United Group Insurance

Spencer councilwoman wants to run against congressman, King

News

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Spencer councilwoman wants to run against U.S. Rep. Steve King in Iowa’s 4th District. Leann Jacobsen announced her intention Thursday to join the Democratic race. Former baseball player J.D. Scholten announced his candidacy in last month.

Jacobsen says in a news release that she wants to help turn around things in the northwest Iowa district, where she says “the qualities that have made living there so attractive – great schools, good jobs, bright futures – are beginning to slip away.”

She says her priorities if elected would be to create jobs and improve rural communities so young people are more inclined to stay rather than seek opportunities elsewhere. Jacobsen co-owns three Spencer businesses.

The Republican King was first elected to Congress in 2002.

Drake seeks elusive FCS playoff bid

Sports

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Drake has won six Pioneer Football League championships but non since the league starting getting an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs in 2013. With more than a dozen starters back from last year’s team that finished 7-4 third-year coach Rick Fox says they hope to change that this season.

Fox has put together a schedule to prepare for an eventual playoff berth. The Bulldogs play South Dakota and South Dakota State out of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Fox says the Bulldogs learned how they need to play at the end of last season. Drake won its final four games after falling out of the PFL title chase.

Drake is talented and deep on both sides of the ball on the line of scrimmage and Fox feels this team has a lot of potential. Drake opens at home against South Dakota on September 2.

(Learfield Sports)

Freshman Garza shines on Iowa’s trip to Europe

Sports

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Freshman center Luka Garza continues to shine on Iowa’s trip to Europe. Garza poured in 24 points in just 11 minutes of action as the Hawkeyes rolled to a 125 to 56 win over the Swiss All-Stars.

Garza says the four-game trip is a great experience.

Iowa travels to Italy today (Friday), and will play the Milan All Stars on Saturday. Hawkeye coach Fran McCaffery will continue to rotate starting lineups.

(Learfield Sports)

Swing-district House GOP feel the heat on health care

News

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

RED OAK, Iowa (AP) – Republican congressman David Young angered conservatives in Iowa when he initially opposed a House Republican health care bill then weeks later backed it.  Independents were frustrated with the two-term congressman’s embrace of a partisan approach to repealing and replacing Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. And now the Democrats are coming.

The collapse of the years-long Republican quest to dismantle “Obamacare” has been a bitter pill for House Republicans who voted for GOP legislation in May, only to see the drive fall apart in the Senate two weeks ago. The affirmative vote looms large for 21 GOP lawmakers, including Young, who represent competitive congressional districts where Democrat Hillary Clinton won or came close in last year’s presidential election.

This summer, Democrats embarked on a national bus tour of those districts.

Skyscan forecast & weather data for Atlantic: 8/11/17

Weather

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Today: Areas of patchy fog this morning; Partly cloudy & mild. High 81. N @ 10-15.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 54.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to Cloudy. High 80. SE @5-10.

Tom. Night: Mo.Cldy w/a slight chance of showers. Low 58.

Sunday: Scattered afternoon showers possible, mainly in the afternoon. High 78.

Monday: Any showers will be ending; Mo. Cldy. High around 80.

We received .05” rain, Thursday at the KJAN studios. Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 84. Our Low this morning was 54. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 93 and the low was 68. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 104 in 1894. The Record Low for this date was 40 in 1902.

Creston man arrested in Red Oak on Cass County warrant

News

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak early this (Friday) morning, arrested a Union County man on a Cass County warrant. Authorities say 21-year old Jordan Thomas McElroy, of Creston, was arrested at the corner of Highway 34 and G Avenue at around 2:15-a.m.   He was taken into custody on a valid Cass County warrant for felony Violation of Probation, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where McElroy was unable to post a $2,000 cash bond. He was later transported to Atlantic and held in the Cass County Jail.

Three employees sue the state for failing to address co-worker’s harassment, stalking

News

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Three employees of the Iowa Department of Revenue have filed a lawsuit accusing the agency’s managers of failing to protect them from harassment and abuse at work. The three men say they were stalked and harassed by another man who worked in the agency.

Kenneth Kerr was fired in November of 2015 and last year he pleaded guilty to one count of sexually motivated stalking and two counts of invasion of privacy. The three men who’ve filed a lawsuit against the state allege their bosses did little to address the situation and sometimes joined other agency employees in mocking them for being the subject of Kenneth Kerr’s stalking. A spokeswoman for the agency told The Des Moines Register action had been taken “immediately” when managers learned of Kerr’s activities. One of the men who is suing says the harassment began in 1997 — that’s 18 years before Kerr was fired.

The three men filed their lawsuit in July. It was in July that a jury who heard days of testimony about sexual harassment in the Iowa Senate awarded more than two-million dollars to a woman who used to work for Senate Republicans.

(Radio Iowa)

Midwest Sports Headlines: 8/11/17

Sports

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Cardinals completed a four-game season sweep of the Royals to pull within one game of the NL Central-leading Cubs. Dexter Fowler crushed a grand slam in the seventh inning to send St. Louis past Kansas City, 8-5. Fowler also supplied an RBI double that sparked a game-tying, three-run sixth in the Redbirds’ sixth consecutive win.

The Twins vaulted over Kansas City in the AL Central standings by earning their fifth consecutive win, 7-2 at Milwaukee. Byron Buxton and Joe Mauer had three hits apiece and combined for three RBIs to help Minnesota complete a sweep of the home-and-home, four-game set with the Brewers. Zach Davies was tagged for seven runs and a career-high 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings as the Brewers dropped their fifth in a row to fall two games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs.

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals will play the Omaha Storm Chasers in an exhibition next March to kick off the 50th year of the Royals having their top farm club in the Omaha area. The Storm Chasers announced on Thursday that the game is March 26 at Werner Park. It will be the first time the Royals have visited their Triple-A affiliate since 2000. The Storm Chasers franchise has been Kansas City’s top farm club since 1969. No other major-league team has had its Triple-A affiliate in the same location as long. Tickets for the exhibition go on sale Sept. 1.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, 8/11/17

News

August 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:20 a.m. CDT

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A 32-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and other counts following a shooting that injured a man on a downtown Dubuque street. The Telegraph Herald reports that Jevonne Coleman was arrested late Wednesday night after police were called to the area on a report of shots fired. Police say they found 24-year-old Titus Jarmon suffering from two gunshot wounds. Jarmon is expected to recover.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After nearly 20 years, Iowa’s standard license plate will get a new design, and residents can vote on which of three options they like best. Gov. Kim Reynolds unveiled three potential designs Thursday at the state fair. Department of Transportation graphic artists created the new designs, which are now up for a vote by fairgoers and others online. When a new design is selected, it will be available sometime in 2018.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport woman accused of stealing more than $150,000 from the School Nutrition Association of Iowa has pleaded not guilty to first-degree theft. The Quad-City Times reports that 74-year-old Norma Jean Adams was also charged Wednesday with commission of a specified unlawful activity. Prosecutors say Adams was using the name Norma LaMantia while serving as the executive director of the association, an Iowa nonprofit that promotes healthy, affordable school meals.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Workers are spending a hot summer on scaffolding that wraps around Iowa’s 131-year-old Capitol. It’s the most visible part of a $10 million, yearlong project to restore the building’s massive dome. The priority is replacing 15,000 bricks, but because that task required construction of scaffolding that climbs from the main structure, officials decided it was the perfect time for other repairs. Crews also will install a permanent platform in the dome so workers can monitor future deterioration.

MARY (MCEVOY) STOBERL, 83, of Stuart (Svcs. 08/20/2017)

Obituaries

August 10th, 2017 by Jim Field

MARY (MCEVOY) STOBERL, 83, of Stuart died at her home.  A Celebration of Life Tribute for MARY (MCEVOY) STOBERL will be held Sunday, August 20th from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory in Stuart.

A dinner will be served following the celebration at 5:00pm at the All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s name to the Stuart Community Library and may be sent in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250.

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com