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Ohio State rides strong start for NCAA wrestling team lead

Sports

March 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ohio State carried the momentum of a strong start to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships into the evening session Thursday. Ohio State leads the team points with 23, followed by Iowa (21), Oklahoma State (19.5), Penn State (18.5), Missouri (18) and Nebraska (18).

The Buckeyes went 5-2 in the second round in front of 18,414 at Scottrade Center and 6-4 for the entire session. Logan Stieber led Ohio State, following a technical fall win in the first round with a pin of West Virginia’s Mike Morales in the second. Stieber is the No. 1 seed at 141 pounds.

At 165, Bo Jordan followed a pin-fall win in the first round with a hard fought 7-2 decision over Cornell’s Dylan Palacio. Nathan Tomasello was dominant at 125. Tomasello, the No. 4 seed, won both of his matches by pin and major decision, respectively.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, March 20th 2015

News

March 20th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has approved legislation that would allow more Iowa residents to register online to vote. The Senate voted 26-20 yesterday along party lines for the bill. It now heads to the House, though it’s unclear what kind of support it will get. The legislation would allow a person to register to vote online through the secretary of state’s website if the person has an Iowa driver’s license number, a state-issued identification card number or a Social Security number.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate panel has approved a bill that would change the deadline for when most people in Iowa would need to submit absentee ballots, though some lawmakers say they will introduce changes to the House-backed legislation. A State Government subcommittee approved the bill Thursday. It heads to the full committee for consideration.

SOLDIER, Iowa (AP) — Officials have confirmed that a body recovered from a lake in western Iowa is that of a farmer reported missing in November. Monona County Sheriff Jeff Pratt says the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office identified the body as 68-year-old Walter Ordway of Soldier. His body was pulled from a lake at Oldham Recreation Area on Saturday.

SEATTLE (AP) — Northern Iowa is taking on Wyoming Friday afternoon at Seattle’s Key Arena in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Tipoff is at 12:40 p.m. Central. The Hawkeyes are playing Davidson College starting at 6:20 Central at the same venue.

Posted in News |

Niese helps Mets’ split squad beats Cardinals 7-2

Sports

March 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Jon Niese struck out six in four innings, and a New York Mets’ split squad defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 Thursday. Niese allowed one run and three hits and walked none in his third and longest outing of spring training. Daniel Murphy singled and scored on John Mayberry’s single in the first inning, then left between innings with what the Mets said was right hamstring tightness.

David Wright and Lucas Duda also made the trip. Jaime Garcia struck out seven in four innings but also gave up four hits, including Wilmer Flores’ third-inning homer. Peter Bourjos broke a 1-for-24 spring training start with a solo homer in the eighth against Jon Velasquez.

 

Posted in Sports |

Stage set for Sweet 16 trip for Iowa?

Sports

March 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Hawkeyes have never had a better chance to reach the Sweet 16 under coach Lisa Bluder than they do this weekend. Despite reaching the NCAA Tournament 12 times in 15 seasons under Bluder, Iowa has never broken through with a trip to the regional semifinals.

Iowa (24-7) is seeded third and will serve as the host school — in a gym it hasn’t lost in all season — for the opening two rounds of the Oklahoma City Region. The Hawkeyes open tournament play Friday when they face American (24-8). Miami (19-12) and Washington (23-9) will open the doubleheader.

You can hear the action beginning at 1:15-p.m. Friday, on KJAN.

Posted in Sports |

Northern Iowa in the spotlight preparing to face Wyoming

Sports

March 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SEATTLE (AP) — Now it’s Northern Iowa’s turn to carry the flag for the Missouri Valley Conference into the NCAA Tournament. After Wichita State and Creighton got the spotlight in recent seasons, it’s the fifth-seeded Panthers getting the attention this time around as they to face No. 12 Wyoming on Friday.

The Panthers (30-3) were the beneficiaries of all the attention focused on their Missouri Valley competitors in previous years. The Panthers were ranked as high as No. 10 in The Associated Press Top 25 this season because of their performance but also the high regard the Valley has earned.

Wyoming (25-9) needed to win the Mountain West Conference tourney to reach the NCAAs, but the Cowboys’ similarities to the Panthers led Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson to say he wished for a different style matchup in the opener.

Posted in Sports |

14th-Seeded UAB Blazers Upset 3rd-Seed Iowa State 60-59

Sports

March 19th, 2015 by Jim Field

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — William Lee scored the last four points for 14th-seeded UAB, and the Blazers upset ninth-ranked Iowa State 60-59 on Thursday in their opening game in the NCAA Tournament.

The Blazers (20-15) came in with the youngest team in the NCAA Tournament and with nobody having played in this tournament before. They wound up winning the program’s first NCAA game since 2005 by notching the first big upset of this tournament.

The Cyclones (25-9) came in seeded third in the South Regional looking for a much longer run than a year ago when they reached the Sweet 16 without top scorer Georges Niang due to injury. But they just couldn’t match the scrappy Blazers on the boards in a second half where the Cyclones couldn’t hold onto a 55-51 lead with 3:13 left.

The Blazers, who outscored Iowa State 9-4 down the stretch, will play either SMU or UCLA on Saturday.

 

Posted in Sports |

SFM Division Investigating Suspicious Fires in Missouri Valley; Fire Chief Charged

News

March 19th, 2015 by Jim Field

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa fire chief has been accused of lying to investigators about a fire that could be arson. Court documents show 44-year-old Johnnie Walker, the Missouri Valley fire chief, is charged with interference with official acts and reporting false information. Mayor Clint Sargent says Walker resigned from his post after he was arrested earlier this week.

The charges stem from a March 7 fire at a vacant house. The Iowa State Fire Marshal Division says Walker provided false information to police who later investigated the fire, an exchange that court records show occurred on March 12.

Authorities say the fire is likely tied to others nearby. All are being investigated as arson.

 

Posted in News |

THURSDAY, MARCH 19th

Trading Post

March 19th, 2015 by Jim Field

FOR SALE:  Sage green “bamboo” style table with white top. Four chairs, same color and bamboo style, with white back and bottom cushions. Excellent condition. Asking $150 or best offer. You haul, located in Atlantic.  Call 712-243-3729.

IMG_9536 IMG_9537 IMG_9538 IMG_9539 IMG_9540

Posted in Trading Post |

Update on Elliott death – woman ID’d

News

March 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Authorities say no one is actively being sought in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found near Elliott early Monday morning. Officials say 47-year old Carman M. O’Dell was discovered in a grassy field on the northern edge of Elliott, at around 4:40-a.m., Monday. According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, her death did not appear to be suspicious.

Carman O'Dell (Photo from Duhn Funeral Home website)

Carman O’Dell (Photo from Duhn Funeral Home website)

An autopsy was performed by Dr. Dennis Klein of the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny. The cause and manner of her death are being withheld until the full autopsy report is complete. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner assistied with the investigation.

No further information will be released until the autopsy reports are complete. Funeral services for Carman O’Dell will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday, at the Central Church of Christ, in Griswold.

Posted in News |

Prescribed burns planned in Pott. County

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Council Bluffs Fire Department report Pottawattamie County Conservation officials will be conducting some prescribed burns within the City limits of Council Bluffs. The controlled fires will take place between March 20th and the end of April, to reduce the amount of fuel and threat of a potential wild land fire, along with promoting better hydrology for the environment.Bluffs FD

The burns are expected to take place in two locations: The area north of 25th Street and south of Narrows Park along the Missouri River; In the Vincent Bluff area northeast of Harry Langdon Blvd, southwest of Madison Avenue, north and west of Woodbury Avenue.

The prescribed burns will only take place if weather conditions are conducive to ensuring a safe environment. Due to the ever changing forecasts, the decision to conduct the burns will be made only 24-hours in advance. If you live in the affected neighborhoods, you should contact the Council Bluffs Fire Department with any health concerns, such as a respiratory condition, that will require a “day of” notification.

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Council Bluffs Fire Dept. at 712-328-4646.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |