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Newton, Avoca, Guthrie Center join Main Street Iowa program

News

February 7th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A ceremony was held at the State Capitol Thursday as Governor Branstad announced three communities that have been selected to join the Main Street Iowa program. They are Avoca, Guthrie Center, and Newton. The Main Street Iowa initiative was launched 27 years ago as part of a national effort to revitalize downtowns. Cities that are chosen for the program receive expert training and technical support in efforts to preserve historic buildings and improve their local economies.

Guthrie Center officials join Gov. Branstad for the Main Street IA announcement.

Guthrie Center officials join Gov. Branstad for the Main Street IA announcement.

Ken Laughery, president of the Guthrie Center Revitalization Corporation, is also hoping the Main Street designation will eventually encourage more people to move to the town of just over 15-hundred (1,500) residents. “That’s one of the struggles we’ve faced over the years is our shrinking population,” Laughery said. “I think (Main Street) will give us guidance and show us some of the things that have been successful in other communities in the past.” Avoca’s population is similar to Guthrie Center.

City officials from Avoca also joined the Gov., Thursday for the event.

City officials from Avoca also joined the Gov., Thursday for the event.

Avoca’s City Manager Clint Fichter said the Main Street program will help improve the Pottawattamie County town in a number of ways. “The first step for us is we’ve lacked a downtown business organization, so getting the organization up and running, working together better, the joint marketing, and all those things that come with this…and then, planning for the renovation of an historic theater and some other large preservation projects,” Fichter said. The addition of Avoca, Guthrie Center, and Newton brings the total number of Main Street communities in Iowa to 52.
(Radio Iowa)
(for more info. go to www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/MainStreetIowa)

Posted in News |

Iowa beats No. 9 Penn State 73-70

Sports

February 7th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Samanta Logic had her second first triple-double of the season to lead Iowa to a 73-70 victory on Thursday night. Logic had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Iowa (18-6, 6-4 Big Ten), which has won six of its last eight conference games. Ally Disterhoft had 24 points for the Hawkeyes who lost 87-71 to Penn State on Jan. 5.

Maggie Lucas had 21 points and Ariel Edwards added 16 for Penn State (17-5, 8-2), which had won 12 of 13. The Lady Lions tied the game at 68 but managed just two points in the final 2 minutes.

Theairra Taylor’s free throw put the Hawkeyes up by one but Edwards hit a short jumper for a 70-69 lead. Bethany Doolittle, who was held to eight points, hit a jumper to put Iowa ahead. Edwards, Kaliyah Mitchell and Lucas all missed jumpers and Logic pulled down the deciding rebound.

Posted in Sports |

Thursday’s area basketball scores (from 2/6/14)

Sports

February 7th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye 10:

  • Harlan 74, Atlantic 45
  • St. Albert 47, Thomas Jefferson 45

Western Iowa:

  • Tri-Center 49, Griswold 42
  • IKM-Manning 58, Audubon 29
  • Treynor 66, A-H-S-T 42
  • Missouri Valley 50, Logan-Magnolia 30
  • Underwood 78, Riverside 46

Rolling Valley:

  • Ar-We-Va 52, Coon Rapids-Bayard 42
  • Boyer Valley 69, Woodbine 43
  • West Harrison 78, Charter Oak-Ute 45

Others:

  • Bedford 57, Wayne, Corydon 49
  • East Mills 61, Nishnabotna 27
  • Fremont Mills 70, South Page 31
  • Lenox 54, Southwest Valley 38
  • Nodaway Valley 93, Mount Ayr 49

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye 10:

  • Harlan 83, Atlantic 30
  • St. Albert 53, Thomas Jefferson 24

Western Iowa:

  • Tri-Center 57, Griswold 43
  • IKM-Manning 84, Audubon 43
  • Missouri Valley 61, Logan-Magnolia 26
  • Treynor 60, A-H-S-T 39
  • Underwood 55, Riverside 41

Rolling Valley:

  • Coon Rapids-Bayard 42, Ar-We-Va 33
  • Charter Oak-Ute 56, West Harrison 49

Others:

  • East Mills 44, Nishnabotna 32
  • Fremont Mills 72, South Page 28
  • Nodaway Valley 49, Mount Ayr 46
  • Southwest Valley 59, Lenox 37

Posted in Sports |

Drake Relays to hold high jump in supermarket

Sports

February 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials with the Drake Relays have announced plans to hold an exhibition high jump inside of a supermarket. Meet officials say they’ve already lined up eight high jumpers for a competition to be held on April 21 at a Hy-Vee store in nearby Waukee, Iowa.

The women’s event will feature recent Olympic silver medalist Brigetta Barrett, 2013 meet champion Ruth Beitia of Spain and American record-holder Chaunte Howard-Lowe. Canadian Derek Drouin and American Erik Kynard will headline the men’s field.

Hy-Vee is the presenting sponsor of the meet, which will run from April 24-26.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa lawmakers debate anti-bullying bills

News

February 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Bullying victims, school superintendents and other officials have testified before Iowa lawmakers to advocate for anti-bullying and anti-harassment legislation in the state. Education subcommittees in the House and Senate debated bills Thursday to address bullying situations in Iowa schools. Both will go before their respective education committees.

The bills require that parents receive notification on instances of bullying. It would allow school officials to respond to cases of cyberbullying as they affect students within schools, and ensure training for officials to handle the situations.

Republican Rep. Quentin Stanerson, of Center Point, says legislation won’t completely solve the bullying problem across the state but it will definitely be helpful. Gov. Terry Branstad has made cracking down on school bullying a priority this year.

Posted in News |

Snow possible in western IA this afternoon

Weather

February 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson 

338 PM CST THU FEB 6 2014
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-
338 PM CST THU FEB 6 2014

.NOW...
THERE IS A PATCH OF SOME LIGHT SNOW AND FLURRIES MOVING THROUGH
PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA.
VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED FOR A BRIEF TIME DOWN TO 2 OR 3 MILES.
THE PATCH IS FAST MOVING...SO SHOULD QUICKLY PASS.

Posted in Weather |

Wind Chill Advisory midnight Thu. thru 9-a.m. Friday

Weather

February 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-333 PM CST THU FEB 6 2014

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST FRIDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST FRIDAY.

* TIMING…OVERNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING

* WINDS…WEST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GRADUALLY SHIFT SOUTHWEST OVERNIGHT AND DECREASE TO 5 TO 10 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES/WIND CHILL VALUES…LOW TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM 5 TO 10 BELOW ZERO AND WIND CHILL READINGS OF 20 TO NEAR 30 BELOW ZERO CAN BE EXPECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

Posted in Weather |

Chiefs hire assistant special teams coach

Sports

February 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs hired former NFL running back Brock Olivo as their assistant special teams coach Thursday after he served the past two years on the staff at Coastal Carolina. Olivo replaces Kevin O’Dea, who was hired as special teams coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Olivo was a star at Missouri before spending four seasons with the Detroit Lions. After his playing career, he spent time coaching football in Italy and with the United Football League. At Coastal Carolina, he was the running backs coach and also helped with special teams.

Posted in Sports |

Minor injuries reported following accident in Montgomery Co.

News

February 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

An accident Thursday morning northeast of Villisca in Montgomery County, resulted in minor injuries. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a 2004 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by  42-year-old Nichole King, of Villisca, was traveling west on 210th Street at around 10-a.m.,when a smaller, eastbound gold-colored Chevrolet crossed the center line of the road about one-quarter of a mile east of Vine Avenue.

The other drivers’ actions caused King to swerve to the right and onto the shoulder in order to avoid an accident. Officials say the snow and icy conditions caused the truck to slide up the ditch embankment and roll, coming to rest on the passenger’s side. Authorities say the other vehicle continued eastbound. It’s driver may not have been aware of the accident.

Villisca Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, but King refused treatment. The damage to her vehicle was estimated at $8,000.

Posted in News |

Markel Smith signs letter of intent with Iowa

Sports

February 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa says that St. Louis-area running back Markel Smith has finally signed his letter of intent.  Smith was ranked as a four-star back by recruiting publication Scout.com and is considered one of the best prospects in Iowa’s latest class. But Smith got snowed in during a retreat and wasn’t able to officially join the Hawkeyes until Thursday.  Smith was a first-team all-state selection in each of the last two seasons for St. John Vianney High.

Smith’s 7,144 career rushing yards ranks second-best in Missouri history. He also set the single-game mark with 541 yards.  Smith is the 19th recruit and second running back to join the Hawkeyes for the upcoming season.

Posted in Sports |