United Group Insurance

U-I Basketball Manager Reaches Plea Deal For Sports Betting

News

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa)- A University of Iowa men’s basketball student manager agrees to a plea deal in a sports gambling case, that involved betting on his own team. Evan Schuster was originally charged with tampering with records involving sports betting. That included betting on his own team. But according to a court filing, Schuster plead down the original charge to gambling under the age of 21. That’s the difference between a serious misdemeanor and and a simple misdemeanor. The charges originated from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s probe into sports wagering at two state universities, which found that Schuster placed nine bets on the Iowa team using his father’s name. Schuster will pay a fine of 645 dollar fine.

Red Oak man arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop

News

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Red Oak was arrested Monday night on drug charges, following a traffic stop in Red Oak. Authorities say 34-year-old Cesar Miguel Ruiz Velasco-Cruz was arrested at around 7:25-p.m. at Broadway Street and 3rd Avenue, on charges that include: Possession of Methamphetamine with the intent to deliver – a Class B Felony; Poss. of Marijuana/1st offense – a Serious Misdemeanor; Person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon – a Serious Misdemeanor, and Keeping a vehicle or premises for Controlled Substances, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

Velasco-Cruz was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted by Red Oak Police in handling the incident.

JOANNE IRENE CHRISTENSEN, 92, of Harlan (Svcs. 3/23/24)

Obituaries

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JOANNE IRENE CHRISTENSEN, 92, of Harlan, died Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. Funeral services for JOANNE CHRISTENSEN will be held 10-a.m. Saturday, March 23rd, 2024, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan is on Friday, March 22nd, from 5-until 7-p.m., with a Time For Sharing beginning at 7-p.m.

Burial is in the Harlan Cemetery.

JOANNE CHRISTENSEN is survived by:

Her sons – Brian Christensen, and Bruce Christensen, both of Harlan; and Ray (Candace) Christensen, of Littleton, CO.

Her daughters – Diane Stewart, of Harlan, and Jan (Leon) Schmitz of Parkville, MO.

9 grandchildren & 6 great-grandchildren.

Multiple individuals charged in the abuse of a family member

News

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Four people, including one teenager, have been arrested following an extensive investigation into the abuse of a family member. The Story County Sheriff’s Office said 44-year-old Gary Graham, 42-year-old Danielle Graham, 20-year-old Aaron Williams and 16-year-old Kaitlynn Williams, all of Zearing, are charged with first-degree kidnapping and willful injury.  First-degree kidnapping is a Class A felony, while willful injury is a Class C felony. The four defendants are being held in the custody of the Story County Jail.

According to the sheriff’s office, an investigation was launched after an adult man was admitted to an area hospital in January with severe and life-threatening injuries and signs of malnutrition — he weighed only 70 pounds.

Story County S/O photos

The investigation found the man suffered several injuries caused by abuse, including a brain bleed, fractured ribs and other wounds in several stages of weighing. The Story County Sheriff’s Office alleges that all family members in the victim’s household knew about and participated in the abuse.

The family is accused of handcuffing the victim’s wrists and ankles to his bed while physically abusing him. Investigators believe the alleged abuse escalated in early November 2023.

 

 

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Tuesday, March 19th, 2024

Weather

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny & breezy. High near 62. SW winds @ 10-20 becoming N/NW this afternoon, & gusting to near 25 mph.
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 26. NW-N/NE @ 10-20 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny. High near 42. N/NE @ 10-25 mph.
Thursday: A slight for mixed snow/sleet through mid-day, otherwise Partly sunny. High near 46.
Thu. Night: Breezy w/a slight chance of rain & late thunderstorms. Low around 33.
Friday: Mostly cloudy & breezy w/a chance of rain early. High near 47.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 39. The Low was 21. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 45 and the Low was 9. The Record High for March 19th in Atlantic, was 79 in 1976. The Record Low was -14 in 1923. Sunrise: 7:26. Sunset: 7:31-p.m.

Senate passes its version of AEA bill

News

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has voted to give school officials the option of bypassing Area Education Agencies and providing services to students with disabilities by hiring private contractors or district staff. Senator Lynn Evans of Aurelia, a retired superintendent, is among the 28 Republicans in the senate who voted for the bill.

“The AEAs need to earn the business of school districts through increased transparency, accountability and quality of services…That’s local control,” Evans said. “Who knows your children better than the people sitting at your local school board’s table?” Iowa is the only state where state and federal funds for special education services, like speech therapy, are sent directly to Area Education Agencies. Evans says schools have never seen a bill of sale for what they’re getting from the A-E-As.

“The goal is to get the best return on investment for the most efficient delivery of special ed service for kids who need them,” Evans said. Governor Reynolds has called for similar changes. Evans says putting the Iowa Department of Education in charge and giving schools control over 90 percent of the state and federal funds set aside for special education will force A-E-As to show how much each service costs.

“The people who are on the ground, working for the AEAs, they do God’s work and they’re great people. Their hearts are in the right places,” Evans said. “but they’re hampered and their handcuffed by a system that has been in need of reform for many years.” Six Republicans joined all the Democrats in the Senate in opposing the bill. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says Republicans who back the bill are following the governor over a cliff.

“Iowans have seen this drill before and we know it will hurt our kids,” Petersen said. “This is another attempt to privatize our prized public education system.” Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, has been a special education teacher for 33 years. She says the bill will destabilize the A-E-A system. “Teachers, parents and children, particularly in our rural areas, who are on edge because of the services they may no longer have available to them,” Donahue said. Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque spoke emotionally of her late daughter, Sarah, who had an intellectual disability and received A-E-A services.

“Rural Iowa, they’re the ones that are going to pay the biggest price for this,” Jochum said. “The AEAs economy or scale and safety net is going to be gone.”

House Republicans passed their own plan at the end of February that calls for a study of the A-E-A system and maintains A-E-A services for students with disabilities for at least a couple of years.Governor Reynolds issued a written statement thanking the Senate for acknowledging the A-E-A system needs reform. She pledged to work with G-O-P leaders in the House and Senate to find a compromise plan.

Griswold Boys Track 2023-2024 Season Preview

Sports

March 19th, 2024 by admin

First row seated, left to right
Callen Kaiser, Bode Wyman, Mason Steinhoff, Hudson Perkins, Wyatt Silk, Holden Jensen
Second row on a knee, left to right
Nollan Smith, Jaden Jensen, Launie Smith, Cody Dorscher, Peyton Cook, Auden Wilson
Third row standing, left to right
Wyatt Peterson, Jacob Carnes, Shane Taylor, RJ Dishong, Braydon Lockwood, Tyler Bubolz
Not pictured: Alex Rasmussen, Calden Turner, assistant coach Cade Carstens, head coach Andy Everett

The Griswold Tigers Boys track season has come into full swing. The Tigers have 20 plus high schoolers out this year and are coached by Andy Everett.

Coach Everett gave a recap on how last season went.

Coach Everett talked about what the team has been working on in practice so far season.

Coach Everett elaborated on what his teams goals are for this year.

Griswold Tigers next track meet will be Tuesday March 26th at the Bulldog Relays in Bedford. That meet will get underway at 4:30 p.m.

Griswold Tiger Girls Track 2023-2024 Season Preview

Sports

March 19th, 2024 by admin

The Griswold Tigers girls track season has been into full gear. The Tigers have 21 participants out this year and are coached by Rachel Larsen.

Coach Larsen had this to say about last years track season.

Coach Larsen commented on how practice has been going so far.

Coach Larsen talked about a good freshmen class joining the team this season.

Coach Larsen says she her main goal for the team to remain healthy.

The Griswold Tigers next track meet will be Tuesday March 26th for the Bulldog Relays in Bedford. That event will get underway at 4:30 p.m.

McClear Tied for 11th After 2 Rounds

Sports

March 18th, 2024 by admin

HOUSTON – The University of Iowa men’s golf team concluded the first two rounds of play at the All-American Intercollegiate on Monday. The Hawkeyes are in 14th place after shooting 23-over par (293/306 = 599).

Senior Mac McClear is tied for 11th place at 1-over par. McClear fired an opening round 70 (-2). McClear’s first round featured four birdies and just two bogeys. McClear was tied for fourth place after the opening round. McClear followed up his first round with a 75 (+3) in the second round.

Freshman Max Tjoa and junior Ian Meyer are tied for 47th on the leaderboard at 7-over par.

Sam Houston leads the tournament at 4-over par. They hold a four-stroke lead over the field. Yuki Moriyama of UNLV leads the individual field at 4-under par

UP NEXT

The final round of the All-American Intercollegiate tees off on Tuesday morning.

 

 

Iowa’s Fran McCaffery on Tuesday’s NIT game against Kansas State

Sports

March 18th, 2024 by admin

Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery says there was no thought of turning down an offer to play in the N-I-T. The Hawkeyes will host Kansas State in the opening round on Tuesday night. Seven schools turned down a chance to play in the N-I-T after being left out of the NCAA Tournament.

 

McCaffery was asked about the value of playing in the NIT.

 

Kansas State is 19-14 overall and finished 8-10 in the Big 12 race.

 

Tylor Perry, Arthur Kaluma and Cam Carter are the leading scorers for a team that McCaffery says has a lot of weapons.