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Iowa early News Headlines: Sat., Feb. 1st 2014

News

February 1st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press….

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A top manager at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says he was asked to resign from his job. Chuck Corell, head of the conservation and recreation division, tells the Des Moines Register he was asked to submit his resignation Wednesday by Bruce Trautman, the agency’s deputy director. DNR confirmed Friday it had received resignations from Corell and Cindy Axne, head of the management services division.

MARION, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Linn County are looking for a man they say posed as a law enforcement officer and robbed a woman. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says the robbery Thursday night involved a driver on Highway 13 near Marion.

LECLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — The photographers who line up at a Mississippi River lock to snap images of eagles are getting help from a man with a giant slingshot that flings dead fish into the open water. Ken Kester, who built the contraption, calls it a “fish launcher.” Kester sets up the slingshot at Lock and Dam 14 in Le Claire, Iowa. He tells the Quad-City Times it can toss fish a couple hundred feet into the channel, where the water is calmer and eagles feel comfortable snatching up the meals.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — The Number 23 Oklahoma Sooners are on the road today at Number 16 Iowa State in Big 12 basketball. OU and ISU are scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. in Ames.

FAY EBLEN, 73, of ATLANTIC (Svcs. Tues. Feb. 4th)

Obituaries

January 31st, 2014 by admin

FAY EBLEN, 73, of ATLANTIC died Thur., Jan. 30th at his home. Memorial services for FAY EBLEN will be held Tues., Feb 4th at 1:30pm at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. The Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be Monday evening from 5pm-7pm at the funeral home.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfeuneralservice.com.

The family suggests that memorials be given for the American Legion Memorial Bldg.

FAY EBLEN is survived by his wife LaVon, several cousins and other family members.

County attorney says trooper won’t face charges

News

January 31st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Pottawattamie County attorney says a state trooper won’t face criminal charges in connection with the shooting of a man last December. The Omaha World-Herald reports county attorney Matt Wilber announced Friday that trooper Tim Sieleman wouldn’t be charged in connection with the Dec. 1 shooting.

Sieleman shot 28-year-old Michael Lee, of Carter Lake, after an incident that began when the trooper stopped the man for not having license plates on a truck later determined to have been stolen.

After a chase, Sieleman rammed the pickup truck Lee was driving. Later, Sieleman was on foot when he shot at Lee as his pickup was coming toward the trooper. Lee suffered an arm wound. Lee has pleaded not guilty to interference with official acts and assaulting a police officer.

Iowa DNR: Men illegally harvested channel catfish

News

January 31st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) — Five men have been charged with illegally harvesting channel catfish in southwest Iowa. The state Department of Natural Resources says the men were seen on Jan. 19 loading catch onto a truck. Officials say it’s illegal to keep game fish from the Missouri River on a commercial fishing license.

They are each charged with 18 counts of illegal method of take. They each face thousands of dollars in fines. The men are 18-year-old Larkin Achenbach, of Pacific Junction; 57-year-old Lester Achenbach, of Thurman; 54-year-old Leland Achenbach, of Thurman; 50-year-old Frankie “Lyle” Achenbach, of Riverton; and 79-year-old James Achenbach, of Thurman.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission assisted in the investigation. A court date has been scheduled on Feb. 18.

February 2014

Birthday Club

January 31st, 2014 by admin

February 1st:

  • Donald Williams of Casey (Winner)
  • Margaret Slepsky of Atlantic

February 2nd:

  • Conner & Kyle Alff of Anita (Winners)
  • Jim Field of Atlantic

February 3rd:

  • Mardell Sorsensen of Exira (Winner)
  • Lola Hodge of Walnut
  • Ronda Butcher of Atlantic
  • Robin Peterson of Atlantic

February 4th:

  • Brylee Jean Lamp of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Kellen Koll of Atlantic
  • Hannah Madsen of Harlan

February 5th:

  • no birthdays

February 6th:

  • Brenda Brown of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Delmar Gries of Elk Horn
  • Amelia Teegerstrom of Elk Horn

February 7th:

  • Barbara Harris of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Denise Stein of Griswold
  • Mary Nichols Olsen

February 8th:

  • Kayla Mendenhall of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Shawna Burmeister
  • Shannon Gearheart of Atlantic
  • John Schultes of Exira

February 9th:

  • Marilyn Freund of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Randy LaFoy of Audubon
  • Britni Hays of Adair
  • Deanna Cooper of Atlantic
  • Jean Miller of Atlantic
  • Betty Knight of Atlantic

February 10th:

  • Darlene Eggers of Avoca (Winner)
  • Heather Newman of Atlantic
  • Patty Williams of Atlantic
  • Amanda Doherty of Anita

February 11th:

  • Devon Fischer of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Dorothy Bates of Atlantic
  • HeatherKaufman of Adair

February 12th:

  • Hazel Bengard of Exira (Winner)
  • Bruce Camblin of Atlantic
  • Lois Andersen of Atlantic
  • Helen Wendt of Atlantic
  • Terrie Jensen of Kimballton
  • Jon Hays of Hamlin
  • Cheryl Watson of Anita

February 13th:

  • Corky Brown of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Judy Madden of Atlantic

February 14th:

  • Evonna Billings of Lewis (Winner)
  • Teresa Comers of Lewis
  • Eimly Nowatzke of Kimballton
  • Cookie Conn of Lewis
  • Bill Stockwell of Elk Horn

February 15th:

  • Debbie Briles of Lewis (Winner)
  • Sarah Christensen of Audubon
  • Shirley Arn of Denison

Febraury 16th:

  • Kathie Rose of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Norma Brix of Atlantic

February 17th:

  • Nicholas Terwilleger of Kimballton (Winner)
  • Donald Spoo of Atlantic
  • Joyce Rochholz of Casey
  • Nancy Farley of Anita

February 18th:

  • Carol Wright of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Michael Piken of Atlantic
  • Wilma Bowman of Audubon

February 19th:

  • Kathy7 Butler of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Austin Conrad of Atlantic
  • Shirley Mattheis of Atlantic
  • Ariel Soll of Kimballton
  • Dallas Munch of Exira
  • Rick Thompson of Exira

February 20th:

  • Jerry A. Jensen of Hamlin (Winner)
  • Illeen Furne of Atlantic
  • Nancy Asekland of Atlantic
  • Shirley Schroeter of Atlantic

February 21st:

  • Theresa Hensley of Massena (Winner)
  • Megan Reimer of Marne
  • Joyce Hart of Atlantic
  • Joan Templeman of Atlantic
  • Ann Carroll of Avoca
  • Trent Partridge of Elk Horn

February 22nd:

  • Bea Sherman of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Doug Eckles of Griswold
  • Dorothy Burnett of Atlantic
  • Jason Christensen of Audubon
  • Barbara Jean Funke of Fontanelle
  • Cindy Humphrey of Atlantic
  • Doc Jessen of Anita

February 23rd:

  • Beverly Walter of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Don Jensen of Kimbalton
  • Myrna Eckles
  • Jane Kite of Marne
  • Clare Christensen of Audubon

February 24th:

  • Luann Olson of Exira (Winner)
  • Tanner Winther of Anita
  • Bob Evans of Elliott
  • Shirley McDermott
  • Millie Nelson of Atlantic
  • Sarah Darling of Atlantic
  • Nolan Parker

February 25th:

  • no birthdays

February 26th:

  • Kaloni Brown of Atlantic (Winner)
  • David Woltmann of Harlan
  • Debi McCurdy of Atlantic

February 27th:

  • Alicia Blake of Walnut (Winner)

February 28th:

  • Mary Boege of Anita (Winner)
  • Randy Fiebelkorn of Exira

 

 

Lenox School restricts student activity due to a “Situation”

News

January 31st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Lenox report the Lenox Community Schools were asked not to let students outside for about an hour this (Friday) afternoon. In a press release, authorities said “For a short time today around noon, the police department was dealing with a situation about 2 blocks north of the school. We were looking for an individual as part of our investigation. We did not believe this person presented any threat to the school at any time. However in order to ensure the highest degree of safety for our students, we asked the school to not allow the students outside the building for approximately one hour while we conducted our search.”

Officials say when authorities determined no threat existed, the school was immediately notified and resumed normal function. Police did not describe the precautions as a “lockdown” of the school.

GLOIS ESTELLA GILBERT, 93, of Des Moines & formerly of Earlham (Svcs. 2/4/14)

Obituaries

January 31st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

GLOIS ESTELLA GILBERT, 93, of Des Moines (& formerly of Earlham), died Thu., Jan. 30th, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. A Celebration of Life service for GLOIS GILBERT will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Feb. 4th, at the Earlham Church of Christ. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham has the arrangements.

A visitation will be held from 6-to 8-pm Mon., Feb. 3rd, at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Burial will be in the Earlham City Cemetery.

Court: DOT owes subcontractors for rest stop work

News

January 31st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says the Iowa Department of Transportation is responsible for paying three subcontractors after they completed work on state projects in 2011 but were never paid by the general contractor hired by the state.  The case centers on improvements made to Interstate 80 rest stops in Adair County. The DOT hired Universal Concrete Ltd. as the general contractor which in turn hired three subcontractors to provide equipment and concrete.

The three subcontractors, owed in excess of $32,000, sued the DOT but lost in district court and appealed. The appeal presents the first opportunity for the high court to decide whether a 1988 law requires the DOT to pay subcontractors shortchanged by a general contractor.

The court determined DOT should pay the subcontractors and any reasonable attorney fees.

No. 23 Oklahoma on road at No. 16 Iowa State

Sports

January 31st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – The No. 23 Oklahoma Sooners will be on the road at No. 16 Iowa State in Big 12 basketball.  OU and ISU are to tip off at 3 p.m. Saturday in Ames, Iowa. The Sooners are 17-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 and have won four straight. The Cyclones have lost four of their last five to fall to 15-4 on the season and 3-4 in conference play.

OU beat No. 8 Oklahoma State at home in its last game on Monday while ISU lost at No. 6 Kansas on Wednesday.

Cass Supervisors approve SWIPCO agreement & table Regs pertaining to Radon control

News

January 31st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday) approved a contract with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), to provide and perform necessary services to carry out formal adoption of the local Hazard Mitigation Plan for rural Cass County and the eight cities located within the County. Action on the matter was postponed last week because there were some changes and conditions to the contract that needed to be made. The total cost of the project is $53,000, with the County’s in-kind share amounting to $7,950.

The Supervisors however tabled approval of the regulations for “Radon Control Methods,” which were passed and adopted earlier this week by the Cass County Board of Health. The Supervisors wanted more time to review the regulations and are expected to act on approving them during their meeting on Feb. 6th.

Supervisor Gaylord Schelling, who is the Board’s representative on the County Board of Health, said there really isn’t a radon problem in Cass County, but there is in other parts of the State. Testing for radon is required prior to the sale of homes. Supervisor Duane McFadden had the test done when he sold his home. He said it cost about $1,700-to $1,800, which was covered the installation of equipment and the test itself.

The equipment remains in the house, usually in the basement, and serves as a precautionary means to evacuate the colorless, odorless radioactive gas from the home through a ventilation system. It’s meant as a precaution even if no radon is detected. Supervisor Chuck Rieken said smaller test kits are also available at most hardware stores. After a few days of monitoring, the kit is sent to a company that evaluates the results.

Schelling said if the initial test show there is no problem with radon, installation of the more expensive equipment to remove it, is not necessary. Rieken said the need for radon testing arises because it is a carcinogen that can cause cancer.

The average national indoor radon level is 1.3 picocuries (peek-oh-cure’ees) per liter of air (pCi/L). Information from http://ia-radon.info/ lists the level of radon typically found for each county in Iowa. In Cass County, the average indoor radon levels as determined by radon test results from Air Chek, Inc, is 8.5 pCi/L.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of the homes tested in Cass County showed levels above 4 pCi/l, 17-percent were between two and 3.9 pCi/L, while two-percent were under 2 pCi/L. The US EPA has set an action level of 4 pCi/L. At or above that level of radon, the EPA recommends you take corrective measures to reduce your exposure to radon gas.