United Group Insurance

Thanksgiving Day Forecast

Weather

November 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

310 AM CST THU NOV 22 2012/from the Nat’l. Weather Service om Des Moines

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. WINDY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. TEMPERATURE STEADY OR SLOWLY FALLING IN THE AFTERNOON. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH INCREASING TO NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. MUCH COLDER. LOW IN THE MID 20S. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

FRIDAY…SUNNY…BREEZY. MUCH COLDER. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW 15 TO 20. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

SATURDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 10 MPH INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S.

No injuries reported after anhydrous tank overturns in Montgomery County, Wednesday

News

November 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency says no injuries were reported after an anhydrous tank being pulled by a pickup, overturned Wednesday evening in an area near Villisca.

Overturned Anhydrous tank near Villisca, 11/21/12. (All photos courtesy Brian Hamman, Montgomery County EMA)

According to EMA Director Brian Hamman, the accident happened at around 4-p.m.   The tank was leaking after it overturned, but the leak was stopped after a valve was quickly shut off by Villisca Firefighters.

Hamman says the road remained closed while crews worked to upright the tank, and no evacuations were needed. No other information is currently available.

1 dead another seriously hurt after SUV hits a deer in Montgomery County

News

November 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A southwest Iowa woman died and a passenger in her vehicle was seriously injured Wednesday, after the SUV they were in struck a deer on Highway 34, west of Red Oak, in Montgomery County. The Iowa State Patrol says 26-year old Shawna Michelle Curtis, and nine-year old Lydia Powell, both of Creston, were traveling east on the highway at around 7:15-p.m., when a deer entered the roadway. When Curtis’ 2008 Ford Edge struck the animal, the deer came through the windshield, hitting Curtis, causing her to lose control of the SUV.

The vehicle continued east on Highway 34 before it left the road, entered the north ditch and rolled over twice. Curtis died at the scene. Powell was flown by helicopter to Creighton Hospital in Omaha. A report on her condition is currently not available. The Patrol says the woman and the girl were wearing their seat belts.

Road Closed for Bridge Repair in Shelby and Audubon Counties

News

November 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday, that they have been advised by Audubon County that 185th Street, between Yellowwood Road in Shelby County, and Bluebird Avenue in Audubon County, will be closed indefinitely, for bridge repair. The road is currently closed, and there is no known or set date for its re-opening.

Emergency Responders should plan to take alternate routes in order to reach residences in the area. If you have any questions, please call the Audubon County Engineers Office.

Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign underway in Cass County

News

November 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Salvation Army Chapter officially kicked off its Red Kettle Campaign last week. Teresa Kanning, Cass County Salvation Army Co-Chairperson says the event was held November 13th, at the Main Street Grill in Atlantic. Kanning says last year (2011), the Red Kettle Campaign raised more than $8,500, which was the largest amount ever collected for the Cass County Unit.  The money has been used for assisting individuals with food and shelter after being stranded in the area either due to bad weather or car problems, etc.

Kanning says over $6000 was used to assist with needs in the local area.   Programs receiving funds this year past included: Parents As Teachers – for books;  School Principals – receiviedgift cards for identified students in need and, the Camp with a Cop program. In addition, donations to the Red Kettle Campaign allowed each Cass County School district to receive book bags for distribution to kids, the Family Crisis Support Network received food, The Cass County Alternative School received funds for food and hygiene products as well as clothing, to assist students in getting a job, and, stethoscopes for students attending CNA classes

Kanning says the community has been very supportive of the Red Kettle Campaign in Cass County, and local organizers thank you for your donations, as well as those who volunteered to ring the bell last year. She said Duane McFadden and Dave Hancock have been instrumental in finding volunteers and making sure shifts have been covered, but anyone who would like to volunteer to assist in the Campaign this year, is welcome to call Duane McFadden at 712-781-2287.

Donations that are mailed-in, need to be marked as being for Iowa Unit #209. The Unit number should be indicated on the front of your check’s “For” or “Memo” line,  or, on the online donation form, in order for it to be credited to the local unit. The money collected here locally stays in the community to be used to assist local community members.

Pigs worth more than $38,000 stolen from NW Iowa farm

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SHELDON, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are searching for several hundred pigs and hogs that were stolen from a northwest Iowa farm last weekend. KMEG reports the animals that were taken from the Dekker family’s farm last Saturday night were worth more than $38,000. The Dekkers say 220 feeder pigs and 195 fat hogs went missing.

Tina Dekker says she and her husband have no idea who took the animals, but they are installing an alarm system on their hog barn to prevent future thefts. Investigators say the burglars broke into the back of the hog barn and loaded the pigs onto a semitrailer truck. Dekker says it’s common for many hog farmers to load animals at night, so a neighbor may not have noticed the theft.

Jury finds NJ man guilty in sex trafficking case

News

November 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A federal jury in Iowa has found a 28-year-old New Jersey man guilty of running a nationwide sex trafficking and prostitution ring. Jurors in Council Bluffs on Tuesday found Johnelle Bell guilty on 12 counts of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.

Prosecutors say Bell was a pimp who ran a Little Rock, Ark.-based traveling prostitution venture that operated in states from Texas to Maryland. They say Bell lured troubled young women to join under promises of help and long-lasting relationships that soon evaporated.

Testimony showed Bell severely assaulted one of the workers and forced another to engage in prostitution by threatening to harm her family and young daughter. Prosecutors uncovered the ring after an undercover FBI agent posed as a customer in response to prostitution ads on Backpage.com in Omaha.

Norwalk fruit distributor recalls cherry tomatoes

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

NORWALK, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa fruit and vegetable distributor is recalling several lots of cherry tomatoes after the grower notified the distributor that Salmonella was found in random sample testing by the Food and Drug Administration. Capital City Fruit Inc., of Norwalk says the recalled cherry tomatoes from Rio Queen Citrus are packaged in one-pint containers as Capital Brand Clamshell Cherry Tomatoes. They were shipped to retail stores from Nov. 14 to Nov.18 and sold in stores in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

No illnesses have been reported. Capital City Fruit on Wednesday says it asked retailers to remove the product from their store shelves. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Iowa man gets more than 17 years on gun charge

News

November 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man with an extensive criminal record will spend more than 17 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a gun. Acting U.S. Attorney Sean Berry says 38-year-old Scott Slauter was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison on charges of possessing a stolen gun and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Slauter had pleaded guilty to the charges in August. Berry says Slauter had previously been convicted of three violent felonies, and he has a history of dangerous behavior. For instance, Slauter once robbed a store and shot a clerk in the face.

Last January, Slauter was videotaped burglarizing a home in Sioux City, and he brandished a handgun during the burglary. He took jewelry and a pistol from the home.

Iowa State coach impressed with WVU’s Tavon Austin

Sports

November 21st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Approaching the end of his stellar career at West Virginia, Tavon Austin continues to find ways to impress his teammates. Now he has a new fan in Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads. After returning from a win at Kansas, Rhoads started watching tape of West Virginia’s loss to Oklahoma and quickly realized what Austin was up to.

Inserted as a running back for the first time this season, Austin ran for a school-record 344 yards and set a Big 12 record with 572 all-purpose yards Saturday. Rhoads says with a shorter week before Iowa State (6-5, 3-5 Big 12) hosts the Mountaineers (5-5, 2-5) on Friday, he’s scrambling to find ways to slow down Austin. He at least wants to give his players a chance to tackle him.