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Crash on I-80 in Polk County injuries 2 adults and 2 children, while another child dies

News

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A crash Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 80 in Polk County resulted in the death of an Illinois girl, and injuries to four people from Virginia. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the victims were traveling in a 2007 Mitsubishi Gallant on I-80 westbound, northeast of Des Moines, when it went out of control and collided with a guardrail, at around 2:30-p.m. The vehicle flipped over the guardrail and rolled one and one-half times before coming to rest on its roof, in a ditch.

Eleven-year old Jacquelle McDonald, of Chicago, IL, was ejected from the car and died at the scene. Officials say she was not wearing a seat belt. Four other people in the car, including the driver, 24-year old Brittany Moore, of Newport News, VA, were injured and transported by Saylor Fire and Rescue to a hospital in Des Moines. The victims were identified as 21-year old Spencer Moore, one-year old Naliya Moore, and 4-year old Jadyn Lindsey, all of Newport News.All four of the injured were wearing their seat belts.

The accident remains  under investigation.

Posted in News |

December wraps up among the wetter, warmer Decembers on record for Iowa

News, Weather

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Iowa’s weather went from one extreme to the other in December, as a very warm start was followed by a harsh blizzard. After so many months of drought, state climatologist Harry Hillaker says that big storm dumped almost 14 inches of snow on parts of central Iowa, moisture that was much-needed.  “Overall, December was a wetter-than-normal month, preliminarily ranking 35th wettest in 140 years of records,” Hillaker says. “Southeastern Iowa, much of that precipitation came in the form of rain. Elsewhere in the state, it was about equally divided between rain and snowfall.” Hillaker says December kicked off being quite warm but the temperature dropped like a rock.

“The month got off to a very mild start and then the more seasonal temperatures arrived during the last week and a half or so of December,” Hillaker says. “Overall, we averaged almost five-degrees warmer than normal and it was the 38th warmest December in 140 years of records.” As for the month ahead, January is shaping up to be quite cold but Hillaker predicts a slow warming trend in the first few weeks along with drier-than-normal conditions.

In Atlantic, the average High for the month of December was 38-degrees, which was three-degrees warmer than normal. The average low was 16, which was just one-degree warmer than normal. Precipitation (both rainfall & melted snowfall) amounted to 1.55-inches.  Actual snowfall for the month was 9.1-inches.

(Information from Radio Iowa & KJAN records)

Posted in News, Weather |

MARIETTA HOLSTE, 91, of Bridgewater (Svcs. 1/7/13)

Obituaries

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

MARIETTA HOLSTE, 91, of Bridgewater, died Wed., Jan. 2nd, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn. Funeral services for MARIETTA HOLSTE will be held 10:30-a.m. Mon., Jan. 7th, at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ south of Massena. Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle has the arrangements.

A family visitation will take place on Sunday, from 2-to 4-pm at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be directed to the Marietta Holste memorial fund, to be established by the family.

Burial will be in the Victoria Township Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow, at the Cumberland Community Building.

MARIETTA HOLSTE is survived by:

Her sons:  Clifford (wife Lil) Holste of Minden; Clyde (wife Sumiko) Holste of Austin, MN; Clarence (wife Gayle) Holste of Bridgewater;Cecil (wife Penny) Holste of Westminister, CO; and, Curtis (wife Jayne) Holste of Atlantic.

Her daughters:  Coretta (husband Kenneth) Andersen of Treynor; Carol (husband Ronald) Gilbert of Maidens, VA;, and Colleen (husband Fred) Mayer of Vero Beach, FL.

Her in-laws, 21-grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, numerous step grandchildren and great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Iowa Medical Helicopter Crash – Updated 2:40-a.m.

News

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Three people are dead after a medical helicopter crashed in northern Iowa, while flying from Mason City to Emmetsburg.  Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Matt Klunder said the helicopter was affiliated with Mercy Medical Center and that a pilot and two nurses were killed. Witnesses say the chopper burst into flames, when it went down.

The Heli-pad at Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa in Mason City sits empty following a fatal crash Wednesday night. (Photo courtesy Bob Fisher, KGLO/Mason City)

The crash occurred about 9 p.m. Wednesday near Ventura. Officials with Mercy Medical Center North issued the following statement to the local media early Thursday morning:

“Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa is devastated to confirm that its medical helicopter, Mercy Air Med, went down en route to Emmetsburg at about 9:00 pm Wednesday. The three people on board — a nurse, Shelly (Shell) Lair-Langenbau; a paramedic, Russell (Russ) Piehl; and a pilot with Med-Trans, the helicopter service, did not survive the incident. There was not a patient on board.”

“I know their colleagues in healthcare are grieving the loss with their loved ones,” said Dan Varnum, President/CEO of Mercy-North Iowa. “The entire organization and I send prayers to all who knew them. They were committed and dedicated to serving the people of Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota.”

“They were each selfless healthcare professionals devoted to the delivery of emergency medical care. While they fulfilled significant duties, they played a greater role as our neighbors and friends.”

The cause of the incident is unknown. Mercy-North Iowa is working closely with law enforcement officials and the FAA who are investigating the accident. Members of Mercy-North Iowa’s Spiritual Care Department and counselors were available Wednesday and will continue to be available to provide support.

The helicopter was operated by a Lewisville, TX-based service company, Med-Trans Air Medical transport.

(Information from the Associated Press and KGLO Radio in Mason City)

Posted in News |

Officials: Tax collections in Iowa are up

News

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Tax collections in Iowa are up compared to the same halfway point a year ago. Net state receipts totaled more than $3.1 billion from July through December. That’s about $264 million, or about 9 percent, higher than the first six months of the previous fiscal year. The Legislative Services Agency says the percentage growth rate will likely dip in January because of processing days in the calendar.

The Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference projected last month that the state treasury would end the current fiscal year with nearly $6.4 billion. That would be about a 3.3 percent increase over the last fiscal year.

Posted in News |

Nick Wiggins, Wichita State beats Drake 75-63

Sports

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Nick Wiggins scored a season-high 18 points off the bench and Wichita State beat host Drake 75-63 on Wednesday night to match its best start in 59 years. Malcolm Armstead added 14 for the Shockers, who are 13-1 for just the second time since starting with 16 wins in 17 tries in 1953-54. The 1982-83 team also started 13-1.

Wichita State broke things open with an 18-3 run at the outset of the second half in winning their second Missouri Valley Conference game in as many tries. The Bulldogs got within 69-61 with 1:01 left, but Wichita State had little trouble running out the clock. Freshmen Joey King and Micah Mason combined for 29 points for the Bulldogs (6-7, 0-2), who committed 19 turnovers in falling back below .500.

Posted in Sports |

Indiana State defeats Northern Iowa 65-61

Sports

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Justin Gant scored 18 points and Jake Odum 16 to lead Indiana State to a 65-61 victory against Northern Iowa on Wednesday night. The Sycamores (9-4, 2-0 Missouri Valley) never trailed after 3:43 remained in the first half and held on despite making just 4 of 8 from the free-throw line in the last 34 seconds.

Trailing by three points, Northern Iowa called its final timeout with 6.5 seconds left to set up a final play. But the Panthers (7-7, 0-2) turned the ball over, and Lucas Eitel hit a free throw for Indiana State. Seth Tuttle had 24 points and 10 rebounds and James Anthony added 12 points for Northern Iowa. Gant was 8 of 12 from the field with six rebounds.

Posted in Sports |

Medical helicopter crashes in north-central Iowa

News

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three people are dead after a medical helicopter flying out of Mason City, Iowa, crashed into a field, authorities say. Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Matt Klunder said the helicopter was affiliated with Mercy Medical Center and that a pilot and two nurses were killed. Klunder said the crash occurred about 9 p.m. Wednesday near Ventura, Iowa. The identities of the victims were not released, and the cause of the crash was under investigation.

Posted in News |

IONE EHM, 87, of Greenfield (Svcs. 1/5/13)

Obituaries

January 2nd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

IONE EHM, 87, of Greenfield, died Wed., Jan. 2nd, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services for IONE EHM will be held 2-p.m. Sat., Jan. 5th, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

A family visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4-to 7-pm Friday.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be directed to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, or the Adair County Hospital Foundation.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle.

IONE EHM is survived by:

Her husband – Ervin Ehm, of Greenfield.

Her children – Maurice (Diana) Ehm, of Guthrie Center; Marvin (Faye) Ehm, of Decorah, and Bonnie (Henry) Hyda, of Waukee.

8 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

GLADYS LUCILLE WHITE, 98, of Oakland (Svcs. 1/5/13)

Obituaries

January 2nd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

GLADYS LUCILLE WHITE, 98, of Oakland, died Wed., Jan. 2nd, at the Oakland Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services for GLADYS WHITE will be held 2-p.m. Sat., Jan. 5th, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland  has the arrangements.

An open visitation will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Friday starting at 1:00 PM.  The family will be present to greet friends at the church from 5-7 PM.

Interment will be at Oaklawn Cemetery.

GLADYS WHITE is survived by:

her children: Gene Fritz and wife Sharell of Oakland; Dennis Fritz and wife Sandra of Oakland, and Joyce Osborn of Treynor.

10 grandchildren , 24 great grandchildren, :3  great-great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |