United Group Insurance

Crop dusting helicopter crashes in Carroll County – No injuries

News

August 2nd, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) ARCADIA, Iowa (via KTIV) – A crop dusting helicopter pilot walked away from a crash in Carroll County, Monday morning. According to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, first responders were paged to a helicopter crash south of Arcadia, at about 9:30 a.m., Monday. The pilot told authorities he was spraying a corn field in a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter when the engine suddenly quit. The helicopter ended up crashing near the intersection of 210th Street Avenue and Delta Avenue. The sheriff’s office says the pilot, 78-year-old Michael Milliron, was able to get himself out of the helicopter and walk to the highway. He was checked out by Carroll Rescue and transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash to determine the cause. The helicopter was totaled in the crash.

It was the second western Iowa crash of a crop dusting aircraft in less than three-days. At around 1:10-p.m. Saturday, a fixed-wing single-engine Air Tractor, Incorporated crop dusting airplane crashed onto a road and caught fire near Ute, in Monona County. The accident happened when the aircraft struck electrical lines. and crashed onto a road near 230th and Teak. The pilot died at the scene. The road the plane crashed onto, was re-opened to traffic Monday afternoon.

As of the latest information, no name had been released.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY for parts of Shelby County

News

August 2nd, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Avoca, Iowa) – Officials with Regional Water said Monday, that one of their pipes was hit South of Kirkman/northeast of Harlan (Nishna Ave, Oak Road, & M36). Crews were working to repair the pipe. Official say “When water is restored, these customers will be in a BOIL ADVISORY for the next couple days. Customers affected should have received a phone call and/or email.”

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Tue., Aug. 2, 2022

Weather

August 2nd, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Today: A slight chance for isolated showers this morning; Mostly sunny. High 98. Heat Index around 105. Winds S/SW @ 15-25. * Heat Advisory in effect from 1-until 8-p.m.*

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 76. S @ 10-15 mph.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to cloudy w/scattered showers & thunderstorms. High 90. S-N @10.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High 90.

Friday: P/Cldy. High around 95.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 94. The Low was 63. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 80 and the Low was 52. The Record High on this date was 103 in 1930. The Record Low was 42 in 1907.

Will and Pellett top Cass County Fair Beef Show

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 1st, 2022 by admin

The 2022 Cass County Fair Beef Show was held on Monday and the Grand Champion selection capped off the final full day of the fair. The Supreme Overall Market Animal went to Morgan Will of the Benton Franklin 4-H Club. Morgan showed the 4-H Grand Champion Market Steer and Market Animal before winning the Supreme Overall title.

Reserve Overall Market Animal went to Claire Pellett of the Atlantic FFA. Claire showed the FFA Grand Champion Market Steer and Animal before taking the Supreme Reserve spot.

Other winner in the Beef Show were:

Champion FFA Market Heifer: Logan Eilts.
Reserve Champion FFA Market Heifer: Callee Pellett.
Champion FFA Market Steer: Claire Pellett.
Reserve Champion FFA Market Steer: CeCe Hensley.
Supreme Champion FFA Market: Claire Pellett.
Champion FFA Beef Carcass: Callee Pellett
Reserve Champion FFA Beef Carcass: Malena Woodward.
Champion 4-H Beef Carcass: Claire Pellett.
Reserve Champion 4-H Beef Carcass: Quincey Sorensen.
Grand Champion 4-H Market Heifer: Graham Hagen.
Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Heifer: Holden DeVore.
Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer: Morgan Will.
Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer: Raylea Amos.
Supreme Champion 4-H Market Beef: Morgan Will.
Reserve Supreme Champion 4-H Market Beef: Raylea Amos.
Overall Supreme Champion Beef: Morgan Will.
Reserve Overall Supreme Champion Beef: Claire Pellett.

Watch the full replay of the show here:

USDA Authorizes Emergency Haying or Grazing of Conservation Reserve Program Acres for 12 Iowa Counties

Ag/Outdoor

August 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Matt Russell, today announced that 12 Iowa Counties are authorized for emergency haying or grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for fiscal year 2022. FSA’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. The six counties approved for emergency haying or grazing include: Buena Vista, Clay, Ida, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, and Sac. With six Iowa Counties restricted under Emergency Haying Criteria Based on LFP Triggers:
Cherokee, Monona, O’Brien, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury.

Counties are automatically approved for CRP emergency haying and grazing when they reach the D2 (severe drought) level on the U.S. Drought Monitor and are outside of the primary nesting season (May 15th through August 1st). A CRP participant must receive approval for emergency haying from their county FSA Office before any action is taken. The emergency haying authorizations end on August 31, 2022. A CRP participant must receive approval for emergency grazing from their local FSA office before any action is taken. The emergency grazing period for these counties will end Sept. 30, 2022. CRP participants are eligible to seek approval for either emergency haying or emergency grazing but cannot do both on the same acres.

There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for 2022 emergency haying and grazing authorizations. CRP participants in counties not eligible for Emergency Haying and Grazing are eligible for Non-Emergency Haying and Grazing starting August 2nd. CRP participants should check with their local FSA office to determine their eligibility and specifics. They need to sign up and get approval from their local FSA office before any haying or grazing is started.

For more information and to request approval for emergency haying or grazing use of CRP acres, contact your local USDA Service Center.

ISU to offer major in climate science this fall

News, Weather

August 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Students at Iowa State University will have the opportunity to study climate science in the upcoming school year. The university’s new major aims to prepare its students to bring about solutions to climate change. Owen Halverson, an I-S-U junior who plans to study climate science, says he sees the degree as a means to address increased severe weather patterns.

“This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem facing the world right now,” Halverson says. “This is the way I see that I can be helpful to everyone else in the future.” Kristie Franz, the I-S-U chair of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, says it can prepare them for careers in everything from sustainable design planning to advising private industries, like insurance. But, she adds, all pathways will give students the knowledge to strategize against climate change.

“The current generation is recognizing that legitimacy of the science and observing it as well, along with the rest of us and really want to do something about it, because it’s their future,” Franz says, “so they want to be a part of the solution.” The degree will allow students to choose from six areas of focus — ranging from climate policy to agriculture. Program directors hope the area of study can help launch students into growing climate jobs in both private and public sectors.

Franz says the coursework will consist of many classes within the university’s earth science department and it will also integrate economic and communications courses.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

Big 12-BIG EAST Battle extended two years

Sports

August 1st, 2022 by admin

The Big 12 and BIG EAST Conferences have announced a two-year extension to the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle, their men’s basketball non-conference scheduling alliance which has been in effect since 2019-20. The extension will include competition in November and December during each of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

With each conference adding member schools since the start of the original agreement, The Battle will increase from 10 to 11 matchups between the conferences during the two extension years. The Big 12 will host six games in 2023-24, and the BIG EAST will host six contests in 2024-2025.

The Battle matchups will continue to be jointly determined by the two conferences, with the home team choosing the venue of its game. Broadcast arrangements for the contests will be determined by the national television rights holder of the home team, which is ESPN for the Big 12 and FOX Sports for the BIG EAST.

This season’s Big 12-BIG EAST Battle schedule was announced previously.

2022 Big 12-BIG EAST Battle Schedule
Nov. 29 Baylor at Marquette
Nov. 30 Providence at TCU
Nov. 30 Georgetown at Texas Tech
Nov. 30 Kansas State at Butler
Dec. 1 Creighton at Texas
Dec. 1 Oklahoma State at Connecticut
Dec. 1 Seton Hall at Kansas
Dec. 3 Oklahoma at Villanova
Dec. 3 West Virginia at Xavier
Dec. 4 St. John’s at Iowa State

Campbell and Moss named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Sports

August 1st, 2022 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior linebacker Jack Campbell and senior defensive back Riley Moss have been named to the 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, which is presented to the most outstanding defensive player in college football by the Maxwell Football Club.

Daviyon Nixon is Iowa’s most recent semifinalist for the Bednarik Award in 2020. The Hawkeyes have had seven semifinalists for the award since 2005. They include Nixon, Josh Jackson (2017), Josey Jewell (2017), Desmond King (2016), Adrian Clayborn (2010), Pat Angerer (2009) and Chad Greenway (2005).

Campbell (6-5, 246 pounds) was a second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Phil Steele in 2021. In addition, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was second in the Big Ten with 143 tackles – the fifth-most ever in a single season at Iowa. He earned Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors following a career-best performance with 18 tackles in Iowa’s 24-14 win over Colorado State. A native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Campbell was the recipient of Iowa’s Roy Carver Most Valuable Player (Defense) award last season and served as a permanent team captain.

Campbell has also been named to the Athlon Sports 2022 preseason All-Big Ten First Team, as well as earning preseason first-team All-America accolades by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, and Sporting News. He has been named to the Butkus Award watch list and the and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

Moss (6-1, 193 pounds) was a first-team All-America selection by Sporting News a season ago and was voted the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. Additionally, Moss was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by both league coaches and media. The Ankeny, Iowa, native was a recipient of Iowa’s Team Hustle Award and is second all-time at Iowa in career interception return yards (239). Moss is one of three players in program history with three interception return touchdowns.

Moss has been named to the Athlon Sports 2022 preseason All-Big Ten First Team. He was selected to both the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele’s preseason All-America First Teams. He has been named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

Will McDonald IV named to 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List

Sports

August 1st, 2022 by admin

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV has been named to the 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list. The award, presented by The Maxwell Football Club, is given annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.

McDonald, a redshirt senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, enters the season as one of the nation’s best pass rushers with 29.0 career sacks, which is an ISU record. He earned First Team All-America honors last season and is a two-time First Team All-Big 12 selection. McDonald has forced nine fumbles and has 34.5 tackles for a loss in his career.

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 1, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled Nov. 22. The recipient of the award will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 8.

The Cyclones open the season Saturday, Sept. 3 against Southeast Missouri at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium.

Cedar Rapids Officer-involved shooting subject is identified

News

August 1st, 2022 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – In an update to our report over the weekend, the Iowa DCI has released the name of a man who was the subject of an Officer-involved shooting on July 30th. Officials say 23-year-old Brandon Lee Nelson, of Cedar Rapids, was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital, where is was being treated for his wounds. His discharge from the hospital is pending. The Cedar Rapids Police Officers names involved in the incident will be released, pending interviews with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

As we mentioned previously, the Department of Criminal Investigation was requested to assist the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Saturday, following an Officer-involved shooting incident. Officials say at approximately 3:52 a.m., Saturday, Cedar Rapids Police officers conducted a vehicle stop for erratic driving in the 2200 block of Glass Road NE.

The driver of the vehicle – identified today (Monday), as Brandon Lee Nelson, brandished a firearm and gunfire was exchanged between Nelson and two Cedar Rapids police officers.