United Group Insurance

USDA to Reopen FSA Offices for Limited Services During Government Shutdown

Ag/Outdoor

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Washington, D.C., January 16, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen temporarily in the coming days to perform certain limited services for farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recalled about 2,500 FSA employees to open offices on Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18, in addition to Tuesday, January 22, during normal business hours. The offices will be closed for the federal Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 21.

In almost half of FSA locations, FSA staff will be available to assist agricultural producers with existing farm loans and to ensure the agency provides 1099 tax documents to borrowers by the Internal Revenue Service’s deadline. “Until Congress sends President Trump an appropriations bill in the form that he will sign, we are doing our best to minimize the impact of the partial federal funding lapse on America’s agricultural producers,” Perdue said.  “We are bringing back part of our FSA team to help producers with existing farm loans.  Meanwhile, we continue to examine our legal authorities to ensure we are providing services to our customers to the greatest extent possible during the shutdown.”

Staff members will be available at certain FSA offices to help producers with specific services, including: Processing payments made on or before December 31, 2018; Continuing expiring financing statements; Opening mail to identify priority items.

Additionally, as an intermittent incidental duty, staff may release proceeds from the sale of loan security by signing checks jointly payable to FSA that are brought to the county office by producers.

Iowa State announces spring football schedule, no spring game for second straight year

Sports

January 16th, 2019 by admin

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Athletics Department announced today the football team’s 2019 spring football practice schedule will begin on March 12 and conclude on April 20.  This year’s spring schedule will not include a spring football game.

“As a result of the uncertain weather conditions we face each spring in Iowa, plus the site preparation work that will begin this Spring for the new Sports Performance Center project, Coach Campbell and I have decided to not schedule a spring football game,” Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard said.  “Similar to last year, Coach Campbell and his staff can use that day to conduct a 15th spring practice which they feel is more beneficial for the overall development of the student-athletes and the football program.”

This will be the second year in a row the football team did not host a spring football game. The 2018 game was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Iowa State football will host its annual Pro Day on March 26.

Man dies after fire at his home in northeast Iowa

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man pulled unconscious from his burning home in northeast Iowa has died. He was identified as 30-year-old Albert Schmitt. Firetrucks were sent to the Evansdale home around 3:20 a.m. Tuesday after a neighbor called 911 to report smelling smoke. Evansdale Fire Chief Ryan Phillips says Schmitt was found in the living room of the one-story structure and was taken to a hospital. He was pronounced dead there. The fire cause is being investigated. It appears to have started in the kitchen.

High School Wrestling Scoreboard 01/15/2019

Sports

January 16th, 2019 by admin

Clarinda, Missouri Valley, Tri-Center at Southwest Iowa

Missouri Valley 54, Clarinda 19
Missouri Valley 79, Southwest Iowa 0
Missouri Valley 69, Tri-Center 11
Tri-Center 42, Clarinda 35
Tri-Center 44, Southwest Iowa 24
Clarinda 37, Southwest Iowa 36

Lewis Central, St. Albert, Abraham Lincoln at Thomas Jefferson

Lewis Central 78, St. Albert 0
Lewis Central 54, Abraham Lincoln 5
Lewis Central 51, Thomas Jefferson 24
Thomas Jefferson 72, St. Albert 3
Thomas Jefferson 50, Abraham Lincoln 27|
Abraham Lincoln 66, St. Albert 6

Mount Ayr, Van Meter at Southwest Valley

Mount Ayr 42, Southwest Valley 30
Van Meter/Earlham 64, Mount Ayr 7
Van Meter/Earlham 72, Southwest Valley 11

East Mills, Bedford/Lenox at East Union

East Mills 46, Bedford Lenox 28
East Mills 42, East Union 33
Bedford/Lenox 36, East Union 27

Logan-Magnolia, Bishop Heelan Catholic at Woodbury Central

Logan-Magnolia 45, Bishop Heelan Catholic 36
Woodbury Central 36, Logan-Magnolia 31
Bishop Heelan Catholic 40, Woodbury Central 27

White House denounces Rep. King’s white supremacy remarks

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is describing comments by Republican Rep. Steve King about white supremacy as “abhorrent.” Presidential press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is praising the move by House Republicans to strip the nine-term Iowa lawmaker of his committee assignments. King was quoted last week by The New York Times as saying: “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” Those comments were widely denounced as racist.

The House on Tuesday approved a Democratic measure rebuking King. In addition, a member of the Republican leadership suggested that King leave Congress. At the White House, Sanders says King’s comments were, in her words, “abhorrent.” When President Donald Trump was asked on Monday about King’s remarks, he said: “I haven’t been following it.”

Villisca man arrested on a warrant, Tues.

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 26-year old Justyn Carlson, of Villisca, was arrested Tuesday, on a valid warrant for Disorderly Conduct. Carlson was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

3 arrests in Atlantic

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports three arrests. On Monday, 38-year old Sonya Mills, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear in court. Tuesday, 20-year old Ethan Erlacher, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation, and, 41-year old Jason Albert, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI and Child Endangerment. All three subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Mills Co. Sheriff’s report, 1/16/19

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 26-year old Justin Lewis Marsden, of Red Oak, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. Marsden was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation, the bond for which was set at $5,000. And, at around 1:15-a.m. today (Wednesday), 25-year old Erica Rene Bykerk, of Omaha, was arrested following a traffic stop at Oman Ave. & Highway 275. Bykerk was brought to the Mills County Jail on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County, for Failure to Appear in court. Her bond was set at $2,000.

An accident at around 8:15-p.m. Tuesday at 284th St. & Highway 34 in Mills County, resulted in an injury. 26-year old Alex Heard, of Malvern, was transported by Malvern Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, after the 2000 Plymouth he was driving was struck on the passenger side, by a 2014 Chevy. The accident happened when the Chevy, driven by 42-year old Eric Bach, of Council Bluffs, failed to stop at the posted intersection. Bach was cited for Failure to Yield upon entering a through highway.

Pott. County Sheriff’s report (1/16/19) – WI woman arrested for transporting 13.5-lbs of marijuana

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report two recent arrests. At around 7:50-p.m. Tuesday, 29-year old Marshall Brandon Fischer, of Avoca, was arrested for Driving While Barred. His arrest was the result of a traffic stop in Avoca, for failure to have a front license plate on his pickup truck. And, a traffic stop on a speeding car at around 8:30-a.m. Monday on I-80 in Council Bluffs, resulted in the arrest of real estate agent, 31-year old Lindsey R. Hagan, of Milwaukee, WI. During the traffic stop, a police service dog conducted a “free-air” sniff around the vehicle, and alerted to the odor of  narcotics. A Probable Cause search of the car was conducted, during which 13.5-pounds of marijuana was found. Hagan was subsequently arrested for Possession with the Intent to Deliver – Marijuana.

Iowa county suspends use of slag for gravel roads

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Officials in an eastern Iowa county have suspended the use of a waste material on gravel roads because of concerns it could be harmful, especially to children. The Muscatine Journal reports that Muscatine County supervisors voted Monday to suspend the use of slag while they wait for further testing on the material. The move comes after an Iowa Public Health Department toxicologist issued a report that said slag, which is a byproduct of steel manufacturing, contains metals at levels that can be harmful.

County Supervisor Nathan Mather says the material hasn’t been used on roads since June. Glenn Hundertmark is the North American environmental manager at Harsco, the industrial company that provides the county with slag. He says there aren’t health or environmental risks tied with the material. Hundertmark requested time to provide additional information.