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Pottawattamie County City/School election preview

News

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Voters in Pottawattamie County will decide the fate of several City Council and School Board contested races. In Council Bluffs, there are six candidates for three City Council seats: Deb Bass; Chad Hannan; Roger Sandau, Joe Disalvo, and incumbents Nate Watson, along with Sharon White.

In Macedonia, there are three seats open on the City Council, but only one announced candidate: Incumbent Brad Swope. In Neola, incumbent Dawn M. Goodsell faces a challenge for the Mayor’s chair from Karla Pogge, and six people are vying for three seats on the City Council: Incumbent Joseph R. Munch; Richard D. Schuning; Jason Zaborowski; Johnathan McDonald; Ty Ungrad; and Lori Eckrich.

There’s a five-way race for two seats on the Oakland City Council. The candidates include: Incumbent Betsy Moniz; Jeremy Perkins; Tina Drahota; Kelly Towne; and Coralee Bernard. There are also two people running to fill one Vacancy Council seat in Oakland: Douglas Reed and Courtne Turner. In Underwood, Royce D. Forbush, incumbents Josh H. Madsen and Robert W. Dose, along with Ashleigh M. Robinson, are running for three open seats on the Council.

In Walnut, three people are running for two seats on the City Council: Erich Cochran, LaVonne Wood, Cheyenne Mertz, and incumbent Justen Tooley. Two incumbents, Lori Hansen and Fred G. Miller III, along with Matt Gramkow, are running for two seats on the Council, in Avoca, while Steve Kerr and Charles J. Stolz are running to fill a single Vacancy seat. There is also a challenge for a Director’s seat on the AHSTW School Board. Candidates include Michelle Mertz and incumbent Steven Kock.

In Carson, Incumbent Troy Graves faces a challenge from Frankiie Knudsen and Marlene Richardson, for two open seats on the City Council. In Crescent, there are four candidates for three City Council seats. They include Michelle Hargens, and incumbents: Charles Hildreth; Jack A. Powers and Randall J. Adams.

Six people are hoping to fill three seats on the Treynor School Board: Gina Mieska; Keith Christensen; Amy Bierbaum; B.J. Dreyer; Stephen Winchell, and Bob Beattie. Riverside voters get to choose between Incumbent Rodney Pendgraft and challenger Jamie Kadel, who are running for Director/District 3 on the School Board. Six candidates, including incumbent Ric Larson, are running for three seats on the Underwood School Board. The others are: Nathan Burns; Brian Leaders; Nicole Snyder; Teresa Mace, and Matt Brummett.

Tri-Center voters have a choice of four candidates for two School Board positions: Cecilia Thomas; Sara Arnold; Tami Harman, and incumbent Katie Ausdemore. Lewis Central School District Patrons have to choose which of the four candidates will fill three seats on the School Board: Travlis Houseton, along with incumbents Brian Stoufer, Amie Adkins and Daryl Weilage.

There are five people running for four seats on the Council Bluffs School Board: Jill Shudak; Dick Dallinger, and three incumbents: Troy Arthur, Chris LaFerla, and David Coziahr.

Contested races in Atlantic, Anita & Marne highlight Voting Tuesday, in Cass County

News

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Voters in Atlantic, Anita and Marne will decide who wins contested races for City Council, Tuesday, during the combined City/School elections.

In Atlantic, Incumbent Dana Halder is being challenged for his At Large seat on the Council. His opponent is Grace N. Garrett. There are also five candidates vying for three seats on the Atlantic School Board: Incumbent Jenny Williams; Mark C. Fogen; Nicholas Hunt; Laura McLean and Benjamin Winford.

In Anita, Mark Harris, Kevin Littleton and Pat Cassell are hoping to fill two of three seats on the City Council. And, in Marne, where there are six candidates, five seats are up for grabs on the City Council.  Incumbent Angela Redler, is running for re-election to her seat. Challengers include: Vergil W. Anderson; Wayne Preister; Mark Opbroek; Jericho Schmitt, and Aaron Williams.

In Griswold, Carmen Sorensen is running for re-election to the City Council. No candidates have filed for the other two, vacant seats. Those will be filled by Write-In votes. The polls are open from 7-a.m. until 8-p.m.

The precinct polling places and addresses for this combined city and school election are as follows:

Atlantic 1st Ward – Zion Lutheran Church (811 Oak St) (For voters in Atlantic Ward 1)

Atlantic 2nd Ward – Atlantic Public Library (507 Poplar) (For voters in Atlantic Ward 2)

Atlantic 3rd Ward – Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th) (For voters in Atlantic Ward 3)

Atlantic 4th Ward – United Church of Christ (1607 Hazel) (For voters in Atlantic Ward 4)

Atlantic 5th Ward – Heritage House (1200 Brookridge Circle) (For voters in Atlantic Ward 5)

City of Anita & Grant and Lincoln Townships – Anita Community Center (805 Main St) (For voters in Anita & voters residing in the CAM Community School District in the townships of Grant and Lincoln)

City of Cumberland & Union Township – Cumberland Community Building (200 W 2nd) (For voters in Cumberland & voters residing in the CAM Community School District in Union Township)

City of Griswold & Noble and Pleasant Townships – Griswold Community Building (601 2nd St) (For voters in Griswold & voters residing in the Griswold Community School District or the CAM Community School District in the townships of Noble and Pleasant)

City of Lewis & Cass and Bear Grove Townships – Lewis Public Library (412 W. Main St, Lewis) (For voters in Lewis & voters residing in the Atlantic Community School District, CAM Community School District or Griswold Community School District in the townships of Cass and Bear Grove)

City of Marne & Brighton, Grove, Pymosa and Washington Townships – Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th) (For voters in the City of Marne & voters residing in the Atlantic Community School District, AHSTW Community School District, Griswold Community School District or EEHK Community School District in the townships of Brighton, Grove, Pymosa and Washington)

City of Massena & Edna, Victoria and Massena Townships – Massena Public Library (122 Main St, Massena) (For voters in the City of Massena & voters residing in the CAM Community School District or Griswold Community School District in the townships of Massena, Edna and Victoria)

City of Wiota & Benton and Franklin Townships – Wiota City Hall (311 Center St) (For voters in Wiota & voters residing in the Atlantic Community School District, CAM Community School District, or EEHK Community School District in the townships of Benton and Franklin)

Man gets 10 years for fatally stabbing Sioux City roommate

News

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for fatally stabbing his roommate in Sioux City. Woodbury County District Court records show 39-year-old Elmi Said was sentenced Friday. He’d been charged with second-degree murder for the Oct. 28, 2018, slaying of 40-year-old Guled Nur. The jury convicted him of a lesser charge: voluntary manslaughter.

Prosecutors say Said stabbed and kicked Nur after an altercation broke out at their apartment. Said is also known as Abdiqadar Sharif.

Milk production facility in NE Iowa to close, cutting nearly 50 jobs

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Associated Milk Producers Inc., or A-M-P-I, plans to shut down its factory in Arlington, Iowa, that produces nonfat dry milk. Company leaders say the decision stems from the continued decline in dairy farm numbers and milk production in the region. The 49 Arlington employees have been informed. AMPI is working with them to provide access to resources, training and opportunities to apply for available jobs at AMPI facilities.

Milk previously processed at AMPI’s Arlington location will now be routed to other plants in the surrounding area, including AMPI’s Blair, Wisconsin, cheese plant. AMPI will continue to meet customer needs for dependable supplies of high-quality dairy products from its other manufacturing plants. AMPI leadership is exploring options for the facilities’ future.

5th suspect arrested in fatal Des Moines shooting

News

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Another suspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting of man in north Des Moines. Police say 20-year-old Calvonta Stallings was arrested Sunday after a robbery in Davenport. The Polk County charges include first-degree murder and robbery in the slaying of 23-year-old Rashid Ibrahim. Ibrahim was found by officers sent to investigate reports of a shooting. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Stallings is the fifth person arrested in connection with Oct. 10 shooting of Ibrahim.

Man gets 18 months for defrauding homeowners association

News

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Marion man has been imprisoned for defrauding a homeowners association out of nearly $125,000. The Gazette reports that 55-year-old Wayne Jones Jr. was given 18 months at his sentencing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. He’d pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Prosecutors say that while Jones was treasurer of Pheasant Ridge Homeowners Association in Marion from November 2011 through August 2016, he funneled the money from the association’s account to another account that he used for personal expenses. Prosecutors also say Jones admitted setting up fraudulent treasurer reports each year so he could hide his crime.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s report (11/4/19)

News

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on recent arrests. At around 9:05-p.m. Sunday, 64-year old Deborah Ann O’Hara, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Her bond was set at $300. At around 4:20-a.m. Sunday, 32-year old Joshua Kenneth Wolcott was arrested following a traffic stop on I-80 in Council Bluffs, after his vehicle was observed all over the road and had cut through the median and into oncoming traffic. Wolcott was charged with Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, and OWI/3rd or subsequent offense.

At around 1-a.m. Saturday, a traffic stop for speeding in Neola, resulted in the arrest of 29-year old Zachery Robert Masker, for OWI/1st offense. At around 8-p.m. Friday, 72-year old James Bernard Zimmerman was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. Friday afternoon, a man being held in the Pott. County Jail for Attempt to Commit Murder, was served with warrants for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. 41-year old Jerome Maurice Daniels, SR., was being held in the Jail on a $25,000 bond associated with the Attempted Murder charge.

Friday morning, 24-year old Anthony Micheal McCoy, of Avoca, was arrested on a valid Pott. County warrant for Driving While Barred. And, 41-year old Tony James Miller, Jr., of Missouri Valley, was arrested Friday morning at the Pott. County Courthouse, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree/non-vehicle related. His bond was set at $5,000.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 11/4/19

News, Podcasts

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Contested races featured in Guthrie County

News

November 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

There are a few races set for Tuesday’s City/School Elections in Guthrie County. In the City of Bagley, four candidates are running for three City Council seats: Emily Chapman-Oleson; Jon Shaffer, and incumbents Jennifer Ingles, and Nick Lestina. Bagley residents will also vote on a Public Measure granting the Xenia Rural Water District a non-exclusive franchise to acquire, construct, install and maintain, among other rights, a water transmission distribution system.

In Bayard, four people are running for two seats on the City Council: Arnold Kesselring; Colin Monahan; LeeRoy Wagner, and incumbent Jack Stone. Bayard voters will also determine the fate of a Public Measure amending the Bayard Library Board of Trustees to four members from within the City, two members outside the town, and one other member in either location.

In Guthrie Center, there are five candidates for three City Council seats: Fidel Hernandez; William T. Wagner IV; Caleb Wulf, along with incumbents Ian Steensen and Garold Thomas. There is also a loan/bond issue not to exceed $800,000, for a municipal bathouse project for the Guthrie Center Swimming Pool facility.

Voters in Jamaica have four candidates for three City Council seats to choose from: Incumbents Shannon Behnken and Troy Miller, as well as Larry Jacobson, and Doug O’Brien. Coon Rapids-Bayard School District Patrons have six candidates to choose from for four seats on the School Board: Jeff Andersen; Jessica Chrystal; Teresa Gelhaus; and incumbents – Timothy Owen Lee; Jason Rosenbeck, and Kyler South.

Panorama School District patrons have two people to choose from to fill one Vacancy seat: Kellie Jean Flanery, and incumbent Lila Lutz. There are also two people running for one District 5 Director’s seat on the Panorama School Board: Damon Crandall, and Lucas Wendl.

A reminder: the polls are open from 7-a.m. Until 8-p.m.

Heartbeat Today 11-4-2019

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

November 4th, 2019 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Rick Burns of the Atlantic Rotary Club about the Veteran’s Day program on Tuesday, November 12 at 11:45 am at the regular Rotary meeting at the Heritage House.  Veterans are welcome to attend for lunch and a program featuring Bill Williams of Patriotic Productions.  It features a traveling photographic memorial dedicated to those killed in action.  Contact Rick at 712-249-7435 to help with a lunch count.

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