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Midwest Sports Headlines: 7/25/20

Sports

July 25th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

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

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jack Flaherty pitched seven solid innings, Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals opened the season by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4. Tyler O’Neill and Dexter Fowler added solo homers for St. Louis in the first game of an unprecedented 60-game season shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic. Flaherty, who went 7-2 with an 0.91 ERA over his final 15 regular season starts last year, did not give up a run until Jacob Stallings hit two-out, two-run single just under the glove of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the seventh.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber dominated Kansas City’s hitters, striking out 14 in six innings as the Cleveland Indians beat the Royals 2-0 in their delayed home opener. Bieber has become Cleveland’s ace in no time. The 25-year-old began last season as the club’s No. 5 stater but appears ready to take over as the staff leader after two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber was traded last winter. Oscar Mercado and César Hernández drove in runs for the Indians. Cleveland’s players wore their blue road jerseys to make a statement for minorities as the Indians consider changing their name after 105 years.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs became the first player to opt out of the upcoming NFL season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Duvernay-Tardif chose to put his medical degree to use on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. He has been working to fulfill his requirements to become a doctor in the offseason and has spent this summer working at a clinic in his native Canada. He said that experience helped him decide that if he was going to take any risks with his health, it would be to help patients dealing with the virus.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Austin Hill dominated the longest green-flag run all the way to the checkered flag to win the opening race of the first NASCAR Truck Series doubleheader at Kansas Speedway on Friday night. Brett Moffitt won the opening stage before finishing second, nearly three seconds behind the winner. Grant Enfinger was third, reigning series champ Matt Crafton came across fourth and Derek Kraus finished fifth.

Iowa early News Headlines: Saturday, July 25 2020

News

July 25th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack says he’s “deeply concerned” about a report showing that the first known coronavirus outbreak at an Iowa meatpacking plant was far more severe than the state publicly acknowledged. Loebsack wrote a letter to Gov. Kim Reynolds requesting information about the state’s response to the outbreak at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Columbus Junction. The letter came two days after The Associated Press reported on documents showing Tyson officials told safety inspectors on April 30 that 522 employees were known to be infected. A dozen were hospitalized and two died. But at a May 5 news conference, the Iowa Department of Public Health said that only 221 workers at the plant had tested positive.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation extending an order that bars and restaurants require patrons to remain at least 6 feet apart to limit spread of the coronavirus. The proclamation signed Friday also extends other requirements, including that bars and restaurants patrons each have seats at a table or bar and that operators maintain “increased hygiene practices.” In addition, the governor’s order extends existing rules for fitness centers, casinos, senior citizen centers and other businesses. Reynolds actions came as Iowa’s online virus tracker showed a total of 820 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. It also showed 451 new confirmed cases by 10 a.m. Friday from the day before, bringing the state’s total to nearly 41,000 cases.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — A man has been charged with murder after a woman shot in the head early Thursday in a Des Moines suburb died at a hospital. Pleasant Hill police say 25-year-old Bethany Castro, of Des Moines, died Friday morning after being shot the day before in the suburb just east of Des Moines. Police say 32-year-old Phillip Koromah, of Pleasant Hill, had initially been charged with attempted murder, but that charge was changed to first-degree murder after Castro’s death. Officers arrested Koromah after spotting him speeding in a car near where the shooting occurred. He has been held in the Polk County Jail and is awaiting his first appearance in court.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa juvenile has been charged with two counts of animal torture in the brutal deaths of a dog and a kitten. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says in a news release Friday that the incidents were discovered last week at a Des Moines apartment complex. Animal Services officers called to the complex on July 17 found an adult dog that had been disemboweled but was still alive. The ARL says the dog’s injuries were so horrific that officers immediately euthanized the dog to end its suffering. Later the same day, animal officers were again sent to the complex, where they found an 8-week-old kitten that had suffered a traumatic death.

Authorities ask for help in locating Children’s Square runaways

News

July 25th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating four juveniles who ran away Friday night from Children’s Square USA, in Council Bluffs (500 North 7th Street).

Carter Doner

Elizabeth Cuffman, age 17

Luke Schneider

David Jorgensen, age 13

Authorities say 8-year old Carter Donor, 9-year old Luke Schneider, 13-year old David Jorgensen and 17-year old Elizabeth Cuffman were last seen at 6:03-p.m., in the area of 500 North 7th Street.  If you see these juveniles, please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department 712-328-5737 or call 911.

Children’s Square is a private, non-profit organization that cares for children and families in need, and offers among its services, specialized treatment for children with behavioral, emotional and psychiatric needs.

2020 Cass County Fair Floriculture contest and Rabbit Show results

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here are the results from the FFA Floriculture Contest [Trophy Sponsors: Berg Electric; FFA Association; Special Occasions; Mailander Law Office; KJAN; Olsen Fuel Supply; Iowa Gold; Smith Plumbing & Heating and Sandbothe Firestone]

  • Champion Container: Mallory Behnken, CAM FFA (Parents Blaine & Kim Behnken)
  • Reserve Champion Container: Joann Brahms, CAM FFA (Parents Steve & Diane Brahms)
  • Champion Hanging Basket: Shelby Steffen, GRISWOLD FFA (Parents Andy & Jody Steffen)
  • Reserve Champion Hanging Basket: Logan Evans, GRISWOLD FFA (Parents Jessie & Ryan Evans)

4-H Rabbit Awards Results [Trophy Sponsors: Natalie & Stephen Ritter; In Memory of Jim Rush*;Oathoudt Farm Supply; In Memory of Ray Zellmer by Rosemary Zellmer**; Cappel’s Ace Hardware; Orscheln Farm & Home; VFW Post #3415; Body Basics Chiropractic; Kurt Roberts; and Retallic’s Rabbits.]

  • Champion 6 Class 4-H Production Pen: Stella Beattie, Benton-Franklin Club (Parents Alan & Nellie Beattie)
  • Reserve Champion 6 Class 4-H Production Pen: Makayla Atkinson, Pymosa Club (Parents Angela Athkinson & Ryan Atkinson)
  • Champion 6 Class 4-H Individual: Stella Beattie
  • Reserve Champion  Class 4-H Individual*: Makayla Atkinson.
  • Champion 6 Class 4-H Breeding**: Lilly Applegate, Benton-Franklin Club (Parents Alan & Nellie Beattie)
  • Reserve Champion 6 Class 4-H Breeding**: Stella Beattie
  • Champion 4 Class 4-H Production Pen: Quincy Sorensen, Washington GEM Club; (Parents Kyle & Leann Sorensen)
  • Champion 4 Class 4-H Individual: Zander Pieken, Benton-Franklin Club; (Parents Toni Hanson & Randy Pieken)
  • Reserve Champion 4 Class 4-H Individual: Kailey Swain, Pleasant-Noble United Club; (Parents Doug & Sara Swain)
  • Champion 4 Class 4-H Breeding: Bella Brock, Grove H.O.T Club; (Parents Charles & Kristi Brock)
  • Reserve Champion 4 Class 4-H Breeding: Alexis Dofner, Griswold Clubsters; (Parents Jake & Alicia Dofner)
  • Grand Champion Best of Show: Bella Brock
  • Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show: Alexis Dofner
  • Intermediate 4-H Rabbit Showman: Zander Pieken, Benton-Franklin Club; (Toni Pieken)
  • Junior 4-H Rabbit Showman: Bella Brock.

2 more COVID-19 cases in Mills County

News

July 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Emergency Management Agency/Mills County Public Health Department, reports two more positive/confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents of the county. The latest cases are in persons 18-to 40 years of age, who contracted the virus through a known contact and community spread. The additions bring to 64 the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mills County, where 34 persons have recovered, and 2,430 have been tested. The positivity rate is 2.6%.

Congressman says he wants answers about Iowa plant outbreak

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack says he’s “deeply concerned” about a report showing that the first known coronavirus outbreak at an Iowa meatpacking plant was far more severe than the state publicly acknowledged. Loebsack wrote a letter to Gov. Kim Reynolds requesting information about the state’s response to the outbreak at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Columbus Junction.

The letter came two days after The Associated Press reported on documents showing Tyson officials told safety inspectors on April 30 that 522 employees were known to be infected. A dozen were hospitalized and two died. But at a May 5 news conference, the Iowa Department of Public Health said that only 221 workers at the plant had tested positive.

Iowa juvenile accused of disemboweling dog, killing kitten

News

July 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa juvenile has been charged with two counts of animal torture in the brutal deaths of a dog and a kitten. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says in a news release Friday that the incidents were discovered last week at a Des Moines apartment complex. Animal Services officers called to the complex on July 17 found an adult dog that had been disemboweled but was still alive.

The ARL says the dog’s injuries were so horrific that officers immediately euthanized the dog to end its suffering. Later the same day, animal officers were again sent to the complex, where they found an 8-week-old kitten that had suffered a traumatic death.

Hog farm manure tank leak causes fish kill in northwest Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

ALBERT CITY, Iowa (AP) — State environmental officials says a hog farm manure tank leak was the likely cause of a fish kill in a northwestern Iowa tributary this week. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the leak happened over the weekend near Albert City when an unknown amount of manure was released into the tributary.

On Sunday, the DNR found a some dead fish, manure and elevated ammonia levels throughout four miles of the tributary, which connects to the North Raccoon River. The incident was reported by farm owner Kris Ehlers, who suspected a failed valve on the manure tank. DNR workers concluded the spill did come from Ehlers’ farm, but was likely coming through underground tile lines.

Fareway announces they will no longer be accepting containers for redemption

News

July 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Fareway Grocery Stores said Friday (today), effective with the expiration of the Iowa Governor’s Emergency Declaration on July 25th, Fareway will not be accepting containers for redemption in its Iowa stores. Health authorities continue to advise that COVID-19 and other viruses are transmitted through respiratory droplets. Reynolds W. Cramer, President & CEO of Fareway, says “Accepting potentially contaminated containers inside our stores presents a great risk of harm to the health and safety of our employees and customers.

“In addition, Iowa law requires grocery stores to meet health and food safety guidelines for all employees and customers.  Allowing used containers to be returned in our stores puts our employees and customers at risk, and runs counterproductive to the many safety and sanitation initiatives we have implemented in order to keep people safe.”

Each store has posted a notice listing nearby redemption centers, where customers may redeem bottles and cans. Fareway encourages local communities to focus their redemption on supporting these businesses and/or area non-profits that provide outside collection bins for donation. Cramer said “At its core, our actions in rejecting container redemption inside our stores is to minimize potential harm to the communities we serve, while offering our customers alternative redemption options.

2 injured in Council Bluffs collision Friday morning

News

July 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

A collision between a large SUV and a small SUV, this (Friday) morning, resulted in two people transported to the hospital, and collateral damage to a business. Council Bluffs Police responded to the crash in the 2700 block of W. Broadway, at around 9:26-a.m.

Upon arrival, they determined a Yukon Denali traveling westbound on West Broadway St. collided with a Suzuki SUV traveling northbound on 27th St. The Denali pushed the Suzuki up against a light pole and then struck the Grease Monkey business at 2700 West Broadway St.

The passenger and driver from the Suzuki were both transported by the Council Bluffs Fire Department to Nebraska Medicine Hospital, with possible life-threatening and minor injuries respectively. Their names were not immediately released. No one was injured in the Denali and no one was injured inside the nearby business.

The intersection of 27th St and West Broadway St was closed for approximately four hours while the Traffic Unit investigated the collision. The investigation is ongoing. If you have information with regard to the accident that might help in the investigation, please call the CB-PD’s Traffic Unit at (712)328-4948.