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House fire in Villisca early Wed. morning

News

January 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Villisca, Iowa) – No injuries were reported following a house fire early this (Wednesday) morning, in Villisca. According to reports, the Villisca fire fighters dispatched to the scene at 407 E. 6th Street at 12:10-a.m., arrived about five-minutes later, to find the home’s occupants had been evacuated, and smoke was emitting from the front door. The flames apparently began in the basement, where a space heater was located next to a bed.

The blaze spread within the walls into the first floor kitchen and living room. Crews quickly knocked down the basement flames and contained the remaining hot spots to the kitchen/living room walls. The flames were extinguished and clean-up operations wrapped-up by around 2-a.m.

The Red Cross was called to assist with four adults and one child of the home. Authorities say while a dollar amount of the damage was not immediately available, the house was still livable, with necessary repairs conducted. Assisting Villisca Fire were crews from Villisca Public Works, Villisca Power, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Villisca Ambulance, Red Oak Rescue, Alliant Energy, and the American Red Cross.

Iowa DOC prison inmates Donald Lanphier & Charles Thompson died over the weekend

News

January 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY – The Iowa Department of Corrections, today (Wednesday) said 84-year-old Donald Edward Lanphier was pronounced deceased due to natural causes at 4:46 pm on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He was originally an inmate at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. Lanphier had been serving a 10 year Special Supervision Sentence 903B.2 (2005) from Mahaska County. His supervision began on December 10, 2020.

Another inmate, 65-year-old Charles Earl Thompson was pronounced deceased due to natural causes at 9:29 pm on Sunday, January 16, 2022 in a hospice room of the Iowa Medical and Classification Center where he had been housed due to chronic illness.  Thompson had been serving a 10-year maximum term for the crimes of Lascivious Acts with Child from Floyd County. His sentence began on February 22, 2021

Heartbeat Today 1-19-2022

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

January 19th, 2022 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Chris Spieker of the CAM Sports Club about the “Paws for a Cause” fundraising silent auction Friday.

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Cass County Extension Report 1-19-2022

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

January 19th, 2022 by Jim Field

w/Kate Olson.

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(Podcast) KJAN News, 1/19/22

News, Podcasts

January 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

More area News from Ric Hanson.

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Reynolds breaks cash-on-hand record for a potential campaign run

News

January 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has broken the record for most cash on hand reported for the campaign for Iowa governor. According to a press release from The Kim Reynolds for Iowa Committee, the campaign raised nearly $3.8 million in 2021. The campaign has nearly $4.8 million cash on hand. Her office says the amount has set “the record for most cash on hand ever reported by an Iowa statewide campaign and the most raised the year before an election.” The previous record was set by Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad, who reported $4.69 million cash on hand in 2014.
The final report will be filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board by Jan. 19. According to a news release, the governor received contributions from all 99 counties, and over 80% of all contributions are $50 or under.

Gov. Reynolds has not formally announced her run for re-election.

MICHAEL REED, 46, of Brayton (Celebration of Life 1/31/22)

Obituaries

January 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

MICHAEL REED, 46, of Brayton, died Monday, January 17, 2022 at Cass County Health Center in Atlantic. A Celebration of Life for MIKE REED will be held at 11-a.m. on January 31st, at Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation with the family present will be from 9-a.m. (1/31) until the time of service, at the funeral home.

Online online condolences can be sent at: schmidtfamilyfh.com

BILLY DEAN SHAW, 85, of Audubon (Svcs. 1/20/22)

Obituaries

January 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

BILLY DEAN SHAW, 85, of Audubon, died Saturday, Jan. 15th, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services for BILLY SHAW will be held 1:30-p.m. Friday, Jan. 20th, at the First United Methodist Church, in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family will greet friends from 5-until 7-p.m., today (Wed., Jan. 19th), from 5-until 7-p.m.

Burial is in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

BILLY DEAN SHAW is survived by:

His wife of over 63-years: Shirley Shaw, of Audubon.

His sons – Allan (Angie) Shaw, of Enid, OK. James (Crystal) Shaw, of Groveland, IL. Bradley (Angie) Shaw of Washington, IL.

His daughter – Rhonda (Brad) Balding, of Denver, CO.

His sisters – Alice (Duane) Brown, of Atlantic, & Opal Smith, of Clarion.

8 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, in-laws, other relatives and friends.

LINDA ANN HENNICK, 72, of Exira (Svcs. 1/21/22)

Obituaries

January 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

LINDA ANN HENNICK, 72, of Exira, died Jan. 15th, at home. Funeral services for LINDA HENNICK will be held 12-p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21st, at the Kessler Funeral Home, in Exira.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family will meet with friends from 10-a.m. until Noon, Saturday.

Burial is in the Exira Cemetery.

LINDA HENNICK is survived by:

Her sons – Travis(Kimberly) Wilson, of Lotawanna, MO; Ryan (Amber) Wilson, of Exira, and Nathan (Jackie) Wilson, of Hamlin.

Her step-children: Terri (Rodney) Harris, and Betsy (Kyle) Kitelinger, all of Exira.

Her brothers – Lee (Mary) Rasmussen, of Ames; Steven Rasmussen, of Ft. Madison, & David Rasmussen, of Mechanicsburg, PA.

Her sister – DeEtta Rasmussen, of Ft. Madison

7 grandchildren, 8 step-grandchildren, her in-laws, other relatives and friends.

DONNA R. RUGAARD, 72, of Audubon (Celebration of Life 1/21/22)

Obituaries

January 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

DONNA R. RUGAARD, 72, of Audubon, died Jan. 13th, at the Friendship Home in Audubon. A Celebration of Life for DONNA RUGAARD will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday, Jan. 21st, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family will meet w/friends Thursday, from 5:30-until 7-p.m.

Burial will be held at a later date.

DONNA RUGAARD is survived by:

Her sons – Kevin (Risa) Rugaard, of Audubon; Tom Rugaard, of Parachute, CO, and Dan Rugaard, of Hamlin.

Her daughter – Mary (Terrill) Burger, of Hamlin.

Her sisters – Sue Rugaard, of Audubon; Carol (Richard) Lenning, of Blue Springs, MO; and Rev. Annette (Rev. David) Kruse, of Atkins, IA.

Her brothers – Robert (Judy) Ruhs, of Audubon, and John and Amy Ruhs, both from Kuna, ID.

15 grandchildren, her in-laws, other relatives and man friends.