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Harris says she is fully committed to Iowa

News

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Amid questions from Iowa activists about whether her campaign is taking Iowa seriously, California Sen. Kamala Harris told reporters she is “fully committed” to the state and that it will be “a very important part” of winning the nomination.

When asked about questions surrounding her Iowa campaign, she said she is “fully committed to competing in Iowa and working hard to earn the support of the people of this great state.”

Harris said that her visits to Iowa had been helpful to her campaign, by giving her insight into issues affecting voters not just in Iowa but nationwide. And she said that she sees the state as significant to her overall chance of winning the nomination.

RAYMOND CHRISTENSEN, 85, of Grimes & formerly of Manning (6-13-2019)

Obituaries

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

RAYMOND CHRISTENSEN, 85, of Grimes (& formerly of Manning) died Sunday, June 9th in Grimes. Funeral services for RAYMOND CHRISTENSEN will be held on Thursday, June 13th at 10:30 am at the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning  Ohde Funeral Home in Manning has the arrangements.

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Friends may call Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

Visitation will resume on Thursday at 9:30 am at the church.

Burial in the Manning Cemetery.

RAYMOND CHRISTENSEN is survived by:

Sons:  Paul (Monica) Christensen of Manning; Del (Dr. Debora) Christensen of Adel; Dana Christensen of Carroll.

Daughter: Lauri (Allen) Sacket of Ankeny.

Sister:  Doris (Dr. Jerry) Shreck of Templeton.

7 Grandchildren

3 Great-Grandchildren

RICHARD L. DALBEY, 89, of Elk Horn (Mem. Svcs. 6/15/19)

Obituaries

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

RICHARD L. DALBEY, 89, of Elk Horn, died Friday, June 7th, at the Salem Lutheran Home. Memorial services for RICHARD L. DALBEY will be held 1-p.m. Saturday, June 15, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, from 11-a.m. until 1-p.m., at the 1st UMC in Harlan (prior to the Mem. Svc.)

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

RICHARD L. DALBEY is survived by:

His daughters – Rebecca (Michael) McNabb, of Omaha, Arkansas,  and Sara Findley, of Panama (IA).

His sister – Barbara (Norman) Walker, of Mesa, AZ.

3 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and his in-laws.

Southern IA man arrested in Montgomery County, Sunday

News

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Decatur County was arrested Sunday afternoon for Operating a vehicle with expired license plates. 21-year old Joseph Tyler Johnson, of Decatur, was also arrested for Driving While Suspended, with two withdrawals in effect. He was taken into custody at around 2-p.m. and bonded out of jail the same day.

EVELYN RATER, 86, of Fontanelle (Celeb. of Life 6/14/19)

Obituaries

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

EVELYN RATER, 86, of Fontanelle, died April 24, 2019, in Carroll. A Celebration of Life for EVELYN RATER will be held 10-a.m. Friday, June 14th, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the arrangements.

The family will greet friends one-hour prior to the services at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, on Friday (9-a.m. to 10-a.m.);  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial is in the Fontanelle Cemetery.  A luncheon will be held at the church following the services at the cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Evelyn Rater memorial fund to be established by the family.

EVELYN RATER is survived by:

Her daughters – Ruth Rater, of Victorville, CA; Risa Rater, of Vermillion, SD; and RaeJean (Tim) Lepird, of Carroll.

5 brothers – Dean (Ann) Feick, and Richard (Dorene) Feick, all of Fontanelle; Cary Feick, of Papatoetoe, New Zealand; Jerry Feick, of Osage; Larry (Deb) Feick, of Granger.

8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and extended family including numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

EUGENE “Pat” THOMPSON, 97, of Greenfield (Graveside Svcs. 6/15/19)

Obituaries

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

EUGENE “Pat” THOMPSON, 97, of Greenfield, died Saturday, January 12, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle. Graveside services for “PAT” THOMPSON will be held 10-a.m. Saturday, June 15, 2019, at the Greenfield Cemetery. Full Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Greenfield American Legion Head-Endres Post No. 265 and V.F.W. Post No. 5357. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be made to the Pat Thompson memorial fund to be established by the family.

EUGENE “PAT” THOMPSON is survived by:

His son –  Guy (Sheryl) Thompson, of Bella Vista, AR.

His sister – Diana Thompson, of Greenfield.

2 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

JACK BOECK, 86, of Massena (Svcs. at a later date)

Obituaries

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

JACK BOECK, 86, of Massena, died Sunday, June 9, 2019, at the Greenfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Greenfield.  Funeral services for JACK BOECK will be held at a later date. Steen Funeral Home in Massena is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Sunday marks moment for 2020 prospects to show Iowa strength

News

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Almost 20 Democratic presidential candidates are gathering in Iowa Sunday in an effort to demonstrate early support in the kick-off caucus state. In what amounts to an afternoon-long political talent show, 18 of the 24 declared Democratic hopefuls are scheduled to speak at the Iowa Democratic Party’s annual summer fundraiser.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who leads in polls of Iowa Democrats, is not attending, giving the event the look of an audition for the national and Iowa frontrunner’s key challengers.

Some candidates who have been traveling to Iowa for months, such as Sens. Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, are planning for a strong showing of backers outside the convention center in Cedar Rapids in hopes of projecting momentum eight months ahead of the 2020 caucuses.

Flooded I-29 in Iowa causes traffic stress in Nebraska

News

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) — Some residents are unhappy that Interstate 29 across the bloated Missouri River in Iowa is closed again due to flooding, sending more drivers through their small Nebraska town than ever before. College student Maggie Kreifels says U.S. Highway 75, which passes straight through Auburn, Nebraska, is busier and its drivers more impatient.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that other residents complain that drivers, including semis, eager to avoid 75 are clogging up residential streets. Not everyone is unhappy. Business owners welcome the extra passing trade.

Evan Lindsey, the general manager of a Pizza Hut branch, says business is flourishing and he’s encouraging his staff to enjoy meeting new people in the restaurant. He says his staff recognizes that more customers mean more tips.

Strong job market hampers FEMA hiring in flood-hit states

News

June 9th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency is facing an unexpected challenge in meeting the needs of the many people affected by this spring’s widespread flooding and violent storms: a strong economy.

Tasked with responding to natural disasters that seem ever more frequent and destructive, the agency finds itself further challenged by the robust job market and an inability to match what the private sector can offer, in many cases.

FEMA officials are turning for help to retirees, recent college graduates and those who lost their jobs to the disasters, though they’re finding few available workers in many of the rural communities that are in some of the hardest-hit areas.

In no place is that clearer than Nebraska and Iowa, which were ravaged by floods and have some of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates.