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Volunteer help needed for Sunnyside Park clean-up day

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Parks and Recreation Dept. Director Bryant Rasmussen says, if you’re “Looking for an opportunity to give back to the community?  There is a work day out at Sunnyside Park on Saturday April 2nd from 1-3 pm.”

Rasmussen said also, ” We are gearing up for a busy summer season and appreciate all the help we can get.” If you have any questions, please give him a call at 712-243-3542, or e-mail brasmussen@cityofatlantic.com

Flyer created by an Atlantic High School student.

Clay Ave. closed for culvert project in Adair County

News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

The Adair County Engineer’s Office reports Clay Avenue is closed to traffic roughly 0.5 miles south of 210th St. for a culvert replacement project. This project is expected to last 3-4 weeks. (May 29th to April 22nd)

Hawkins to play in Dos Equis 3x3U National Championship, O’Connell in men’s 3-point contest

Sports

March 29th, 2022 by admin

Ryan Hawkins has been selected to compete in the 2022 Dos Equis 3x3U National Championship April 1-3 at The Sugar Mill in New Orleans. The event is part of the Final Four weekend festivities. Another Creighton Senior, Alex O’Connell, has been selected to compete in the TaxAct Men’s 3-Point Championship on Thursday at the Xavier University of Louisiana Convention Center. He is one of eight men selected for the event, which airs live on ESPN at 8 p.m. CT

For the 3×3 event, sixty-four players, who have elected to begin their professional careers, will represent all 32 Division I conferences and compete for their share of $150,000 – one of the largest prize purses at any FIBA 3×3 sanctioned events – by teaming up with other aspiring pro prospects from around the country. Each conference will be paired with another, forming 16 four-man rosters that will be separated into four pools. Hawkins is one of four players that will be part of the Beast Coast Ballers, a team composed of players from the BIG EAST and the Atlantic-10 Conferences. A full list of participants has not yet been announced.

Teams will play each squad in their respective pool on April 1 and 2 before all 16 will head to the knockout stage on April 3, with the top two teams from each pool receiving byes to the quarterfinals. The winning team from each pool play game will win $1,000, victories in the first two knockout rounds will net another $1,000, a quarterfinal win is worth $5,000, a semifinal triumph is another $10,000, while the team that takes home the Tournament title will add $50,000 to their winnings.

The paired conferences, and their respective pools, can be found below:

Pool A
Big East/A-10 (Beast Coast Ballers)
American/C-USA (American Made)
Ivy/Patriot (Wicked Smahts)
America East/MAAC (Metro East Mayhem)
Pool B
Big Ten/MAC (#B1GMACtion)
SEC/SoCon (Dirty South)
ASUN/Sun Belt (SUNs of Anarchy)
Summit/OVC (Summit Valley Oop’n)
Pool C
Big 12/Southland (Southwest Souljas)
Horizon/MVC (Horizon Valley Hoopers)
Big Sky/Big West (Western Sky-Walkers)
MEAC/SWAC (HBC-U Don’t Want None)
Pool D
Pac-12/WCC (B-Ball After Dark (B.A.D.) Boys)
ACC/Big South (Tobacco Road Ryders)
MWC/WAC (Rocky Mountain Range)
CAA/NEC (Colonial Con-NEC-tion)

Hawkins led Creighton with 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in his lone season as a Bluejay, earning Second Team All-BIG EAST and USBWA All-District 6 accolades. He ranks first among active Division I players with 1,220 career rebounds and 927 field goals made, second with 2,580 points, fifth with 41 double-doubles, seventh with 363 three-point field goals and 11th with 257 steals.

This year, the Tournament will once again receive non-stop coverage via Twitter and on ESPN networks. Every second of the 2022 Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship will be available to a national audience beginning with pool play games on Friday and Saturday, April 1-2, and knockout rounds on Sunday, April 3.

Through the first three years of the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship, at least 200 players that have participated in the event have signed professional contracts.
(Information from gocreighton.com)

Richter announces her official run for Cass County Supervisor – District 3

News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – In a follow-up to our reports about Cass County Primary Election candidates, Wendy Richter has officially announced her candidacy for the Cass County Board of Supervisors, representing District 3. Richter says “I’ve been a resident of Cass County for most of my life, the exception while at college. For nearly twenty-seven years, I have worked and held numerous positions on local boards, as well as regional and state boards/committees. As the Director of Family Crisis Support Network, I served not only Cass County residents, but 7 other counties in southwest Iowa. During that time, I was trained as an expert witness for the State of Iowa, a certified advocate on behalf of crime victims and spent many hours collaborating with individuals & groups in each county working to get services for their residents.

Wendy Richter (Photo submitted)

“I worked with the State of Iowa and numerous other entities to begin programs and bring public and private funds to the area. Without going into details of every committee, group, and volunteer efforts I’ve participated with, I want people to know that I have a vested interest in making Cass County and our communities a place that people are proud to call home and look forward to returning to.”

In announcing her candidacy, Wendy Richter said, “I believe I have the qualifications necessary to hold the position as a Supervisor, making decisions to lead the county in the right direction. The skills I’ve gained have taught me to know how important it is to work together, listen to people, work together, to do your due diligence to get the accurate information, work together and that everyone has a voice to be heard – yes, work together needs to be in there multiple times!”

Public Meeting to discuss Blue Lake (Lewis and Clark State Park) dredging and restoration efforts

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Onawa, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting at 6 p.m., March 31, at the Lewis and Clark State Park’s Visitors Center to discuss ongoing lake restoration efforts at the park, including a hydraulic dredging project slated for the 2022 open water season. Restoration activities planned for the park will be presented at the meeting, along with an opportunity for the public to ask questions about the dredging operations and potential impacts to the park throughout the construction season.

Over the past decade, members of the community have worked with DNR and other project partners to develop and implement a comprehensive lake restoration plan to improve water quality and recreational opportunities at Blue Lake. Hydraulic dredging is a significant step in the restoration process for improving water quality in the lake.

Blue Lake, Onawa, Iowa (Via Lewis-Clark.org)

The dredging project at Blue Lake wildlife area is being completed in two phases: phase one, completed in 2021, constructed a sediment containment site for holding dredge materials from the lake, and phase two will hydraulically remove approximately 434,000 cubic yards of sediment from the main basin of the lake to minimize sediment resuspension and improve water clarity. For more information about the Blue Lake Restoration project, check out the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAlqglIxTBU

Blue Lake was added to the State’s list of Impaired Waters in 2004 due to poor water transparency attributed to sediment resuspension within the water column. A water quality improvement plan (TMDL) was completed for the lake in 2009, but water quality remains poor. Restoration planning efforts began in 2011 to address sediment resuspension within the lake and better manage water levels and nutrient inputs at Blue Lake.

Lewis and Clark State Park is a very popular recreation destination with more than 40,000 visitors each year. The campground is consistently one of the busiest in Iowa. The park is a popular place for boating, camping, relaxing, hiking or walking the trails, and fishing.

Five northwest Iowa men plead guilty to 48 wildlife violations

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Ida Grove, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports, an investigation that began as a turkey poaching case last fall has concluded with five individuals pleading guilty to 48 wildlife charges and assessed nearly $83,000 in fines and liquidated damages. State conservation officers were executing a search warrant at the home of 26-year-old Devon Lewis, of rural Washta, Iowa, on Nov. 21, when they discovered evidence of other poaching activity. Once an additional search warrant was secured, investigators uncovered evidence of a year-round poaching network involving at least 70 deer, four turkeys, ducks, raccoons and red fox dating back to at least 2018.

State Conservation Officer Kirby Bragg said evidence from the lengthy investigation showed that these individuals would shoot wildlife out of season, over bait and from vehicles, often without the proper tags. The deer were primarily bucks with antlers.

Iowa DNR photo

The following individuals pleaded guilty in January in Ida County court.

  • Devon Lewis, 26, of rural Washta, pleaded guilty to 23 citations with fines and damages totaling $37,600 and a minimum seven-year hunting license suspension;
  • Taylor S. Luvaas, 27 of Schaller, pleaded guilty to 14 citations, with fines and damages totaling $31,118 and a minimum seven-year hunting license suspension;
  • Jacob R. Fouts, 23, of Cherokee, pleaded guilty to six citations, with fines and damages totaling $5,861 and his hunting license will be suspended;
  • Dylan D. Lewis, 22, of Cushing, pleaded guilty to three citations, with fines and damages totaling $5,251 and his hunting license will be suspended;
  • Austin T.L. Lewis, 19, of Cushing, pleaded guilty to two citations, with fines and damages totaling $4,300.

The judge condemned five rifles, three shotguns and three bows used to commit the crimes. “Our best chance to catch poachers is when the public provides us with timely information after witnessing illegal activity take place,” said Officer Bragg. “It was apparent that this activity had been going on for quite some time.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was assisted by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, Woodbury County Conservation Board, Ida County Sheriff’s Office and the Ida County Conservation Board.

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 3/29/22: 1 arrest, 1 injury accident

News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday evening, of a man from Woodbury County. Authorities say 53-year-old Darrin Lee Sulsberger, of Hornick, was arrested at the Woodbury County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Contempt of Court. Sulsberger was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Authorities said also, a woman from Silver City was injured during a single-vehicle accident that took place at around 10-a.m. today (Tuesday) on Barrus Road at 250th Street. 67-year-old Sharon Grauer was driving a 2013 Ford westbound on Barrus Road, when her vehicle went onto the north shoulder and then into the ditch. The accident happened as her vehicle was rounding a curve in the road.

In the ditch, the vehicle hit a culvert pipe and drove over 250th Street, before coming to rest on the northwest side of the intersection. Grauer told Deputies she accidentally went off onto the shoulder and over-corrected, causing the vehicle to enter the ditch. The woman was transported by Silver City Rescue to Mercy Hospital.

Atlantic girls soccer hopes to build on winning campaign

Sports

March 29th, 2022 by admin

Trojan LogoThe Atlantic girls soccer team is looking to build off a winning season last year. The Trojans finished 10-8 in 2021 and a lot of experienced players return this season. Head Coach Dan Vargason said they have things to work on, but expectations are to take the next step.

It will be a very athletic team for Coach Vargason. Top-scorer Jada Jensen returns after a huge 27-goal season a year ago. Lindley Eblen returns after 7 goals last season, and keeper Edria Brummer is back. Quinn Grubbs, Aubrey Guyer, Eva Steffensen, Paytn Harter, Maddie Dvorak, and Irelyn Gundy are expected to be big contributors as well. Coach Vargason said it will be fun to have a wealth of athleticism on the field.

Coach Vargason said they will need to improve their offensive diversity to be successful.

The Trojans open up the season on Thursday at home against Perry at 7:00 p.m.

Backyard & Beyond 3-29-2022

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

March 29th, 2022 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen visits with Sandy Nissen of the Audubon Country Players about their upcoming production.

Play

Grassley on: Jackson nomination vote, Ginni Thomas’ texts

News

March 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Several U-S senators have already declared how they’ll vote on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the U-S Supreme Court, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s not yet ready to commit one way or the other. “No, and I don’t think I’ll announce it until next Monday when we have a committee meeting,” Grassley says. “I might make up my mind before then but right now I’m going through the — I don’t know — 35 to 40 hours the hearing went on, through the records, because I had other committee meetings and couldn’t be there for all of it.”

Grassley says he and members of his party asked “tough, thorough” questions of Jackson and conducted a “fair” hearing, though he remains unhappy the Judiciary Committee didn’t have access to all of her non-public documents. “We’re still, as Republicans, some documents we’re trying to get,” Grassley says. “We may not get them but we’re not going to hold up the nomination from going forward just for that reason but I’m sure that most people are going through the same process I am.”

The Judiciary Committee has a vote on Jackson scheduled for Monday. As yet, there are no Democrats who have indicated they’ll oppose Jackson’s nomination, while no Republicans have yet said they would support her.
—————-
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he has no worries about Justice Clarence Thomas and any possible cases that may come before the U-S Supreme Court regarding the January 6th riot. Several agencies report Thomas’ wife, Ginni, exchanged more than two dozen texts with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about efforts to overturn the election.  “I think a wife has a right to have her own personal views on anything she wants to have them on,” Grassley says. “I mean, I don’t want to tell Mrs. Grassley what she can say or not say.”

Grassley, a Republican, says Justice Thomas is “a person of integrity” and it’s Thomas alone who should decide if he should recuse himself from any future proceedings. “It’s pretty well established in the Supreme Court that each justice themselves make a determination for recusal,” Grassley says, “and it’s worked this way for 240 years and that’s the way it’s going to have to work now.”

In the past, Ginni Thomas has said there is no conflict of interest between her husband’s position and her conservative activism.