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Child airlifted to Iowa City hospital after hit-and-run on highway near Central City

News

September 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A child was seriously injured in a hit-and-run in Linn County on Saturday afternoon.The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says a child was struck by a vehicle south of Central City on Highway 13 around 4:30. When they arrived on the scene, they found three-year-old Hunter Lee Perez injured and lying on the shoulder of the road.

The vehicle that struck Perez had left the scene. Perez was airlifted to University Hospitals in Iowa City with serious injuries. The driver has not yet been identified. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information on the identify of the driver to contact their office.

Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, Sept. 2, 2019

News

September 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — One person is dead after fire broke out an apartment complex in Indianola. KCCI-TV reports that the fire was reported at 6:37 a.m. Sunday at Foxwood Apartments. The apartment belonged to a 64-year-old woman. An autopsy will be conducted to determine if she was the person killed in the blaze. The cause of the fire has not been determined, but authorities say foul play is not suspected.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa sailor killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 will finally be laid to rest in his home state. The Des Moines Register reports that William James Shanahan Jr. of Cedar Rapids was killed in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that pushed the U.S. into World War II, but his remains went unidentified for 78 years. DNA donated by his sister led to a match in May. Burial is Tuesday in Cedar Rapids.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The city of Ames has been awarded a $1.66 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to put more electric buses into the city’s public transportation fleet. The city recently announced that CyRide will use the money to replace several diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life. The public transportation entity will also buy battery chargers/dispensers and complete facility modifications to support the technology.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man is charged with first-degree murder in what police say was the city’s 10th homicide of 2019. Police responded to a call about a shooting Saturday afternoon and found the body of 45-year-old John Lee Belcher of Des Moines inside a home. Charges were filed against 47-year-old Stanley Paul Wofford of Des Moines. Witnesses told police they heard four to six gunshots. Police have not disclosed a potential motive.

Woman dies in apartment fire in Indianola

News

September 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — One person is dead after fire broke out an apartment complex in Indianola. KCCI-TV reports that the fire was reported at 6:37 a.m. Sunday at Foxwood Apartments. The apartment belonged to a 64-year-old woman. An autopsy will be conducted to determine if she was the person killed in the blaze.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, but authorities say foul play is not suspected. The American Red Cross says more than two dozen people were displaced by the fire.

Bader’s walkoff hit keeps Cardinals rolling with 4-3 win

Sports

September 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader hit a game-ending single to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in the first game of a day-night double-header. St. Louis, which has won nine of 10, pushed its lead over the Chicago Cubs to three games in the NL Central. Eugenio Suarez homered for the Reds, who have dropped four in a row.

Bader, facing five infielders with no one out, lofted a fly ball off Michael Lorenzen (0-4) to deep right field to bring in pinch-runner Tyler O’Neill. Jose Martinez began the rally with a walk. Yadier Molina followed with a ground rule double to set the stage for Bader’s first career walkoff hit.

St. Louis scored single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth for its second consecutive walkoff win following a 3-2 triumph on Saturday. Carlos Martinez (4-2) picked up the victory by striking out the side in the ninth. Cincinnati starter Tyler Mahle, who was added to the roster from Triple-A Louisville earlier in the day, gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits over 6 1-3 innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. He was making his first appearance since July 19.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas gave up three runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out five, did not walk a batter and retired the last 10 hitters he faced. Suarez broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run shot in the third, his 40th homer of the season. Bader cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run-scoring single in the seventh. Paul DeJong’s sacrifice fly tied the game in the eighth. Joey Votto added a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the third for the Reds.
BACK-TO BACK
The Cardinals are playing back-to-back doubleheaders for the first time since Aug. 20-21, 1998 at the New York Mets. St. Louis won both games on Saturday. Cincinnati is playing back-to-back doubleheaders for the first time since Sept 10-11, 1968.
TEMPER, TEMPER
Cincinnati INF Freddy Galvis drew the ire of Mikolas after Galvis jogged over the pitcher’s mound after flying out to center in the fourth inning. Mikolas appeared to yell at Galvis. Players from both dugouts came on the field and words were exchanged, but no punches were thrown. Molina served as peacemaker.
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Cardinals: C Matt Wieters suffered a calf injury on Saturday. He is listed as day-to-day. C Joe Hudson was added to the roster from Triple-A Memphis.
UP NEXT:
Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (9-7, 4.05) will face Philadelphia LHP Drew Smyly (2-6, 6.95) on Monday in the first of a four-game series in Cincinnati. DeSclafani has given up two earned in his last 18 innings over three starts.
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (9-9, 4.52) will face San Francisco RHP Tyler Beede (3-8, 5.56) in the first of a four-game set against the Giants in St. Louis. Wainwright is 6-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 16 career appearances against San Francisco

STEVE FIRCH, 74, of Bridgewater (Celebration of Life 9/6/19)

Obituaries

September 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

STEVE FIRCH, 74, of Bridgewater, died Saturday, August 31st, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle. Celebration of Life Services for STEVE FIRCH will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday, September 6th, at the Bridgewater United Methodist Church. Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home, is from 2-until 8-p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5th, with the family greeting friends from 6-until 8-p.m.; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial is in the Witt Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the services at the cemetery.   

Memorials may be directed to the Steve Firch memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

STEVE FIRCH is survived by:

His wife – Mary Firch, of rural Prescott.

His sons – Marvin (Kim) Firch, of Earlham; and Mike (Stacyey) Firch, of Fontanelle.

His daughter – Mary (Shawn) Subbert, of Orient.

His brother – Gary Firch, of Bridgewater;

5 grandchildren; His sister-in-law, Nona Firch, of Bridgewater; other relatives and friends.

Villisca man arrested for unauthorized use of a credit card

News

September 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 44-year old Alan Gray, of Villisca, was arrested at around 10:30-a.m., Saturday. Gray was taken into custody for Unauthorized use of a credit/debit card, following an investigation into a lost debit card, The card’s owner had reported it was used without permission at the Dollar General Store, in Villisca. Gray was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on a $2,000 bond.

Driver sought in fatal hit-and-run in Clinton

News

September 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Police in the eastern Iowa town of Clinton are searching for the driver who fled after a vehicle fatally struck a pedestrian. Clinton police say 42-year-old Emiliano D. Barrios was killed Friday night while crossing a neighborhood street. Authorities say the fleeing vehicle crashed into a tree but the driver has not been identified.

Des Moines police charge man with murder after finding body

News

September 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man is charged with first-degree murder in what police say was the city’s 10th homicide of 2019. Police responded to a call about a shooting Saturday afternoon and found the body of 45-year-old John Lee Belcher of Des Moines inside a home.

Charges were announced Sunday against 47-year-old Stanley Paul Wofford of Des Moines. Witnesses told police they heard four to six gunshots. Police have not disclosed a potential motive for the shooting.

78 years later, Pearl Harbor victim’s remains back in Iowa

News

September 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa sailor killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 will finally be laid to rest in his home state. The Des Moines Register reports that William James Shanahan Jr. of Cedar Rapids was killed in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that pushed the U.S. into World War II, but his remains went unidentified for 78 years.

Shanahan’s sister, Mary Lou Shanahan Pierce, donated DNA almost 20 years ago. Finally, in May, that DNA sample found a match and William’s remains were positively identified. A burial with full military honors is planned for Tuesday at the family plot in Cedar Rapids. Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly half-staff from sunrise to sunset to honor Shanahan.

Pierce was just 5 when her brother enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 5, 1940. She said one of her last memories of him was that he would miss her birthday a week later. Pierce received her brother’s remains Friday. She is the only sibling left out of six. “My mom is very honored to welcome her brother home and have him buried with the rest of our family,” said Pierce’s daughter, Cheryl Schemmel. “It’s what her parents would have wanted.”

The Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor destroyed the USS Oklahoma, the battleship Shanahan was on. The ship capsized from multiple torpedo hits, killing 429 crewmen. Only 35 remains were identified and the rest were buried as “unknown,” according to the Department of POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Scientists identified Shanahan’s remains by using anthropological analysis, circumstantial and material evidence, mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA analysis, according to the agency. Shanahan was born on July 22, 1918. He graduated from high school in 1936 and is remembered as a well-liked man who was proud of his Catholic religion and Irish heritage.

“We just want to honor him. Yes he died a hero, but first and foremost he was my mother’s big brother,” Schemmel said.

City of Ames gets $1.66M federal grant for electric buses

News

September 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The city of Ames has been awarded a $1.66 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to put more electric buses into the city’s public transportation fleet. The city recently announced that CyRide will use the money to replace several diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life. The public transportation entity will also buy battery chargers/dispensers and complete facility modifications to support the technology.

Interim Transit Director Barbara Neal says the grant is good news for Ames. She says supporting public transportation is “a great way to reduce your own carbon footprint, while moving to electric buses will help CyRide reduce its emissions.”

The Transportation Department’s Federal Transit Administration Low- or No-Emission Grant program has funded over $300 million in new buses, infrastructure and training since its establishment.