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Indiana man takes plea deal in Iowa slaying

News

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an Indiana man took a plea deal on the day jury selection was to begin for his Iowa murder trial. Webster County District Court records say 26-year-old Phillip Williams, of Lafayette, Indiana, pleaded guilty Monday to attempted murder, desecration of a corpse and being an accessory after the fact. He’d originally pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder, which carries a life sentence.

The records say Williams’ plea deal calls for a 32-year sentence. Sentencing is set for April 22. Prosecutors say Williams and 27-year-old Mackenzie Knigge killed 26-year-old Jessica Gomez, of Fort Dodge, in August 2017. Gomez’s burned body was found in a field near Clare. Knigge’s trial is scheduled to begin June 10.

Posted in News |

Iowa Ag Secretary urges farmers throughout Iowa to plan for flood dangers

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is warning that flood concerns are rising in northwest and north central Iowa. “This is not just a southwest Iowa situation,” Naig said. “It’s bad there, but folks need to be preparing and try to take precautions.” Until the waters recede, it’s hard to assess the condition of cropland. It’s likely sand will be left behind in many places, along with other debris. “That can really impact folks for longer than one growing season,” Naig said.

Another hurdle for the looming 2019 spring planting season is large farm equipment cannot travel on rural gravel roads that are in such soggy shape. “Be hopeful that drier conditions will prevail and we’ll end up with a largely normal spring planting season over most of the state,” Naig says, “but hard to imagine that those folks impacted by flooding today are going to have anything close to a normal growing season.”

Naig is advising farmers in the current flood zone to contact their local U-S-D-A service center to talk through what federal assistance or loans may be available. “Everybody’s situation is just a little bit different,” Naig said. “How you’ve marketed your grain, what your insurance coverage is and so it’s hard to say with a broad brush just how every individual producer would be impacted.”

Crop insurance does not cover the grain once it’s been harvested. Some farmers who have an “umbrella” policy to cover all sorts of losses might be able to make a claim for spoiled grain in storage. Grain bins have been damaged by the flooding, plus corn or soybeans inside a bin that’s been swamped may be swelling and cause more damage to the structure.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Farmers advised to check in with FSA office for land damaged by flooding

Ag/Outdoor

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Farmers with flood damage to their land will want to report to their local U-S-D-A’s Farm Service Agency office in order to qualify for some flood relief funds. Iowa F-S-A Chief Ag Specialist for Conservation and Compliance, Curt Goettsch says there is financial assistance available to farmers with flood damage under the Emergency Conservation Program. He says the plan is designed to take land that has been affected by flooding and return it to its pre-disaster condition.

Goettsch they have sections to handle shaping and grading of ground where waters may have cut a gully or ravine. There is also a cost-share program used to help repair fencing, and another to get rid of debris. “A lot of times when we have floodwaters that inundate crop land, what we end up with is a lot of debris that’s left behind. And producers have to get that off of that crop ground in order to return it back to productive land,” according to Goettsch. “And so, –we might have sand, trash, rocks, trees — all of that on that crop ground that needs to be removed.”

Goettsch estimates the total damage from this year’s spring flood may actually are as bad or worse than 2011. “I do know in 2011 we requested eleven-point-one million dollars for the counties there along the Missouri for that flood event in 2011,” he says. “It would appear that in some cases this event could exceed that request.” He says they won’t know exactly until all the information is in. He says some counties might not need as much money as they did in 2011 — but some may need a lot more.

No deadline has yet been set as to when farmers need to report flood damage, but Goettsch says you should visit with your local F-S-A office as soon as possible. Goettsch suggests you bring along photographs, or other documentation showing the extent of damage on your land caused by the floods.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

BETH MAY PIERCE, 92, of Dallas Center (& formerly of Panora/Guthrie Center) – Mem. Svcs. 4/6/19

Obituaries

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

BETH MAY PIERCE, 92, of Dallas Center (& formerly of Panora/Guthrie Center), died Monday, March 25th, at Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center. Memorial services for BETH PIERCE will be held April 6th at 10-a.m., in the First Christian Church at Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Burial of cremains will be in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

BETH PIERCE is survived by:

Her sons – Gregory (Bonnie) Pierce, of Malvern, and Roger (Pam) Pierce, of Plattsmouth, NE.

Her daughter – Joy Schultz, of Guthrie Center.

8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 4-great-great grandchildren, and her sister-in-law Ila Robison, of Sac City.

Posted in Obituaries |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area – Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Weather

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy w/isolated sprinkles this morning; Partly sunny this afternoon. High 54. S @ 10-15.

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 40. S @ 10.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy, windy & warm. High near 70. S @ 15-30.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy w/light rain. High 58.

Friday: P/Cldy to Cldy w/rain. High 46.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 51. Our Low this morning 32. Last year on this date our High was 42and the Low was 35. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 88 in 1907. The Record Low was -2 in 1955.

Posted in Weather |

Atlantic Announces 2019 RAGBRAI Theme

News

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic ®RAGBRAI Committee is ready to “Sunday Funday” with cyclists, visitors and community members Sunday, July 21, 2019. Bailey Smith, Executive Committee member says “Atlantic is the first full day of RAGBRAI, so the committee wanted to think of a theme that would get participants excited, but also showcase how gracious and pleased we are to be a host community. ‘Sunday Funday’ was brought up and instantly stuck.”

The logo highlights things that represent Atlantic, like the City Park Monument and agriculture, acknowledges the cyclists and their support crews that will be visiting and expresses an atmosphere of fun and music to come in Atlantic. T-shirts will be printed with the new logo for sale in the community and to RAGBRAI guests.

Atlantic last hosted RAGBRAI in 2011, generating proceeds that benefited four local non-profits. This year, four local non-profits will again benefit from the success of RAGBRAI to include: the Atlantic Police Department, Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department, Atlantic Community Schools Booster Club and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

The official Atlantic RAGBRAI website, www.atlanticragbrai.com, will be live and full of information in the coming weeks. This will be the hub for local community members and for RAGBRAI riders to get information about housing, vendor opportunities, entertainment, maps, volunteering and more. If you are interested in lending a helping hand, fill out the volunteer form found on the website.

The Atlantic RAGBRAI Committee will continue to meet regularly to plan various activities for the July 21st overnight celebration. As information is available, it will be shared with the community and on the website. In the mean-time, everyone is encouraged to follow Atlantic RAGBRAI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AtlanticRAGBRAI for all things RAGBRAI Atlantic.

Posted in News |

Adair County Sheriff’s report

News

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, late Monday evening, reported just one arrest from the past week. 32-year old Michael Anthony Hull, of Winterset, was arrested March 21st in Boone County. Hull was wanted on Adair County felony warrants for numerous charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense.

Hull, whose cash bond was set at $10,000, was released the following day to another county to face charges.

Posted in News |

Midwest Sports Headlines: 3/26/19

Sports

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

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

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Alexa Willard scored 17 points to help 11th-seeded Missouri State stun third-seeded Iowa State 69-60, becoming the only double-digit seed to reach this year’s Sweet 16. Abby Hipp had 11 points and Danielle Gitzen scored 10 for the Lady Bears, who will compete in an NCAA Tournament regional semifinal for the first time since the Jackie Stiles-led team in 2001. They became the ninth team in 10 years to reach the Sweet 16 as a double-digit seed.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Sweet 16 is set and Missouri State is crashing the party for the first time in 18 years. The 11th-seeded Lady Bears, who last got this far in 2001 when the team made its historic Final Four run, are the only double-digit seed to reach the regional semifinals. The Pac-12 continued to establish its dominance with five teams reaching the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals selected the contract of first baseman Lucas Duda from Triple-A Omaha and waived outfielder Brian Goodwin on Monday as they continued to shape their opening day roster. Duda attended spring training with Minnesota on a minor league contract, was released last week and signed a minor league deal with the Royals on Friday. He gets a $1.25 million, one-year contract from Kansas City and the chance to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses.

UNDATED (AP) — Missouri has submitted its appeals brief to the NCAA, taking the next step in attempting to limit or overturn what it believes are overly harsh sanctions in the case of a rogue former tutor. The school argued in the 64-page brief to the NCAA’s appeals committee that the penalties handed down Jan. 31 are contrary to NCAA precedent, were not supported or appropriate given the nature of the allegations, and could have a chilling effect on future NCAA enforcement.

UNDATED (AP) — The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament was a slap in the face to the Big 12, a league that habitually considers itself the toughest in college basketball. Regular-season co-champion Kansas State was beaten by UC Irvine in the biggest first-round upset. Conference tournament champion Iowa State lost to No. 11 seed Ohio State in what may have been the second-biggest upset. Texas Tech is the only team left standing.

UNDATED (AP) — Kansas City quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes will be a part of ABC’s coverage of the first round of the NFL draft on April 25. Mahomes will join “Good Morning America” co-host Robin Roberts on set before the first pick. Mahomes led the Chiefs to the AFC championship game in his first season as a starter. He led the league with 50 touchdown passes and was second in passing yards with 5,097.

Posted in Sports |

No. 11 Missouri State women stun Iowa State 69-60

Sports

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Missouri State has become a small-school outlier in an NCAA Tournament largely dominated by chalk. The Lady Bears are playing like they belong among the giants of the women’s game. Alexa Willard scored 17 points to help 11th-seeded Missouri State stun third-seeded Iowa State 69-60 on Monday night, becoming the only double-digit seed to reach this year’s Sweet 16.

Abby Hipp had 11 points and Danielle Gitzen scored 10 for the Lady Bears (25-9), who will compete in a regional semifinal for the first time since the Jackie Stiles-led team in 2001. They’ll face Stanford in Chicago after becoming the ninth team in 10 years to reach the Sweet 16 as a double-digit seed.

Missouri State had gone one-and-done in its previous four NCAA appearances. It might have seemed as though a game-deciding run was inevitable in the fourth quarter for the Cyclones. But it was the Lady Bears, fresh off a dominant win over sixth-seeded DePaul, who took control when it mattered.

The Cyclones fell a game shy of matching the school record for wins in a season. This was a brutal way to end the year, but it was still a remarkable turnaround for a program that bottomed out at 14-17 a year ago.
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Iowa State will look to move on after losing Bridget Carleton, who finished her career seven points shy of the school record, and Middleton. Carleton had 31 points in her final game to lead Iowa State, which shot a ghastly 2 of 17 on 3s and 35.6 percent overall.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 26, 2019

News

March 26th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

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

MONTROSE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 15-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed herself at a gun club in Iowa. Lee County sheriff’s officials say emergency crews were called Sunday morning to the Tri-State Gun Club outside Montrose. They found Haley McManus suffering from a gunshot wound suffered while target shooting with her dad. The girl later died at a hospital. The sheriff’s office says the incident is being treated as an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound and no crime or negligence is suspected.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Floodwaters are receding across most of the hard-hit Midwest, but there could be new problems if the forecast for significant rain later this week holds up. Already the flooding along the Missouri River and its tributaries has caused at least $3 billion damage and forced thousands from their homes as floodwaters penetrated or flowed over several hundred miles of levees. The flooding is blamed in three confirmed deaths.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than two dozen residents in a suburban Des Moines neighborhood are anticipating limited access to schools, work or emergency services for hours at a time this spring because of idling railroad trains. Wayne and Rita Brasel live near Avon Lake, where Union Pacific Railroad cars have periodically blocked access to the neighborhood’s only road for years. The Brasels say the problem worsened when the Nebraska-based railroad built the Wind 2 Rail distribution center in 2017.

Posted in News |