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Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s Democratic challenger raises $625,000

News

July 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Democrat Theresa Greenfield has raised more than $625,000 for her campaign against Republican Sen. Joni Ernst in less than a month since launching her bid.

Greenfield, a Des Moines-area businesswoman who touts her rural roots as the daughter of a farmer, announced her campaign for Senate on June 3. Her campaign emphasized its grassroots support in its first fundraising report, touting that 85% of her contributions were $100 or less and that she’s received contributions from 96 of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Greenfield is one of three Democrats competing to take on Ernst. She has received endorsements from national and local Democratic groups. A handful of surveys have shown Ernst enjoying a positive approval rating from Iowans, but she remains a top target for national Democrats.

Missouri River to remain high because of water from dams

News

July 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The amount of water flowing into the lower Missouri River will remain high throughout the summer and fall, and that water will likely continue to exacerbate flooding downstream.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it plans to keep releases from Gavins Point Dam on the Nebraska-South Dakota border near current levels — which are more than double the average amount.

The high releases will likely continue worsening flooding downstream — in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas — where many levees were damaged during severe March flooding.

Officials say the releases of 70,000 cubic feet per second of water are needed because the upstream reservoirs remain quite full. The amount of water entering the dams in June was 159 percent of normal, and it has been a wet year.

Iowa State Patrol silent on inquiry into lieutenant’s move

News

July 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol is refusing to release the findings of its investigation into a supervisor whose residency and receipt of $40,000 in relocation benefits were challenged. Patrol spokesman Nathan Ludwig said Tuesday that the investigation into Lt. Joel Ehler is completed but that the findings are completely confidential. Ehler declined comment when contacted at his office in Council Bluffs, where he remains the patrol’s district manager.

The patrol opened the investigation after an anonymous complaint in May alleged that Ehler didn’t fully relocate when he was transferred to Council Bluffs in 2017 as required by department policy. Ludwig pledged then the patrol would investigate “the allegation and all surrounding facts and circumstances.”

Records obtained by The Associated Press show Ehler received $40,000 in relocation benefits to sell his Adel home in 2018 and move after the transfer. But instead of moving toward Council Bluffs, Ehler began claiming a new home in West Des Moines as his home for tax purposes.

Ehler has told the department that he was also renting a place near Council Bluffs, but the complaint alleged he wasn’t there on weekends as required.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for NW Pottawattamie, SE Harrison, and SW Shelby Counties until 5pm

Weather

July 2nd, 2019 by Jim Field

Pottawattamie IA-Harrison IA-Shelby IA-Washington NE-Douglas NE-
421 PM CDT Tue Jul 2 2019

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN POTTAWATTAMIE...SOUTHEASTERN HARRISON...SOUTHWESTERN
SHELBY...SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHEASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES...

At 420 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles south of
Missouri Valley, or 15 miles northeast of Omaha, moving northeast at
15 mph.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable
         tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes,
         roofs, and outbuildings.

Locations impacted include...
Missouri Valley, Fort Calhoun, Shelby, Persia, Portsmouth, Tennant
and Hitchcock Nature Center.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 29 between mile markers 63 and 74.
 Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 27 and 29.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

This storm is producing large hail and widespread wind damage. SEEK
SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 5-p.m.:NW Pott; SE Harrison; SW Shelby Counties

Weather

July 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Pottawattamie IA-Harrison IA-Shelby IA-Washington NE-Douglas NE-
421 PM CDT Tue Jul 2 2019

…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN POTTAWATTAMIE…SOUTHEASTERN HARRISON…SOUTHWESTERN
SHELBY…SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHEASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES…

At 420 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles south of
Missouri Valley, or 15 miles northeast of Omaha, moving northeast at
15 mph.

HAZARD…70 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE…Trained weather spotters.

IMPACT…Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable
tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes,
roofs, and outbuildings.

Locations impacted include…
Missouri Valley, Fort Calhoun, Shelby, Persia, Portsmouth, Tennant
and Hitchcock Nature Center.

This includes the following highways…
Interstate 29 between mile markers 63 and 74.
Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 27 and 29.

ROBERT RUNYAN, 76, of Clarinda (7-6-2019)

Obituaries

July 2nd, 2019 by Jim Field

ROBERT RUNYAN, 76, of Clarinda died Monday, July 1st, while under hospice care in Kansas City, Missouri.  Funeral services for ROBERT RUNYAN will be held on Saturday, July 6th at 11:00 A.M. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Clarinda.

————————————————————

Visitation will be held on Saturday from 9-11 a.m. prior to service at Ritchie Funeral Home.

Burial in the Clarinda Cemetery.

Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com

IHSAA releases Class 3A and 4A postseason baseball brackets

Sports

July 2nd, 2019 by admin

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has released the postseason pairings for Classes 3A and 4A baseball. District play for both classes will open up on Friday, July 19th.

In Class 3A Atlantic will play in Substate 8, District 15 at Harlan in the second game of a doubleheader. Winterset will play Carroll in the first game at that site.

Substate 8, District 16 will feature a doubleheader in Dallas Center. Glenwood faces ADM at 5:00pm, followed by Creston taking on Dallas Center-Grimes.

Class 3A Pairings

In Class 4A Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson will play at Urbandale in Substate 1. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln plays at Lewis Central in Substate 8.

Class 4A Pairings

Fatal motorcycle accident near Shelby, Sunday

News

July 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Our sister station KNOD in Harlan reports a man who had been riding a motorcycle was found dead Sunday, after he crashed on a Pottawattamie County road near the Shelby County line. According to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, 56-year old John Enyeart, of Kansas City, MO., was found near L34 and Pinoak Road at around 4:45-p.m., Sunday.

Chief Deputy Rob Ambrose said Enyeart had been reported missing on Saturday. According to Ambrose, Enyeart failed to negotiate a curve while riding his motorcycle. There was no indication of another vehicle or individual being involved.

The Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. Enyeart was a temporary resident of the area who was working as a contractor.

Audubon man dies following weekend UTV accident in eastern Iowa

News

July 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A man from Audubon died from injuries he suffered in a UTV accident that took place at around 7:50-p.m. Saturday in eastern Iowa’s Poweshiek County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 49-year old Brian Rustvold, of Audubon, died in the rollover accident. His wife and passenger, Rene [Frampton] Rustvold was not seriously injured.

The accident happened in rural Montezuma, as Brian Rustvold was operating a 2016 Polaris Ranger UTV northbound on Centerpoint Drive, a private roadway at Lake Ponderosa in rural Montezuma. The Patrol says he failed to properly negotiate a curve in the road, causing the vehicle to enter into an uncontrolled slide. As the UTV left the west side of the roadway, the tires caught traction, causing the vehicle to roll onto the driver’s side.

Brian Rustvold was partially ejected from the machine through its open doorway, and became trapped under the roll-cage and roof. He was transported from the scene by Montezuma Ambulance to Unity Point Hospital in Grinnell, but died enroute. Rene Rustvold was transported to the hospital by private vehicle. The accident remains under investigation, but the patrol says a lack of seat belt usage, speed, and alcohol consumption prior to the crash appeared to have been contributing factors.

Funeral services for Brian Rustvold will be held 10:30-a.m. Saturday, July 6th, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, in Audubon.

2 arrested on warrants in Harlan, Monday

News

July 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Harlan Police Department reports two men were arrested on separate warrants, Monday. 33-year old Benjamin John James Grulke, of Prairie City, was arrested on an active Jasper County warrant for Trespassing resulting in injury or damage. And, 48-year old Timothy Thomas Sorensen, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant for Probation Violation. Both men were transported to the Shelby County Jail.