United Group Insurance

Brewers 10, Cardinals 5

Sports

August 4th, 2011 by Jim Field

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Casey McGehee homered three times and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5 on Wednesday and add to their NL Central lead.  McGehee hit go-ahead, two-run homers in both the first and third innings and added a seventh-inning solo shot to give Milwaukee its eighth win in nine games at Miller Park. Corey Hart also homered for the Brewers, who extended their lead over the Cardinals to 3 1/2 games in the division.  Rafael Furcal hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs off Randy Wolf (8-8) in his fourth game since being acquired Sunday in a trade with the Dodgers, but new Cardinals starter Edwin Jackson struggled.

Chiefs Rookies Playing Catch-up After Strange Offseason

Sports

August 4th, 2011 by Jim Field

     ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Ricky Stanzi didn’t pick up his first NFL playbook until about a week ago.  He’d better be good at digesting that thick binder full of information, though, because his first preseason game with the Kansas City Chiefs is little more than a week away.  The disorganized and disjointed offseason brought on by maddening labor strife has been particularly hard on first-year players trying to find their way in professional football. Without rookie minicamps and organized team activities, guys such as Stanzi must play catch-up throughout the first week of training camp.  The Chiefs open their preseason a week from Friday against the Buffalo Bills, making that adjustment period more condensed than perhaps ever before.

Chiefs Agree to Terms with FB McClain

Sports

August 4th, 2011 by Jim Field

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Former All-Pro fullback Le’Ron McClain has agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to a person with knowledge of the deal, giving the defending AFC West champs a short-yardage option to go with a talented group of speedy running backs.  The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the team had not announced the deal.  The Chiefs generally do not release such information until a player has signed a contract.  McClain could take some of the load off Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, a pair of smaller, shifty running backs who each logged more than 200 carries last season. Charles made his first Pro Bowl after gaining 1,467 yards on the ground and 468 through the air, while Jones ran for 896 yards in his first season in Kansas City.  Jones appeared to lose a step late in the year, though, and he turns 33 later this month. Coach Todd Haley would like to spread the ball around to keep both of them fresh, and McClain gives the team another option along with the versatile Dexter McCluster, who saw time at running back and receiver last season.  “There’s some interesting things to think about, you know, some of the skill position guys we have between Jamaal’s ability to catch the ball, Dexter’s versatility,” Haley said earlier Wednesday.  The 260-pound McClain is coming off a mercurial four-year run with the Baltimore Ravens, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2007 draft out of Alabama.  He carried only eight times his rookie season before running for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008, when he was voted first-team All-Pro by The Associated Press. McClain made his second straight Pro Bowl the following season, even though his production dipped significantly, and last year managed 85 yards rushing as his role shifted to primarily that of a blocking back for breakout star Ray Rice.  McClain decided to become a free agent this year and the Ravens looked elsewhere for help, signing All-Pro fullback Vonta Leach to an $11 million, three-year deal last weekend.  The Chiefs and general manager Scott Pioli have been selective with their free-agent signings during the early frenzy of training camp, quietly and effectively upgrading several positions of need.  They gave quarterback Matt Cassel another target by signing former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston, plugged a hole in the middle of the defensive line with former Baltimore Ravens tackle Kelly Gregg, and are hopeful Brandon Siler can join Derrick Johnson to form a formidable pair of run-stopping inside linebackers.  Kansas City also added some depth to its training camp roster on Wednesday, signing a pair of rookie free agent cornerbacks in Javes Lewis out of Oregon and Mario Russell out of Carson-Newman.

Chiefs Lock Up LB Hali for 5 Years, $60M

Sports

August 4th, 2011 by Jim Field

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that top pass rusher Tamba Hali and the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to terms on a five-year deal worth $60 million.  The person, who spoke late Wednesday on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made, said $35 million of the contract is guaranteed. The person also said that Hali will be at training camp Thursday afternoon on the campus of Missouri Western State University.  Hali had been designated as the Chiefs’ franchise player after a breakthrough season in which he led the AFC with 14 1/2 sacks. His new contract places him in the same echelon as Cowboys pass rusher DeMarcus Ware, who has a six-year, $78 million deal.

USDA 08-04-2011

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

August 4th, 2011 by admin

USDA Report from the Cass and Audubon County FSA and NRCS offices.  Denny Heflin Reports.

Play

Cass County Extension Report 08-03-2011

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

August 4th, 2011 by admin

w/ Kate Olsen

Play

Regional Cattlemen’s meeting includes tours, elections

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, IOWA –  The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will hold its Southwest Regional meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Armstrong Research Farm in Lewis. The event starts at 10:30 a.m., and will include discussions of industry issues and policy proposals for ICA before adjourning at 3:30 p.m.  Key business issues will include the election for the regional representative to the ICA state nominating committee, and policy discussions that will be brought to the ICA Annual Meeting in December. 

The person currently up for election of regional representative is Roger Brummett of Bedford. His first two-year term is expiring, and he will be eligible for re-election. There will also be discussion about the new ICA Carcass Challenge program that is being shepherded by this year’s class in the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program. 

Besides elections and policy issues at the business meeting, ICA’s new Chief Executive Officer, Matt Deppe, will be on hand to speak to cattle producers in the region.

The following counties are included in ICA’s Southwest Region:  Adair, Adams, Audubon, Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Clarke, Crawford, Dallas, Decatur, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, Madison, Mills, Montgomery, Monroe, Page, Pottawattamie & Ringgold.

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association represents about 9,500 beef-producing families and associated companies dedicated to the future of Iowa’s beef industry. ICA’s mission is “Grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education.”

Stolen pickup from Atlantic (update 6:45-a.m.)

News

August 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in the immediate KJAN listening area are on the lookout for a pickup reported stolen from Atlantic. The vehicle, a black 2004 GMC Sierra pickup w/IA license plate 808 MCF was taken sometime between 11-p.m. Wednesday and 5:30-a.m. today, from the 600 block of East 8th Street, in Atlantic.

If you see this vehicle call 9-1-1 or your local law enforcement agency.

BERNARD HAROLD GITTINS, 82, of Stuart (svcs 8-8-11)

Obituaries

August 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

BERNARD HAROLD GITTINS, 82, of Stuart, died Wed, Aug. 3rd at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial service for BERNARD GITTINS will be held 10-a.m. Mon., Aug. 8th, at the All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation at the church will be held from 6-to 8-p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7th, with a Rosary recital at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bernard Gittins Memorial Funds.

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com

MARY OLIVE SWANSON, 88, of Stuart (svcs 8-5-11)

Obituaries

August 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MARY OLIVE SWANSON, 88, of Stuart, died Tue., Aug. 2nd, at the Stuart Community Care Center. Funeral services for MARY SWANSON will be held 10-a.m. Fri., Aug. 5th, at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, from 9-to 10-a.m.

Burial will be in the South Oak Grove Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com

MARY SWANSON is survived by:

Her children – Donna (Ralph) Miller, of Des Moines, & Carl Swanson, of Portland, OR.

3 grandchildren

3 great-grandchildren

Other relatives, & friends.