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RALPH WELSCH, 94, of Greenfield (Graveside svcs. at a later date)

Obituaries

February 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

RALPH WELSCH, 94, of Greenfield, died Sunday, February 21, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle.  Public Graveside services for RALPH WELSCH will be held at a later date.  Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Ralph Welsch Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

RALPH WELSCH is survived by:

His nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Ames woman’s death determined to be a homicide

News

February 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Ames Police have identified a person of interest, in connection with a homicide. Authorities Sunday afternoon said 33-year old Richard G. Fleck (AKA Rashaud Sims) is believed to be in the Kansas City, MO., area, but he also has ties to communities in Texas and Mississippi. Fleck is about 5-feet 8-inches tall, and weighs 165 pounds. He is a black male with brown eyes and black hair. Fleck has tattoos on his hands and neck.

Officials said at around 7:02-p.m. Saturday, Police conducted a welfare check at an apartment in the 400 block of S. 5th Street, in Ames. Officers entered the apartment and found a deceased female inside. After processing the scene, investigators concluded the woman was the victim of a homicide. Her name was being withheld, pending notification of family. Investigators were canvassing the area and processing the crime scene as of the latest report.

The crime is under investigation by the Ames Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Ames Police at 515-239-5133, or the anonymous tip line at 515-239-5533. Online anonymous tips may also be submitted, at www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.com.

Iowa COVID-19 update, 2/21/21: 423 new cases; No new deaths reported

News

February 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health today (10-a.m., Sunday), reports 423 new COVID-19 positive test results came back from the labs over the past 24-hours, for a pandemic total of 359,380. There were no additional deaths reported. The pandemic total is currently 5,336 deaths, with 4,803 the result of underlying causes and 533 where COVID was a contributing factor. Pre-existing conditions make up 4,910 of the total number of death, while deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities account for 2,139 COVID deaths.

Beginning Saturday, the State implemented changes to the coronavirus.iowa.gov website, changing how it reports positive COVID-19 cases. The health department now reports total positive cases instead of individuals positive. That has a caused a sharp increase in total positive cases overnight Friday into Saturday.

Additionally, the health department is no longer reporting 14-day positivity rates by county. This is a metric that schools used to determine if they could apply for a waiver to provide 100% online learning. A page that previously reported this data has been taken offline.

The State data show hospitalizations declined from 238 on Saturday to 229 Sunday. COVID patients in an ICU were up slightly, to 58. There are also 38 COVID-symptom patients admitted to hospitals over the previous 24-hours, compared to 34 on Saturday, and 27 patients were on a ventilator (compared to 24 Saturday). In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 15 people are hospitalized with COVID symptoms (four more than previously reported), five people are in an ICU, one person was admitted over the past 24-hours, and two people are on a ventilator.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is up a bit, to 4.4%, and the 7-day average is now 4.0%.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

  • Cass, 1,312 cases; {+2}; 48 deaths
  • Adair, 907; {+3}; 26
  • Adams, 325 {+0}; 3
  • Audubon, 482 {+1}; 9
  • Guthrie, 1,154 {+2}; 28
  • Harrison County, 1,775; {+0}; 68
  • Madison County, 1,516; {+4}; 17
  • Mills County, 1,613; {+2}; 20
  • Montgomery, 1,035; {+2}; 36
  • Pottawattamie County, 10,647; {+13}; 140
  • Shelby County, 1,190; {+54}; 32
  • Union County,  1,254; {+0}; 31

Reaves (Former Hawkeye Basketball player) dies at the age of 54

Sports

February 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Hawkeye men’s basketball team announced Saturday that a former basketball player Michael Reaves has died at age 54. A team tweet said  “We are sadden of the passing of former Hawkeye Michael Reaves. Our thoughts and prayers are with the reaves family.” The university said he died at his home in Georgia on Friday where he was with his family. Reaves played for the Hawkeyes between 1985 and 1988 for head coaches George Raveling and Tom Davis.

When he was playing for Iowa, the Hawkeyes won 95 games, which is the second-most games won in the program’s history within a four-year time frame. He also played in four NCAA tournament reaching the Elite Eight in 1987 and the Sweet 16 in 1988.

Reaves shines as No. 9 Oklahoma tops Iowa State 66-56

Sports

February 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Austin Reaves scored 20 points to lead No. 9 Oklahoma to a wild 66-56 victory over Iowa State, Saturday. The Sooners earned their third straight win since a 57-52 loss at No. 15 Texas Tech. But the lowly Cyclones provided a stiff test. Iowa State trailed by as many as 21 in the first half before rallying to a 46-45 lead on Tre Jackson’s 3-pointer with 11:29 remaining.

The Sooners then responded with a 16-4 run to grab the lead for good. De’Vion Harmon and Umoja Gibson each made a 3-pointer before Reaves capped the decisive stretch with a free throw, making it 61-50 with 4:38 left.

 

Area High School Basketball Scores from Saturday, 2/20/21

Sports

February 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 61, Millard West, Neb. 57

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Class 3A Region 1 Championship = Cherokee, Washington 74, Panorama, Panora 46

Class 3A Region 6 Championship = West Lyon, Inwood 47, Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 41

Class 4A Region 1 Semifinals = Glenwood 73, Lewis Central 40;   Sergeant Bluff-Luton 46, LeMars 29

Class 4A Region 3 Semifinals = Creston 62, Norwalk 56; Dallas Center-Grimes 52, ADM, Adel 39

Class 4A Region 8 Semifinals = Denison-Schleswig 52, Boone 45; Harlan 74, Spencer 61

Class 5A Region 2 semifinals = Indianola 73, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 59

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, 2/21/21

News

February 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:20 a.m. CST

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — One woman is dead and another is injured after being stabbed at an Iowa motel, and a man suspected in the altercation is hospitalized after being shot by a police officer. Cedar Rapids officers were called at 1:46 a.m. Saturday to a disturbance at a Rodeway Inn. An officer was met by two women with apparent knife wounds, who directed the officer to a man running from the motel. The officer gave chance and shot the man. Police say the man is hospitalized but had no details about his injuries. The officer was not hurt. One of the women later died.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An inmate has been found dead inside an eastern Iowa jail. The Quad City Times reports that 27-year-old Mark Timothy Hudson Sr. was found unresponsive in his general population cell at 10:59 a.m. Friday in the Scott County jail. Attempt to revive him failed. Scott County Sheriff’s Major Bryce Schmidt said the death does not appear suspicious.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 560 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, and no new deaths. The state has cited 332,182 confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, and 5,336 deaths. State data also shows that 278,568 people in the state have received a first vaccine dose, and 137,385 have received a second dose. Hospitalizations continue to fall. State data shows hospitalizations for the virus now at 238 after a mid-November peak of more than 1,500.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A teenager’s drowning death last year is prompting lawmakers in Iowa to consider making it a crime to fail to call emergency responders to report when someone appears to be in serious danger. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reported that the family of Noah Herring supports the bill. Herring was 15 when he drowned in April in Coralville Reservoir. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said three teens and an adult were present, but none placed a call to get help. Democratic State Sen. Kevin Kinney says the bill would make failing to call emergency responders an aggravated misdemeanor.

Red Oak man escapes injury during Saturday morning accident

News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak say there were no injuries reported following a single-vehicle accident Saturday morning in the 1900 block of N. Broadway. Authorities say 44-year old Michael Lee LaFollette, of Red Oak, was traveling northbound at around 8:07-a.m., when his 2003 Jaguar S-Type sedan went out of control just before Legion Park Drive. The car skidded sideways for about 80 yards until it came to rest on the north side of the Fire Department apron, after striking the stoplight pole.

There was no damage to the pole. The Jag sustained about $8,000 damage. LaFollette was issued a written warning for Failure to Maintain Control.

MARGARET “Peggy” HARTKOPF-ROBINSON, 98, of Atlantic (Graveside Svcs. 2/26/21)

Obituaries

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

MARGARET “Peggy” HARTKOPF-ROBINSON, 98, of Atlantic, died Saturday, Feb. 20th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Graveside services for “PEGGY” HARTKOPF-ROBINSON will be held 11-a.m. Friday, Feb. 26th, in the Atlantic Cemetery. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thu., Feb. 25th, from 1-until 7-p.m., with the family present from 4-until 7-p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the family, and will be directed to some of her favorite charitable causes.

State Wrestling Championship Results

Sports

February 20th, 2021 by Jim Field

CLASS 3-A

  • 106:  Carter Freeman of Waukee beat Blake Gioimo of Cedar Rapids Prairie MAJOR DECISION 12-4
  • 113:  Nathanael Jesuroga of Southeast Polk beat Koufax Christensen of Waukee DECISION 11-4
  • 120:  Trever Anderson of Ankeny beat Chad Bellis of Dubuque Hempstead DECISION 3-2
  • 126:  Dustin Bohren of Bettendorf beat Thurman Christensen of Waukee MAJOR DECISION 10-2
  • 132:  Drake Ayala of Fort Dodge beat Ryder Block of Waverly-Shell Rock MAJOR DECISION 11-3
  • 138:  Hunter Garvin of Iowa City West beat Dylan Whitt of Cedar Falls  FALL 5:10
  • 145:  Joel Jesuroga of Southeast Polk beat Dreyzon Phillips of Fort Dodge DECISION 6-1
  • 152:  Aiden Riggins of Waverly-Shell Rock beat Caleb Rathjen of Ankeny DECISION 3-2
  • 160:  Tate Naaktgeboren of Linn-Mar beat Caleb Corbin of Valley West Des Moines DECISION 3-1
  • 170:  Caleb Helgeson of Johnston beat Mickey Griffith of Des Moines Lincoln DECISION 4-1
  • 182:  McCrae Hagarty of Waverly-Shell Rock beat Griffin Gammell of Waukee DECISION 3-2
  • 195:  Ben Kueter of Iowa City High beat Jake Walker of Waverly-Shell Rock DECISION 5-0
  • 220:  Bradley Hill of Bettendorf beat Luke Walker of Waverly-Shell Rock DECISION 5-3
  • 285:  Griffin Liddle of Bettendorf beat Gabriel Greenlee of Ames DECISION 3-1

CLASS 2-A

  • 106:  Kade Blume of Roland Story beat Gavin Jensen of Williamsburg DECISION 6-4 (SV-1)
  • 113:  Camron Phetxoumphone of Webster City beat Anders Kittelson of Crestwood DECISION 2-1
  • 120:  McKinley Robbins of Greene County beat Blaine Frazier of Notre Dame/W.B./Danville DECISION 7-5
  • 126:  Carter Fousek of Crestwood beat Dominik Ridout of East Marshall DECISION 6-4
  • 132:  Brandon O`Brien of Independence beat Averee Abben of Osage DECISION 4-3 (TB-1)
  • 138:  Isaiah Weber of Independence beat Nathaniel Genobana of Centerville DECISION 2-0
  • 145:  Matthew Lewis of Centerville beat Nick Fox of Osage DECISION 3-2
  • 152:  Jack Gaukel of Sergeant Bluff-Luton beat Tyler Brown of Winterset MAJOR DECISION 10-2
  • 160:  Hayden Taylor of Solon beat Wyatt Appleseth of Panorama DECISION 7-2
  • 170:  Carson Babcock of NH/TV beat Mitchell Joines of Bishop Heelan DECISION 7-0
  • 182:  Spencer Mooberry of Osage beat Adam Ahrendsen of Union DECISION 6-4 (SV-1)
  • 195:  Wyatt Voelker of West Delaware beat Jacob Reicks of NH/TV MAJOR DECISION 15-7
  • 220:  Kobe Simon of West Liberty beat Dylan Winkel of Central Lyon-G-LR DECISION 6-4
  • 285:  Carson Petlon of West Delaware beat Kamrin Steveson of Grinnell DECISION 3-0

CLASS 1-A

  • 106:  Kale Petersen of West Fork beat Eli Becerra of Missouri Valley DECISION 16-9
  • 113:  Garret Rinken of Nashua-Plainfield beat Braden Graff of West Sioux DECISION 4-2
  • 120:  Marcel Lopez of New London beat Brandon Paez of Lisbon DECISION 1-0
  • 126:  Cade Siebrecht of Lisbon beat Stevie Barnes of Underwood DECISION 11-5
  • 132:  Aidan Noonan of Western Dubuque beat Gable Porter of Underwood DECISION 6-2
  • 138:  Wyatt Reisz of Logan-Magnolia beat Kael Brisker of Wilton DECISION 7-3
  • 145:  Robert Avila Jr. of Lisbon beat Cael Rahnavardi of Don Bosco DECISION 5-2
  • 152:  Maximus Magayna of Columbus Catholic beat Briar Reisz of Logan-Magnolia DECISION 7-5
  • 160:  Tate Entriken of Hudson beat Cael Frost of Don Bosco DECISION 8-6 (SV-1)
  • 170:  Cade Tenold of Don Bosco beat Blake McAlister of South Central Calhoun TECH FALL 5:59 (20-5)
  • 182:  Carson Tenold of Don Bosco beat Jackson Dewald of Westwood DECISION 3-1 (SV-1)
  • 195:  Tristan Mulder of Western Christian beat Blake Brocka of Tripoli TECH FALL 4:41 (16-0)
  • 220:  Cole Clark of Lisbon beat Derek Anderson of Hinton DECISION 6-3
  • 285:  Chet Buss of North Butler-Clarksville beat Rex Johnsen of Logan-Magnolia FALL 1:40