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Asphalt Adhesive enters Indian Creek in Council Bluffs

News

June 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA — Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) report, that at around 8:52-a.m. Thursday, June 20th, the Council Bluffs Fire Department notified the Iowa DNR Field Office of an approximate 900-gallon release of tack, an asphalt adhesive with a 60/40 blend of water and asphalt, into a storm drain at 8th Street and Broadway in Council Bluffs.

The release was the result of a  semi-truck rollover accident. The driver suffered non-life threatening injuries. His name was not officially released. Authorities say the company responsible for the release was Henningsen Construction,  of Atlantic.

The product flowed into a storm drain, which empties into Indian Creek and, then the Missouri River. City crews on-site were able to close the storm drain within minutes after the release. However, an unknown amount did flow through the storm drain into Indian Creek. A sheen was observed on Indian Creek downstream of the release.

The city officials and fire department staff worked together towards clean-up efforts. An underflow dam was placed at the bridge of 16th Avenue. Additionally, booms and sphag sorb are being used to help stop and remove product in Indian Creek.

Residents are asked to stay away from the area. DNR staff will monitor cleanup and containment. The DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action.

Riverside Softball wins big at home

Sports

June 20th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Riverside Bulldogs softball team had a 10-0 victory over the Shenandoah Fillies on Thursday night in Oakland. The major factor for the Bulldogs success against the Fillies was the excellent pitching from 8th grader Peyton Schafer inside the circle. Schafer had little difficult controlling the Shenandoah batters leaving two runners stranded multiple times throughout the evening. Schafer pitched 6 innings, had 9 strikeouts, 4 hits, 1 walk, and no runs.

When it came to batting Riverside stayed consistent scoring at least 1 run in five of six innings and having 10 hits. Schafer hit well at the plate going 2-3 with an RBI and a homerun.  Kaycie Perkins also had a triple with 2 RBI’s and 2 walks. The Bulldogs were up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth where they poured in six runs to achieve the run rule at 10-0.

Riverside Head Coach Lacie Patterson was impressed with the way her team managed to correct their mistakes throughout the ball game.

Coach Patterson also gave credit to the way Schafer shined on the night.

The win bumps Riverside’s record to 13-9 on the year. The Bulldogs next game will be at home on Friday against Logan Magnolia. Coach Patterson wants to see her team’s passion carry over into their contest against the Panthers.

Shenandoah’s loss marks them at 9-12 for the season and their next matchup will be in Fremont Mills on Saturday.

Council Bluffs man arrested on a Montgomery County felony warrant

News

June 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a man from Pottawattamie County was arrested this (Thursday) afternoon, on a Montgomery County felony warrant for Violation of Probation. 46-year-old Justin James Smith, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 2:30-p.m.

Smith was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

Iowa nurses accused of lethal errors, theft and being impaired while on duty

News

June 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Board of Nursing has taken action against nurses accused of stealing medications, being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at work, and inadvertently contributing to a hospital patient’s death. One of the cases involves 40-year-old Rahni Brower, of Carroll, who was charged by the board with misappropriating patient medications and committing an act that may adversely affect a patient’s welfare.

According to the board, Brower worked for Carroll Area Nursing Services (CANS) for roughly 18 months before she was fired in December 2022. After her dismissal, CANS administrator Kimberly Lambert filed a complaint with the board alleging Brower had stolen a patient’s medications, including oxycodone, resulting in increased pain for the patient. At a recent board hearing, Lambert testified that she had asked Brower to submit to a drug test, but the urine sample Brower provided was discarded as not being within the acceptable temperature range. A subsequent test produced negative results.

Lambert testified that she fired Brower and soon thereafter received complaints from two CANS clients who alleged Brower visited their homes after she was terminated. In the first of those cases, Brower was allegedly seen checking the patient’s medicine cabinet, after which it was discovered that all of the patient’s fentanyl patches were missing. In the second of the two cases, Brower allegedly checked a patient’s medication supply, after which it was discovered that all of the man’s hydrocodone pain killers had been replaced with Tylenol.

According to the board, a fourth CANS client allegedly reported that she had once seen Brower rifling through her medication box, after which she discovered at least 120 pills, including oxycodone, were missing. Two of Brower’s previous employers allegedly told the board they had concerns regarding medications that were never accounted for during Brower’s employment. Neither of the two facilities – which aren’t named in board documents – were able to clear Brower of any wrongdoing.

According to board records, Brower denied taking medications from clients or her employers. With regard to her post-termination visits to patients’ homes, she alleged she had made those visits to return books or DVDs she had borrowed. After hearing testimony in the case, the board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence established the theft of medication. The board opted not to revoke Brower’s license but to impose a suspension. Her license may be reinstated if she establishes that the reasons for her suspension no longer exist.

In order to request reinstatement, Brower will have to complete a comprehensive substance abuse and mental health evaluation and comply with any treatment recommendations, and she must complete a course on professional boundaries and ethics.

In Carroll County, Brower is currently facing three misdemeanor charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance through her employment as a home health nurse. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and a trial is scheduled for Aug. 13th. In Greene County, Brower is facing two felony counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances through theft, and two misdemeanor prescription-drug violations. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and a trial is scheduled for Sept. 16.

Brower’s license suspension took effect on April 12. On May 22, Brower informed the court that she was working for Vivian Health, a medical staffing agency. Other Iowa nurses recently sanctioned include:

Andrea Cline of Grinnell and Amber Hills of Estherville, both of whom were alleged to have fed and medicated a hospital patient on March 18, 2019, using a gastric feeding tube that had been improperly routed into one of the patient’s lungs. The board issued a warning to both nurses.

Shelley Arends, who was the subject of a board order earlier this year. The board has not publicly disclosed the charges against Arends, the circumstances that led to those charges, or the nature of the order that was issued.

Nicole Klosterman of Cedar Rapids, who was assigned to a hospital, undisclosed by the board, in April 2023 when her colleagues allegedly observed that she appeared to be impaired while on duty as demonstrated by her altered behavior, speech and appearance. The board charged her with practicing nursing while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The board placed Klosterman’s license on probation for nine months subject to her compliance with a chemical screening program.

Sadessa Hernandez of Altoona, who was accused of discarding 172 narcotic pills on a single day in September 2023 while working at a care center the board has not publicly identified. The board placed Hernandez’s license on probation for 12 months and ordered her to refrain from using alcohol or illicit drugs and to submit to a chemical screening program.

Amanda Hake of Davenport, who pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance after police found her in possession of oxycodone without a valid prescription. Hake entered her guilty plea in October 2022. The board filed disciplinary charges against her 16 months later in January 2024. The board recently placed Hake’s license on probation for 12 months. She will be required to submit to chemical screening and attend recovery support group meetings if recommended.

Trenton Buchanan of Cedar Rapids, who was charged by the board with committing an act that may adversely affect a patient’s welfare, misappropriating patient medications or property; unauthorized possession or use of a controlled substance; and excessive use of drugs in a manner that may impair a licensee’s ability to practice with skill and safety. Buchanan has agreed to refrain from practicing nursing while the board’s investigation into the matter continues.

(Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch)

 

Sutherland couple paroled after serving time for helping son flee to Jordan

News

June 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa couple found guilty of helping their son flee the country rather than stand trial for attempted murder have been paroled after serving a fraction of their prison sentences. Two years ago, then 19-year-old Ali Younes was accused of tackling a woman on the University of Iowa campus, choking her until she passed out and stealing her 20-thousand dollar earrings. Younes was ordered to wear an ankle monitor and stay at his family’s home until his trial, but court records show he cut off the monitor and flew to Jordan.

Investigators say Lima and Alfred Younes drove from their home in Sutherland, got 21-thousand dollars in cash after selling a vehicle in Omaha and rented a van to take their son to Chicago, where he flew to Jordan with his grandmother. Last August a jury found Lima Younes guilty of aiding her son’s escape and her husband pleaded guilty a month later. LimaYounes was paroled after serving over seven months of her five year prison sentence.

Alfred Younes, also sentenced to five years, was released from prison after serving over five months.

HARRIET A. JAYNE, 91, of Exira (Mass of Christian Burial 6/25/24)

Obituaries

June 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

HARRIET A. JAYNE, 91, of Exira, died Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon. A Mass of Christian Burial for HARRIET JAYNE will be held at 11-a.m. Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the mass at the church on Tuesday.

Interment will take place at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in Exira. A luncheon will be provided following the interment at Holy Trinity Catholic Hall.

HARRIET JAYNE is survived by:

Her daughters – Barb (Mitch) Bengard, of Orange City; Brenda (Lynn) Wahlert, of Post Falls, ID;, Bonnie (Rob) Hagen, of Fort Dodge; Bo (Scott) Flory, of Clear Lake, and Bre (Dave) Olson, of Fort Dodge.

Her sister – Betty Simonsen, of Exira.

13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, several step-great grandchildren, her sisters-in-law, other relatives, and many friends.

Iowa High School Athletic Association 2024 Baseball Postseason

Sports

June 20th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Baseball substate brackets for the 2024 postseason are now available for Class 2A and Class 1A.

The first round of postseason games in 2A and 1A are scheduled for Saturday, July 6, then second round district games on Wednesday, July 10. Winners will advance to the Saturday, July 13 district final, followed by substate final games set for Tuesday, July 16. In 2A and 1A, district finalists will meet in the substate final, matching Substate 1 District 1 with Substate 1 District 2, Substate 2 District 3 with Substate 2 District 4, etc.

Class 4A and Class 3A brackets will be released Thursday, June 27.

Eight teams from each classification will advance to the 2024 IHSAA State Baseball Tournament, currently scheduled for July 22-26 in Carroll (2A, 1A) and Cedar Rapids (4A, 3A).

Below are links to the Class 1A and 2A Brackets:

Baseball-Brackets-1A-6.20.24

Baseball-Brackets-2A-6.20.24-Update

Gov. Reynolds Announces Disaster Emergency Proclamation for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Sac County

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Today (Thursday), Governor Kim Reynolds authorized a disaster proclamation for Sac County, Iowa effective immediately through July 20, 2024. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock.
This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.
The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

Panorama Panther Jaidyn Sellers continues to impress

Sports

June 20th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Not many high school students have or will follow the athletic success that Jaidyn Sellers has achieved within her time at Panorama Community High School. She led her high school basketball team to the state championship and scored twenty points in the final game. Sellers became the state’s quickest sprinter by winning state titles in the 100, 200, and 400.  Throughout her high school career, she’s won 3 Drake Relay Titles and a total of 10 state titles. To top things off, Sellers will be dawning the black and gold as she plays for the Iowa softball program in the fall.

Her accolades are numerous, and she credits the internal drive to achieve from her family.

That competitive drive led to many happy memories for Sellers as she continued to improve each year. Still, one moment inside the Blue Oval will always remain at the top for Sellers high school highlights.

When asked about her favorite sport, Sellers has a strong zeal towards softball. It’s a sport she grew up absorbing from watching her family play throughout her childhood.

Sellers future sprinting endeavors will be on the softball field and off the track. Sellers last fall signed her national letter of intent to play for the University of Iowa. The decision was a comfortable one as the proximity to home was a major benefit.

While reflecting on her time in high school, Sellers did have one piece of advice to share with athletes who are looking to be at the top of their respective sports.

Move in day for Sellers and other Hawkeye athletes will be in late August.

Day 1 Preview: Iowans @ U.S. Olympic T&F Trials

Sports

June 20th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

•U.S. Olympic Trials—Eugene, Oregon, June 21-June 30

The 2024 Olympic Trials begin on Friday and will run through June 30,  with a 2-day break on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 25-26).

Thirty five athletes with Iowa ties will be competing. See entire list below.

—52 Drake Relays alumni competing

      —There’s an excellent chance that at least five athletes with Iowa ties will make the U.S. Olympic Team: Kenny Bednarek – men’s 200; Hillary Bor, men’s 3000 steeple; Brittney Brown, women’s 200; Laulanga Tausaga-Collins, women’s discus; Karissa             Schweizer, women’s 5 or 10k.
     
       —Two-time Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones will be competing in her fourth Olympic Trials.
 

—18 Drake Relays officials working the meet including public address announcer Mike Jay

https://www.usatf.org/events/2024/2024-u-s-olympic-team-trials-—-track-field

The top 3 finishers in each event, provided they’ve met the Olympic qualifying standard (performance or ranking) will qualify to represent the U.S. at the Paris Olympics. You can check the status of an athlete by going to the World Athletics “Road to Paris” site:

https://worldathletics.org/stats-zone/road-to/7153115

Schedulehttps://www.usatf.org/events/2024/2024-u-s-olympic-team-trials-%E2%80%94-track-field/schedule

Entrieshttps://www.usatf.org/events/2024/2024-u-s-olympic-team-trials-—-track-field/status-of-entries

Startlists/Resultshttps://results.usatf.org/2024Trials/

 

 

IOWANS COMPETING IN U.S. OLYMPIC TRACK & FIELD TRIALS

Men – 20

Isaac Basten, Drake —1500

*Kenny Bednarek, former Indiana Hills CC — 100 & 200

#Hillary Bor, former Iowa State – 3000 steeple

Jamal Britt, former Iowa – 110 hurdles

Brandon Carnes, former UNI — 100 & 200

James Carter, former Iowa — triple jump

Nik Curtiss, former Iowa — shot put

Ryan Ford, former Iowa State — 10,000

Cam Jones, Iowa State, Cedar Rapids Kennedy HS —shot put

Darius Kipyego, Iowa State — 800

Courtney Lindsey, former Iowa Central CC — 100 & 200

Michael Millslagle, Graceland — high jump

Gratt Reed, Iowa, Atlantic HS — 110 hurdles

Will Reemstsma, St. Ambrose, Davenport Central HS — 400 hurdles

Gable Sieperda, Iowa State, GLR/CL HS — 3000 steeple

Mike Stein, Iowa, Spirit Lake HS — javelin

TJ Tomlyanovich, Cedar Falls HS — 400

Reno Tuufull, former Iowa — discus

Kalen Walker, Iowa, Indian Hills CC —100

Austin West, Iowa, Iowa City West HS — decathlon

Women – 15

Alex Gochenour-Brondyke, Logan Magnolia HS —  heptathlon & 100 hurdles

Brittany Brown, former Iowa  — 200

Makayla Clark, Iowa State — 800

Erin Dowd, former Iowa —  400 hurdles

Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, former Iowa — discus

$Lolo Jones, Des Moines Roosevelt — 100 hurdles

Rachel Joseph, Iowa State — 400

Paige Magee, Iowa — 100 hurdles

Kat Moody, Iowa, Waukee HS  — discus

Janette Schraft, Iowa State, Glenwood HS — 3000 steeple

*Karissa Schweizer, Dowling Catholic —5,000 & 10,000

Maria Shavers, former UNI, Hawkeye CC, Waterloo West HS — hammer throw

Tionna Tobias, Iowa – long jump

Alexina Teubel, former UNI, Mt.Vernon-Lisbon HS — 1,500

Sydney Willits, Iowa State — long jump

Key
*2021 Olympian
#2016 Olympian
$2008 & 2012 Olympian

FRIDAY SCHEDULE INVOLVING IOWANS  (all times central)

2 p.m.  Decathlon – Austin West, Iowa

7:30 p.m. Men’s Javelin, 1st Round — First Flight: Mike Stein, Iowa, Spirit Lake HS

7:48 p.m. Women’s 400 – Heat Five: Lane 4- Rachel Joseph, Iowa State

8:17 p.m. Women’s 800 —Heat Two: Hip #8 Makayla Clark, Iowa State 

8:49 p.m. Men’s 3000 Steeplechase –  Heat One: Hip #6 Hillary Bor, former Iowa State, 2016 Olympian; Heat Two: Hip #6 Gabe Sieperda, Iowa State

9:22 p.m. Men’s 1500 1st round – Heat three: Hip #13 Isaac Basten, Drake

10:15 pm Men’s Shot put 1st round – Flight one: Cam Jones, Iowa State, CR Kennedy; Nick Curtiss, former Iowa

10:22 pm Women’s  5,000 -1st round — (Heat one) – Hip #2 Karissa Schweizer, former Dowling Catholic