In Class 1A District 3, the 4th-ranked Saint Ansgar Saints are continuing their success from last season and are out to a 2-0 starting heading into their game tonight with 7th-ranked Algona Garrigan. St. Ansgar coach Drew Clevenger says it’s been a great start to the year. He says the kids came in ready to go and beat North Linn despite not playing their best game. He says they really improved in week two against Osage. Clevenger says there are many strong-points in his football team. He says any good team starts up front on the offensive and defensive line, and he says they’re playing pretty physical right now. Clevenger knows the 1A District 3 race will be very competitive as he says there are several good teams in the area.Clevenger says Algona Garrigan has some of the best skill level players they’ll see all year. Garrigan enters the rankings this week after wins the first two weeks over Ft. Dodge St. Edmond and cross-town rival Algona High.
This is "Consitution Week"
Today marks the beginning of “Constitution Week” — a tradition launched years ago by the D-A-R — the Daughters of the American Revolution. Margery Kinkade of Creston, a member of the group, says back in 1955, Congress established September 17th through the 23rd as “Constitution Week.”Kinkade says the week is a chance to emphasize the importance of the document, which was ratified in 1787. Kinkade says a lot of people think the Constitution was drafted in 1776, but it didn’t become the official framework for the country until 11 years later. The D-A-R is asking everyone who has a bell to ring it at three o’clock this afternoon to emphasis Constitution week.There are currently 170-thousand members in the Daughters of the American Revolution. The group has chapters in all 50 states and 11 foreign countries.
State Legislator speaks out about cancer fight
A state legislator is speaking out about prostate cancer — after having surgery for it one week ago (last Friday). State Senator Daryl Beall, a democrat from Fort Dodge, says prostate cancer is more common that most men realize and they need to get checked, as one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. Beall says “Most old men have prostate cancer. If you live long enough, you’re likely to have it and the older you get, the slower growing it is and generally old men die of something else. In younger men, it’s faster growing and more dangerous.” The American Cancer Society recommends all men beginning at age of 50 should have a prostate cancer “P-S-A” test every year. Those with prostate cancer in their families should start earlier, at age 45. Beall says he’s discovered a number of other legislators who have survived the disease since he was diagnosed. Beall says “Believe it or not, it has been a very affirming time. I have found all kinds of men that have dealt with prostate cancer and have dealt with it in any number of ways, but there’s kind of a fraternity of men who have survived prostate cancer.” The key to surviving cancer, Beall says, is finding it and treating it before it becomes severe. He says “Early detection makes all the difference in the world, and I had actually gone too long. 5 years had intervened since my previous P-S-A. I wish I would have had it done a year or two sooner.” Beall says even though resources are limited, he would like the legislature to do something to better promote early cancer detection. Beall says he is feeling stronger each day and expects to make a full recovery.
Effort underway in Black Hawk County to track nitrates
The University of Northern Iowa will partner with the Black Hawk County health department and a hospital in Cedar Valley to test the effects of nitrates on children and adults. They say the results could send message to farmers about using fertilizers. Mark Linda is public health disease prevention manager for the county.After sampling water from private wells for around fifteen years, he’s seen the amount of nitrates in the water rise, and the percent exceeding the “safe minimum standard” of nitrates go from about 7-percent in the early 90s to 17 or 18-percent. They have grant funds to test wells for about 150 Black Hawk County residents who drink from private wells known to have high nitrate levels. The National Institutes of Health grant to the University, the health department and Covenant Hospital will let them study the immune systems of the residents. Linda says earlier studies have found high nitrates in water linked with health problems for very young infants, but nothing conclusive for older kids, or adults. Nitrates are linked to fertilizers applied to farmland and Linda says there could be conclusions to be drawn from the well water study. If they find that drinking water high in nitrates also can pose health problems for the older consumers, that “opens the door to further examining the relationship between nitrates and human health.”
Denison man sentenced to two years in prison
A Denison man who was convicted of sexually abusing a four-year-old girl is sentenced to two years in prison.18-year-old Manuel Garcia was sentence this week in Crawford County District Court on a charge of indecent contact with a child. Garcia was accused of inappropriately touching a niece at his brother’s apartment in Denison in July. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to pay a 500-dollar fine, court costs and fees and to have no further contact with the victim.
Explosion new Le Mars linked to cigarette
Authorities say an explosion and fatal fire in northwest Iowa near LeMars was likely caused by a cigarette, not an illegal drug lab. The Plymouth County Sheriff says the dead man is 20-year-old Ron Bigley who lived just west of LeMars. The state fire marshal says it was not a meth lab, but a propane tank was being used and a cigarette probably caused the tank to ignite in the garage about 2 A.M. Thursday. Damage was extensive. Bigley was identified through dental records.
One killed in Tama train accident
One person died this morning when a car and train collided in the town of Tama in central Iowa. Tama Police Chief Dan Wilkens describes what happened. He says about 4:55 this morning a southbound vehicle on Highway 63 went around the gates of the Union Pacific Railroad and was struck by a westbound train. Wilkens says the victim was a local resident, but they’re not releasing the name. Wilkens says the accident backed up traffic at the busy intersection. He says there was some damage to the train and the signals at the cross were damaged. He says the crossing was closed for about two hours. No one on the train was hurt.
