United Group Insurance

Strong winds tear apart semi trailer near Shelby, Tuesday

News

September 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A strong cross wind caused an accident Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 80 near Shelby. The Iowa State Patrol says 55-year old Douglas Meeder, of Lake Station, IN, was driving a 2010 Freightliner semi eastbound on I-80 just before 6-p.m., when a gust of wind caused the semi trailer’s roof to tear off. As a result, the bed of the trailer collapsed, and broke in-half under the weight of a 42,000 pound load. The semi was registered to Sterling Express, LTS, out of Valparaiso, IN.

Meeder was transported by Shelby Rescue to Myrtue Memorial Hospital, for treatment of undisclosed, possible injuries.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., 9/16/2015

News

September 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President Barack Obama has nominated a judge to serve on a U.S. District Court representing Iowa. Obama announced that Rebecca Ebinger would be his nominee to serve as a judge on the court for the southern district of Iowa. Ebinger has served as a state district judge in Iowa since 2012. Prior to that, she served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the criminal division of the same U.S. court. She served in a similar role for the U.S. court for the northern district of Iowa from 2009 to 2011.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has scheduled a special election to fill the House District 5 seat left open by the resignation of Chuck Soderberg. Branstad says the election would be held Nov. 3 for the district that includes Plymouth County and part of Woodbury County. Soderberg, a Republican from Le Mars, announced last month that he will resign from the Iowa House to become the executive vice president and general manager of the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has issued a disaster proclamation for two counties to respond to recent storms. Branstad announced the declaration for Guthrie and Hamilton counties. The counties were hit by severe storms that started on August 28. Under the declaration, state resources can be used to help the counties recover from the storms. Households that meet certain income requirements also can apply for grants to help pay for expenses related to storm recovery.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An upcoming Iowa Democratic Party dinner will feature appearances by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley and Lincoln Chafee. The Democratic presidential candidates will appear at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Des Moines on Oct. 24. The candidates are vying for support in the leadoff caucus state.

JERRY HOWARD DAVIS, 60, of Harlan (Svcs. 09-18-2015)

Obituaries

September 15th, 2015 by admin

JERRY HOWARD DAVIS, 60, of Harlan died Tuesday, September 15th at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, NE.  Funeral services for JERRY HOWARD DAVIS will be held on Friday, September 18th at 2:00pm at United Methodist Church in Harlan.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held Thursday, September 17th from 8:00am-9:00pm with the family greeting friends from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

JERRY HOWARD DAVIS is survived by:

Wife: Leah (Mogg) Davis of Harlan.

Sons: Trevor (Kendal) Davis of Omaha, NE.  Tanner (Friend Danielle) Davis of Des Moines.

Daughter: Kelsey (Todd) Bruck of Harlan.

Sisters: Dixie (Sonny) Goans of Kirkman.  Barb (Kim) Swanson of Harlan.  Sandy Markkula of Meridian, ID. Debbie (Jimmy) Davis of Wichita, KS.

Brothers: John (Judy) Davis of Harlan.  Jeff Davis of Creston.

4 Grandchildren

Massena crash claims 2nd victim

News

September 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A head-on crash on Highway 92 last week has now claimed the lives of both drivers. 72-year old Robert Bagshaw, of Massena, died Monday at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, where he was flown following an accident that happened at around 1-p.m. Thursday, west of Massena. The other driver, 67-year old Mary Lou Ranney, also of Massena, died at the scene.

The Iowa State Patrol said Ranney’s car was westbound on 92 when for unknown reasons, it crossed the center line and struck an eastbound pickup driven by Bagshaw. The accident remained under investigation.

ROBERT BAGSHAW, 72, of Massena (Svcs. 9/21/15)

Obituaries

September 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ROBERT BAGSHAW, 72, of Massena, died Mon., Sept. 14th, at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. Funeral services for ROBERT BAGSHAW will be held 11-a.m. Monday, September 21st, at the Baptist Church in Massena. Steen Funeral Home in Massena has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home from Noon until 5-p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20th, with the family greeting friends from 3-until 5-p.m. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial, with full military graveside rites conducted by the Anita American Legion Post No. 210, will be at the Victoria Township Cemetery, rural Massena.

Memorial may be directed to the Robert Bagshaw memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

ROBERT BAGSHAW is survived by:

His children – Robert Bagshaw, Jr. (Kathrine), of Massena; Debra Greathouse (Joseph), of Massena; and John Bagshaw (Leigh), of Council Bluffs;

His sister – Caren Greenwalt of Massena.

His brothers – John Kent Bagshaw (Karen) of Massena
and Dennis Bagshaw of Massena.

8 grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Disaster proclamation for Guthrie County

News

September 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has issued a disaster proclamation for two counties to respond to recent storms. Branstad announced the declaration for Guthrie and Hamilton counties, Tuesday (today). The counties were hit by severe storms that started on August 28th. Under the declaration, state resources can be used to help the counties recover from the storms.

In addition, households that meet certain income requirements can apply for grants to help pay for expenses related to storm recovery. Those seeking such grants can get more information on the Iowa Department of Human Services’ website.

Pottawattamie County Resident Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in a Sexual Act with a Juvenile

News

September 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Pottawattamie County man was sentenced Monday to 60 months in prison. 25-year old Tyler Lewis Gunderson, of Avoca, was sentenced Monday by Senior United States District Court Judge Robert Pratt on the charge of interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile. Gunderson was also ordered to serve ten years of supervised release following the period of imprisonment.

United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt said Gunderson entered a guilty plea to the charge on July 2nd, 2015. The guilty plea proceeding established that Gunderson traveled from Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska, to pick-up a juvenile he had met in Omaha, and that Gunderson then drove the juvenile to various locations in and around Council Bluffs, for the purposes of engaging in sexual intercourse.

An investigation in the case was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Omaha, Nebraska, Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Council Bluffs, Iowa, Resident Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

News

September 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Attorney General’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Tuesday (today), 40-year old Daniel Eugene Hannan, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Monday to serve 120 months in prison on the charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a stolen firearm. Hannan was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following the period of imprisonment.

An investigation into the case began as a result of Hannan fleeing from law enforcement. When located, Hannan was found to have a large amount of methamphetamine which Hannan intended to distribute. A subsequent search warrant located additional methamphetamine and a shotgun which had been stolen from a burglary in Red Oak. Hannan entered a guilty plea to the charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a stolen firearm on June 4th, 2015.

The investigation was conducted by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department, and the Red Oak, Iowa, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

STEVEN CRAIG LARSEN, 65, of Glenwood (Formerly of Harlan) (Svcs. 09-19-2015)

Obituaries

September 15th, 2015 by admin

STEVEN CRAIG LARSEN, 65, of Glenwood (Formerly of Harlan) died Monday, September 14th at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.  Funeral services for STEVEN LARSEN will be held Saturday, September 19th at 11:00am at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 19th from 10:00am-11:00am prior to services at the Church.

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

STEVEN CRAIG LARSEN is survived by:

Brother: Gailyn (Linda) Larsen of York, PA.

Sister: Diane (Tom) Forbes of Carroll.

Atlantic City Council to learn about Code Enforcement

News

September 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council will meet in a regular session beginning 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. During the meeting, the Council will hear from Kris Erickson, a wastewater treatment plant employee who also serves as a part-time City Code Enforcement person. City Administrator John Lund says since Erickson assumed responsibility for Code Enforcement, the process has become “Less bureaucratic, more efficient and much more effective.” Erickson will talk to the Council about the past summer’s code enforcement activities and answer questions the Council may have.

The Council will discuss as well, three applications received for City Attorney. Applications have been submitted by: Clint Fichter, with Fichter Municipal Services and Law; J.C. Van Ginkel, with Van Ginkel Law Offices; and, David Weiderstein, wito Otto, Lawrence and Weiderstein Law Offices. Weiderstein is the Cass County Attorney and former Attorney for the City of Atlantic, who has agreed to step-in temporarily, until the position is filled. The City Attorney’s job became open when Jamie Arnold resigned, in August. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee does not have a recommendation for the Council with regard to the current applicants, and want the Council to offer input before a motion is made.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on setting Sat., Oct. 31st, from 5-until 7-p.m., and the date and times for Halloween trick or treating. Mayor Dave Jones will also act on a proclamation declaring Sept. 17th through the 23rd as “Constitution Week,” marking the 238th Anniversary of drafting of the U-S Constitution, and, the Council will act on an order closing certain City streets for the Oct. 10th 2015 Fireman’s Parade, the route for which remains unchanged from last year. Downtown streets will be closed along the route beginning at 5:30-p.m. Oct. 10th, with the parade line-up beginning on 2nd Street, from Walnut to Linn.

The Council will also hold the second reading of ordinances pertaining to provisions for Mayor and Council Compensation, and Fiscal Management and Accountability. And, prior to adjourning for the evening, the Council will enter into a closed session to discuss strategy with legal counsel over matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent, and where disclosure would likely be prejudice, or a disadvantage to the position of the City.