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
Nashua Post

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

Nashua Post

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 farm $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 farm $4.75M in stray voltage lawsuit

Oelwein Post

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

Oelwein Post

Oelwein AM Update (Jan. 30): Cold snaps in place, wrestlers qualify for state

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. Today: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 3. Wind chill values as low as -14. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around -14. Wind chill values as low as -26. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 11. Wind chill values as low as -26. South wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. STRAY VOLTAGE TRIAL The jury began deliberations on Friday in the Vagts Dairy lawsuit against Northern Natural Gas … Continue reading Oelwein AM Update (Jan. 30): Cold snaps in place, wrestlers qualify for state

Nashua Post

Nashua AM Update (Jan. 30): Vance going to state, dangerous cold here, and more

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Monday, Jan. 30. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 4. Wind chill values as low as -15. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around -14. Wind chill values as low as -27. West wind around 6 mph becoming south after midnight. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -27. Southwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. (Extended Forecast) ON TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT Nashua-Plainfield sophomore … Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Jan. 30): Vance going to state, dangerous cold here, and more

Oelwein Post

Area girls qualify for State Wrestling Tournament

Chris Baldus

Oelwein sophomore Ryley Hartman (31-9) is the Region 7 champion of the 110-pound weight class. She pinned junior Emma Hall of the North Central Trailblazers (20-6) at 1:59 of the title match on Friday at Luther College in Decorah. She and girls from North Fayette Valley, Tripoli and Sumner-Fredericksburg now are headed to the State Wrestling Tournament that will be Feb. 2-3 at Xtreme Arena in Coralville. The top 4 from each weight class at regional tournaments across Iowa qualified. NFV sophomore Macy Rose and junior Ava Bilden of North Fayette Valley placed fourth at 100 and 105, respectively. Tripoli … Continue reading Area girls qualify for State Wrestling Tournament

Nashua Post

N-P’s Vance qualifies for State Girls Wrestling Tournament

Chris Baldus

Nashua-Plainfield sophomore Kylie Vance is going to the State Girls Wrestling Tournament. The Huskies traveled to Luther College in Decorah on Friday for the IGHSAU Region 7 Qualifier. Vance (16-9) placed third in the 190 weight class by pinning Mason City ninth-grader Taryn Boehmer (32-18) at 1:23. Vance began the day by pinning Boehmer in 48 seconds and then getting pinned at 1:52 by top-seeded Kamyrn Steines of Decorah. Moving on to the consolation bracket, Vance pinned West Fork’s Harmoney Fessler in 13 seconds to get to the third-place match, where she faced Boehmer again. The State Tournament is Feb. … Continue reading N-P’s Vance qualifies for State Girls Wrestling Tournament

Charles City Post

5 CC girls qualify for State Wrestling Tournament

Chris Baldus

Five members of Charles City’s varsity girls wrestling team are headed to State: Lily Luft, Morgan Malloy, Elizabeth Oleson, Leah Stewart and Ava Thompson. Charles City was one of 20 schools competing in the IGHSAU Region Qualifier 8 on Friday at Luther College. The top 4 wrestlers in each weight class qualified for the State Tournament, which is Feb. 2-3 at Xtream Arena in Coralville. As a team, Charles City placed third with 153 points. Osage won the tournament with 243, followed be Crestwood with 165. Lilly Luft (35-0) on Friday won the 130 class championship. In the first-place match … Continue reading 5 CC girls qualify for State Wrestling Tournament

Charles City Post, Nashua Post

Thomson co-sponsors social studies and gender identity in schools bills

Chris Baldus

Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City, is among the co-sponsors of two bills relating to high school social studies and gender identity of students. The social studies bill requires teaching about “political ideologies that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy that were essential to the founding of the United States.” A comparative discussion would need to include communism and totalitarianism in the required high school class on American government, according to the bill text. It is House File 132. Thomson is also co-sponsoring a bill requiring written consent from parents or guardians before schools make any accommodations to affirm … Continue reading Thomson co-sponsors social studies and gender identity in schools bills

Nashua Post

Nashua AM Update (Jan. 27): More snow ahead, home basketball tonight

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Less than a half inch of snow is likely during the day. Otherwise mostly cloudy and breezy with a temperature falling to around 21 by 5 p.m. The northwest wind 16 to 24 mph I’ll have gusts as high as 34 mph. Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as -1. Breezy, with a west wind 7 to 16 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. New snow accumulation … Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Jan. 27): More snow ahead, home basketball tonight

Oelwein Post

Oelwein Update (Jan. 26): Cold and then snowy

Chris Baldus

Hello, it’s Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 16. Wind chill values as low as -7. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph. Tonight: Patchy blowing snow overnight. Temperature rising to around 20 by 5 a.m. Wind chill values as low as -4. Breezy, with a southwest wind 7 to 12 mph becoming south 13 to 18 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Friday: Snow likely before noon, then a chance of flurries between noon and 3 p.m. Patchy blowing snow between 1pm and 4 p.m. Mostly … Continue reading Oelwein Update (Jan. 26): Cold and then snowy

Nashua Post

Nashua AM Update (Jan. 26): Cold

Chris Baldus

Good morning, it’s Thursday, Jan. 26. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 15. Wind chill values as low as -7. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Tonight: Snow, mainly after 1 a.m., with accumulation less than an inch. Temperature falling to near 7 by 9 p.m., then rising to around 23 during the remainder of the night. Wind chill values as low as -7. Breezy, with a south wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 15 … Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Jan. 26): Cold

Nashua Post, Oelwein Post

Vehicular homicide trial of West Union man scheduled in March

Chris Baldus

A West Union man accused of causing the death of a passenger last fall when he crashed the BMW Mini Cooper he was driving while fleeing law enforcement will go on trial in March. Curtis Allen Williams, 38, is charged in Chickasaw County District Court with vehicular homicide (Class B felony), attempting to elude while operating while intoxicated (Class D felony), first-offense OWI (serious misdemeanor) and driving while suspended or revoked (serious misdemeanor). He pleaded not guilty on Jan. 23. A jury trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. March 22. He made his initial court appearance on Jan. … Continue reading Vehicular homicide trial of West Union man scheduled in March

Oelwein Post

NICL-East scoreboard

Chris Baldus

Jan. 24 games Boys Basketball Hudson 85, Sumner-Fredericksburg 41 Dike-New Hartford 62, Oelwein 48 Jesup 84, East Marshall 36 South Hardin 79, Union 75 Grundy Center 68, Wapsie Valley 66 Girls Basketball Sumner-Fredericksburg 48, Hudson 45 (OT): S-F’s Isabelle Elliot scored 19 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Dike New Hartford 71, Oelwein 22 Jesup 70, East Marshall 35 South Hardin 68, Union 36 Grundy Center 45, Wapsie Valley 27 Continue reading NICL-East scoreboard

Charles City Post

CC AM Update (Jan. 25)

Chris Baldus

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: A 60% chance of snow, mainly after 5 p.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 29. Light northwest wind increasing to 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Tonight: A 60% chance of snow, mainly before 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as -3. Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -5. Northwest wind 8 to 15 mph becoming west in … Continue reading CC AM Update (Jan. 25)

Oelwein Post

Oelwein AM Update (Jan. 25): Chance of snow, then colder; conference bowling tournament tonight

Chris Baldus

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: A 40% chance of snow, mainly after 10 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 31. Light north wind becoming northwest 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon. Tonight: A 50% chance of snow, mainly before 3 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as zero. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. (EXTENDED FORECAST) SPORTS TODAY Varsity Bowling Conference Tournament, 10 a.m., … Continue reading Oelwein AM Update (Jan. 25): Chance of snow, then colder; conference bowling tournament tonight

Nashua Post

Nashua AM Update (Jan. 25): Chance of snow today

Chris Baldus

Good morning, its Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST Today: A 40% chance of snow, mainly after 11 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 30. Light northwest wind. Tonight: A 40% chance of snow, mainly before 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -2. Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a steady temperature around 14. Wind chill values as low as -4. Northwest wind 8 to 15 mph becoming west in the … Continue reading Nashua AM Update (Jan. 25): Chance of snow today