712 Digital Group - top

Transfer RB Sargent impressing the Hawkeyes in camp

Sports

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — After largely avoiding the junior college and graduate transfer markets under coach Kirk Ferentz, Iowa found success a year ago with one-and-done running back James Butler. The Hawkeyes might have landed another solid transfer back in Mekhi Sargent.

Sargent parlayed one brilliant season at junior college power Iowa Western into a full ride with the Hawkeyes — and it sounds as though he won’t have to wait long for playing time. Ferentz said Saturday that he envisions a three-man backfield in 2018 with Sargent complementing freshmen Toren Young and Ivory Kelly-Martin.

“Well, I think I speak as a staff, I think we’re all hopeful that we can get to that point. That was one of the primary reasons we made that move,” Ferentz said about using three backs this fall. “We have two freshmen that we really like, but we wanted to have at least three guys on campus.”

The third guy was supposed to be Toks Akinribade, but he was forced to retire from the game because of medical issues. That left the Hawkeyes scrambling to find another back after also losing Akrum Wadley (1,109 yards and 10TDs in 2017) and Butler to graduation. Though Butler was limited to just 396 yards because of injuries last season, he was a factor when he could find the field.

During that time, Butler’s de facto replacement was busy proving he belonged at a Power Five program. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Sargent didn’t get the Division I opportunity he was hoping for despite rushing for 2,094 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior at Key West High in Florida. Sargent chose instead to start his career at Iowa Western, where he racked up 1,449 yards rushing and 16 total touchdowns in just 10 games.

The offers predictably started coming in after last season, most notably from Louisville. But Sargent had been on Iowa’s radar after an impressive performance in a postseason game at nearby Northern Iowa in December. Sargent described his decision to choose Iowa over other schools earlier this summer as a “no-brainer.”
“I feel like it’s come pretty natural to adjust from the junior college level,” Sargent said.

Iowa will likely lean on Young as its main back and use Kelly-Martin in change of pace and third-down situations to start 2018. But Sargent will get a shot as well, and the opportunity to carve out a much bigger role could be there for him given the lack of experience in the Hawkeyes’ backfield. “The big question was, ‘How is Mekhi going to do with us?’ He was great in the summer program, great attitude, is a really impressive young guy, seems very humble and very appreciative, and now we’ve got seven practices under our belt,” Ferentz said. “And I’m not going to give a lot of scouting reports, but Mekhi looks like he’s really starting to warm up.”

Iowa (8-5 in 2017) opens its 20th season under Ferentz on Sept. 1 against Northern Illinois.

Iowa still seeking participants for wild turkey survey

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is again calling on volunteers to participate in the state’s annual wild turkey survey. Each summer, the department asks for volunteers to participate in the July-August survey. The information is used to monitor trends and manage the state’s turkey population.

Participants are asked to keep an eye out for wild turkeys as they work and play in Iowa during July and August. Volunteers are asked to distinguish adult females from males and young poults. They’re then asked to count the number of adults and young turkeys and make a note of the date and the county in which they were seen. That info is then reported to the Wildlife Bureau online using a computer or smartphone.

2 organizations work to improve lives of Iowa community

News

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

NEOLA, Iowa (AP) — Two organizations in the western Iowa community of Neola are trying to improve the lives of the city’s older residents so they’ll remain in town. Lookout Village and the Neola Betterment Corporation are also aiming to create community growth, The Daily Nonpareil reported .

Betterment Corporation, which is essentially a housing board for senior citizens, was able to build a six-unit apartment building for seniors in the 1980s using money raised from an annual community celebration, a $20,000 grant, private donations and a no-interest federal loan, said Anna Killpack, who serves with both organizations.
Now the organization is planning to build seven cottages, four individual cottages and three duplex units for the area’s older residents wanting to downsize.

“We would like to start the infrastructure work on the site we’ve purchased for the cottage this fall, but that is going to be tight,” Killpack said. “If we don’t get that work done this fall, we’ll certainly get it done in the spring.”

Lookout Village is a nonprofit program that provides services to its community members, according to Killpack. Memberships in Lookout Village are available to seniors and persons with long-term and/or short-term disabilities. Lookout Village also hosts a walking club, tours area museums and holds other activities such as bingo to encourage social connections.

Memberships range from $27 to $275 per year. There are currently 18 members signed up for Lookout Village, and the group has been growing at a rate of one new member per week, on average, Killpack said.

“We’re an organization of neighbors helping neighbors,” she said. “We do things like help rake leaves, cook a meal or take a member to an appointment.”

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 8/11/18

Podcasts, Sports

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

Play

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 8/11/18

Podcasts, Sports

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Ric Hanson.

Play

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, Saturday, 8/11/18

News, Podcasts

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Play

AtlanticFest 2018 Schedule of Event – 8/11/18

News

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Road Race Registration at Atlantic City Park, 7 to 7:45 a.m.
Tractor Ride Registration with coffee and rolls at Cass County Fairgrounds, 7 a.m.
Road Race Begins at Sixth and Poplar Street, 8 a.m.
Hy-Vee Pancake Breakfast at Atlantic City Park, 8 a.m.
Tractor Ride begins at Cass County Fairgrounds, 8 a.m.
Motorcycle Show Registration at Seventh Street and Chestnut Street, 8 a.m. to noon
Car Show Registration at Third Street and Chestnut Street, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Craft Show at Fifth Street, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Activity Booths open at Atlantic City Park, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kids’ Bike Ride at Schildberg Recreation Area-west parking lot, 10:30 a.m.
Pony Rides at Sixth Street and Popular Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.- $5 each
Family Carnival at Sixth Street and Popular Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.-includes games, dunk tank and ticket booth-tickets $50 cent
Live Entertainment at AM Cohron Main Stage, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.- Villa Dance Company, 11 to 11:45 a.m.; Salute Gymnastics, 11:50 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.; Dance Atlantic, 12:40 to 1:25 p.m.; Reese DeArmant, 1:30 to 1:45 p.m.; Jason Button, 1:50 to 2:05 p.m.; Elyssa Amdor, 2:10 to 2:25 p.m.; BJ Hart, 2:30 to 2:45 p.m.; Alyssa Neal, 2:50 to 3:05 p.m.; Mike and Nancy Gibson, 3:10 to 3:25 p.m.; Reagan Watson, 3:30 to 3:55 p.m.; Sarah Selders, 4 to 4:30 p.m.; BJ Hart, 4:30 to 5 p.m.
Pedal Tractor Pull at Sixth Street and Chestnut Street, 1 p.m.
Atlantic BPW Bingo at Atlantic City Park, 1 p.m.
Motorcycle Show Award at Seventh Street and Chestnut Street, 3:30 p.m.
50/50 Raffle announcement at AM Cohron Main Stage, 3:45 p.m.
Car Show Awards at Chestnut Street in front of Atlantic Motor Supply, 4 p.m.

Skyscan Forecast & weather data for Atlantic: 8/11/18

Weather

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Today: Areas of fog this morning, otherwise mostly sunny, hot & humid. High 88 E @ 5-10.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 64. E @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: Mo. Sunny, hot & humid. High 91. S @ 5-10.

Tomorrow night: Mo. Clear. Low 65.

Monday: Mo. Sunny. High around 90.

Tuesday: Mo. Cldy w/a chance of afternoon showers & tstrms. High 82.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 88. Our Low this morning 56. Last year on this date our High was 81 and the Low was 49. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 104 in 1894. The Record Low was 40 in 1902.

DEAN FLANERY, 79, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 8/13/18)

Obituaries

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DEAN FLANERY, 79, of Guthrie Center, died Thursday, Aug. 9th, at The New Homestead in Guthrie Center. Funeral services for DEAN FLANERY will be held 10-a.m. Monday, Aug. 13th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 5-until 7-p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12th, with a Vigil service at 7-p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to St Mary’s Catholic Church or the Guthrie County Fair Foundation.

Burial will be in the Resurrection Cemetery in rural Guthrie Center.

DEAN FLANERY is survived by:

His children – Dennis (Diane) Flanery, of Guthrie Center; Maria (Jeff) Martin, of Peoria, IL and Patrick (Sharon) Flanery, of Omaha, NE

His sister – Anna Jean (Paul) Kraemer, of Fairfield.

and 9 nine grandchildren.

Council Bluffs man arrested on drug charge in Red Oak

News

August 11th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Friday evening, arrested on a drug charge, a man from Pottawattamie County. 27-year old Cody Alan Hunkins, of Council Bluffs, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, after his vehicle was pulled over at Highway 34 and O Avenue at around 5:37-p.m.  Hunkins was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 cash bond.