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NE man arrested on a warrant in Red Oak Monday night

News

May 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop at around 9-p.m. Monday, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of a Nebraska man on a Fremont County warrant. 26-year old Diego Miguel Juaquin, of Omaha, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation on an original, Possession of Marijuana charge. Juaquin was transported to Fremont County. Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies assisted Red Oak Police in handling the arrest and transport.

BETTY IRENE HANSEN, 86, of Guthrie Center (Graveside Svcs. 5/14/20)

Obituaries

May 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

BETTY IRENE HANSEN, 86, of Guthrie Center, died Monday, May 11th, at The New Homestead, in Guthrie Center. Graveside services for BETTY HANSEN will be held 11:30-a.m. Thursday, May 14th, in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

Online condolences may be left at www.twiggfuneralhome.com.

BETTY IRENE HANSEN is survived by:

Her daughter – Cindy Lyons.

SUSAN PINKERTON, 78, of Griswold & formerly of Omaha (Celebration of Life at a later date)

Obituaries

May 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

SUSAN PINKERTON, 78, of Griswold (& formerly of Omaha), died Monday, May 11th, at home. A Celebration of Life Memorial service for SUSAN PINKERTON will be held at a later date. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

SUSAN PINKERTON is survived by:

Her husband – Alan Pinkerton.

Skyscan forecast for Atlantic & the area: Tue., May 12, 2020

Weather

May 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy. High 59. NW-SE @ 5-10.

Tonight: Mo. cldy. Low 46. SE @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: Mo. cldy w/scattered showers. High 64. SE @ 10-20.

Thursday: Variably cloudy w/scattered showers & thunderstorms. High 68.

Friday: Partly cloudy. High near 70.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 60. Our Low was 37. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 57 and the Low 33. The record High for May 12th in Atlantic, was 94 in 1956 and the record Low was 25 in 1895.

UI researcher says face shields beat masks on multiple levels

News

May 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A University of Iowa researcher says the country could reopen more quickly and safely if everyone wore a clear plastic face shield. Doctor Michael Edmond, chief quality officer at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, says a universal face shield may reduce coronavirus transmission and could allow relaxing of social distancing measures. Edmond, a U-I infectious disease professor, says face shields have several advantages.

“They’re more durable than face masks,” Edmond says. “The medical face masks really don’t last very long at all. Cloth masks can be reused and laundered, but face shields can just be wiped off.” Face shields cover the eyes and prevent people from touching their faces, and face shields are readily available. Edmond says he’s working on modeling studies to determine if his theories on face shield use prove valid.

“If every person were in a face shield, we would reduce transmission of the virus to the point that some of these other more drastic things that we have to do like restricting people’s movements, those could be relaxed somewhat.” Volunteers in Iowa are making cloth masks and plastic face shields by the thousands for distribution to hospital workers, paramedics and other first responders.

(Reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

Governor to announce today which closure orders to remain after May 15

News

May 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans will learn late this (Tuesday) morning if more businesses in their area may open this weekend. Some of the closures Governor Reynolds ordered are set to expire this Friday, May 15th. “I’ve been really impressed with not only what our business community has done, our church community has done as well as Iowans in general,” Reynolds says, “and so we can continue, I think, to lessen the restrictions and open up our state and start to begin in a thoughtful, safe and purposeful way to continue to reopen our economy.”

Restaurants in 77 counties were allowed to reopen dining areas, at limited capacity, on May 1st, but bars statewide have had to stay closed. Hair and nail salons as well as barbershops have remained under the governor’s closure order as well. “Iowans have been incredibly responsible…as they’re continuing to practice social distancing. I think they’re wearing face coverings when they’re not able to practice the social distancing,” Reynolds says. “We are seeing businesses be very thoughtful and cautious about how they start to reopen.”

Retail shops that sell clothes, shoes, furniture and flowers were allowed to reopen this past weekend. Malls and fitness centers could reopen, too — but all at limited capacity to allow for customers and patrons to maintain proper distancing. The latest report from the state indicates 271 Iowans have died of COVID-19 and more than 12-thousand Iowans have tested positive for the virus. A total of 32 long term care facilities have outbreaks of the coronavirus among residents.

Former Iowa Speedway CEO and President Stan Clement dies

Sports

May 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Speedway CEO and President Stan Clement has died after a battle with cancer. Clement was able to get longtime NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace to design the track and pushed to get it built. Newton Mayor Mike Hansen.

Hansen says Clement played a key role in getting the Iowa Speedway built in 2005.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., May 12, 2020

News

May 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor and its medical director are in partial quarantine after potential exposure to the coronavirus, even as the state made plans to lift more restrictions that were intended to fight the disease.Gov. Kim Reynolds says she will follow a modified quarantine plan because she may have been exposed last week while visiting the White House or meeting with Vice President Mike Pence two days later in Iowa. The governor says she’ll have minimal interactions with others, wear a mask at times and practice social distancing. Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the state epidemiologist, says she’s in quarantine and working from home after joining Reynolds at the White House last week.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 39-year-old Iowa woman has pleaded guilty to charges in the death of a 2-year-old boy who swallowed medication. Amanda Leonard-Hellum, of Waterloo, was scheduled for trial Tuesday in the June 2019 death of Maximus Leonard-Hellum in Des Moines. But she entered a written plea to reduced charges in April. She originally was charged with child endangerment causing death, but as part of her deal, she pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent person. Prosecutors say Maximus took the pills while Leonard-Hellum was driving from Waterloo to Des Moines. She did not seek help for the boy until the next day.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police in the western Iowa city of Council Bluffs have identified an officer who shot an Omaha, Nebraska, man in an exchange of gunfire earlier this month. Police say Officer Michael Roberts shot 34-year-old Jimmy Carr on May 2 outsident a Council Bluffs gas station. Police say Roberts, encountered Carr outside the station while responding to a burglary call, and that Carr pulled a gun from his pocket and fired at the officer. The officer returned fire, injuring Carr. The officer was not hurt. Carr has since been released from an Omaha hospital and is charged with attempted murder of a police officer and other counts.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say three men have been arrested and charged after an 18-year-old was shot in the head near Drake Park in Des Moines. The shooting was reported Sunday evening after an officer heard gunshots in the area and spotted a vehicle speeding away. Police say the vehicle’s driver initially refused to pull over for the officer. When it did stop, police found several people in the vehicle, including the teen who had been shot in the head. The victim was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Police say two men, 18-year-old Austin James Mallory and 21-year-old Rakewon Patton, have been charged with attempted murder and other counts. A third man, 24-year-old Tayronce Devon Denton, was also arrested on a drug count.

Vicker takes over cross country program at Southwestern Community College

Sports

May 11th, 2020 by admin

Southwestern Community College in Creston announced on Monday that Scott Vicker has been promoted to Head Cross Country Coach. He will be switching roles with former Head Coach Trey Bruton, who will slide into an assistant role instead.

Vicker is a former prep runner for Creston and competed collegiality at Saint Louis University. He spent time as a sports writer and editor for the Creston News Advertiser before taking a role as marketing specialist for Southwestern Community College.

Bruton will also be stepping away as head track and field coach for Southwestern, a position he took over in 2018. The school is actively looking for their next track and field coach.

Iowa woman pleads guilty in death of 2-year-old boy

News

May 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier) — A 39-year-old Iowa woman has pleaded guilty to charges in the death of a 2-year-old boy who swallowed medication. Amanda Leonard-Hellum, of Waterloo, was scheduled for trial Tuesday in the June 2019 death of Maximus Leonard-Hellum in Des Moines. But she entered a written plea to reduced charges in April.

She originally was charged with child endangerment causing death, but as part of her deal, she pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent person. Prosecutors say Maximus took the pills while Leonard-Hellum was driving from Waterloo to Des Moines. She did not seek help for the boy until the next day.