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Iowa gets much-needed rain as storms hit Midwest

News, Weather

October 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Severe thunderstorms were expected throughout the midsection of the country on Saturday, but many in Iowa are likely happy to see the rain after a summer of drought. The National Weather Service says much of the state will get at least some rain, with some areas in south central Iowa getting as much as 2 inches by today (Sunday). Iowa has struggled with record drought this year. As late as Thursday, three-fourths of the state remained in extreme or exceptional drought — the two worst classifications.

Posted in News, Weather |

Iowa early News headlines: Sun., Oct. 14th 2012

News

October 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Bruce Springsteen’s campaign tour to support President Barack Obama will bring him to Iowa. The musician will be in Ames on Thursday. A news release from Obama campaign says Springsteen’s appearance will be free and open to the public, but does not say whether he’ll put on a musical performance. Springsteen campaigned for Obama in 2008, but his appearances next week will be his first of the 2012 cycle.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) —The National Weather Service says it expected as much as two inches of rain for south central Iowa by midafternoon yesterday. Iowa has struggled with record drought this year. As late as Thursday, three-fourths of the state remained in extreme or exceptional drought — the two worst classifications.

PALO, Iowa (AP) — Residents of the eastern Iowa town of Palo are being urged to boil their tap water before using it following a water main break. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG-TV reports that city officials issued the boil order Friday afternoon. The break happened while construction equipment was installing more public water lines to residents in the area.

SWISHER, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa father has been arrested, accused of assaulting his teenage daughter and threatening her friends with a gun. The 46-year-old Swisher man faces seven charges, including assault, harassment and weapons counts. He’s being held at the Johnson County Jail in lieu of $72,500 bail. The man was arrested Thursday.

Posted in News |

NM company linked to illness expands peanut recall

News

October 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — A New Mexico food company that produced the peanut butter linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning has expanded an ongoing recall of its products to include raw and roasted peanuts. The federal Food and Drug Administration said Saturday that Sunland Inc. added raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts sold in quantities from two ounces to 50 pounds to its recall. FDA inspectors have found salmonella in raw peanuts from the Sunland processing plant. Sunland manufactured the peanut butter sold by Trader Joe’s that’s been linked to 35 salmonella illnesses across 19 states. Sunland has recalled everything made in its contaminated plant since March 2010. Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.

Posted in News |

NWS Forecast for Cass & area Counties: Sun., Oct. 14th 2012

Weather

October 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 60S. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 50 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. COLDER. LOW AROUND 40. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

MONDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 70S. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH IN THE AFTERNOON.

MONDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. WARMER. LOW IN THE LOWER 50S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 50S.

WEDNESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. BREEZY…COOLER. HIGH IN THE MID 60S.

Posted in Weather |

THOMAS MICHAEL LOVELL, 48, of Sterling, CO, & formerly of Griswold (Svcs. 10-20-12)

Obituaries

October 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

THOMAS MICHAEL LOVELL, 48, of Sterling, CO (& formerly of Griswold), died Sat., Oct. 13th, at the North Colorado Medical Center, in Greeley, CO. A Memorial service for THOMAS LOVELL will be held 11-a.m. Sat., Oct. 20th, at the  Griswold United Methodist Church, in Griswold. Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold has the arrangements.

There will be no viewing or visitation at the funeral Home.

Interment will be held at the Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak, at a later date.

Thomas Lovell is survived by:

His parents – Michael and Susan Lovell of Griswold.

His ex-wife – Jena Lovell of Atlantic.

His children: Trey, Tanner, and Victoria Lovell of Atlantic.

His sister – Gina Lantry and her children Wyatt and Paige , of Omaha.

His brother – Rob Lovell of Ft. Myers, FL.

Other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Cardinals, Giants each pulled off remarkable rally

Sports

October 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – St. Louis manager Mike Matheny will watch the game again, once things slow down, so he can truly appreciate just what his Cardinals pulled off in Washington to return to the NL championship series.  San Francisco skipper Bruce Bochy doesn’t need another look to know how impressive the reigning World Series champions’ ninth-inning comeback was.

The Cardinals erased a six-run deficit and rallied to win 9-7 in the nation’s capital on Friday night.  Bochy’s team had its own remarkable rally: Three road wins at Cincinnati to advance after dropping the first two games of the division series at home to the Reds.

The last two World Series winners sure are showing their championship mettle in mid-October. They face off in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday night at San Francisco’s AT&T Park.

Posted in Sports |

Southern Illinois edges Northern Iowa 34-31

Sports

October 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) – Austin Johnson kicked a 24-yard field goal with 59 seconds to play and Southern Illinois rallied to beat Northern Iowa 34-31 on Saturday.  The Salukis (4-3, 3-1 MVC) trailed 21-6 in the second quarter when Kenn Boatright blocked a UNI punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. The Panthers (1-5, 0-3) were driving for a touchdown late in the half when SIU’s Bryan Presume picked up the ball at the goal line and ran 100 yards for a touchdown. A 2-point conversion tied it at 21.

Southern Illinois took a 31-21 lead thanks in part to Kory Faulkner’s 21-yard scoring pass to MyCole Pruitt, but Northern Iowa tied it at 31 before Johnson’s winning kick. David Johnson ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers. Faulkner ran for a 49-yard touchdown for SIU.

Posted in Sports |

Ratelle helps Drake beat Valparaiso 35-21

Sports

October 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) – Mike Ratelle returned a kickoff for a touchdown, helping Drake beat winless Valparaiso 35-21 on Saturday afternoon. Ratelle’s 88-yard kickoff return, followed by a kick by Cam Bohnert, gave Drake (5-2, 4-0, Pioneer League) its first touchdown of the day. Adding to the score, Mike Piatkowski threw for one touchdown – a 10-yard pass to T.J. James – and 1 yard for another. Piatkowski was 22 of 36 for 327 yards. Trey Morse also scored on a 29-yard run.  Trey Morse also scored on a 29-yard run for the Bulldogs.

For the Crusaders, Eric Slenk had two touchdowns – a 24-yard catch from Ben Lehman in the first quarter and a 23-yard catch from Quinn Schafer in the fourth. Lehman was 11 of 26 for 100 yards and Schafer was 6 of 8 for 78 yards.   Ryan Leher ran 3 yards for a Valparaiso (0-6, 0-3 Pioneer League) touchdown.

Posted in Sports |

NORMA JANE COFFMAN, 82, of Altoona & formerly of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 10-17-12)

Obituaries

October 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

NORMA JANE COFFMAN, 82, of Altoona (& formerly of Guthrie Center), died Fri., Oct. 12th, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. Graveside services for NORMA JANE COFFMAN will be held 11-a.m. Wed., Oct. 17th, in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Posted in Obituaries |

Hazardous Weather update: 3:16-p.m. Sat., Oct. 13th 2012

Weather

October 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES….

AREA COUNTIES COVERED: CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON….

THERE IS A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED…BUT A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION NOT EXPECTED.

Posted in Weather |