United Group Insurance

DEBRA LYNN OAKLEY, 62, of Audubon (Svcs. 11/7/24)

Obituaries

November 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DEBRA LYNN OAKLEY, 62, of Audubon, died Thursday, October 31, 2024, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services for DEBRA OAKLEY will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 7, 2024, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Public visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon.

Burial is in the Maple Grove Cemetery. Following the committal service, a luncheon will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Friendship Home of Audubon in memory of Debra or mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.

DEBRA OAKLEY is survived by:

Her children: Regan and Alyssa Oakley, of Slater; Corey and Aleshia Oakley, of Audubon and Morgan Oakley, of Audubon.

Her mother – Alyce, of Hull.

Her brother – Alan Hammerstrom, of Canton, SD

Her sisters – Tricia (Bruce), of Hull, and Lynda (Charlie) Johnson of Canton, SD.

1 grandson; her brothers-in-law, Jon Oakley and Jeff Oakley, and family friend, Brad Johnson, all of Audubon; other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

NEOMA THOMAS, 81, of Ames (a native of Audubon) – Svcs. 11/7/24

Obituaries

November 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

NEOMA THOMAS, 81, of Ames (a native of Audubon), died Friday, Nov. 1st, 2024, at Northridge Village in Ames. Funeral services for NEOMA THOMAS will be held 2-p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

A visitation will be held one hour before the funeral also held at the church. A luncheon will be held following the funeral service in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions may be directed to either New Opportunities Audubon County Family Development Center – Food Distribution Center, 109 Tracy Street, Audubon, IA 50025, or St. Joseph’s Indian School, 1301 North Main Street, Chamberlain, SD 57325.

NEOMA THOMAS is survived by:

Her husband – Phil Thomas, of Ames.

Her daughter – Ngaire West, of Des Moines.

Her step-children: Phil Thomas, Jr. (Jessica), of Prairie Village, KS; Tim Thomas (Natalie), of Shawnee, KS; Liz Robbins (John) of Pleasant Hill, and Abby Briney (Kevin) of Cedar Rapids.

Her brother – John Alt, of Kearney, MO.

1 grandson, 15 step-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Posted in Obituaries |

Crooks Posted to Lisa Leslie Award Watchlist

Sports

November 1st, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Sophomore Audi Crooks added to her preseason accolades on Friday as she was named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watchlist. One of the nation’s top centers, Crooks averaged 19.2 points while shooting nearly 58 percent from the floor as a freshman in 2023-24.

The Algona, Iowa native enters her sophomore season following one of the most accomplished freshman seasons in Iowa State women’s basketball history. She became the first Cyclone freshman to earn AP All-America Honorable Mention honors, a unanimous All-Big 12 First-Team selection and a spot on the Big 12 All-Tournament team. Crooks set Iowa State freshman season records for points (635), made free throws (114) and made field goals (258) while posting the third-highest season rebound total (259) behind classmate Addy Brown. Her season made field goals also set the program record regardless of class while points (6th) and scoring average (8th) were also top 10 all-time marks.

Making steady progress throughout her rookie season, Crooks captured national attention in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Suffering a 20-point third-quarter deficit against No. 10-seed Maryland, Iowa State rallied to a 93-86 victory over to advance to the second round for the 13th time in program history. Crooks led the comeback, finishing with 40 points on 18-of-20 field goals. It was just the second time in men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament history that a player scored 40 or more points on 90 percent shooting from the floor. She also pulled down 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.

Iowa State will officially open the regular season Monday morning against Chicago State. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. in Hilton Coliseum.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa State Women Finish Seventh at Big 12 Championships

Sports

November 1st, 2024 by Asa Lucas

WACO, Texas – The Iowa State women’s cross country team finished seventh at the 2024 Big 12 Cross Country Championships on Friday morning. Maelle Porcher led the Cyclones with a ninth-place individual finish to earn All-Big 12 honors for the second time in her ISU career.

“Today was a great day to get one last mega effort for our teams before moving to the NCAA Regional meet,” said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jeremy Sudbury.

Porcher finished among a pack of runners, edging BYU’s Carmen Alder for ninth place by over a half-second with her time of 19:58.18.

Bella Heikes (20:51.17) and Riley Beach (20:51.65) were the next scorers for Iowa State, finishing 40th and 41st, respectively. They were followed closely by freshman Ruby Hughes, who crossed the finish line in 21:06.42 for a 47th place finish.

Sheridan Wheeler (50th), Taylor Briggs (52nd) and Kiki Connell (61st) rounded out Cyclone scorers at the conference meet, helping Iowa State hold a comfortable advantage over Kansas, 171-230.

“The women put together their best race of the year and are trending the right way,” stated Sudbury. “Coach (Cale) Wallace has the group improving each week.”

Up Next
Iowa State travels to Peoria, Illinois for the 2024 NCAA Midwest Regional Championship. The Cyclones finished second in Stillwater last season to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. This year’s Midwest Regional is set to start at 11:00 a.m. on November 15.

Team Results
1. No. 1 BYU, 41; 2. No. 4 West Virginia, 60; 3. No. 6 Utah, 86; 4. No. 18 Oklahoma State, 103; 5. Texas Tech, 155; 6. Colorado, 165; 7. Iowa State, 171; 8. Kansas, 230; 9. Arizona State, 316; 10. Kansas State, 319; 11. Cincinnati, 320; 12. UCF, 350; 13. Baylor, 363; 14. TCU, 371; 15. Houston, 391; 16. Arizona, 463

Individual Results
1. Ceili McCabe, West Virginia, 19:02.60; 9. Maelle Porcher, Iowa State, 19:58.18; 40. Bella Heikes, Iowa State, 20:51.17; 41. Riley Beach, Iowa State, 20:51.65; 47. Ruby Hughes, Iowa State, 21:06.42; 50. Sheridan Wheeler, Iowa State, 21:09.91; 52. Taylor Briggs, Iowa State, 21:10.89; 61. Kiki Connell, Iowa State, 21:27.00; 62. Aspen Fulbright, Iowa State, 21:27.32; 65. Becca Heitzig, Iowa State, 21:33.36; 68. Ashlyn Keeney, Iowa State, 21:41.10

Posted in Sports |

NOVEMBER 2024 BIRTHDAY CLUB

Birthday Club

November 1st, 2024 by Lori Murphy

November 1:

  • Lonn Kilworth of Exira (winner)

November 2:

  • Aubrey Beyerink

November 3:

  • Julie Gade of Atlantic (winner)

November 4:

  • Reed Schelle of Massena (winner)

November 5:

  • Jeff Strand of Atlantic (winner)
  • Cousin Bart Feltner of Exira
  • Ryan Evans of Griswold
  • Kathy Bradfield of Lewis

November 6:

  • No Birthdays Submitted

November 7:

  • Joyce Jorgensen of Exira (winner)
  • Yvonne Wittrock of Hamlin
  • Carol Lea Rasmussen of Exira
  • Monica Hagedorn of Audubon
  • Ava Lee of Griswold

November 8:

  • Micheala Myers of Atlantic (winner)

November 9:

  • Isla Jean Nelson of Audubon (winner)
  • Tom Benton of Exira
  • Scarlett Toft of Audubon
  • Deb Field of Atlantic

November 10:

  • Katelyn Fauton of Griswold (winner)

November 11:

  • Mahala Kemp of Atlantic (winner)
  • Cathy Stockwell of Elk Horn
  • Joy Huffman of Manning
  • Charley Coolidge of Avoca
  • Rene Rustvold of Audubon

November 12:

  • A.J. Barber of Wiota (winner)
  • Tom Williams of Lewis
  • Shari Clemson of Brayton

November 13:

  • Tedd Thomas of Atlantic (winner)

November 14:

  • Kathy Jo Brockman of Atlantic (winner)
  • Becky Akers of Exira
  • Sherry Kluever

November 15:

  • Kelly Schwarte of Elk Horn (winner)
  • Robert Schmidt of Harlan

November 16:

  • Brad Wolfe of Exira (winner)
  • Roberta Roddy of Audubon
  • Laurie Harry-Jensen of Atlantic

November 17:

  • David Hancock of Atlantic
  • Bobbie Jean Harris of Longmont, Co.

November 18:

  • Lisa Hoffman Wahlert of Anita (winner)
  • Kelly Knight of Atlantic
  • Cole Lowry of Atlantic
  • Olivia Erickson of Buena Vista, Co

November 19:

  • Michael Brown of Exira (winner)
  • Jessie Evans of Griswold

November 20:

  • Oscar Terry Zellmer of Atlantic (winner)
  • Gloria Hansen of Exira
  • Greg Zellmer of Atlantic
  • Dwight Jessen of Exira
  • Jason Malloy of Audubon
  • Jackie Hembry of Glenwood

November 21:

  • Oliver James Zellmer of Atlantic (winner)
  • Hosea Ehrman of Anita
  • Arnie Bintner of Exira

November 22:

  • Cooper Lamp of Atlantic (winner)

November 23:

  • Brennan Williams of Lewis (winner)
  • Amber Knudsen of Marne
  • Drew Barber of Wiota
  • Heather Erickson of Buena Vista, Co

November 24:

  • Yvonne Camblin of Atlantic
  • Luca Roy Hanika of Nebraska City, Ne

Posted in Birthday Club |

GERTRUDE A. MADSEN, 94, of Audubon (Mass of Christian Burial 11/5/24)

Obituaries

November 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

GERTRUDE A. MADSEN, 94, of Audubon, died Thursday, Oct. 31st (2024), at the Exira Care Center. A Mass of Christian Burial for GERTRUDE MADSEN will be held 10-a.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, in Audubon. Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be held at the funeral home on Monday, Nov. 4th, from 4-until 6-p.m., with a rosary service held at 6-p.m.

Interment will follow the mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Audubon. A luncheon will be held following the committal at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Hall in Audubon.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of the Midwest in memory of Gertrude; they may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA.

GERTRUDE MADSEN is survived by:

Her husband  – William Madsen.

Her sons – John (Pat) Madsen, of Stuart, NE; Dr. Jim and Amy Madsen, of Carroll, IA;

Her daughters – Dr. Jill Madsen, of Sumter, SC; Julie (Craig) Jensen, of DeSoto, IA; and Joni Madsen (and Bill Fankell), of Audubon.

Her brother – Jim Bowman, of Urbandale,

14 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and other relatives.

Posted in Obituaries |

Meeting scheduled in final Iowa county to have confirmed emerald ash borer infestation

News

November 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Emmet County — the 99th and final county in Iowa to have a confirmed case of Emerald Ash Borer — will be the site of a mid-November meeting about what’s next for ash trees in the county. Sue Boettcher of the Iowa State University Extension Office in Emmet County says residents will learn how to diagnose an affected tree. “Some ash trees will survive and some will not and this will give you an idea of what to look for, ” Boettcher says. “…What is Emerald Ash Borer? How to identify it, signs of infestation, if the tree is safe or if it’s a candidate for treatment and then we’ll give some different treatment options.”

Boettcher says they’ll also provide a list of different tree species that would be good replacements if an ash tree is failing and must be cut down. The urban forestry specialist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and entomologists from Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Agriculture will be in Emmetsburg for the event. “We’ll have some great people speaking and really be able to answer some questions,” Boettcher says. The meeting is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, November 13th at the Estherville Public Library.

Emerald Ash Borer (Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources photo)

State officials recently announced an emerald ash borer infestation had been confirmed in an ash tree about 20 miles east of Estherville — in the small town of Armstrong. According to the U-S-D-A, the insect has killed about 15 million trees in the United States.

Posted in News |

No. 11 Iowa State hosts Texas Tech

Sports

November 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

With a month remaining Iowa State controls its own destiny in the Big 12 race as well as the college football playoff. The 11th ranked Cyclones look to go 8-0 for the first time with a homecoming win over Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have fallen off the pace after back-to-back losses to Baylor and TCU and starting quarterback Behern Morton is questionable after being knocked out of last week’s game with an injury to his non throwing shoulder. Cyclone coach Matt Campbell says the Tech offense has been dangerous no matter who is under center.

Campbell says the Red Raiders have had success with a number of different quarterbacks the past few years.

Campbell says the bye week allowed the Cyclones to get healthy are prepared for the final month.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa hosts Wisconsin

Sports

November 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Brendan Sullivan gets his first start at quarterback for Iowa when the Hawkeyes host Wisconsin. The Northwestern transfer ignited the Hawkeyes to a 40-14 win over his former team and his ability to run gives them an added weapon. With Cade McNamara unavailable due to injury coach Kirk Ferentz would like to see Sullivan use his head when relying on his legs.

Both teams are 5-3 and Ferentz expects another tough and physical battle.

Ferentz remembers hist first game as Iowa coach against Wisconsin as a learning experience for the program. It was a 41-3 Badger victory in 1999.

Posted in Sports |

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors Welcome New Staff at United Group Insurance

News

November 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by United Group Insurance on Thursday, October 31st. The Ambassadors were on hand to welcome the newest agent, Tyler Comes, to their Downtown Atlantic office.

Tyler was born and raised in Atlantic and graduated from Atlantic High School in 2019. After graduating college, Tyler returned to help operate the family farm, until he was approached by a family friend asking if he ever thought about going to insurance. Tyler jumped into the industry with both feet and feels that it all has come very naturally. “I’ve been a farm kid all my life, and being passionate about the people and the ag industry has made insurance a natural fit.”

Ambassador’s Pictured Left to Right: Tresa Comes, Kathie Hockenberry, Lori Johnson, Kaylee Doty, Jim Kickland, Lana Westphalen, Ann Johnk, Colt Doherty, Elaine Otte, Dolly Bergmann, Sue Liston, Randy Spangenberg Chris Parks, Carol Beebe, Megan Sramek, Tyler Comes, Dr. Keith Leonard, DeeDee Kalny, Alissa McGinnis, Bill Saluk, Anne Quist, Nick Bosley, Jeff Christensen, Krysta Hanson, Alden Harriman, Kelsey Beschorner

United Group Insurance has been in Southwest Iowa for over 60 years. With Carol Beebe and Tyler Comes serving the Atlantic office, the company also has offices in Griswold, Shenandoah and Red Oak. United Group Insurance takes pride in offering all forms of insurance including auto, home, farm, business, personal, commercial, life, health and crop insurance.

United Group Insurance is located at 303 Chestnut Street, Atlantic. For a quote, contact 712-243-6557 or visit http://www.unitedgroupins.com.

Posted in News |