United Group Insurance

Medical issues contribute to fatal crash in Council Bluffs

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs man is dead following a crash late Monday morning in the 2400 block of Valley View Drive. According to Council Bluffs Police, officers and medics responded to the scene at around 11:25-a.m. An investigation revealed a vehicle was traveling south on Valley View and had left the roadway to the right before going airborne and coming to rest in a field on the west side of Valley View Drive.

A passenger in the vehicle, 82-year old Kathryn Sealock, of Council Bluffs, told authorities her 58-year old son Jeffrey was at the wheel when he passed out and became unresponsive. His foot pressed on the accelerator, causing the vehicle to speed-up. Kathryn Sealock tried to gain control of the car but was unable to do so.

Following the crash, Jeffrey Sealock was transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, where he was pronounced dead. Kathryn Sealock was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

City of Atlantic reminds pet owners to license their animals

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic is working hard to bring up the number of licensed dogs in Atlantic. The most important thing to note is that licenses are delinquent after April 1st and will cost dog owners an additional $10.00 per tag. Licensing your pet is one of the best ways to ensure that if he strays or she gets lost, they come back home to you as a responsible pet owner. It is also the law.

You may license your pet in person at the Atlantic Animal Shelter. To learn more about licensing your pet by going to www.cityofatlantic.com & read the licensing requirements in the City Code of Ordinance.License fees are a nonrefundable city fee.

Animals Required to Be Licensed:
Dogs inside city limits of Atlantic Iowa
Age Requirement for License:
All dogs 6 months of age

New Residents have to license within:
30 days

Vaccinations required for licensing:
Rabies—veterinary proof is required.

Dog License Fees:
$25 intact / $5 altered
(*Veterinary proof of spay/neuter is required to license at the lower rate

Licensing Due Dates:
Licenses are due January 1st of each year. Licenses are good for one year beginning January 1.

Late/Delinquent Fee:
Licenses are due by April 1st
Late licenses fee is $10.00 per licensed dog on top of licensing fees.

Animals Required To Wear Tags:
All dogs that don’t fit under the exceptions of city Code 56 section 56.03

Lost Tags:
You can request replacement tags by coming into the shelter in person and paying a $5.00 replacement fee.

Owner Tag Transfer:
If a dog changes ownership a dog license can be transferred to the new owner for $5.00

Clarinda Police Make Weekend Drug Arrests

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Clarinda report a traffic stop late Saturday night resulted in two people being arrested on drug charges. Officers stopped a vehicle at around 11:30-p.m. near the intersection of 16th & Orange Streets. An investigation resulted in the arrest of the driver, 35-year old Kenneth Richard Larabee,  of Clarinda, on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an illegal drug, believed to be marijuana. Also arrested was a passenger in the vehicle, 36-year old Dustin Trinity McClarnon, of rural Clarinda, for possession of an illegal controlled substance believed to be marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both Larabee and McClarnon were booked into the Page County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail each pending an initial appearance before a Magistrate Judge.

Lewis man arrested on drug charges, Saturday

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A man from Lewis was arrested Saturday on drug charges. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies arrested 25-year old Ricardo Enrique Torres, on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver, Prohibited Acts, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Torres was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $9,000 bond

MARIE KATHERINE VONDRASEK DUGAN, 100, of Earlham (no services)

Obituaries

March 23rd, 2015 by Jim Field

MARIE KATHERINE VONDRASEK DUGAN, 100, of Earlham died Friday, March 20th at the Stuart Community Care Center.  Per her wishes, no services will be held for MARIE KATHERINE VONDRASEK DUGAN.  Johnson Family Funeral Home, Earlham Chapel has the arrangements.

——————————————————————-

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

LEVI DUANE ACKART, 78, of Greene, IA, formerly of Avoca (3-26-2015)

Obituaries

March 23rd, 2015 by Jim Field

LEVI DUANE ACKART,78, of Greene, IA (& formerly of Avoca) died Monday, March 23rd in Waterloo.  Funeral services for LEVI ACKART will be held on Thursday, March 26th at 2:00 pm at Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.  There will also be a Memorial Service on Tuesday, March 31st at 11:00am at the Greene Community Center in Greene, IA.

Visitation at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, is from Noon until 2-p.m. Thursday.

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.

LEVI DUANE ACKART is survived by:

Wife: Janice (Nelson) Ackart of Greene, IA.

Sons: Terry (Janet) Ackart of Hesperia, CA.  Brent (Lisa) Ackart of Cornville, AZ.

Sister: Karen (Gary) Parker of Waukee.

2 Grandchildren

2 Great-Grandchildren.

 

 

Iowa Answers Question Marks in 2014-15 with Tourney Win

Sports

March 23rd, 2015 by Jim Field

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A late season slide and the loss of its best player left Iowa with a lot of questions mark heading into 2014-15.

The Hawkeyes answered those doubts with a solid season that included their first NCAA Tournament win in 14 years.

Iowa (22-12), whose season ended with an 87-68 loss to second-seeded Gonzaga in Seattle on Sunday night, went 12-6 in the Big Ten and reached the NCAAs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in nine years.

It was also the season that saw senior Aaron White take his place among the great players in school history.

White made up for the absence of departed star Devyn Marble with one of the best seasons a Hawkeye has ever had.

 

UNI’s Strong Season Ends 1 Game Shy of Sweet 16

Sports

March 23rd, 2015 by Jim Field

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An NCAA Tournament loss just a game shy of the Sweet 16 shouldn’t obscure what Northern Iowa accomplished this season.

The Panthers showed they can compete with any program in the country when everything falls into place.

During the season, the Panthers rolled past Iowa and reeled off 16 straight wins — including a thrashing of Wichita State — to put the program back in the national spotlight.

Northern Iowa (31-4) set a school record for wins, moved into the top 10 for the first time and won the Missouri Valley conference tournament before losing to Louisville on Sunday night.

 

2 accidents last Friday in Union County

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following two separate accidents last Friday (March 20th). The first took place on Highway 25 between Creston and Orient, at around 7-a.m., Friday. Officials say a 1994 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 24-year old Matthew Buchanan, of Essex, was traveling north on Highway 25 near 150th Street, when he missed his corner, backed up and was attempting to turn west onto 150th. As he did so, his vehicle was struck on the right rear fender by a 2000 Dodge Neon, driven by 25-year old Julie Russell, of Orient, who was traveling south on Highway 25. Russell failed to see the pickup due to dense fog in the area. Damage from the accident amounted to $2,500. Buchanan was cited for Failure to provide proof of insurance/accident related, Failure to yield upon left turn, and driving while license suspended.

The second accident happened in Afton at around 1:15-p.m. Friday, at the intersection of Highway 169 and Kansas Street. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a 2007 box truck driven by 44-year old Keith Barnett, of Runnells, was stopped on Kansas Street at the intersection with Highway 169, and pulled away from the stop sign, failing to see a southbound 2014 Harley Davidson driven by 21-year old Lewis Ripperger, of Ankeny. Ripperger applied his brakes, which caused the cycle to lose control and hit the ground. The cycle sustained $1,500 damage. No citations were issued.

Red Oak Reserve Officer cited following collision Sat. afternoon

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

In an update to our story Sunday morning about a collision between a Red Oak Police cruiser and a compact car, an Iowa State Patrol investigation resulted in a citation being issued to Red Oak Reserve Police Officer Collin Weaver. Weaver was cited for Failure to Signal when required.

The accident happened at around 3:45-p.m. Saturday on Highway 34 at the intersection with Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. Officials say Officer Weaver was traveling east on Highway 34 near the intersection with Eastern Avenue, when he saw a vehicle going in the opposite direction traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. When he attempted to initiate a U-turn to stop the speeding vehicle, his 2011 Ford Crown Victoria was hit by a 2000 Ford Focus driven by Cheyenne Hilgerson, of Red Oak, as she was traveling east on Highway 34. The car is registered to Angela Booker, of Red Oak.

Authorities said Reserve Officer Weaver’s vision may have been partially obstructed by the prisoner cage in the rear of his vehicle. Officials say Hilgerson hit the brakes in an attempt to avoid the collision, but was unable to do so in time. The car hit the left rear of the police cruiser, causing a total of $7,000 damage. Following the collision, the patrol car spun and came to rest in the westbound lane of Highway 34.

Officer Weaver, Hilgerson and two others in her vehicle, Brian Wickham, of Red Oak, and Mack Ellison, of Stanton,  were transported to the Montgomery County Hospital, for treatment of minor injuries and complaints of pain.