United Group Insurance

MELVIN AUGUST COENEN, 93, of Elk Horn (Svcs. 4/19/16)

Obituaries

April 17th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

MELVIN AUGUST COENEN, 93, of Elk Horn, died Sat., April 16th, at Myrtue Medical Center, in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial for MELVIN COENEN will be held 11-a.m. Tue., April 19th, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, in Westphalia. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, April 18th, from 5-until 8-p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6-until 8-p.m. A Wake service will be held at the funeral home, beginning at 7-p.m., Monday.

Burial will be in the St. Boniface Cemetery at Westphalia.

MELVIN COENEN is survived by:

His sons -Dennis (Amy Jo) Coenen, of Harlan; Gailain (Georgiana) Coenen, of Grimes; Mike (Cindy) Coenen, of Ankeny, & Bob (Dede) Coenen, of Bouton.

His daughters – Connie (Tom) Hansen, of Harlan, and Carol (Tom) Gaul, of McCausland, IA.

His brothers – Clarence (Sharon Donlin) Coenen, of Harlan, & Virgil (MaryAnn) Coenen, of Earling.

His sister – Jan Rau, of Harlan.

15 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.

2 arrests in Red Oak overnight

News

April 17th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Two people were arrested on alcohol-related charges late Saturday night, in Red Oak. According to the Police report, 45-year old Shelby Joann Olivares was arrested at around 11:15-p.m., and 22-year old Dalton Paul Valentin, both of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:45-p.m.  Each was charged with Public Intoxication. Both were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond, each.

NWS forecast for Cass & surrounding Counties, 4/17/16

Weather

April 17th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Early This Morning: Mostly cloudy. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Today: Mostly cloudy. Breezy. High in the mid 70s. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of thunderstorms before midnight. A chance of light showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Low in the upper 50s. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph through midnight. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Monday: A chance of light showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms through mid morning…then light showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the late morning and afternoon. High in the mid 60s. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy. A chance of light showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms through midnight…then a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Low around 50. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Tuesday: Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of light showers. High in the upper 60s. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms. Low in the lower 50s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Wednesday: Showers likely and isolated thunderstorms. High in the upper 60s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Pacific Coast League Baseball Scores/Schedule (4/16-17)

Sports

April 17th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Saturday’s Games
Omaha 6, New Orleans 1

Iowa 7, Round Rock 0

Sunday’s (Today’s) Games
Omaha at New Orleans, 2 p.m.

Iowa at Round Rock, 2:05 p.m.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, April 17th 2016

News

April 17th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:40 a.m. CDT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man granted a new trial after initially being convicted and sentenced to 50 years for the death of his infant daughter has now pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and been released from prison. Paul Hill, 26, was released from prison Friday after spending nearly six years behind bars. An appeals court had ruled that police obtained statements from Hill in violation of his right to remain silent.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The Cedar Rapids Community School District will cut teachers and programs before the next school year starts in the fall to deal with a budget shortfall. Television station KCRG reports that the district has announced it will eliminate 10 elementary school and 13 high school teaching positions. It’s also getting rid of the Foreign Language in Elementary Schools program.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A psychiatrist says he plans to continue working as an expert witness in Iowa trials even though he no longer has a medical license. The Des Moines Register reports that Michael Taylor, of Cumming, surrendered his state license on April 8. The Iowa Board of Medicine says Taylor failed to maintain proper medical records on 11 patients.

SHERRILL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say fire has caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to a Canadian Pacific railroad bridge in eastern Iowa. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the fire occurred Friday afternoon. No one was injured. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department says the fire remains under investigation.

Reds erase early 4-run deficit, beat Cardinals 9-8

Sports

April 16th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Brandon Phillips, Zack Cozart and Jay Bruce had two RBIs apiece for the Cincinnati Reds, who erased an early four-run deficit against St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright in a 9-8 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday. Stephen Piscotty had four RBIs for St. Louis, and his three-run homer made it 4-0 in the second.

J.J. Hoover allowed a two-run homer to Brandon Moss before finishing for his first save. Wainwright (0-2) retired his first eight before Reds starter Brandon Finnegan (1-0) singled with two outs in the third. The two-time 20-game winner was charged with seven runs in 5 1/3 innings and has struggled mightily with an 8.27 ERA after missing most of 2015 with a torn left Achilles.

House fire in Atlantic Sat. afternoon

News

April 16th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters in Atlantic were called to the scene of a house fire, Saturday afternoon. The call amount smoke coming from all sides of the home at 602 Spruce Street, came in at around 2:53-p.m.  Heavy, brown smoke was pouring from the structure when law enforcement and fire crews arrived on the scene. All the residents were out of the home and there was no report of injuries.

Discarded smoking materials may have caused the blaze, according to officials, but the exact cause remained under investigation. Firefighters were on the scene for just under two-hours.

602 Spruce 003 602 Spruce 004

Ric Hanson (Photos)

Ric Hanson (Photos)

602 Spruce 002

Thousands in donations stolen from injured Iowa biker

News

April 16th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of dollars donated to help an Iowa motorcyclist who lost a leg in a crash have been stolen. Now, the Des Moines motorcycle community is stepping up to help. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that thieves stole more than $2,000 collected since last month to help 33-year-old Matt Brooks, who remains hospitalized following his March 17 crash.

Brooks’ friend, Bruce Cronk, says the money was collected in jars and containers and taken to Brooks’ mother’s house, where she kept the money in a safe. Police say it was stolen by two people who kicked in the woman’s back door on Friday. Cronk and several friends are now selling T-shirts and preparing benefits to help raise more money for Brooks.

Sioux City airport plan to see $4 million taxiway project

News

April 16th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Sioux Gateway Airport board has approved an agreement with the 185th Refueling Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard for a proposed $4 million taxiway project. Airport director Mike Collett tells the Sioux City Journal that the project will replace a current taxiway connector on the far north end of the main runway. Collett says the Guard’s refueling tankers require a wider taxiway.

Under the agreement approved Thursday, the 185th would pay $1.8 million of the total cost. The Federal Aviation Administration would front $2 million, and the city of Sioux City would pitch in the remaining $200,000. The agreement is expected to be presented to the City Council later this month for final approval.

Northwestern Iowa lottery player hits big prize twice

News

April 16th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — Don’t tell Clark Voge, of Cherokee, Iowa, that lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. The Sioux City Journal reports that the northwest Iowa man has hit two $30,000 lottery jackpots in as many months. Voge claimed a $30,000 prize Wednesday from a scratch-off ticket. He did the same thing just a month earlier. Both winning tickets were bought at Sparky’s, a convenience store in Cherokee.

The Iowa Lottery says the odds of winning the jackpot on that scratch game are 1 in 120,211. Voge says he plans to save most of his winnings.