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2023 Cass County Relay for Life Radio Luminary Show

Podcasts

December 4th, 2023 by CHris Parks

Chris Parks hosts the 2023 Cass County Relay for Life Radio Luminary Show in conjunction with the Anita Winter Walk and Festival of Trees. Interviews with Festival of Trees organizer Vicki Nordskog and local Cancer survivor Leslie Haynes.

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Shipping season ends today on the Upper Mississippi River

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 4th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who like watching the barges and tugs make their way on the Mississippi River will soon start seeing less traffic. The shipping season officially ends today (Monday) on the Upper Mississippi, and winter maintenance begins on four locks and dams between Hastings, Minnesota, and Guttenberg, Iowa. Liz Stoeckmann, with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers, says these lock and dam closures end the 2023 navigation season. “We’re really just protecting the longevity of these locks and dams,” Stoeckmann says, “so that we can continue our operations for safe, reliable economy of our barges going up and down the river.”

Stoeckmann says they’re not shutting down boat traffic because of ice or cold weather. “This is standard winter maintenance for our locks and dams,” she says, “so that it doesn’t affect the navigational season as far as barges and traffic going up and down the Mississippi River.”

Crews will be making repairs on several locks and dams in Minnesota, including Number-2 at Hastings, Number-3 in Welch, Number-4 near Alma, Wisconsin, and Number-7 near La Crescent. Last year’s shipping season ended on November 29th.

Family Find Out Night and 4-H Member Information Event

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 4th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County 4-H is hosting a Family Find Out Night for the community and current 4-H or Clover Kid members, to learn more about what the 4-H program does. This (Monday) evening (12/4), from 5:30-until 7-p.m., you can come and go as you please through the Cass County Community Building at 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic, and learn more about 4-H.

The event is free, and you don’t need to make a reservation. A short 10-minute overview of the program will be presented at 5:45- and 6:45-p.m., with questions to follow. Throughout the event you will be able to stop at different tables to learn more and ask questions.

Extension staff will have information on why 4-H is free in Cass County, the basics of what 4-H is, including what it stands for and the motto, project areas to get involved with, along with various programs, record books, and livestock identification and more. Officials say this is a no-pressure event for youth K-12 in the community to learn about opportunities they can get involved in.

Get all of your questions answered about 4-H and Clover Kids in Cass County and find a club that best suits you! For more information about 4-H visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, or call 712-243-1132.

2 non-injury accidents in Creston, Friday

News

December 4th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Union County say no injuries were reported following two separate accidents, Friday. The first happened at around 11:20-a.m. on Highway 25 North (Sumner Street), in Creston. Creston Police said a 2013 Chevy Equinox driven by 18-year-old Hazin Floyd Clayton, of Lorimor, was traveling northbound in the left lane, when the vehicle in front of him attempted to turn left. Clayton attempted to merge into the right lane, and in doing so struck a 2012 Jeep Liberty driven by 17-year-old Evy Isabelle Marlin, of Corning, as her SUV was traveling north in the right lane. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,000. No citations were issued, but Police noted Clayton made an improper or erratic lane change.

The second accident happened at around 4:50-p.m., Friday, in the Creston City limits. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a 2018 Honda Pilot (SUV) driven by 37-year-old Jennie P. England, of Creston, and a 2023 Toyota Sequoia SUV driven by 41-year-old Jacqueline H. Welchans, of Creston, were traveling north on Highway 25 near the intersection with Montgomery Street, and had just left the stoplight at the intersection with Adams Street, when England attempted to change lanes in order to turn right at the next intersection. She didn’t see the Toyota next to her. The accident was witnessed by a Conservation Officer, who remained on the scene for officers to arrive.

Damage from the collision amounted to $2,000. Both vehicles were driven from the scene. There were no citations issued.

Iowa State will play Memphis in the Liberty Bowl

Sports

December 4th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Iowa State will play Memphis in the December 29th Liberty Bowl in Memphis. The Cyclones finished the regular season with a 7-5 record and Matt Campbell’s first bowl game at ISU was a 21-20 win over Memphis in the 2017 Liberty Bowl.

Campbell on playing Memphis, again.

The Cyclones return to a bowl game a year after posting a 4-8 record.

Memphis finished the regular season with a record of 9-3.

Iowa men visit No. 1 Purdue Monday night

Sports

December 4th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

The Iowa men’s basketball team opens the Big Ten race on Monday night with a visit to top ranked Purdue. The Hawkeyes are 5-2 and take on a Boilermaker team that is coming off a stunning upset loss at Northwestern.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. Purdue 7-4 center Zach Edey is averaging better than 23 points and 11 rebounds and creates nightmare matchups for opponents.

McCaffery says they will need to mix up their defenses.

Iowa to play Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl

Sports

December 4th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Iowa will play Tennessee on New Year’s Day in the Citrus Bowl in Orkando. The 17th ranked Hawkeyes are 10-3 after a 26-0 loss to top ranked Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game.

It is Iowa’s third trip to Orlando and their second in three years. They lost to Kentucky on New Years Day in 2022 20-17 to Kentucky.

Ferentz says Deacon Hill will remain the starting quarterback despite his recent troubles with turnovers. Hill fumbled several times against Michigan and only three for 120 yards while being sacked four times.

Ferentz feels Hill has made progress since taking over for the injured Cade McNamara.

Tennessee is 8-4.

2 arrested on drug charges in Creston

News

December 4th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report two men were arrested on drug-related charges, Sunday. At around 1:40-p.m. 34-year-old Chevy Van Sauer, of Greenfield, was arrested at the intersection of Elm and Summit. Sauer was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession Of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 3rd Offense, and Driving while Barred. Sauer was taken to the Union County Jail where he was being held on $7,300 cash or surety bond. And, at around 11:05-a.m., Sunday, 42-year-old David Junior Richman, of Creston, was arrested in Creston on a Union County Warrant for Possession Of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine/3rd or Subsequent Offense, and Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana/3rd or Subsequent Offense. Richman was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Just before 1-a.m., Sunday, 31-year-old Lafi Khaled Alaqrabawi, of Minnesota, was arrested in Creston for OWI/1st Offense. Alaqrabawi was taken to the Union County Jail, and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Friday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 18-year-old Xander Getting, of Creston. He was taken into custody at his residence, on a Union County Warrant for two counts of Child Endangerment with Serious Injury. Getting was being held in the Union County Jail on a $20,000 cash or surety bond.

2 injured in a Union County accident Sunday afternoon

News

December 4th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were injured during a collision between a car and pickup truck, Sunday afternoon. Authorities say the pickup, driven by 57-year-old Scott Eugene Mitchell, of Afton, was traveling east on Highway 34 at around 12:46-p.m., and was turning left onto Old Highway 34, when the vehicle was struck from behind by an eastbound 2014 Chevy Impala, driven by 20-year-old Kaden Lee Briggs, of Creston.

Following the collision, the car entered the south ditch and hit a utility pole before coming to rest. Briggs, and a passenger in the pickup, 64-year-old Jeff Smith, suffered suspected minor/incapacitating injuries. Both men were transported by EMS to the hospital in Creston. No citations were issued.

Many Iowa restaurants face pandemic debt

News

December 4th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) –  Many Iowa restaurants are wondering how they’ll be able to start paying off federal loans that were made available at the start of the pandemic. Payments on Economic Injury Disaster Loans were deferred for more than two years. Iowa Restaurant Association C-E-O Jessica Dunker says it’s a struggle for some restaurants to start making those monthly payments — since spending patterns have changed and more customers are not ordering appetizers, sharing entres and only drinking water.

Dunker says for most restaurants, profits are razor thin. and very few restaurants are back to the profitability levels that they had in 2019. By the end of LAST year, about 800 restaurants that were open at the beginning of the pandemic had closed. And Dunker warns there will be more to add to that list when the tally is done for 2023.