Author: Chris Baldus

Newspaperman, professionally, since 1991 Husband since 1992 Father since 2001, triplets plus two States I've lived in: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho and Iowa Graduate of Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minn. An offensive lineman who dreamed big
Charles City PostLeave a comment

CC AM Update (Feb. 8): Storm coming; Comets split hoops doubleheader

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Tonight: Snow likely after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Winter storm watch (3 a.m., Thursday to 9 a.m. Friday): A winter storm will bring accumulating snow, possibly heavy, to much of the area late Wednesday night through Thursday evening. Confidence is increasing in a heavy snow band … Continue reading CC AM Update (Feb. 8): Storm coming; Comets split hoops doubleheader

Nashua PostLeave a comment

Nashua AM Update (Feb. 8): Storm coming; hoops postseason starts Thursday

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Tonight: Snow likely after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Southeast wind 6 to 13 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Winter storm watch (3 a.m., Thursday to 9 a.m. Friday): A winter storm will bring accumulating snow, possibly heavy, to much of the area late Wednesday night through Thursday evening. Confidence is increasing in a heavy snow band of … Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Feb. 8): Storm coming; hoops postseason starts Thursday

Oelwein Post1 Comment

Fayette County Sheriff’s Report — Feb. 3-4

Chris Baldus

Reports supplied by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. Friday, Feb. 3 At 7:17 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a car vs. deer accident on V68 north of 255th Street. Upon further investigation, the driver of the 2023 Toyota Highlander, Lisa M. Kleiss 60, of Fredericksburg, was traveling south when a couple of deer entered the roadway. Kleiss was unable to stop and struck the deer. The Toyota sustained approximately $6,000 in damage, but no one was injured in the accident. Saturday, Feb. 4 At about 1:15 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call in Maynard.  After … Continue reading Fayette County Sheriff’s Report — Feb. 3-4

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Nashua AM Update (Feb. 6):

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: 40 percent chance of rain after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a southeast wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Tonight: A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly before 9 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Blustery, with a southeast wind 11 to 17 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. New Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Feb. 6):

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Oelwein AM Update (Feb. 6)

Chris Baldus

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a southeast wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Tonight: A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 21 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. County supervisors to meet with Board of Health rep When the Fayette County Board of Supervisors meets this morning at 9 a.m., it intends to … Continue reading Oelwein AM Update (Feb. 6)

Nashua Post1 Comment

Top of Iowa-East girls basketball standings and scores

Chris Baldus

Top of Iowa girls basketball standings as of Sunday, Feb. 5 Conference Season West Fork 15-0 20-0 Osage 14-1 19-1 Saint Ansgar 10-5 13-6 Central Springs 10-6 12-8 Northwood-Kensett 9-6 9-11 Newman Catholic 6-10 7-12 North Butler 2-12 5-15 Nashua-Plainfield 2-13 4-16 Rockford 0-14 1-18 WEEK OF JAN. 29-FEB. 3 Monday, Jan. 30 Waterloo Christian 48, Nashua-Plainfield 29: Kadence Huck scored 10 points for N-P followed by Kendall Bailey-Pint (9), Bailey Fisher (6), Paige Franzen (2), and Myranda Webster (2). Central Springs 61, Rockford 19 Osage 66, Charles City 11 Saint Ansgar 51, Crestwood 47 Tuesday, Jan. 31 Central Springs … Continue reading Top of Iowa-East girls basketball standings and scores

Nashua Post1 Comment

Top of Iowa-East boys basketball standings and scores

Chris Baldus

Top of Iowa boys basketball standings as of Sunday, Feb. 5 Conference Season West Fork 14-1 15-3 Osage 13-2 16-4 Newman Catholic 13-2 16-2 Nashua-Plainfield 7-6 11-9 North Butler 6-9 9-11 Saint Ansgar 5-10 6-13 Northwood-Kensett 5-10 7-13 Central Springs 4-12 6-14 Rockford 0-14 0-19 WEEK OF FEB. 5-11 Monday, Feb. 6 Nashua-Plainfield at North Butler Saint Ansgar at Clarksville Garner-Hayfield-Ventura at Newman Catholic Central Springs at Northwood-Kensett West Fork at Osage Tuesday, Feb. 7 Rockford at Saint Ansgar Newman Catholic at Dunkerton Thursday, Feb. 9 Forest City at West Fork Friday, Feb. 10 Newman Catholic at Lake Mills Districts, … Continue reading Top of Iowa-East boys basketball standings and scores

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Nashua Update (Feb. 5): Husky wrestlers capture 3rd at State Duals; School Board to meet about sports complex; City Council to accept member resignation

Chris Baldus

Hello, it’s Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. N-P boys win 3rd at State Duals The Nashua-Plainfield boys varsity wrestling team captured third place at the IAHSSA State Dual Tournament on Saturday. Fourth-seeded N-P opened the tournament with a 48-22 victory over No. 5 Wapsie Valley. Then top-seeded Don Bosco defeated N-P 43-27. In the third-place match, the Huskies took down No. 3 Alburnett 41-29. (Full dual results) NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Tonight: Patchy fog between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Monday: … Continue reading Nashua Update (Feb. 5): Husky wrestlers capture 3rd at State Duals; School Board to meet about sports complex; City Council to accept member resignation

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Oelwein AM Update: (Feb. 3): Oelwein and S-F girls advance at State wrestling

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Friday, Feb. 3. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 5. Wind chill values as low as -24. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a temperature rising to around 10 by 4 a.m. Wind chill values as low as -15. Breezy, with a south wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Wind chill values as low as -5. South wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. STATE GIRLS WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS Oelwein 110-pounder Riley Hartman and … Continue reading Oelwein AM Update: (Feb. 3): Oelwein and S-F girls advance at State wrestling

Charles City PostLeave a comment

FRIDAY UPDATE: Luft wins 3rd State title

Chris Baldus

Three-time State champion. Charles City senior Lily Luft (40-0) won the 130-pound title Friday night with a 9-0 major decision over Chloe Sanders (47-5), a ninth-grader from Vinton-Shellsburg who was seeded No. 2. Luft was the top seed. Luft was dominant throughout the two-day IGHSAU Championships in Coralville. She had two first period pins and three major decisions. Including Luft, five Comets qualified for State, but four were finished on Thursday. Ava Thompson and Leah Stewart started strong by securing first match pins. However, by the end of the day they and teammates Elizabeth Oleson and Morgan Maloy, were eliminated. … Continue reading FRIDAY UPDATE: Luft wins 3rd State title

Oelwein Post1 Comment

Oelwein’s Hartman finishes 3-2 at State tournament

Chris Baldus

Oelwein sophomore Ryley Hartman’s season ended today (Friday, Feb. 3) at the IGHSAU State Wrestling Championships in Coralville. She posted a 3-2 record in the tournament and 34-11 for the season. In the opening round on Thursday, Hartman, seeded 13th in the 110 weight class, defeated Mason City sophomore Lila Sheehan (29-9), who was seeded 20th. Then, Vinton-Shellsburg junior Bree Swenson (42-4), who was seeded 4th, pinned Hartman at 1:57 in the second round. Hartman went on to win her first two matches in the Consolation bracket. She pinned North Central junior Emma Hall (21-7), who was seeded 14th, at … Continue reading Oelwein’s Hartman finishes 3-2 at State tournament

Nashua PostLeave a comment

Vance’s State Tournament run ends

Chris Baldus

Nashua-Plainfield sophomore Kylie Vance’s run at the State Girls Wrestling Championships ended after two matches to higher seeded wrestlers. Vance (16-10), who was seeded 25th, lost by fall in 56 seconds to Spencer junior Kalee Nachtigal (38-6), who was seeded 8th, in their first round 190-pound match at Xtreme in Coralville. In her first match in the Consolation bracket, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley ninth-grader Kaylee De Jong (13-6), who was seeded 24th, defeated Vance by fall late in the second period. Tied at 2-2 after one period, De Jong got a reversal on Vance 7 seconds into period two, and secured the … Continue reading Vance’s State Tournament run ends

Oelwein Post1 Comment

FRIDAY UPDATE: S-F’s Trainor takes 4th at State Wrestling

Chris Baldus

Sumner-Fredericksburg junior Hillary Trainor (40-5) placed fourth in the 105 weight class at the IGHSAU State Wrestling Championships. She opened tournament at Xtreme Arena in Coralville on Thursday by winning four straight matches . Trainor pinned West Marshall junior Brooklynn Rudkin (13-12) in 58 seconds. Trainor was seeded 3rd. Rudkin was seeded 29th. Trainor then won by a 7-1 decision over Mount Pleasant senior Ella McNamee (24-4) in the second round. She was seeded 13th. She won by an 11-4 decision over Durant junior Lainey Shelangoski (27-5), who was seeded 12th. Then this morning (Friday, Feb. 3), top seeded Jillian … Continue reading FRIDAY UPDATE: S-F’s Trainor takes 4th at State Wrestling

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Nashua AM Update (Feb. 2): Vance wrestling at State today; temps to drop today

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 – Groundhog Day. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Mostly sunny, with a temperature rising to near 17 by 11 a.m., then falling to around 6 during the remainder of the day. Wind chill values as low as -12. Blustery, with a west wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north 17 to 22 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around -14. Wind chill values as low as -29. Northwest wind 7 to 15 mph. Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 6. … Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Feb. 2): Vance wrestling at State today; temps to drop today

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Nashua AM Update (Feb. 1)

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Sunny, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as -8. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -5. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as -7. Blustery, with a north wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Feb. 1)

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N-P boys qualify for state duals tournament

Chris Baldus

Nashua-Plainfield is going back to the boys State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament. N-P handily defeated Lake Mills 50-15 in Tuesday (Jan. 31) night in Husky Gym to win the Region 1A Championship and qualify for State. N-P 50, Lake Mills 15 113: Nic Brase (N-P) over Geraldo Vazquez (LM) (MD 10-2) 120: Hayden Munn (N-P) over Hayden Helgeson (LM) (Dec 3-2) 126: Garret Rinken (N-P) over Royce Peterson (LM) (Fall 3:26) 132: Kendrick Huck (N-P) over Carter Christianson (LM) (Fall 0:51) 138: Kaden Wilken (N-P) over Steve Brandenburg (LM) (MD 14-4) 145: Cody Cox (LM) over Devon Blanchard (N-P) (Dec … Continue reading N-P boys qualify for state duals tournament

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Nashua AM Update (Jan. 31): N-P hosts regional duals tonight

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, Jan. 31. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Sunny, with a high near 12. Wind chill values as low as -27. Southwest wind 6 to 14 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 0. Wind chill values as low as -13. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as -11. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph. (Extended Forecast) SPORTS TONIGHT The Huskies will host the boys regional duals on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Lake Mills and Pocahontas Area will wrestle first and N-P will face the … Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Jan. 31): N-P hosts regional duals tonight

Oelwein Post1 Comment

Jury awards Fayette County dairy $4.75M in stray voltage lawsuit

Chris Baldus

A Fayette County jury awarded $4.75 million in damages to a West Union dairy that sued a pipeline company over stray voltage. The verdict was announced Monday, Jan. 30, in Fayette County District Court. The jury ruled that the Northern Natural Gas Company created a nuisance on the Vagts Dairy farm that was a “proximate cause” of damages, which were significant. It also ruled that “the invasion of Vagts’ private use and enjoyment of their land was unreasonable.” The jury awarded the Vagts $3 million in economic damages, $1.25 million for personal inconvenience, annoyance and discomfort, and $500,000 for the … Continue reading Jury awards Fayette County dairy $4.75M in stray voltage lawsuit

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Stuck car, then a drug charge

Chris Baldus

It began with a car stuck in the snow and ended with jailers allegedly finding cocaine wrapped in money in a wallet. Jason J. Laurie, 43, of Oelwein, is charged in Fayette County District Court with interference with official acts (misdemeanor), public intoxication (misdemeanor), and third-offense possession of a controlled substance (Class D felony.). According to court documents, Oelwein Police responded to a report of an abandoned car in the 300 block of 7th Avenue Southeast around 9:20 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29. The gold Chevrolet Cobalt sedan was stuck in a front yard and officers spotted a man with a … Continue reading Stuck car, then a drug charge