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Spartans Get Back into Win Column @ West Harrison

Sports

December 15th, 2023 by admin

The Exira-EHK Spartans went into Friday night with back-to-back losses at home. Falling to 4-2 the Spartans were eager to get back onto the court and get a big conference win. The Spartans were ready to go from the opening tip as they won the tip and scored followed by a steal for a layup and held a 4-0 lead less than 15 seconds into the game. The Spartans looked to try and use their height advantage and dominate the paint and that is exactly what happened. In the opening eight minutes the Spartans shot 11-14 from the floor including 18 points inside the paint to give them a 20-point lead after the first quarter. The Spartans rode the hot offensive night from three seniors in Jackson Radcliff, Cash Emgarten, and Aiden Flathers who all scored in double figures and Radcliff led the way with 22 points. After the two previous losses head coach of the Spartans Tony Santistaben said it was good just to see the kids get back to their winning ways.

The Spartans did a great job all night long of making the extra pass to teammates to get the best shot possible on the offensive end of the floor. The Spartans would have 15 assists as a team and just made them really hard to contain. Coach Santistaben says it has been a priority of him and his assistant coach to teach the kids to read the defense and to take what they give them.

Early in the second the half with a 25-point lead Coach Santistaben took a timeout in the third quarter because he didn’t like the energy of his team and felt they were just playing the score, but Coach Santistaben he wants to his team to always bring their own energy even if the crowd isn’t a factor in the game.

The Spartans end their two-game losing skid and improve to 5-2 on the season and 5-1 in Rolling Valley Conference play.

Posted in Sports |

Exira-EHK Lady Spartans Crush West Harrison

Sports

December 15th, 2023 by admin

The Exira EHK Lady Spartans cruised to a Rolling Valley conference win over West Harrison 61-28 Friday night. The Lady Spartans wasted no time getting on the board early and immediately getting set in their full court press. The Spartans would use their full court ball pressure most of the night and forced the Lady Hawkeyes to 24 turnovers on the night. The tone was set in the first quarter when after eight minutes of play the Spartans held a 20-4 lead thanks to four three balls to widen the score. The Spartans wouldn’t stop their as they continued to hound the Hawkeyes on the defensive end of the floor and attack in transition.

The Spartans led 39-14 at the halftime break and were led by Taryn and Jaelynn Petersen who both scored double figures in the half. Although Exira would dominate the game as a team, they had no answer for West Harrisons senior Maclayn Houston who led all scorers on the night and scored 25 of the West Harrisons 28 points. Houston would go over her averages in points and rebounds as the senior posted 25 points and 12 rebounds on 9/18 shooting from the floor. Houston did everything she could to keep her team in the game it just wasn’t enough to keep up with the duo of Taryn and Jaelynn Petersen who both scored 15+ points including five triples by Taryn the freshman.

With the 61-28 victory the Lady Spartans improve to 6-1 on the season including six straight wins and now 5-1 in the Rolling Valley Conference and will be back in action on Tuesday night when they take on Paton Churdan at home for a 6:00pm tipoff. The Lady Hawkeyes fall to 2-7 and 0-5 in conference play.

Posted in Sports |

Cold weather leading to more stolen cars

News

December 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The drop in temperatures can lead to an increase in stolen cars as people leave them unlocked and running. Sioux City Police Officer Valerie Rose says they had four cars stolen Thursday. She says it can happen any time of the day.

Officer Rose says you can avoid the temptation for thieves by not giving them something to steal.

Rose says car thefts always increase this time of year because there are more vehicles left running and unattended.

Posted in News |

2 from Storm Lake die in a crash Friday morning

News

December 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Buena Vista County, Iowa) – A crash between a pickup and a small SUV Friday morning, north of Storm Lake, resulted in two deaths. The Iowa State Patrol reports the SUV driven by 30-year-old Mayra Lopez-Zavala, of Storm Lake, was travel east on 550th Street at around 7:10-a.m., Friday, at the same time a Dodge RAM 2500 pickup driven by 47-year-old Jeffrey Kies, of Sioux Rapids, IA, was traveling south on Highway 71.

When Zavala pulled away from the intersection stop sign, her vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by the pickup. Zavala, and her passenger, 62-year-old Maria Zavala-Saldana, of Storm Lake, were injured. Both women were wearing their seat belts. Mayra Lopez-Zavala died the scene. Maria Zalava-Saldana died at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. Kies suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Storm Lake Police/Fire and Ambulance, and the Buena Vista County Medical Examiner.

Posted in News |

Gov. Reynolds Extends Disaster Proclamation for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Sioux and Taylor Counties  

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced the extension of a disaster proclamation for Sioux and Taylor Counties effective immediately through January 14, 2024. The USDA has confirmed positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in both counties.

The proclamation – issued Friday (today) – allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

As the holidays near, homelessness rises in the Waterloo area

News

December 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Requests for emergency housing and first-time homeless claims are up from last year across Waterloo, Cedar Falls and much of Black Hawk County. Grace Fee is the social ministries director for the area’s Salvation Army chapter, one of the groups that helps the homeless. Fee says more help means more denials and her agency’s shelters are already crowded.

Many Iowa communities are working to deal with a lack of affordable housing, and Fee says Black Hawk County is also struggling with the issue.

Over the past two months, the Salvation Army has sheltered about 150 individuals, and more than 30 of them were children.

Posted in News |

Hinson blasts UN report calling on Americans to eat less meat

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is blasting a United Nations organization for calling on citizens in the United States and other developed countries to eat less meat. The recommendation comes from the U-N’s Food and Agricultural Organization, which Hinson says it headed by a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

Hinson is co-sponsoring a resolution in the U-S House to condemn the U-N report, which also recommends that developing countries increase livestock production to improve the diets of their citizens. The report suggests reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires a reduction in excessive meat consumption in the world’s richest nations.

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says it appears the United Nations can call on Americans to eat less meat, but they cannot condemn Hamas for atrocities in Israel.

The United Nations report suggests livestock production accounts for a third of greenhouse gas emissions and 40 percent of methane. Hinson and Nebraska Congressman Mike Flood are co-sponsoring the resolution pushing back on the U-N report. Flood and Hinson say meat is one of the most efficient ways to deliver protein and reducing meat consumption in the U-S would shatter the world’s food security.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Audubon Mayor asks for flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of a fallen firefighter Chaplain

News

December 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – Audubon Mayor Barb Jacobsen, today (Friday), announced that she has proclaimed Sunday, December 17th as firefighter remembrance day, in honor of firefighter Chaplain Dan Beattie and all other firefighters who dedicated their lives to protecting the community.

The Mayor said on social media, “I ask that you lower your flags at 8:00 am on Sunday, December 17 until Monday at 8:00 pm. Memorial service will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Audubon at 2:00 pm. Funeral service is at 10:30 am on Monday in Elsworth.”

Pastor Dan Beattie

Audubon Fire & Rescue Assoc. Facebook photo

“Pastor Dan,” as he was known, was one of five Fire Chaplains in the state of Iowa. He joined the Audubon Fire Department as a fire fighter in 2021 and achieved Fire Fighter I certification in 2023. He died as the result of injuries he suffered during a motorcycle accident on December 8th, in northwestern Dallas County.

Posted in News |

Audubon County Sheriff’s report for Nov. 2nd thru Dec. 14, 2023

News

December 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of several person between November 2nd and December 14, 2023. In  order of most recent arrests:
  • 20-year-old Madison Tidwell, of Grimes, and 35-year-old Alec Coffee, of Fort Dodge, were arrested December 14th 2023 following a traffic stop in Audubon County. Both were charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Controlled Substance- Marijuana 1st. Coffee was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug. Tidwell and Coffee appeared before the magistrate and were released on their own recognizance.
  • 23-year-old Desiree Kent, of Sac City, was summoned to court on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge from a December 13th, 2023 traffic stop. She will appear before the magistrate at a later date.
  • Dakota Dixson, age 22 of Des Moines, was summoned to court on December 12th, 2023 on a Harassment-1st charge. He appeared before the magistrate and was released.
  • 53-year-old Lynn Frohlich, of Atlantic, was arrested December 4th, 2023 on an outstanding warrant for Violation of No Contact Order. He appeared before the magistrate and was released on his own recognizance. Frolich was previously arrested Nov. 23rd on an outstanding Failure to Appear warrant. He appeared before the magistrate and was held until he posted bond on November 27th.
  • On Nov. 19th, 21-year-old Daniel Bol, of Omaha, was arrested in Audubon County for Driving While Barred. He appeared before the magistrate and was held.
  • On the 15th of November, 47-year-old Willard Frazier, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on an outstanding Violation of Probation warrant. He appeared before the magistrate and was held.
  • And, on Nov. 2nd, 38-year-old Colbie Hunter, of Omaha, was arrested in Audubon County for Driving While Barred. She appeared before the magistrate and was released on her own recognizance.
Note: “Criminal Charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.”

Posted in News |

IEDA Board approves assistance for three established companies

News

December 15th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

December 15, 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board, Friday (today) approved awards for three companies, which will assist in the creation of 192 jobs and result in nearly $82 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Council Bluffs, Iowa City and Rock Valley.

Acadia Healthcare to construct new facility in Council Bluffs
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. offers behavioral health services, supporting patients in 39 states with over 250 treatment facilities. The company plans to construct a new 71,000-square-foot facility to provide resident care, specialized care and outpatient programming. The project represents a $64.5 million capital investment and is expected to create 144 jobs, of which 54 are incented at a qualifying wage of $26.35 per hour. The board awarded tax benefits through the Targeted Jobs Withholding program.

Austrian company to build training facility in Iowa City
Alpla, Inc., an Austrian company subsidiary, is an international leader in plastic packaging systems and bottles with operations in 46 countries. The company plans to build a learning and development facility adjacent to the existing Iowa City plant to support their newly developed apprenticeship program. The project represents a capital investment of nearly $13 million and was awarded tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program. It is expected to create 36 jobs, of which six are incented at a qualifying wage of $30.65 per hour.

Kooima Ag to expand in Rock Valley
Kooima Ag, Inc. is an independent manufacturer of replacement parts for ag equipment machinery manufacturers. The company plans to expand their Rock Valley facility to accommodate growth, including both warehouse and production space. The project is expected to create 12 jobs, of which 11 are incented at a qualifying wage of $24.77 per hour. It represents a $4.5 million capital investment and was awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program.

Posted in News |