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ALVIN “OSCAR” RUDOPLH KOESTER, 79, of Harlan & formerly of Panora (svcs 8-15-11)

Obituaries

August 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

ALVIN “OSCAR” RUDOLPH KOESTER, 79, of Harlan (& formerly of Panora), died Fri., Aug. 12th, at the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial service for “OSCAR” KOESTER will be held 10:30-a.m. Mon. Aug. 15th, at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Panama. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements. (www.pauleyjones.com)

Visitation at St. Mary’s is from 9am-10:30-a.m. Mon., Aug. 15th.

Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.

ALVIN KOESTER is survived by:

His sons – Larry (Janet) Koester, of Westphalia, & Frank Koester, of Panama.

His daughter – Mona (Randy) Schwarte, of Westphalia.

His brothers – Francis (Mary Ann) Koesters, of Earling; & Robert (Jackie) Koesters,  of Dunlap.

His sisters – Madonna Kramer, of Earling; Alice (Harold) Schwery, of Westphalia;  &  Janice (Pete) Malhberg, of Earling.

5 grandchildren

1 great grandchild

LYNN SCHWERY, 57, of Boone & formerly of Ames (svcs 8-15-11)

Obituaries

August 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LYNN SCHWERY, 57, of Boone (and formerly of Ames), died Fri., Aug. 12th, at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial service for LYNN SCHWERY will be held 11-a.m. Mon., Aug. 15th, at the St. Michael Catholic Church in Harlan. Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care in Ames has the arrangements.

Visitation is from 3-5pm Sun., Aug. 14th, at the Grandon Funeral Home., and one-hour prior to the service on Monday, at the church, in Harlan.

Online condolences may be sent to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com

VIRGIL C. COOK, 90, of Neola (svcs 8-15-11)

Obituaries

August 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

VIRGIL C. COOK, 90, of Neola, died Thu., Aug. 11th, at the home of his daughter Cathy, in Neola. Funeral services for VIRGIL COOK will be held 11-a.m. Mon., Aug. 15th, at the Neola Presbyterian Church. Hoy Funeral Home in Council Bluffs has the arrangements. (www.hoyfuneral.com)

Burial, with graveside Military honors, will be in the Neola Township Cemetery.

Virgil Cook is survived by:

His daughters – Cathy C. Eckmann and husband, Dennis, of Neola, Susan Hjelle and husband, Allan, of Elk Horn, Iowa;

His  brother – Gerald Cook, Larry Cook and wife, Betty;

3 sisters-  Lorraine Moffatt, Beverly Anderson and husband, Chuck, Bonnie Ackart;

3 grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.

SARAH JESPERSEN, 54, of Atlantic (svcs 8-16-11)

Obituaries

August 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

SARAH JESPERSEN, 54, of Atlantic, died Fri., Aug. 12th, at the Cass County Hospice Center in Atlantic. Funeral services for SARAH JESPERSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Aug. 16th, at the United Chuch of Christ in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic is in charge of the arrangements. 

Visitation at the funeral home is from 5-7pm Mon., Aug. 15th.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

SARAH JESPERSEN is survived by:

Her daughters – Lindsey (Geoffrey) Landgraf, of Omaha; Hannah Jespersen, of Atlantic; & Angela (Douglas) Stave, of Omaha.

Her sisters – Susan (Dana) Hockensmith, of St. Louis, MO.; & Nancy (Alan) Reimer, of Atlantic.

Her brothers – Dwight (Julie Livingston) Johnson, of Omaha; & Tim Johnson of Atlantic.

3 grandchildren

Omaha bank robber fled in vehicle with IA plates

News

August 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Police are searching for a man who robbed a bank in Omaha. The holdup at the Wells Fargo Bank happened about 2 p.m. on Friday. No injuries were reported. Police say witnesses told officers the man bank entered the bank and demanded cash from a teller. No weapon was seen.  Police say the man left the bank and fled the area in white Kia Optima with Iowa license plates 772 TFF.

Northern IA man dies in Cass Co. Crash

News

August 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A man from north-central Iowa was killed during a single-vehicle crash early this (Saturday)  morning, here in Cass County. According to the Iowa State Patrol 22-year old Steven Henaman, of Plymouth, died when the 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle he was driving went out of control near the Anita exit, on westbound Interstate 80.

Officials say the cycle left the road and rolled over before landing in an area between the exit and the interstate. Henaman died at the scene of the crash, which was reported just after midnight.

2011 Tournament of Champions – Saturday Tee Times

Sports

August 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

8:30 am
Chuck Bunting (Bedford CC)                 44 – 45 — 89 (+20)
Frank Heimbaugh (Quail Run CC)                 41 – 48 — 89 (+20)
Steve Van Ryswick (Gateway Recreation)             51 – 50 — 101 (+32)
Don Bermel (Lagos Acres CC of Keota)             51 – 51 — 102 (+33)

8:40 am
Mitch Engelbarts (Gruis Recreation)                39 – 42 — 81 (+12)
Ken Harryman (Shelby County CC)                41 – 41 — 82 (+13)
Cody Cox (Leon Golf & CC)                    39 – 45 — 84 (+15)
Ben Knapp (Mount Ayr Golf & CC)                42 – 42 — 84 (+15)

8:50 am
Paul Huddleson (Nishna Hills)                 41 – 43 — 84 (+15)
Don Perrin (Happy Hollow CC)                 41 – 43 — 84 (+15)
Frank Gunsolley (Mount Ayr Golf & CC)             42 – 43 — 85 (+16)
Jim Mullenix (Shadow Valley Golf & CC of Woodbine)    42 – 46 — 88 (+19)

9:00 am
Jim Grieve (Waveland)                    41 – 39 — 80 (+11)
Shane Burmeister (Atlantic Golf & CC)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Dustin Burr (Audubon Golf & CC)                44 – 37 — 81 (+12)
Nick Beyer (Diamond Trail Golf Course)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)

9:10 am
Peter Schmidt (Avoca Golf & CC)                 38 – 43 — 81 (+12)
Mike Martin (Nishna Hills)                     38 – 43 — 81 (+12)
Victor Garza (Gruis Recreation)                 44 – 38 — 82 (+13)
Jim Sachs (Gruis Recreation)                 41 – 42 — 83 (+14)

9:20 am
Jason Branham (Quail Run)                    41 – 39 — 80 (+11)
Brad Fabian (Greenbriar)                    38 – 42 — 80 (+11)
Dustin Mathews (Osceola CC)                42 – 38 — 80 (+11)
Jeff Bermel (Lagos Acres CC of Keota)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)

9:30 am
Jim Haub (Twin Lakes Golf & CC)                 38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Dean Muhs (Shelby County CC)                 39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Tony Petersen (Greenbriar Golf Course)             38 – 42 — 80 (+11)
Ken Hoogensen (Willow Creek)                 41 – 40 — 81 (+12)

9:40 am
Kirk Nelson (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 36 – 39 — 75 (+6)
Mick Allen (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 39 – 36 — 75 (+6)
Todd Sewick (River Road Golf Course)            35 – 44 — 79 (+10)
Alex Van Dorpe (Toad Valley Golf Course)            36 – 44 — 80 (+11)

9:50 am
Lance Halverson (Osceola CC)                38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Steve Chapman (Treynor CC)                    39 – 40 — 79 (+10)
Jeremy Perkins (Oakland Golf Club)                38 – 41 — 79 (+10)
Sam Weeks (Ballard Golf & CC)                40 – 39 — 79 (+10)

10:00 am
Kyle Pieper (5 x 80 Club)                    41 – 37 — 78 (+9)
Nolan Schmidt (Avoca Golf & CC)                35 – 42 — 77 (+8)
Jim Wood (Red Oak CC)                    38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Jared Koch (Majestic Hills Golf Course)            40 – 38 — 78 (+9)

10:10 am
Wade Voith (Twin Lakes Golf Club)                37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
Darron Baker (Eagle Grove Golf Course)            39 – 38 — 77 (+8)
Adam Hart (Legacy Golf Club of Norwalk)            41 – 36 — 77 (+8)
Mason Ross (Indian Hills Gold Course of Wapello)        39 – 38 — 77 (+8)

10:20 am
Rob Langfelt (Crestwood Hills)                38 – 37 — 75 (+6)
Andrew Martin (Nishna Hills)                37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
John Costello (Jester Park)                    37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
Andy Kuhr (Fremont County Golf Course)            36 – 40 — 76 (+7)

10:30 am
Jim Brown (Urbandale Golf & CC)                35 – 40 — 75 (+6)
Dan Conaway (Eagle Grove Golf Course)            37 – 38 — 75 (+6)
Matt Haley (Happy Hollow CC)                37 – 38 — 75 (+6)
Johnny Schwaller (Coon Rapids Golf Course)        36 – 39 — 75 (+6)

10:40 am
Steve Davie (Dunlap Golf Course)                32 – 41 — 73 (+4)
Ron Peterson (Des Moines Golf & CC)            36 – 38 — 74 (+5)
Chad Speer (Greenfield CC)                    37 – 37 — 74 (+5)
Carl Eckenrod (Mason City CC)                38 – 37 — 75 (+6)

10:50 am
Isaac Rodenberg (Woodward Golf & CC)            34 – 39 — 73 (+4)
Brian Gargano (Humboldt CC)                37 – 36 — 73 (+4)
Jeff Gude (Atlantic Golf & CC)                39 – 34 — 73 (+4)
Manuel Smith (Copper Creek Golf Club)            38 – 35 — 73 (+4)

11:00 am
Ryan Clark (Briarwood Club of Ankeny)            37 – 34 — 71 (+2)
Chris Nelson (Atlantic Golf & CC)                36 – 36 — 72 (+3)
Matt Jennings (Gateway Recreation)                37 – 35 — 72 (+3)
Aaron King (Sac County CC)                    32 – 41 — 73 (+4)

11:10 am
Zach Christianson (Atlantic Golf & CC)            33 – 37 — 70 (+1)
Aaron Ahrendsen (Manning-Manilla)            37 – 34 — 71 (+2)
Chad Dryden (Crestmoor)                    35 – 36 — 71 (+2)
Brett McGriff (Grinnell Golf & CC)                32 – 39 — 71 (+2)

11:20 am
Nathan Elseman (Walton Club)                32 – 38 — 70 (+1)
John Wilmore (Des Moines Golf & CC)             37 – 36 — 73 (+4)
Ken Portsche (Beaver Creek Golf Course)             36 – 39 — 75 (+6)
Del Miller (West Liberty Golf & CC)             34 – 39 — 73 (+4)

11:30 am
Chris Myers (Honey Creek Golf Club)            38 – 35 — 73 (+4)
Rick Thompson (Fairfield Golf & CC)             35 – 37 — 72 (+3)
Jeff Morenz (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 36 – 36 — 72 (+3)
Blair Hoegh (Otter Creek)                     35 – 37 — 72 (+3)

11:40 am
Derek Jacobsen (Atlantic Golf & CC)            36 – 34 — 70 (+1)
David Akers (Pine Lake CC)                    34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
Darby McLaren (Atlantic Golf & CC)            34 – 35 — 69 (E)
Brad Hartkopf (Atlantic Golf & CC)                35 – 33 — 68 (-1)

11:50 am
Gene Capps (Indianola CC)                     34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
George Gartelos (Hunter Ridge Golf Course)         34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
Daryl Armstrong (Crestwood Hills)                 36 – 35 — 71 (+2)
Arnie Leistad (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 37 – 35 — 72 (+3)

12:00 pm
Barry Smith (Pine Knolls CC of Knoxville)            32 – 33 — 65 (-4)
Jason Reynolds (Griswold CC)                31 – 34 — 65 (-4)
Matt Weresch (Des Moines Golf & CC)            32 – 35 — 67 (-2)
Jared Cochran (Terrace Hills Golf Course)            32 – 35 — 67 (-2)

Pottawattamie County Residents Encouraged to Report Flood Damage

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA – In a disappointing decision, FEMA has denied Iowa’s request for an
Individual Assistance Declaration. The Individual Assistance (I.A.) Program would allow citizens
to apply for federal assistance through FEMA. If qualified they could potentially receive
assistance for damage and losses.

Local and State Officials have partnered to gather and submit further damage information as
part of an official appeal to the federal government for assistance. All citizens in Pottawattamie
County, whether you live Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Crescent or in the unincorporated portions of the
county affected by the flood, are encouraged to report flood damage to private property that has
occurred from May 25th to the present. Even if you can’t physically inspect your property, please report
your probable damages based on the conditions at your property.

Citizens can report their damage at the County web site, www.pottcounty.com, and click on the
“DAMAGE REPORTING TOOL” link. Residents without computer access can call 712-328-4672 to report
damage. Phones will be answered from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Emergency Management Officials stress that the public needs to be an active partner in the damage
assessment process during our appeal. This will provide the best information to FEMA in hope that

they will authorize the Individual Assistance Program for our citizens.

Branstad requests extended timeframe to appeal for Individual Assistance

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad has requested an extension of the time period
to appeal FEMA's decision to deny Individual Assistance to five Iowa counties
impacted by Missouri River flooding.

On August 4, 2011, Gov. Branstad received notification that FEMA had denied his
request to make the Individual Assistance Program available to residents of Fremont,
Harrison, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury counties. The State of Iowa has 30 days
to appeal FEMA's denial of the Individual Assistance Program. However, since the
flood water will recede slowly, the Governor is asking FEMA for an extension of the
appeal to November 15, 2011, so it may include damages that surface beyond that
30-day time period.

The appeal of the decision by FEMA will be coordinated by the Iowa Homeland Security
and Emergency Management Division, which will work closely with the local emergency
management agencies to determine additional damages and impacts caused by the
ongoing flooding.

The FEMA Individual Assistance Program is made available to homeowners, renters and
businesses and can include grants and low-interest loans to help pay for temporary
housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance
or other aid programs.

In addition, the Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced that
low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Iowa residents and business
owners affected by the severe storms and flash flooding that occurred July 27 and
28, 2011.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the Iowa counties of
Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson and Jones.

(Press Release - Office of the Governor)

Iowa and Nebraska officials discuss future reopening of Missouri River toll bridge

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – Aug. 12, 2011 – Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation 
(DOT), Nebraska Department of Roads, Federal Highway Administration, and Burt County
(Nebraska) Bridge Commission met this week to discuss strategies that will lead to 
the eventual reopening of the toll bridge carrying Iowa 175/Nebraska 51 over the
Missouri River at Decatur, Neb.

The bridge is owned and operated by the Burt County Bridge Commission. It has been
closed since June due the Missouri River flooding, which caused severe embankment
erosion and material loss on the Iowa side of the bridge, as well as deep scouring
around the east bridge abutment and pier. Recognizing the importance of this bridge
to communities in both states, all parties involved are anxious to get the bridge 
reopened to traffic as quickly as possible. With this goal and public safety in mind,
the agencies outlined a plan of action. 

Because the flood waters have not yet started to recede, there remain many unknowns
regarding the condition of the bridge and surrounding area. Thus, the agencies 
outlined a plan with the necessary flexibility to adjust to any new discoveries. 
In addition to discussing what actions can be taken and tentative timing,
participants in the meeting received information about the federal Emergency Relief
funding that may be able to assist with the costs of previous work, as well as the
additional work that will be needed. 
Several problems are readily apparent at the bridge site that will require corrective 
action when the waters recede. Those problems include slope instability, substructure
concerns and major scour around the critical structural elements of the bridge and 
roadway approach. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ current schedule is to reduce the
output of water from Gavins Point Dam to approximately 90,000 cfs by the end of August.
Barring additional rain that would change this schedule, it is possible that the engineers
may able to perform a more detailed analysis of the problems at that time.

Once the analysis is complete, the next step will be to quickly develop a corrective 
action plan and issue emergency contracts to perform the work. The amount of time that
will be required to complete the work hinges on the extent of the damage. Anything that
can be done to expedite the work will be considered. The Iowa DOT will continue to provide 
regular updates regarding this situation as new information becomes available. 

(IA-DOT News Release)