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House panel voted 23-1 for bill that may bring about end of dog racing in Iowa

News

April 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A House committee has advanced a bill that supporters say could be the vehicle used to ratify a deal that would end greyhound racing in Iowa. Representative Guy Vander Linden, a Republican from Oskaloosa, was one of 23 members of the House Ways and Means Committee to vote for a bill that will be altered later with the details of whatever deal is struck. “It is the intent of the General Assmebly to enact legislation relating to live dog racing requirements at parimutuel dog race tracks,” Vander Linden said.

Representative Todd Pritchard, a Democrat from Charles City, says officials from the greyhound industry and the casinos in Council Bluffs and Dubuque where dogs race today have been negotiating for a couple of weeks. “It’s my understanding that the parties are close to an agreement, if not having an agreement and they’re finalizing that,” Pritchard says. “I would hope that process continues and we have an acceptable agreement.”

The casinos say they’re sinking 13-million dollars a year into subsidizing greyhound races that few patrons bet on or watch. Legislators anticipate a deal between the greyhound industry and the two casinos that would have the casinos pay a “cessation fee” and pay into a multi-million dollar “retirement fund” for greyhound owners and breeders in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

MARJORIE MAXINE COFFMAN, 89, of Oakland (Svcs. 4/14/14)

Obituaries

April 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MARJORIE MAXINE COFFMAN, 89, of Oakland, died Wed., April 9th, at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Graveside services for MARJORIE COFFMAN will be held 11-a.m. Mon., April 14th, at the Oaklawn Cemetery at Oakland.  Rieken-Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland has the arrangements.

An open visitation will be held from 2-until 6-pm Sunday, April 13th, at the Rieken-Vieth Funeral Home, where the family will not be present at any specific time.

MARJORIE COFFMAN is survived by:

Her children: Ernie Coffman, and Shirley (Bill) Adams, all of Oakland; Wayne (Sharon) Coffman, of Lebanon, MO.; Brad (Loretta) Coffman, of Silver City, IA; and Brenda Miller, of Avoca.

9 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area: Thu., 4/10/14

Weather

April 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

346 AM CDT THU APR 10 2014
EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY. WARMER. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO  15 MPH.
TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN CLEARING. BREEZY…COOLER. HIGH IN THE MID 60S. NORTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.
TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY UNTIL EARLY MORNING THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 40S. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 70S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 40S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING…THEN THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 70S. SOUTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 70 PERCENT.
SATURDAY NIGHT…THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. LOW IN THE UPPER 40S. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 70 PERCENT.

SUNDAY…RAIN LIKELY. BREEZY. MUCH COOLER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. CHANCE OF RAIN 70 PERCENT.

3 indicted in northern Missouri bank robbery

News

April 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Three Iowa men have been indicted on charges of robbing a northern Missouri bank of approximately $12,000 that was later found stashed in an evergreen tree.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says a grand jury in Kansas City returned the indictments Wednesday against Donald Kestner Jr. and Torrence Joseph O’Neill, both 26 and from Mount Pleasant, and 27-year-old Travis Joe Davis of Fort Dodge. They’re accused in the March 21 armed robbery of Citizens Bank and Trust, located just south of the Iowa border in Burlington Junction, Mo.

Authorities said the suspects drove north and stashed their car in Iowa, then were captured after running back into Missouri. A plastic bag containing the cash was later found in a tree branch in Iowa.

Iowa football looks solid at RB, WR

Sports

April 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa appears to be deep enough at both running back and wide receiver heading into next season. What the Hawkeyes would really like to see is a few of those guys blossom into big-time playmakers.

Iowa’s abundance of backs could be the envy of the new Big Ten West in 2014, and the Hawkeyes are also deep and experienced at wide receiver. But the Hawkeyes also averaged 4.2 yards per rush and 6.8 yards per pass last season en route to just 26.3 points a game.

That’s why one of the main tasks for Iowa this spring has been to identify explosive but possibly inexperienced players and see how close they are to helping Iowa next season.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., April 10th 2014

News

April 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Wapello County officials have agreed to make repairs to the 120-year-old courthouse. The Ottumwa Courier reports the Wapello County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday night approved spending $139,000 on repairs and maintenance for the courthouse, built in 1894. The work will be done by Karr Tuckpointing of Vinton.

ACKLEY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa inspectors have cited a care center after incidents in which residents weren’t properly supervised. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports state inspectors cited the Presbyterian Village in Ackley. In one, a resident with dementia left the home during the early hours of February 4th and was found outside later with a 78.3 degree temperature. In another incident, residents with Alzheimer’s engaged in sex.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Iowa City say a man accused of dropping his pants in front of two women blamed a faulty belt. Iowa City police tell the Press-Citizen say 51-year-old Vincent Vogelsang approached two women Tuesday afternoon and dropped his pants. He is also accused of making lewd and sexual gestures toward them.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man has been charged in federal court with murder in connection to a fatal stabbing on the Meskwaki Settlement in central Iowa. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for northern Iowa says 20-year-old Jonathan Youngbear made an appearance yesterday in Cedar Rapids federal court. He was held without bond. Youngbear was arrested in February.

Reds beat Cardinals 4-0, avoid sweep

Sports

April 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Billy Hamilton had three hits and his first two steals, and scored easily after tagging up on a shallow outfield pop fly to support a strong outing from Mike Leake in the Cincinnati Reds’ 4-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

Leake (1-1) allowed four hits and a walk in eight scoreless innings and Devin Mesoraco hit a two-run home run for the Reds, who avoided a three-game sweep after dropping their ninth series in their last 10 in St. Louis. They’re 2-4 against the Cardinals, their NL Central rival, and wrapped up a 2-4 trip.

Shelby Miller (0-2) allowed his fourth homer in two starts and faced trouble most of his six innings, but held the Reds hitless in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position. Mesoraco hit his first homer in the fourth after doubling twice Tuesday in his first start after coming off the 15-day disabled list.

Iowa State halts celebration after student hurt

News

April 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University’s president has halted a popular annual celebration after a rowdy crowd caused damage near the school that hurt one student and led to the arrest of two people. University President Steven Leath said at a news conference that Veishea, an annual multi-day celebration on campus, would be canceled after 5 p.m. Wednesday. Officials have not decided whether to hold it again in future years.

The university says one student was seriously injured after a crowd disturbance near the campus late Tuesday, in which people overturned cars and threw rocks at officers. Police Cmdr. Geoff Huff says people knocked down two light poles, striking the student who was badly hurt. The school has not identified the student.

Police told The Associated Press that the crowd dispersed early Wednesday.

AUDREY ZIMMERMAN, 90, of Avoca (Svcs. 4/12/14)

Obituaries

April 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AUDREY ZIMMERMAN, 90, of Avoca, died Wed., April 9th, at the Avoca Nursing & Rehab Center. Graveside services for AUDREY ZIMMERMAN will be held 11-a.m. Sat., April 12th, at the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

AUDREY ZIMMERMAN is survived by:

Her sisters – LaVonne Rasuse, of Richland, WA., & Mary Ann Graybill, of Lake Charles, LA.

Her brother – Melvin Turk, of Panora.

Many nieces, and nephews.

Non-injury accident in Atlantic, Tuesday

News

April 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Atlantic say no injuries were reported following a collision late Tuesday morning at the intersection of Highway 6 and 22nd Street. Authorities say a vehicle driven by Mark Darrow, of Merriam Woods, MO., was preparing to turn onto 22nd Street off of southbound Highway 6, and had stopped to wait for traffic to pass before making the turn.

A vehicle driven by Thomas Dahl, of Dexter, was also traveling south on Highway 6, and failed to stop in time before rear-ending the Woods vehicle. The accident happened at around 11:15-a.m. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,500. Dalh was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and/or reduce Speed.