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Iowa State wary of speedy Panthers in opener

Sports

September 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State will open its third season under coach Paul Rhoads on Saturday night against Northern Iowa. Rhoads says the Panthers are faster than his Cyclones. The Panthers are the prohibitive favorites to win the Missouri Valley Football conference this season and are among a handful of teams in serious contention for the FCS title. Iowa State beat Northern Iowa 27-0 last season.

Vandenberg, Coker lead Iowa new backfield

Sports

September 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi spent the past two seasons handing off to a revolving door of talented running backs. The Hawkeyes are hoping new starter James Vandenberg can spend the next two years handing off to Marcus Coker and getting the heck out of the way. Iowa’s new backfield duo of Vandenberg and Coker will make its debut on Saturday when the Hawkeyes host FCS school Tennessee Tech in the opener. Vandenberg will be making his fourth career start, and Coker his fifth. They’ve never started at the same time, but Iowa is confident the pair will emerge as focal points for its rebuilt offense in 2011.

DOT working to get traffic moving again in western Iowa

News

September 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – Sept. 2, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has set a proactive course to get traffic moving again in western Iowa just as quickly as possible now that the Missouri River flood waters are beginning to recede. A multitude of activities are underway, some are behind the scenes and others are already visible. For instance, contractors started this week removing tons of debris and power washing the sticky layer of muck from sections of Interstate 29 in Fremont and Pottawattamie counties. Yesterday, the I-29 and Hamilton Boulevard in Woodbury County was fully reopened to travel.

Because there is a lot a work ahead, the Iowa DOT will be providing regular updates to the public regarding damage assessments and progress being made to restore travel. Communications will be provided via news releases, posting of progress updates and photos on the Iowa DOT’s flood information website (http://www.iowadot.gov/floods/index.html), and by other means. The Iowa DOT is examining a wide range of options and innovative approaches to expedite the recovery process. Timetables and cost estimates will be provided when that information becomes available.

Each highway segment impacted by the flooding has unique characteristics and challenges, so the Iowa DOT’s public information efforts will frequently focus on specific sites and activities underway in those areas. Due to safety concerns and reconstruction activities involving heavy equipment, public access beyond the road closure barricades and to the damaged sites is restricted.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd

Trading Post

September 2nd, 2011 by Jim Field

FOR SALE: Like new black leather loveseat, 3 yrs old.  Asking $300 /OBO. Call 712-249-2537.

FOR SALE: MTD yard machine riding mower, 12 1/2 hp, 38″ cut. $350. 243-4687

FOR SALE: Cub Cadet riding mower. $400. 712-268-2609 (East of Hamlin)

Intermittent lane closures on I-680 in Pottawattamie County begin Sept. 27

News

September 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa DOT say road construction work on Interstate 680 between I-29 (exit 71) near Loveland and I-80 (exit 27) north of Neola will cause intermittent lane closures in both directions beginning Tuesday, Sept. 27th, weather permitting.  The project is expected to be completed by mid-October.

Bridge construction work on eastbound I-80 in Pottawattamie County begins Sept. 12

News

September 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluffs construction office reports bridge construction work on Interstate 80 between Pottawattamie County Road M-16 (exit 34) near Shelby and U.S. 59 (exit 40) near Avoca will cause lane closures in the outside lane beginning Monday, Sept. 12th, weather permitting . The project is expected to be completed by early October.

SHARON KAY LOUK, 73, of Des Moines, & formerly of Greenfield (svcs 9-9-11)

Obituaries

September 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

SHARON KAY LOUK, 73, of Des Moines (formerly of Greenfield), died Fri., Sept. 2nd, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Memorial services for SHARON LOUK will be held 10-a.m. Fri. Sept. 9th,  at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.

There is no visitation.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Burial will be in the Avondale Cemetery in rural Fontanelle.

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

SHARON LOUK is survived by:

Her sister – Shirley (Bill) Stark, of Winter Garden, FL.

Several nieces and nephews.

Minor injuries reported after pickup and semi collide

News

September 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A pickup truck was totaled and its driver suffered possible, minor injuries, after the vehicle collided with a semi this (Friday) morning, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say 41-year old Ronald Paul Lyons, Jr., of Beaumont, TX, was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by Red Oak Rescue, following the crash at around 8-a.m. about half-way between Red Oak and Emerson.

Authorities said Lyons pulled his 2002 Ford F-150 pickup off of the traveled portion of Highway 34 in a turning lane, that would allow a vehicle to turn right off of the highway, without impeding the flow of traffic. As Lyons attempted to conduct a left hand turn, his truck collided with the center portion of a westbound, passing semi-tractor trailer. Following the impact, the pickup ricocheted off of the semi, and came to rest in the ditch at the intersection of Highway 34 and County Road M-37 (Boxelder Avenue).

The driver of the semi, 47-year old Jeffrey Arnold, of Kahoka, MO., locked up the brakes on the cab and trailer. The tractor-trailer slid across the intersection and came to rest on the pavement, facing westbound. Arnold was not injured in the crash, but the 1997 Peterbilt semi he was driving sustained $5,000 damage to a drive axle and fuel tank assembly.

The pickup, valued at $12,000, was a total loss. The sheriff’s report did not indicate if any citations were issued.

LEROY BURG, 80, of Bridgewater (svcs 9-6-11)

Obituaries

September 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LEROY BURG, 80, of Bridgewater, died Fri., Sept. 2nd, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa.  A Mass of the Resurrection service for LEROY BURG will be held 10-a.m. Tue., Sept. 6th, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, in Massena.  Steen Funeral Home in Massena has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 2-until 8-pm Mon., Sept. 5th, with the family present from 6-8pm, and a Prayer service at 6-p.m.
Memorials may be directed to the Leroy Burg memorial fund to be established by the family.

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

LEROY BURG is survived by:

His wife – Laura Burg, of Bridgewater.

His children –
Daniel Burg and wife Rosanne of Papillion, NE; Sheryl Kay Gettler Nichols and husband Pat of Earlham;  Kathryn Jean Bass and husband Jim of Fontanelle;  Teresa Ann Jensen and husband Duff of Blair, NE;  Steven Leroy Burg and wife Cindy of Murray, NE;  and Kevin Ralph Burg and wife Heather of Atlantic.

18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Tennessee Tech-Iowa Capsule

Sports

September 2nd, 2011 by Jim Field

 By The Associated Press
     Tennessee Tech (0-0) vs. Iowa (0-0), 11 a.m. (BTN)
     Series Record: First meeting.
     WHAT’S AT STAKE
     Saturday’s opener will allow junior James Vandenberg to settle
into his new role as the Hawkeyes starting quarterback. Iowa also
has six new starters on defense, which won’t have much time to gel
with a trip to Iowa State looming. The most important thing for the
Hawkeyes will be to survive the game without any major injuries.
Tennessee Tech is hoping to push for the Ohio Valley title, and a
decent showing against a Big Ten team could help them do just that.
     KEY MATCHUP
     Tennessee Tech’s front seven vs. Iowa RB Marcus Coker. Coker is
one of the more physical backs in the country, and the Golden
Eagles won’t likely see anyone like him all year. The Hawkeyes will
have an easy afternoon if they can just give it to Coker between
the tackles and let he and his offensive line march down the field.
     PLAYERS TO WATCH
     Iowa: WR Keenan Davis. It’s now or never for Davis, who’s in
line to be the Hawkeyes’ second option next to star Marvin McNutt.
     Tennessee Tech: WR Tim Benford. He ranks second in school
history with 151 receptions and is third with 2,174 yards
receiving.
     FACTS & FIGURES
     Iowa has won its last 10 openers by an average of 31.5 points
and is 17-4 at Kinnick Stadium since 2008…Tennessee Tech’s alumni
include Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith, who spent 12 seasons with
the Golden Eagles from 1987-98…The Hawkeyes could have as many as
eight new starters, including Davis and safety Collin Sleeper.