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Man wanted on 2 warrants arrested Sunday in Shenandoah

News

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A man wanted on a warrant for eluding authorities was arrested Sunday morning in Shenandoah, following a foot pursuit. According to the Shenandoah Police Department, 30-year old Alfred Mutchler, Junior, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody in the 1300 block of West Lowell, early Sunday morning. Mutchler was wanted on a Page County warrant for eluding, which carries a $10,000 bond, and, on a Montgomery County warrant for a violation of probation, which carries a $5,000 bond. Authorities say Officer Brandon Allen was on routine patrol when he spotted Mutchler in the 1300 block of West Sheridan. When the Officer tried  to approach Mutchler, the man took off on foot. Sergeant Steve Mather of the Shenandoah Police Department joined in on the foot pursuit, until Mutchler was captured and placed under arrest. Mutchler was unable to post bond and was taken to the Page County jail in Clarinda for holding until he could make an appearance before the magistrate.

Council Bluffs airport revenues increase 50 percent

News

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — An audit shows the Council Bluffs Airport Authority revenues increasing 50 percent the last fiscal year and expenditures decreasing 12 percent. Total revenues were just over $2.9 million for the fiscal year ending June 30. Property taxes accounted for more than $575,000, rental income $145,000 and federal grants more than $2 million. There was an increase in federal grants for airport improvement projects. Expenses were almost $1.4 million. Those expenses included $189,000 for employee salaries, $738,000 for depreciation and $142,000 for interest expense. Certified public accountant Mike Massman said the airport is run “efficiently” and that it is a “real asset to the community.”

Chiefs may be playing for Romeo in season finale

Sports

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, their roller-coaster season taking one more dip when they lost to the Raiders in overtime. That doesn’t mean they don’t have something to play for in their finale. Romeo Crennel may be coaching for his job against the Broncos next Sunday. The interim coach has already said he wants the permanent job after leading the Chiefs to a victory over Green Bay last week in his first game replacing the fired Todd Haley. Kyle Orton may also be auditioning for a job. The quarterback is a free agent after this season, and general manager Scott Pioli might try to sign him to create competition for Matt Cassel, who went down with a season-ending injury to his throwing hand earlier this season.

Wildlife refuges announce Neb., Ia. deer hunts

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Boyer Chute and DeSoto National Wildlife Refuges are holding a January muzzleloader deer hunt for Iowa and Nebraska hunters. The hunt will run from Jan. 11 through Jan. 18, and will apply to antlerless deer only. Nebraska hunters need a Season Choice Area 21 permit for the hunt. Iowa hunters will need a January antlerless deer license, but they can use similar permits from Harrison or Pottawattamie counties. Boyer Chute Refuge is open to Nebraska hunters only. DeSoto has land in both the states of Iowa and Nebraska, and hunters from both states may hunt.

NFL-WEEK 17 FLEX SCHEDULE: Giants-Cowboys moved to prime time

Sports

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has moved the Dallas Cowboys’ game at the New York Giants to decide the NFC East title to prime time on New Year’s Day. The game will kick off at 8:20 p.m. (Eastern) with the teams both at 8-7. The winner goes to the playoffs and the loser goes home. Also next Sunday, Baltimore at Cincinnati, Cleveland at Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay at Atlanta have been moved to 4:15 p.m. EST. No times have been set for Carolina at New Orleans and Chicago at Minnesota. The Ravens lead the AFC North and need a victory to clinch. Pittsburgh also is 11-4, but Baltimore swept the Steelers. Cincinnati must win to clinch the last AFC wild card.

In the NBA….

UNDATED (AP) — The NBA unwraps its lockout-shortened season on Christmas Day with a handful of games on the holiday schedule. Things will get going in New York, where the Knicks await a Boston Celtics team that swept them out of last season’s playoffs in the first round. An NBA Finals rematch follows, with defending champion Dallas hosting Miami. The Lakers welcome the Chicago Bulls and league MVP Derrick Rose to town for Game 3 of the day. L.A. all-star Kobe Bryant is nursing a wrist injury but says he intends to play. Next it’ll be Orlando at Oklahoma City, followed by the L.A. Clippers at Golden State.

Saturday’s NFL Scores & Highlights

Sports

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

UNDATED (AP) — After a decade of losing, the Detroit Lions are in the playoffs. And the San Diego Chargers are out. With their fans chanting “PLAYOFFS” for the final minutes, Detroit got there for the first time since 1999 as Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes in the first half to beat the Chargers 38-10. Following the game, coach Jim Schwartz and the players did a victory lap at Ford Field, high-fiving fans in the front row. The Chargers missed the postseason for a second straight year after making it five times in a six-season stretch. And that might cost coach Norv Turner his job after his underachieving team fell to 7-8.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

—Baltimore and Pittsburgh continue to share the AFC North lead after getting to 11-4 with wins on the day before Christmas. But the Ravens hold the tiebreaker and will be division champs with a first-round bye if they win at Cincinnati next Sunday. The Ravens managed to hold off upset-minded Cleveland 20-14. Ray Rice ran for 87 yards and caught one of Joe Flacco’s (FLAK’-ohz) two touchdown passes.

— Backup quarterback Charlie Batch directed Pittsburgh to a 27-0 romp over the Rams while starter Ben Roethlisberger (RAWTH’-lihs-bur-gur) rested an ankle injury. Rashard Mendenhall accounted for 116 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Giants have bragging rights in the New York area after a 29-14 win over the Jets. Ahmad Bradshaw ran for two TDs and Victor Cruz caught three balls for 164 yards, including a 99-yard scoring reception that set a franchise record. The G-Men will be NFC East champs if they beat Dallas next Sunday night at the Meadowlands.

—The Cowboys will enter that game on a down note. The Philadelphia Eagles, who were eliminated from the playoff hunt earlier in the day, still had enough incentive to whack Dallas 20-7. Cowboys QB Tony Romo injured his throwing hand on the first series and did not play afterward.

— Tom Brady rallied New England to a 27-24 win over Miami that clinched a playoff bye for the Patriots. The Pats’ star quarterback ran for two touchdowns and threw for third score to help bring his team back from a 17-0 halftime deficit and post its seventh straight W.

— Tim Tebow (TEE’-boh) threw a career-high four interceptions and Denver dropped a 40-14 decision in Buffalo that snapped the Bills’ seven-game skid. Denver lost its second in a row while squandering a chance to inch closer to clinching its first playoff berth since 2005. The Broncos fall to 8-7 and into a first-place tie with Oakland in the AFC West.

— Sebastien Janikowski’s 36-yard field goal 2:13 into overtime lifted the Raiders past the Chiefs 16-13 in Kansas City. It was his third of the game.

— David Akers kicked four field goals, including a 39-yarder with 2:57 left to give San Francisco a 19-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Akers set an NFL single-season record with his 42nd field goal, breaking the record set by Arizona’s Neil Rackers in 2005. The win keeps the Niners in position for No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

— Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning’s single-season rookie record for passing yardage in Carolina’s 48-16 whacking of Tampa Bay. Newton threw for 171 yards and three TDs, including a 91-yard scoring pass to Brandon LaFell that is the longest in franchise history. It’s the Buccaneers ninth straight loss.

Cincinnati survived a fourth-quarter rally by Arizona and beat the Cardinals 23-16 to keep its postseason hopes alive. Rookie QB Andy Daulton had two TD passes to help the 9-6 Bengals secure only their third winning record in the last 21 years.

Tennessee is still alive in the playoff race thanks to a 23-17 win over Jacksonville that snapped a two-game losing streak. Matt Hasselbeck threw for 350 yards and a touchdown. The 8-7 Titans head to Houston for their finale with a chance at their first winning record since 2008.

Minnesota snapped a six-game losing streak by topping Washington 33-26. Joe Webb threw for two scores and ran for a third after subbing for starting quarterback Christian Ponder, who suffered a concussion early in the second half. Adrian Peterson suffered a torn knee ligament that tempered the win. The victory takes the Vikes out of the hunt for the No. 1 draft pick, which now will go to either Indianapolis or St. Louis.

Western IA News (podcast) 12-25-11

News, Podcasts

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

Play

BRUCE BROWN, 86, of Redfield (formerly of Anita) – (Svcs 12-30-11)

Obituaries

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

BRUCE BROWN, 86, of Redfield (& formerly of Anita), died Sat., Dec. 24th, at the Perry Lutheran Home in Perry, IA. Memorial services for BRUCE BROWN will be held 10-a.m. Fri., Dec. 30th, at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Adair.

BRUCE BROWN is survived by:

His wife – Ruth Brown, of Redfield.

His children – Ned Brown, of Atlantic; Rita Brown, Natalie Brown, Lindy Brown, and Pat Carnahan.

His brother – Freeman Brown.

9 grandchildren & 12 great-grandchildren.

ROBERT J. SCHMITZ, 82, formerly of Audubon (Svcs 12-27-11)

Obituaries

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

ROBERT J. SCHMITZ, 82, of Grand Island, NE (& formerly of Audubon) died Fri., Dec. 23rd, at the Veterans Home in Grand Island. Funeral services for ROBERT SCHMITZ will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Dec. 27th, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family will be present 7-p.m. Mon. (12/26), and a Rosary will begin at 7:30-p.m.

Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Audubon.

ROBERT SCHMITZ is survived by:

His wife – Clara Schmitz, of York, NE.

His step-son: LeRoy Hamling, of Forsyth, MO.

His step-daughter-in-law: Joyce Hamling, of York, NE.

His sister and brother: Rita Becker, of Carroll, & Donald (Pauline) Schmitz, of Dedham, IA.

His brothers-in-law, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

MARGARET JENSEN, 86, of Stuart (Svcs 12-29-11)

Obituaries

December 25th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MARGARET JENSEN, 86, of Stuart, died Thu., Dec. 22nd at Mercy West Medical Center. Memorial services for MARGARET JENSEN will be held 11-a.m. Thu., Dec. 29th, at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart.

Burial will be in the South Oak Grove Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com