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NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties, 2/15/16

Weather

February 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Early This Morning: Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of light snow. Southwest wind near 5 mph.

Today: Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly sunny. High around 40. Southwest wind near 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain and a slight chance of light freezing rain through midnight…then rain and snow likely after midnight. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. No ice accumulation. Low in the lower 30s. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Breezy. High in the upper 30s. Northwest wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday: Partly sunny. High in the upper 30s. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny. Breezy…warmer. High in the lower 50s.

No. 4 Iowa holds off skidding Minnesota 75-71 to regain 1st

Sports

February 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Peter Jok scored 27 points and Jarrod Uthoff had 24 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots to help fourth-ranked Iowa hold off skidding Minnesota 75-71 on Sunday night. Iowa rebounded from Thursday’s loss at Indiana to regain sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

Nate Mason scored 14 points to lead Minnesota, which has lost 14 straight games. Uthoff overcame a slow start shooting by recording a big dunk, three blocks and a pair of free throws in the final 1:17 to help secure the victory for the Hawkeyes (20-5, 11-2).

Jok shot 8 of 14 and hit four 3-pointers. Minnesota (6-19, 0-13) cut Iowa’s lead to 66-64 on two free throws by Joey King with 2:58 remaining, but the Gophers went 2 of 8 from the field in the final 2 minutes.

Bridgewater woman arrested on DOC warrant

News

February 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A woman from Bridgewater was arrested last week in Adair County, on a Dept. of Corrections warrant for Parole Violation on an original felony controlled substance violation charge. 41-year old Virginia Jean Keasey was taken into custody by Adair County Deputies on Feb. 10th and immediately transferred to the authority of Ringgold County. She remains in the Ringgold County Jail, with a probation hearing was set for Feb. 26th.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 35-year old Robert Sims, of Bridgewater, was arrested at around 11:50-p.m. on Feb. 11th, for Driving Under Suspension. Sims was cited at the scene of the traffic stop, and then released from custody.

1 person injured in snowmobiling accident near Boone, Sunday

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say a Grand Junction man was seriously injured Sunday afternoon while snowmobiling west of Boone along U.S. Highway 30. 35-year old Damion Louk was third in line of five snowmobiles traveling eastbound in the median of the highway,when the left front ski caught deep snow near a culvert snapping the connections and sending him and the snowmobile air born.

Louk was traveling at an estimated speed of 60 miles per hour and was thrown approximately 150 feet before landing near the shoulder of the highway. Authorities say they believe his helmet may have not been fastened, as it came off during the incident and landed separately. Louk was transported to Boone County Hospital where he was later transferred by helicopter to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

The incident remains under investigation. Deputies with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, members of the Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Department of Natural Resources assisted at the scene.

JOHN ALLEN HAVENS, 80, of Greenfield (Svcs. 2/17/16)

Obituaries

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

JOHN ALLEN HAVENS, 80, of Greenfield, died Sunday, February 14, 2014, at his home. Funeral services for JOHN HAVENS will be held 10-a.m. Wed., Feb. 17th, at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenfield. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation is open at the funeral home on Tuesday, February 16th , from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends 6 to 8 p.m. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery.  A luncheon will be held at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Greenfield, following the committal services at the cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the John Allen Havens memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

JOHN HAVENS is survived by:

His wife – Delores.

His children – Tonna (Bob) Twombly, of Greenfield; Scott (ZoeAnn) Havens, of Jefferson, and Chris (Bev) Havens, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

His sister – Janet (Wendell) Holliday.

8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, his sister-in-law, Norma Huff and brother-in-law, John Eason and many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Area School Board meeting agenda’s for Monday, 2/15/16

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Several area school district Boards of Education are holding their regular monthly meetings, Monday evening. When the CAM School District Board gathers for their meeting at 6:30-p.m. in the Anita High School Media Center, they’ll discuss and/or take action on: Open enrollment applications; Resignations/early retirements; Contracts; Bids for a Chevy Suburban; Driver Education contract/fees; the CAM Education Association (CAMEA) initiation of bargaining toward the 2016-17 Master Contract, and they’ll review the abstract votes from the PPEL election as well as discuss the Capital Projects plan.

The Audubon School Board meeting will be held in the High School Board Room beginning at 7-p.m., Monday. On their agenda is: Approval of the Auditor’s Report; The initial proposal from the Audubon Education Assoc.; The final reading of Board Polices pertaining to Board Conflicts of Interest, Transporting students in private vehicles, employee qualification and recruitment selection, purchasing/bidding, and the care, maintenance and disposal of school district records.

Other Action items include the acceptance of a quote for the softball field light project, and approval of the FY 2017 School Calendar, along with a decision on school Make-up days. Prior to adjournment, the Audubon School Board will hold an Exempt Session for strategy negotiations with a collective bargaining unit.

And, in Elk Horn, the Exira-EHK School Board meeting begins 7-p.m. Monday in the High School Conference Room. On the agenda is Driver’s Ed teacher contracts, the future of Early Retirements, and approval of a Superintendent contract for 2016-17.

Griswold School Board meeting set for Feb. 15th

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Members of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening (Feb. 15th), during a regularly scheduled session in the Central Office Board Room. During their 5:30-p.m. session, the Board will receive follow-up information on the Security project, as well as discuss and act on the second reading of various Board Policies.

New business for the Griswold School Board includes: Setting the specifications for Mowing and Liability Insurance; Approval of Early Retirement applications; Reviewing bids for lawn chemical application; Board Self-Assessment, and Discussion on Sharing with other districts. They’ll also hold the first-reading of numerous Board Policies.

Gov. Branstad orders flags at half-staff to honor Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from sunrise Monday, Feb. 15, 2016 until sunset, on the day of internment, to honor former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Scalia passed away on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

Some Iowa teacher misconduct not reported to national group

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — At least 103 cases of teacher misconduct in Iowa were omitted from a national database since 1990. The Des Moines Register’s investigation  revealed errors in Iowa’s information, so state officials have ordered a full audit of the system.

Duane Magee leads the Iowa agency that licenses teachers. He says the state wants to make sure that all of the teachers sanctioned in the state are reported to the national database. State law also limits the amount of information the state Board of Educational Examiners can share about teachers, which could make it hard for school districts to ensure they’re not hiring someone with a criminal record.

2 arrested on felony charges Saturday evening in Adams County

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Dimmler

Sydney Dimmler

Welcher

Gregory Welcher

Sheriff’s Deputies in Adams County arrested two people Saturday evening on felony charges. 19-year old Gregory Welcher, of Thayer, and 18-year old Sydney Dimmler, of Corning, were arrested at around 6:25-p.m.

Welcher faces a Class-B felony charge of Distribution to a Person Under 18 on Certain Real Property. His bond was set at $25,000. Dimmler faces a Class-D felony charge of Conspiracy to Distribute to a Minor. Dimmler posted a $5,000 bond and was released from custody.

The case remains under investigation.