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Omaha/SW IA area therapist surrenders license over investigation into unethical conduct

News

February 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An area mental health counselor has agreed to surrender her license to settle a case with the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science. The Omaha World-Herald says according to a settlement agreement released Thursday, Amy Jo Murphy of Omaha, owner of AJ Counseling Services, admitted to engaging in sexual activities with a client, engaging in unethical conduct and engaging in practice harmful or detrimental to the public. She also admitted failing to disclose an investigation into her conduct by the State of Nebraska, but said that was accidental.

Under the terms of the agreement, Murphy was to give up her license immediately. She can request reinstatement after one year after completing a comprehensive evaluation and establishing that the basis for a license revocation no longer exists and it is in the public interest for her license to be reinstated.

AJ Counseling Services has locations in Omaha, Shenandoah, Red Oak and Corning, and employs several other therapists.

HARLAN NORTHRUP, 76, of Griswold (A gathering is set for 2/21/15)

Obituaries

February 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

HARLAN NORTHRUP, 76, of Griswold, died Monday, Feb 16th. A gathering of friends and family of  HARLAN NORTHRUP will be held from 5-until 9-pm Sat., Feb. 21st, at the Griswold Community Building, with the Cattlemen’s Association serving a catered meal. Come and go as you please. Duhn Funeral Home, in Griswold has the arrangements.

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

A memorial scholarship fund has been established in Harlan’s name.

HARLAN NORTHRUP is survived by:

His children –  Rod (Amy) Northrup, of Griswold, and Becky Kirchhoff and friend Rod Faulkner of Omaha.

His sister – Marilyn Burkhardt of Prescott, AZ.

His brother – Marlan Northrup, of Santa Fe, NM

5 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, his sister-in-law, other relatives and friends.

NWS weather forecast for Cass & area Counties, 2/17/2015

Weather

February 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

345 AM CST TUE FEB 17 2015

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLOUDY. NORTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. SCATTERED FLURRIES IN THE MORNING. HIGH AROUND 20. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY AFTER MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. BITTERLY COLD. BREEZY. LOW ZERO TO 5 BELOW. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH. LOWEST WIND CHILL READINGS 15 TO 20 BELOW AFTER MIDNIGHT.

WEDNESDAY…SUNNY. VERY COLD. HIGH AROUND 10. NORTHWEST WIND AROUND 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS 15 TO 20 BELOW.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW 5 TO 10 BELOW. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH 15 TO 20. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. NOT AS COLD. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE.

FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S.

Area high school basketball scores from Mon., 2/16/15

Sports

February 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
Carroll 58, Atlantic 52
Newton 68, Winterset 50

Boys 1-A District First Round:
East Union 50, Orient-Macksburg 43
Audubon 53, CAM 45
Glidden-Ralston 45, Guthrie Center 35
Heartland Christian 72, South Page 43
Riverside 52, Essex 46
Charter Oak-Ute 63, Woodbine 47
Logan-Magnolia 56, West Harrison 39

Boys 2-A District First Round
West Central Valley 70, Southwest Valley 58
A-H-S-T-W 77, Clarinda 66
Underwood 54, Red Oak 34
East Sac County 60, OA-BCIG 47
Kuemper Catholic 63, Missouri Valley 49

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., Feb. 17th 2015

News

February 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ATLANTIC – An air release valve on a forced wastewater main is leaking approximately 100 gallons per day of wastewater into the East Nishnabotna River from under the bridge at West 6th Street, west of Atlantic. The DNR says due to the location of the leak, city staff cannot access the leak to repair it, so the city’s engineer has been contacted to determine how to stop wastewater bypass. The leak bypasses wastewater only when the lift station pumps are operating-about one hour per day. Due to the river flow, the amount of wastewater reaching the river is diluted enough so that it is not effecting the environment. However, the DNR will monitor the situation until the leak is stopped.

SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) — A southwest Iowa man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2009 death of his girlfriend. The Omaha World-Herald reports 34-year-old Brian Davis, of Omaha, was convicted Monday in connection to the July 18, 2009 death of Holly Durben. The conviction follows a trial earlier this month.

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport man accused of stealing prescription drugs from a disabled man nearly two years ago has been arrested. Police charged 31-year-old Steve Scotton with first-degree burglary. According to a police report, an arrest warrant was issued in December after Scotton entered the man’s Maquoketa home in April 2013 in search of prescription drugs. Authorities say the man retrieved a gun during the burglary and accidentally shot himself in the abdomen. Scotton was not injured in the scuffle.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Senate Democrats say they plan to introduce legislation this session that would allow for the production and distribution of medical marijuana in Iowa. The bill would create a program that monitors the production and distribution of medical marijuana. It’s similar to legislation last session that failed to garner enough support. Bolkcom says he expects resistance this year in the Republican-controlled House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate committee has approved a bill that would expand public preschool for 4-year-olds in Iowa. The bill would provide extra funding for school districts that expand preschool programs. It now moves to the full Senate for consideration. A similar bill failed to win full legislative approval last year.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — A kindergarten teacher at a suburban Des Moines elementary school has been accused of drinking beer in her classroom. Police say 40-year-old Jennifer L. Rich, of West Des Moines, was arrested Friday at East Elementary School in Ankeny after testing positively on an initial breathalyzer test. She was charged with public intoxication and child endangerment.

WASTEWATER LEAKING INTO EAST NISHNABOTNA RIVER NEAR ATLANTIC

News

February 16th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural resources say an air release valve on a forced wastewater main is leaking approximately 100 gallons per day of wastewater into the East Nishnabotna River from under the bridge at West 6th Street, west of Atlantic. In a Press Release late Monday evening, officials said due to the location of the leak, city staff cannot access the leak to repair it, so the city’s engineer has been contacted to determine how to stop this wastewater bypass.

The leak bypasses wastewater only when the lift station pumps are operating-about one hour per day.

Due to the river flow, the amount of wastewater reaching the river is diluted enough so that it is not effecting the environment. However, the DNR will monitor the situation until the leak is stopped.

Iowa Boys Basketball Prep Poll

Sports

February 16th, 2015 by admin

Iowa Boys Basketball Prep Poll

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Class 4A
Record Pts Prv
1. Iowa City, West (14) 19-0 140 1
2. Pleasant Valley 19-0 126 2
3. North Scott, Eldridge 16-3 106 5
4. Des Moines, Hoover 17-1 85 3
5. Urbandale 16-4 71 7
6. Linn-Mar, Marion 18-4 64 4
7. Ankeny Centennial 17-3 63 6
8. Waukee 15-5 62 8
9. Cedar Rapids, Kennedy 14-5 26 9
10. Ames 14-5 16 NR

Others receiving votes: Epworth, Western Dubuque 6. Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 3. Valley, West Des Moines 2.

Class 3A
Record Pts Prv
1. Williamsburg (4) 18-1 121 2
(tie)Pella (6) 17-2 121 1
3. Waverly-Shell Rock (1) 18-2 109 3
4. Le Mars (1) 17-3 95 7
5. Fort Madison 18-2 74 8
6. MOC-Floyd Valley (1) 18-3 69 T5
7. Wahlert, Dubuque (1) 12-7 60 T5
8. Spirit Lake 17-3 46 4
9. Assumption, Davenport 14-5 25 10
10. Keokuk 17-3 14 NR

Others receiving votes: Xavier, Cedar Rapids 11. Gilbert 9. Carroll 7. Dallas Center-Grimes 6. Denison-Schleswig 2. Algona 1.

Class 2A
Record Pts Prv
1. New Hampton (10) 20-1 125 2
2. Western Christian, Hull (2) 19-2 113 3
3. Aplington-Parkersburg (1) 21-1 108 1
4. Monticello 19-2 96 4
5. Cascade,Western Dubuque 20-2 87 5
6. IKM-Manning (1) 20-1 86 6
7. Forest City 20-2 55 7
8. Northeast, Goose Lake 18-4 32 10
9. West Fork, Sheffield 18-3 23 NR
(tie) Treynor 18-3 23 8

Others receiving votes: Central Decatur, Leon 5. PCM, Monroe 4. Notre Dame, Burlington 4. Pella Christian 3. Anamosa 2. Des Moines Christian 2. Regina, Iowa City 2.

Class 1A
Record Pts Prv
1. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (13) 21-0 139 1
2. Danville (1) 21-0 126 2
3. Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 20-1 104 3
4. Colo-Nesco 20-1 85 6
5. Central Lyon 17-4 58 4
6. Boyden-Hull 17-4 57 5
7. Ar-We-Va, Westside 21-0 55 9
8. Earlham 19-2 44 8
9. Gehlen Catholic, Le Mars 19-2 21 7
10. Meskwaki Settlement School 17-2 17 NR

Others receiving votes: West Hancock, Britt 15. South O’Brien, Paullina 13. Grand View Christian 10. Janesville 10. Belle Plaine 7. Central City 6. Jesup 3.

Southwest Iowa man found guilty in girlfriend’s death

News

February 16th, 2015 by admin

SIDNEY,Iowa (AP) — A southwestIowa man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2009 death of his girlfriend.

Brian Davis (IA DPS photo, 10/2014)

Brian Davis (IA DPS photo, 10/2014)

The Omaha World-Herald reports 34-year-old Brian Davis, of Omaha, was convicted Monday in connection to the July 18, 2009 death of Holly Durben, from rural Shenandoah.

Holly Rae Durben (IA Cold Case file photo)

Holly Rae Durben (IA Cold Case file photo)

The conviction follows a trial earlier this month.

Prosecutors say Durben’s death was a homicide staged to look like a suicide, but Davis’ attorneys say Durben killed herself. Durben was found dead in a residence she shared with Davis, and an autopsy revealed she was shot in the head.

A sentencing hearing for Davis has not yet been scheduled.

KIMBERLY ANN WOLFE, 49, of Stuart (Svcs. 2/20/15)

Obituaries

February 16th, 2015 by admin

KIMBERLY ANN WOLFE, 49, of Stuart died Saturday, Feb. 14th, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. A Celebration of Life Service for KIMBERLY WOLFE will be held 11-am Friday, Feb. 20th, at the All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart, with a luncheon to immediately follow the service, at the church. Johnson Family Funeral Home of Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation will be from 5:30- until 9-pm Thursday at the All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Kimberly Wolfe Memorial Fund, in care of the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart.

ZAYNE MICHEAL DOLPH, 18, of Griswold (Svcs. 2/19/15)

Obituaries

February 16th, 2015 by admin

ZAYNE MICHEAL DOLPH, 18, of Griswold died Sunday, Feb. 15th, at the Manning Regional HealthCare Center in Manning. Funeral Services for ZAYNE DOLPH will be held 10:30-a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19th, at the Nelson Boylan LeRette Funeral Chapel in Red Oak.

Visitation with his family will take place Wednesday from 5 until 7-pm at the Griswold Community High School Auditorium. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Burial will be Evergreen Cemetery.

ZAYNE DOLPH is survived by:

His Mother – Jennifer(Josh) Alexander, of Griswold.
His Father:  T.J. Johnson & wife Chris, of Fergus Falls MN

His sister: Tatum Dolph, of Griswold.

His step-sisters: Taylee; Kyrsten; Kimberly and Abigail Johnson, all of Fergus Falls, MN.

His brother – Jeg Updike, of Griswold

His grandparents – Glen & Carolyn Templeton, of Villisca; John & Anita Dolph, of Mexico; Jerry & Pam Johnson, of Fergus Falls MN.

Other relatives and friends.