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Chase ends in Council Bluffs

News

July 2nd, 2011 by admin

The Council Bluffs Police department assisted the Omaha Police Department in a vehicle pursuit on Friday evening.  Officers from the Omaha Police department were actively pursuing two armed suspects in what was believed to be a stolen vehicle, when officers from the Council Bluffs Police Department joined the chase at 8:50pm.  During the pursuit the vehicle struck a parked vehicle in the area of South 35th Street and 8th Avenue, but continued to flee. 

Eventually the suspects crashed in the 10th block of South 31st Street and both suspects were taken into custody as the vehicle caught fire as a result of the crash.  Members of the Council Bluffs Fire Department were able to extinguish the blaze and the vehicle was confirmed stolen from Omaha.  The driver of the vehicle was identified as 21-year-old Eric Lozano who was arrested for previous valid warrants and also charged with Theft in the 2nd Degree and Felony Eluding.  The passenger in the vehicle was 18-year-old Aleazar Rodriguez who was charged as a material witness in a felony assault of police officers in Omaha, Theft in the 2nd Degree and Eluding.  Both suspects were held pending a court appearance.

Friday Baseball/Softball Results

Sports

July 2nd, 2011 by admin

Friday Baseball

  • Walnut 21, CAM 1 (4 innings)
  • St. Albert 17, Clarinda 6
  • Coon Rapids-Bayard 8, Earlham 6
  • Nishnabotna 14, Sidney 6
  • Red Oak 8, Corning 7
  • Urbandale 3, Lewis Central 1
  • Treynor 10, Missouri Valley 0 (5 innings)
  • Southeast Warren 13, Nodaway Valley 2
  • Martensdale-St. Mary’s 3, Gilbert 0
  • Martensdale-St. Mary’s 4, Dallas Center-Grimes 2
  • Iowa Christian 4, Orient-Macksburg 2
  • West Harrison 10, Woodbine 0 (6 innings)

Friday Softball                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

  • Abraham Lincoln 12, St. Albert 0
  • AHST 10, Griswold 2
  • Audubon 14, Underwood 3 (6)
  • Charter Oak-Ute 8, Logan-Magnolia 2
  • Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson 10, Stanton 4 (S: 10-5)
  • Creston 8, Chariton 4
  • Creston 3, Fort Dodge 0
  • Denison-Schleswig 2, Lewis Central 1
  • Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton 13, West Central 3 (Exira/EHK: 21-4)
  • Fremont-Mills 10, East Mills 0 (5) (FM: 21-7)
  • Nodaway Valley 4, Southeast Warren 1
  • Treynor 6, Missouri Valley 0 (T: 24-3; MV: 19-6)

Dallas Center-Grimes Tournament

  • Creston 8, Chariton 4
  • Creston 2, Ft. Dodge 0
  • Bishop Heelan 8, Chariton 3
  • Dallas Center-Grimes 8, Ft. Dodge 0
  • Dallas Center-Grimes 4, Bishop Heelan 3  (8)

LAWRENCE VORRATH (svcs. set for July 9th)

Obituaries

July 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LAWRENCE VORRATH, 98, of Greenfield, died May 30th, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle. Memorial Services for LAWRENCE VORRATH will be held 1-p.m.  Sat., July 9th, at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be may to the Lawrence Vorrath Memorial Fund, to be established by the family.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com

Lawrence Vorrath is survived by:

His wife – Lucille Vorrath, of Greenfield.

His son – Gary (Columbine) Vorrath, of Greenfield.

His Daughter – Marleta (Maurice) Thompson, of Highland Village, TX.

His sister – Ethel Heuckendorf, of Council Bluffs.

7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.

2011 Final Iowa Girls High School Softball Rankings

Sports

July 1st, 2011 by Jim Field

Compiled by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7/1/2011
Class 4A
4A
SCHOOL
Record
LW
1
Bettendorf
35-0
2
2
Des Moines East
32-3
1
3
Muscatine
28-6
3
4
Ottumwa
25-6
4
5
Iowa City West
25-7
7
6
Burlington
26-5
8
7
Cedar Rapids Jefferson
26-6
4
8
Sioux City East
26-6
9
9
Ankeny
27-5
10
10
Davenport West
25-8
6
11
Waukee
25-8
11
12
West Des Moines Valley
22-10
NR
13
Johnston
25-9
12
14
North Scott
22-0
NR
15
Dubuque Hempstead
27-4
15
Dropped Out: Dowling Catholic (13), Cedar Rapids Xavier (14)
Class 3A
SCHOOL
Record
LW
1
Carlisle
31-1
2
2
Clear Creek-Amana
28-2
1
3
Dallas Center-Grimes
30-4
3
4
Solon
25-7
7
5
Winterset
24-9
4
6
Chariton
21-7
5
7
Charles City
28-4
9
8
Keokuk
22-8
6
9
West Delaware
29-7
8
10
Creston
25-4
13
11
Sioux City Bishop Heelan
22-6
NR
12
Waverly-Shell Rock
27-6
10
13
Mount Vernon
26-6
14
14
Glenwood
21-6
12
15
Harlan
22-7
15
Dropped Out: Sergeant Bluff-Luton (11)
Class 2A
SCHOOL
Record
LW
1
Durant
27-4
2
2
Bondurant-Farrar
28-5
3
3
Central Springs
28-1
1
4
Alta-Aurelia
22-5
4
5
West Burlington
24-5
5
6
Wilton
26-8
9
7
Emmetsburg
23-6
8
8
Missouri Valley
19-5
10
9
Mediapolis
24-4
13
10
Sumner-Fredericksburg
27-7
12
11
Iowa City Regina
17-12
7
12
Logan-Magnolia
18-3
6
13
Ridge View
20-9
NR
14
Estherville-LC
16-7
14
15
Ogden
20-7
15
Dropped Out: Albia (11)
Class 1A
SCHOOL
Record
LW
1
Akron-Westfield
28-1
1
2
Martensdale-St. Marys
31-0
2
3
NSK-AR
31-3
4
4
Preston
22-5
3
5
Treynor
23-3
8
6
North Mahaska
20-3
9
7
Don Bosco
26-4
6
8
Earlham
21-6
7
9
Lynnville-Sully
19-4
11
10
Charter Oak-Ute
24-7
NR
11
Hinton
19-11
5
12
Mason City Newman Catholic
25-8
NR
13
Des Moines Christian
19-5
13
14
Janesville
27-6
12
15
Newell-Fonda
17-12
10
Dropped Out: West Lyon (14), WCLT (15)

Jahnke Named Atlantic Volleyball Coach

Sports

July 1st, 2011 by Jim Field

The Atlantic Community School District has announced the hiring of Chris Jahnke for the position of Head Volleyball Coach. Coach Jahnke is currently employed at CASS Incorporated in Atlantic and resides in Lewis with his wife Keri. Chris and his wife have five sons and one grandson. Coach Jahnke has most recently served as the Head Coach for the CAM and Griswold school districts. AHS Activities Director Josh Rasmussen says Coach Jahnke will bring leadership, experience, and knowledge to our volleyball program and is excited about working with our girls in preparation for this upcoming volleyball season.

ELDON WILLIAM McCALL, 77, HARLAN (7-5-2011)

Obituaries

July 1st, 2011 by admin

ELDON WILLIAM McCALL, 77, of Harlan died Thursday, June 30th at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha.  Services for Eldon William McCall will be held on Tuesday, July 5th at 10:30 am at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 9:00 pm and Monday from noon to 9:00 pm.  Burial in the Harlan Cemetery.

Eldon William McCall is survived by:

Wife:  Barbara of Harlan

2 Sons:  Rod (Jacquie) McCall of Underwood & Mike (Connie) McCall of Topeka, KS

2 Step-sons:  Kevin (Michelle) Kluver of Cyrstal Lake, IL & Chad (Valerie) Kluver of Portsmouth

His brothers: Gerald (Carolyn) McCall, of Lincoln, NE; Ross (Carol) McCall, of Ashland, NE; & Wade (Paulette) McCall, of Sioux Rapids, IA.

3 Grandchildren

5 Great-Grandchildren

Intentional Levee Breach investigated in Harrison County

News

July 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The following is a statement issued at 12:50-p.m.,  from Doug Reed, with Pott. Co Emergency Mgmt.:

 

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Theulen received a telephone call at approximately 9:50 a.m. this morning from Harrison County Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Oliver. The purpose of that call was for Mr. Oliver to notify us that the Vanmann #30 Levee near Loveland, may be in the process of being intentionally breached via explosives. The timing of the detonation was alleged to be at 10:00 a.m.

At approximately 10:10 a.m., the Pottawattamie County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) received a complaint call from a private citizen who had apparently witnessed the explosion and wanted to know why “we” were blowing up levees. Pottawattamie County did not participate in this intentional levee breach. It is our understanding that neither the State of Iowa, nor the Army Corps of Engineers, nor any other governmental entity, had anything to do with the detonation.

Multiple calls to the Pottawattamie County EOC from concerned citizens regarding this event have followed. In late May, shortly after the release of the inundation maps by the Army Corps of Engineers, a group of private citizens began work on the Vanmann #30 Levee to raise it to a level which would allow it to withstand the anticipated river flow.

On Saturday, June 25th, this levee was naturally breached in Harrison County near DeSoto Bend. A considerable amount of water flowed south and pooled behind the portion of the Vanmann #30 Levee in question. Pottawattamie County was first notified that a group of citizens wanted to breach this levee on Sunday, June 26th. The purpose of this breach was to lower the Vanmann #30 Levee to the prior level to allow the pooling water to flow back into the Missouri River.

EMA Coordinator Theulen met with the group that evening and informed them that they would likely need the permission of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, before such an activity could take place. These individuals were also cautioned that any activity undertaken by them which affected the flow of water would be at their own risk should the lives and/or property of others be impacted.

On Tuesday, June 28th, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources determined that it did not have authority to regulate the levee in question because it was put into place prior to their statutory authority. The Corps initially indicated that they would not be approving the breaching of the Vanmann #30 Levee. This morning, however, the Army Corps of Engineers indicated that it also had no authority to regulate the levee in question as it is not a federal levee and is outside of federal jurisdiction.

As of this writing, Pottawattamie County is still gathering information about the activities at the Vanmann #30 Levee. We received no advance notification from any individuals involved of with the imminent intention to breach the levee. A member of the Vanmann #30 Levee District was contacted by a representative of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office late this morning. That individual confirmed that a half mile stretch of the Vanmann #30 Levee (from approximately river mile marker 637 to 637.5) was mechanically excavated. He further confirmed that further lowering of the levee was accomplished via use of explosives.

Obviously, we will be monitoring this situation very closely – both in terms of observing the effect that this breach has on water flow and river levels, and in terms of tracking potential damage to critical infrastructure and private property elsewhere downstream. Furthermore, we are very disappointed in the decision to go forward with the breaching of the Vanmann #30 Levee without notifying any authorities in Pottawattamie County.

There are tens of thousands of citizens on both sides of the river who are affected by the flooding on the Missouri River and private activities such as this which have the potential to affect those lives should not be undertaken without a full consideration of the consequences.

Finally, we are presuming that the explosives detonation on the Vanmann #30 Levee was accomplished by a properly licensed and permitted commercial user of explosives who was using the explosives in accordance with the conditions of that permit. Any use outside the legally mandated process would be a Class C Felony under Iowa law, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A full investigation of these activities will be accomplished as soon as possible.

Grassley staffers to visit western IA next week

News

July 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Because the U-S Senate will remain in-session during the week of July 4th, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley is unable to attend previously planned town hall meetings in the state. The Senate will continue negotiations over how to achieve $2.4-trillion in savings in the federal budget, in order to offset an increase in the amount of debt the government can legal borrow. The deadline for an agreement on raising the debt ceiling is August 2nd.

And, while Grassley will be attending to business in Washington, D-C, two members of his staff will represent him at the 12 town meetings in Iowa Grassley had planned to hold.

In his Grassley’s place, Regional Director Donna Barry and Legislative Aide Sherry Kuntz will conduct town meetings in Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby and Taylor counties.

Grassley’s scheduled appearances at the Atlantic and Denison Rotary meetings on July 5 and July 7 have been postponed. Grassley said he will reschedule constituent meetings in all of these counties. Meetings with Grassley staffers will take place:

On Tuesday, July 5th

From 8 – 9 a.m. at the New Hope Village, Activity Center Gymnasium, in Carroll.

From 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. at the Audubon County Economic Development (ACED), Community Room, in Audubon.

From 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. at the Corning Community Building, in Corning.

And, from 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. at the Taylor County Farm Bureau‘s meeting Room, in Bedford.

On Wednesday, July 6th

From 8 – 9 a.m. at the Shenandoah Medical Center, in Shenandoah.

From 10 – 11 a.m. at The Gathering Place, Corner of Cass and Ohio Streets, in Sidney.

From Noon – 1 p.m. at the Glenwood Senior Center, in Glenwood.

From 2 – 3 p.m. at the Montgomery County Family YMCA, in Red Oak.

And, from 4 – 5 p.m. at the Oakland Community Building, in Oakland.

And, on Thursday, July 7th

From 7 – 8 a.m. at the United Western Coop, in Missouri Valley.

9:45 – 10:45 a.m. at the Onawa Community Center, 320 in Onawa.

And, from 2 – 3 p.m. at the Harlan Public Library, in Harlan.

Statewide holiday traffic enforcement project underway

News

July 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A beefed up law enforcement effort is underway around the state for the Independence Day weekend. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Mark Domino says they’ll be looking for speeders, drunk drivers and those who are texting while driving. He’s also reminding motorists to buckle-up, but he’s noticed most Iowans are obeying the seat belt law.

“I believe we’re up to 93-percent (compliance). I travel the interstates and the four-lanes a lot and to try and find somebody not wearing their seat belt is really tough,” Domino said. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports 214 agencies participated in the Fourth of July traffic enforcement project last year and officers stopped 4,592 drivers for speeding. Domino, who’s based in Mason City, says his patrol post has enlisted the help of an aircraft to catch speeders this year.

“He’s going to be on the four lanes probably, but he could be on the two lanes, we never know when we get assigned to the aircraft,” Domino said. “We’re going to be using the LIDAR, which is a laser type radar…so we’re going to use the tools which the state has given us.”

During last year’s holiday enforcement project, officers had contact with 353 impaired drivers, over 1,000 seat belt violators and apprehended 107 wanted persons. Five fatalities were recorded in Iowa during the 2010 Fourth of July weekend.

(Bob Fisher/Radio Iowa)

Backyard and Beyond 07-01-2011

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

July 1st, 2011 by admin

Lavon speaks with Kathy Kerkmen about the quilt show and other activities at Massena’s 125th celebration this weekend.

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