center on September 13th or you choose to cast your vote early for any reason, you may vote by mail by sending a request for an absentee ballot to the Cass County Auditor’s office. Alternatively, you may stop and vote at the Cass County Auditor’s office in Atlantic, Iowa during office hours: 8 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

PUBLIC MEASURE B: ” Shall the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Community School District in the Counties of Cass, Pottawattamie, and Audubon, State of Iowa, be authorized for a period of ten (10) years, to levy and impose a voter approved physical plant and equipment tax not to exceed eighty-five cents (85¢) per one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of assessed valuation of the taxable property within the school district, and be authorized annually, in combination, as determined by the board, to levy a physical plant and equipment property tax upon all the taxable property within the school district commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, and to impose a physical plant and equipment income surtax upon the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the school district on December 31 for each calendar year commencing with the 2017 calendar year, or each year thereafter, (the percent of income surtax not to exceed twenty percent (20%) to be determined by the board each year), to be used for the purposes permitted by Iowa law, it being understood that if this proposition should fail to be approved by the voters, such failure shall not be construed to terminate or restrict authority previously granted by the voters to levy a special tax for any one or more of the purposes permitted by Iowa law?”

The ATLANTIC COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT consists of Cass, Audubon and Pottawattamie counties. The polls will open at 12-NOON and close at 8:00 P.M. Sept. 13th. The election is “AT LARGE,” meaning that all residents of the entire school district may vote for the public measure. If you are not sure where you vote in the SCHOOL ELECTION (which may differ from that of other elections), please call the office of the Cass County Election Commissioner (County Auditor): 243-4570.

NOTE: ONLY TWO VOTING CENTERS WILL BE USED FOR THIS ELECTION: VOTING CENTER 1: Voters living in Wards 1, 4 and 5 of the City of Atlantic will vote at HERITAGE HOUSE, 1200 Brook Ridge Circle in Atlantic. VOTING CENTER 2: Voters living in the remainder of the Atlantic Community School District, being those voters residing in Audubon and Pottawattamie counties; Bear Grove, Benton, Brighton, Cass, Franklin, Grove, Pymosa and Washington townships of Cass County; the City of Marne; the City of Wiota; and Wards 2 and 3 of the City of Atlantic will vote at the ATLANTIC PUBLIC LIBRARY (507 Poplar), Atlantic.

Jury finds Schroeder guilty of murder in Sloan slaying

News

July 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Woodbury County jury has found a Sioux City man guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of another man in the northwest Iowa community of Sloan. The jury found 30-year-old Timothy Schroeder guilty Friday for the Jan. 9, 2015, death of 29-year-old Dustin Wilder at Wilder’s home. The verdict came only hours after closing arguments in the case were made.

Prosecutors say Schroeder and his wife met Wilder after midnight the day of Wilder’s death at a Sloan bar. Investigators say Schroeder acknowledged that he and his wife later drove an intoxicated Wilder to his home. Schroeder maintained his innocence, saying he and his wife only helped Wilder find his phone, then left after about 20 minutes.