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Carroll County man to plead guilty to lascivious acts

News

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Carroll, Iowa) – A western Iowa man has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors, with regard to sex abuse charges. According to reports, 38-year-old Michael William Alexander, of Manning, will plead guilty to two Class-C Felony counts of lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 years.

His plea hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 16, 2024. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

Court records say Alexander was originally arrested this past April (2024) on a charge of sexual abuse in the second degree, a class B felony. The charge was for crimes with a minor that occurred between March 1, 2019, and May 31, 2019. A jury trial had been scheduled in his case for January 14, 2025.

Supreme Court says pipeline surveyors can go on private land

News

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that allows surveyors for a carbon pipeline company onto the land of a Hardin County man. Kent Kasischke argued that allowing surveyors from Summit Carbon Solutions onto private property violates both the Iowa and U-S Constitution’s clauses preventing the illegal taking of land. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Kasischke was properly notified by the company, so he has no right to exclude the surveyors because it does not take away a property right.

The unanimous ruling says Iowa has long authorized access to private property to conduct land surveys to determine routes for things such as roadways and utilities.

A.M. Cohron & Son & Harlan Family Donates $250,000 to Vision Atlantic

News

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report A.M. Cohron & Son, and the Harlan Family, have donated $250,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project, which will bring a housing development, new childcare center, and YMCA expansion to Atlantic. Rick Harlan, Owner of A.M. Cohron & Son, said “Atlantic has needed a project like this for a long time, one that will work towards helping Atlantic grow and attract new businesses to our town. A.M. Cohron & Son and the Harlan family are thankful that we can support Vision Atlantic and this project.”

Construction of the 144 mixed unit housing development, 300 capacity child development center and expansion of the current YMCA facility is slated to begin late spring of 2025.Follow Vision Atlantic on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates or visit www.visionatlantic.org.

Pictured left to right: Debbie Waterbury, Melissa Ihnen, Christina Bateman, Jesse Harlan, Keith Harlan, Rick Harlan and Pam Wagner.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

Youth and Community Partners honored at Annual 4-H Awards Night

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with ISU Extension and Outreach in Montgomery County say 4-H members, their families, and community members gathered November 17, 2024, for the annual Montgomery County 4-H Awards Night. The program was hosted by the 4-H County Youth Council, a group of 4-H members from across the county ranging in age from high school freshmen to seniors.

This year’s county council has nine members: Pace Chaillie (Grant Spitfires), Kennedy DeVries (Stennett Panthers), Oliver Dykes (Stanton Strivers), Landon Gigstad (Stennett Panthers), Kyla Hart (Stanton Strivers), Victoria McFarland (Stanton Strivers), Grace Nippert (East Sunrisers), Will Pollock (Stennett Panthers), and Delaney True (East Sunrisers). The council honored 4-H members and clubs from the past year for their hard work as well as outstanding program sponsors and extraordinary volunteers. 2024 Awards Night PR

2024-25 Youth County Council: Pace Chaillie (Grant Spitfires), Kennedy DeVries (Stennett Panthers), Oliver Dykes (Stanton Strivers), Landon Gigstad (Stennett Panthers), Kyla Hart (Stanton Strivers), Victoria McFarland – not pictured (Stanton Strivers), Grace Nippert (East Sunrisers), Will Pollock (Stennett Panthers), and Delaney True (East Sunrisers).

Four awards are given to adult volunteers, community members, or businesses who support and make positive impacts on the Montgomery County 4-H program. The Friend of 4-H award was given to Farm Credit Services of America. The Montgomery County Ag Society received the Honorary Award. The 2024 Outstanding 4-H Alumni was given to Jenny Ellis and Stephanie Vinton-Pollock of the Stennett Panthers and Red Oak Clover Kids was presented the 2024 Outstanding Leader award.

Volunteers are presented with tenure awards for every five years of service. Those honored on Nov. 17th were:

  • Silver Clover Pin for 5 years of service: Ann Gigstad and Naomi McCunn
  • 5-Point Diamond Clover Pin for 40 years of service: Jane Waltz

In addition to adult and community awards, youth members received awards for submitting their yearly record books and submitting their officer books. Members receiving an award for their record books were:

Junior Record Books: The Outstanding Junior Record Book was awarded to Reese Herzberg. Loryn Anderson, Lyssa Anderson, Anna Chaillie, Payton Doyle, Carter Taylor, Zane Johnson, and Lauren Ferree received certificates of completion.
Intermediate Record Books: The Outstanding Intermediate Record Book was awarded to Dalton Ferree.
Senior Record Books: The Outstanding Senior Record Book was awarded to Joshua LeRette. Receiving certificates of completion and senior project area awards: Lilly Anderson (Rabbit), Pace Chaillie (Sheep), Landon Gigstad (Dog), Joshua LeRette (Woodworking), Grace Nippert (Poultry), Alyssa Strebe (Photography).

Two clubs received awards for turning in their officer books. Grant Spitfires received a certificate of completion for their Secretary’s book, and Outstanding Historian Book and Treasurer’s book. Stanton Strivers received Outstanding Secretary’s Book.

Six senior 4-H members received additional awards based upon their 4-H participation and project involvement. To be eligible for a senior award, members must turn in a record book as well as meet other award specific criteria.

Service: Pace Chaillie & Grace Nippert
Livestock Achievement: Lilly Anderson
Achievement: Landon Gigstad
Danforth Award: Alyssa Strebe
Hall of Fame: Joshua LeRette

Congratulations to all the 4-H members and community partners who received an award! (See more pictures on the Montgomery County-IA Extension Facebook page)

(Article submitted by Katie Hart, Montgomery County ISU Extension/Outreach)

SHIRLEY CHRISTENSEN, 89, of Atlantic (Celebration of Life 11/27/24)

Obituaries

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SHIRLEY CHRISTENSEN, 89, of Atlantic, died Nov. 8, 2024, at the Allen Place, in Atlantic. A Celebration of Life Memorial service for SHIRLEY CHRISTENSEN, will be held 2-p.m. Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

A time of fellowship will be held immediately following the service, at the funeral home.

SHIRLEY CHRISTENSEN is survived by:

Her son – Rod (Lori) Christensen, of Dunlap.

Her daughter – Suzette Christensen, of Marne.

5 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Creston man arrested on an OWI charge Thu. night, after his vehicle struck a car and a garage

News

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported after a pickup truck struck a parked vehicle and a garage, Thursday night. Authorities say 23-year-old Brodie Wade Starlin, of Creston, was driving a 2014 Dodge RAM pickup northbound on Walnut Street at around 9:15-p.m., when his truck hit a legally parked 1998 Chevy Blazer, in the 500 block of N. Walnut. The impact caused disabling damage to the SUV, registered to Daniel Merritt, of Creston.

After it hit the SUV, Starlin’s pickup continued to drive through yards before it hit a garage belong to Justin Byers, of Creston, at 505 N. Walnut Street, causing about $3,000 damage.

The pickup then backed out of the garage and traveled to 1206 N. Elm Street, where it stopped due to disabling damage. Starlin was taken into custody on a charge of Operating While under the Influence/1st offense. Damage to his pickup amounted to $10,000. The parked SUV sustained $5,000 damage.

Iowa visits Maryland on Saturday

Sports

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Hawkeyes look to snap a three game road losing skid when they visit Maryland, Saturday. Coming off a bye week the Hawkeyes are 6-4. The Terrapins are 4-6.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeye defense has struggled away from home and the Maryland offense is averaging better than 421 yards per game.

Colorado State transfer Jackson Stratton could get the start at quarterback. He relieved the injured Brendan Sullivan in a loss at UCLA.

Pre-game coverage begins at 9-a.m. Saturday on KJAN, with the kick-off from at SECU Stadium in College Park Maryland at 11-a.m.

No. 22 Iowa State visits Utah Saturday night

Sports

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State needs to win and get help to play in the Big 12 Championship team. It begins on the road as the 22nd ranked Cyclones visit Utah. ISU is 8-2 overall. Utah entered the season as the Big 12 favorite and has lost six straight games.

That’s Cyclone coach Matt Campbell who says the Utes have dealt with a lot of adversity this season.

Campbell says Kyle Whittingham has built a championship level program at Utah.

Kick-off from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City is slated for 6:30-p.m. Central Time

Reynolds is first governor to receive Tax Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award

News

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is being honored by a tax-focused think tank that was founded in 1937 by the executives of General Motors and Standard Oil. The Tax Foundation has presented Governor Kim Reynolds with its Distinguished Service Award. She is the first governor to receive the annual award, which has previously honored dozens of federal officials, business executives and educators.

Reynolds has signed five bills to cut taxes since she took over as governor in mid-2017. The most recent will lower Iowa’s income tax to a single rate of three-point-eight percent next year. A panel of state officials recently predicted Iowa tax revenue will decline by a billion dollars over a 24 month period. In a written statement, Reynolds says she’s taken an approach that favors simplicity over complexity and economic growth over government spending.

Reynolds received the Tax Foundation’s award last (Thursday) night at the group’s annual “Tax Prom.” It’s a black tie event in Washington, D.C. with hundreds of officials from businesses and government in attendance. Reynolds is the second Iowan to receive the award. Herbert Hoover is among three presidents to be honored. The others were George W. Bush and Dwight Eisenhauer.

Some 100,000 Iowa deer hunters are oiling their shotguns in anticipation

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s busiest and largest hunting seasons will be kicking off shortly, as the first of the state’s two shotgun seasons for deer will open in about two weeks. Nate Carr, an Iowa D-N-R conservation officer, says deer hunting is extremely popular. “We see roughly 100,000 hunters get out and participate in those two seasons, and during that time, we harvest about half of the total deer harvest in Iowa within a relatively short period of time,” Carr says. “So it’s a really effective way to manage our deer herd across the state, but also see a lot of good hunter participation.”

The first deer shotgun season runs December 7th through the 11th, while the second season runs December 14th through the 22nd. Deer hunters harvested about 60-thousand deer in Iowa last year, and Carr anticipates this year’s harvest will round out roughly the same. “Eastern, southern Iowa, we have really strong numbers and tend to have strong harvest, and so that kind of makes up for the lower population on the western side of the state right now, so it kind of balances out,” Carr says. “I think we’ll see decent numbers. Hopefully, we’ll get colder temperatures. That tends to get deer on their feet and motivate hunters to get out and pursue them.”

Iowa DNR photo

There have already been several smaller deer hunting seasons held in the state, and this year’s hot, dry weather may have been something of a hindrance. “We’re still seeing pretty decent harvest numbers. I think we’ve harvested around 25,000 deer throughout the youth season, in this early split of the archery season, as well as early muzzleloader, so we’re we’re on track,” Carr says. “We’re down a little bit, and you could probably attribute that somewhat to temperature, a little bit of hemorrhagic disease, which we’ve seen impact central Iowa quite a bit this year.”

Find much more information on the hunting seasons ahead at iowa-d-n-r-dot-gov.