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BETTY A. JENNI, 70, of Harlan (Svcs 12-30-11)

Obituaries

December 27th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

BETTY A. JENNI, 70, of Harlan, died Mon., Dec. 26th, in Harlan. Funeral services for BETTY JENNI will be held 10-a.m. Fri., Dec. 30th, at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 1-9pm Thu., Dec. 29th, with the family present from 6-8pm.

Burial will be in the Lincoln Township Cemetery in Harlan.

BETTY JENNI is survived by:

Her husband – John Jenni, of Harlan.

Her daughter – Sheresa Hampton, of Harlan.

Her brothers – Hugh Fries, of Marion; Roy (Ruth) Fries, of Harlan; Ivan (Kathleen) Fries, of Irwin; & Bob (Judy) Fries, of West Concord, MN.

Her sister – Sue (Eldon) Bristol, of Everett, WA.

4 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Branstad opposed to user fee to spruce up parks

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 27th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he’s opposed to enacting a user fee to help spruce up the state’s parks and would rather rely on the Iowa State Parks Foundation to generate donations for park maintenance. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Roger Lande says Iowans have told him they would be willing to pay such a fee to improve state parks. The Sioux City Journal reports Lande raised the possibility of reinstating a user fee during budget talks with Branstad. DNR funding has declined since 2008 and with it the number of seasonal workers hired to maintain parks. Public complaints resulted in more money for maintenance and the number of seasonal workers should nearly double from 80 in 2011 to 150 for the year that ends June 30.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

In pursuit, GOP contenders rumble through Iowa

News

December 27th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Three Republican presidential candidates, each claiming to be the truly conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, are launching bus tours today (Tuesday) through this early nominating state. Just a week before Iowa’s leadoff caucuses, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich prepared to rumble through small towns aboard their campaign buses. They’re looking for supporters one at a time and hoping to become a roadblock for Romney, who is looking stronger than expected. Romney returns to Iowa on Tuesday after a quick stop in his long-established stronghold of New Hampshire.

Ahead of the Jan. 3 caucuses that officially begin the GOP’s nominating calendar, the candidates were returning for a final rush of speeches, meet-and-greet stops and town hall-style meetings. And they are bracing for one last round of advertising, which most observers are expecting to be nasty. Each campaign has also tried to gauge the level of enthusiasm for Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. The libertarian favorite has built a strong organization here and recent polls suggest he is peaking, a rise that has him tied with or even ahead of Romney — and drawing more scrutiny for his views. “There’s really three primaries going on here,” former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania told reporters in Adel, where he went hunting for pheasant and quail. “There’s the libertarian primary, which Ron Paul is going to win. Then you’ve got the moderate primary, which Gingrich and Romney are scrumming for. And you’ve got three folks who are running as strong conservatives.” He included himself, Bachmann and Perry in that conservative camp. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman signaled early on he would not compete in Iowa and instead plans to start his campaign in New Hampshire.

But with time ticking down in Iowa, several hopefuls are packing their days with rambling road trips to sparsely populated corners of the state. If history is a predictor, some of these candidates will be former candidates after the first contest. Bachmann last week began her effort to visit each of the state’s 99 counties, an ambitious pace that left her darting into diners and gas stations for quick visits. She was set to return to that pace early Tuesday in Council Bluffs, on the state’s western edge. By nightfall, she was slated to have visited another 10 counties.

Perry was set to begin his tour in Council Bluffs several hours later. He planned just four stops during his day. Gingrich was ready to return to the opposite side of the state, with three stops in Dubuque. Paul was set to return Wednesday for a late push ahead of the New Year’s holiday. Many of those expected to participate in the caucuses remain undecided, and most of the contenders have seen their fortunes rise quickly and then deflate. Romney and Santorum have remained relatively steady: Romney solidly near the top and Santorum consistently struggling to build support. Yet Santorum alone has achieved the accomplishment of visiting all 99 counties. With more than 350 campaign events behind him this year, he is hoping the early groundwork — and a possible late surge — help him beat expectations. He was slated to start his day in Fort Dodge, in the deeply conservative far northwest corner of the state.

Posted in News |

Forecast for Cass County, IA & surrounding counties on 12-27-11

Weather

December 27th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

NWS/Des Moines 337 AM CST TUE DEC 27 2011

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 40S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S.

FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S.

Posted in Weather |

Bachman to visit Atlantic & nearby towns, Tuesday

News

December 26th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann will continue her 99 county bus tour today (Tuesday, December 27th), visiting with voters in nine towns throughout Iowa. The Minnesota Congresswoman will be in Atlantic Tuesday evening at the Pizza Ranch Restaurant, beginning at 7:10 p.m.  Other stops include Council Bluffs, Harlan, Glenwood, Sidney, Shenandoah, Red Oak and Hamlin.

Bachman events, time and locations…

EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:		 Council Bluffs Tour Stop and Media Availability
9:30 am CT
Scooter’s Coffeehouse
3030 W. Broadway Suite 1
Council Bluffs, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Mondamin Tour Stop
10:25 am CT
King’s Crossing Cafe
97 Maple Street
Mondamin, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Onawa Tour Stop
11:10 am CT
Dairy Queen
2805 Iowa Avenue
Onawa, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Harlan Tour Stop
12:45 pm CT
Pizza Ranch
613 Court Street
Harlan, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Glenwood Tour Stop
2:30 pm CT
Oasis Steakhouse & Lounge
104 South Walnut Street
Glenwood, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Sidney Tour Stop
3:45 pm CT
Penn Drug
714 Illinois Street
Sidney, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Robin Read House Party
4:40 pm CT
Home of Robin Read
404 South Center Street
Shenandoah, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Red Oak Tour Stop
5:45 pm CT
Pizza Ranch
1511 North Broadway Street
Red Oak, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Atlantic Tour Stop
7:10 pm CT
Pizza Ranch
1512 East 7th Street
Atlantic, Iowa
EVENT:
WHEN:
WHERE:

 Hamlin Tour Stop
8:30 pm CT
Darrell’s Place
4010 1st Street
Hamlin, Iowa

Posted in News |

Strange odor leads to 5 arrests in Red Oak

News

December 26th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

An investigation into a strange odor in Red Oak Monday morning led to the arrest of 5 people on drug charges. Police in Red Oak Police arrived at 1660 E Summit, and after an investigation, arrested 19-year old Timothy Gene Humphrey, of Omaha, 18- year old Ashley Ann Wood and 19-year old Jodi Michelle Booher, both of Shenandoah, 24-year old Madison Christina Parson, and 20-year old Brett Michael Donnelly, both of Red Oak, for gathering where a controlled substance was being used.

Humphrey was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. All five persons were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on 1,000 dollars bond each. Red Oak Police was assisted in their investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies.

Posted in News |

MURYL JEAN VOKT, 80, of Adair (Svcs 12-29-11)

Obituaries

December 26th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MURYL JEAN VOKT, 80, of Adair, died Mon., Dec. 26th, at the Cass County Hospice Center. Funeral services for MURYL VOKT will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Dec. 29th, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Adair. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Adair has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 5-8pm Wed., Dec. 28th.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery at Anita.

MURYL VOKT is survived by:

Her husband – Merle Vokt, of Adair.

Her children – Keith (Cindy) Vokt, of Audubon; Janet (Daryl) Brauckman, of Atlantic; Joyce (Craig) Lundy, of Adair; & Jean (Darren) Littleton, of Council Bluffs.

Her brothers – Ray (Marcy) Rathman, of Greenfield, & Roger Rathman, of Anita.

9 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Posted in Obituaries |

GEORGE DRAKE, 76, of Bayard (Svcs 12-29-2011)

Obituaries

December 26th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

GEORGE DRAKE, 76, of Bayard, died Sun., Dec. 25th, at the Israel House, in Ames. Funeral services for GEORGE DRAKE will be held Thursday, December 29th at 10:30a.m. at the Ohde Funeral Home in Bayard.

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Burial will be in the Orange Township Cemetery south of Coon Rapids.

Friends may call on Wednesday, December 28th from 3-7pm at the funeral home.

GEORGE DRAKE is survived by:

5 Children: Pam (Roger) Williams of Slater; Raynette (Tim) Corsaut of Nevada; Bob (Mikey) Drake of Wall Lake; Randy (Michele) Drake of Ankeny; Kelly Drake and Joe Jones of Ankeny.

10 Grandchildren

3 Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

WAYNE H. BETTS, 91, of Guthrie Center (Svcs 12-29-11)

Obituaries

December 26th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

WAYNE H. BETTS, 91, of Guthrie Center, died Sat., Dec. 24th, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center. Memorial services for WAYNE BETTS will be held 11-a.m. Thu., Dec. 29th, at the 1st Christian Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Visitation is from 4-8pm Wed., Dec. 28th, at the funeral home, where the family will be present from 6-8pm.

Burial will be in the Union Cemetery at 10-a.m. Thursday, prior to the Memorial service.

Posted in Obituaries |

DARYL “CHRIS” PAULSEN, 79, of Avoca (Graveside Svcs 12-28-11)

Obituaries

December 26th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DARYL “CHRIS” PAULSEN, 79, of Avoca, died Sat., Dec. 24th, at his home in Avoca. Graveside services for DARYL PAULSEN will be held 1-p.m. Wed., Dec. 28th, at the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

There is no public visitation.

DARYL “Chris” Paulsen is survived by:

His sons – Jeff (Lynn) Paulsen, & Mark (Nyla) Paulsen, all of Avoca, & Bruce Paulsen, of Silver City, IA.

His siblings,

4 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |