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Temporary lane closures at the I-35 and U.S. 30 interchange in Ames to help game day traffic flow smoothly

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa- Sept. 13, 2019 – The Iowa Department of Transportation has closed the right-hand lane of the new northbound Interstate 35 to westbound U.S. 30 flyover bridge to help heavier-than-normal pre-game and game day traffic merge smoothly with traffic entering U.S. 30 from southbound I-35. The temporary closure is in effect and will be in place through Saturday, Sept. 14 in an effort to increase safety and flow with the large volume of traffic expected for the Iowa State versus University of Iowa football game.

The right-hand lane of westbound U.S. 30 will also be closed that day before the merge point with I-35 traffic, in an effort to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

Traveler tips for moving smoothly through the area:

  • Those traveling on southbound I-35 to the game are encouraged to take exit 113 to East 13th Street and follow the green signs to Jack Trice Stadium.
  • Those traveling westbound on U.S. 30 wishing to go to Dayton Avenue are encouraged to take the Duff Avenue exit, turn east onto S. 16th Street and back to Dayton Ave.
  • Those traveling northbound on I-35 who have missed the new flyover bridge to westbound U.S. 30 should continue to exit 113 to East 13th Street and follow the green signs to Jack Trice Stadium.

Another defendant imprisoned for Burlington slaying

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Another defendant has been imprisoned in the slaying of a 26-year-old man in southeast Iowa. Des Moines County District Court records say 44-year-old Derrick Parker was sentenced last week to 15 years. He’d pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and to willful injury.

Parker was one of five men charged with killing Demarcus “Peanut” Chew on Sept. 10, 2017, outside his mother’s apartment in Burlington. Andre Harris also has been sentenced to 15 years, and Antoine Spann was given 20 years. Caesar Davison and Emmanuel Spann have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

Atlantic Police report several arrests took place from 8/26-9/12

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports numerous arrests took place from August 26th through September 12th. Most recently, 42-year old James Almadarris, of Winettka, California, was arrested September 12th for Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Theft in the 2nd. On Sept. 7th, 18-year old Rachael Stanley, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Theft in the 5th degree, and, 47-year old Amy Rollins, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear.

On Sept. 1st, 20-year old Froilan Amaya, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. Amaya was arrested again on September 2nd for Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana. On August 31st, 32-year old Justin Donaldson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Atlantic for Driving While License Denied or Revoked. On August 29th, 70-year old Stephen Tasto, of Missouri Valley, was arrested for 2nd Degree Theft, and 31-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd Degree. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in. Authorities say while he was in custody, Cooley was additionally charged with two counts of Burglary in the 3rd, three counts of Criminal Mischief in the 5th and Theft  in the 3rd Degrees.

And, on Aug. 26th, 28-year old Mario Lopez, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree.

Each of those individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail.

City pays $250K to man who broke leg after officer’s force

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA FALLS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa city has agreed to pay $250,000 to a man who suffered a broken leg in 2017 after a police officer took him to the ground during an arrest. A settlement shows the city of Iowa Falls and its insurer agreed to the payment in July to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Aaron Bailey. Bailey was arrested for disorderly conduct and handcuffed outside his home by officer Joe Metz.

As Metz was walking Bailey to his squad car, the officer said Bailey was belligerent and appeared to try to head-butt him. The officer said he took Bailey to the ground and fell on him. Bailey’s lawsuit claimed Metz picked Bailey up and slammed him down after Bailey called the officer a homosexual slur. It claimed that Bailey suffered a compound leg fracture that resulted in permanent injuries.

The lawsuit also called the underlying arrest baseless. Bailey pleaded guilty to public intoxication and charges of interference with official acts and disorderly conduct were dropped.

Backyard and Beyond 09/13/2019

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

September 13th, 2019 by admin

LaVon Eblen speaks with Shayla Luke, Intern working with Produce in the Park, getting to know her and about Produce in the Park and the upcoming Harvest Market event.

Play

Candidate filings for Cumberland and Massena City offices

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports four candidates for offices in Cumberland and Massena have filed nomination papers for the Nov. 5th City Elections in Cass County:

  • N. Virginia Coughlin (incumbent) for Mayor in Cumberland
  • Micah Lee – (Incumbent) Massena City Council
  • Sandra Eversole and Scott W. Becker,( incumbents) for Cumberland City Council.

‘Big meeting’ at White House Thursday about ethanol

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds met with the president Thursday to talk about ethanol policy. Governor Reynolds Tweeted last night (Thursday night) that she “appreciated the opportunity to meet with Trump at the White House to discuss the importance of ethanol to rural America!” She used an exclamation point at the end of that sentence, then concluded by saying she’ll “never stop fighting for” ethanol. A month ago, Trump gave the green light to waivers so oil refineries do not have to blend as much ethanol into gasoline. Reynolds has said Trump did not fully understand the negative impact that would have on the ethanol industry.

This (Friday) morning, Bloomberg News is reporting President Trump has revealed Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both U.S. Senators from South Dakota and Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse (SASS) were part of a “big meeting” at the White House about ethanol.

Heartbeat Today 09/13/2019

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

September 13th, 2019 by admin

Jim Field speaks with Atlantic Lions Club members Jim Nordskog and Leon Hodges about their upcoming Pancake Supper fundraiser on September 17th at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic.

Play

LORETTA GRASTY, 86, of Greenfield (Svcs. 9/21/19)

Obituaries

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

LORETTA GRASTY, 86, of Greenfield, died Wednesday, September 11th, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.  Funeral services for LORETTA GRASTY will be held 10-a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21st, at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends on Friday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery.  A luncheon will be held at the Greenfield United Methodist Church, following the committal services at the cemetery.

Memorials: To the Loretta Grasty memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

LORETTA GRASTY is survived by:

Her son – David Grasty, of Greenfield

Her brother – Steve Stever, of OR.

Her sister – Janice Creswell, of Earlham.

1 grandson, 2 great-grandsons, other relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Man testifies he saw defendant burning bloody clothes

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A man has testified that he saw a woman now on trial for murder burn what he says were bloody clothes a day or two after the eastern Iowa slaying in 1992. The Muscatine Journal reports that Scott Payne told a jury Thursday that Annette Cahill said the clothes were covered with paint. He says he believed otherwise, because he knew the difference between red paint and blood from his days working in a pig slaughterhouse.

Cahill, now 56, was charged in May 2018 with first-degree murder in the beating death of her former boyfriend Corey Wieneke. Her first trial ended in a mistrial because jurors couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. Payne didn’t testify about the clothes at the first trial, and he told a prosecutor that he didn’t report what he saw because he tried to avoid police, owing to what he says was his use of drugs and illegal driving.

Testimony is expected to resume today (Friday).