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IWD officials to assist laid-off Bridgestone tire workers

News

July 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) are expected to be on site at the Bridgestone tire plant in Des Moines, Monday, to assist hundreds of workers who were displaced from a layoff that was announced last month and went into effect on Friday.

Officials at Bridgestone had said there would be 216 layoffs at the Des Moines plant. Bridgestone told the United Steelworkers leadership in Des Moines that it’s because of “demand constraints in the agriculture tire sector.”

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Sunday, July 7, 2024

Weather

July 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy w/scattered showers and thunderstorms this morning & later this afternoon. High near 79. Winds W/SW @ 5-10 mph this morning.
Tonight: Mo. cloudy w/a scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Low around 60.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Wednesday: A slight chance of afternoon showers & thunderstorms, otherwise mostly sunny. High near 83.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 83.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 84. The Low was 59. We received .03″ rain Saturday into early this morning, in Atlantic. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 66 and the Low was 55. The All-Time Record High in Atlantic on July 7th, was 107 in 1937, and the Record Low was 41 in 1934. Sunrise: 5:53; Sunset: 8:56.

Massena reports .23″ rain for the 24-hours ending 7-a.m. July 7th.

3 crashes in Madison County, Saturday: 2 injured

News

July 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Winterset, Iowa) –  Sheriff’s officials in Madison County said Sunday (today), there were three serious vehicle crashes Deputies and other first responders were called to, Saturday (July 6th). Authorities say at around 6:40pm, Madison County dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting (2) different crashes at the same time and in (2) different locations. (Photos below are from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)
One crash was a “Hit & Run” that occurred in the 2000blk of State Hwy 92. An adult female and her (3) children escaped injury when they were hit from behind by a white in color pick-up truck that fled the scene east towards Winterset.
At the same time, Deputies & 1st Responders were dispatched to Macksburg Rd & US Hwy 169 for a car vs motorcycle collision. The driver of the motorcycle suffered life threatening injuries after he collided with a passenger car. He was transported by ambulance to a Des Moines Hospital where his condition is unknown at this time.
At around 8:50pm, a 3rd 911 call was received reporting a single vehicle crash in the 2200blk of Bevington Y Park Rd. The call came in reporting a vehicle had rolled, ejecting the driver and he was pinned under the vehicle. Firefighters from St Charles & Truro were able to free the driver and he was transported by air ambulance to a Des Moines Hospital where his condition is unknown at the time.
The Madison County Sheriffs Office was assisted at all (3) scenes by numerous Departments. The Winterset Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Winterset Fire Department, St Charles Fire Department, Truro Fire Department and Madison County Ambulance all assisted at different locations.
All (3) crashes remain under investigation.

John Deere Classic update

Sports

July 7th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

A record setting performance highlighted the opening round at the John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities. George McNeilly reports.

Hayden Springer tied a tournament record with a 12-under 59. He has made only six of 18 cuts this season.

Springer was thinking about a course record after shooting eight under on the front nine.

Springer on his round.

Funnel cloud observed near Harlan Saturday night (7/6/24)

News, Weather

July 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

A KJAN social media follower sent us these pictures of a funnel cloud earlier this evening (around 8:37-p.m.) near Harlan.  There were no warnings issued for the area. Photo’s courtesy of Zach Ploen.

CAM baseball wins thriller over Riverside

Sports

July 6th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The CAM Cougars baseball team had a dramatic 8-7 win over the Riverside Bulldogs on Saturday night in the first round of the 1A Substate 2 postseason tournament. The 1st inning saw no runs come in for either side as the bats seemed slow to wake up. Then in the top of the 2nd Riverside scored 2 runs thanks to a 2 RBI single to put them up 2-0. The Cougars then had a 3-run response in the bottom of the 2nd from a Kegan Croghan sac fly, RBI single towards left field by Austin Eblen, and an RBI base hit up center field from Carson Mckee to give CAM their first lead of the day at 3-2. Riverside tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the 3rd with an error thrown towards first, allowing Mason McCready to slide home. The Cougars did gain the lead again in the bottom of the 3rd with a base hit towards second by Lukas James and a mistimed throw towards home, being unable to throw Jack Follmann out. The top of the 4th saw Riverside create another stalemate the with Keaton Rieken brining in the tying run after being hit by a pitch, making it 4-4.

The Bulldogs created space in the top of the 6th, when McCready hit a single at left field to bring Hough home creating a 5-4 lead. The Cougars countered in the bottom of the 6th with an RBI single through Carson McKee and a sac fly via Bradyen Chester give CAM the lead once more at 6-5 as it headed into the 7th. Riverside knew time was running out and witnessed Cole Jeppsen initiate the inning with a single. Kyler Rieken also reached first on a bobbled fielder’s choice to put the go ahead run at 1st base. Two crucial errors from the infield allowed Cole Jeppsen and Kyler Rieken to both get home, putting Riverside up again 7-6. The Cougar’s initial response in the bottom of the 7th was 3 base hits in a row to load the bases. Lukas James took the walk to bring the tying run in at 7-7 and Croghan had the walk off ground hit towards second to give CAM an 8-7 win at home.

Cougars head coach Drew Ticknor explained how Saturday’s win came from his team’s grit.

CAM had multiple players stand out like Carson McKee who went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s and Brayden Chester going 1-4 with a double and RBI. But coach Ticknor respected the way relief pitcher Brody Paulsen got the win for his team pitching 3 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts, and 1 walk.

CAM’s victory in the first round of their substate will have them play Woodbury Central next Tuesday in Moville. It’s a game coach Ticknor will not take lightly.

Riverside’s loss in the post season ends their season at a record of 8-14.

Olsen Named to USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s U23 Nations League Team

Sports

July 6th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Iowa guard Lucy Olsen was named to the women’s 2024 USA 3×3 Nations Leagues team USA Basketball announced on Friday. The squad is set to compete at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Americas Conference July 22-28 in Mexico City.

The 2024 USA 3×3 Women’s Nations League Team features NCAA Division I athletes, including Christina Dalce (University of Maryland), Morgan Maly (Creighton University), Cotie McMahon (Ohio State University), Lucy Olsen (University of Iowa, Mikaylah Williams (LSU) and Serah Williams (University of Wisconsin).

In April, Dalce, Olsen and Mikaylah Williams participated in the 2024 USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s National Team training camp in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dalce, Maly and Olsen competed at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 U21 Nations League, qualifying for and eventually winning the 2023 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Final as representatives of the USA U21 squad.

Per FIBA, the seventh edition of the 3×3 Nations League will feature 13 conferences including U23 and U21 teams. The 2024 FIBA 3×3 Nations League includes seven conferences from Europe, including three U21, two from Africa and Asia, and one each from Americas and U21 Asia-Pacific.

The Americas Conference will feature six three-game tournaments in seven days. The six team members can substitute as needed for each day’s four-person entry.

For the first time, the FIBA 3×3 Nations League will be a qualification route to the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2024. Conference winners will qualify for the event, set for Sept. 11-15 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The 2024 FIBA 3×3 U23 Nations League will stream live on YouTube.

Different than five-on-five, 3×3 is played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock. Play is continuous, as teams “clear” the ball behind the 2-point line following a made basketball, defensive rebound or steal. The first team to score 21 points via 1-pointer field goals or 2-pointers behind the arc is victorious; or if time expires then the team leading wins.

Cyclones Announce Addition of Reagan Bartholomew

Sports

July 6th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State softball coach Jamie Pinkerton has announced the addition of a second transfer to the 2025 roster. Miami (OH) infielder Reagan Bartholomew joins recently signed Sydney Malott as the newest Cyclone.
Along with Malott, Reagan will join an eight-player freshmen class as the Cyclones look to replace 11 departures from last year’s squad.
A native of Waukee, Bartholomew returns to her home state after spending a pair of seasons with the RedHawks. In her last season with Miami, Bartholomew helped lead the team to an NCAA postseason berth, where it competed in the Knoxville Regional.
“With the signing of Reagan, we have solidified depth at several positions,” says Coach Pinkerton. “She adds power to the middle of the lineup and postseason experience that will be invaluable to our young roster. We’re looking forward to having Reagan return home to her home state of Iowa and helping our team both athletically and academically.”
A 5-10 infielder with two seasons of eligibility remaining, Bartholomew played in 52 games this past season. In her sophomore campaign, Reagan slashed .348/.386/.738 and clobbered 17 home runs.
Her spectacular sophomore season resulted in her earning First-Team All-MAC honors as well as First-Team All-Region recognition. Bartholomew and the RedHawks won the MAC Tournament to earn a trip to the postseason as she was named to the MAC All-Tournament team.
Reagan tallied 49 hits on the year – 21 going for extra bases – and drove in 49 runs. She tallied 37 runs scored and recorded eight walks. She holds a career .349 batting average, having played in 79 games and totes 61 career hits.
This past year, Bartholomew had the fifth-highest batting average on the team and the fifth-most homers for Miami. She was part of a RedHawk squad that led the nation in home runs, as the team combined to mash 160 long balls.
As a high schooler, Bartholomew attended Waukee Northwest and was coached by Carrie Eby. The team won the state championship in 2022 during Reagan’s senior season and she was first-team all-state as a junior.

Belanger Inks Professional Contract with Wings Leverkusen

Sports

July 6th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

LEVERKUSEN, Germany – Iowa State women’s basketball alum Hannah Belanger has signed WINGS Leverkusen to begin her professional career. Belanger played one season at Iowa State following an impressive four-year career at Truman State.

Belanger played in all 33 games for the Cyclones while making 32 starts. She averaged 9.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting nearly 39 percent from 3-point range. Belanger also finished her career with 2,189 points and 368 made triples.

“We are all excited for Hannah as she signs her professional contract.  In one year, she made a huge impact on and off the court at Iowa State,” said Iowa State women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly. “It is exciting to see this dream of hers become a reality.”

She will make the move overseas in August while WINGS begins regular season play on September 30.

Red Oak man arrested on an Escape warrant

News

July 6th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Friday night, arrested a man wanted on a valid warrant out of Pottawattamie County. 56-year-old Richard James Linfor, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 8:30-p.m. in the 500m block of E. Market Street, on the warrant for Escape from Custody (A Serious Misdemeanor). Richard Linfor was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held, pending transfer to the Pott. County Jail in Council Bluffs.