United Group Insurance

2 arrests in Red Oak

News

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police report the arrest early this (Friday) morning, of 49-year old Russell Lee Peterson. The Red Oak man was taken into custody at around midnight, on a charge of Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300. And, at around 9:30-p.m. Thursday, Red Oak Police arrested 33-year old Bobbi Jo Bruce, of Red Oak, on a shoplifting charge (5th degree theft). Bruce was taken into custody as the result of an investigation into an incident at a convenience store on N. Broadway Street, in Red Oak. Bruce was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 cash bond.

KJAN listening area weather forecast: 6/19/2015

Weather

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

407 AM CDT FRI JUN 19 2015

EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TODAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 60S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS BEFORE NOON. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE UPPER 80S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 50 PERCENT.

SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE MID 60S. NORTH WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 80S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE UPPER 60S.

MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.HIGH IN THE MID 80S.

 

Story about Atlantic Trooper’s generosity & caring goes viral

News

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A woman from Michigan who experienced car problems and got help from an Iowa State Patrol Trooper from Atlantic, shared her gratitude in a Facebook post that soon went viral.

The Trooper's business card from that night on I-80 near Atlantic,

The Trooper’s business card from that night on I-80 near Atlantic,

The Daily NonPareil says Breanna Gauthier remembers vividly, the incident where she got help above and beyond the call of duty, from Trooper Todd Granner. For his part, Granner said he was just doing his job.

On Tuesday, Gauthier, of Ludington, Mich., posted a thank you to Granner for his help when her car blew a tire one evening last summer. It was around 10:30 p.m. on Interstate 80 outside Atlantic, when the incident occurred. Her post read: “I pulled off to the side of the road, turned on my hazards, looked at my shredded tire and began to panic,” she wrote. “I was 10 miles from the nearest town, and semi trucks were blowing past me at 60 mph, shaking me and the car every time they passed. I called home knowing there was nothing anyone could do and started to cry.”

That’s when Granner stopped by, lights flashing on his cruiser, ready to help. Gauthier recounted Granner “calling in a favor with his friend who had a tow truck and a garage.”

“I was looking at maxing out credit cards for the closest tow truck my family could find online, so when he came to my window and told me he had a guy, I could have cried,” she wrote in the post. “He could have easily left after my car was off the shoulder and I had someone he knew heading my way, but he said that there was no way he was going to leave me alone on that highway.”

Gauthier said she expected Granner to leave after the tow truck arrived, but he gave her a ride to the service station and insisted that the woman – who was in the middle of a cross-country drive – get some rest at a local hotel.

“I had mentioned wanting to drive though the night to get home as soon as I could, but he insisted that it was better to be safe than sorry. After all was said and done, he made sure I had directions to get back to the highway, and that I had a hotel room reserved for when I got to the next town,” she wrote. “I was a young girl states away from home, and he treated me like I was his family. He called in favors and stayed with me until he knew I was taken care of.

“I needed to share this. He didn’t just do his duty that night; he went above and beyond to serve and protect me. To comfort me. To take care of me.”

The post struck a nerve on Facebook, with the post at 48,581 posts as of Thursday afternoon. Granner’s seen it, and told the NonPareil he’s thankful for Gauthier’s appreciation. He was humble in saying it’s part of the things troopers do on a daily basis. Granner lives in Atlantic and works out of the IHP’s District 3 Post, in Council Bluffs.

Teakell’s shutdown relief key, TCU eliminates LSU in 8-4 win

Sports

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Trey Teakell pitched 4 1/3 innings of no-hit relief, Dane Steinhagen drove in three runs and TCU defeated LSU 8-4 in a College World Series elimination game Thursday night. The Horned Frogs (51-14), who beat the No. 2 national seed for the second time in five days, will play Vanderbilt on Friday night. TCU would have to beat the defending national champion Commodores twice to advance to next week’s best-of-three finals.

Teakell (3-1) took over for starter Mitchell Traver with one out in the fourth and the game tied at 3. The fifth-year senior retired all 13 batters he faced. Preston Guillory worked the final 1 1/3 innings. With no true No. 3 starter for LSU’s third game in Omaha, coach Paul Mainieri decided to pitch by committee and used a CWS record-tying eight. Austin Bain (2-3), the third pitcher for the Tigers (54-12), took the loss.

 

Cardinals chairman DeWitt: ‘Rogue’ behavior will be punished

Sports

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. is blaming “rogue” behavior on the team’s involvement in the alleged hacking of the Houston Astros’ player personnel database. DeWitt said Thursday the team was still investigating the matter but said a handful of individuals in the organization was responsible.

DeWitt and general manager John Mozeliak met with media at Busch Stadium a day after an attorney hired by the team said high-level executives were not involved in the scandal. DeWitt said he had “no knowledge” of the hacking before being informed by FBI investigators early this year.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, June 19th 2015

News

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad says more than 1,500 workers will likely lose their jobs as a result of the bird flu outbreak and he is asking President Barack Obama to declare a major disaster for four of the hardest hit Iowa counties. In his letter to the president Thursday, Branstad says 438 people have sought unemployment benefits from Buena Vista, Sioux, Webster and Wright counties.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The economy has improved slightly in rural parts of Iowa and Nebraska, but a new survey suggests little growth ahead. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss in Omaha says the strong dollar is continuing to hurt crop prices and exports, so farm income is down in the region.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court will soon release an opinion that could end the use of video conferencing for dispensing abortion-inducing pills to women in rural areas of the state. The high court indicates an opinion will be issued this morning over a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland against the Iowa Board of Medicine.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Dubuque man accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend tried to convince officers at the scene to shoot him. The Telegraph Herald reports 26-year-old Eddie Hicks is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Kahdyesha J. Lemon. She was found outside the couple’s Dubuque residence Wednesday night with more than 20 stab wounds and died at a local hospital.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa authorities say they’ve completed an investigation into an officer-involved shooting earlier this month that injured one man. The state Division of Criminal Investigation said Thursday it would send information to the Muscatine County Attorney’s Office for review. Additional information about the case was not released.

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa camp is expanding to serve more children who are economically disadvantaged or have health problems. KCRG-TV reports that work on a new multipurpose building at Camp Tanager is expected to finish in three weeks. The camp’s director, Donald Pirrie, says the facility is planned for year-round use.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A car chase involving police ended abruptly in central Iowa when an uninvolved vehicle collided into the lead car. The Clive Police Department says 43-year-old Sandra Ann Johnson, of Des Moines, was driving a car Thursday afternoon when an officer initiated a stop. Johnson is accused of driving away and eventually running a red light.

DONALD DEAN FICHTER, 88, of Red Oak (Svcs. 6/22/15)

Obituaries

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DONALD DEAN FICHTER, 88, of Red Oak , died Thu., June 18th, at the Good Samaritan Society, in Red Oak. A Memorial visitation for DONALD FICHTER will be held on Monday, June 22nd, from 10-am until 11:30-a.m., at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold.

Viewing with the family will take place on Saturday afternoon from 2-until 4-p.m., also at the funeral home in Griswold. Cremation will take place on Sunday.

Inurnment will take place in the Whipple Cemetery. A procession to the cemetery will leave from the funeral home at 11:40-a.m., Monday.

DONALD FICHTER is survived by:

His sons – Ronald Fichter and wife Judy of Clarksville, TN, and Dennis Joe Fichter and Jon Claude Fichter, both of Griswold

7 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

2 injured after motorcycle hits a deer in Mills County Thu. night

News

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A man and woman from Glenwood were injured when the motorcycle they were riding struck a deer, in Mills County, Thursday night. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 49-year old Ryan Dwayne Field, was traveling south on Highway 59 at around 9:45-p.m., when a deer suddenly came out of the west ditch and onto the road.

Following the collision, the cycle fell onto its side and slid down the road before ending up in the west ditch. Field, and his passenger, 51-year old Cathleen Field, were hurt during the accident, with Cathleen Field being flown by LifeNet helicopter to UNMC in Omaha. Ryan Field was transported to the same hospital, by Red Oak Rescue.

Deputies with the Mills and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Emerson and Red Oak Rescue, assisted at the scene.

Bluffs woman wanted on a federal warrant surrenders Thu. afternoon

News

June 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs say a woman wanted on a federal warrant for being a fugitive from justice, was apprehended Thursday afternoon without incident. Officials say 28-year old Melissa Ann Cook, of Council Bluffs, was wanted on a warrant out of Douglas County, NE., for Failure to Appear in court on an original, drug-related offense.Bluffs Badge

At around 12:25-p.m., Bluffs Police were contacted by the U-S Marshal’s Office to assist in the serving of a warrant on Cook, who was located inside a home at 200 East Kanesville Blvd. A perimeter was established by Council Bluffs Police and a portion of westbound traffic at Harrison and Kanesville was shut down as the incident unfolded.

Cook came out of the home at around 4:45-p.m. and was taken into custody. 27-year old Brett Fredericksen, of Council Bluffs, was also inside the residence, and came out. He was subsequently charged with Interference with Official Acts.

Cook and Fredericksen were booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail.

Griswold Co-Op Telephone Co. confirms mgmt. changes

News

June 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Board of Directors of Griswold Cooperative Telephone Co. and it’s President Tom Shellberg, have announced the appointment of Amy Mclaren as General Manager of the company, effective earlier this year. In a Press Release, Shellberg said “Within every organization you will find hard working and dedicated employees. Amy’s success is proof of her skill sets and motivation during the seventeen years she has been employed here.”

According to retiring Executive Vice President Bob Drogo, “there is no area of our business and industry that Amy has not been involved in as preparation for advancement, and we are pleased she has accepted this important opportunity .”

Additionally, the Board of Directors confirmed the rest of the management staff are reporting to McLaren. That team includes Amy Carlisle, Accountant/Office Manager; Brent Milner, Outside Plant Supervisor; and; Karl Lantz, Central Office Equipment Supervisor.