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Donarski tabbed Big 12 Freshman of the Week

Sports

February 15th, 2021 by admin

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State women’s basketball guard Lexi Donarski picked up her third Freshman of the Week award, the league announced Monday.

Donarski had the biggest game of her young career, as she dropped 32 points in Iowa State’s win over TCU. Donarski went 10-of-14 from the floor and connected on six treys. Her 32 points marked a school record for points in a game for Iowa State freshmen.

Donarski is averaging 12.7 points on the season, which is the most of any freshman in the Big 12, while shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from long range.

The honor was the sixth Freshman of the Week honor for the Cyclones this season, as fellow freshmen Emily Ryan (2) and Kylie Feuerbach (1) have also claimed the honors for the Cyclones.

Iowa State returns to the court on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. to take on Kansas on the road on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

Iowa Wrestling restarts some in-person activities

Sports

February 15th, 2021 by admin

At the direction of the University of Iowa medical team, the Iowa Athletics Department announced Monday that the Iowa Wrestling program has returned to limited in-person activities, ending a seven-day pause in response to positive COVID-19 test results within the program. Iowa will continue to follow Big Ten Conference medical protocols and the direction of the UI medical team regarding a full-team return to in-person activities.  

Iowa’s dual with Northwestern scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19, has been postponed out of an abundance of caution surrounding the health and safety of the participants. A determination on the Hawkeyes’ dual scheduled at Wisconsin for Sunday, Feb. 21, will be made later this week.

Joe Wieskamp tabbed Big Ten Player of the Week

Sports

February 15th, 2021 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa men’s basketball junior Joe Wieskamp has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week, it was announced Monday by the Big Ten Conference Office.

Wieskamp (6-foot-6, 212 pounds) averaged 23.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, two assists, and one steal in Iowa’s pair of double-digit wins last week over No. 25 Rutgers (79-66) and Michigan State (88-58). The native of Muscatine, Iowa, shot a combined 59 percent from the field (16-of-27), including a blistering 71 percent from 3-point range (10-of-14).

In Iowa’s 13-point triumph over the Scarlet Knights, Wieskamp posted his third double-double of the season and seventh of his career. He led all scorers with 26 points and controlled 10 defensive rebounds. Wieskamp made 64 percent of his total field goal attempts (9-of-14), including 5-of-7 from 3-point territory.

Wieskamp eclipsed 20 points for the second consecutive game in Saturday’s 30-point victory against Michigan State at the Breslin Center, netting a game-best 21 points and grabbing seven defensive rebounds. The 30-point win was Iowa’s largest margin of victory ever in East Lansing and the Spartans’ worst home defeat in 46 years. Once again, Wieskamp was dialed in from distance, sinking five of his seven 3-point attempts.

As a result of Wieskamp’s totals from last week, he is the first junior in program history to amass more than 1,100 points, 500 rebounds, 150 3-pointers, 100 assists, and 75 steals.

No. 11 Iowa (15-6. 9-5) will face No. 21 Wisconsin (15-7, 9-6) on Thursday. Tipoff is slated for 6:01 p.m. (CT) at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Clark earns Big Ten Co-Player, Freshman of the Week

Sports

February 15th, 2021 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Caitlin Clark was named Big Ten Women’s Basketball Co-Player and Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

Clark has tallied 16 Big Ten Weekly honors on the season, including 10 freshman honors, four Big Ten Player of the Week honors, and two Player of the Week Honor Roll nods. Clark’s 10 Freshman of the Week honors and four Player of the Week nods tie Big Ten Records. The first Big Ten student-athlete to receive 10 Freshman of the Week awards was Nebraska’s Jessica Shepard during the 2015-16 season. Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui B. is the only other freshman to earn four Player of the Week nods. Her four Big Ten Player of the Week honors as a freshman are believed to be the NCAA record.

Clark recorded her third consecutive and seventh 30-point game of the season against Nebraska. Her seven 30-point games are tied for the most in the NCAA this season. Against the Cornhuskers, Clark’s 39 points earned her a spot in the Nebraska record books, marking the most points scored in Pinnacle Bank Arena — male or female.

Clark is the second freshman since the 2015-16 season to record seven 30-point games – the first was Texas A&M’s Chennedy Carter during the 2017-18 season. Carter played 19 more games than the Hawkeyes have played this season.

The West Des Moines, Iowa, native recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 39 points and 10 rebounds and was three assists shy of a triple double.

Clark now ranks third on Iowa’s all-time freshman scoring list with 451 points on the season. The record holder is Jaime Printy with 501 points during the 2009-10 season. Clark is the first Iowa freshman to record 400-plus points, 100-plus rebounds, and 100-plus assists in a season.

Clark and the Hawkeyes host Penn State on Thursday inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tip is set for 3 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network.

Bill directs state to buy or lease system to periodically check eligibility for food stamps

News

February 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A new computer system would periodically check if Iowans are eligible for food stamp benefits if a bill that’s cleared a senate subcommittee becomes law. Republican Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig proposes that the Iowa Department of Human Services buy the system or pay a private company to verify eligibility for food stamps by July 1st of 2022.

Janee Harvey of the Iowa Department of Human Services says Equifax has offered the agency a FREE, one-year trial of its system.

In addition, Harvey says the bill would spend state money on a system the federal government will be providing all states, at no charge, in late 2022. Senator Schultz says he expects to draft changes in the bill before it’s considered by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Big 12 alters 3 games due to winter weather travel issues: ISU vs. TX 2/18 is ppnd

Sports

February 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Big 12 Conference has altered three men’s basketball games on its schedule this week because of extreme winter weather in the southern Great Plains region that created travel issues. No. 12 Texas will play at No. 9 Oklahoma on Wednesday night after that game was pushed back from its scheduled Tuesday slot. The Longhorns’ game at Iowa State scheduled for Thursday has been postponed.

TCU’s game at No. 15 Texas Tech won’t be played Tuesday night after previously being switched. The Red Raiders and Horned Frogs are still scheduled to play Thursday night in Fort Worth.

 

Iowa backtracks on plan to withhold vaccine from counties

News

February 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials have reversed a decision to withhold COVID-19 vaccines from some counties that were reported as not having used up to 80% of their allocation last week. The Iowa Department of Public Health informed five counties on Friday that it would withhold this week’s allotment of vaccine. The decision drew criticism from several county health administrators, who said either that the state was mistaken or that bad weather had temporarily slowed their progress.

The Des Moines Register reports that as of Monday, three of the counties — Buchanan, Washington and Chickasaw — reported that state officials had informed them they would be getting their allotment of vaccines this week.

 

Driving arrest in Montgomery County Monday

News

February 15th, 2021 by admin

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest on Monday afternoon. At 1:23 p.m. Deputies arrested 22-year-old Tyson Joseph Uhlmann for operating a motor vehicle while revoked. He was later booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on bond.

Harlan Board of Education announces new district Superintendent

News

February 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Harlan Community Board of Education, Monday, announced a new district superintendent pending formal board approval. The school board and Grundmeyer Leader Services Consultants conducted semifinalist screening interviews on Thursday, Jan. 21. Soon after the screening interviews three finalists were named: Dr. Jennifer Barnett, Mr. Andy Irwin, and Mr. Robert Scott. The three finalists interviewed within the district on Thursday, February 11; the format included interviews with two mixed interview teams consisting of community members, parents, teachers, students, support staff, and administrators; interviews with the School Board, and a school and community tour.

Dr. Jenny Barnett

Everyone on the interview teams provided the school board direct feedback about each of the finalists. It was clear that each of the finalists brought unique skills and qualifications to the position. During the decision-making process, one of the finalists withdrew from consideration due to family circumstances. The board reconvened on Sunday, February 14th to review the data from the formal interviews again and made the offer to Dr. Jennifer Barnett.

Dr. Barnett immediately accepted the position, and in a statement on social media said ” I am extremely excited to become a part of an amazing district. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help you grow.” Board President Amy Rueschenberg said, “The board had 3 very strong superintendent candidates. The Harlan Community Board of Education feels that Dr. Barnett’s instructional leadership, background in social and emotional learning and enthusiasm to develop relationships will enhance the vision of the district. She seems eager to be in Harlan and will be a positive addition to our district. We look forward to welcoming her and her husband to our community.”
Jenny and her husband Todd, a principal in the Council Bluffs School District, are looking forward to becoming a part of the Harlan community. They have two children, Conner, who is a sophomore in college and Nick, a freshman in college. In her free time she enjoys watching her sons play baseball on their college teams.
Dr. Barnett is currently serving as the Executive Director of Targeted Services and Supports for Green Hills Area Education Association (AEA) which she has done the last two years. Previously, Dr. Barnett served as a Regional Administrator for Green Hills AEA, after a 23 year tenure within the Council Bluffs Community School District as Executive Director of Student and Family Services, Principal, Assistant Principal, Guidance Counselor, and Special Education Teacher. Her educational experiences also included four years serving as the Principal of Kanesville High School where she developed the Passages Alternative Learning Center. Dr. Barnett has done substantive work locally and at the state level around mental health and social/emotional learning.
Jenny has a Bachelor of Science in education Degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her Master of Science in Secondary School Counseling was issued from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1999. She also earned a Master of Science in Educational Administration in 2005 from UNO. Her Doctor of Education was also from UNO which she completed in 2019.
Dr. Barnett will transition with Interim Superintendent Lynn Johnson between now and officially starting her contract on July 1, 2021.

More utilities start rolling blackouts due to high demand during the cold snap

News

February 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Some energy companies have begun implementing rolling power outages in response to overwhelming demand for power during record-setting low temperatures and wind chills. The Southwest Power Pool, a group of utilities across 14 states, called for rolling outages because the supply of reserve energy had been exhausted. Some utilities said they were starting blackouts, while others urged customers to reduce power usage.

Southwest Power Pool service area

Officials with the Midland Power Cooperative issued a statement, Monday, saying “Due to unprecedented electric load, regional transmission operator Southwest Power Pool may ask power providers to shed electric load. If this happens, members may experience intermittent power outages lasting 45 minutes.

Electric co-op members are encouraged to conserve energy to help reduce the demand during this time. Please turn down your heat, refrain from or delay use of large appliances, and turn off any unused lights. Let’s all do our part to avoid power outages during the extreme weather.”