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PSU beats Hawkeyes 77-73 for 1st win at Iowa since ’01

Sports

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Lamar Stevens scored 22 points, Mike Watkins added 19 and Penn State held off Iowa 77-73 on Saturday, snapping a 12-game road losing streak against the Hawkeyes. Tony Carr scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half for the Nittany Lions (7-2, 1-0 Big Ten), who picked up their first win in Iowa City since 2001.

As strange as it sounds, the Hawkeyes — who outrebounded Penn State 39-30 — actually made strides after getting their doors blown off in the second half of a 79-55 loss at Virginia Tech on Tuesday. But Iowa also turned it over 18 times and hit just four 3s. It could be a long season for the Hawkeyes.

Area Boys & Girls Basketball Scores from 12/2/17

Sports

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

Ankeny Christian Academy 87, West Central Valley, Stuart 53

Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 65, Des Moines, Hoover 45

IKM-Manning 54, Panorama, Panora 51

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 81, Sioux City, West 67

Panorama, Panora 50, IKM-Manning 45

West Central Valley, Stuart 68, Ankeny Christian Academy 28

(Update) Police investigate death of 4-year-old boy in western Iowa

News

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a 4-year-old child in western Iowa. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the death occurred Friday in Carroll after police there received a report around 7 a.m. of a child not breathing. Carroll Police Chief Brad Burke says officers arrived at the home and found 4-year-old Morris Wurok unresponsive. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Burke calls the death suspicious and says police are investigating.

The boy’s uncle, Michael Wurok, said that the boy’s mother was at work when the child was found unresponsive. The uncle says a family member called 911. He says the boy’s father drove in from Nebraska upon learning of the incident.

No arrests had been announced by this (Saturday) morning.

Iowa patrol says 2 killed, 1 injured in train-SUV crash

News

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) NORA SPRINGS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified two people killed when their sport utility vehicle collided with a train in northeastern Iowa. Television station KIMT cites an Iowa State Patrol crash report in saying 66-year-old James Blazier and 66-year-old Dixie Blazier, both of Harvard, Illinois, died in the Friday crash.

A third occupant of the SUV, 55-year-old Glenda Mundis, also of Harvard, Illinois, was flown to a Mason City hospital. Investigators say the crash happened around noon Friday at a Floyd County railroad crossing near Nora Springs. The Iowa State Patrol says the train struck the front passenger side of the SUV.

While there are lights at the crossing, there are no crossing arms there.

State to continue testing for CWD

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The deer season in Iowa includes some continued testing of the animals taken to see if Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has spread in the herd. D-N-R spokesman, Tyler Harms says they are ramping up the sampling efforts in different parts of the state. The positive tests for C-W-D in wild deer have all come in counties along the border in eastern Iowa.  “We collect samples in every county and the number of samples varies depending on where you are in the state,” Harms says. “Those samples are collected by our wildlife field management staff. We are certainly encouraging hunters to help us with collecting those samples if you are contacted by some of our staff.”

Another disease the keep an eye for in the deer herd is Epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Commonly known as E-H-D, and surprisingly we did not receive many reports of that disease this year despite the dry conditions we experienced in late summer. So, Typically we see spikes of E-H-D after drought years or in drought conditions,” Harms says.

Harms expects hunters to take around 100-thosuand deer when all the seasons are complete.

(Radio Iowa)

Report: rural poverty rate getting closer to urban percentage

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A new report from the USDA shows the urban-rural poverty gap continues to close. John Cromartie, with USDA’s Economic Research Service, say “Today, the gap is around three percentage points, around 16 percent rural poverty versus 13 percent urban poverty.” Cromartie says the gap has been slowly declining since 1960 when the Rural America at a Glance Report was first published. At that time, 54 years ago, the gap between rural and urban poverty was at 17 percent. Cromartie says while overall rural poverty rates declined slightly from last year, persistent rural poverty — or rural counties with 20 percent or more of their population poor for at least 30 years — continues to be very regional.

“These persistently poor counties are located very much in the South, 85 percent of them are in the South for the rural counties, but rural poverty is also entrenched in parts of the Southwest and the Northern Great Plains,” Cromartie says.

The report also found the rural population is shrinking for the first time. USDA credits fewer births, an aging population and an outmigration of young adults for the decline. Employment in rural areas since 2011 has increased modestly with medium incomes also increasing. The report says infrastructure investments like access to broadband and more public services could improve rural economies and quality of life for residents. In Iowa, just under 36-percent of the state’s residents live in rural areas. According to the most recent data from the USDA, the poverty rate in rural Iowa is 11.5 percent, compared with 11.9 percent in urban areas of the state.

(Radio Iowa w/thanks to Nicole Heslip, Brownfield Ag News)

KATHY A. HANSEN, 53, of Audubon (Svcs. 12/4/17)

Obituaries

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

KATHY A. HANSEN, 53, of Audubon, died Friday, Dec. 1st, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services for KATHY HANSEN will be held 2-p.m. Monday, Dec. 4th, at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family visitation is on Monday, from 1-until 2-p.m.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

KATHY A. HANSEN is survived by:

Her siblings – Steven D. Hansen, of Audubon; Donna Bills and Rick Tibber, of Sunrise Beach, MO.; Deb (Don) Laster, of West Des Moines; and Julie (Roger) Bylund, of Audubon.

many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Red Oak woman arrested after leading police on a chase to her home

News

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop Saturday morning in Red Oak turned into a brief pursuit. It resulted in the arrest at around 9:05-a.m., of Sonya Gail Smith, of Red Oak. Police Officer Derrick Walter initiated a traffic stop for a violation, at 8th and Reed Streets. A records check determined Smith was driving with a Suspended License. The Officer says Smith became upset and took off in her vehicle before the traffic stop was completed. He followed her in his marked patrol car with the lights and sirens activated.

Smith stopped her vehicle and made it to her residence in the 400 block of Towel Street. She was arrested for Eluding, Interference with Official Acts, and Driving Under Suspension. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

IA inmate fails to return from Work Release program

News

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report an inmate associated with the Fort Des Moines Correctional Facility, failed to return to the Work Release Facility Friday night from his place of employment.
21-year old David Juan Jimenez had been convicted of Willful Injury and Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon in Polk County. He was admitted to the work released facility and program on Oct. 11th, 2017. Jimenez is a 21 year old white male, 5-feet 6-inches tall. He weighs 147 pounds. (No Photo Available)

Persons with information on Jimenez’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Fremont County K9 unit arrests man on firearm-related warrant

News

December 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A Fremont County investigation that took place in November with regard to the illegal sale of firearms, resulted in an arrest this (Saturday) morning. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports early Saturday morning, the Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit arrested 34-year old Torrey Hanika, on a valid warrant for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was being held at the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center without bond.

Torrey Hanika

Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted by personnel with the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The investigation is ongoing, and Sheriff Aistrope expects additional arrests to be produced at the conclusion of the investigation.