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Atlantic City Council recognizes AHS Wrestling Team

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council held a brief meeting Wednesday evening, during which they paid special recognition to the Atlantic High School State Wrestling Team and Coaches. Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones said “You guys do a lot of good jobs and a lot of good things and hopefully can [pass that along] to your classmates – Be involved, Get things Done and then become better citizens when you get up the road that way.” The 2019-20 squad finished with a perfect 20-dual record, a Hawakeye 10 Conference Dual and Tournament title and a John J. Harris Wrestling Tournament Championship.

AHS Wrestlers, from Left to right: Garrett McLaren; Joe Weaver; Chase McLaren; Conner Pellett and Cale Roller.

Their Coaches include: Chase Roller, Head Junior High Wrestling Coach and volunteer High School Assistant Coach; Tucker Weber, Asst. H.S. Coach; Don Killian, Volunteer Asst.; Matthew Williamson, H.S. Volunteer Asst.

The Council approved an Order accepting an amendment for the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grant between the State of Iowa’s Enhance Iowa Board and City Council. The Grant for $175,000 is for ongoing park development at the Schildberg Recreation Area and Campground.

Following a Public Hearing, the Council tabled the first reading of an Ordinance “Vacating and conveying a portion of an alley in the City of Atlantic.” The reading will take place during the Council’s next regular meeting, while an easement is prepared for Atlantic Municipal Utilities, as they requested.

In his report, City Administrator John Lund said the draft of both Union agreements are done and the International Operators (Public Works Union) “appear to be happy” with the language in the agreement. He said also, he’s still negotiating on the deductible language with AFSCME (Police Union), with the assumption there will be a compromise and ready for approval by the Council’s meeting on April 3rd.

In addition, Lund said he’s working on the City’s land sale and housing incentive policy, and he clarified some misconceptions with regard to the airport. Lund said the $2.19-million being committed for the Atlantic Municipal Airport runway and taxiway is 100-percent paid for by the FAA’s supplemental appropriations for engineering and construction. “Property taxpayers in Atlantic not on the hook for a dime of that.” The FAA, he says, encouraged the City to apply for the grant. If it does not happen, the project will be terminated.

In other business, the Council approved the re-appointment of Joyce Jensen to the Board of Adjustment, and Judd Meneely to the AMU Board. The Mayor, however is still looking for two women to gender balance the Planning and Zoning Commission since Jennifer Miller has opted not to take the job once her term expires on April 1st. Originally,she had expressed interest in continuing to serve on the Commission.

Updated flood resources info. for Mills County residents

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Iowa City police ID man whose body was found in burning car

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa have identified a man whose body was found this week in a burning car. Iowa City police say 72-year-old Donald Lee Schrader, of Iowa City, was found Monday night after firefighters extinguished the flames engulfing his car. Investigators say the fire started in the passenger compartment of the car and that no criminal activity is suspected in the blaze, although the investigation remains open.

Police say results from an autopsy to determine the cause of death many not be available for weeks. Officers and firefighters found Schrader’s body around 11 p.m. Monday after receiving reports of a car on fire in an Iowa City parking lot.

Weather service: Some flooding could be historic

News, Weather

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service is warning that flooding in parts of South Dakota and northern Iowa could soon reach historic levels. Weather Service hydrologist Kevin Low said during a telephone briefing Wednesday that “major and perhaps historic” flooding is possible later this month at some spots on the Big Sioux and James rivers.

The service is projecting that the James River near Scotland, South Dakota, a town of about 800 residents, will reach a record 21.1 feet on Monday, shattering the old record of 20.5 feet set in 1984. The Big Sioux River in South Dakota and Iowa is expected to reach near-record levels in some places.

The worst of the flooding so far has been in Nebraska, southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri. Hundreds of residents have been displaced and well over 100 miles of levees in the three states have been breached or overtopped.

Another area released from Mandatory Evacuation in Mills County

News

March 20th, 2019 by admin

The Mills County Board of Supervisors and Mills County Emergency Management Agency has issued another Order of Partial Release of a Mandatory Evacuation Order. The partial release includes the unincorporated areas from 221st Street North to Norris Avenue on the South, from 215th Street on the West to Levi Road on the East.

Residents in the outlined area may return to their homes. Residents are asked to contact the Flood Hotline at 712-520-4000 if you need volunteers to assist.

Legislators consider banning bets on Iowa college games as part of bill legalizing sports betting in Iowa

News, Sports

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — It appears a bill that would legalize and tax sports betting in Iowa may ban bets on games involving college and university teams FROM IOWA. Representative Vicki Lensing of Iowa City says there were concerns some athletes might be pressured to miss a free throw or drop a pass in order to secure certain outcome. “I’m not assuming that young athletes would be swayed, but we want to take away that temptation,” Lensing says.

A House committee endorsed the proposal to ban bets on the performance of athletes in games or matches involving Iowa college teams today (Wednesday). Another panel in the House also has voted to tack the concept onto the sports betting bill. Lensing says she’d prefer to ban bets on ANY college sport, but she’s pleased there’s momentum for at least banning bets on Iowa college and university teams.

“They are playing for the sport of the game and not to be influenced by money or anything else that might change how they play the game,” Lensing says. Members of the House and Senate are considering a plan that would let the state-licensed casinos offer an “app” for placing bets on professional and college sports. Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton is the House Republican who’s been assigned the task of rounding up “yes” votes for legalized sports betting.

“Historically, gambling bills are not partisan,” Kaufmann said during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting today. “This isn’t going to pass without bipartisan votes and so I commit today to work with all of you to ensure that we have the conversation that can make this palatable for everyone.”

The proposal calls for imposing a state tax on the bets placed on sporting events. Bill backers warn it won’t yield millions in extra revenue for the state, but will police, regulate and tax a currently illegal activity.

KEVIN E. SPRAGUE, 53, of Casper, WY (Svcs. 03/30/2019)

Obituaries

March 20th, 2019 by Jim Field

KEVIN E. SPRAGUE, 53, of Casper, WY died Tuesday, March 12th in Casper, WY. Celebration of Life Services for KEVIN E. SPRAGUE will be held on Saturday, March 30th at 11:00am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Family will greet friends on Saturday, March 30th from 9:30am-11:00am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan.

Burial of cremains will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com

KEVIN E. SPRAGUE is survived by:

Parents: Ken and Elaine Sprague of Harlan.

Son: Alexander Sprague of Casper, WY.

Brothers: Shawn (Shelli) Sprague of Des Moines. Brad Sprague of Council Bluffs. Corey (Andrea) Sprague of Muscatine.

Other Relatives and Friends.

2 arrested on warrants in Page County

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on separate Page County Probation Violation warrants, Tuesday. 22-year old Jared Douglas Comstock, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Comstock was being held in the Page County Jail on a $5,000 cash only bond. pending future court proceedings.  And, 52-year old Ronald Leslie Burden, JR., of Hopkins, MO., was transported to the Page County Jail where he was also being held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. Burden was arrested at the Andrew County Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

Union Pacific, BNSF working to restore rail traffic

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific says its crews are working around the clock so rail traffic can return to normal in Nebraska and adjacent states hard hit by floodwaters from a late-winter storm and snowmelt. Spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza said Wednesday that workers are clearing trees and other debris off the Omaha-based railroad’s tracks and have begun repairing them and bridges. Some of the lines run between Nebraska and Iowa or merely within Nebraska.

She says water remains over portions of the tracks between Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Kansas City, Kansas. The company is unsure when that line can be reopened. Levees have been breached or overtopped in southwest Iowa. Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF Railway says it also is confronting flood-related washouts in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Semi strikes stop sign south of Shenandoah and becomes disabled

News

March 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a singe-vehicle accident occurred about one-half mile south of Shenandoah just before 10-p.m. Tuesday. The incident resulted in about $1,500 damage altogether, but no one was injured. Authorities say a 2017 Freightliner semi driven by 50-year old Kenneth William Perrigan, of Piney Flats, TN, was stopped at the intersection of Highways 59 and 2, facing west. Perrigan decided to turn north onto Highway 59, but then didn’t allow for space for the sharp turn, as he had not gone into the right turning lane of the intersection.

The semi drove over the stop sign causing an estimated $500 damage to the sign. The vehicle then attempted to continue north, however the stop sign damaged the air lines to the brakes, disabling them. The result was about $1,000 damage to the semi, owned by PRD Trucking INC of Newland, NC. No citations were issued. The Shenandoah Police Department assisted at the scene by providing traffic control.