United Group Insurance

Harlan woman hurt in Bluffs crash last week

News

December 11th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs report a woman from Shelby County was injured during a crash that took place last week. Information released this week indicates 51-year old Melinda Mathiasen, of Harlan, suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries during the crash that took place Dec. 5th  on Interstate 29, near South 24th Street, in Council Bluffs.

Offcials say Mathiasen’s 1992 Lincoln Towncar was struck by a 2007 Nissan Sentra driven by 23-year-old Stephanie Jones, of Council Bluffs. The accident happened at around 8:30-a.m.  as Jones was traveling west on I-29 and attempting to merge into the left lane. As she was switching lanes, Jones’ car hit Mathiasen’s vehicle, which caused the Lincoln to strike sand-filled barrels along the road. Both cars spun around before coming to a stop.

Matheny is impressed with Peralta

Sports

December 11th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals hold their players to a high standard of conduct, and manager Mike Matheny is certain Jhonny Peralta will fit right in. The Cardinals’ new shortstop was suspended last summer along as part of Major League Baseball’s investigation into the Biogenesis clinic. Peralta served a 50-game drug suspension and returned to the Tigers at the end of the regular season.

Several players around the majors expressed anger when Peralta signed a $53 million, four-year contract with St. Louis in November. But Matheny sees a player who popular with his teammates and is working to make amends. “Been very proud just from the outside of him being part of our club now and watched how he’s handled this. He’s been very remorseful but taking it like a man. He made a mistake. This is what’s happened. Now I’d like to move on. And I get that,” Matheny said.

Tuesday Boys High School Basketball Results

Sports

December 11th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Hawkeye 10:

  • Atlantic 66, Red Oak 31
  • Carroll 65, Denison-Schleswig 50
  • Glenwood 65, Lewis Central 58 (OT)
  • Creston 94, Shenandoah 67
  • Kuemper Catholic 71, St. Albert 50
  • Maryville, MO 48, Clarinda 44

 Western Iowa:

  • Griswold 53, Audubon 35
  • IKM-Manning 63, Treynor 57
  • Missouri Valley 52, Riverside 46
  • Underwood 52, A-H-S-T 28

Rolling Valley:

  • Boyer Valley 62, CAM 38
  • Coon Rapids-Bayard 55, Adair-Casey 34
  • Paton-Churdan 48, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 32
  • West Harrison 58, Glidden-Ralston 42
  • Ar-We-Va 75, Woodbine 45

Others:

  • Bedford 57, Southwest Valley 37
  • Abraham Lincoln 61, Thomas Jefferson 47
  • East Mills 66, Fremont Mills 50
  • Essex 47, Clarinda Academy 43
  • Guthrie Center 47, West Central Valley 36
  • Heartland Christian 57, Stanton 55
  • Nodaway Valley 58, Lenox 37
  • Panorama 64, Earlham 51
  • Sidney 86, South Page 35

Iowa News Headlines: Wed., Dec. 11th 2013

News

December 11th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The settlement of a lawsuit challenging a closed-door meeting last year regarding a former Des Moines superintendent has been finalized. A judge approved the settlement Tuesday between the Des Moines School Board and a former board member. The board will release audio and transcripts from a portion of an 80-minute May 2012 meeting. The settlement also includes the board’s acknowledgement it acted inappropriately by discussing matters that should have been public.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A memo sent by a former prosecutor was the latest focus of a trial in U.S. District Court in Sioux City alleging discrimination by a former U.S. attorney. The Sioux City Journal reports that one of former prosecutor Martha Fagg’s supervisors cautioned her about sending the memo to then-U.S. Attorney Stephanie Rose. The memo raised concerns that a personnel move could be seen as age discrimination.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Construction of a new Sioux City casino has been halted until litigation can be resolved between Iowa gaming regulators and the owner of the Argosy riverboat casino. The Sioux City Journal reports that Polk County Judge Robert Hanson granted a motion for a stay Tuesday in favor of Penn National Gaming Co. Penn claims the state violated the company’s constitutional protections, as well as state and federal law, in awarding a license to Sioux City Entertainment in April.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state Department of Natural Resources says wildlife supervisors will be on Facebook on Dec. 19 to answer questions from the public. Karen Kinkead and Willie Suchy of the Wildlife Diversity Program will monitor a specific post for questions on anything ranging from animals in a backyard to out in the field. People can also post questions ahead of time on the agency’s page.

Judge halts construction of new Sioux City casino

News

December 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has halted construction of a new Sioux City casino until litigation can be resolved between Iowa gaming regulators and the owner of the Argosy riverboat casino. The Sioux City Journal reports Polk County Judge Robert Hanson granted a motion for a stay Tuesday in favor of Penn National Gaming Co.  The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission awarded a license in April to Sioux City Entertainment to build the $128.5 million Hard Rock casino. The land-based casino is set to replace the Argosy.

Penn claims the commission violated the company’s constitutional protections, as well as state and federal laws in awarding the license to Sioux City Entertainment. They also say the commission ignored deficiencies in the winning bid.

IA Transportation Commission approves FY 2015 Traffic Safety Improvement Program projects

News

December 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Transportation Commission Tuesday, approved the fiscal year 2015 Traffic Safety Improvement Program projects. More than $8.7 million in safety improvements were approved for 46 projects. Among the projects in southwest & western Iowa:

Montgomery County received a requested half-million dollars to add six-feet of pavement to County Road H-34, to create a 24-foot wide pavement and rumble strips, and wide painted edges. The improvements are along a 3.25-mile segment of H-34, one-mile east of A Avenue to Fernwood Avenue. The total cost of the project is $546, 812.

The City of Crescent received a requested $50,000 from the Commission for work on the Old Lincoln Highway. The works entails a cut back from the south hillside, improve site triangle at the intersection of Old Lincoln Highway and Powells Addition. The project is expected to cost $50,000.

And, the City of Carroll received a requested One-half millions dollars for the widening of U-S Highway 30 to provide east-and westbound left turn lanes. The projects involves the replacement of traffic signals, providing protected/permissive east/west left turns, and an improve intersection radii, at the intersection of U-S 30 and Grant Road. The total project cost is $713,000.

Other funding from the Commission includes: $105,000 to replace traffic signals and mast arms in Denison, at the intersection of Iowa Hwy 39 and Avenue C. and $31,830 to removes traffic signals and replace them with 4-way stop signs in Onawa, at the intersection of Iowa Highway 175 and 10th Street.

If the total project amount is greater than the grant amount, the grant recipient will be responsible to provide additional funding.

 

Iowa Transportation Commission approves grant for Carter Lake

News

December 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Transportation Commission Tuesday, approved a Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Immediate Opportunity grant application submitted by the city of Carter Lake. Up to $815,291 will be made available to assist in the reconstruction of approximately 690 feet of North Fifth Street, approximately 1,286 feet of Avenue J, and approximately 690 feet of North Ninth Street located on the southwest side of town. This project is anticipated to be completed by September 2014.

These improvements are necessary to provide improved access to Paxton & Vierling Steel’s facility, which is a steel processing and fabrication facility and a subsidiary of Owen Industries Inc. The improvements will support the creation of 18 new jobs and the retention of 78 jobs along with $39,658,000 in associated capital investment.

Funding for the grant comes from the city share of the RISE Fund.

Feds back most of Iowa’s Medicaid expansion plan

News

December 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal authorities are granting approval to Iowa’s proposal to expand low-income health care. Officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service announced Tuesday that Iowa’s request was granted with “virtually all the initiatives the state has proposed.” But authorities are not giving the Gov. Terry Branstad as much flexibility as he sought to charge premiums to the very poor.

Iowa sought a waiver enabling the state to receive more federal Medicaid money for the proposed Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. The new health insurance program would cover up to 150,000 residents. The state wanted to charge small monthly premiums to those with incomes over half of the federal poverty line starting in 2015. Federal officials said Iowa could only charge those with incomes above 100 percent of poverty.

Reid says Senate will not extend farm law

Ag/Outdoor

December 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) – Majority Leader Harry Reid says the Senate will not extend current farm law if Congress can’t agree on a new farm bill before adjourning next week.   House leaders have reserved space on their agenda this week for extending the current law until the end of January. Lawmakers fear that milk prices might rise sharply if dairy subsidies expire Jan. 1.  The House and Senate have passed separate versions, but with widespread differences over crop subsidies and how much to cut food stamps.

House Speaker John Boehner said last week that the House should extend the current law while negotiators seek a compromise.  Reid’s response Tuesday, in his words: “Let them vote on it. We’re not going to do it.”  Some senators fear an extension relieves pressure to get a deal.

Proposed Jefferson casino details released

News

December 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Supporters of a proposed Jefferson casino say they’ve reached an agreement with the casino operator to share 5 percent of the revenue with charitable organizations in Green County and the surrounding counties.  Grow Greene County Gaming Corp., the nonprofit organization applying for a gambling license and Wild Rose Entertainment, the company planning to run the casino announced details of their operating agreement Tuesday.

Casinos in Iowa share an average of 4.1 percent of revenue with charitable groups. The state requires at least 3 percent. Tom Timmins, Wild Rose CEO says the Jefferson casino should generate $30 million a year, providing $1.5 million for charitable groups in Greene and surrounding counties.  Wild Rose operates casinos in Emmetsburg and Clinton. It’s proposing a casino, restaurant and hotel complex for Jefferson.