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UNI and Drake women prepare for Missouri Valley Tournament

Sports

March 7th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

The UNI and Drake women get ready for this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in the Quad Cities. The Panthers are the three seed and will play the late game on Friday against the winner of Thursday’s game between Illinois-Chicago and Valparaiso. UNI is 21-8 overall and finished the Valley race 16-4.

That’s UNI coach Tanya Warren who says either team will provide a challenge.

The Panthers swept both teams during the regular season.

Drake is the four seed. The Bulldogs open Friday afternoon against the winner of Thursday’s game between Missouri State and Bradley.

Posted in Sports |

Bill would legalize unpasteurized ‘raw’ milk sales in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 7th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate would legalize the sale of raw milk at dairy farms. Esther Arkfeld of Harlan, says when she lived in another state, she bought raw milk rather than formula for her baby, but found out when she moved to Iowa five years ago it was illegal here. “How is it that in the 21st century in a country where 45 of the 50 states allow the sale of raw milk Iowa — a state that prides itself on agriculture, farming and freedom — is the only Midwest state to criminalized it?” she asks.

Raw milk enthusiasts like Arkfeld says unpasteurized milk tastes better and has more nutrients. Critics say raw milk has more bacteria and is dangerous for pregnant women. The dairy industry opposes the bill. Justin LeVan is the secretary of the Iowa Dairy Foods Association, which represents dairy businesses.

“As soon as there’s an outbreak of any kind, the businesses in Iowa will suffer and milk sales will go down whether it’s associated with raw milk or not.” Under the senate bill it still would be illegal to sell unpasteurized milk at restaurants and farmers markets, but raw milk and other products like cheese, yogurt and ice cream that are made with unpasteurized milk could be sold legally at the dairy where it’s processed.

The Senate approved similar legislation a year ago, but bills to legalize raw milk sales have never been considered in the Iowa House.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Ferentz greatly disappointed in settlement over players’ lawsuit

News, Sports

March 7th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Hawkeye football coach Kirk Ferentz says he is greatly disappointed the state’s attorney general negotiated a more than four million dollar settlement with a dozen former players. The players accused Ferentz and other coaches of creating a racially hostile culture for black players. In a written statement released, Ferentz said for more than two years the Hawkeye football program had been unfairly maligned by the allegations and the settlement was offered without consulting him or other coaches named in the lawsuit.

Ferentz indicated he’s been told the reason for the settlement was financial, to avoid the possibility of a large jury verdict. Ferentz, in his statement, said the settlement clears the coaches of any wrongdoing — but had hoped a judge would have been given a chance to rule on their motion for a dismissal of the case. According to Ferentz, many former members of the team said things that they later recanted when questioned under oath.

The state Appeal Board approved the settlement Monday afternoon.

Posted in News, Sports |

CLIFFORD EUGENE CARR, 80, of Anita (Celebration of Life 3/13/23)

Obituaries

March 6th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

CLIFFORD EUGENE CARR, 80, of Anita, died Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Cass Health in Atlantic. A Celebration of Life for CLIFFORD CARR will be held 2-p.m. Monday, March 13, 2023, at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Anita. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation with his family will be held at the Church in Anita, on Monday, from 1-until 2-p.m. (prior to the service)

Burial with full military honors by the Atlantic Color Guard, will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

CLIFFORD CARR is survived by:

His sons – James Carr; Clifford “Butch” Carr, Jr.; Clinton Carr, and Billy Simon.

His daughters – Theresa Jeanne Cohrs; & Tracy (Bob) Jacobson.

His sister – Marlyce Carr.

11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Boys State Basketball Scoreboard 03/06/2023

Sports

March 6th, 2023 by admin

Class 1A Quarterfinals

Grand View Christian 61, New London 51

West Harrison 87, Dunkerton 61

West Harrison picked up their first ever win at the boys state basketball tournament with an 85-63 win over Dunkerton. The Hawkeyes jumped out to an early lead with a 21-13 advantage in the first quarter and closed the game out strong. Koleson Evans poured in 27 points and grabbed 14 rebouds. Sage Evans also finished with a double-double with 11 points and 21 boards. The Hawkeyes shot a solid 54% from the field.

North Linn 72, Madrid 63

Remsen St. Mary’s 57, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 47

Class 2A Quarterfinals

Central Lyon 74, Des Moines Christian 41

Pella Christian 61, MFL MarMac 54

Posted in Sports |

Authorities track down property damage hit-and-run suspect

News

March 6th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Guthrie County, Iowa) – A man whose vehicle allegedly sideswiped another in Guthrie County, Saturday morning and left the scene, was tracked down and the driver questioned, in Greene County. Sheriff’s officials report a 2023 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 25-year-old Wesley Reeves, of Glidden, was traveling east on Highway 141 at around 4-a.m., Saturday, when his vehicle was sideswiped by a 2022 pickup traveling west.

Reeves turned around and followed the other vehicle towards Jefferson. He called 911 to report the incident and followed the suspect pickup until a Greene County Deputy could stop the vehicle. The driver of the suspect pickup was identified as 23-year-old Reyes Joseph Molina, of Waukee.

Authorities said he had no drivers license and spoke little English. The man was released from the scene. No citations were issued and no injuries were reported.  Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.

Posted in News |

Atlantic Firefighter Awards Banquet

News

March 6th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Annual Atlantic Fire Department awards banquet was held Saturday, February 25th, . The Atlantic Fire Department (AFD) and the Iowa Firefighters Association (IFA) recognize those that have dedicated 20 years and more to fire service. Mark McNees was recognized for his 32-years of service to the AFD, his years of service to the IFA, and his past service as Chief of the Atlantic Fire Department. (Photos & info. courtesy Chief Tom Cappel)

From the left: IFA President Chuck Raska; Mark McNees; IDA Representative Roger Bissen (Harlan FD).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rich Smith was recognized for 30-years of service to the AFD.

From the left: IFA Pres. Raska; Rich Smith; Chief Tom Cappel, Roger Bissen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wayne Brosam was recognized for 25-years of service to the AFD. Brosam is also an Assistant Chief of the AFD, as well as a Special Agent with the Arson & Explosives Bureau with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Wayne Brosam (2nd from left)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the left are: Chase Mewhirter (10 yrs), Travis Petersen (10 yrs), Jeremy Sandbothe (10 yrs), Tom Cappel.

Locally, the Atlantic Fire Department recognizes those that have served for 5 years and over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those receiving awards but not present for the picture were: Paul Wood (15 yrs), Matt Benning (10 yrs ), and

Jake Vetter ( 10 yrs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in News |

DCI assist Britt PD w/Homicide Investigation

News

March 6th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Britt, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) are assisting in a northern Iowa homicide investigation. Authorities say that at approximately 7:10 PM, Saturday, March 4, 2023, the Britt Police Department responded to a disturbance call at the residence of 275 4th Street Southeast in Britt, Iowa. Upon arrival to the residence, officers encountered a male subject identified as Monte Eckels, age 56 of Britt, Iowa.  Officers detained Eckels and entered the residence and observed a female subject identified as Leallen Bergman, age 62 of Ventura, Iowa. Leallen was pronounced deceased at the residence from apparent stab wounds.

Monte Eckels was arrested for Murder in the 1st Degree and transported to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office jail without further incident.

This investigation is being conducted by the Britt Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Hancock County Attorney’s Office. Additional assistance was provided by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Kanawha Police Department, Garner Police Department, and West Hancock Ambulance Service.

Posted in News |

Madison County marks anniversary of deadly tornado

News, Weather

March 6th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Madison County residents marked the one year anniversary Sunday of the deadly tornado outbreak that included one that dropped down just outside Winterset and left six people dead. Madison County Community Foundation manager Tom Leners says one year later, some people are still working on their insurance settlements. “There’s been a few challenges that way. But I think, overall, for the 50 some properties that were affected in Madison County, we feel like we are making progress,” he says. “And at this point, now people at least have a plan of what they’re going to do to get back in their property or utilize their property again.”

He says volunteers and residents got to work soon after the tornado hit. “There’s been a lot of cleanup, a lot of new construction, a lot of repair work has been done. So, those are all good things. There’s been a lot of folks wanting to help us through donations or an unkind sorts of supplies and that sort of thing,” Leners says. The Foundation handled the donations in the aftermath of the tornado and Leners says there was a great outpouring of help. “Through the generosity of people in our state and from other storm zones, we we raised over half a million dollars,” Leners says. “We had money coming in from really coast to coast and border to border and we were very greatful for that. You could see clusters of checks coming in from communities that had storm damage in the past five years where they donated to ours too.” He says it’s hard to total up all the donations made by people of services.

NWS map of Winterset tornado path.

Some in central Iowa brought in their own equipment paid their own fuel costs to work removing downed trees. “That part of the county was a very mature tree stand. So a lot of trees a lot of damage that way a lot to clean up. And so, so much progress was made in the first week or 10 days of getting roads back open and getting driveways back open to where you could get back into the property,” Leners says. Leners says he’s gotten a few concerned calls from people back in their property when there are storms. “There are still some folks that are concerned as we have storm warnings. And of course, now we’re getting back into that season,” he says. Leners say will continue to work to recover physically and emotionally from the deadly tornado.

The Bridge Community Church held a service Sunday in what Leners says was a kind of the official recognition of the one-year anniversary. The church worked with those who were displaced when their homes where destroyed. Another person who was camping at Red Haw State Park near Chariton in Lucas County was killed on the same day by a tornado. There were 15 tornadoes confirmed in the state on that day.

Posted in News, Weather |

Updated: $4,175 million legal settlement reached in Iowa football discrimination lawsuit; Auditor opposes

News, Sports

March 6th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa)- A state board has approved a more than four million dollar settlement with former University of Iowa football players who alleged the Hawkeye program was a racially hostile environment for black players. But members of the State Appeals Board raised concerns about management of Iowa athletics. State Treasurer Roby Smith says he has zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind.

Barta, the university’s athletic director, and Ferentz, the football team’s offensive coordinator, were named in the players’ original lawsuit. Despite those reservations, Smith and state budget director Kraig Paulsen voted to approve the settlement, with nearly half of it being covered by state taxdollars and the rest paid out the athletics department budget. Smith called it a good business decision for the state, as Iowans could be on the hook for far more if the case went to trial.

State Auditor Rob Sand opposes having Iowa taxpayers cover two million dollars of the settlement. Sand says this is the fourth discrimination settlement during Gary Barta’s tenure as the university’s athletic director and it’s time for him to go.

Sand held a news conference Monday morning to announce he opposes the settlement and believes Barta should be ousted. Kraig Paulsen, the governor’s budget director, is the third member of the State Appeals Board and he questioned Sand.

Paulsen suggests legislators may have an interest in reviewing the settlement, however.

Barta released a written statement Monday morning about the settlement. He says the University of Iowa Athletic Department remains committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for every student-athlete and staff member involved in the program.

Posted in News, Sports |