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2 area School Boards to hold regular meetings, Monday

News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

(removes reference to Griswold School Board mtg. – that’s 4/20/15)

Two area school district Board’s of Education will hold their regular, monthly meetings Monday evening. The Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board will meet at 6:00-p.m. in the Family and Consumer Science Room at the High School in Elk Horn. During the meeting, the Board will hold a Public Hearing on the 2015-16 School Budget, followed later in the meeting by action on approving the budget. Other action items include approving the resignations of Kara Wilson/4th grade teacher, and Connie Wyatt/Head Volleyball Coach, and the approval of continued discussions with Audubon, with regard to the sharing of Wrestling.

And, the Atlantic Board of Education will meet in the High School Media Center, at 7:30-p.m. During their session, the Board will act on approving: A recommendation for 2014-15 Snow Days make-up; 2015-16 Lunch prices, bread and milk bids; Ratifying the Certified Employees 2015-16 Tentative Agreement, and the Termination of a Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) teacher contract, along with an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) recommendation.

Carpenter’s 2-run homer in 11th lifts Cards over Reds 7-5

Sports

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CINCINNATI (AP) – Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer off Kevin Gregg in the 11th inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals over Cincinnati 7-5 Sunday in a game that featured the major league debut of Cuban right-hander Raisel Iglesias for the Reds.
Carpenter’s 392-foot drive to center on a full-count pitch from Gregg (0-1) followed Kolten Wong’s single.  Carlos Villanueva (1-0) pitched two innings, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th by striking out Todd Frazier.

St. Louis took two of three in the series and has won 13 consecutive three-game series against Cincinnati. Iglesias allowed three runs and five hits in five innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Signed last July to a $27 million, seven-year contract, he became the first Reds player since Mike Leake in 2010 to reach the majors without playing a minor league game.

Research shows soaring nitrate levels in Iowa rivers

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers efforts to control the spread of nitrates in recent years appears to be helping but research shows that levels of the fertilizer byproduct have soared in the state’s major rivers. The Des Moines Register reports  that nitrate levels have more than tripled since the 1950s to more than 7 milligrams per liter in 2010.

Researcher Keith Schilling says the upward trend in nitrate levels is unmistakable. Schilling studies nitrate levels for the Iowa Geological Survey at the University of Iowa. Last month, the Des Moines Water Works sued Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac counties over high nitrate levels. The utility has invested in costly measures to control nitrates in drinking water.

Three western IA men graduate from DPS Basic Academy

News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Three western Iowa men graduated Friday, from the 39th Iowa Department of Public Safety Basic Academy. The three were among nine recruits to be sworn in as peace officers for the State of Iowa during the commencement ceremony held at the Iowa Army National Guard Freedom Center at Camp Dodge.

(The graduates are shown in the pictures below with IA Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Gov. Terry Branstad. Click on the picture to enlarge)

Trooper Austen Farver, from Atlantic, is assigned to District 16. Trooper Farver attended Des Moines Area Community College where he obtained his Associates degree in Criminal Justice.

Trooper Austen Farver

Trooper Austen Farver

Trooper Michael Kannas

Trooper Michael Kannas

Trooper Matthew Raes

Trooper Matthew Raes

Trooper Michael Kannas, from Corning, is assigned to District 3. Michael attended Iowa State University majoring in Criminal Justice.

Trooper Matthew Raes, from Council Bluffs, is assigned to District 16. Matt attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs. While in high school, Matt took college classes through Iowa Western Community college.

For the past 21 weeks, the recruits have completed courses on laws of arrest, search and seizures, defensive tactics, arrest techniques, precision driving, firearms, emergency management services, criminal law, human relations, physical fitness and motor vehicle law, along with many other courses.

Iowa looks to rebound after 7-6 season

Sports

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Perhaps the most crucial spring practice session of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz’s 17-year tenure reached the halfway point Saturday. For the third spring game in a row, the Hawkeyes travelled to West Des Moines, Iowa – just minutes away from the state capitol and about a 30-minute drive from Iowa State’s spring scrimmage on Saturday.

Iowa is coming off a disappointing 7-6 season and must replace key starters on both sides of the ball. The offensive and defensive lines are in flux, and C.J. Beathard has taken over at quarterback for Jake Rudock, who will transfer after losing the starting job. “It’s our ninth practice,” Ferentz said. “Depth is always an issue in spring practice and it’s certainly something we’ll continue to develop.”

Red Oak woman arrested for OWI Sunday morning

News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop early this (Sunday) morning in Montgomery County, resulted in the arrest of the driver of a 2012 KIA, on an OWI charge. 23-year old Whitney Marie Stephens, of Red Oak, was pulled over in the 2300 block of Highway 48, at around 1:45-a.m.

Stephens was charged with OWI/1st Offense, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where she was being held on $1,000 bond.

Audubon man arrested Saturday for a parole violation

News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 55-year old Kent Clarence Henriksen, of Audubon, was arrested at around 6:30-p.m. Saturday, on an outstanding Department of Corrections warrant for Parole Violation. Henriksen initially resisted arrest, but was taken into custody and transported to the Audubon County Jail, where he was being held without bond, until a further court order. Audubon Police assisted in conducting the arrest.

Traffic stop results in the arrest of a NE man on drug charges in Montgomery County

News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Nebraska man was arrested on drug charges Saturday evening, after the SUV he was driving was pulled over for speeding, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say a 2013 Ford Expedition driven by 43-year old Robert Michael Smith, of Omaha, was pulled over at around 6:15-p.m. on Highway 34. During the course of the stop, the Montgomery County K9 Unit was deployed and K9 “Rex” alerted to the presence of narcotics coming from the vehicle.

A search of the SUV resulted in the recovery of about 48 grams of a substance suspected to be marijuana, prescription medications, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. Smith was arrested on charges that include Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of Prescription medications, and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Shenandoah man arrested on four charges, Saturday

News

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak arrested a Shenandoah man Saturday afternoon on multiple charges. 21-year old Tyler Lynn Gobert was taken into custody at around 4:50-p.m. on three counts of Unauthorized Used of a Credit Card, and Interference with Official Acts. Gobert was arrested in the 400 block of east Sunset Avenue and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $2,000 cash bond.

NWS weather forecast for Atlantic & the area, 4/12/15 (Updated 5:12-a.m.)

Weather

April 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Windy, with a south wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 40. South wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.