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Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., March 19th 2014

News

March 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

MARQUETTE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a massive fire that damaged or destroyed several businesses and homes in the northeast Iowa community of Marquette. Firefighters from eight area departments battled the blaze for hours after it was first reported Monday morning on North Street in downtown Marquette. No injuries were reported.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge says a cancer-stricken 73-year-old man accused of killing his wife in 1997 can leave an Iowa prison and live at his Minnesota home until trial. Judge Paul Miller ruled Tuesday that John Bloomfield will be on house arrest at his St. Paul, Minn., residence until the July 8 trial. Bloomfield is charged in the slaying of 57-year-old Frances Bloomfield.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has overwhelmingly passed legislation that aims to increase penalties for offenders in kidnapping cases involving minors. The bill would toughen penalties for kidnapping offenders in cases involving victims 17 years old and younger. It also would eliminate earned-time credit that reduces an inmate’s sentence for good behavior.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a bill that would require state educators to provide schools with information on radon safety and encourage them to test for the gas. Schools would report to the state Department of Education about how they’re practicing radon safety. The bill returns to the Senate.

Chiefs GM Dorsey says Sanders fiasco ‘put to bed’

Sports

March 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs general manager John Dorsey says the controversial signing of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders by AFC West-rival Denver has been “put to bed” and that he’s focused on what he can do during the rest of free agency and in the draft.

Sanders had visited the Chiefs last week when reports began to surface he had agreed to a contract. His agent, Steve Weinberg, said that was never the case, and reports citing unnamed sources that claimed he was “shopping” the Chiefs’ offer to other teams were inaccurate. Sanders ultimately signed an $18 million, three-year deal with Denver, and the Chiefs’ lengthy and frustrating pursuit of a wide receiver to help out quarterback Alex Smith rolls on.

Dorsey said Tuesday in his first availability since the start of free agency that “that deal was put to bed, we have to move forward and we have to build for this organization.”

Several burn bans in place in southwest Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

March 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Two more counties are being be added to the list of counties in the KJAN listening area which have called for a ban on open burning. A Burn Ban went into effect at 10-a.m. Tuesday, for Fremont County. Later that same day, emergency management officials in Page, Pottawattamie and Montgomery Counties announced Burn Bans would be in effect in those counties beginning at 8-a.m. today (Wednesday). The bans will remain in effect until further notice.

The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. As dry conditions persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly. Pottawattamie County EMA Director Doug Reed says Pott. County “Has seen the devastating effects of fire in extreme conditions and we want to do everything we can to help mitigate an incident like that from occurring.”

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban. Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban.

GLEN MAGILL, 73, of Atlantic (Svcs. 3/22/14)

Obituaries

March 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

GLEN MAGILL, 73, of Atlantic, died Tue., March 18th, at his home. Funeral services for GLEN MAGILL will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., March 22nd, at the 1st Church of Christ in Atlantic.  Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Open Visitation at the funeral home on Thursday, March 20th and Friday, March 21st from 8:00am-5:30pm. Visitation will also be held at the church, one-hour prior to the service on Saturday. Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

GLEN MAGILL is survived by:

His wife – Pat Magill.

His son – Gary (Cheryl) Magill, of Carroll.

His daughter – Ranaye (Aaron) Siggins, of Atlantic.

9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

VERYL EUGENE BENTON, 90, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 3/21/14)

Obituaries

March 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

VERYL EUGENE BENTON, 90, of Guthrie Center, died Mon., March 17th, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center. Funeral services for VERYL BENTON will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., March 21st, at the 1st United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 6-to 8-pm Thu., March 20th.

Burial will be in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

Red Oak man arrested on arson charge Tuesday

News

March 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak have arrested a local man on 2nd degree arson and breach of peace charges. 32-year old Paul Earl Lemburg II, of Red Oak, was arrested at 209 east Nuckols Street on Tuesaday, at around 3:15-p.m.. Lemberg was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

Also arrested Tuesday afternoon, was 31-year old Anthony David Smith, of Red Oak. Smith was charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Winningest Iowa girls’ basketball coach resigns

Sports

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

WAUKON, Iowa (AP) — The winningest coach in Iowa girls’ basketball history has resigned. The Des Moines Register reports Gene Klinge submitted his resignation Monday after his coaching contract was not renewed for the Waukon High School girls’ basketball program. The resignation followed a season in which his team went 8-12.

The 77-year-old told the newspaper that officials from the Allamakee Community School District asked him to resign. A message left for superintendent David Herold was not immediately returned Tuesday. In early 2013, Klinge became just the ninth girls’ basketball coach in the country to reach more than 1,000 game wins. He’s the only Iowa coach to have the distinction.

Klinge has coached basketball for more than 50 seasons, with most spent at West Central in Maynard. He spent 11 seasons at Waukon.

Burn Ban in effect in Pottawattamie County beginning 8-a.m. Wed.

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management reports a burning ban will be in place for Pottawattamie County starting Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. The ban prohibits open burning in Pottawattamie County, including all the cities within the county.Pott County Emergency Mgmt

The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. As dry conditions persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly. EMA Director Doug Reed says Pott. County “Has seen the devastating effects of fire in extreme conditions and we want to do everything we can to help mitigate an incident like that from occurring.”

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban. Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. For more information on burn bans and the law you can find further information on our facebook page or you may call 712-328-5777.

MEREDITH BLAZEK, 67, of rural Orient (Svcs. 3/22/14)

Obituaries

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MEREDITH BLAZEK, 67, of rural Orient, died Tue., March 18th, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center. Celebration of Life Services for MEREDITH BLAZEK will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., March 22nd. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Visitation is open from Noon until 8-p, at the funeral home on Fri., March 21st, with the family greeting friends from 6 until 8-pm. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow at the Orient United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Meridith Blazek memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

 MEREDITH BLAZEK is survived by:

Her husband – Vern Blazek of Orient.

Her children – Irene Kay Blazek of Woodbine; Linda Ann Blazek Garvin and husband Mike of Polk City; Glenda Marie Still and husband Eric of Tacoma, WA, and Martin Wayne Blazek and wife Staci of Alexandra, IN.

8 grandchildren,  other relatives and friends.

Senator seeks secret state settlement records

News

March 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state senator from Des Moines has asked Gov. Terry Branstad to turn over public documents related to settlements reached with employees who were laid off then paid to sign agreements to keep it quiet. Sen. Janet Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, and chairwoman of the Iowa Senate Oversight Committee, says she wants copies of any such agreements since January 2011. She also wants to know who requested the agreements and who authorized the payments.

On Sunday the Des Moines Register reported that more than $280,000 was paid to six former state employees. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she and Branstad were unaware of the agreements and a comprehensive review is under way. Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers says results of the review and any action taken will be made public.