United Group Insurance

(Updated with the names of all 3 victims) 2 die, 1 hurt in Woodbury County plane crash

News

December 3rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of the three people on board a small plane that crashed in northwest Iowa this weekend. The Woodbury County Sheriff’s office says 70-year-old Gaylen Knaack, of Correctionville, was flying the plane when it crashed into a farm field 2½ miles south of Correctionville Saturday evening. Knaack’s two passengers died in the crash, and Knaack suffered serious burns. The passengers were: 53-year-old Lee Schroeder, of Oto, and 55-year-old James Smith, of Correctionville. Former Anthon Fire Chief Mike Berning says Schroeder was a longtime firefighter who was scheduled to portray Santa Claus at a town celebration next weekend.

Knaack was taken to a Sioux City hospital and later transferred to a burn center in Lincoln, NE. Saint Elizabeth spokeswoman Betty Thompson says Knaack was in critical condition Sunday.

Iowa early News Headlines: Mon., Dec. 3rd 2012

News

December 3rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of people on Saturday attended the funeral of Iowa native Army Sgt. Joseph Richardson, who died Nov. 16 while on patrol in Afghanistan. The service was held in Algona, and family members say the 23-year-old previously had served in Iraq and had asked to Afghanistan because he loved serving in the Army.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A month-long trial of two men seeking $100 million for their wrongful conviction in a 1977 Council Bluffs killing could end next week, but a former prison barber who is largely responsible for their freedom wonders if she’ll be compensated for her work. Anne Danaher, of Kansas City, spent years researching the case against Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee and discovered investigators had withheld records from defense lawyers.

DES MOINES, IA – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural  Resources report 5 hunters were shot Sunday during the second day of shotgun deer hunting season. One of the incidents occurred in Crawford County, while another involved the shooting of a Red Oak man near Indianola. None of the injuries were believed to be life threatening. All of the incidents remain under investigation.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine why an Iowa driver collided with a Cedar Rapids police cruiser. Cedar Rapids police say the westbound driver hit the marked police car around 1:40 a.m. yesterday, injuring both drivers.

5 hunters wounded while shotgun deer hunting Sunday in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

At least five hunters were wounded during separate shooting incidents during the second day of the shotgun deer hunting season, in Iowa. Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say a Red Oak man was injured at around 8:30-a.m. Sunday, while hunting deer west of Indianola. 58-year old Miles Sagen was hit in the shoulder/upper chest area by a deer slug fired at a running deer by some else in his nine-member hunting party. The slug traveled approximately 144 yards before striking Sagen. Dense fog in the area is believed to have played a role in the incident. Visibility at the time was limited to about 100-yards.

A Halbur woman was injured during another hunting accident in Crawford County. 32-year old Stacy Wiltfang, was hunting with one other person north of Arion at approximately 3 p.m.  While she was sitting, a bullet from a high-powered small caliber rifle penetrated her boot, but did not penetrate her foot. She was treated at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, and released.

A Cedar Rapids man was injured Sunday afternoon, after his gun discharged while deer hunting in Iowa County. 46-year-old Steven Thompson was hunting about two miles east of Victor, when his shotgun accidentally fired, striking one of his big toes. He was treated in Marengo before being transferred to the University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

A rural Mason City man was hospitalized Sunday after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the foot while deer hunting in Floyd County. 29-year old Jeffrey Esser was wounded around 4 p.m. Sunday while hunting in heavy brush southeast of Nora Springs.  The DNR says Esser’s 12-gauge shotgun accidentally fired, hitting him in the right foot. He was taken to North Iowa Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, where he underwent surgery Sunday evening.

And, 48-year-old Clint Morgan, of Saucier, Miss., was wounded around noon Sunday southwest of Blakesburg, in Monroe County. Morgan was struck in the elbow by a slug fired by another member of his seven-member hunting party. Morgan was taken to a Des Moines hospital for treatment.

Each of the incidents are under investigation. None of the injuries were believed to be life threatening. The DNR estimated more than 100,000 hunters took to the field in pursuit of deer this weekend. So far this year, there have been at least 11 personal injury hunting-related incidents reported to the DNR.

Dense Fog Advisory: Cass, Adair, Adams & other area counties until 6-a.m. Monday

Weather

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES: CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

957 PM CST SUN DEC 2 2012   National Weather Service/Des Moines (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/)

..DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST MONDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST MONDAY. * VISIBILITY…VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE A QUARTER MILE TO NEAR ZERO. * IMPACTS…TRAVEL WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS THROUGH THE MORNING WITH EXTREMELY LOW VISIBILITIES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN… USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.

Minor injury accident on I-80 in Cass County, Sunday evening

News

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A passenger in a vehicle driven by a Washington State man suffered minor injuries during a two-vehicle accident Sunday evening on Interstate 80, in Cass County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2005 Dodge Caravan driven by 23-year old Joseph Gregerson, of Des Moines, rear-ended a 2009 Honda Civic, driven by 46-year old Jerry Hagerstrom, of Edmonds, WA. A passenger in the Honda, 31-year old Melissa Hagerstrom, also of Edmonds, WA, suffered minor injuries but was treated at the scene by a Medivac Ambulance crew, and did not require transport to the hospital. The accident happened at around 6:20-p.m., as both vehicles were traveling east on I-80, about a mile west of the Elk Horn, or Highway 173 exit. The Patrol’s report did not indicate if any citations were issued.

Special Weather Statement for the KJAN listening area (Dense Fog)

Weather

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

728 PM CST SUN DEC 2 2012

…LOCALLY DENSE FOG AT TIMES…

AREAS OF FOG WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA. FOG WILL BECOME LOCALLY DENSE AT TIMES…WITH VISIBILITIES NEAR OR BELOW A QUARTER OF A MILE. IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN…USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.

Nebraska, Georgia to meet in Jan. 1 Cap One Bowl

Sports

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Nebraska will play Georgia in the Capital One Bowl Jan. 1 at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The Cornhuskers, who lost to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game, are appearing the Capital One Bowl for the second straight season. They fell to South Carolina in last season’s matchup. Nebraska (10-3) will be making its 49th bowl appearance, coming off its third 10-win season in four years.

Georgia, from the Southeastern Conference, is making its sixth appearance in the Capital One Bowl, having last beaten Michigan State in 2009. The Bulldogs (11-2) won the SEC East for the second consecutive year, but fell to Alabama in the conference championship game.

This will mark the second time Georgia and Nebraska have met. Nebraska defeated the Bulldogs 45-6 in the 1969 Sun Bowl.

Nebraska to play in Capital One Bowl Jan. 1

Sports

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Cornhuskers will play a Southeastern Conference team in the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day. Bowl officials announced Nebraska’s selection Sunday, one day after the Huskers’ disappointing 70-31 loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game.

Nebraska fell to No. 23 in The Associated Press top 25 after Saturday’s loss. The Huskers had been ranked No. 14.  Nebraska played in last year’s Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., and lost to South Carolina 30-13.  The SEC team is expected to be named later on Sunday.  The Jan. 1 game will be played at noon central and televised on either ESPN or ABC.

Chiefs beats Panthers at somber Arrowhead Stadium

Sports

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Against the backdrop of an unthinkable tragedy, the Kansas City Chiefs gave themselves a reason to be proud Sunday – and perhaps the impetus to let the healing begin.  Brady Quinn threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns, and Jamaal Charles ran for 127 yards in the Chiefs’ 27-21 victory over their Carolina Panthers. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak during one of the most difficult seasons the franchise has ever experienced.

The win came just one day after Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend multiple times at a residence near Arrowhead Stadium, then drove to the team’s practice facility and turned the gun on himself as general manager Scott Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel looked on. Pioli walked through the press box before the game and said he was doing “OK,” though he didn’t stop to talk. Crennel was on the sideline coaching his team to an uplifting victory.

JOSEPHINE M. FAGEN, 84, of Panora (No services planned)

Obituaries

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JOSEPHINE M. FAGEN, 84, of Panora, died Sat., Dec. 1st, at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson. No services are planned for JOSEPHINE FAGEN. Burial of her cremains will be at a later date. Twigg Funeral Home in Panora has the arrangements.