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Iowa to Host Dayton in NIT

Sports

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa will host Dayton in the National Invitational Tournament on Tuesday at 6:30, the first postseason trip for the Hawkeyes since 2006. The Hawkeyes (17-16) earned a No. 7 seed to the NIT, while the Flyers (20-12) are seeded second. But the Flyers won’t have their home court available because it’s being used to host the first round of the NCAA tournament. Iowa’s last trip to the postseason came six years ago when it was stunned by Northwestern State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Dayton, which plays in the Atlantic-10, fell to Xavier in the conference tournament. The Hawkeyes got beat by eventual Big Ten tournament champion Michigan State 92-75 in Indianapolis on Thursday. The winner will face either LSU or Oregon in the second round.

Northern Iowa also made the NIT field.  The Panthers (19-13) will play at St. Joseph’s (20-13) in a first round game Wednesday night at 6:15.

Iowa State Earns 1st NCAA Bid Since 2005

Sports

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State earned a No. 8 seed for the NCAA tournament and will play ninth-seeded Connecticut in Louisville on Thursday. It’s the first NCAA tournament bid in seven years for the Cyclones (22-10), who were knocked out of the Big 12 tournament by Texas. The Cyclones have never faced Connecticut, which won the NCAA title last season. The winner of that game would likely face top-seeded Kentucky on Saturday. Iowa State celebrated its selection to the tournament with a watch party at Hilton Coliseum. A crowd of roughly 1,500 cheered wildly when the Cyclones seed was shown on the scoreboard hanging over center court.  Tipoff versus Connecticut on Thursday will be at approximately 8:20pm CT and will be televised on TBS with Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, and Lesley Visser as the broadcast team.

Audubon City Council to hold budget hearing Monday

News

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A public hearing will be held Monday evening in Audubon, with regard to the City’s proposed Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget. A resolution approving the budget will follow the hearing, which begins just after 7-p.m.

In other business, the Council will hear about tornado preparedness, a golf cart ordinance, and act on a resolutiuon establishing employee compensation practices. Additional discussion will cover an ordinance banning parking in yards, within the Audubon City limits.

Massena City Council to meet Monday

News

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Massena City Council will meet in a regular session Monday, beginning at 7-p.m. During the meeting, the Council will receive an update on the Sewer/Water system from MSA Professionals, discuss and possibly act on a bid for a High Service Pump, and act on removing former fire chief Chris Blaine from the City’s credit card.

In other business, the Council in Massena will discuss and possible act on: Electronic community events and/or “Welcome” entrance signs; Improvements to Centennial Park; Franchise Agreements; and Agreement between the City and Railroad Management, LLC; and, nuisance properties and junkyards.

RUSSELL GRISSO, 47, of Griswold (No services planned)

Obituaries

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

RUSSELL GRISSO, 47, of Griswold (& formerly of the Atlantic & Lewis areas), died Sat., March 10th, at his home. Cremation has taken place, and no funeral services are planned for RUSSELL GRISSO. Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family in meeting their wishes.

Creighton Beats Drake 53-38 in MVC Women’s Final

Sports

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) – Carli Tritz scored eight of her 19 points in Creighton’s 14-2 finishing run in a 53-38 victory over Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference women’s tournament final on Sunday. Sarah Nelson and McKenzie Fujan added 12 points apiece as the third-seeded Bluejays (20-12) prevailed in a matchup of underdogs and earned their first NCAA tournament berth since 2002 and fourth overall. Creighton also won won the men’s conference tournament last week in St. Louis. Rachael Hackbarth had 15 points and 14 rebounds for seventh-seeded Drake (18-15), the 25th double double of the season for the league’s player of the year. Hackbarth totaled 65 points and 45 rebounds in four tournament games and Morgan Reid added 10 points for the Bulldogs, who beat Creighton in both regular season meetings.

ERMA R. ANDERSEN, 95, of Collinsville, OK & formerly of Exira (Svcs. 3-13-12)

Obituaries

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ERMA R. ANDERSEN, 95, of Collinsville, OK (& formerly of Exira), died Thu., March 8th, at the Frances Streitel Villa in Collinsville, OK. Funeral services for ERMA ANDERSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., March 13th, at the Exira Lutheran Church. Kessler Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

Friends may call the funeral home, where the family visitation begins at 6-p.m. Monday (3/12).

Burial will be in the Exira Cemetery.

Erma Andersen is survived by:

Her daughter – Janet Smalygo, of Collinsville, OK.

Her sister – Vera Andersen, of Audubon.

7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, her daughter-in-law, other relatives & friends.

Atlantic Pursuit ends with injury accident Sunday morning

News

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

(updated 4-p.m. 3-11-12 w/corrected vehicle description & pictures)

A traffic stop in the vicinity of 7th and Walnut early this (Sunday) morning ended with a chase and a crash on the west side of town.

Chevy HHR involved in chash & crash Sunday (3-11-12)

 Atlantic Police chased a silver Chevy HHR to an area just west of the Salvation Army Thrift Store on West 7th Street, where the vehicle went out of control and crashed into a large piece of agricultural equipment on the north side of 7th Street/Highway 6, belonging to Lindeman Tractor. The accident happened at around 3:35-a.m.

The male driver of the vehicle suffered trauma to his head, but was reportedly out of the vehicle and walking when Atlantic Rescue and Medivac were dispatched to the scene. The unidentified man was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment. Police Chief Steve Green has confirmed the man was transported from CCMH by Lifenet Helicopter to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha.

2nd picture of HHR

 A report on his condition is not available from the hospital due to privacy restrictions. Green said additional information would be released Monday.

The incident remained under investigation, Sunday.

Home invasion-type incident reported in Villisca Thursday night

News

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department investigated a home invasion-type incident Thursday night, in Villisca. Sheriff’s officials reported this weekend a 9-1-1 call was received at about 9:40-p.m. Thursday, from a woman who said that a white man wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and black ski mask attempted to confront her when she entered the back door of her residence. The woman ran from the home and call authorities.

A Sheriff’s Deputy on the scene within three-minutes cleared the residence. Authorities believe the suspect ran out the back of the residence. Red Oak Police and a Montgomery County K-9 Unit assisted in a search for the suspect.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001. Authorities are also asking people in the area to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity in and around their residence.

Iowa City West Rolls to Class 4A Title in Boys High School Basketball Tournament

Sports

March 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Junior Jeremy Morgan had 26 points and Iowa City West capped an undefeated season by blasting Sioux City East 67-52 in the Class 4A title game. Dondre Alexander scored 14 for the Trojans (26-0), who became just the fourth school in Iowa to have its boys and girls teams win state crowns in the same year. Iowa City West rolled out to a 37-15 lead and cruised from there, winning its fourth state title and first since 2000. Highly-touted Iowa recruit Adam Woodbury had 16 points and nine rebounds for Sioux City East (21-4). The Trojans dealt with Woodbury by shooting around him, hitting 43 percent of their shots and shooting 8 of 17 from 3-point range.