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Commercial Pesticide Applicators Reminded that Continuing Education Courses Must be Completed by Year End

Ag/Outdoor

December 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Extension office is again hosting continuing instructional courses (CICs) for local commercial pesticide applicators, but wants to remind anyone who has yet to attend the training that all CIC training must be completed by the end of December. To avoid conflicts with year-end scheduling, Cass County Extension is requiring that all training dates be scheduled by Friday, December 15th.

“We know year end is a busy time for all, and we don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to attend their annual required training, as time to meet those annual requirements is getting short,” shared Kate Olson, Extension Program Coordinator in Cass County. “We do offer trainings on a first-come, first-served basis, and our hours will be slightly different during the holidays, so we’d like to remind folks to call and get their classes scheduled before our year-end calendar fills up!”

According to Olson, reshow dates can occur after December 15th, but they must be on the calendar before then to be honored. To ensure a spot on the training schedule, applicators needing to complete CIC for the year are asked to call prior to December 15th. Applicators calling after this date will NOT be placed on the training schedule. Training dates can be scheduled locally by calling the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or by emailing Office Assistant Lori Anderson at lander@iastate.edu. For more information on the Commercial Pesticide Applicator program or the CIC classes, please visit www.extension.iastate.edu/psep/ComAp.html.

Teen charged with 2nd degree Harassment after alleged social media threat at Carroll High School

News

December 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Police in Carroll report a teenager was being held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs following an investigation into an alleged threat to the Carroll High School was posted on social media. Chief Brad Burke said in a Press Release this (Wednesday) morning, that Carroll High School officials reported to Police at around 8:34-p.m. Tuesday, a message was posted on Facebook that was threatening toward the school. An investigation by Carroll Police and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office resulted in a 16-year old male being charged with Harassment in the 2nd degree. The teen was not identified.

Authorities have determined that there was no threat toward any of the schools in the Carroll Community School District. Police are on-hand today (Wednesday) to answer any questions students may have..

Industry groups propose revising Iowa beverage container law

News

December 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Grocer and beverage manufacturing groups want to rewrite Iowa’s beverage container law and opt for a statewide recycling program instead. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Grocery Industry Association and the Iowa Beverage Association introduced a proposal Tuesday that would repeal the 5-cent bottle deposit law in exchange for an approach incentivizing curbside recycling. The associations plan to push the proposal in the Legislature’s 2018 session.

Under the proposal, the beverage industry would finance a fund to expand recycling and encourage landfills to include more bottles and cans in their efforts. Grocery stores would no longer need to redeem bottles and cans. State figures show Iowa recovers 86 percent of its beverage containers. Opponents worry that scrapping current law will create roadside litter issues and drop the high recycle rate.

Pott. County Sheriff’s report: Numerous arrests

News

December 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office got caught-up on their posted (media) reports today (Wednesday), after being several days behind. There were several arrests and incidents to note, among them:

On Saturday:

  • 33-year old Jeremy Theron Harriman, of Avoca, was arrested at around 3:50-p.m., for Violation of a No Contact Order/Contempt of Court, after he was allegedly trespassing near a residence in the 500 block of S. Cedar Avenue, in Avoca. Harriman was found sitting on the sidewalk in front of the residence where the protected party associated with the Protection Order, lives.

On Sunday:

  • 33-year old Jill Marie Mastin, of Hastings (IA), was arrested at around 1:45-a.m., for OWI/1st offense. The arrest took place following a traffic stop for speeding 74 in a 55 zone. It occurred at Highway 59 and Magnolia Road.  When the Deputy made contact with Mastin, he noted she displayed numerous cues of impairment.
  • At around 3-a.m. Sunday, 31-year old Idris Akeeb, of Country Club Hill, IL, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail after he was brought in on a warrant charging him with five counts of  Forgery, and one felony count of Ongoing Criminal conduct – Criminal Network.
  • At around 7-p.m. Sunday, a Deputy on routine patrol in Pott. County, came upon an SUV. A check of the license plate showed the driver’s status was Revoked. Following a traffic stop, the Deputy noticed inside the vehicle several signs of drug use. 47-year old Jeffrey Allen Ronfeldt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (1.9-grams of meth in a baggie), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Meth pipe), Driving while revoked and OWI/1st offense.

On Monday: A 30-year old woman identified only as “Jane Doe,” was arrested just before 9-p.m., following a disturbance at the Wings America Truck Stop/Restaurant, north of Avoca. A business reported the woman threw items inside the store and then went outside before throwing landscaping rocks at three windows, causing about $900 damage. The woman was found walking in the area of the 39 mile marker on Interstate 80 and placed under arrest. She was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree and Disorderly Conduct.

And, on Tuesday a Council Bluffs woman upset about turning herself in on a warrant, became even more upset when she managed to slip out of her handcuffs while in her cell, and was told she would be charged with escape if she tried that again. 42-year old Michelle Renee Emmert thought she had already served her 14-day required stay at the Pott. County Jail.  Once the situation was explained to her, she was booked into the jail without further incident.

 

IHSBCA set to celebrate 50 years of baseball

Sports

December 6th, 2017 by admin

50th anniversary celebration set for January 19-20, 2018 in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – December 5, 2017 – 2018 marks a major milestone for the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) as the organization will celebrate its 50th anniversary

As part of the celebration, the IHSBCA will host its 50th Annual Baseball Coaches Clinic and Hall of Fame Banquet. Events will be held in Cedar Rapids at the Marriott Hotel on January 19-20th.

“We are excited about the 50th Annual Clinic and Hall of Fame Banquet,” said Lee Toole, IHSBCA executive director and long-time head baseball coach at Lewis Central. “Our teams are finalizing plans and have put together a tremendous line-up of speakers for the weekend. In addition, we have activities planned to honor the IHSBCA’s fifty years of promoting baseball in Iowa and across the Midwest. Expect a fun-filled weekend packed with great information that can be used by coaches and umpires to enhance the play of baseball in Iowa.”

Coaches and umpires can register for the Clinic and Hall of Fame Banquet by visiting www.ihsbca.net. Additional information on hotel accommodations and the clinic are also on the site.

The Hall of Fame Banquet will conclude the weekend of events on Saturday evening. All former Hall of Fame members are invited to attend the banquet and can register online at www.ihsbca.net. During the banquet, the IHSBCA will induct six into the 2018 Hall of Fame Class. The new inductees include:

John Bartolo – Algona                         Marty Kurth – LeMars                          Wes Obermueller – Vinton

Tom Owen – North Polk                       Emory Stewart – Oskaloosa                 Jim Struve- Vinton

“We have a great 2018 Hall of Fame Class to be inducted and the banquet will be one of the many highlights of the weekend,” added Toole. “The banquet will honor our organization’s rich history and tradition over the past fifty years as we stay focused on providing additional opportunities to grow the game of baseball across Iowa and the Midwest. While the weekend honors our past, it is also a chance to come together to share our passion for the future.”

In addition to Coaches Clinic and Hall of Fame Banquet, the IHSBCA has several other events planned as part of its 50th year anniversary celebration. In August 2018, the IHSBCA will host its annual Junior Showcase and Senior All-Star Series. The events will highlight the fifty years of IHSBCA tradition and history. In addition, the 2018 IHSBCA All-State Baseball Teams will be selected.

Additional information on the IHSBCA’s 2018 events and activities is available at www.iowahsbca.net.

About the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association

The Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) is a statewide organization promoting the growth of baseball by providing educational opportunities for Iowa’s baseball coaches and umpires. The organization, founded in 1968, has more than 400 members representing all levels of baseball. The IHSBCA seeks to develop the skills of coaches and umpires to be utilized in teaching the game of baseball to student-athletes. For more information on the IHSBCA or to become a member, please visit iowahsbca.net.

Iowa Shrine Bowl announces date and details

Sports

December 6th, 2017 by admin

The 2018 Iowa Shrine All-Star Football Classic has been set for a game date of July 21, 2018 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar falls with a 4:00pm kickoff. The South Head Coach will be Urbandale’s Sam Anderson and the North Head Coach will be Doug Winkowitsch of West Delaware.

46 players have been selected by the coaches for each squad. The selections are made from nominations from coaches around the state.

The 2018 game will be the 46th annual. The game has raised over $2,600,000 for the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

See the full press release here: IowaShrineBowl

Pott. County Sheriff: NE woman arrested on drug charge at the scene of a fire; Griswold man arrested for Assault; 2.2-lbs of Heroin taken in traffic stop

News

December 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A woman from Nebraska who had reportedly gone to the scene of a house fire in Pottawattamie County to repair her vehicle, was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation and Possession of a Controlled Substance (2.2-grams of meth). The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office says 33-year old Ashley Lynn Votherms, of Bellevue, NE. was taken into custody at around 11:30-p.m. Friday.  Another person, 34-year old Andrew Sanwick, of Omaha, had a valid warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. Both were arrested after the Pott. County Communications Center received a call about numerous persons rummaging through the property where a home had burned to the ground the previous day, at 1203 Rolling Hills Loop. When the Deputy questioned individuals looking into a vehicle with a flat tire that was partially burned by the fire, Votherms said the vehicle was hers, and that they were attempting to change a tire. A records check indicated Votherms and Sanwick had valid warrants for arrest.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, a Cass County man was arrested for Assault with Injury and Carrying a Concealed Weapon (a gun), Saturday morning. A Deputy was dispatched to the Casey’s Store in Oakland to meet with a 20-year old Oakland man who was allegedly assaulted at a bar in Oakland, by 28-year old Nicholas Clyde Seyler, of Griswold. After an investigation, Seyler was arrested at around 1-a.m.

A traffic stop Saturday afternoon on Interstate 80  in Pott. County resulted in the arrest of two men on drug charges, and the recovery of 2.2-pounds of Heroin. After a Deputy stopped a 2002 Nissan Rogue at around 3:25-p.m., Saturday, the driver, 50-year old Jose Antonio Moreno, of San Pedro, CA., and his passenger, 38-year old Arshak Arayan, of Los Angeles, CA., were taken into custody and brought to the Pott. County Jail. They were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver.

Creston man arrested Tuesday morning

News

December 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Tuesday morning, of a man wanted for Violation of Parole. 50-year old Joel Alan Weeks, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Weeks was being held in the jail, without bond.

Red Oak woman arrested Wed. morning

News

December 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police say a woman was arrested at around 7-a.m. today (Wednesday). 31-year old Sara Sue Batten, of Red Oak, was arrested on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. Batten was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

County board votes against public prayer to open meetings

News

December 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors in northwest Iowa has voted against having a public prayer before opening a board meeting. The Sioux City Journal reports that the board addressed the resolution by board Chairman Matthew Ung at its meeting Tuesday. It would have had supervisors take turns in choosing whether to lead a public prayer or hold a moment of silence. The resolution said the rest of the supervisors could not overturn the decision by the one making the choice.

The board’s current practice is to observe a moment of silence. The four supervisors who voted against allowing the public prayer all said they pray during the weekly moment of silence. But possible legal action over public prayers at public meetings was among the reasons raised against the resolution.