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New Atlantic “Welcome” sign is in-place

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – During a City Council meeting last month, City Administrator John Lund announced a new, “Welcome to Atlantic” sign was finished and was ready to be installed on the City’s east side. All they were waiting for was warmer weather. Mother Nature cooperated, and on Wednesday afternoon (April 24th), the sign was set in-place by staff from JJ Design.

(Photo by Jennifer Nichols- courtesy of the Atlantic News Telegraph)

During the Council’s meeting, Lund had shown photos of the sign and the pedestal that it would be placed on. He said at the time, the photos doesn’t show how “massive” the sign is.

Share Iowa honors the 2nd Annual “Do-Gooder of the Year” winner in western Iowa

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Community Foundation for Western Iowa and SHARE Iowa, today (Thursday), announced Ruth Kreger, volunteer with “Share My Smile,” as the second annual Do-Gooder of the Year award winner.  Do Good Days Is April 24 – April 27th. During Do Good Days, SHARE Iowa and the Community Foundation for Western Iowa encourage community members and nonprofit organizations to honor what doing good means to them.

Falling on National Volunteer Week, a major focus for Do Good Days this year is volunteerism. SHARE Iowa, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, provided online educational opportunities for nonprofits and presented the second annual “Do-Gooder of the Year” award. All nonprofit organizations participating on the SHARE Iowa platform were encouraged to nominate their volunteers or “Do-Gooders” of the year. Share My Smile nominated Ruth Kreger for the award.

According to the nomination, Ruth has been volunteering since the inception of Share My Smile and is the coordinator of the Project Birthday Joy program since 2017. Every month, Ruth single-handedly prepares birthday boxes for all the foster and guardianship children enrolled in Share My Smile who will be celebrating an upcoming birthday. She shops for the items included in the boxes so that the children can have an actual birthday party, such as cake mixes, cans of frosting, fun birthday plates and napkins, plus small gift items like playing cards and the like. (Photos courtesy Catrina Trabal,Community Partnerships Manager)

 

Community Foundation CEO Donna Dostal presents award to Do-Gooder of the Year Ruth Kreger

From Left to Right: Share My Smile Executive Director Michelle Irions, Community Foundation for Western Iowa CEO Donna Dostal, Do-Gooder of the Year Ruth Kreger, Share My Smile Founder Chelsea Best, Share My Smile Program Specialist Michaela Harrington, Community Foundation for Western Iowa Community Partnerships Manager Catrina Trabal

Ruth Kreger, Do-Gooder of the Year

She also orders Walmart gift cards for each child. Ruth personally packs each box, addresses them, and brings them to the post office. Additionally, she also signs and addresses birthday cards for all the adopted and biological children in our program and adds a gift card to their envelope. The impact that Project Birthday Joy has on the lives of these foster children is immeasurable. Often, these children have never had a birthday party before so it’s due to Ruth’s volunteer efforts that these children are made to feel special.

Chelsea Best, founder and President of Share My Smile, says “Ruth is one of my most favorite people. She is such a dedicated and reliable volunteer – the things you just can’t teach, she has it. Ruth has the biggest heart and is one of the sweetest human beings ever.”

SHARE Iowa is a dynamic online resource for our nonprofit partners that helps them to better reach and engage with people who want to have an impact into their community by donating dollars, shopping from nonprofit wish lists, attending events, or discovering volunteer opportunities. Donna Dostal, CEO of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, states “We created the Do-Gooder award to honor and recognize the amazing individuals like Ruth who give of their time and talents to make a difference in other people’s lives and our community. Ruth epitomizes a ‘Do-Gooder’ and is making a lasting impact in the lives of the children Share My Smile serves. We are honored to recognize her efforts.”

Go to www.sharegoodiowa.org to learn more and support nonprofit organizations making an impact in western Iowa.

Atlantic RAGBRAI Vendor Forms Now Available

News, Sports

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic RAGBRAI® Committee announced that vendor and housing forms are now being accepted for RAGBRAI 2024. All forms can be found at www.atlanticragbrai.com or at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 102 Chestnut Street.

Vending fees for local non-profit vendors are $150. Fees for local, for-profit vendors are $350. For any non-local vendor wishing to participate in Atlantic RAGBRAI, the fee will be $600. There is a $100 refundable clean-up deposit and a $50 electrical fee for vendors that need electricity.

“The committee wanted to make sure local vendors benefited from the RAGBRAI experience. RAGBRAI brings 17,000-20,000 people to our community, all of whom love nothing more than to support a local vendor. By keeping the vendor fees low, we’re confident our local vendors and non-profits will have an extraordinary day”, Kelsey Beschorner, Atlantic RAGBRAI Publicity Chair stated.

If you have questions about what it takes to be a housing host or questions about the vendor applications, we encourage everyone to attend the “Music & Margs” Town Hall Meeting on May 5th at the Telegraph Building. This Town Hall allows community members to talk directly with RAGBRAI Committee members and get answers to their specific questions. The Town Hall will also give community members an exclusive look at event apparel, merchandise, and receive information about day-of festivities.

The Atlantic RAGBRAI Committee will continue to meet regularly to plan for Atlantipalooza on July 22nd. As information is available, it will be shared with the community and on the website www.atlanticragbrai.com. Community members and riders alike are encouraged to follow Atlantic RAGBRAI on Facebook and Instagram for all things Atlantic RAGBRAI.

Iowa authorities: Body found in Sac County positively ID’d; No signs of foul play

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SAC COUNTY, Iowa – The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner conducted a forensic autopsy on the body discovered in Sac County on April 24, 2024. The body has been positively identified through dental records as that of 53-year-old David Schultz of Wall Lake, Iowa.

Schultz was located in a farm field in the 1900 block of Union Ave. in Sac County. Preliminary autopsy results show no signs of trauma or serious injury. Further autopsy test results are pending. Authorities do not suspect foul play in the death of Schultz, who was first reported missing by his wife on Nov. 21, 2023.

Schultz left his Wall Lake home around 7 p.m. on Nov. 20. He went to pick up a load of pigs from a hog confinement in the Eagle Grove area. He left around 10:5o p.m. Video footage shows Shultz at a truck stop around 11:15 p.m. on Nov. 20. After leaving the truck stop, his semi-truck was seen heading west on Iowa Department of Transportation cameras.

Cell phone data shows Schultz’s phone traveling to the location where the semi-truck was found — the intersection of D-15 and N-14. Data suggests the semi-truck may have been there since 12:40 a.m. on Nov. 21. The morning of Nov. 21, Schultz didn’t drop off his load of pigs at the Wieckman hog buying station in Sac City. Sarah Schultz, David Schultz’s wife, reported him missing that afternoon after learning he did not show up to Wieckman’s.

A Sac County Secondary Road employee reported that a semi-truck had been at the intersection of D-15 and N-14 since early morning. Responding deputies determined the semi-truck to be Schultz’s. His phone and wallet were found inside. His semi-truck, with a load of pigs, was found at an intersection near Sac City with his wallet and cell phone inside.

The United Cajun Navy, a search and rescue group based in Louisiana, organized a volunteer search. Almost 200 volunteers participated in the initial search that covered more than 100,000 acres.

2024 High School Tennis Postseason Assignments

Sports

April 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

District meets are set for Wednesday, May 8. The IHSAA State Individual Tennis Tournament will be played on May 21-22 in Iowa City (2A) and Waterloo (1A). Team substate meets will take place on Saturday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 15. The IHSAA State Team Tennis Tournament is scheduled for May 30-31 in Waukee (2A) and Iowa City (1A).

2024 DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS

CLASS 1A

4. DENISON-SCHLESWIG
Audubon
Denison-Schleswig
Des Moines, Hoover
Harlan
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll
North Polk, Alleman
St. Albert, Council Bluffs
Storm Lake

7. RED OAK
Atlantic
Clarinda
Creston
Glenwood
Lewis Central
Red Oak
Shenandoah
Southwest Valley

CLASS 2A

6. NORWALK
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln

7. SIOUX CITY, NORTH
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson

2024 SUBSTATE BRACKETS

CLASS 1A

SUBSTATE 7
Atlantic
Clarinda
Creston
North Polk, Alleman
Red Oak
Saydel
Shenandoah
Southwest Valley

SUBSTATE 8
Audubon
Boone
Denison-Schleswig
Glenwood
Harlan
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll
Lewis Central
St. Albert, Council Bluffs

CLASS 2A

SUBSTATE 1
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson

SUBSTATE 8
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln

Post Season High School Golf Assignments and Sites

Sports

April 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Sectional meets are set for Wednesday, May 8, unless otherwise noted. District meets are set for Monday, May 13, unless otherwise noted. Qualifiers from these meets advance to the 2024 IHSAA State Golf Championships, set for May 20-21 in Ames.

CLASS 1A

2. St. Edmond, Fort Dodge (Lakeside Golf Course, May 8 @ 10 a.m.)
AGWSR
Coon Rapids-Bayard
Exira-EHK
IKM-Manning
Newell-Fonda
St. Edmond
West Fork

Qualifying teams and individuals from Sectionals 1-4 advance to: GEHLEN CATHOLIC, Willow Creek GC, May 13, 10 a.m.

5. West Monona (Onawa Country Club, May 8 @ 10 a.m.)
Alta-Aurelia
Heartland Christian
Logan-Magnolia
MMC-RU
Riverside
St. Albert
West Monona

6. Moravia (The Preserve on Rathbun, May 8 @ 10 a.m.)
Earlham
Madrid
Martensdale-St. Marys
Melcher-Dallas
Moravia
Southeast Warren
Wayne

7. Sidney (Fremont County Golf Course, May 8 @ 10 a.m.)
Audubon
East Mills
Essex
Fremont Mills
Hamburg
Sidney
Woodbine

8. Mount Ayr (Mount Ayr Golf and Country Club, May 8 @ 9 a.m.)
Bedford
CAM
East Union
Griswold
Lamoni
Lenox
Mormon Trail
Mount Ayr

Qualifying teams and individuals from Sectionals 5-8 advance to: CAM, ANITA, Crestwood Hills GC, May 13, 10 a.m.

Class 2A

3. Kuemper Catholic (Carroll Country Club, May 8 @ 10 a.m.)
ACGC
Cherokee
Kuemper Catholic
Manson NW Webster
Pocahontas Area
Ridge View
South Central Calhoun
Southeast Valley

Qualifying teams and individuals from Sectionals 1, 2, & 3 advance to: UNITY CHRISTIAN, Landsmeer GC, May 13, 10 a.m.

5. Interstate-35 (Deer Run, May 8 @ 10 a.m.)
Clarinda
Des Moines Christian
I-35
Ogden
Panorama
Red Oak
Shenandoah
Southwest Valley

6. Tri-Center (Quail Run Golf Course, May 8, 9 a.m.)
AHSTW
Missouri Valley
Nodaway Valley
OABCIG
Treynor
Tri-Center
Underwood
West Central Valley

Qualifying teams and individuals from Sectionals 4, 5, & 6 advance to: PANORAMA, Lake Panorama National GC, May 13, 9:30 a.m.

CLASS 3A

7. Lewis Central (Whispering Woods GC, May 8 @ 10 a.m.)
ADM
Atlantic
Denison-Schleswig
Glenwood
Greene County
Harlan
Lewis Central
Winterset

Qualifying teams and individuals from Sectionals 7 & 8 advance to: ATLANTIC, Atlantic G&CC, May 13, 10 a.m.

Cyclones Sign St. Mary’s Transfer Joshua Jefferson

Sports

April 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced the addition of a fourth transfer to the 2024-25 Iowa State roster. St. Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson will join the Cyclones this summer.

Jefferson joins a transfer class that already includes Seattle transfer Brandton Chatfield, Northern Iowa transfer Nate Heise and Charlotte transfer Dishon Jackson.

A 6-8 forward out of Las Vegas, Jefferson played for the Gaels the last two seasons. Jefferson comes to Iowa State with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

He started 26 games for St. Mary’s last season before suffering a season-ending injury. He averaged 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Gaels in 25 minutes per game. He earned All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention honors.

“Joshua is a high IQ basketball player that impacts winning in a variety of ways,” Otzelberger said. “He’s a gifted offensive player that can score at all three levels. He possesses terrific defensive instincts that will help us generate turnovers and end possessions with a rebound.”

Jefferson scored in double figures in 13 of his 26 games, including a career-high 21 points in a victory at San Francisco on Jan. 20. He tallied four double-doubles on the year, including a 16-point, 13-rebound effort in a victory at No. 13 Colorado State Dec. 9. He had six games with four assists or more, including a career-high eight in a victory against Portland Jan. 11.

2024 Iowa Girls High School Soccer Rankings-Thursday, April 25, 2024

Sports

April 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A
School
Record
LW
1
Davenport Assumption
10-0
1
2
Gilbert
9-1
2
3
Des Moines Christian
8-1
3
4
Bishop Heelan
8-4
4
5
Nevada
8-3
5
6
Underwood
8-1
6
7
Hudson
10-0
7
8
Denver
10-1
8
9
Center Point-Urbana
5-0
9
10
Panorama
10-0
11
11
Treynor
7-2
12
12
Vinton-Shellsburg
7-1
14
13
Beckman Catholic
7-1
15
14
Council Bluffs St. Albert
10-2
10
15
Van Meter
5-4
13
 
Dropped Out: None
 
Class 2A
School
Record
LW
1
Dallas Center-Grimes
6-1
1
2
Waverly-Shell Rock
6-0
2
3
Pella
6-2
3
4
North Polk
9-0
4
5
Norwalk
6-4
5
6
Independence
8-1
6
7
Lewis Central
8-3
7
8
Iowa City Liberty
5-2
11
9
Spencer
7-2
12
10
Cedar Rapids Xavier
2-3
10
11
ADM
3-6
8
12
Iowa Falls-Alden
7-1
15
13
North Scott
7-4
13
14
Clear Creek-Amana
7-2
14
15
Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson
8-2
NR
 
Dropped Out: Central DeWitt (9)
 
Class 3A
School
Record
LW
1
Waukee Northwest
8-1
1
2
West Des Moines Valley
9-1
2
3
Ankeny
7-2
6
4
Waukee
8-3
8
5
Pleasant Valley
9-2
3
6
Ankeny Centennial
6-2
4
7
Linn-Mar
7-3
5
8
Bettendorf
6-2
13
9
Iowa City High
6-1
9
10
Southeast Polk
7-2
7
11
Iowa City West
5-2
10
12
Urbandale
4-4
11
13
Dubuque Hempstead
6-1
14
14
Johnston
4-6
12
15
Mason City
8-1
NR
 
Dropped Out: Cedar Falls (15)

March Realtor numbers indicate return to more normal market

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Association of Realtors report for March shows buyers had more homes to choose from. The Association’s statewide housing analyst, Les Sulgrove, says that’s important. “Listing inventory is up about 25 percent over the same time a year ago in fact you know the first of April we’ve got over 62-hundred homes on the market across the state,” Sulgrove says. “So that’s really good news for home buyers, because in the past they’ve all been fighting for the same house.”

The number of homes sold in March was down by just under two percent. Sulgrove says that’s an indicator that the market is back to pre-covid conditions. “Sales are slightly down compared to the last couple of years but I think that’s the key right there is that you know we’re no longer in really that COVID market where everything is selling extremely fast,” he says.
Sulgrove says getting back to more of a normal pattern is good for everyone.

“It gives homebuyers that chance to think about our decision besides instead of just making one on the spot, it also encourages homeowners that are sitting on the sidelines waiting to either jump into market as a seller themselves, they have that confidence knowing that you know they’re not going to maybe be out of a home if they sell their so quickly,” Sulgrove says. Interest rates are higher than they were a few years ago, but he says right now the key is those rates have been stable.IAR

“A lot of homebuyers you know don’t want to make a decision when rates are either going up or going down, but as long as they’re kind of in that same stability that gives them the confidence to know what their payments going to be without the fear of you know moving target,” he says. Sulgrove says “As soon as school gets out homeowners have a chance to really focus on selling their home and like you said making that move between now and the beginning of school,” Sulgrove says. “So this is our busiest time of the year and I don’t expect any difference in that moving forward.”

He says there is more optimism now in the housing market then there has been as they move forward this spring.

Grassley: Pentagon workers spent millions of pandemic dollars on personal expenses

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is firing new criticism at the Pentagon after an audit found tens of thousands of incidents where government workers inappropriately used federal pandemic dollars for personal expenses. Grassley, a Republican, says it’s a “slap in the face to the taxpayer” that millions of dollars in military spending is being so blatantly misspent.

“The Defense Department is the only agency, let me emphasize, the only agency of the gigantic federal bureaucracy that when they get an audit, they never get their audit certified,” Grassley says. “I’ve written so many times that they don’t have a financial control system.”

Grassley is demanding accountability from the Pentagon after an Inspector General’s report found DOD employees used government purchase cards to make more than 110,000 purchases, while more than 43,000 of those were “inappropriately justified as pandemic-related expenses.” Grassley says more than 57,000 of the orders lacked proper documentation, “raising the risk of additional unsupported purchases.” The report stretched from March of 2020 to January of 2022.

“The financial control system didn’t check on pandemic money that was supposed to be used for the pandemic and it ended up being used for personal use,” Grassley says. The senator says the questionable purchases and “irresponsible accounting” featured a range of items, including musical equipment, dental supplies, plumbing services, vehicle repair and even Nordic skiing machines. Grassley says the Pentagon has a long history of misspending.

“Something came up yesterday at one of my county meetings here,” Grassley says. “Somebody said, ‘Do you remember the $2,000 toilet seat?’ Well, it was really a $700 toilet seat, but that’s been 30 years ago.”

Grassley says when it comes to catching fraud, “the DOD’s internal controls are a complete failure.”