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MINNA SCHMELING, 84, of Atlantic (svcs 8-17-11)

Obituaries

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MINNA SCHMELING, 84, of Atlantic, died Fri., Aug. 12th, at her home.  Funeral services for MINNA SCHMELING will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Aug. 17th, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, in Atlantic has the arrangements. (www.hockenberryfamilycare.com)

Visitation with the family of Minna Schemeling is from 6-8pm Tue., Aug. 16th, at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

MINNA SCHMELING is survived by

Her son – Eugene (Julie) Schemeling, of Atlantic.

Her brother – Karl (Inge) Nathes, of Lich, Germany.

Her sister – Anna Lane, of Dixon, IL

2 grandchildren

LaBERTA LIVINGSTON, 85, of Atlantic (svcs 8-16-11)

Obituaries

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LaBERTA LIVINGSTON, 85, of Atlantic, died Thu., Aug. 11th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Funeral services for LaBERTA LIVINGSTON will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Aug. 16th, at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 8am-Noon Sat., Aug. 13th; from 1-4pm Sun., Aug. 14th, & from 8am-5:30pm Mon., Aug. 15th.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

LaBerta Livingston is survived by:

Her sons – Dana (MarGe) Livingston;  Wayne (Diane) Livingston, of Lewis; & Glenn (Jane) Livingston, of Atlantic.

7 grandchildren & 13 great-grandchildren

City Elections will take place on November 8th, 2011

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports persons interested in running for various City offices in Cass County may circulate nomination papers now for those positions,, but your papers must be filed within a specified time period. Sunderman says serving as a city elected official is a challenging job that requires leadership, vision and dedication. An elected city official is entrusted with important responsibilities. The city clerk, the county auditor and Iowa Secretary of State can help candidates with basic information about running for a city office.

Any person who is a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, a resident of the respective city (or city ward, as the case may be) and is eligible to be registered to vote, may become a candidate for city office. Nomination petitions for a city office must be filed with the respective city clerk not more than 71 nor less than 47 days prior to the regular election. (In 2011, the first day to file papers is August 29. The last day to file papers is September 22.) The process for filing nomination petitions is as follows:

Obtain an original nomination petition and candidate’s guide from the city clerk, county auditor or online from the Iowa Secretary of State at www.sos.state.ia.us. You must obtain the nomination signatures of the required number of eligible electors of the city or ward, as the case may be. A person may sign nomination petitions for more than one candidate for the same office. In addition, you will need to attach a notarized affidavit acknowledging the you or your candidate’s eligibility, and file the petition with the city clerk prior to 5 p.m. on September 22nd, 2011. Each candidate who successfully files a completed nomination petition is assured a place on the ballot.

In Cass County, Iowa the following offices will appear on the ballots for the respective cities on November 8, 2011:

Anita

Mayor (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Mitch Holmes

Two At Large Council seats (4 yr terms) – Incumbents: Linda Firebaugh and Marcia Hockenberry

Atlantic

Council Ward 1 (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Kern Miller

Council Ward 3 (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Pat Simmons

Council Ward 4 (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Linda Hartkopf

Council At Large (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Dana Halder

Parks & Recreation Board (6 yr term – term begins November 16) – Incumbent: Mary Strong and Nancy Fredrickson

Cumberland

Mayor (2 yr term) – Incumbent: Virginia Coughlin

Two At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Lela Mae Lank and Steve Porter

Griswold

Mayor (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Jerry Putnam

Three At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Gary Bergstrom; Kevin Carlisle; and Philip Rink

Lewis

Mayor (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Don Cohrs

Three At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Scott Anderson; Jon Mosier; and Traci Tyson-Steyer

Marne

Mayor (2 yr term) – Incumbent: Randall I. Baxter

Five At Large Council (2 yr term) – Incumbents: James Hoffman; Dennis Preister; Lanny Kite; Mark Opbroek and Angela Redler

Massena

Mayor (2 yr term) – Incumbent: Mike Cormack

Three At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Lindsay Blaine; Bill Holaday; and Linda Reineke

Wiota

Mayor (2 yr term) – Incumbent: Ross Havens

Three At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Kenneth Bishop and Lamar Spies

2011 Tournament of Champions – Friday Leaderboard

Sports

August 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

Championship Division
Barry Smith (Pine Knolls CC of Knoxville)            32 – 33 — 65 (-4)
Jason Reynolds (Griswold CC)                31 – 34 — 65 (-4)
Matt Weresch (Des Moines Golf & CC)            32 – 35 — 67 (-2)
Jared Cochran (Terrace Hills Golf Course)            32 – 35 — 67 (-2)
Brad Hartkopf (Atlantic Golf & CC)                35 – 33 — 68 (-1)
Darby McLaren (Atlantic Golf & CC)            34 – 35 — 69 (E)
Derek Jacobsen (Atlantic Golf & CC)            36 – 34 — 70 (+1)
Nathan Elseman (Walton Club)                32 – 38 — 70 (+1)
Zach Christianson (Atlantic Golf & CC)            33 – 37 — 70 (+1)
David Akers (Pine Lake CC)                    34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
Aaron Ahrendsen (Manning-Manilla)            37 – 34 — 71 (+2)
Ryan Clark (Briarwood Club of Ankeny)            37 – 34 — 71 (+2)
Chad Dryden (Crestmoor)                    35 – 36 — 71 (+2)
Brett McGriff (Grinnell Golf & CC)                32 – 39 — 71 (+2)
Chris Nelson (Atlantic Golf & CC)                36 – 36 — 72 (+3)
Matt Jennings (Gateway Recreation)                37 – 35 — 72 (+3)
Jeff Gude (Atlantic Golf & CC)                39 – 34 — 73 (+4)
Isaac Rodenberg (Woodward Golf & CC)            34 – 39 — 73 (+4)
Aaron King (Sac County CC)                    32 – 41 — 73 (+4)
Brian Gargano (Humboldt CC)                37 – 36 — 73 (+4)
Steve Davie (Dunlap Golf Course)                32 – 41 — 73 (+4)
Manuel Smith (Copper Creek Golf Club)            38 – 35 — 73 (+4)
Ron Peterson (Des Moines Golf & CC)            36 – 38 — 74 (+5)
Chad Speer (Greenfield CC)                    37 – 37 — 74 (+5)
Rob Langfelt (Crestwood Hills)                38 – 37 — 75 (+6)
Matt Haley (Happy Hollow CC)                37 – 38 — 75 (+6)
Carl Eckenrod (Mason City CC)                38 – 37 — 75 (+6)
Jim Brown (Urbandale Golf & CC)                35 – 40 — 75 (+6)
Dan Conaway (Eagle Grove Golf Course)            37 – 38 — 75 (+6)
Johnny Schwaller (Coon Rapids Golf Course)        36 – 39 — 75 (+6)
Andrew Martin (Nishna Hills)                37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
Wade Voith (Twin Lakes Golf Club)                37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
John Costello (Jester Park)                    37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
Andy Kuhr (Fremont County Golf Course)            36 – 40 — 76 (+7)
Nolan Schmidt (Avoca Golf & CC)                35 – 42 — 77 (+8)
Darron Baker (Eagle Grove Golf Course)            39 – 38 — 77 (+8)
Adam Hart (Legacy Golf Club of Norwalk)            41 – 36 — 77 (+8)
Mason Ross (Indian Hills Gold Course of Wapello)        39 – 38 — 77 (+8)
Kyle Pieper (5 x 80 Club)                    41 – 37 — 78 (+9)
Jim Wood (Red Oak CC)                    38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Lance Halverson (Osceola CC)                38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Jared Koch (Majestic Hills Golf Course)            40 – 38 — 78 (+9)
Steve Chapman (Treynor CC)                    39 – 40 — 79 (+10)
Todd Sewick (River Road Golf Course)            35 – 44 — 79 (+10)
Jeremy Perkins (Oakland Golf Club)                38 – 41 — 79 (+10)
Sam Weeks (Ballard Golf & CC)                40 – 39 — 79 (+10)
Alex Van Dorpe (Toad Valley Golf Course)            36 – 44 — 80 (+11)
Jason Branham (Quail Run)                    41 – 39 — 80 (+11)
Nick Beyer (Diamond Trail Golf Course)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Brad Fabian (Greenbriar)                    38 – 42 — 80 (+11)
Jim Grieve (Waveland)                    41 – 39 — 80 (+11)
Shane Burmeister (Atlantic Golf & CC)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Dustin Mathews (Osceola CC)                42 – 38 — 80 (+11)
Jeff Bermel (Lagos Acres CC of Keota)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Dustin Burr (Audubon Golf & CC)                44 – 37 — 81 (+12)
Mitch Engelbarts (Gruis Recreation)                39 – 42 — 81 (+12)
Ken Harryman (Shelby County CC)                41 – 41 — 82 (+13)
Cody Cox (Leon Golf & CC)                    39 – 45 — 84 (+15)
Ben Knapp (Mount Ayr Golf & CC)                42 – 42 — 84 (+15)

Senior Division
Gene Capps (Indianola CC)                     34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
George Gartelos (Hunter Ridge Golf Course)         34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
Daryl Armstrong (Crestwood Hills)                 36 – 35 — 71 (+2)
Arnie Leistad (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 37 – 35 — 72 (+3)
Blair Hoegh (Otter Creek)                     35 – 37 — 72 (+3)
Rick Thompson (Fairfield Golf & CC)             35 – 37 — 72 (+3)
Jeff Morenz (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 36 – 36 — 72 (+3)
Del Miller (West Liberty Golf & CC)             34 – 39 — 73 (+4)
John Wilmore (Des Moines Golf & CC)             37 – 36 — 73 (+4)
Chris Myers (Honey Creek Golf Club)            38 – 35 — 73 (+4)
Kirk Nelson (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 36 – 39 — 75 (+6)
Ken Portsche (Beaver Creek Golf Course)             36 – 39 — 75 (+6)
Mick Allen (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 39 – 36 — 75 (+6)
Jim Haub (Twin Lakes Golf & CC)                 38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Dean Muhs (Shelby County CC)                 39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Tony Petersen (Greenbriar Golf Course)             38 – 42 — 80 (+11)
Peter Schmidt (Avoca Golf & CC)                 38 – 43 — 81 (+12)
Ken Hoogensen (Willow Creek)                 41 – 40 — 81 (+12)
Mike Martin (Nishna Hills)                     38 – 43 — 81 (+12)
Victor Garza (Gruis Recreation)                 44 – 38 — 82 (+13)
Jim Sachs (Gruis Recreation)                 41 – 42 — 83 (+14)
Paul Huddleson (Nishna Hills)                 41 – 43 — 84 (+15)
Don Perrin (Happy Hollow CC)                 41 – 43 — 84 (+15)
Frank Gunsolley (Mount Ayr Golf & CC)             42 – 43 — 85 (+16)
Jim Mullenix (Shadow Valley Golf & CC of Woodbine)    42 – 46 — 88 (+19)
Chuck Bunting (Bedford CC)                 44 – 45 — 89 (+20)
Frank Heimbaugh (Quail Run CC)                 41 – 48 — 89 (+20)
Steve Van Ryswick (Gateway Recreation)             51 – 50 — 101 (+32)
Don Bermel (Lagos Acres CC of Keota)             51 – 51 — 102 (+33)

Bluffs Man Sentenced to 200 months in prison

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Council Bluffs man was sentenced Thursday to more than 16-years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.  44-year old Scott Wendell Dilley, of Council Bluffs received the 200 month sentence from Judge John A. Jarvey, who also ordered Dilley to serve 10-years  in prison for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The terms will be served concurrently. In addition, Dilley will have to serve a five-year term of supervised release following his incarceration.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt says on March 3rd, 2011, Dilley entered guilty pleas to the two counts based on evidence that he was distributing methamphetamine, along with four other people, in the Council Bluffs area. On March 1st, 2010, law enforcement searched Dilley’s residence finding distribution quantities of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a loaded Colt .45 caliber pistol. Prior to March 1st, 2010, Dilley had been convicted of a felony drug offense.

The investigation which led to his arrest, was conducted by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office.

Court orders trial for injured inmate

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been ordered in a lawsuit filed by an inmate who claims the state didn’t protect him from being assaulted by another prisoner. The Iowa Supreme Court today (Friday) rejected the state’s request to have the lawsuit filed by Kevin Walker dismissed. Walker was knocked unconscious and his jaw broken during an assault at the Clarinda Correctional facility in 2005.

He claims prison staff knew of threats against him and violated prison rules by not taking action to protect him. Walker’s attorney says his client suffered severe depression and post traumatic stress because of the assault.

Sentinel Chickens test positive for West Nile virus in Council Bluffs

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Flooding along the Missouri River in western Iowa has created another problem. Officials with the Council Bluffs Health Department today (Friday) say tests on their sentinel chicken flocks have come up positive for the West Nile Virus. The virus is spread by mosquitoes, which typically breed in stagnant or slowly moving water.

In a report issued Thursday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said the virus was detected in four sentinel chickens located in Pottawattamie County. The State Hygienic Lab tests the blood drawn from chickens on a weekly basis, to determine whether they have been infected with the West Nile virus or other arboviruses.

Human cases of West Nile have been reported in Iowa every year, since 2002. Mosquitoes can get West Nile virus when feeding on infected birds. Mosquitoes can then spread the virus to people through a bite. West Nile virus cannot be spread by person-to-person contact such as kissing, touching, or caring for an infected person. West Nile virus can also rarely be transmitted to humans who receive infected organs by transplantation or who receive transfusions of infected blood or blood products.

The chance of a human getting infected with the virus if bitten by a mosquito is low. Even in areas where the virus is circulating, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus and not all mosquitoes can successfully transmit the virus. Most people who become infected with West Nile virus following a mosquito bite do not develop any symptoms.

Most people who are infected with West Nile virus either have no symptoms or experience mild illness such as fever, headache, and body aches before fully recovering. Some persons may develop a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. In <1% of infections, particularly in those persons over age 50, West Nile virus can cause serious disease, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). These conditions may result in permanent brain damage, or on rare occasions, can be fatal. Symptoms of severe disease can include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, confusion, loss of consciousness, tremors, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

For more information on the West Nile Virus and precautions you can take go to: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/WNV.aspx

Shoplifting arrests

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Police in Atlantic report two residents were arrested Thursday on shoplifting charges. 34-year old Shauna Johnson and 32-year old David Hemmingsen were each charged with 5th degree theft.

Johnson and Hemmingsen were booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

Tournament of Champions Start Delayed to 10:00 am

Sports

August 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

Due to the impending rain this morning, the first round of the Tournament of Champions at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club has been delayed.  The first group will now tee off at 10:00 am.

I-29 damaged by Mo. River flood (updated 4:54-p.m.)

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Missouri River has yet to recede across Interstate 29 in southwest Iowa, and the full extent of the damage is uncertain, but one thing is known: the road is in worse shape than officials had hoped. Bob Younie, head of maintenance for the Iowa Department of Transportation said in a briefing Thursday, that an 11-foot deep hole has been scoured beneath I-29 where it goes up an embankment to an overpass, near Hamburg. The hole, he says, is getting bigger. Younie called the situation a “Setback…in the recovery from the flooding.”

That section of interstate he described was closed in June because of the Missouri River flooding. There are four Interstate bridges in that area. Younie said the worst case scenario would be for all four bridges to get washed out by flooding, but so far that, hasn’t happened. He said the best case scenario, which is no longer possible, would have been if the bridges and their approaches would escape without major damage.

Younies says so far, one bridge approach has seen significant scouring, and a parallel bridge is threatened by scouring. The only way to know for sure how much damage the bridges and roadway have sustained, is after the water recedes, and an assessment gets underway. The water may linger in the area for at least another month, but even that’s not a given.

Here’s the DOT Press Release issued today (Friday), at 3:41-pm

AMES, Iowa – Aug. 12, 2011 - The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is
reporting that the Missouri River flooding has undermined the south bridge
approaches of dual Interstate 29 bridges at mile post 1.4 in Fremont County and is
threatening the bridges. The seriousness of the damage will undoubtedly prolong
flood recovery efforts aimed at eventual reopening of the interstate when the waters
recede. 

The dual set of bridges were constructed in 1972, are 40 feet wide and 179 feet
long, and located in the northbound and southbound lanes of I-29. The bridges take
I-29 traffic over Drainage Ditch Number 6.

The full extent of the damage to the bridges, roadway approaches and embankment are
not known at this time due to the high-velocity flood waters that are still rushing
under the bridge. But there is damage readily apparent at the site, including
collapsing of the pavement, loss of material and scouring at least 11 feet deep. 

Mitigation efforts are underway to attempt to reduce further loss of the soil under
the bridge approach pavement. But the efforts have had little success as the rushing
flood waters continue to wash away the large rock placed at the site. 

It is too soon to determine what corrective actions will be necessary, but stability
and safety of the structure is threatened primarily due to the extent of the scour.
The piling that support the bridge are 35 feet long and have been partially exposed
(no longer embedded in the river bottom) due to the scouring action of the flood
water.

Due to an earlier levee breach, flood waters from the Missouri River are flowing
inland, affecting I-29 and area tributaries and streams. 

The Iowa DOT will continue to provide the public with regular updates on the damages
caused by the flooding, as well as recovery efforts when the waters begin to recede
later this month. 

This is an unsafe area for the public to enter due to the possibility of undermined
pavement.

Due to these types of safety hazards, never enter a closed roadway, even after the
flood waters recede.