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North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas tickets win Powerball

News

February 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Tickets in North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas have matched all six numbers to split a $564.1 million Powerball jackpot Sue Dooley, senior drawing manager for the Multi-State Lottery Association, says the Puerto Rico ticket was the first Powerball jackpot winner ever sold outside the continental United States. Puerto Rico joined Powerball less than a year ago. Dooley had no immediate information on the specific locations of where the tickets were sold.

Should the winners select the lump sum option, each would get a one-third share of $381,138,450.16 before taxes. The jackpot was the third-largest in Powerball history and the fifth-largest U.S. lottery prize. The jackpot now goes back to $40 million.

The winning numbers in Wednesday’s drawing were: 11, 13, 25, 39, 54 and the Powerball 19.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., Feb. 12 2015

News

February 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — They’ll have to share, but with a more than $564 million jackpot, that shouldn’t be a problem. Lottery officials say there are at least three winning tickets in Wednesday night’s big Powerball drawing. The winning tickets are in North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas. Should the winners select the lump sum option, each would get a little more than $127 million before taxes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are differing greatly over bills that would decide when fall classes can start for Iowa school districts. A Senate education committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would give control to school districts. Lawmakers on a House education committee later approved a bill that would require classes to start on or after August 23rd, with a stipulation that school districts cannot seek a waiver to begin sooner.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A court is dismissing an order that required a University of Iowa medical official to pay $183,000 for unfairly revoking the clinical privileges of a subordinate. The Iowa Court of Appeals dismissed a claim yesterday against UI nuclear medicine director Michael Graham brought by former employee Ravi Sood.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — The IRS will return $344,000 in legal earnings that agents seized from a prominent Iowa neurologist over the way he withdrew his own money. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa dismissed a civil forfeiture case last week involving Mason City doctor Alireza Yarahmadi.

EVELYN JEAN KESSLER, 93, of Wiota (Svcs. 2/14/15)

Obituaries

February 11th, 2015 by admin

EVELYN JEAN KESSLER, 93, of Wiota died Wed., Feb. 11th, at her daughter’s home in rural Wiota, Graveside services for EVELYN KESSLER will be held 2-p.m. Sat., Feb. 14th, in the Atlantic Cemetery. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

There is no visitation.

EVELYN KESSLER is survived by:

Her daughter – Judy Murphy, of Wiota.

Her son – Wayne (Donnis) Kessler, Jr., of Atlantic.

Her brothers – Morris (Carolyn) Wilson, of AZ., & Ray (Francis) Wilson, of Council Bluffs.

5 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren,

DOROTHY ROSE SONDERMAN, 97, of Earling (Svcs. 2/16/15)

Obituaries

February 11th, 2015 by admin

DOROTHY ROSE SONDERMAN, 97, of Earling, died Tue., Feb. 10th, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial service for DOROTHY SONDERMAN will be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, Feb. 16th, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is from 4-until 8-pm Sun., Feb. 15th, with the family present.

Burial will be at the St Joseph’s Cemetery at Earling.

DOROTHY SONDERMAN is survived by:

Her daughters – Pauline (Rondald) Wilwering, Patricia (Robert) Gross, and Sara (Richard) Graeve, all of Omaha; Constance (Timothy) Cumberland, of Columbus, NE; & Jacolyn (Gerald) Bogler, of Earling.

Her daughter in law – Diane Sonderman, of Earling

Her son – Samuel (Sheila) Sonderman, of Earling.

19 Grandchildren and 31 Great-grandchildren

LEONARD J. HERBST, 74, of Harlan (Svcs. 2/14/15)

Obituaries

February 11th, 2015 by admin

LEONARD J. HERBST, 74, of Harlan, died Tues., Feb 10th, in Harlan. Masonic Services for LEONARD HERBST will be held 7-pm Sat., Feb. 14th, at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home, in Harlan.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 3-until 8-pm Saturday. A Military Service will be held Sunday, beginning at 3-pm, also at the funeral home.  Online condolences may be left at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com

Burial of Ashes will be held at a later date, in the Harlan Cemetery.

LEONARD HERBST is survived by:

His daughter:  LeAnn Klein, of Omaha.

His step-daughter: Robin Powers, of Harlan.

His sisters: Marlis Patten, of Harlan; Jolene Nielsen, of Kevil KY; and Rhonda Wendt, of Portsmouth.

He’s also survived by his grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

HARRY VERNON WETZEL, JR., 91, of Wisconsin (2-14-2015)

Obituaries

February 11th, 2015 by Jim Field

HARRY VERNON WETZEL, JR., 91, of Wisconsin died Friday, February 6th.  Memorial services for HARRY VERNON WETZEL, JR. will be held on Saturday, February 14th at 11:00 am in the Church of Christ in Irwin.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

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Visiation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am prior to the memorial at the Irwin Church of Christ.

Burial in the Harlan Cemetery.

HARRY VERNON WETZEL, JR. is survived by:

5 Grandchildren

7 Great-Grandchildren

HSBB: Clarinda at Atlantic Girls 02-10-2015

Podcasts, Sports

February 11th, 2015 by admin

Jim Field and Chris Parks have the call of the games played at Atlantic High School.

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Cass County close to rolling out “Alert Iowa” system for cell phones & landlines

News

February 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

You can’t sign-up just yet, but soon, you’ll be able to receive Emergency Notification messages about storms, Amber Alerts, Boil Orders and more, in Cass County. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, Wednesday (Today), told the Board of Supervisors the County has agreed to become part of the state-wide “Alert Iowa” system. The system is expected to become active in Cass County sometime within the next month.

Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Coordinator Mike Kennon talks about Alert IA.

Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Coordinator Mike Kennon talks about Alert IA.

The system can be used by state and local authorities to quickly disseminate emergency information to residents in counties that utilize the system. Persons with landlines are already on a data base for notification, but when the online registration form is active, persons with cell phones can register those numbers and their landline for notifications.

The system is available, free of charge, to all counties. Approximately three out of every four Iowa counties have now signed up to use the Alert Iowa system. In southwest Iowa, there are only six counties (Audubon, Adams, Fremont, Page, Taylor and Union), who have not jumped on the Alert Iowa bandwagon. Kennon says before it can be rolled out in Cass County, he, along with Sheriff Darby McLaren and 9-1-1 Coordinator Rob Koppert need to go through necessary training to prepare for the system’s activation.

When active in Cass County, Alert Iowa will allow citizens to sign up for the types of alerts they would like to receive. Messages can be issued via landline or wireless phone, text messaging, email, FAX, TDD/TYY, and social media. Messages may contain photo, video and audio attachments to help subscribers better understand the situation at hand, or where to find additional information. And, you can choose which city or cities you want to receive notifications for.

(Sample) Online registration form for Cass County/Alert IA,

(Sample) Online registration form for Cass County/Alert IA,

The media will release more information on the system when the roll-out date grows closer. For more, general information, go to http://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/about_HSEMD/alert_iowa.html

Backyard and Beyond 02-11-2015

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

February 11th, 2015 by admin

Lavon Eblen talks about who should “go gluten free”.

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(UPDATE) Strong sales raise Powerball jackpot to $500 million

News

February 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials say the Powerball jackpot has risen to an estimated $500 million, which would make it the fifth largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The lottery raised its jackpot estimate hours before Wednesday night’s drawing and has raised it twice since Saturday’s drawing by a total of about $105 million.  No one has won the Powerball jackpot for more than two months, so the prize has been growing gradually from its $40 million starting point.

It’s been nearly a year since a Powerball prize topped $400 million. Powerball is sold in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The chance of winning a Powerball jackpot is about 1 in 175 million.