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New players expect to make an impact for Iowa State basketball

Sports

July 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger says summer workouts are a time for new players to adapt to college basketball. The Cyclones have several freshmen from a highly touted recruiting class who are expected to make an immediate impact next season.

Otzelberger says for freshmen it is about carving out a role and adapting to the physical challenges of college basketball.

Summer is also a time to be introduced to ISU’s demanding defensive style.

Otzelberger says there are several factors that go into good defense.

The Cyclones are coming off a 19-14 record that included a loss to Pitt in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Poston set to defend at John Deere Classic

Sports

July 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

J.T. Poston is set to defend his title at the John Deere Classic this week. Poston’s win last year was his second on the PGA Tour and he is looking forward to competing in the Quad Cities as the defending champ.

Poston has three top ten finishes this season but most recently missed the cut at the Travelers Championship.

Poston’s first win on the PGA Tour was back in 2019 at the Wyndham Championship.

It will also be a much different experience being the defending champ in the Quad Cities.

The first round of the John Deere Classic is Thursday.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Sunday, July 2nd, 2023

Weather

July 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 85. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
Independence Day: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 77. Our Low was 65. Rainfall Saturday (after 7-a.m.) amounted to .04″ at KJAN (Total rainfall from Friday into Saturday was 1.02″). Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 83, and the Low was 59. The Record High was 102 in 1911. The Record Low was 45 in 1924 & 1959. Sunrise was at 5:50. Sunset is at 8:57.

Double fatality crash w/3 others injured in NE Iowa, Sat. night

News

July 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Spillville, Iowa) – Two people  died and three others were hurt, during a collision late Saturday night in northeastern Iowa’s Winnesheik County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash occurred at around 11:10-p.m. at the intersection of County Highway B16 and 265th Avenue, in Spillville.

The Patrol says a 2004 Toyota Highlander SUV driven by 42-year-old Christopher Mirich, of Waukon, was traveling north on 265th Avenue, when the vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with a 2012 Chevy Malibu, driven by 49-year-old Neil Heins, of Monona.

Mirich and a passenger in one of the vehicles, 64-year-old Laura Lubka, of Postville, died at the scene. Neils Heins, and two other passengers in the vehicles were injured.  The others included 36-year-old Scott Uhlenhake, of Luana and 28-year-old Taylor Gerleman, of Calmar.

None of the crash victims were wearing a seat belt. The injured victims of the crash were transported by ambulance to the hospital.The crash remains under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, 1st Responders, Decorah Police and Fire Dept., Calmar Fire & Rescue, Ossian Ambulance, a Howard County Sheriff’s Deputy, a DNR officer, Provtin Rescue, & Gunderson Air Care.

Water level drop underway at Meadow Lake in Adair County

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

GREENFIELD, Iowa – The water level of Meadow Lake near Greenfield in Adair County is being lowered 3 feet . The Iowa DNR says the process to help improve the size of bluegills in the lake, began this past week. The water will be released slowly over the next two weeks to avoid any downstream impacts. A water level draw-down is a common fisheries management technique used to improve the size of panfish.  Meadow Lake has an abundance of 7-inch bluegills that lack the quality anglers are looking for.

“Crowding the fish into a smaller area makes them more susceptible to predation by largemouth bass and reduces the number of small bluegills,” said Bryan Hayes, fisheries management biologist. The reduced number will improve growth in the coming year. “Draw-downs in 2016 and 2019 had this effect,” Hayes noted.

The draw-down is expected to have minimal effect on public access to Meadow Lake. The boat ramp will be usable and the lake will remain open during the draw-down. Meadow Lake will be allowed to refill starting in September.

Meadow Lake is a 34-acre lake in the middle of the 317 acre Meadow Lake Fish and Wildlife Area located in the north central part of Adair County.  It has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 7.3 feet.

 

 

Disaster declaration issued for Ringgold County

News

July 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Saturday (Today), issued a disaster proclamation for Ringgold County in response to severe weather that occurred on June 29. The governor’s proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program.   

The proclamation opens up certain state resources for disaster recovery, as well as relief grants of up to $5,000 for households earning up to 200% of the poverty level. More information on applying for disaster relief grants can be found on the state’s website. Victims of the storms have 45 days to apply.

Colorado man killed in a northern Iowa crash Saturday morning

News

July 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Hampton, Iowa) – A collision  early this (Saturday) morning in northern Iowa’s Franklin County, claimed the life of a man from Colorado. The Iowa State Patrol says 34-year-old Adam L. Booker, of Arvada, CO, died when the 2017 Subaru WRX he was driving, ran a stop sign at the intersection of 190th Street and Highway 65, north of Hampton. The vehicle broadsided a southbound 2015 Jeep Cherokee, driven by 26-year-old Spencer J. Brinkman, of Latimer (IA). The crash happened a little before 1-a.m., as the Subaru was traveling eastbound and the SUV was southbound.

Following the collision, the Subaru entered a farm field to the southeast and started on fire. The Jeep came to rest in the east ditch. Adam Booker died at the scene. Brinkman was injured and transported by Mercy One/Mason City to the Franklin General Hospital. The crash remains under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Hampton Fire Department, and Franklin General Ambulance.

Friday’s Area, Class 1A and Class 2A Regional Softball

Sports

July 1st, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Friday’s Area Regional Softball Scores:

Class 1A:

Region 1:
South O’Brien 8 Gehlin, Catholic, 6
Trinity-Christian 7 George-Little Rock, 0
Woodbury Central 15 Boyer Valley, 5
Westwood 6 Whiting, 0

Region 2:
Coon Rapids-Bayard 9 Ar-We-Va, 1 
Glidden-Ralston 11 Storm Lake, St. Mary’s, 0
GTRA 15 Harris Lake Park, 2
North Iowa 12 West Hancock, 5
Bishop-Garrigan 16 Northwood-Kensett, 1

Region 3:
Nodaway Valley 9 CAM, 3
East Union 11 Orient-Macksburg, 5
Murray 3 Melcher-Dallas, 2
Audubon 7 Tri-Center, 3
Riverside 11 St. Albert, 1

Region 4:
Lenox 12 Moulton-Udell, 0
Seymour 2 Bedford, 1
Lamoni, 14 Morman Trail, 4
East Mills 28 Sidney, 18
Essex 11 Stanton, 0
Class 2A:

Region 2:
AHSTW 9 IKM/Manning, 2
Alta-Aurelia 2 MMCRU, 1

Region 3:
ACGC 12 Southwest Valley, 0
East Sac County  13 South Central, Calhoun, 1

Evolution of the Heartland agri-tourism event set to take place in August

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Manning & Audubon, Iowa) – A marketing firm based in Manning is hosting an agri-tourism event next month (August), in Audubon and Manning. Shelly Greving owner of Emerge Marketing Solutions, says the “Evolution of the Heartland” experience August 3rd and 4th, is designed to showcase the heart of America’s rural communities and the evolution of innovative Ag advancements. She explains the reason for showcasing what agriculture has to offer.

Greving said the event was created to bring people back to the Midwest and show them Ag entrepreneurship in action.

Tour options for the first day of the event include, but are not limited to: Mainstreet Entrepreneurs; Innovation & Technology; Niche Farming; Spirits of the Heartland; Templeton Distillery, Beef & Swine Immersion; the Manning Hausbarn Heritage park tour, and more. Participants have the option to stay overnight for a second day of immersive tours.

Participants will get a taste of rural Iowa at a Farm-to-table lunch.

A community tailgate supper will feature food stations with pork, beef, and more. All meals are included in the price of registration. Participants will also be able to browse local produce and goods at the Iowa Vendor Showcase.

She says she hopes the tours open everyone’s eyes, to see what is happening in rural Iowa.

The cost for the entire event is $150, but some parts of the event are free. The deadline to register for the tour(s) is July 15th or until all the spots have been filled. Register online at https://www.evolutionoftheheartland.com.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Saturday, July 1st, 2023

Weather

July 1st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Light and variable wind becoming north northwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
 
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Northwest wind around 7 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. North northwest wind around 8 mph.
Sunday Night :Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
Monday: A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Independence Day: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday’s High in Atlantic was 84. Our Low was 66. 24-hour rainfall at KJAN (7-a.m. Friday through 7-a.m. today) was .98″. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 79, and the Low was 55. The Record High was 104 in 1938. The Record Low was 45 in 1930, 1951, & 1995. Sunrise was at 5:49. Sunset is at 8:57.