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Lions Draft Iowa OT Riley Reiff No. 23 Overall

Sports

April 27th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have selected Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff with the No. 23 pick overall in the NFL draft. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew vowed the team would stick to its philosophy of taking the top player available on its draft board Thursday night unless he was a quarterback. Mayhew insisted he wouldn’t put a need, such as cornerback, ahead of a better player at a position of strength on the roster. With the top corners off the board, the Lions added depth on their aging offensive line. Detroit had its lowest first-round pick since 1992 when it drafted Robert Porcher 26th overall. The franchise ended its 11-year playoff drought last season with its first 10-win season since 1995.

Posted in Sports |

Dunne Impresses in Comeback at Drake Relays

Sports

April 27th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, (AP) — Iowa native and former Missouri star Amanda Dunne crossed first in the 5,000 meters at the Drake Relays Thursday night, blowing away the field by nearly 11 seconds. The official victory went to Oklahoma’s Jessica Engel because the race was in the university/college division. But Dunne finished in 16:04.53 in the first 5,000 of her comeback. Dunne first won at the Drake Relays while at Pleasant Valley High 12 years ago. She has returned to track this season after a four-year absence. The Iowa women’s 6,400-meter relay team won the instate meet for the first time in school history, snapping Minnesota’s three-year winning streak. Obsie Birru of Grand View, a small school in Des Moines, won the women’s 10,000 by 15 seconds. Illinois senior Colin Mickow won the men’s 10,000 for the second time in three years. Anthony Rotich of Texas-El Paso won the men’s 5,000 in 13:57.09.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa evening News Headlines: 4-26-2012

News

April 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CHARLES CITY (AP) — A company based in the Czech Republic has opened its first North American tire factory in Charles City. Mitas opened the plant today in a ceremony attended by Governor Terry Branstad and Petr Gandalovic, the Czech ambassador to the United States.

SIOUX CITY (AP) — A Sioux City-based maker of vinyl and aluminum windows and doors says it is expanding its South Sioux City, Nebraska manufacturing operations. The Sioux City Journal in Iowa says Gerkin Windows and Doors is breaking ground on land near its current 165,000-square-foot factory built in 2004.

SIOUX CITY (AP) — Morningside College Athletic Director Jerry Schmutte will resign next month to take a position in Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska. Officials at Sioux City-based Morningside say Robbie Rohlena, dean of enrollment, will act as interim athletic director starting June 1st. The search for Schmutte’s replacement is under way.

WATERLOO (AP) — Mitchell County supervisors are sending out requests for architects to submit proposals for a new courthouse. The decision came after a consultant said creating an efficient work space in the existing courthouse built in 1858 would be difficult. Supervisor Joel Voaklander says he’s sending letters to about a half-dozen architectural firms. He’s also looking into temporary space for courthouse offices.

Posted in News |

Grassley welcomes move to drop farm labor rules

Ag/Outdoor

April 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is welcoming the U.S. Labor Department’s decision to withdraw a much-criticized proposed rule designed to protect children who work on farms. Grassley released a statement Thursday evening expressing relief at the Labor Department’s decision to abandon what he called “ridiculous regulations” that could have hurt farm families. In announcing it was dropping its proposed child labor rules Thursday, the Labor Department noted it would not pursue the matter during the duration of the Obama administration. The agency says it will work with groups such as the American Farm Bureau Federation and Future Farmers of America to reduce accidents involving young people. Federal officials earlier had argued new rules were needed because farming is one of the nation’s most dangerous occupations.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Audubon Woman Cited After Traffic Accident

News

April 26th, 2012 by admin

The Audubon County Sherriff’s Office says an Audubon woman was cited after a single vehicle accident Thursday morning.  At about 8:00 AM Thursday, a 2006 Chevy Equinox driven by 42-year-old Angela Marie Nielsen of Audubon was traveling east on Highway 44 about 3 miles east of Kimballton.  Nielsen drove onto the shoulder and overcorrected.  Her vehicle then slid sideways into the north ditch and rolled.

Nielsen was transported by Elk Horn Fire and Rescue to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital.  An update on any possible injuries is not currently available.

Nielsen has been charged with failure to maintain control.  Damage from the accident amounted to about $8,000.

Posted in News |

2012 Fourth Soccer Rankings

Sports

April 26th, 2012 by Jim Field

Compiled by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
Class 1-A
School
Record
LW
1
Davenport Assumption
7-0
1
2
Waterloo Columbus Catholic
6-0
2
3
Sioux City Bishop Heelan
3-1
3
4
Council Bluffs St. Albert
5-2
4
5
Gilbert
7-3
6
6
Nevada
5-1
9
7
Dubuque Wahlert
3-5
5
8
Center Point-Urbana
4-2
8
9
Solon
6-0
10
10
Denver
4-2
7
11
Bondurant-Farrar
5-2
11
12
Iowa City Regina
6-1
12
13
Unity Christian
5-1
15
14
Clear Creek-Amana
5-2
14
15
Burlington Notre Dame
4-1
13
Dropped Out: None

Class 2-A
School
Record
LW
1
Cedar Rapids Xavier
5-1
1
2
Glenwood
6-0
2
3
Pleasant Valley
3-2
3
4
Pella
9-2
4
5
ADM
5-0
5
6
Sioux City East
6-0
6
7
Union
7-2
7
8
Lewis Central
5-3
8
9
Des Moines Hoover
3-3
9
10
Spencer
6-0
10
11
Dallas Center-Grimes
6-1
11
12
Cedar Rapids Prairie
7-3
12
13
Indianola
5-3
13
14
North Scott
3-5
14
15
Waverly-Shell Rock
3-4
15
Dropped Out: None

Class 3-A
School
Record
LW
1
Ankeny
5-0
2
2
Iowa City West
6-0
4
3
Bettendorf
7-1
1
4
Dowling Catholic
3-0
6
5
Johnston
4-1
8
6
West Des Moines Valley
4-2
3
7
Waukee
2-1
7
8
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
5-1
5
9
Cedar Rapids Washington
4-1
9
10
Muscatine
5-2
10
Dropped Out: None

Posted in Sports |

Iowa Law Enforcement Seek Assistance in Locating Missing Pennsylvania Man

News

April 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Crawford County, IOWA — Law enforcement in Iowa and Pennsylvania request the public’s help in locating Jonathan Elwell. Elwell is a 44 year old white male who stands 6’2” tall, has blue eyes, and is balding.

Jonathan Elwell

Elwell is originally from Shillington, Pennsylvania. He was last seen in that area on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Then on Friday, April 20, 2012, Elwell’s rental car, a Volkswagon Jetta, was found in Crawford County, Iowa. Information discovered during the investigation indicates Elwell was in the Quad Cities area.  Additional information indicates that Elwell was in the Carroll, Iowa area on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. He has not been seen since.

Elwell may also have occasionally been traveling by bicycle, as Pennsylvania authorities indicate that is his primary mode of transportation in Shillington.

If you have seen Jonathan Elwell or know his current location please contact the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 263-2146, or call your nearest law enforcement center.

Elwell rental vehicle - White VW Jetta

Posted in News |

Sears, former ISU Coach becomes interim FB coach at Weber State

Sports

April 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Weber State has selected Jody Sears as its interim football coach to replace John L. Smith. Smith left Monday to take the Arkansas job following that school’s firing of Bobby Petrino. The 44-year-old Sears joined the Wildcats staff this spring and has been working as the team’s defensive coordinator. He will continue in that role as well. Sears spent the previous three seasons at Washington State, where he was co-defensive coordinator. He also is no stranger to the Big Sky Conference as he spent five seasons as defensive coordinator at Eastern Washington. He began his collegiate coaching career at Iowa State in 1994. Sears was a two-year letter-winner at Washington State after walking on as a wide receiver. Weber State opens its season Sept. 1 at Fresno State.

Posted in Sports |

Regents approve $37M U of I football facility

Sports

April 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa has received the approval of the Iowa Board of Regents to spend $36.6 million to build a facility to house weight rooms, squad meeting space, and coaches’ offices. The regents approved of the spending Thursday on the UI Football Operations Facility. University of Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta says the money comes from fundraising and athletic department revenue. No general university dollars or increased student fees will be used. Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2013, with completion in summer 2014. The building will be south of the new Indoor Athletics Practice and Recreation Facility, now under construction. The operations facility also will include space for video editing, lockers for players and coaches, and reception space.

Posted in Sports |

Gov. Branstad orders flags at half-staff to honor fallen Korean War soldier

News

April 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Governor Terry Branstad today (Thursday) ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff on Friday, April 27h, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Edris “Eddie” A. Viers.

SFC Edris Viers

Sgt. Viers was last seen Aug. 12, 1950, during the “Battle of Bloody Gulch” near Pongam-ni, South Korea, and was officially pronounced deceased on Dec. 31, 1953, but remains were not recovered at the time.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. H.R. 692, signed in 2007, requires federal government agencies in the state to comply with the governor’s executive order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces.

Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

Posted in News |