United Group Insurance

Red Oak man faces numerous charges following an accident

News

October 12th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

An accident Saturday night in Red Oak resulted in the arrest of the vehicles’ driver on numerous charges. Police arrested 39-year old Jason Neal Beacham, of Red Oak at around 6-p.m., following an investigation into the theft and wreck of a vehicle.

Officers responding to a reported vehicle theft were advised enroute to the scene the vehicle, a 1994 GMC Sierra pickup, had crashed into a tree in the 400 block of west 2nd Avenue, and that the driver had fled on foot. He was taken into custody a short time later, and informed authorities his girlfriend put the pickup for sale in a local swap site, and he took the vehicle in an attempt to prevent it from being sold.

The pickup was totaled in the crash, with the loss estimated at $3,000. A fence that was struck during the crash and belonging to a Red Oak woman, was damaged as well. The loss was estimated at $150.

Beacham faces charges that include OWI/3rd offense, Careless Driving, No/or improper registration, No Insurance relating to an accident, and Driving While Suspended. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $5,000 bond.

Richardson rallies Iowa State past Toledo 37-30

Sports

October 12th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Sam Richardson threw for a career-high 351 yards and three second-half touchdowns Saturday, rallying Iowa State to a 37-30 victory over Toledo. Unable to finish drives in the first half, Richardson and the offense got rolling in the second and gave the Cyclones (2-4) a much needed victory in a rare October break from Big 12 play.

Toledo (4-2), which had a three-game winning streak broken, ran the ball well and pulled into a 23-23 tie in the fourth quarter. But the Cyclones took the lead on Richardson’s 5-yard TD pass to E.J. Bibbs and secured the victory with a 16-play, 85-yard drive that Richardson finished with a 14-yard scoring pass to Alan Lazard, making it 37-23.

Richardson finished with a school-record 37 completions in 53 attempts and connected with nine different receivers, including a lineman.

Northern Iowa sacks South Dakota 27-16

Sports

October 12th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Sawyer Kollmorgen and Brion Carnes each threw touchdown passes as Northern Iowa beat South Dakota 27-16 Saturday. South Dakota (2-4, 0-2 Missouri Valley) opened the game with an 11-play, 76-yard drive which culminated when Trevor Bouma scored on a 17-yard run. He finished with 70 yards on 14 carries. Northern Iowa (3-3, 1-1), however, would score 17-straight points, including Carnes’ 28-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Vereen, Jr., and lead the rest of the way.

Northern Iowa had seven sacks, including three by Brett McMakin, keeping Kevin Earl, who was injured South Dakota’s season opener against Oregon, on the run most of the game. Earl completed 17 of 29 passes for 260 yards, including a 25-yard TD pass to Brandt Van Roekel to cap a 99-yard scoring drive, in his return.

Carnes added 55 yards on nine carries.

Car Theft in Red Oak

News

October 11th, 2014 by admin

The Red Oak Police Department is investigating a motor vehicle theft from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church parking lot in Red Oak. James Peterson of Red Oak informed police that he showed up for church at 2pm Saturday afternoon. He told officers that when he left the building around 2-50 his vehicle was missing. Peterson told officers he left the vehicle unlocked and the keys in the center console. The vehicle is a green 2007 Ford Escape with a license plate number of 1-3-7—R-Z-D and has a scratch on the rear right quarter panel.. Estimated loss listed at 18-thousand dollars.

HELEN P. PONT, 99, of Griswold (Svcs. 10/16/14)

Obituaries

October 11th, 2014 by admin

HELEN P. PONT, 99, of Griswold, died Friday, Oct. 10th, at the Griswold Care Center. Funeral Services for HELEN PONT will be held 10-a.m. Thu., Oct. 16th, at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation is open daily at the funeral home: Mon. & Tuesday (10/13 & 14), from 8-am to 5:30-p.m., and on Wednesday (10/15), from 8-a.m. until the time of family visitation, from 5-to 7-pm. Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Burial will be at the Oakwood Cemetery.

HELEN PONT is survived by

Her daughters – Carole Schuler, of Atlantic, and Rita Rohde, of Ida Grove.

Her son  – David (Donna) Pont, of Guttenburg.

Her sisters – Elva Dexter, and Donna Cooley.

Her brother – Edward Mountain.

8 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Iowa riverboat trip slowed by electrical problems

News

October 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The former Argosy casino riverboat’s trip down the Missouri River has been hindered by electrical problems. The Sioux City Journal reports that the boat was forced to stop Friday just south of Nebraska City, Nebraska.

The three-deck vessel, a replica of a 1920s-era paddlewheel boat, left its longtime dock in Sioux City, Iowa, on Tuesday. It’s bound for Wood River, Illinois — a 730-mile trip down the entire length of the Missouri, then briefly up the Mississippi River at St. Louis.

The riverboat also lost power on Tuesday, stalling near Sloan, Iowa. The riverboat was bought by Mike’s Inc., which operates a large shipyard at Wood River.

Man who jumped in river to escape police sentenced

News

October 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man who jumped in the Missouri River in August to try to escape police has been sentenced to prison for choking and trying to kidnap his estranged wife. Sioux City television station KTIV reports that 40-year old Chance Michaels was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison after pleading guilty to false imprisonment and two counts of domestic assault.

Police say Michaels choked his wife and forced her into his vehicle in early August. The vehicle soon suffered a flat tire, and police say he jumped into the river as officers arrived.

Some people on a boat helped pull Michaels from the river.

Iowa rolls past Indiana 45-29

Sports

October 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jake Rudock threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns and Iowa rolled past Indiana 45-29 on Saturday for its third straight win. Mark Weisman had a pair of short TD runs for the Hawkeyes (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten), who scored all but seven of their points in the first half.

Iowa scored 28 points in the first quarter — surpassing its total in each of its first four games against Power 5 schools — and led by as much as 21. Indiana pulled within 28-21, but Weisman closed the first half on a 1-yard TD run to give Iowa a 38-21 lead.

Tevin Coleman had 219 yards rushing for Indiana (3-3, 0-2), including TD runs of 83, 69 and 45 yards. Hoosiers quarterback Nate Sudfeld left with an apparent injury in the first half and never returned.

1st Annual “Color the Town” Color Run/walk in Atlantic

News, Sports

October 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A large group of runners and walkers gathered at the high school in Atlantic this (Saturday) morning to participate in the first of what’s hoped to be an annual event. The “Color the Town” Color Run/Fun walk began just after 8-a.m. with the bang of a starter’s pistol.

All photos by Color Run participant & KJAN News Director, Ric Hanson.

All photos by Color Run participant & KJAN News Director, Ric Hanson.

Color The Town 5k 10-11-14 007 Color The Town 5k 10-11-14 008 Color The Town 5k 10-11-14 009 Color The Town 5k 10-11-14 010 Color The Town 5k 10-11-14 011 Color The Town 5k 10-11-14 012 Color The Town 5k 10-11-14 014 Color The Town 5k 10-11-14 015The 5k event ended at the high school with participants throwing open colored packets of corn starch into the air after the last runners/walkers crossed the finish line, creating a rainbow effect and splashing anyone with power who didn’t get hit at any of the four color stations along the 3.1-mile route.

Fresh fruit and water along with donuts were made available by the Atlantic Hy-Vee and Atlantic Fitness. The event served as a fundraiser for the Atlantic High School Student Council.

Saturday State News 10-14-14

News

October 11th, 2014 by admin

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A Mississippi River bridge linking Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois should open soon after repairs that took weeks longer than expected. John Wegmeyer, an engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation, told the Quad-City Times on Friday the Centennial Bridge should be open within a week. When the 74-year-old bridge was closed for repairs on August 3rd, the contractor was given 35 days to reopen the span. As of Friday, the bridge had been closed 67 days.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A jury has rejected an Iowa prison guard’s lawsuit that said she was sexually harassed after inmates were repeatedly allowed to watch sexually graphic and violent moves. The Polk County jury reached its decision Friday afternoon, a day after hearing closing arguments in the case of Kristine Sink, who filed the sexual harassment lawsuit in 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – MidAmerican Energy Company says it plans to develop a wind farm in southwest Iowa and expand another operation in northwest Iowa. The Des Moines-based company announced yesterday it plans to build the wind farm in Adams County and expand an existing farm in O’Brien County. MidAmerican estimates the developments would result in 67 new turbines.

ARLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa couple faces animal neglect charges after malnourished horses were found on their property. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG-TV reports that Fayette County sheriff’s deputies executed a warrant Thursday at the Arlington home of Duane and Margaret Landis.