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Cass Co. Democratic party convention will be held Saturday morning

News

March 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Democratic Party will hold its County Convention on Saturday, March 12th, at the Cass County Court House. Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle says registration will begin at 8:30-a.m., with the Convention convening at 9-a.m. The fifty Delegates to the County Convention will elect five delegates, based on Presidential preference groups, who will move on to the Iowa Democratic Party’s District Convention on April 30th in Creston and to the State Convention to be held in Des Moines on June 18th.

County delegates will also vote on the County Platform and on representatives for District and State Committees as well as to vacancies on the Cass County Central Committee.

Man & woman from Council Bluffs arrested for felony Criminal Mischief/2nd degree

News

March 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

An investigation Sunday evening into several vehicles being damaged in the 600 block of Damon Street, in Council Bluffs, resulted in the arrest of two people on one count each of Felony Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree. Authorities say 36-year old James M. Yoshida and 41-year old Jacqueline Robinson, both of Council Bluffs, were taken into custody, after witnesses positively identified them as the perpetrators who allegedly caused $6,500 damage to nine vehicles by scratching and/or spray painting those vehicles.

Robinson

Robinson

Yoshida

Yoshida

The investigation into their alleged activities began after police were called to the scene at around 7:15-p.m., Sunday. While en route to the call, they were advised the suspects had left the area in a blue Ford truck. Officers located the suspect vehicle at S. 1st and Knepper Streets, and identified the suspects as Yoshida and Robinson, who denied damaging the vehicles. Witness collaboration and evidence located inside the suspects’ vehicle, linked them to the crime.

Washpun scores at buzzer, Northern Iowa wins Valley

Sports

March 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Wes Washpun’s jumper from the top of the key bounced high off the back of the rim and fell in at the buzzer and Northern Iowa survived after squandering a 17-point lead, beating Evansville 56-54 in the Missouri Valley Conference title game on Sunday. Washpun had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists for Northern Iowa (22-12). Klint Carlson added 17 points for the fourth seed, which repeated as champion. The Panthers beat top seed Wichita State in overtime in the semifinals before dispatching second seed Evansville (25-9) for the third time this season – all of them close.

D.J. Balentine had 20 points and Jaylon Brown added 18 for Evansville, which hasn’t made it to the NCAA Tournament since 1999. The conference tourney winner gets an automatic bid and Wichita State could get an at-large bid.

Wong goes 0 for 2 as Cards’ leadoff man in loss to Nationals

Sports

March 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – Kolten Wong got a chance to bat leadoff for the St. Louis Cardinals and was hitless in two at-bats Sunday during a 5-2 loss to the Washington Nationals. Wong vocalized his desire to hit in the top spot during the offseason. He got his first opportunity of the spring and lined out and grounded out.

With Wong occupying the leadoff spot and outfielder Matt Holliday sitting out another day after a stiff lower back, manager Mike Matheny moved Matt Carpenter from first to third in the lineup. Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal gave the team a bit of a scare when he was hit in the calf by a comebacker during the third inning. He remained in the game.

The Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the inning, ultimately scoring two runs before Rosenthal struck out the final two batters. Washington scored twice in the second off Cardinals starter Deck McGuire on an RBI single by Michael A. Taylor and groundout from Trea Turner.

JUANITA PETERSEN, 92, of Coon Rapids (Svcs. 3/10/16)

Obituaries

March 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

JUANITA PETERSEN, 92, of Coon Rapids, died Sunday, March 7th, at Thomas Rest Haven, in Coon Rapids. Funeral services for JUANITA PETERSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., March 10th, at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids. Ohde Funeral Home in Coon Rapids has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the Ohde Funeral Home in Coon Rapids from 5-until 7-pm Wed., March 9th. Visitation will resume 9:30-a.m. Thursday, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids.

Burial will be in the Scranton Cemetery.

JUANITA PETERSEN is survived by:

Her daughter – Vicki (Terry) Garnes, of Coon Rapids.

2 granddaughters, and her sister-in-law, Helen Nielsen, of Coon Rapids.

Groups: Iowa agency misinterpreting law on exotic animals

News

March 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Animal rights groups say the state agency that regulates wild and exotic animals in Iowa is misinterpreting a nearly decade-old law that imposes tough rules for keeping such animals, and they argue it’s created a loophole.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa and the Washington-based Born Free USA filed documents in February with the Iowa Court of Appeals that contend the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is limiting its own authority in overseeing some facilities that exhibit wildlife.

A 2007 law banned people from keeping such animals, though previous owners were grandfathered in with new rules. The advocacy groups say the department allows certain wildlife exhibitors to register through federal officials instead of following stringent state registration rules.

The agency says it’s following the law.

Sheriff questions online classes for concealed weapon permit

News

March 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The fact that Iowa residents can complete training for a concealed weapons permit online is troubling to Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports several of the websites advertise training videos that people can watch to complete their training without any need to touch a gun.

Thompson says the online training certificates don’t mean much, but a state law that was changed in 2011 requires him to accept them for gun permit applications. But the training does make it easier for people to get permits. Andrew Cederdahl says he went through an online course, so he could get a permit to legally keep his gun in his car for defense and trips to the shooting range.

Medical emergency may have caused fatal crash in C. Bluffs

News

March 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A woman from Council Bluffs died following an accident Sunday morning, and authorities believe a medical condition may have been the cause of the crash. 90-year old Ardeth Paulson was found unconscious and not breathing following a single-vehicle accident that happened at around 7:40-a.m. near the intersection of S. 7th Street and Willow Avenue. Rescue crews arrived on the scene and administered CPR before rushing the woman to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, where she died a short time later.

A preliminary investigation determined Paulson’s 2000 Pontiac Grand Am was traveling southbound on South 7th Street and had departed the Roadway to the East before striking a sign post. The vehicle came to rest on the East parking approximately 75 feet North of Willow Avenue.

The accident remains under investigation by the Special Operation Unit.

Cass County Master Gardeners Grant Money Available for Local Garden Projects

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The cold weather of winter is the time to plan for future gardens. The Cass County Master Gardeners group is again offering grant money to be used in the 2016 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food and/or beautify local communities. The money may also be used for gardening education purposes. The David Williams Master Gardener Grants are offered to honor the many years of service Master Gardener David Williams provided as a long-time volunteer, with the Master Gardener program and other community organizations, including a term as Cass County Master Gardener president in 2012.Master Gardner

Any Cass County not-for-profit group or individual may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, and individuals working to improving their communities can use the money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, groups who were funded by 2015 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2016. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. The application must also include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important selection factor.

Applications must be received by Thursday, March 31st for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their selection by the end of April. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, email keolson@iastate.edu, or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10th St in Atlantic. You may also contact committee members Carolyn Hartman, Donna Reimers or Connie Pettinger. Application forms can be picked up at the Extension Office, or printed from the Cass County Extension website- www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis. For more information on the program, or to sign up for our next class starting in August, contact Cass County Extension Program Coordinator Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

Genealogy Center Manager and Librarian Wins National Achievement Award

News

March 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced that Michele McNabb, M.A., M.L.I.S., of Atlantic, is the winner of its 2016 Genealogy / History Achievement Award.

McNabb is being recognized for her exemplary service, support, leadership, and contributions to the field of genealogical and local history librarianship. She will officially receive the award June 26th at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, just days before her planned retirement.

McNabb has served as the Museum of Danish America’s Genealogy Center Manager and Librarian in Elk Horn, Iowa since 2002. Since the center’s opening in 1996, its staff and volunteers have assisted many individuals in finding links to their Danish immigrant past and have located lost relatives for both Danish and American researchers.

Michele McNabb

Michele McNabb

Throughout her career, Michele has presented internationally at numerous workshops and seminars. Next, she is to be the main presenter for a Scandinavian Genealogy Retreat at Omaha’s Swanson Library in early April.

RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Since 1993 its Genealogy / History Achievement Award has been given annually and is sponsored by ProQuest. The award presents a citation and $1,500 to a librarian in order to recognize professional achievement in genealogical and historical reference and research.

Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa. The Museum of Danish America Genealogy Center is located at 4210 Main Street in Elk Horn, Iowa. More about the museum and its Genealogy Center can be found at www.danishmuseum.org.