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Former Trump adviser expects quick Senate impeachment trial

News

January 20th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Opening arguments in the impeachment trial of President Trump begin in the U.S. Senate tomorrow (Tuesday). Sam Clovis of Hinton was co-chairman of Trump’s 2016 campaign, then served in the Trump Administration until May of 2018. “I think what has been going on is to try to get rid of Trump from the start,” Clovis says, “and they’ve tried everything.” Democrats have been calling for witnesses to testify during the Senate trial. Clovis says if Republicans capitulate, he has a list of witnesses he’d like to see testify. “Joe Biden, Hunter Biden…people in the Obama Administration that may have been behind some of the other issues, like Valerie Jarrett and Samantha Power and some of the others that were clearly involved in unmasking myself and Carter Page and George Papadopoulos,” Clovis says.

Clovis had supervised Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign who pleaded guilty to lying to the F-B-I about talking with Russian-linked contacts. Clovis hired a lawyer, as he was interviewed during Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. “It took two years to come to the same the conclusion that that he could have come to in the first couple of weeks,” Clovis says.

Clovis doesn’t expect the impeachment trial to last long, partly because the Senate will be unable to do other business while the impeachment proceedings are underway. Clovis has battled health issues since his return to Iowa in mid-2018. In November of 2017, Clovis withdrew his nomination to be the top science adviser in the U.S. Department of Agriculture after Democrats and environmentalists complained he was skeptical of climate change. Clovis wrote at the time the political climate in Washington made it impossible to win confirmation to the job. Clovis worked six more months as a top adviser to U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue before leaving the Trump Administration.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: 1/20/2020

Weather

January 20th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Today: **WIND CHILL ADVISORY until 9-a.m.**Scattered flurries/isolated snow showers this morning. Partly cloudy. High 8. N @ 10-15. Wind chill values as low as -15

Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low -10. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 22. S @ 10-15.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy w/light snow and/or rain mixed. High 35.

Thursday: Mo. Cldy w/light snow. High 34.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 7. Our Low this morning (as of 5-a.m.) was -10. Last year on this date the High was 13 and the Low 6. The Record High in Atlantic on Jan. 20th was 64 in 1895. The Record Low was -26 in 1962.

Midwest Sports Headlines: 1/20/2020

Sports

January 20th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — Andy Reid revitalized the Kansas City Chiefs the same way he did with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s one win away from finishing the job. The only thing missing from Reid’s impressive resume is a Super Bowl title. He is seventh on the career wins list and every coach ahead of him has a championship. Reid won more games than any coach in Eagles history but lost his only Super Bowl appearance. Thanks to Patrick Mahomes, Reid gets another shot when the Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers in Miami on Feb. 2.

UNDATED (AP) — In 2017, a pair of teams gambled on quarterbacks who had big-time potential. Both teams guessed right. The Kansas City Chiefs set up a date with the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on February second in Miami. The Chiefs are led by third-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The quarterback for the Niners is Jimmy Garoppolo. The Chiefs took a chance in the 2017 draft and traded away a first-round pick to move up and nab Mahomes. The Niners traded for Garappolo and gave him a big contract after he’d made only seven NFL starts. Now, both are taking their team to the Super Bowl. The opening point spread for the game: pick ’em.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes tiptoed down the sideline for a game-turning touchdown, added three TD passes, and the Kansas City Chiefs made their first Super Bowl in a half-century by beating the Tennessee Titans 35-24 for the AFC championship. In two weeks in Miami, they will play San Francisco. Mahomes did his usual superb job passing, but it was his 27-yard tap dance down the left sideline late in the first half that gave the Chiefs their first lead. From there, they outran the run-oriented Titans and star back Derrick Henry.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Even the bookies are having a problem making a favorite in the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are pick ’em at many sports books in Las Vegas, while the Chiefs are 1-point favorites at others. An attractive betting matchup plus legal betting in 13 other states means more money will likely be wagered legally on the game than ever before. There will be plenty of other bets offered on the game, including hundreds of props and an over/under total that was initially set at 52 points.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Raheem Mostert rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns to make quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo mostly a spectator, Nick Bosa harassed Aaron Rodgers from the start and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers 37-20 for the NFC championship. The 49ers advanced to their first Super Bowl in seven years and will play the Kansas City Chiefs in two weeks in Miami for the championship. Aaron Rodgers threw for 326 yards but the Packers lost the NFC title game for the third time since their last Super Bowl trip following the 2010 season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — As the Hunt family stood on a makeshift stage with more than 73,000 fans deliriously cheering, the trophy for winning the AFC championship was presented. The Lamar Hunt Trophy. Hunt was a co-founder of the AFL and long-time owner of the franchise until his death in 2006. He is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who was among the most respected men in pro football. In 1970 his Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, three years after losing in their first try. After a half-century they are headed back.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill dropped to his knees and pretended to urinate like a dog on the field when being introduced at the start of the AFC championship game against the Tennessee Titans. It was reminiscent of what Mississippi receiver Elijah Moore was flagged for in a college game against Mississippi State on Thanksgiving. Moore pretended to urinate in the end zone after scoring a potential tying touchdown in the final minute of the Egg Bowl. After a 15-yard penalty against Moore, Ole Miss kicker Luke Logan missed a longer-than-usual extra point in a 21-20 loss. The Chiefs fell behind 10-0 to the Titans before getting on the scoreboard with a touchdown by Hill.

Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, Jan. 20, 2020

News

January 20th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Democratic Party’s leading presidential hopefuls are splitting their time between the critical early-voting states South Carolina and Iowa at events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. South Carolina’s first-in-the-South primary is a crucial proving ground for a candidate’s mettle with black voters. The state’s showcase holiday celebration, Columbia’s King Day at the Dome, is a notable and highly visible event for a Democratic politician. The festivities are marked by a march through the streets of downtown Columbia and a rally at the Statehouse. All the top-tier candidates plan to start Monday with prayer services around Columbia.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Bernie Sanders is seeking out first-time Iowa caucus participants where they live, work and shop. Pete Buttigieg is signaling to them through friends of supporters and closing the deal in big rallies. The strategies represent one of the most important pieces of a winning presidential Iowa campaign: getting new people to participate. It always matters, but in a highly competitive Democratic presidential caucus campaign, expanding the electorate is vitally important for the pack of four candidates scrambling to break out in the coming two weeks. The candidate who turns out the most and the broadest array of first time participants stands a very good chance of winning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are proving to be two of the most durable candidates in the Democratic presidential primary. Both men are in their 70s and have outlasted younger rivals who were expected to have strong showings in the 2020 contest. Biden and Sanders still face stiff competition in the early voting states that could block their paths to the nomination. They’re locked in tight, four-way races in Iowa and New Hampshire with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

Vetter named AFD Firefighter of the Year

News

January 19th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department held its annual Dinner and Awards Banquet Saturday night. During the event, Jake Vetter was named Firefighter of the Year, and Jim Shannon was recognized as the Officer of the Year.

Former Fire Chief Mark McNees was recognized for his 13-years of service as Chief. Tim Cappel and Doug Sandbothe were also recognized for their 20-years of service to the department. (All photos below courtesy Wendy Richter)

L-R: Former IFA President Roger Bissen, Jake Vetter, and Tom Cappel, Atlantic Fire Chief

L-R: Roger Bissen, former IFB President, Mark McNees, former Atlantic Fire Chief, and Tom Cappel, Atlantic Fire Chief

L-R: Former IFB President Roger Bissen, Tim Cappel, Doug Sandbothe, and Tom Cappel, Atlantic Fire Chief.

L-R: Former IFA President, Roger Bissen, Jim Shannon, Mark McNees, and former Atlantic Fire Chief)

Trio reach 20 points, No. 22 Iowa women rally by Badgers

Sports

January 19th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

MADISON, WI. (AP) – Monika Czinano scored 12 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter and No. 22 Iowa pulled out an 85-78 win over Wisconsin after trailing by 17 points in the third quarter. Makenzie Meyer led the Hawkeyes, who have won six straight, with 22 points and Kathleen Doyle added 21. Imani Lewis scored 18 points for the Badgers, who have lost four straight.

Niya Beverley added 16 points and seven assists and Abby Laszewski had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Overall there were eight ties and 16 lead changes before Cizinano’s basket with 2:29 to play put Iowa up for good.

Benson, McGill propel Southern Illinois past Drake 66-49

Sports

January 19th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

CARBONDALE, Il. (AP) – Barret Benson and Eric McGill scored 18 points apiece and Southern Illinois cruised to a 66-49 victory over Drake. Benson established a career high in points and added 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season for the Salukis (9-10, 3-5 Missouri Valley Conference). Sophomore Liam Robbins paced the Bulldogs (13-6, 3-3) with 17 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.

Chiefs advance to Super Bowl

Sports

January 19th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs advance to their first Super Bowl in 50 years, beating Tennessee Titans 35-24 in AFC title game. Patrick Mahomes tip-toed down the sideline for a game-turning touchdown, added three TD passes, and the Kansas City Chiefs made their first Super Bowl in a half-century by beating the Tennessee Titans 35-24 for the AFC championship.

In two weeks in Miami, they will play the winner of the NFC title game between Green Bay and San Francisco. Mahomes did his usual superb job passing, but it was his 27-yard tap dance down the left sideline late in the first half that gave the Chiefs their first lead. From there, they outran the run-oriented Titans and star back Derrick Henry.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Board to meet Monday evening

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 19th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet in a regular session 5:15-p.m. Monday, in the City Council’s Chambers at City Hall, in Atlantic. Action items and.or New Business includes:

  • Discussion with regard to tree removal at Sunnyside Park
  • The closing of roads in the Sunnyside Park (as previously announced, the road gates closed Jan. 10th)
  • An Ice Skating Rink update
  • An update on the Community Gardens
  • Bikes for recreation
  • PALS
  • Controlled Burns
  • Ice Fishing.

In his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen is expected to talk about:

  • A Recreation shed being built
  • Grants he’s applied for
  • New recreation items added to the shop
  • Snow removal efforts
  • Spring Projects that are underway
  • and, an update on the the previously announced New Year’s Challenge.

BERNICE E. MEURER, 94, of Exira (Celebration of Life Mem. Svc. 1/25/19)

Obituaries

January 19th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

BERNICE E. MEURER, 94, of Exira, died Jan. 14th, at the Salem Lutheran Nursing Home. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for BERNICE MEURER will be held 2-p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25th, at the Kessler Funeral Home, in Exira.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family visitation is from 1-p.m. until the time of service, Saturday.

Burial is in the Exira Cemetery.

BERNICE E. MEURER is survived by:

Her sons – Don (Jeanette) Meurer, of Harlan; Gary Meurer of Atlantic, and Larry Meurer, of Harlan.

Her daughters – Linda Meurer, of Exira, and Debra (Ken) WIlliams, of Atlantic.

Her brother – Maynard (Alicia) Duckworth, of Boise, ID.

Her sister – Kay (Clisten) Murray, of Hesperia, CA.

11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, other relatives, friends, and her sister-in-law.