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High Wind Warning remains in effect until 6-p.m.

News, Weather

January 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service in Des Moines says a High Wind Warning remains in effect until 6-p.m. Sunday (1/1) for the following counties in the KJAN listening area: Cass, Adair, Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greenem Guthrie, Madison, Ringold, Taylor & Union.

Northwest winds will range from 30-to 40-mph this afternoon and this evening, with gusts of up to 60-mph possible. The winds may be strong enough and prolonged enough to result in tree and property damage. In addition, power outages due to tree damage may be possible.

In addition, a Wind Advisory is in effect until 5-p.m. Sunday, for the far western and southwestern counties, including: Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby. Winds of 25-to 45mph are expected in the advisory area.

Mitt Romney says in Iowa he opposes Dream Act

News

January 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says he would veto legislation that would allow certain illegal residents to become American citizens. During a campaign stop in western Iowa, Romney answered “yes” when he was asked if he would refuse to sign what’s known as the DREAM Act. Romney has said before that he would oppose the legislation, which would allow some illegal immigrant youths to earn permanent residency and eventually citizenship if they attend college or serve in the military.

Romney is scheduled to speak in Atlantic this (Sunday) afternoon (2:15-p.m.), at the Family Table Restaurant.

Driver of an SUV involved in a crash that killed a Bluffs woman remains in jail

News

January 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Council Bluffs confirmed Saturday that the driver of an SUV that was involved in a fatal crash on Interstate 480 remained in the Pottawattamie County Jail on Saturday on a $7,000 bond. According to the Council Bluffs Police Department, 45-year old Ronnie Dunbar, of Council Bluffs, was charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident, operating without a valid driver’s license and transporting beer or liquor. Officials say it’s likely those won’t be the only charges to be filed against Dunar.

The crash killed 52-year-old Linda Steskal, of Carter Lake. Police said Dunbar was eastbound in a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer on I-480 near the Dodge Park exit about 3:30 p.m., Friday, when he lost control and struck Steskal’s 2002 Chevy Malibu. The Malibu spun out and hit the center guardrail before coming to rest in the ditch at eastbound exit 1. Steskal died at the scene. Police say it appears the woman was not wearing a seat belt.

Dunbar and a passenger in the SUV, 45-year Michael Barnett, also of Council Bluffs, took off on foot following the crash, but were taken into custody a short distance away. Barnett was treated at Mercy Hospital and released. Police said speed and alcohol might be factors in the crash.

1 person critically hurt in New Year’s Eve Pottawattamie County crash

News

January 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s dispatchers in Pottawattamie County report one-person was critically injured in a one-car crash just before midnight Saturday, near Crescent. The male driver of the car was the lone occupant of the vehicle which crashed on New Year’s Eve near the intersection of Old Lincoln Highway and Cold Water Avenue.  The man, whose name was not available early Sunday, was taken to Creighton University Medical Center to be treated for a head injury.

WILMA DUNKERSON, 92, of Fontanelle (Svcs 1-5-2012)

Obituaries

January 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

WILMA DUNKERSON, 92, of Fontanelle, died Sun., Jan. 1st, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle.  Funeral services for WILMA DUNKERSON will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Jan. 5th, at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 2-8pm Wed., Jan. 4th, with the family greeting friends from 6-8pm. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Fontanelle Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow at the Fontanelle United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle.

WILMA DUNKERSON is survived by:

Her son – Dennis (Sandy) Dunkerson, of Rigby, ID.

Her daughter – Janet (Ronal) Adams, of Salem, OR.

9 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great grandchildren, 2 great-great-great grandchildren, numerous family & friends who called her “Grandma Wilma” and “Aunt Wilma,” other relatives, and friends.

Iowa mom appeals her murder conviction

News

January 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman sentenced to life in prison for killing her neighbor as part of a plot to frame her ex-husband is appealing her conviction. Lawyers for 45-year-old Tracy Richter filed notice of an appeal on Thursday. Richter was sentenced in December for fatally shooting 20-year-old Dustin Wehde in her Early, Iowa, home in 2001. In national television interviews after the killing, Richter claimed that Wehde and another man had broken into her home.

But jurors sided with prosecutors who believe Richter made up the attack. Prosecutors say Richter killed Wehde to keep him quiet about his role in a plot to frame her ex-husband. Richter, who lived in Omaha, Neb., before her trial maintains her innocence.

PAULINE NELLIE EDWARDS, 89, of Cumberland

Obituaries

December 31st, 2011 by admin

PAULINE NELLIE EDWARDS, 89, of Cumberland died Friday, December 30th, 2011 at Colonial Manor in Anita.  Graveside services for PAULINE EDWARDS will be held 2:30-p.m.  Tue., Jan. 3rd, at Greenwood Cemetery near Cumberland.  Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic has the arrangements.

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Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3rd from 1-2pm at the funeral home. The family will greet friends at the Cumberland Community Building follwoing the committal service, for a fellowship and lunch.

Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Cumberland

Memorials will be directed to the Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department or the Cumberland Community Building.

PAULINE EDWARDS is survived by:

Stepsons: Donald (Wanda) Randolph of Kansas City, MO; Dale (Glenda) Edwards of Guthrie Center; Donald ( Linda) Edwards of Massena

Sister: Margery Bates of Underwood

Brothers: Donald Havens of Anita; Lawrence (Kathy) Havens of Wiota

CAROL J. HANSEN, 61, of Carson (Svcs Wednesday 1-4-2012)

Obituaries

December 31st, 2011 by admin

CAROL J. HANSEN, 61, of Carson, died Fri. Dec. 30th, at the Hospice House in Omaha, NE. Funeral services for CAROL J. HANSEN will be held on Wednesday, January 4th at 11:00am at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Treynor.  Hertz Funeral Home in Carson is in charge of the arrangements.

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Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 3rd from from 4-7pm with a prayer service to be held at 6:30pm at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Council Bluffs.

Memorials may be directed to establish a scholarship fund, or to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

CAROL J. HANSEN is survived by:

Father and Mother-in-law: Jim and Irene Jorgensen of Audubon

Husband: Roger Hansen of Carson

Son: Dan Hansen (Jenni) of Shenendoah

Sister: Sharon Kislingbury (Bob) of Winslow Arizona

1 Granddaughter

Several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Brother-in-law: Richard Hansen (Lyn) of Audubon

Late run fuels Missouri State past Drake 72-61

Sports

December 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Kyle Weems scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds to boost Missouri State to a 72-61 victory over Drake on Saturday. Missouri State (9-5, 2-0 Missouri Valley) also got 14 points from Jarmar Gulley and 11 points from Anthony Downing. Missouri State held a 47-46 lead with 10:53 left in the game and took control with a 15-2 run over the next 6:18. Gulley scored seven points during that span. Weems put the final stamp on the victory by converting a basket with 35 seconds to go. Drake (8-5, 1-1), which held an eight-point lead early in the game, got 16 points from Rayvonte Price, 14 from Ben Simons and 10 from Jordan Clarke.

Gingrich addresses large crowd in Atlantic, Saturday

News

December 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich brought his “Newt’s Jobs and Growth” bus tour to Council Bluffs and Atlantic, Saturday. In Atlantic, he spoke before a crowd of about 100-people at the bottling plant, about the tone of the advertisements that have been run against him, and in general. He said “It will be interesting to see whether in fact the people of Iowa decide that they don’t like the people who run negative ads, because you could send a tremendous signal to the country that the era of nasty and negative 30-second campaigns is over and that sense, you could have a very, very big impact.”

Newt Gingrich and wife Callista

He says “The level of sheer dishonesty in the ads…makes him sad there weren’t a couple of more debates” to debunk the candidates and their attack ads. He said “If somebody will lie to you to get to be President, why would you expect them to tell you the truth when they’re President?” Gingrich said he’s focused on a postive campaign in many different aspects. He said what the people need to focus on instead, should be he economy. Gingrich floated his proposal to turn around the economy, which involves tax cuts or changes. He says there should be zero a Capital Gains tax, a 12.5% Corporate tax rate, and 100% write-off within one-year, for the purchase of new farm or business equipment. The purpose would be to compete with China and India, and have more value-added jobs here.

He also proposed that in the future, as a prerequisite for unemployment compensation, a person would have to sign-up for a business training program. He says “We would no longer pay people 99-weeks to do nothing,” a statement which drew a sustained applause. Gingrich would also abolish the death, or inheritance tax. As far as personal taxes are concerned, his proposal offers an optional 15% flat tax, based on a model used in Hong Kong. He would also repeal several regulations which, according to Gingrich inhibit business growth.  That would include “Obama Care,” Dodd-Frank, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,  which is a United States federal law which set new or enhanced standards for all U.S. public company boards, management and public accounting firms. It is named after sponsors U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and U.S. Representative Michael G. Oxley (R-OH).)

Gingrich says if elected in November, he would ask Congress to repeal all three before the Presidential Inaugural in Jan. 2013. He would also sign a series of executive orders on Inauguration day, one of which will abolish all of the so-called “White House Czars.” In addition, Gingrich says he would replace the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a long-term solutions agency. During a question and answer session with the audience, 76-year old Gary Nelson, from Audubon, a third-generation farmer, asked Gingrich for a simple favor. He asked to hake Gingrich’s hand, because he’s only shaken the hands of two other Presidents who went on to win the election. Gingrich obliged him and called that “A good omen.”

Audubon area farmer Gary Nelson asks to shake Gingrich's hand

Gingrich is scheduled to be in Ames, Marshalltown and Waterloo, on Sunday. The 68-year old Harrisburg, PA., native, is an author, political consultant, and history teacher who served as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. He represented Georgia’s 6th congressional district as a Republican from 1979 until his resignation in 1999.