United Group Insurance

Iowa early News Headlines: 12/29/2019

News

December 29th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:40 a.m. CST

HUMBOLDT, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar says the tour she completed of all 99 Iowa counties is a sign she will go everywhere and represent everyone. It’s also central to her strategy for the lead-off presidential caucuses. Klobuchar is hoping to capitalize on caucus rules that can reward candidates who leave Democratic-heavy areas to meet smaller groups of voters in less populated counties. The stakes are high as Klobuchar tries to catch the top candidates, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. The caucuses are Feb. 3.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide while driving recklessly in the June death of a bicyclist. The Sioux City Journal reports that 37-year-old Edy Guevara entered the plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court. He also pleaded not guilty to operating while intoxicated. Authorities say Guevara had alcohol and marijuana in his system when the vehicle he was driving hit 64-year-old Charles Fluharty on June 13 in Sioux City. Police say Guevara later told officers he was texting on his phone when he hit Fluharty, who died a week after the crash.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A dozen people have applied to fill a vacant seat on the Iowa Supreme Court left by the sudden death in November of Chief Justice Mark Cady. Court officials say the State Judicial Nominating Commission will conduct interviews on Jan. 9 of the applicants. Those interviews, to be held in in the Iowa Supreme Court courtroom in Des Moines, are open to the public. Following the applicants’ interviews, the commission will select three nominees to be forwarded to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The Republican governor will then have 30 days to appoint the new justice from the three nominees.

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the area: Sunday, 12/29/2019

Weather

December 29th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: A slight chance of rain between 3pm and 4pm, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 33 by 5pm. Breezy, with a southwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 22. Blustery, with a west wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly between 8am and 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 29. Wind chill values as low as 5. Windy, with a west northwest wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 20. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Breezy.
New Year’s Day: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 50. Our Low this morning, 37. We received .6” rain Saturday through 6-a.m., today (Sunday). Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 21 and the Low was 6. The record High for Dec. 29th in Atlantic, was 60 in 1984. The Record Low was -22 in 1917.

(UPDATE) 1 hurt in Adair County I-80 crash, Saturday

News

December 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(In an update to our post Saturday afternoon) — The Iowa State Patrol says a man from California suffered severe injuries during a crash between two semi-tractor trailers on Interstate 80 westbound, in Adair County.

Photos from the Stuart Fire Department’s Facebook page

The crash happened at around 3:42-p.m., near Stuart. Authorities say a 2019 Volvo truck driven by 32-year old Alexander Kucherenko, of Fort Meyers, FL., was stopped with westbound traffic in the right lane, due to the left lane being temporarily blocked from a separate crash. A 2017 Freightliner truck driven by 32-year old Massoud Babak, of Livermore, CA, was also heading west on the interstate and it was approaching the Volvo at interstate speed but couldn’t stop in time. Babak tried to avoid hitting the Volvo by veering into the right lane, but his semi struck the right rear end of the Volvo’s trailer.

Babak — who was wearing a seat belt — was transported by Stuart Rescue to Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Kucherenko was not injured in the crash. The Freightliner was a total loss. Stuart Police assisted the Patrol at the scene.

Fatal crash in Story County late Saturday morning

News

December 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

One person died and four others were injured during a collision late Saturday morning, in central Iowa’s Story County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 1998 Nissan pickup driven by 68-year-old John Paulson, of Radcliffe, crashed into a 2000 Dodge pickup driven by 38-year old Michael Manke, of Nevada (IA), after Paulson failed to yield the right-of-way.  The accident happened at the intersection of 170th Street and 55th Avenue in Gilbert, at around 11:30-a.m.

The Patrol says Paulsen failed to yield. A passenger, 68-year old Marcia Olson, of Story City, died at the scene. Paulson, Manke, and his passengers, 37-year old Christina Wittrock along with a three-year old boy both of whom are from Nevada, were injured in the crash. All were wearing seat belts. They were transported to area hospitals.

 

Numerous accidents reported on I-80 west of Stuart: SLOW DOWN

News

December 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Law enforcement and Rescue crews were called to the scene of what apparently started out as a two vehicle accident about a mile west of Stuart on I-80 westbound. Since the first calls went out at around 3-p.m., (Saturday), numerous other incidents have been reported.

Stuart Fire was requested to send more personnel for traffic control. Additional details are currently not available.

Biden leaves it unclear if he would honor Senate subpoena

News

December 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden is seeking to clarify his assertion that if the Senate subpoenas him to testify in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, he will defy the order. But he’s still not made it clear what he would do. In Iowa on Friday, the Democratic presidential contender told The Des Moines Register that he stood by his position that he would defy an order from the Republican-controlled Senate to be a witness in the proceedings.

On Saturday, he tweeted what he called a clarification. He said he’s always complied with lawful orders. Yet he also said any such subpoena would not, in his view, have “any legal basis.”

Book throws for 247, TD as Notre Dame beats Iowa State 33-9

Sports

December 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Ian Books threw for 247 yards and one touchdown to lead 14th-ranked Notre Dame to a 33-9 victory over Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl. Tony Jones Jr. scored on an 84-yard run and finished with 135 yards rushing. Game MVP Chase Claypool had seven receptions for 146 yards and one TD.

Notre Dame running back Jafar Armstrong (8) rushes for yardage in front of Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose (23) during the first half of the Camping World Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Brock Purdy threw for 222 yards without an interception for Iowa State. The sophomore quarterback was unable to get the Cyclones in the end zone, though, after throwing for 27 touchdowns during the regular season.

Anita house fire reported late Friday night

News

December 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters from Anita and Wiota were called to the scene of a residential fire at 1810 Main Street in Anita, late Friday night. Crews were dispatched at around 11:55-p.m.  When they first arrived on the scene, there was smoke, but no fire. Wiota Fire was then told to disregard the call.

According to former Chief Josh Peach, Fire Chief Eric Steffenson spoke with the occupant of the home, who had managed to extinguish the flames before firefighters arrived. The home sustained minor damage.  Crews were on the scene for just under two-hours.

No other details are currently available.

DNR conservation officer assists with ice rescue

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

December 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

WARREN COUNTY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources say that at around 3:15-p.m. Friday (Dec. 27), the Warren County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received a call about two people that had gone through the ice at Summerset State Park, and were yelling for help.

When Warren County Sheriff’s deputies, Indianola Fire and Rescue and a DNR conservation officer responded to the scene they witnessed that Ryan Nesselroad, of Carlisle, had fallen through the ice, approximately 40 yards from the shore. A second man, Gary Anderson, of Venice, Florida, had also fallen through the ice while attempting to rescue Nesselroad.

Rescue crews used throw bags to rescue Anderson and pull him to shore. Nesselroad was farther out in the lake and was rescued by Indianola Fire and Rescue teams and was suffering from hypothermia. Both men were transported to a Des Moines area hospital to be treated.

The Iowa DNR reminds everyone to beware of ice conditions and depth. Obey all posted signs and any warning flags around lakes. Due to the recent unseasonably warm weather, it is best to avoid going onto lakes and small ponds, especially around the edges where the ice is likely very thin.

Safety Tips on the Ice

  • There is no such thing as 100% safe ice.
  • New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
  • Ice fishing is a social activity, don’t go out alone. If the worst should happen, someone would be there to call for help or to rescue.
  • There could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed, so check ice thickness as you go out.
  • Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
  • The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
  • Safety items in the bucket: Ice picks, about 50 feet of rope and a throwable floatation seat cushion for use in case of rescue.

 

12 applying for vacant Iowa Supreme Court seat

News

December 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A dozen people have applied to fill a vacant seat on the Iowa Supreme Court left by the sudden death in November of Chief Justice Mark Cady. Court officials say the State Judicial Nominating Commission will conduct interviews on Jan. 9 of the applicants.

Those interviews, to be held in in the Iowa Supreme Court courtroom in Des Moines, are open to the public. Following the applicants’ interviews, the commission will select three nominees to be forwarded to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The Republican governor will then have 30 days to appoint the new justice from the three nominees.