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1 dead, 2 injured in Harrison County crash, Tue. evening

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Corrects vehicle 1 to a car) A man from Harrison County died, and two people from Pottawattamie County were hurt Tuesday, following a collision on Highway 30 in Harrison County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1999 Saturn SL driven by 28-year old Cody Jay Grandmont, of Persia, was traveling west on the highway at around 6:45-p.m., when for reasons unknown, the car crossed the center line of the road, into the eastbound lanes, and collided head-on with a 1998 Buick Century.

Following the crash, both vehicles came to rest on the traveled portion of Highway 30. Grandmont, who was not wearing a seat belt, died from his injuries at the hospital in Missouri Valley. The driver of the Buick, 34-year old Rebecca Eileen Smith, and her passenger, 31-year old Austin Lee Tasich, both of Council Bluffs, were injured and transported by ambulance to Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Authorities say Smith was not wearing her seat belt, but Tasich was. The extent of their injuries was not released.

The accident remains under investigation. The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Missouri Valley and Logan Fire and Rescue, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri Valley P-D and Iowa DOT road crews.

Central IA man formally charged in late December double fatal crash

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa State Patrol report a central Iowa man was arrested and formally charged Tuesday, in connection with a Dec. 29, 2018 crash, that took the lives of two men. 37-year old Travis Gonzales, of Bondurant, faces charges that include two counts of Homicide by Vehicle/OWI, Two counts of Homicide by Vehicle/Reckless Driving, and OWI/1st offense.

Travis Gonzales

Gonzales was traveling westbound on I-80 on Dec. 29th near the 138 mile marker, driving at a high rate of speed, when the vehicle he was operating rear ended a vehicle containing two occupants. After impact, both vehicles lost control and entered the north ditch of I-80.  An investigation determined Gonzales’ vehicle was traveling 126 mph in a 65 mph zone.

He showed several signs of impairment and allegedly made several incriminating statements causing troopers to serve a search warrant on the subject for blood. The blood was analyzed at the DCI Crime Lab and a BAC of .219 was returned (more than twice the legal limit of .08).

Midwest Sports Headlines: 1/16/2019

Sports

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have activated right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif from injured reserve and waived safety Ron Parker ahead of Sunday’s AFC championship game against the New England Patriots. The Chiefs’ best run blocker, Duvernay-Tardif started the first five games before breaking his leg against Jacksonville.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots were dealt a blow prior to their final two regular-season games when Josh Gordon was suspended for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. But what could have created a hole in the receiving group has been filled by the group’s oldest member. At age 32, Julian Edelman has put together back-to-back vintage performances and is expected to again be a big factor in the AFC championship game.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jordan Goodwin scored 20 points, made six assists and grabbed nine rebounds and Saint Louis held off Fordham 63-60 to win its fifth straight. Javon Bess hit three 3s for 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Billikens (13-4, 4-0 Atlantic 10 Conference), who never trailed in building a 34-32 halftime lead.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Jan. 16, 2019

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Many Republicans who supported Iowa Rep. Steve King for years despite his contentious comments about race now appear to be turning their backs on him. The shift comes at a moment when the party is grappling with its stance on racial issues, in part because of President Donald Trump’s own inflammatory racial rhetoric and hardline views on immigration. GOP leaders also have conceded that the party must do better with minority voters and bring more diversity to their own ranks.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A Marshalltown public works employee has been charged in federal court with transportation of child pornography. The Marshalltown Times Republican reports that Jeff Roads appeared in Des Moines’ federal court on Monday. An FBI special agent testified Monday that the case started when Roads was accused of molesting an Oklahoma minor in Iowa. The agent testified that a search of Roads’ cellphone turned up about 100 images of child pornography.

MILLERSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Eastern Iowa authorities say a man has died in a house fire. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports the fire happened Tuesday morning in Millersburg. Firefighters were called to the house just before 6 a.m. The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office says firefighters found the homeowner, 88-year-old William Taylor, dead inside.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa would no longer bar former felons from voting after they complete their sentences and would ensure that crime victims be told of major status changes involving prisoners who wronged them under constitutional amendments proposed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Reynolds on Tuesday used her first Condition of the State speech since being elected to a full term to outline some major policy goals, including several that would affect current and former prisoners.

Officials: Man found dead in eastern Iowa house fire

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

MILLERSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Eastern Iowa authorities say a man has died in a house fire. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports the fire happened Tuesday morning in Millersburg. Firefighters were called to the house just before 6 a.m.

The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office says firefighters found the homeowner, 88-year-old William Taylor, dead inside. The sheriff’s office says the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

House approves measure rebuking Rep. King

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The House has approved a Democratic measure disapproving of Republican Rep. Steve King’s comments about white supremacy. The nine-term Iowa congressman was among those supporting the measure, which was approved, 416-1.

King says he agrees with South Carolina Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, the resolution’s sponsor, that white supremacy is an evil that cannot be ignored. King’s racist comments have been widely condemned by members of both parties in recent days.

King says the ideology of white supremacy “never shows up in my head” and that he does “not know how it could possibly come out of my mouth.” Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois opposed the measure, saying the House should take the more serious step of censuring King for his “repugnant and racist behavior.”

Last week, King said in an interview that “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?”

Federal trial for ‘AK-47 Bandit’ set for March in Nebraska

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal trial in Nebraska has been pushed to March for a man suspected of being the “AK-47 bandit,” who investigators believe robbed banks in five states, including Iowa. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that a federal judge on Tuesday denied a motion by Richard Gathercole for a new court-appointed attorney and set trial for March 25.

Gathercole has pleaded not guilty to robbery and other charges. He’s accused of stealing more than $90,000 in August 2014 from a bank in Nebraska City, about 50 miles south of Omaha. Officials believe Gathercole carried an AK-47 while robbing banks in California, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska and Washington.

Gathercole, of Roundup, Montana, was arrested in June 2017 near Lexington, Nebraska, after a sheriff’s deputy spotted a pickup truck that Kansas authorities had reported stolen by a man who fired at a state trooper.

RICHARD LEE WULF, 78, of San Antonio, TX (Formerly of Exira) (Svcs. 01/19/2019)

Obituaries

January 15th, 2019 by admin

RICHARD LEE WULF, 78, of San Antonio, TX (Formerly of Exira) died January 4th in San Antonio, TX. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for RICHARD LEE WULF will be held on Saturday, January 19th at 11:00am in the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Burial will be in the Exira Cemetery at a later date.

RICHARD LEE WULF is survived by:

Daughters: Michelle Fullen, Megan (John) Massey all of San Antonio, TX.

Sister: Mary Pat (Don) Greving of Exira.

4 Grandchildren

Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Corner Conference condenses the schedule for basketball tournaments this week

Sports

January 15th, 2019 by admin

The Corner Conference has condensed the schedule for their basketball tournaments this week due to expected wintry weather. The semifinals for both the boys and the girls will now be played on Wednesday and the Consolations and Finals on Thursday. All games will be played at Fremont-Mills using both the old and the new gym to accommodate all the games.

Here is a look at the schedule:

Wednesday

Main Gym: Sidney vs. Stanton girls (6:00), Boys Semifinal (after)

Old Gym: Griswold vs. Fremont-Mills girls (6:00), Boys Semifinal (after)

Thursday

Main Gym: Girls championship (6:00), Boys championship (after)

Old Gym: Girls consolation (6:00), Boys consolation (after)

John J. Harris wrestling tournament adjusts time schedule

Sports

January 15th, 2019 by admin

The John J. Harris Wrestling Tournament coming up on Friday and Saturday in Corning has made some adjustments to the schedule due to expected wintry weather. Here is a look at how the schedule now shapes up.

Friday, January 18th

12:00 Weigh-ins in the high school gym
1:00 Coaches meeting (music room in the Activity Center)
All wrestlers and managers should go to the Activity Center gym to be marked for admission. The cheerleaders should report to the band room in the Activity Center.
2:00-5:00 Pigtails and Championship first round
5:00-7:00 Quarterfinals and first round consolation matches
Weight classes are assigned as follows: 106-145 in the High School Gym. 152-285 in the Activity Center.

Saturday, January 19th

12:00 Weigh-ins in the high school gym
1:00 Coaches meeting (music room in the Activity Center)
2:00-3:30 Second Round Consolation (106-145 High School Gym and 152-285 Activity Center)
3:30-5:30 Semifinals and 3rd round consolation (Semifinals in the Activity Center and consolation in the High School Gym)
Break
5:45-6:45 Consolation Semifinals (All weights in the Activity Center)
6:45-7:50 5th and 6th place matches in the Activity Center
7:50-9:30 Championship and 3rd/4th place matches in the Activity Center