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Iowa coach recalls Tyler Sash as a ‘special young man’

Sports

September 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says former standout safety Tyler Sash was a “special young man” whose death at age 27 is tragic. Ferentz recalled Sash on Wednesday as “a high energy player who did a lot of great things” on the field. Sash won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in his rookie season after leaving Iowa to enter the NFL draft.

Sash was found dead Tuesday in his home in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he was a star athlete before joining Iowa in 2007. Foul play isn’t suspected. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office said an autopsy Wednesday revealed “no acute trauma” but the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Ferentz says the Hawkeyes will pay tribute to Sash during Saturday’s rivalry game at Iowa State.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., Sept. 10th 2015

News

September 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A company that markets food products to observant Muslims has pleaded guilty to its role in exporting misbranded meat products. Midamar Corporation entered the plea Wednesday to conspiracy to make false statements on export certificates, sell misbranded meat and commit wire fraud. Midamar is expected to forfeit $600,000 under a plea agreement.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former lottery security official has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for rigging a computerized Hot Lotto game in 2010 in an attempt to win a $14 million jackpot. Eddie Tipton of Norwalk was convicted in July on two counts of fraud. The 52-year-old also was accused of trying to get acquaintances to cash the prize for him without revealing his identity.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 15-year-old girl has been injured after her vehicle collided with one driven by a sheriff’s deputy in northern Iowa. The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon southeast of Mason City. State Police say Maria Determan’s vehicle collided with an SUV driven by Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Deputy Louie Bram, who was not hurt.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents has approved a roughly $100 tuition increase for students at the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University. The board voted 7-2 Wednesday for the increase, which will exempt students at the University of Iowa. The increase ends a tuition freeze for in-state undergraduate students that went into effect several years ago.

Bluffs Police investigate car vs. bicycle accident

News

September 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs report a juvenile on a bike escaped injury Wednesday morning after he was struck by a car. Officers responding at around 7:30-a.m. to Avenue G and North 21st Street, determined 57-year old Kimberly Shaw, of Council Bluffs, was Westbound on Avenue G in her vehicle when the bicyclist crossed Ave G Northbound at North 21st Street. Shaw was unable to bring her vehicle to a complete stop and struck the bicyclist with the front of her vehicle.

Due to the high volume pedestrian traffic in the area going to Woodrow Wilson Junior High School traffic was only moving at approximately 10 mph. The juvenile was checked at the scene by Council Bluffs Fire Department Paramedics and was released without treatment to a guardian.

While officers were on scene a second juvenile was reported to have been struck by a vehicle in the 2100 block of Ave G. It was later determined that the second juvenile had merely fallen off his bicycle and was not stuck by a vehicle. The second juvenile was escorted to the school staff members where he was going to see the school nurse for minor injuries.

The Council Bluffs Police Department would like to remind the public that all area schools are back in session and please use extra caution especially during times that area students are traveling back and forth to school.

Backyard and Beyond 09-09-2015

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

September 9th, 2015 by Jim Field

Lavon Eblen speaks with Jan Reinig about barn quilts in Shelby County.

Play

Atlantic School District offers temporary pick-up & drop-off times for K-5th graders

News

September 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said Wednesday, that due to the construction on Highway 6 and the increased traffic around the elementary schools, District officials are concerned about the K-thru 5th grade students walking to school. With that concern in mind, the district is temporarily providing pick-up and drop-off for kindergarten through fifth grade students.

Amstein says the school will utilize buses that are coming back into town from their country routes in the mornings, and will provide drop off service for students during the afternoon. The district will begin the pick-up and drop-off service on Monday, September 14th.

Pick-up times run from 7:25- to 7:35-a.m.; Drop-off times are 3:35- to 3:40-p.m.

Amstein says District Transportation Director Dave Eckles has mapped out five locations that are geographically situated to hopefully have the most impact. They are all located near an alley or empty lot, to minimize disturbance of property owners.

Pickup and drop-off locations include:

  • North side of 5th St. between Mulberry and Pine
  • West side of Linn St., between 4th and 5th Streets.
  • West side of Cedar St. between 4th and 5th Streets.
  • East side of Palm St., between 9th and 10th Streets
  • South side of 8th St., between Locust and Cedar Streets.

Students should stay on the sidewalk and remain respectful of private property. Buses will not wait for late students. Rides are first come first serve. Students must obey all bus rules.

Shenandoah teen arrested for illegal weapon discharge

News

September 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Shenandoah Police Department, Wednesday, said a 14-year old male was arrested last Friday for allegedly shooting a handgun at Priest Park, in Shenandoah. The teen, who was not identified, was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs, where was held while awaiting a court appearance. The teen faces charges that include Assault with a dangerous weapon, Going Armed with Intent, Carrying a weapon without a permit, Reckless use of a firearm, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Nomination forms for Nov. 3rd City Elections still available

News

September 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Fresh on the heels of Tuesday’s School Elections, Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman is reminding persons interested in running for the November 3rd City Elections, that nomination forms are still available from the County Auditor, your City Clerk, or online from the Iowa Secretary of State. This year, nomination papers for elected city office positions must be filed with the County Auditor, rather than with your city clerk. Nomination papers may be filed with the County Auditor through Sept. 17th.

The process for filing nomination petitions is available from the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.iowa.gov. That same site, or your local city clerk, is the source for obtaining an original  nomination petition and candidate’s guide.

In Cass County, these offices will appear on the ballots for the respective cities:

Anita: Mayor (4-year term) – incumbent is Tim Miller; 2 At Large Council seats (4-year terms) – incumbents are Jeff Bohnsack and Thomas Harris.

Atlantic: (Council Wards & At Large are 4-year terms)…Council Ward 1 – incumbent, Chris Jimerson; Ward 3 – incumbent, Ashley K. Hayes; Ward 4 – incumbent, Linda Hartkopf; At Large – incumbent, Dana Halder; 1 seat on the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Board (6-year term begins Nov. 16th) – incumbent, Stuart Dusenberry.

Cumberland: Mayor (2-year term) – incumbent, Virginia Coughlin; 2 At Large Council seats (4-year terms) – Incumbents are Sandra Armstrong & Sandy Eversole; 1 At Large Council (to fill a 4-year vacancy term ending Jan. 2018) – Appointee, Scott Becker.

Griswold: Mayor (4-year term) – incumbent, Lee Wyman; 3 At Large Council seats (4-year terms) – Incumbents, Lisa Cook, Larry Mundorf, and Ryan Askeland.

Lewis: Mayor (4 year term) – incumbent, Don Cohrs; 3 At Large Council seats (4-year terms) – incumbents, Duane Scott Anderson, Ryan Archibald, and Bethany Nichols.

Marne: Mayor (2-year term) – incumbent, Randall Baxter; 5 At Large Council seats (2-year terms) – incumbents: Alan Cranston, Randy Fischer, Lori Holste, Randy Henningsen, and Angela Redler.

Massena: Mayor (2-year term) – incumbent, Linda Reineke; 3 At Large – incumbents are Adam McCunn, Micha Lee and Kevin McCunn.

Wiota: Mayor (2-year term) – incumbent, J. Ford Liullard; 2 Council At Large – incumbents, Erik Johnson and Jon Schwarte.

Glenwood woman arrested for OWI & Child Endangerment

News

September 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Glenwood Police Department reports a Glenwood woman was arrested last Friday on OWI/2nd offense, and Child Endangerment, charges. 33-year old Kelly Roker was arrested after authorities investigated multiple calls about an impaired driver who was walking on the road in an allegedly impaired state, after the van she was driving struck a curb, shredding the tire. The vehicle also hit several mailboxes and a stop sign before coming to rest. The damage was estimated at $1,500 altogether.

When officers arrived, they found Roker’s children running around on the street as cars were approaching, and they were running through yards. One of her children put the van in gear while the officer was nearby, and began honking the horn.

A preliminary breath test showed no sign of alcohol in the woman’s system. Roker was overheard saying at the Mills County Jail, that she had taken “Too much Ambien,” and that her kids got the van’s sliding door open while she was speaking to a friend.

Tests were conducted for evidence of other forms of impairment. The results of those tests are not yet available.

Cass Supervisors approve zoning classification change for property near Griswold

News

September 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Despite concerns by neighbors over noise and truck traffic, the Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, approved a recommendation by the County Zoning Commission, to rezone a parcel of land in rural Griswold from General Agricultural, to Light Industrial. Rich Hansen, Cass County Zoning Commissioner, explained the request to rezone the land was made by business owner Kyle Kirchhoff.

Kirchhoff started his business in 2011 in a machine shed on his property. Kirchhoff builds skid loader attachments, grain-hopper loaders for railroad cars, and other specialty items. He built a new addition to expand his business. One of the questions the Zoning Commission asked Kirchhoff, was with regard to traffic flow. Hansen said the gravel road he’s on is a Farm to Market road. Kirchhoff told the Commission trucks bring in one load of steel a week, and three or four partial loads leave the facility each week.

A neighbor to the west was concerned about noise, especially by a fork lift, which has a loud “back-up” alarm. Hansen says Kirchhoff assured the Board that and other such annoyances would be reduced by the move into the new building. A neighbor, who lives very close by, spoke up during the hearing, complaining about the machine and truck noise, along with truck traffic and blocking of the road. He suggested there be restrictions placed on the amount of traffic coming to and from the business.

The neighbor said the property should be termed “Heavy Industrial” instead of “Light Industrial,” because of the weight of equipment running on the road. Rich Hansen said since most of the business is inside the building, it qualifies as Light Industrial. The neighbor also suggested a noise reducing “buffer zone” be placed between the properties. There are a couple of grain bins between the buildings, according to Hansen, but no other buffers have been considered.

2 arrests reported in Harlan

News

September 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Harlan Police Dept. said Wednesday, two people were arrested on separate charges, recently. On Thursday, September 3rd, 43-year old Pedro Duran, of Waterloo, was taken into custody when the police were notified that there may be a missing, runaway, or endangered juvenile in an 2006 Toyota. The vehicle was located, parked, in the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue. Duran had exited the car prior to officers making contact with him. The possible missing/endangered juvenile was not in the vehicle. Duran was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with intoxication in public and was issued a citation for open container.

And on Saturday, Sept. 5th, 27-year old Charlie Hadfield, of Earling, was arrested in Harlan, following a traffic stop. Hadfield was charged with driving while suspended. He was cited for the offense, and released.