(Atlantic, Iowa) – An Atlantic woman who is a veteran of the U-S Navy (and former Elk Horn resident), was presented with a Quilt of Valor ® Tuesday evening, at Chestnut Place.

Jan Snyder received a Quilt of Valor, which is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war and is intended as a means of healing. Judi Olson and Pat Engemann, representatives of the Southwest Iowa Quilts of Valor Worker Bees, presented the Quilt of Valor to Janet Snyder, who served in the United States Navy from 1974 to 1984, during the Vietnam Era. (Photos by Asa Lucas/KJAN)

Snyder attained the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer during her active duty, and accumulated multiple honors such as the Good Conduct Medal and Armed Forces Medal. The Navy gave Snyder various responsibilities during her service years.

Snyder’s time in the navy took her all over the United States from Chicago, to Philadelphia, Virginia, and eventually the Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico Naval Hospital. What sparked Snyder’s initial interest in the navy was the way the uniform looked.

Snyder noted that the recognition from Quilt of Valor was humbling, and emotional for her.

According to the The Quilt of Valor, the quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.” To use the term Quilt of Valor, Quilts of Valor or QOV, the quilt must be a specific size, must have a label with required information, it must be awarded (it is not a gift). It must also be recorded.

More information on the organization is available at https://www.qovf.org/

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Exira, Iowa woman was sentenced on October 10, 2024 for a federal felony charge of straw purchasing a firearm.

According to public court documents, Leslie Nicole Moton, also known as Leslie Caniglia, 24, purchased a firearm in August 2023 for her significant other, Rey Moton, 23, of Elk Horn. Leslie Moton knew Rey Moton was a felon at the time she purchased the handgun for him and falsely represented at the time of the purchase that she was acquiring the firearm for herself. Less than a week later, Rey Moton possessed the handgun in Atlantic, Iowa and used it during a burglary.

Rey Moton was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. In March 2024, Rey Moton was sentenced to a 63-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

Leslie Moton received a five-year term of probation.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Atlantic Police Department.

This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

DES MOINES — U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today announced that he secured a $1.5 million federal investment to replace the Bevington Park Road Bridge over the Middle River in Madison County.

“Iowans rely on safe bridges and roads to get to work, school, and spend time with family. We need to invest in our infrastructure so Iowans can continue to get from point A to point B,” said Rep. Nunn. “That’s why I’m proud to announce we secured $1.5 million to improve safety on Bevington Park Road in Madison County. This is exactly the kind of investment the federal government should make – one that does the most good for the most people.”

Rep. Nunn secured the $1.5 million investment through the Community Project Funding process, which allows members to designate funding for critical initiatives. The funding was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 which was signed into law on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

“Bevington Park Road is traveled daily by many.  The bridge is used for commuters, agricultural goods and services, fire and rescue, schools, and mail routes.  Getting the bridge replaced over the Middle River is an important step in bringing our infrastructure up to par,” said Mike Hackett, Madison County Engineer. “I am thankful that Congressman Nunn was able to secure the $1.5 million and make a critical investment into Madison County infrastructure.”

The funding will help replace a narrow, weight-restricted, 91-year-old iron bridge that is beyond its useful life. The new bridge will expand its width and allow heavier vehicles to pass normally. The new infrastructure is expected to be in place sometime in FY2026.

Rep. Nunn announced the new funding investment following a meeting at the Bevington Park Road Bridge at Middle River alongside County Engineer Mike Hackett and other members of the County Maintenance and Secondary Roads Department. Video of the announcement can be found here.

(Radio Iowa) -The University of Dubuque’s aviation program is seeing record enrollment, as the program’s director says the need for new pilots is growing.

Aviation Program Director Randy Warm tells KCRG TV the federal government’s requires commercial pilots to retire at the age of 65  “There’s a big bulk of generational (pilots) like me who are retiring or close to retiring in the pilot world,” Warm says.

A University of Dubuque Aviation program plane. (KCRG TV photo)

A study by Boeing projects the global aviation industry will need to hire more than 600,000 new pilots by the year 2037.  “If you put all of the aviation flight schools at universities together, we can’t even come close to half of that, filling those roles,” Warm says. The University of Dubuque graduated 55 pilots last year and has 126 new students this year, marking the school’s largest-ever incoming class of aviation students.

The Airline Pilots Association disputes the existence of a national pilot shortage but notes a robust pilot pipeline is needed.