712 Digital Group - top

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019

News

September 29th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Rev. William Joensen has been ordained as the 10th bishop to lead the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports that more than 1,500 parishioners witnessed the ordination Friday at St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Des Moines, the diocese’s largest. Pope Francis selected the 59-year-old Joensen, an Iowa native, to replace former Bishop Richard Pates, who retired after holding the role for more than a decade.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man who witnesses reported was sitting in a Des Moines street has been hit by a vehicle and killed. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says the incident happened around 9:30 p.m. Friday on SW 9th Street. Medics arrived to find a 62-year-old Des Moines resident had been hit by a southbound vehicle as it crossed the Racoon River. The man was taken to an area hospital, where he died. The man’s name had not been released by late Saturday morning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials say more vaping-related illnesses have been reported in the state. The Iowa Department of Public Health says in a news release that 23 cases of respiratory illness associated with vaping have been reported in Iowa _ up from 15 last week. There have been no deaths in the state. Of the 23 Iowa cases, ages range from 17 to 60, and most of the patients were male. Officials say 18 have reported vaping some form of THC.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Applications are being sought to fill a vacancy on Iowa City’s Human Rights Commission. The vacancy is an unexpired term that runs through the end of 2020. The vacancy is an unexpired term that runs through the end of 2020. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. The group meets monthly and is charged with educating the public on civil and human rights. That includes planning programs and activities to eliminate unlawful discrimination.

Absentee Voting in Adair County begins Oct. 7th

News

September 29th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Adair County Auditor’s Office reports Absentee Ballots will be available October 7, 2019 in the Auditor’s Office, for: Adair, Bridgewater, Casey, Fontanelle, Greenfield, Orient, and Stuart cities and the Adair Casey, CAM, Nodaway Valley, Orient Macksburg, and West Central Valley School Districts.

Adair County voters may vote in the Auditor’s Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (beginning Oct. 7th), or they may request a ballot be mailed to them. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2019. The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, November 4, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Absentee Ballot request forms are available in the Auditor’s Office or they can be downloaded at the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.iowa.gov.

Saturday’s Volleyball Scores (9/28)

Sports

September 29th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Southwest Valley Tournament
(2-0) Southwest Valley 21-21, Audubon 15-14

(2-0) Southwest Valley 21-21, Exira-EHK 8-8
(2-0) Southwest Valley 21-21, Southeast Warren 11-13
(2-0) Southwest Valley 21-23, AHSTW 12-21
(2-0) Southwest Valley 25-16-15, AHSTW 15-25-9
(2-0) AHSTW 21-21, Audubon 14-17

(2-0) AHSTW 21-21, Exira-EHK 15-11
(2-0) AHSTW 21-22, Lenox 10-20
(2-0) Audubon 21-21, Exira-EHK 18-17

Bedford Tournament
(2-1) Sidney 19-21-16, East Mills 21-10-14
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Central Decatur 14-13
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Lamoni 11-6
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Mount Ayr 12-14
(2-1) Sidney 25-23-15, East Mills 13-25-8
(2-0) East Mills 21-21, Central Decatur 6-11

(2-0) East Mills 21-21, Mount Ayr 7-6
(2-0) East Mills 25-25, Stanton 21-22
(2-1) Bedford 21-16-15, Murray 17-21-9

(2-0) Bedford 25-25, Mount Ayr 20-9
(2-0) Stanton 21-21, Bedford 11-18

Nevada Tournament
(2-0) Nevada 21-21, Council Bluffs Jefferson 14-13
(2-0) Norwalk 25-25, Carroll 17-22
(2-1) Dallas Center-Grimes 21-17-15, Carroll 15-21-10
(2-0) Carroll 21-21, Des Moines Lincoln 18-11

(2-1) Carroll 27-23-15, Lake Mills 29-21-13
(2-0) Glenwood 21-21, Norwalk 13-18

Sioux City East Tournament
(2-1) Council Bluffs Lincoln 17-21-15, Sioux City East 21-16-9

(2-0) Council Bluffs Lincoln 21-21, Bishop Heelan 7-16
(2-1) Lewis Central 21-18-15, Sioux City East 18-21-13
(2-0) Lewis Central 21-21, Bishop Heelan 13-9

Cardinals lose to Cubs, NL Central race goes to final day

Sports

September 29th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was itching to spray champagne in the Cardinals clubhouse Saturday night. It’s been nearly four years since his last boozy bash, and after getting roughed up by the Cubs, he and his St. Louis teammates will have to wait at least one more night. The Cardinals’ push for a division title will go down to the final day of the regular season following an 8-6 loss to Chicago on Saturday night.

“You can’t ask for anything more,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “We’ve had it in our control and we’ve controlled it at the point to the final day with a one-game lead. We can be disappointed, which we are, about tonight, laid it all out there. But we can also look up and realize that on the last game of the season, we control our destiny.” Wainwright (14-10) allowed four homers for the first time in his career, but the Cardinals maintained a one-game lead over Milwaukee for the NL Central lead when the Brewers lost 3-2 in 10 innings at Colorado. If the teams are tied after Sunday’s regular season finales, they will play a tiebreaking Game 163 in St. Louis on Monday. The second-place finisher will play in the NL wild-card game at Washington on Tuesday.

“I couldn’t be more disappointed in me,” Wainwright said. “Unfortunate, because we needed that game. We needed a win. I’d love to be popping champagne right now, but luckily the Rockies bailed us out a little bit and we still control our own destiny.” Yadier Molina shouted at Cubs left-hander Cole Hamels after being grazed by a fastball in the second inning, sparking a benches-clearing fracas. No punches were thrown, but Chicago landed some haymakers anyway — two homers from Ian Happ and one each from Kyle Schwarber and Victor Caratini assured the Cubs their first series win at Busch Stadium this season.

Hamels allowed two hits and struck out eight in four innings after Cubs manager Joe Maddon said pregame that he would be limited to three innings. Hamels was making his first start since Sept. 16 after dealing with left shoulder tightness. Chicago has been eliminated from postseason contention. Steve Cishek (4-6) and four other relievers turned a lead over to Brandon Kintzler, who pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save. Wainwright allowed six runs on a career high-tying 12 hits, snapping a string of six straight starts without a loss. He said he feels good but needs to make a mechanical fix.

Molina was awarded first base after Hamels’ 91 mph pitch clipped his left arm. He took a few steps toward first and stared at Hamels, then began barking at him and walked toward the mound. Cubs catcher Jonathan Lucroy stepped between Molina and Hamels, and St. Louis teammate Matt Carpenter dragged Molina away while players poured onto the field. No warnings or ejections were issued. “We’ve got history,” Molina said about Hamels. “For many years I’ve faced him. Every time he goes inside, he goes in tight and this time I was tired of it. I let him know. We all man up. He said something, I said something, but that was the end.” Hamels said he was confused by Molina’s reaction but felt he needed to stand up for himself.
“It’s kind of a crazy situation,” Hamels said.

Schwarber launched the first pitch he saw from Wainwright into the right field bleachers for his 38th home run. Happ hit a two-run homer in the third and another in the fifth for his fifth career multi-home run game and first this season. He has 11 home runs since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa on July 26. Harrison Bader broke up the Cubs’ shutout when he hit his 11th homer of the season off Kyle Ryan in the fifth inning. Tommy Edman added a two-run triple and an RBI single, and Paul Goldschmidt batted with the bases loaded in the seventh but grounded into a double play. St. Louis’ Paul DeJong hit his 30th homer off Pedro Strop in the eighth, trailing only Colorado’s Trevor Story (35) for the lead among NL shortstops. Story hit a game-ending homer for Colorado to sink Milwaukee.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals and Cubs wrap up their three-game series Sunday (9/29). Shildt announced RHP Jack Flaherty (10-8, 2.85) will start with the division title at stake. He has given up four earned runs in his last 37 innings for a 0.97 ERA, including allowing one run over eight innings against the Cubs on Sept. 19. The Cubs will counter with LHP Derek Holland (2-4, 5.47).

Quick start helps Weber State beat Northern Iowa 29-17

Sports

September 29th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Kaden Jenks hit Rashid Shaheed for a 73-yard touchdown on Weber State’s first play from scrimmage and the Wildcats led the rest of the way in their 29-17 win over Northern Iowa on Saturday night. Jenks finished 19-of-29 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns in a battle between two of the top teams in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Weber State (2-2), which came in ranked No. 6 in the FCS Coaches poll, scored on its first five drives to open a 27-3 lead midway through the second quarter.

Following Shaheed’s touchdown, the seventh-ranked Panthers fumbled the kickoff and Trey Tuttle’s 25-yard field goal extended the lead. Then, just three plays later, Brody Burke picked off a pass from Will McElvain to set up Kris Jackson’s 2-yard touchdown run that made it 17-0 less than 10 minutes into the game. Matthew Cook made a 35-yard field goal to get Northern Iowa (2-2) on the board with 3:27 left in the first quarter, but Tuttle made a 41-yarder about 2 ½ minutes later and Jenks hit Justin Malone for a 13-yard touchdown with 8:30 left in the second quarter.

McElvain threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns and added 105 yards rushing on 16 carries for UNI.

Baylor beats Iowa St 23-21 on FG after blowing 20-point lead

Sports

September 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

WACO, Texas (AP) — John Mayers kicked a 38-yarder with 21 seconds left for the first field goal of the redshirt freshman’s career, lifting Baylor to a 23-21 victory over Iowa State on Saturday after the Bears blew a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter. The win in the Big 12 opener for both teams was the second in a row for the Bears (4-0, 1-0 Big 12), who won their sixth straight game going back to last season and are off to their best start in three years under coach Matt Rhule.

Brock Purdy rallied the Cyclones (2-2, 0-1) with three TD drives after trailing 20-0 in the fourth quarter. But Iowa State couldn’t stop Baylor’s 54-yard drive to the winning points while losing a Big 12 opener for the 16th time in 18 seasons — including all four under coach Matt Campbell.

The Bears fell behind for the first time this season on Purdy’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Kolar with less than four minutes to go. Charlie Brewer answered with three third-down conversions on the 14-play march, which included completions of 15 and 13 yards to Tyquan Thornton. Mayers’ kick into the wind was just inside the right post after he missed badly from the same distance — 38 yards — in the first half.

“Gotta make a play,” Campbell said. “It’s the story of our two losses. The story of our two wins, we made plays. The story of our two losses, in the heat of the moment, we’ve got to make a play.” Baylor was behind because of a botched PAT attempt after the second of three touchdown passes from Brewer when the snap went through holder Skyler Wetzel’s hands.

“I was just kind of reluctant just because of the wind and all that stuff, I didn’t want to keep putting the kid out there,” Rhule said. “But you know what, to his credit he went out there and made that kick.”
Thornton had 11 catches for 141 yards and the last Baylor touchdown. Denzel Mims scored the first TDs and had 106 yards on six grabs.

After a rough start, Purdy finished 27 of 45 for 342 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Johnnie Lang had a touchdown rushing and another receiving.
THE TAKEAWAY
Iowa State: Purdy’s recovery a week after accounting for six touchdowns in a 72-20 loss to Louisiana-Monroe reversed what was looking like a miserable day. Still, the Cyclones will feel like they let one get away after they thought they had stolen one.
Baylor: Instead of what would have been the worst loss under Rhule, the Bears have momentum in the Big 12 race. The Bears also avoided ending Rhule’s 35-game winning streak when the coach’s team was tied or leading going in the fourth quarter, including his Temple tenure.
UP NEXT
Iowa State: TCU at home next Saturday.
Baylor: At Kansas State next Saturday.

N. Central IA man killed during a van vs. bicycle accident in N.W. Iowa, Saturday morning

News

September 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A northern Iowa man riding a bicycle that was struck by a van in northwest Iowa early Saturday morning, has died from his injuries. The Iowa State Patrol reports 57-year old Kent Eugene Harfst, of Webster City, was riding a bicycle eastbound on Woodbury County Road D-12 at around 6:35-a.m., Saturday, when he was hit from behind by a 2017 Ford Transit van, driven by 19-year old Aaron Joshua Albert, of Mondamin.

The accident happened near the crest of a hill, in dark conditions. Following the collision, Harfst came to rest in the south ditch. He suffered critical injuries and was flown by air ambulance to Mercy One Medical Center in Sioux City, where he died. The driver of the van was not hurt.

Friends say Harfst was the Park and Recreation Director for the city of Webster City. He was also known for his numerous contributions of time to city projects and events.

Glenwood man arrested on drug & weapon charges

News

September 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday, said a Mills County man was arrested Wednesday on drug & weapon charges, following a traffic stop by the Fremont County K9 Unit, near the intersection of Highway 59 and Nishna Road, in Shenandoah.

Robert M. Justice (Fremont County S/O photo)

After deputies made contact with the driver of the vehicle, 40-year old Robert Matthew Justice, of Glenwood, they learned he was barred from driving, and subsequently was placed under arrest. A probable cause search was conducted on the vehicle and methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was discovered. Deputies also located a hatchet concealed between the front seats of the vehicle.

Justice was placed under arrest for: Driving While Barred, Habitual Violator; Possession of Methamphetamine 2nd Offense; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; and Carrying Weapons. He was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $5,000 Cash/Surety bond

Iowan’s receive fake “Blizzard Warning” messages Saturday afternoon

News, Weather

September 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Emergency Management and other agencies across Iowa were scrambling Saturday afternoon, to assure residents in their respective counties that they were not under a “Blizzard Warning.” At around 3:30-p.m., persons with Emergency Notification System alerts on their phones likely received the warning, which indicated the message was a “Test.” Moments later, another message was sent asking recipients of the first message, to “Disregard.”

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Coordinator Doug Reed said in a statement, “The Pottawattamie Alert program, part of the Alert Iowa System, was inadvertently activated for multiple severe weather events by the company who provides the service across Iowa. Pottawattamie County Emergency Management notified the company upon receipt of the messages and the president of Inspiron Logistics, operators of the Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) which serves as the platform for the alerting system, confirmed that live messages were inadvertently sent while they were attempting to troubleshoot other internal programming issues.”

In a statement released Saturday evening, Inspiron Logistics, LLC., said “During a software update release Saturday afternoon, testing was being conducted which simulates Warnings and Watches issued from the National Weather Service. This system accidentally triggered a Blizzard/Fire Warning. Unfortunately these alerts did hit the system as if they were authentic, due to code that was not deactivated to prevent the final activation process.”

The company said also, “The entire Software Update has been backed out and will be further examined to determine what cause [sic] this issue. Internal procedures will be implemented to prevent this scenario from happening in the future.”

Doug Reed emphasized that “Officials from Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, as well as County Emergency Management Agencies across the state, are working to [also] ensure these type of false system activations are prevented in the future.”

Fatal accident in Mills County Friday afternoon

News

September 28th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

One person died during collision in Mills County, Friday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol reports 63-year old Vicki Byrum, of Sidney (IA), was driving a 2013 Subaru Impreza southbound and had left Interstate 29 at Exit 42, when she failed to stop at the posted intersection with Bunge Avenue. Her car was hit broadside by westbound a 2019 RAM Pickup driven by 23-year old Joshua Gordon, of Beaumont, TX. The crash happened at around 4:40-p.m.

Following the collision, the car came to rest in the south ditch, and the pickup came to rest in the eastbound lane of Bunge Avenue. Byrum died from her injuries at the scene. Gordon was not injured. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.