United Group Insurance

CHRISTINE MADSEN, 88, of Earlham (Svcs. 3/7/14)

Obituaries

March 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

CHRISTINE MADSEN, 88, of Earlham, died Mon., March 3rd, at home. Funeral services for CHRISTINE MADSEN will be held 11-a.m. Fri., March 7th, at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham.

Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the service, on Friday (10-a.m. to 11-a.m.). Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

A graveside service will be held at the Norwalk City Cemetery beginning at 2-p.m. on Friday.

Memorials may be directed to the Christine Madsen Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Wed., March 5 2014

Podcasts, Weather

March 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The (podcast) Freese-Notis weather forecast for the KJAN listening area and weather information for Atlantic.

Play

2 men arrested following traffic stops Wed. morning in Fremont Co.

News

March 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Two men were arrested early this (Wednesday) morning, following separate traffic stops in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Dept. says 64-year old Francis Bruce Ingerson, of Savage, MN, was arrested for Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle, No Insurance and Failure to have a valid Driver’s License. Ingerson was pulled over at around 1-a.m. on Interstate 29 near mile marker 24, because there were no license plates on his 1987 Lincoln. He was brought to the Fremont County Jail and held on $1,215 bond.

At about the same time as Ingerson was being arrested, deputies in Fremont County conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Main and A Streets in Hamburg. A 1995 Mercury Cougar with no license plates was pulled over, and its driver, 43-year old Jeffrey Wade Massey, of Hamburg, was charged with Driving Under Suspension, No Insurance, Operating a Non-Registered vehicle, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine.

Massey was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $2,608 bond.

Vehicle breakdown on I-80 in Omaha results in the death of a Bluffs man

News

March 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A vehicle breakdown Tuesday morning on Interstate 80 in Omaha resulted in the death of a Pottawattamie County man. The Omaha World-Herald reports 44-year old Michael D. Holcomb, of Council Bluffs, was struck and killed by a semitrailer truck on eastbound Interstate 80 near 52nd Street. Holcomb was reportedly hit in the far left lane about 10:35 a.m.

According to Omaha police, a 2002 Jeep Cherokee with apparent mechanical problems was stopped on the shoulder. Holcomb was outside the vehicle when he stepped into traffic. An SUV with its hood up could be seen parked on the left shoulder near where emergency crews were working.

The semi driver, 54-year old James J. Bolter Jr., of Omaha, was not hurt. Officials caution that if your vehicle breaks down and is on the shoulder of the road, you should constantly be aware of your surroundings with regard to the flow of traffic, and never assume other drivers see you or your vehicle in that type of situation.

New VA bldg approved by voters in Pott. County

News

March 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Voters heading to the polls for a Special Election Tuesday in Pottawattamie County overwhelmingly approved the construction of a new veterans affairs office in downtown Council Bluffs. According to the Daily NonPareil, the vote was 1,495 to 321 in favor of the issuance of $1.5 million in bonds to build a 6,300-square-foot building to improve veterans services, replacing the outdated 1,600-square-foot office located in an annex building near the County Courthouse. A 60 percent majority vote was needed to pass this measure and in the end the approval percentage was 82.3 percent.

County officials will begin working with architects today (Wednesday) on final designs, with construction slated to begin this spring. The new building would provide an office for each of the four case workers, plus two offices where veterans could meet in private with staff from other related agencies. There would also be a larger computer data room with privacy, wider hallways, plus a waiting room where veterans could view informational videos or pick up literature.

The top proposed location would be at the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Sixth Avenue directly north of the county’s juvenile detention facility. The second choice is at the northwest corner of Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue.

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties: Wed., 3/5/2014

Weather

March 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY. NORTHEAST WIND AROUND 10 MPH.

TODAY…CLOUDY. HIGH AROUND 30. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 15. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 20 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. NOT AS COLD. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF FREEZING DRIZZLE…LIGHT RAIN AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF DRIZZLE IN THE MORNING…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN…FREEZING DRIZZLE AND LIGHT SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S. WEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 30 PERCENT.

FRIDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOW AROUND 20.

SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. HIGH AROUND 30.

No. 9 Baylor beats Iowa State 70-54

Sports

March 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Nina Davis scored 26 points to help No. 9 Baylor clinch a share of the Big 12 title by beating Iowa State 70-54 on Tuesday night. Baylor won despite a season-low 11 points from star Odyssey Sims, the nation’s leading scorer at 30.2 points per game entering play.

Nikki Moody had 17 points and Hallie Christofferson scored 14 for Iowa State (20-9, 9-9), which was outrebounded 48-32.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., March 5th 2014

News

March 5th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Voters in Ames have rejected a proposal to borrow up to $19 million to pay the city’s share of a convention center at Iowa State University. Results showed the measure failed yesterday 62 percent to 37 percent. The center would have been jointly owned by the city and university.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voters in Des Moines have overwhelmingly approved an increase in a fee charged on their utility bills to repay $40 million the city borrowed to pay a court-ordered refund of previously over-collected franchise fees. More than 85 percent of the nearly 10,000 votes cast Tuesday were in favor of the fee increase. City residents had little choice. Either they had to approve the increased fee, or the city would be forced to increase property taxes to repay the money.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say at least six people have been arrested in connection to an investigation into the sale of synthetic marijuana. Authorities say the people were taken into custody yesterday morning following the completion of several simultaneous search warrants at stores and homes.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Nina Davis scored 26 points to help Number 9 Baylor clinch a share of the Big 12 title by beating Iowa State 70-54 last night. Nikki Moody had 17 points and Hallie Christofferson scored 14 for Iowa State, which was outrebounded 48-32 in Ames.

Two women have filed papers for Cass County Recorder’s post

News

March 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports there will be a race between at least two Republicans for the County Recorder’s job. As we mentioned Monday, Jess Ehrman, of Atlantic, officially announced her candidacy and filed nomination papers Tuesday with the Auditor’s office. On Monday, Mary Ward, also of Atlantic, filed her nomination papers. Current Cass County Recorder Joyce Jensen is not seeking re-election.

The only other potential race entering the June 3rd Primary Election, would appear to be for Cass County Attorney, where Republican David L. Wiederstein, of Atlantic, has filed nomination papers. Wiederstein serves as Attorney for the City of Atlantic and as interim Attorney in Audubon, in addition to being a private practice lawyer. Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner had not yet filed papers to run for re-election, as of 5-p.m., Tuesday.

No injuries reported following recent accidents in Harlan

News

March 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Harlan Police Department says no injuries were reported following a collision Tuesday at the intersection of 12th and Chatburn Avenue. Authorities say a 2010 Lincoln driven by Monica Wilke, of Panama, was traveling southbound on 12th Street and turning west onto Chatburn Avenue. A 2002 Pontiac driven by Cameron Renkly, of Harlan, was westbound on Chatburn Avenue., when Wilke proceeded through the red light and her vehicle hit the  passenger side of the Pontiac. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $1,250. Police say Wilke was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device.

And, Harlan Police say there were no injuries reported following an accident Monday at the intersection of Chatburn Avenue and College Place. Officials say a 2003 Buick driven by Ann Bieker, of Harlan, was westbound on Chatburn Avenue, as a 2005 Ford driven by Roger Andersen, of Harlan,  was turning east onto Chatburn Ave from College Place.

The Ford proceeded through the stop sign and collided with the Buick in the middle of Chatburn Avenue, causing a total of $5,500 damage.