IATC Boys Indoor Championships in Ames

Sports

March 8th, 2024 by Jim Field

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches indoor meet was held Thursday in Ames. Several local participants scored medals.

Class 1-A:

1. Gabe Funk, Lenox — 60 meter hurdles (8.24)

1. Landon Bendgen, Woodbine — 1600 meter run (4:20.22)

2. William Anderson, Logan-Magnolia — 60 meter dash (7.11)

2. Jack Follmann, CAM — 60 meter hurdles (8.25)

2. Jack Follmann, CAM — 400 meter dash (52.79)

2. Landon Bendgen, Woodbine — 3200 meter run (9:57.80)

2. St. Albert — 4×800 meter relay (8:35.07)

2. Riverside — distance medley relay (3:44.73)

3. Owen Wise, St. Albert — 3200 meter run (10:12.89)

3. Aaron Olsen, Audubon — 60 meter dash (7.19)

4. Riverside — 4×400 meter relay (3:36.12)

5. Parker Heisterkamp, St. Albert — 800 meter run (2:05.43)

5. Zeke Konkler, Audubon — 400 meter dash (53.09)

5. Trenton Warner, Nodaway Valley — shot put (45-08.75)

5. Gunner Wagner, Woodbine — 3200 meter run (10:21.21)

5. Lenox — shuttle hurdle relay (35.44)

6. Evan Roden, Logan-Magnolia — long jump (20-01.00)

6. Audubon — shuttle hurdle relay (36.20)

6. Riverside — 4×100 meter relay (45.84)

6. Riverside — 4×800 meter relay (8:58.85)

6. Lenox — distance medley relay (3:50.43)

7. Gunner Wagner, Woodbine — 1600 meter run (4:40.20)

7. Collin Bower, CAM — 60 meter hurdles (8.87)

8. Cash Emgarten, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton — 60 meter dash (7.30)

8. Cash Emgarten, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton — 200 meter dash (23.52)

8. Audubon — distance medley relay (3:52.10)

8. Audubon — 4×400 meter relay (3:40.99)

CLASS 2-A:

1. Shenandoah — 4×100 meter relay (44.19)

1. Shenandoah — 4×400 meter relay (3:35.23)

2. Brody Cullin, Shenandoah — 200 meter dash (22.93)

2. Alex Razee, Shenandoah — 400 meter dash (50.94)

3. Kyle Wagoner, Clarinda — 1600 meter run (4:42.29)

3. Brayden Sifford, Red Oak — 60 meter dash (7.25)

3. Treynor — 4×100 meter relay (44.94)

3. Treynor — shuttle hurdle relay (35.75)

4. Jacob Greving, Kuemper Catholic — 1600 meter run (4:47.39)

4. Clarinda — distance medley relay (3:45.42)

4. Clarinda — 4×400 meter relay (3:37.58)

5. Brayden Sifford, Red Oak — 200 meter dash (23.36)

7. Kyle Wagoner, Clarinda — 3200 meter run (10:26.19)

7. Emmanuel Grass, Red Oak — 1600 meter run (4:48.95)

8. Cale Hall, Red Oak — 60 meter dash (7.36)

8. Jacob Greving, Kuemper Catholic — 800 meter run (2:07.35)

CLASS 3-A:

1. Ethan Eichhorn, Lewis Central — 1600 meter run (4:19.64)

1. Cade Sears, Harlan — 60 meter dash (6.85)

1. Harlan — 4×100 meter relay (43.20) **Drake Relays Blue Standard

2. Ethan Eichhorn, Lewis Central — 800 meter run (2:01.37)

2. Brehden Eggerss, Harlan — long jump (20-04.00)

3. Cade Sears, Harlan — 200 meter dash (22.19)

4. Bryant Keller, Glenwood — 3200 meter run (9:49.43)

4. Kevin Coots, Lewis Central — 1600 meter run (4:26.73)

4. Glenwood — distance medley relay (3:42.11)

5. Andrew Smith, Glenwood — 1600 meter run (4:28.57)

5. Brandon Briley, Creston — 800 meter run (2:05.43)

5. Atlantic — distance medley relay (3:45.36)

6. Marshall Arkfeld, Lewis Central — 3200 meter run (9:51.49)

6. Gavin McLaren, Atlantic — shot put (46-11.50)

6. Glenwood — 4×100 meter relay (45.76)

7. Anthony Arambula, Denison-Schleswig — long jump (19-03.50)

7. Bennett Whetstone, Atlantic — 400 meter dash (54.29)

7. Creston — 4×400 meter relay (3:39.32)

7. Creston — 4×800 meter relay (9:06.80)

8. Tye Houser, Atlantic — 60 meter dash (7.27)

Posted in Sports |

Time to ‘spring forward’ this weekend, and check those smoke alarms

News

March 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday and as Iowans move their clocks forward an hour on Saturday night, Emily Holley, with the Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross, suggests you do a quick safety check of your smoke alarms, too. “We’re recommending that everyone tests their smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed,” Holley says. “A smoke alarm that is 10 years old or older definitely needs to be replaced. And we want to make sure that everyone has working smoke alarms on every level of the home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.”

Last year, Red Cross volunteers helped more than 18-hundred people in Iowa who were affected by 584 home fires. Nationwide, home fires account for most of the 65-thousand disasters to which the Red Cross responds. Holley says every second counts when there’s a fire, so making sure those smoke alarms are working is key. “We also recommend folks take the time to practice a two-minute home fire escape. It’s critical that you have escape routes out of your home and a joint meeting place,” Holley says. “Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half, and on average, you only have about two minutes to get out of the home.”

She says you should have at least two ways to get out of every room, and select a spot at a safe distance away from your home, like a tree or mailbox, where everyone can meet. For more information, download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.

redcross.org/homefires

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Friday, March 8, 2024

Weather

March 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy w/a 60% chance of rain, snow, and sleet before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain. High near 43. Winds N @ 15-30 mph. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear & breezy. Low around 22. N @ 10-20.

Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 48. N/NW @ 10-20 mph.

Tom. Night: Clear, with a low around 22.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59.

Sunday Night: Clear & breezy, with a low around 36.

Monday: Sunny & breezy, with a high near 71.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 58.Our Low was 30. (Rainfall from Thursday afternoon thru 7-a.m. today, was .48,” with some freezing rain. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 39 and the Low was 33. The Record High for March 8th in Atlantic, was 76 in 1986. The Record Low was -12 in 1982. Sunrise: 6:44. Sunset: 6:18-p.m.

Posted in Weather |

House votes to set $50,000 as minimum teacher salary by 2025-26 school year

News

March 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has passed a plan to raise the minimum salary for teachers by nearly 50 percent within two years. The current minimum salary is 33-thousand-500 dollars a year. Republican Representative Henry Cisneros of Muscatine was the only “no” vote on the bill.

Republican Representative Bill Gustoff of Des Moines says the plan would bring about the largest single boost to teacher pay in state history. “The bill achieves a significant goal set forth by Governor Reynolds to move Iowa’s minimum starting teacher salary to $50,000,” Gustoff said, “and I thank her for setting a bold target that will vault Iowa to the top of the list to attract teachers in terms of pay.” The plan includes money to help districts not only raise the pay of current teachers who aren’t being paid 50-thousand dollars a year, but to pay a 15-dollar-an-hour wage to other school staff, like paraeducators.

Representative Sue Cahill, a Democrat from Marshalltown who’s a retired teacher, says there’s bipartisan agreement this is the right move. “It provides recognition of educators and those who work in our educational settings,” Cahill said, “and it shows the value we have for them.” The bill passed on a 93-to-one vote. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says that margin sends a message to the governor and state senators who’ve tied a teacher pay decision to bills that overhaul Area Education Agencies.

“The House of Representatives is united in support of paying our teachers, paying our educators, paying our paraprofessionals in a way that is non-politicized,” Konfrst said, “…and is good for Iowa kids.” Gustoff calls it a “kumbaya” moment. “This is a good bill that checks a lot of boxes and reflects the input of many stakeholders and many policymakers,” Gustoff says. “It brings the parties together and showcases that the legislative process does work.”

The Senate Education Committee’s A-E-A plan would raise minimum teacher pay, but to a lower level around 46-thouand dollars a year. In January, Reynolds also proposed a minimum salary of 62-thousand dollars for teachers with at least 12 years of experience. That’s not included in the House-passed plan or the one Senators have drafted.

Posted in News |

House votes to raise penalties for killing ‘unborn person’

News

March 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has voted to increase penalties for the death of an unborn person. Current law provides penalties for causing a human pregnancy to end without consent. Democrats like Representative Beth Wessell-Kroschell f Ames say the change could make introit fertilization illegal and they cited the recent Alabama supreme court ruling that embryos are children.

“This measure is a blatant attempt to advance an anti-abortion agenda and further enshrine the myth of fetal personhood in our state code,” she said. Representative Heather Matson of Ankeny says her two children are the result of fertility treatments. “What can people who simply want more than anything to become a parent realistically expect if IVF is no longer available to them?” Matson said. “What a tragedy.”

Representative Skyler Wheeler, a Republican from Hull, says the bill raises the penalty for killing a mother and her unborn baby and has nothing to do with I-V-F. “When it comes to the Alabama stuff that you guys continue to talk about, that is in regards to their own constitution, their own laws, their own code, etc.,” Wheeler said, “not to mention the Alabama governor already signed a bill protecting IVF.”

Representative Zach Dieken of Granville says fetus is a Latin word and he prefers that English be used in Iowa law. “I do believe my two year old is a person,” Dieken said. “I believe that my 13 month old is a person and, when my wife gives birth to my third child in November, because she informed me three days ago she’s pregnant, I do believe that person is a person.”

The bill passed with the support of 58 House Republicans. Two Republicans and 34 Democrats voted against the bill, which now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Posted in News |

Friday High School Boy’s State Basketball Schedule

Sports

March 7th, 2024 by admin

Class 1A – Championship

#1 North Linn (25-1) vs #5 Marquette Catholic (27-1) @ 1:00 p.m.

Class 2A – Championship

#1 West Christian (22-3) vs #2 Hudson (25-2) @ 3:00 p.m.

Class 3A – Championship

#4 Assumption (18-8) vs #2 Waverly-Shell Rock (22-3) @ 5:00 p.m.

Class 4A – Championship

#1 Cedar Rapids-Kennedy (25-0) vs #2 Valley (20-5) @ 7:00 p.m.

Posted in Sports |

Thursday High School Boy’s State Basketball Scores

Sports

March 7th, 2024 by admin

Class 2A – Quarterfinals

#1 Western Christian 76, #5 Treynor 45

#2 Hudson 54, #6 Unity Christian 51

Class 3A – Quarterfinals

#4 Assumption 61, #1 Decorah 53

#2 Waverly -Shell Rock 76, #3 MOC-Floyd Valley 66

Class 4A – Quarterfinals

#1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 63, Ankeny 51

#2 Valley 66 #6 Bettendorf 46

Posted in Sports |

AC-GC Chargers Boys Basketball 2023-2024 Season recap

Sports

March 7th, 2024 by admin

The AC-GC Chargers boys basketball team ended their season with a 60-46 loss to the Lynnville-Sully Hawks in the semi-final round the Class 1A-Region 7 bracket. The Chargers were led in scoring by junior Noah Kading who had 13 points in that game.

The Chargers were led in scoring by junior Jathan South who had 355 points and averaged 15 points per game this season.

AC-GC will be losing four seniors to graduation this year: Anthony Solorzano, Lance Bunde, Carter Neff and Nate Chance.

Chargers coach Lance Kading commented about playing a tough top ranked Lynnville-Sully team this post season.

Coach Kading talked about junior Jathan South growth over this past summer.

Coach Kading says he is going to lose two key senior starters Anthony Solorzano and Lance Bunde to graduation this year.

Coach Kading said that his team will also be participating in summer camps, while some of the incoming seniors will be on a traveling team.

The Chargers did end the season with 14-9 overall record and went 9-6 in the West Central Conference, and the players are looking forward to next season.

Posted in Sports |

Drake men to play Evansville in MVC quarterfinals

Sports

March 7th, 2024 by admin

The Drake men play Evansville Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Tournament in St. Louis. The Bulldogs are the two seed and stand 25-6 overall.

That’s Drake coach Darian DeVries. The Bulldogs have reached the championship game three straight years and beat Bradley in last season’s title contest.

DeVries hopes the recent success they have had in the tournament is a plus.

DeVries on the keys to winning three games in three days.

Evansville advanced with a 59-53 victory over Illinois State.

Posted in Sports |

No. 3 Iowa women will play Penn State in B1G quarterfinals

Sports

March 7th, 2024 by admin

The third ranked Iowa Hawkeye women play Penn State in Friday night’s quarterfinal round at the Big Ten Tournament in the Twin Cities. The Hawkeyes will be in search of their third straight tournament title and enter the post season with a record of 26-4.