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CAROLE A. LOCHMILLER, 77, formerly of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 1/10/2023)

Obituaries

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

CAROLE A. LOCHMILLER, 77, formerly of Greenfield, died Monday, January 2, 2023, in Spirit Lake. Celebration of Life Services for CAROLE LOCHMILLER will be held 1:30-p.m. Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery.  Coffee and cookies with the family at The Hotel Greenfield, Mary Wise Room, will follow the burial.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Croix Hospice, or Accura Healthcare, in Spirit Lake.

CAROLE LOCHMILLER is survived by:

Her sister – Jenice (Doug) Wallace.

other relatives and friends.

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

Ryan Clanton named ISU offensive line coach

Sports

January 5th, 2023 by admin

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has named Ryan Clanton, who served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at UNI the past five seasons, the offensive line coach for the Cyclones.

Clanton saw a pair of his offensive linemen picked in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft during his tenure at UNI. Offensive tackle Trevor Penning was a 2022 first round pick by the New Orleans Saints, while right offensive tackle Spencer Brown was a third-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 draft.

“We are excited to add Ryan to our coaching staff,” Campbell said. “He had great success as a player, competing at a high level, and is someone that has had a significant impact on the players he has coached. He’s helped send multiple players to the NFL and I believe he’ll have a tremendous impact on our program as well.”

At UNI, Clanton was elevated to offensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. In his first season running the offense, UNI averaged 33 points per game and 444.9 yards per game, increasing both totals from the previous season.

The 2022 Panthers ranked among the nation’s leaders in total offense (16th), third-down conversion percentage (fourth – 52 percent), passing yards per completion (eighth – 14.8) and tackles for a loss allowed (sixth – 4.1).

In total, Clanton saw his offensive linemen earn eight All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in his five seasons with the program. Penning was a First-Team All-American in 2021 and Jackson Scott-Brown earned first-team honors from the Walter Camp Foundation in 2019. Jared Penning earned Freshman All-America accolades and was Freshman Player of the Year from Phil Steele in 2021.

The Panthers reached the FCS Playoffs three times in five seasons, including advancing to the quarterfinals in 2019.

Prior to his time at UNI, Clanton spent four seasons at Ventura College (Calif.) where 19 of his 20 starting offensive linemen earned all-conference accolades. Six of his players earned all-state and four earned All-America accolades. He also served offensive coordinator and running game coordinator during his time, with VC finishing among the leaders in red-zone scoring offense, passing touchdowns, third-down conversion percentage, yards per game and first downs per game.

Clanton, a Bakersfield, California, native, attended City College of San Francisco and played for the Rams in 2008 and 2009, earning Junior College All-America honors on the offensive line. He later played at the University of Oregon where he was a left tackle, left guard and right guard under head coach Chip Kelly.

He spent three seasons in Eugene, redshirting in 2010 as the Ducks reached the 2011 BCS National Championship game. Oregon won the 2012 Rose Bowl and the 2013 Fiesta Bowl. Clanton was a captain on the 2012 team that finished 12-1 overall. Overall, the Ducks posted a 36-4 record during his playing career.

Clanton was invited to NFL training camps with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers.

A product of Bakersfield Christian High School, Clanton earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon in applied economics, business and society in 2013.

Sioux City sees rash of stolen cars as owners try to warm them up

News

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Many people are warming up their cars on these cold winter days to melt the snow and ice off the windshields before they head out. Sioux City Police Department spokesman, Jim Clark says that has led to a surge of stolen cars Wednesday. “Yesterday we had six of those that were taken people warming up their cars is leaving them,” Clark says. The unlocked cars were all stolen within a half-hour period.

Sergeant Clark says you need to take steps to lock the car if you are going to start it and then come inside. “So we’re gonna recommend that you either go get a remote start putting your car sir there’s plenty of places around here that do that,” Clark says. “Or at least make an extra set of keys for your car, start up go back in the house and lock it.”

Clark says there was another car left running that was stolen this (Thursday) morning.

2022 traffic deaths top 300

News

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State Patrol spokesman, Alex Dinkla, says 2022 ended with 338 fatal traffic accidents. “That number is down from the past few years. But again, it still is over our goal of trying to obtain 300 fatalities, which has not been done in Iowa since 1925,” Dinkla says. Sergeant Dinkla says they haven’t had time to analyze all the numbers yet –but there was one that stuck out. “This year, we did have 11 A-T-V or U-T-V fatalities. That’s the highest number that we’ve had in a number of years,” he says “And so that is pretty alarming when we look at that statistic.” He says part of the increase could because more people are driving them.

“These are becoming more and more popular as we see those being used all around Iowa and on our roadways. And the recent legislation did allow those vehicles to be driven on our roadways, legally now. And so now that we see those being legally operated on our roadways, those are just becoming more prevalent,” he says. Dinkla says they do know that some of the traffic death could have been prevent if people had buckled up.

“A hundred and 14 people failed to buckle that seatbelt in collisions had they buckled that seatbelt, there’s no doubt that we would have had more lives saved and possibly not even had as many people injured in those car crashes,” Dinkla says. “Whether you’re in the front seat back seat, no matter where you’re at, think of safety as the forefront when you get in that vehicle. And before you head out somewhere.”

Iowa State Patrol spokesman, Sergeant Alex Dinkla

Dinkla says their ultimate goal is to have zero fatal accidents on the roadways — and they plan to continue working to get below 300. He says they will step up the effort throughout this year with special efforts across each Patrol district. “And so, they are going to be proactively setting up projects every month that are geared towards reducing crashes on our roadways. So moving forward, there’s no doubt that you’re gonna see clusters of officers work against impacts, to drive down these fatality numbers,” Dinkla says.

Dinkla says each fatal accident affect families, friends and loved ones all over Iowa.

Council Bluffs explosion victim identified

News

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Fire Department today (Thursday), identified a man who died as the result of an explosion that occurred late Tuesday morning. 56-year-old Martin Desomma died, when a compressed natural gas cylinder exploded in a garage near Avenue G and North 35th Street.  Authorities said an autopsy will be performed as part of the investigation. According to the fire department, there are no indications that the explosion was caused by a gas leak from the utilities at the property.

Council Bluffs police said Desomma was cutting the tank, resulting in a gas explosion. Two additional compressed natural gas containers were removed from the property “as a safety precaution.”

Sac City woman arrested on 4 counts of animal neglect w/serious injury or death

News

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Sac City, Iowa) – Officials with the Sac City Police Department reported on Wednesday, that on New Year’s Day, Officers investigated an alleged animal abuse report at 211 East Ahrens Street in Sac City. Upon entry to the residence, a search was conducted, and during the search, two deceased dogs were found in freezers and two deceased cats were found in the residence.
47-year-old Billi Jo Beyer-Langner was arrested and charged with four counts of Animal Neglect with Serious Injury or Death, each being an Aggravated Misdemeanor and Interference with Official acts, a Simple Misdemeanor. Beyer-Langner was booked into the Sac County Jail and posted an $8,300 bond. Her initial court appearance is scheduled for January 31st.
This case is still under investigation.
All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Shelby County Sheriff’s report, 1/5/2023

News

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on numerous arrests spanning the time frame of December 16th through the 31st, 2022.

  • On Dec. 31st, 28-year-old Aaron Dale Kobes, of Missouri Valley, was arrested following a traffic stop at Station St and East St in Shelby, IA. Kobes was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st and Turning at Intersection Violation.
  • On the 29th of December, 21-year-old Jonathan Gary Shimerdla, of Harlan, was arrested after a call for service in the 500 block of 12th St., Harlan, IA. Shimerdla was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
  • On the 28th, 26-year-old Victoria Anne Griffen, of Shelby, was arrested following a traffic stop on Plateau St., Shelby, IA. Griffen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Interference with Official Acts and Driving while Barred; and, 22-year-old Nathaniel Lee Gangwer, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Shelby County Warrant. Ganger was transported to the Shelby County Jail for Failure to Appear.
  • Christmas Day, 45-year-old Joshua Howard Finken, of Irwin, was arrested following a traffic stop on Chatburn Avenue, in Harlan. Finken was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Controlled Substance 2 counts, and No Valid Driver’s License.
  • On Christmas Eve, 22-year-old Scott Alexander Selix, of Harlan, was arrested after a traffic stop on 12th Street. Selix was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Suspended, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Improper Rear Lamps.
  • Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 25-year-old Spencer Lee Miller, of Manilla, on December 22nd. Miller was arrested on a Shelby County Warrant. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail for Failure to Appear.
  • On the 17th of December, 35-year-old Matthew David Andersen, of Harlan, was arrested after a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Linden Rd. Andersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st.
  • There were two arrests December 16th, in Shelby County: 24-year-old Anton Jason Ahlhem, of Harlan, was arrested after a traffic stop in the 100 block of East St, Shelby. Ahlhem was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Failure to Maintain or use Safety Belt; and, 30-year-old Drew Ashton Gagnon, of Harlan, was arrested after a traffic stop in the 100 block of East St, Shelby. Gagnon was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, No Valid Driver’s License, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Operating Non-Registered Vehicle.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Remains found on Cedar River identified

News

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Human remains found on the Cedar River have been identified as a missing Cedar Rapids city employee. The State Medical Examiner has identified the remains found by hunters December 30th as those of 54-year-old Erik Spaw.

Spaw went missing on May 7th after the city-owned pickup truck he had been driving between work sites was found submerged in the Cedar River. An extensive search of the river had failed to locate his body. Spaw’s mother told K-C-R-G T-V that complications from his diabetes could have contributed to his accident.

One killed, one seriously wounded in early morning shooting in Davenport

News

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A man was killed and another man was seriously injured in an early morning shooting in Davenport. According to a news release from Davenport Police, officers responding to a report of gunshots being fired near a pawn shop found two men with gunshot wounds at about 2:20 this (Thursday) morning. Police say a 40-year-old man found at the scene died and the other man, who is 33 years old, was seriously injured.

According to a statement from Davenport Police, the incident does not appear to be a random act of violence. There was a shooting in the same area in May. The Quad City Times reported witnesses told police two men had been shooting at one another and a building was damaged, but no shooting victims were found.

Suspect arrested for New Year’s Day robbery of Storm Lake liquor store

News

January 5th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – An arrest has been made in connection to an armed robbery at a northwest Iowa liquor store on New Year’s Day. Storm Lake Police were called to Al’s Liquor in Storm Lake late Sunday evening. An employee informed officers that a man had entered the business and brandished a firearm, which he held to the employee’s head. The man allegedly moved the employee to the cash register and took an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect then fled the business on foot. No injuries were reported. On Tuesday, police executed search warrants at two Storm Lake residences, and found several items of interest.

The suspect, 24-year-old Eh Lwe of Storm Lake, was located at one of the residences, and arrested on multiple charges. The incident remains under investigation.