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Rural Merrill man sentenced to life for killing stepson

News

October 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A rural Merrill man who was convicted last month of first-degree murder in the death of his stepson was sentenced this (Friday) afternoon to life in prison. Eighty-four-year-old Thomas Knapp, was found guilty of the shooting death of 51-year-old Kevin Juzek in May, 2020, at Knapp’s home near Merrill.

Knapp was also sentenced to up to ten years for willful injury in Juzek’s death. He was ordered to pay 150-thousand dollars in restitution to Juzek’s estate. Charges against Knapp for injuring his wife, Darlene, in the same incident, brought a sentence of five years in prison.

Knapp was given the opportunity to speak before sentence was handed down. He declined to do so.

Who’s Gonna Win? – Week 7 – 10/07/2022

Podcasts, Sports, Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win?

October 7th, 2022 by admin

Chris Parks, Jim Field, and Matt Mullenix take a look at 8 area high school football games each week throughout the season. We try to provide some insight into the match-ups while competing for top prognosticator and the Whosman Trophy.

Who’s Gonna Win? is brought to you again in 2022 by Rush CPA & Associates and Fareway.

Last Week:

Chris Parks 8-0
Jim Field 7-1
Matt Mullenix 6-2

Overall 2022 Standings:

Matt Mullenix 36-12
Chris Parks 35-13
Jim Field 31-17

Play

Trojan Preview – Week 7 – 10/07/2022

Sports, Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win?

October 7th, 2022 by admin

KJAN Sports Director Chris Parks’ weekly discussion with Atlantic Head Football Coach Joe Brummer. This week we talk about the loss at Harlan and look ahead to another  road trip to face Knoxville.

Play

Candidates for state treasurer debate

News

October 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican candidate for state treasurer says if elected, he’ll be an advocate for more state tax cuts. Republican Roby  Smith of Davenport has served in the state senate for the past 12 years. “Most people don’t realize this, but at the Capitol, the treasurer’s office can actually go in and for each bill, they can register for or against the bill,” Smith said. “The largest tax cut in the history of Iowa in this year, 2022, the treasurer’s office didn’t register — didn’t register for that.”

The Democratic incumbent says his responsibility as state treasurer is managing the state’s money and keeping it safe. Democrat Michael Fitzgerald has been state treasurer since 1983. “Now if the legislators and the governor want to increase taxes or decrease taxes, that’s their decision,” Fitzgerald says. “It’s not something that directly affects programs we run in the state treasurer’s office.” Smith is accusing Fitzgerald of mismanaging “College Savings Iowa” — a so-called five-29 (529) program which lets parents and grandparents set aside money tax-free for a child’s education.

Smith cites a recent report from an agency that rates investments like mutual funds. “Morningstar rating agency out of Chicago rated the 529s all throughout the country and Iowa’s was downgraded. It was downgraded from a C to a D,” Smith says. “It is one step away from failing.” Fitzgerald says Morningstar analysts misunderstood some of the investment options in College Savings Iowa.

“Our program has been solid for 24 years,” Fitzgerald says. “We explained it to them just a couple of weeks ago. I think you’re going to see an upgrade in another couple of weeks.”

The candidates made their comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 10/7/22

News

October 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests over the past couple of days.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4th: 41-year-old Amanda Jean Schultz, of Omaha, was arrested at around 8:30-a.m. in the area of 195th Street & Lambert Ave. Schultz was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. (Bond $1,000); And, at around 3:30-p.m., 22-year-old Kpor Kue, of Omaha, was arrested at the Douglas County, Nebraska Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. Kue was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

On Wednesday (Oct. 5), 26-year-old Alesha Marie Young, of Carter Lake, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Bond was set at $5,000.

Atlantic Storm Water Automatic payments delayed

News

October 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – If you signed-up for automatic payment of your Storm Water Utility bill, in Atlantic, and noticed your bank account hasn’t been debited yet, you’re not alone. City Clerk Barb Barrick reports “Due to (mega) issues with the city’s software “talking to” the bank’s ACH software, automatic payments for stormwater will be deducted from customers accounts on Tuesday, October 11th. ”

The city apologizes for any inconvenience.

Enhance Iowa Board awards more than $1 million in CAT and Sports Tourism grants

News

October 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

October 7, 2022 (DES MOINES, IA) – At yesterday’s (Thursday’s) meeting, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants totaling $1 million to pool projects in Hubbard and Laurens and a Sports Tourism grant to Des Moines in support of the USA Archery Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) Target Nationals.

The details for the projects receiving CAT grants follow:

Project Name: Hubbard Pool, Hubbard
Total Project Cost: $3,178,015
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: This project includes the demolition of the city’s existing pool and construction of a new 3,600-square-foot facility with two diving boards, a toddler slide, basketball hoop, volleyball net and ADA accessible hard surface parking.

Project Name: Let’s Create a Splash Together – The Laurens Pool Project, Laurens
Total Project Cost: $2,976,469
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: This project includes the construction of a 3,100-square-foot swimming pool with five 25-meter swimming lanes and a 1-meter diving tower, a new bathhouse and concession stand.

The details for the project receiving a Sports Tourism grant follow:

Event Name: USA Archery JOAD Target Nationals, Des Moines
Event Dates: July 12-16, 2023
Total Project Budget: $47,070
Amount Awarded: $23,535
Description: The Junior Olympic Archery Development Nationals is a USA Archery sanctioned event open to youth archers competing in the recurve, compound, fixed pins and barebow divisions. Event marketing and promotion will include airport baggage claim and other airport signage the week of the event, digital billboards around Des Moines welcoming the group and customized Snapchat filters for attendees to utilize and promote Des Moines while visiting.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 103 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $33,283,183. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for November 3, 2022.

GAIL CLARENCE SCHMITZ, 78, of Avoca (Mass of Christian Burial 10/11/22)

Obituaries

October 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

GAIL CLARENCE SCHMITZ, 78, of Avoca, died Thursday, Oct. 6th, at Myrtue Medical Center, in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial for GAIL CLARENCE SCHMITZ will be held 10:30-a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11th, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Earling. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling is on Monday, Oct. 10th, from 5-until 8-p.m., with a Rosary at 7-p.m.

Burial is in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling.

GAIL CLARENCE SCHMITZ is survived by:

His Sister – Arlene (Wayne) Justice, of Manning.

His sister-in-law: Sandy Schmitz, of Des Moines.

His brother-in-law: Virgil Coenen, of Harlan.

Many nieces & nephews.

Boil Advisory lifted in Audubon

News

October 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – Officials with the City of Audubon late this (Friday) morning, announced that a Boil Advisory issued Tuesday, has been LIFTED. Again, the Boil Advisory is no longer necessary. The City had issued a boil advisory Tuesday evening, after several residences on the north side of town lost water services due a broken water main.

The homes listed in the advisory included those on Division Street, north of Broadway Street, and the area north of Northwestern Avenue between U.S. Highway 71 and Division Street.

Individuals with questions should contact Audubon City Hall by calling 712-563-3269.

CONNIE VIETHER, 75, of Atlantic (Graveside Svcs. 10/12/22)

Obituaries

October 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

CONNIE VIETHER, 75, of Atlantic, died Friday, October 7, 2022, at Atlantic Specialty Care, in Atlantic (IA). Graveside services for CONNIE VIETHER will be held 2-p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in the Brighton Township Cemetery near Marne. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Open visitation will take place from 12:00-p.m. until 1:30-p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the family at this time and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

CONNIE VIETHER is survived by:

Her husband – Dennis, of Atlantic.

Her children – Cindy Hawkinson, and Rachel (Jeff) Clausen, all of Atlantic; and Kevin Viether, of Council Bluffs.

Her brother – Richard (Carol Roberts) Blanchard, of Creston.

Seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; her in-laws, other relatives, and friends.