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Miller-Meeks says she’s getting death threats after voting against Jordan for speaker

News

October 19th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she’s received credible death threats after she switched her vote for House speaker.

Miller-Meeks voted for Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan for House Speaker on Tuesday, but she said her “initial concerns” about “threatening tactics” from other Republicans in congress and Jordan supporters elsewhere increased. Miller-Meeks supported the chair of the House Appropriations Committee during today’s second round of voting. Miller-Meeks, in a written statement issued early this evening, said her office is cooperating with “the proper authorities” after she received a barrage of threatening calls and death threats following that vote. Miller-Meeks said she will “not bend to bullies” and is looking to support a “consensus candidate” for speaker.

Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who has voted for Jordan twice, issued a video statement late Wednesday, calling the eight Republicans who engineered the ouster of Kevin McCarthy “chaos agents” who “should be ashamed of themselves.” Hinson said it’s time to end to “drama and infighting” among House Republicans.

Posted in News |

Experts says drought hasn’t had much impact on fall foliage show in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 19th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Experts say many Iowa trees are showing some brilliant colors right now due to recent cool temperatures. Mark Runkel is a forest health technician with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He says you don’t have to venture far to see nature’s autumn show. “Drive around your neighborhood. You can drive around your city parks. You can walk around some hiking trails,” Runkel says. “There are a lot of opportunities right near everybody’s home to just see some of these amazing color changes.”

For tree experts like Runkel, the colors of the leaves are a clue to what type of tree it is. “You can definitely tell which species based on what colors you’d be seeing,” Runkel says. “It can get a little bit challenging in a forest, if you’re looking at a forest from a distance, and just seeing all these vibrant colors,” Runkel says. Sugar maples, for example, often turn orange in the fall.

“I’m particular to the hard maples. I think that’s a really cool color,” Runkel says. “A lot of the oak species, as well, they kind of play off one another. Especially if you’re looking at a bluff full of trees, you can really see the differences between them really quickly.” Oak trees in Iowa are the last to show their fall color. The timing of this year’s show of fall foliage in Iowa is pretty typical, according to Runkel.

“We’re pretty much seeing it act normally as it would in year’s past,” Runkel says. “The drought conditions that we’ve had can sometimes really impact the fall color, but this year we haven’t really seen any significant impacts.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has a webpage that offers daily updates on the best viewing for fall colors in Iowa. Find a link at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Fall-Color

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Regional Volleyball Scores Class 1A and 2A

Sports

October 18th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A – Region 1

Boyden-Hull 3-Trinity Christian 0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-18)
River Valley 3-Audubon 1 (25-14, 25-21, 11-25, 25-20)
Glidden-Ralston 3-Boyer Valley 1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-14, 26-24)

Class 1A – Region 3

Stanton 3-Lamoni 0 (25-5, 25-8, 25-7)
East Mills 3-Sidney 2 (18-25, 25-17, 11-25, 26-24, 15-9)
St. Albert 3-Bedford 0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-13)
Lenox 3-Griswold 1 (18-25, 25-18, 27-25, 25-23)

Class 1A – Region 4

Ankeny Christian 3-Twin Cedars 0 (25-10, 25-6, 25-11)
CAM 3-Exira-EHK 1 (25-11, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21)
Riverside 3-Earlham 1 (21-25, 25-10, 25-10, 25-14)

Class 2A – Region 2

Kuemper Catholic 3-MVAOCOU 0 (25-6, 25-12, 25-18)
South Central Calhoun 3-Westwood 0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19)
Ridge View 3-Missouri Valley 0 (25-11, 25-7, 25-9)
West Monona 3-East Sac County 0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-23)

Class 2A – Region 3

Underwood 3-Treynor 0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19)
Tri-Center 3-Shenandoah 1 (24-26, 27-25, 25-23, 25-22)
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 3-Pella Christian 0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-19)
Pleasantville 3-North Mahaska 0 (25-17, 27-25, 25-21)

Class 2A – Region 4

Dike-New Hartford 3-Woodward-Granger 0 (25-6, 25-8, 25-5)
Ogden 3-South Hamilton 1
ACGC 3-Panorama 0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-11)
Southwest Valley 3-Nodaway Valley 1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-19)

Posted in Sports |

Lenox advances to Volleyball semi-final over Griswold

Sports

October 18th, 2023 by admin

The Lenox Tigers outlasted the Griswold Tigers in what was a unbelievable game and environment. From the first points of set number one you could tell it was going to be a back-and-forth game all night long and that’s exactly how it played out. The Griswold Tigers would prevail in set number one and take it 25-19 led by Gabbie Greiman who completely owned the net defensively as her and the Griswold Tigers combined for seven key blocks to take the set.  In set number two the momentum flipped early as junior Sadie Cox and senior Gabby Robles took the match over on the outsides. The duo of Cox and Robles would help Lenox have 10+ kills in all four of the sets. Head Coach Jesse Cox said both girls know when they need to make big plays.

Lenox would take set two 25-18 and would out dual Griswold in the third and most pivotal set 27-25. In a set of runs by each team Lenox battled back from a four-point deficit Coach Jesse Cox took a timeout with the score at 22 a piece and gave his girls one message to win the set.

Coach Cox was very quick to tip his hat off to the Griswold Tigers who gave Lenox everything they could handle. Coach Cox said the serving and defense played by Griswold gave his team fits.

Lenox took the match three sets to one and advance to the semi-final on Monday evening where they will travel to St Albert to take on the Falcons who defeated Bedford in three sets. Winner of that on Monday night will advance to the Class 1A Region 3 Championship match.

 

Posted in Sports |

Gold Team Sweeps Black & Gold World Series

Sports

October 18th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Gold team used a three-run fifth to rally and knock off the Black team, 5-4, in Wednesday’s seven-inning exhibition at Duane Banks Field. The win clinched the Black & Gold World Series for the Gold team.

Both left-handed starters dazzled on the mound with sophomore Cade Obermueller striking out seven batters in two and 2/3 innings for the Black team. The southpaw issued three walks and two hits, but only gave up one run. Freshman Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue worked three and 2/3 innings for the Gold team, allowing three runs on four hits.

Junior Connor Hennings began the scoring with an RBI single in the first to give the Black team a 1-0 lead. After a bases loaded walk to sophomore Gable Mitchell tied the game in the second, Hennings delivered again – this time with a two-run home run off the batter’s eye in center field.

The Gold team drew two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the fifth to load the bases. Senior Andy Nelson drove home pinch-runner Ryan Brosius on a sacrifice fly to center before sophomore Blake Guerin gave the Gold team the lead with a two-out, two-RBI single. Sophomore Ben Swails added insurance in the sixth with a solo blast to left field to put the Gold team on top, 5-3.

The Black team threatened in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with one out. Senior Will Mulflur brought home a run on a sacrifice fly to bring the Black team within one, before senior Ben DeTaeye worked out of the jam.

Bullpen arms redshirt junior Reece Beuter (2.1 IP, 3 K) and DeTaeye (1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H) sealed the victory for the Gold team.

Junior Sam Hart (2.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 K) and sophomore Ganon Archer (1.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 K) saw action out of the bullpen for the Black team.

Each team registered five hits and committed one error.

UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes have concluded their fall slate. Iowa opens its spring season at the Swig & Swine College Classic on Feb. 16 against Seton Hall in Charleston, South Carolina.

Posted in Sports |

Two Trojan Runners Qualify for State at Winterset

Sports

October 18th, 2023 by admin

Two cross country runners from Atlantic, Claire Pellett and Bennett Whetstone both qualified to head to state from their impressive efforts at the Winterset State Qualifying Meet on Wednesday evening.

It was a tough course to run on for Pellett as she had to continually push herself against top runners in the State like Grace Berglund from Glenwood who took the individual title and Avelyn Lace from Ballard in second.

Pellett credits the examples and teammates she’s had around her throughout her team in high school. All of which helped her qualify for state three separate times.

The rest of the Atlantic girls’ team ran well with Katrina Williams in 21st, Belle Berg in 27th, Makenna Schroeder in 39th, Megan Birge in 40th, Elynor Brummer in 41st, and Hailey Huffman in 42nd.

Girls Team Results:

  1. Glenwood (47)
  2. Ballard (52)
  3. Lewis Central (72)
  4. Winterset (115)
  5. Atlantic (121)

On the boys’ side Atlantic runner Bennett Whetstone qualified for state at 14th place nearing the cutoff point. It was a difficult run for Whetstone and he had to dig within to make it.

Looking ahead to state, Whetstone doesn’t have high expectations for himself. He is just going to enjoy the atmosphere of such a competitive event.

The top boy runner at the qualifier was Ethan Eichhorn from Lewis Central, then Andrew Smith at second and Bryant Keller at third both runners from Glenwood.

The rest of the Atlantic boys’ team had Alex Sonntag at 24th, Luke Irlmeier at 41st, Tyrell Williams at 45th, Rickie Fields at 46th, Christian Thompson 47th, and Devon Fields at 73rd.

Boys Team Results: 

  1. Lewis Central (39)
  2. Glenwood (57)
  3. Winterset (62)
  4. North Polk (108)
  5. Kuemper Catholic (117)

Coach Vargason had pride from the grit his boys team showed at the qualifier.

On the topic of Claire Pellett coach Vargason explained how continually impressed he is by her and the impact that she has had on his coaching.

The 3A State cross country meet begins Saturday October 28th at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Posted in Sports |

Atlantic’s Police Chief announces the City was awarded a $200k grant for law enforcement mental health training

News

October 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue, Wednesday night, announced to the Atlantic City Council, that the department applied for and was awarded a maximum $200,000 flow-through grant from the U-S Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Act as part of the law enforcement for mental health and wellness, with a sub-category for program implementation, to facilitate an Officer Mental Health and Resiliency program.

A similar, free three-day program was held last year in Atlantic, for area law enforcement and some from throughout the State. The success of that program spurred the concept of offering the class for law enforcement from all across the State. Chief Hogue and Officer Tony Snyder poured over the 61-page of instructions and requirements to apply for the grant.

There are two phases to the program, including End-user training, and adding facilitators from across the State so the program can grow. Chief Hogue said there was $9-million dollars awarded total to 60 agencies throughout the nation. Only one other city in Iowa, Muscatine, was awarded a grant for southeast Iowa.

Chief Hogue said Officer Snyder was instrumental in securing the Federal Grant, thanks to his diligence in looking to fine details of the application.

Posted in News |

KATHERINE “KAY” DOUGHERTY, 57, of Massena (Graveside Svcs. 10/22/23)

Obituaries

October 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

KATHERINE “KAY” DOUGHERTY, 57, of Massena, has died. Graveside services for KAY DOUGHERTY will be held 12:30-p.m. Sunday, October 22, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Massena.  Lamb Funeral Home in Massena is in charge of the arrangements.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Memorials:  May be directed to the Kay Dougherty Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

KATHERINE “KAY” DOUGHTERY is survived by:

Her sister – Anne Crowell, of Stafford, VA;  other relatives and friends.

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

Posted in Obituaries |

Atlantic needs more space for industrial/business development

News

October 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO) Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer, Wednesday evening, said despite the news late last month the MAHLE was laying-off a good percentage of their workforce by 2025, the news isn’t all bad. Speaking before the Atlantic City Council, Jennifer said she met with MAHLE employees, who explained the company is offering “Some very good retention bonuses if they’ll stay on.” There are also severance packages being offered to those who are close to retirement.

McEntaffer said “Many many organizations in  Cass County and Atlantic specifically are hiring, I don’t feel like were going to lose any population…”   She said also, she discussed with Iowa Western Community College in Atlantic, which is phasing out its Industrial Design program, and are moving ahead with offering a CDL program, which will benefit large manufacturers looking to locate in Atlantic and the area.

McEntaffer mentioned CADCO has a solid prospect in the form of a large manufacturing business that’s looking to expand into southwest Iowa, and that they love the idea Cass County being a hub for their business. The only issue is they need an 18,000-square foot building, which is currently not available. Along that note, she said, CADCO is looking partnerships with a local investment group, to construct a “spec” building to offer prospective businesses.

Other, local businesses, are looking to expand their footprint in the community, and two individuals are looking at downtown locations. And, Zeigler in Atlantic, she said, offers a paid apprenticeship program for persons looking to enter the trade industry, which  would benefit what the company does for its customers once those persons are trained and retained.

McEntaffer said the biggest struggle CADCO faces, is finding a place to put new business, especially commercial operations.

Posted in News |

You can now drive over the Iowa 92 bridge between Lyman and Griswold

News

October 18th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa – Oct. 18, 2023 – Work is now complete on the project to replace the bridge on Iowa 92 between Lyman and Griswold. You may now travel over the new bridge.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Posted in News |