United Group Insurance

Financially Struggling UFL to Cut Season Short

Sports

October 17th, 2011 by Jim Field

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The struggling United Football League is cutting its season short, moving up its championship game to Friday.  UFL founder and owner Bill Hambrecht said in a statement Monday
that the league would turn its focus to “building a blueprint for the long-term success of the league” and that there were plans to expand from four to six teams in 2012.  Each team has played four of its six regular-season games in a league that has lost more than $100 million the last two years.  The Las Vegas Locos will visit the Virginia Destroyers in the championship game. The Sacramento Mountain Lions will visit the Omaha Nighthawks on Friday in what the league calls the consolation game.

Atlantic teen sentenced for role in Neb. shooting.

News

October 17th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — An 18-year-old Cass County, Iowa man has been sentenced to 4 to 9 years in prison for his role in a deadly shooting of another man in Bellevue. Online court records show Cable Cohrs, of Atlantic, was sentenced on Monday in Sarpy County, NE, District Court after pleading guilty to being an accessory to a felony and aiding consummation of a felony. Cohrs was originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Kyle Williams. In exchange for Cohrs’ plea, the murder charge was dropped.

Williams was found injured and unresponsive by his grandfather at their home in March. He died of his injuries. Johnathan Armendariz was sentenced in September to 80 to 100 years in prison on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in Williams’ death.

Governors at odds over Missouri River management

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 17th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

HELENA, Mont. (AP) – Missouri River state governors are clashing with Montana over flood control as federal officials tell them damage from this year’s high water will make them even more vulnerable during next year’s flood season. Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer lashed back against a developing notion that downstream flood control should dominate upstream reservoir management. He told the downstream governors Monday such a plan would lead to empty reservoirs in Montana when a drought hits.

Schweitzer called into what was expected to be a private meeting attended by governors from Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota. The host, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, clashed with Schweitzer during the meeting. Schweitzer invited reporters to his office to listen to the meeting. He criticized the others for closing the doors to the public.

Iowa State running back likely done for season

Sports

October 17th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State running back Shontrelle Johnson may be gone for the rest of the season because of a neck injury. Johnson injured his neck in a loss to Texas on Oct. 1 and has missed the last two games. Coach Paul Rhoads said Monday that the medical staff hasn’t decided yet how to treat the injury. Johnson was the Cyclones’ leading rusher when he got hurt. The 5-foot-9, 187-pound sophomore has carried 51 times for 247 yards, an average of 4.8 yards a carry. Sophomore James White has played most of the time at running back since Johnson’s injury. White rushed for 148 yards at Baylor on Oct. 8 and had 61 yards in 14 carries at Missouri on Saturday.

Wellmark proposes 9.35 percent hike in premiums

News

October 17th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is proposing a 9.35 percent increase in premiums for more than 70,000 individual customers in Iowa, saying it’s needed to offset rising health care costs. The Des Moines-based health insurer announced the increase Monday. Wellmark executives say the primary factor behind the increase is increased use of health care services as Iowans become less healthy, in part because of obesity. The proposal would translate into an increase of up to $47 per month. Earlier this year, Wellmark imposed an 8.5 percent increase on individual customers. That followed an 18 percent hike in 2010. Hugh Espey, executive director of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, calls the proposed increase “outrageous” during a time of economic crisis. A public hearing on the increase is scheduled for Dec. 10.

LORETTA WOHLENHAUS, 79, of Atlantic (svcs 10-19-11)

Obituaries

October 17th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LORETTA WOHLENHAUS, 79, of Atlantic, died Sun., Oct. 16th, at the Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, NE. Funeral services for LORETTA WOHLENHAUS will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Oct. 19th, at the St. Timothy Catholic Church, south of Cumberland. Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitstion at the funeral home is open from 8am until the time of Rosary, which begins at 7-pm Tuesday, Oct. 18th.

Burial is in the St. Timothy Catholic Cemetery.

Condolences may be left on-line at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

LORETTA WOHLENHAUS is survived by:

Her husband – Lawrence Wohlenhaus, of Atlantic.

Her daughters – Susan (Marc) Topkin, of St. Petersburg, FL; & Mary Kay Wohlenhaus, of Denver, CO.

Her brother – Stanley (Beth) Janousek, of Norfolk, NE.

Her Sister – Agnes Molacek, of Schuyler, NE.

Her sister-in-law, and 2 grandchildren.

I-80 EB in Pott. now open after semi fire (update 11:29-a.m.)

News

October 17th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports all lanes of I-80 eastbound near Shelby are now open, following a semi-tractor trailer fire earlier this morning.

Atlantic Steelers Sunday Results

Sports

October 17th, 2011 by Jim Field

3rd/4th Grade:

  • Carroll Cardinals Red 6, Atlantic Steelers Black 0
  • Carroll Cardinals Black 7, Atlantic Steelers White 0

5th Grade:

  • Atlantic Steelers Black 7, Carroll Cardinals Red 6
  • Carroll Cardinals White 7, Atlantic Steelers White 6

6th Grade:

  • Carroll Panthers Blue 6, Atlantic Steelers Black 0
  • Carroll Panthers White 25, Atlantic Steelers White 0

Reminder: Conversation on mental health to be held in Cass County

News

October 17th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Mental Health Coordinator Teresa Kanning says seats are still available for this Thursday evening’s “Conversation on Mental Health,” which takes place at Iowa Western Community College, in Atlantic. The event begins at 7-p.m., with keynote speaker Joan Becker.

Becker’s son Mark shot and killed Aplington-Parkersburg Football Coach Ed Thomas in June 2009. A jury found him guilty of 1st degree murder in March 2010, after rejecting his insanity defense. He was later sentenced to life in prison.

Joan Becker, who has two other sons, is making her way around the state to hold conversations about mental health issues. She spoke last month at the Wallace Country Life Center in rural Orient, about her son‘s struggle with paranoid schizophrenia.

Kanning told the Board of Supervisors during a meeting earlier this month, that Becker will discuss what parts of the mental health system failed her son, and which parts were helpful. A local mental health panel discussion will follow Becker’s presentation about how the system works or doesn’t work, in Cass County.

Several mental health and medical professionals, as well as Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren and County Attorney Dan Feistner, have signed-up for the program. Some of those individuals will participate in the panel discussion that evening. The event is open to the public. To reserve your seat, call 712-243-4424.

Fremont County arrest report

News

October 17th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s office reports five people were arrested over the past week and a half. On October 10th, 62-year old Mary Jane Hammes, of Tabor, was arrested for 5th degree theft, and 19-year old Alexandra Brooke Odell, of Hamburg, was arrested on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge.

On October 8th, 47-year old Michelle Dawn Campbell, of Thurman, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for 3rd degree theft. She posted a $2,300 cash bond that same day. And, 24-year old Lester A. Gonzalez, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested for 1st Offense OWI.

And, on October 6th, 21-year old Amy Marie McConahay, of Glenwood, was arrested on two counts of allegedly providing alcohol to minors. The woman posted $1,000 bond. Her arraignment is set to take place October 31st, with a jury trial scheduled for December 6th.