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Five Big 12 Programs Receive Preseason AP Top 25 Rankings

Sports

August 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IRVING, Texas – The Big 12 Conference opens the 2024 season with five programs ranked in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 with Utah earning the league’s top ranking of 12th place. Oklahoma State (17th), Kansas State (18th), Arizona (21st) and Kansas (22nd) round out the Conference’s top 25 teams in the AP poll as Iowa State, West Virginia and Colorado received votes as well. Monday’s poll marks the first time the Big 12 Conference has had five teams voted to the AP Preseason Top 25 since 2017.

The preseason AP voting mirrors the Big 12’s rankings in last week’s AFCA Coaches poll, which also ranked Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Kansas in its preseason top 25.

Big 12 Conference Preseason AP Top 25 Notes
-Kansas was voted into the AP’s Preseason poll for the first time since 2009.
-Utah earned a preseason AP ranking for the fifth consecutive season, excluding the COVID-impacted 2020 season.
-Joining the Jayhawks with a noteworthy spot in the poll, Arizona earned its first preseason ranking since 2015.
-Oklahoma State was ranked in the preseason poll for a fifth time since 2016 and continues a run of being ranked in an AP poll in every season since 2008.
-Kansas State will open a second consecutive season in the top 20 of the AP poll.
-The 2024 Big 12 football season will officially begin on Thursday, Aug. 29 with Colorado, Kansas, UCF and Utah opening their schedules.

Bulut Ozturk and Jeff Parker Join Fannon’s Staff

Sports

August 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State soccer coaching staff is now complete, as Coach Matt Fannon has announced the hiring of both Jeff Parker and Bulut “Turk” Ozturk. Parker has been named the team’s second assistant coach, while Ozturk will be the team’s soccer development coordinator.

Both Parker and Ozturk come to Ames after stints as head coaches at the NCAA ranks. Parker spent the past 24 years as the head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology, a DIII school, where he owns the most wins in school history. Ozturk spent the past four seasons as the head coach of Michigan Tech, a DII school, where in 2023, he took the Huskies to their first NCAA tournament appearance in nearly a decade.

“The level of experience they bring is really exciting,” says Fannon. “Experienced, accomplished coaches who understand how it works with squads. Both of them being former head coaches is such a big deal as they’ll be able to support the team in multiple ways. Both Jeff and Turk are an incredible boost for us that will make a big difference.”

The pair of Parker (28 years) and Ozturk (8 years) will bring 36 years of collegiate coaching experience to the staff.

For Parker, ISU will be his first non-head coaching role since 1998, when he was an assistant coach at Georgetown. He spent a pair of seasons as the head coach at Saint Peter’s before he took over at Stevens.

Parker’s success spanned decades in the Northeast, as he oversaw a program in Stevens that made 22 consecutive postseasons under his direction. Parker led the Ducks to 16 conference championships and 13 NCAA postseason berths.

Parker coached four athletes to All-American status at Stevens and helped guide nine athletes to become Academic All-Americans. In total, Parker led three squads to the NCAA’s Sweet 16.

Turk, not to be outdone, has had his own collegiate successes prior to arriving in Ames. He has helped coach at both Tennessee and Northwestern before his time at Michigan Tech.

At Michigan Tech, Turk had 17 of his players earn GLIAC All-Conference Awards, one earn All-American and over 60 players named to the All-Academic Excellence Team with eight to the All-Academic Team.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Ozturk spent 15 years making a significant impact at the semi-professional, club, and high school levels in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. He led Lakeville North and Eagan High Schools to seven Minnesota state final fours over eight seasons, including four state championship game appearances and three state titles.

The Iowa State soccer program will kick off its season on August 15, welcoming Western Illinois to the Cyclone Soccer Complex for the start of the 2024 regular season. As a reminder, admission to all home matches is free.

3 Hawkeyes Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Sports

August 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa football players Sebastian Castro, Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson were named on Monday to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List for the most outstanding defensive player in the nation.

Iowa’s three candidates tie Georgia, Miami, Michigan and Ohio State for the most in the country in 2024. Castro, Higgins and Jackson were each named to the Bronko Nagurski Watch List last month, which is a different award for national defensive player of the year.

Presented annually since 1994, the award is named for University of Pennsylvania linebacker Chuck Bednarik. Preseason honorees are determined by the Maxwell Football Club in collaboration with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications.

Higgins (6-foot-2, 232-pounds) recorded 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists) last season, which led the Big Ten and ranked third in the nation. That total ties the program record for tackles in a single season. The Indianapolis native was named to the FWAA All-American First Team in 2023.

Jackson (6-foot-2, 235-pounds) contributed 110 tackles (51 solo, 59 assists) at linebacker, good for second on the team and fourth in the conference. The Atlanta, Georgia, native was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree by league media and honorable mention all-conference by league coaches in 2023.

Castro (5-foot-11, 205-pounds) led the team in 2023 with eight pass break-ups and three interceptions in the defensive backfield. Those totals ranked fourth and ninth in the Big Ten, respectively, last season.

Castro was a PFF first-team All-America, an Associated Press third-team All-American and a Phil Steele honorable mention All-American a year ago. The native of Oak Lawn, Illinois, was voted second-team All-Big Ten by conference media and honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches.

Iowa has had nine semifinalists for the award since 2005, most recently with former Hawkeye cornerback Cooper DeJean last season. Other recent Bednarik semifinalists from the University of Iowa include Jack Campbell (2022), Daviyon Nixon (2020), Josh Jackson (2017), Desmond King (2016), Adrian Clayborn (2010), Pat Angerer (2009) and Chad Greenway (2005).

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bedanirk Award will be announced on Nov. 12, and the three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 24. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 12.

HAWKEYES ON 2024 WATCH LISTS
* Sebastian Castro – Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Jim Thorpe Award (DB)
* Jay Higgins — Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Wuerffel Award (community service)
* Nick Jackson — Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY)
* Leshon Williams — Doak Walker Award (RB)
* Logan Jones – Outland Trophy (OL) // Rimington Award (C)
* Drew Stevens – Lou Groza Award (PK)
* Luke Elkin — Mannelly Award (LS)
* Cade McNamara – Comeback POY
* Luke Lachey – Mackey Award (TE) // Comeback POY

Connections Area Agency on Aging Recognized for Excellence in Making Vaccinations Available to Older Adults and People With Disabilities

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Connections Area Agency on Aging and USAging in Washington, D.C. have been awarded the 2024 Immunization Neighborhood Champion Award by the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) for their work through the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative (ADVC). The NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and organizations towards improved vaccination rates within their communities during the past year.

Connections Area Agency on Aging is a founding member of the ADVC, which works with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and other community-based organizations (CBOs) nationwide with a network of over 1,400 partner organizations to increase the number of older adults and people with disabilities who receive COVID-19 and Influenza (flu) vaccines.

The ADVC is led by USAging, which represents and supports the national network of AAAs and advocates for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs that help older adults and people with disabilities live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities.

Since May 2023, Connections Area Agency on Aging and other ADVC partners have administered more than 378,000 COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Approximately 11 percent were given to people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time. Additionally, ADVC partners have administered 112,000 RSV, shingles, pneumococcal and other vaccines. They also provided 441,000 supportive services such as transportation to vaccine clinics, assistance with appointments and information and referral to aging and disability resources.

In Iowa, through a collaboration with local public health organizations, Hy-Vee stores, Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Area Agencies on Aging statewide, we administered a total of 1,931 flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, in 2023, the ADVC partnership facilitated the administration of 1,772 other vaccines, including those for pneumococcal disease, shingles, RSV, and more. Connections Area Agency on Aging’s CEO Kelly Butts-Elston says “We are proud to be a grantee for this important initiative. It’s been an honor and privilege to participate in a program that has done so much for the health and well being of older Iowans.”

USAging CEO Sandy Markwood says “It’s an incredible honor for USAging’s ADVC to be recognized with this award by the NAIIS. It’s a testament to the power of this collaborative and the critical role that AAAs, CILs and CBOs play in promoting life-saving vaccinations which are a centerpiece of health and healthy aging for all of us.”

The ADVC also works with more than 20 national partners with expertise in areas such as autism, LBGTQ+ issues and ethnically diverse older adults to best serve people with different or unique needs. USAging’s ADVC is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through USAging as part of a financial assistance award to USAging totaling $74,999,835 with 100-percent funding by ACL/HHS.

Melton says it’s wrong to scapegoat immigrants

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Ryan Melton, the Democrat running in Iowa’s fourth congressional district, says Republicans like his opponent, Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull, it’s ridiculous to identify immigration as the top concern of voters. “The amount of scapegoating and vilification of our immigrant friends here in Iowa is absolutely immoral and shameful,” Melton says. Melton says there is no invasion and immigrants are giving new life to places like Hawarden, Storm Lake, Marshalltown, Denison and Carroll. “There are parents that are willing to walk thousands of miles out of war torn countries and drug riddled countries in order to give their kids a better life and then people like Randy Feenstra try to create false narrative about them,” Melton says. “We should want people who are willing to put their lives on the line to give their kids a better life.”

Melton says the hollowing out of rural Iowa is the issue that comes up over and over as he speaks with voters in the 36 counties that make up the fourth congressional district. He says low paying jobs, attacks on public education and a lack of access to health care and child care are the root causes. “These stressors stacking on top of each other, one after another for a young person deciding whether to stay here or whether to leave and eventually the list gets burdensome enough that the list makes the decision for them,” Melton says. “If you can’t find child care in your state, you can’t build your family here.”

Melton made his comments during an appearance on The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Feenstra declined the Register’s invitation to speak at the same spot on the fairgrounds. Melton ran against Feenstra in 2022 and lost by 37 percent in a district with a sizable voter registration edge for Republicans.

Bohannan says Miller-Meeks playing politics on immigration issue

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Christina Bohannan of Iowa City, the Democrat running in Iowa’s first congressional district, says immigration is something people from all parties care about it. “We hear this a lot,” Bohannan said this weekend. “People want to secure the border and we should secure the border.” Bohannan, who’s running a second time against Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport. said Miller-Meeks and other Republicans played politics with the issue this year by rejecting a bipartisan border security that was backed by the union that represents Border Security agents.

“The strictest border security bill that our country has ever seen,” Bohannan said. “…Rather than do anything about it, Representative Miller-Meeks and U.S. House Republicans wanted to keep playing politics with it, they wanted to keep using it as a campaign issue. If that is not the best example of putting party over country, I don’t know what is.” Bohannan also is criticizing Miller-Meeks for voting against the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill three years ago.

First district congressional candidate Christina Bohannan speaking on August 10, 2024. (RI photo)

“An infrastructure bill that’s fixing our roads, bridges, dams, locks here in southeast Iowa and creating hundreds of great paying jobs in the process. How can you vote against fixing the damned roads?” Bohannan asks. “…Senator Chuck Grassley helped negotiate that infrastructure bill and voted for it because he knew how great is was going to be for Iowa.” Grassley was the only Republican in Iowa’s congressional delegation to vote for it.

Bohannan made her comments during a speech on the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Miller-Meeks declined the paper’s invitation to speak at the venue.

Victim of pond drowning in Waukee is identified

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Waukee police have identified the person who was found dead after being pulled from a pond last week. Police responded around 3:30 p.m. Aug. 8 to a report of a drowning in the 2500 block of Grand Prairie Parkway.

According to the Waukee Fire Department, two boys were fishing on the pond and lost their pole. When a man who had been working in the area went into the water to retrieve the pole, he started to struggle and the boys called 911.

The man, now identified as Keith Bychinski, 31, of Earlham, was pulled from the water hours later.

Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate returns to Iowa campaign trail

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Libertarian Party’s candidate for president says the federal government’s deficit spending is a hidden tax. Chase Oliver — making his fifth trip to Iowa — is promising to veto any budget that isn’t balanced if he’s elected president. “Every single day, $8.9 billion is being added to the deficit,” Oliver said. “That is going to affect our kids and our grandkids and the cost of living here on out.” The Libertarian Party’s platform calls for significantly reducing the scope of the federal government by getting rid of regulations and cutting spending. “Inflation is a hidden tax…because the government is making our worth dollars less and less and less each year because they run deficit spending to the tune of trillions of dollars and they have to print money to make up for that,” Oliver says, “and what that does is it devalues the money you have in your pocket.”

Libertarian Party presidential nominee Chase Oliver spoke to reporters in Iowa on August 10, 2024. (RI photo)

Oliver won the Libertarian Party’s 2024 presidential nomination nearly three months ago. He says the two major political parties treat voters like dupes and have created a centrally planned economy that benefits corporations. “An abusive, an intrusive and overly large government that continues to rob us of the value of our dollar, that continues to insert itself into our business and our property and and over and over again we do not have advocates either in Des Moines or Washington, D.C. who fight for us,” Oliver says. “They fight for the people who line their pockets.”

Oliver, who says he is the first presidential candidate to have visited all 50 states this year, filed the paperwork to get his name on the Iowa ballot last Wednesday. “You should not have to sacrifice your vote to say: ‘Oh, well, I’m going to vote for the lesser of two evils,'” Oliver said. “Dare to pick the best choice on your ballot. Compare my platform to that of Kamala Harris or Donald Trump or RFK, Jr. or any other challenger.”

Oliver made his comments at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. cited security concerns and cancelled his appearance at the venue.

Iowa parents need to regulate who sees those back-to-school photos

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Classes resume in most Iowa schools in the next week or two, and Iowa parents are being warned to be careful with what they share online about their children. Jim Temmer, with the Better Business Bureau, says those cute social media posts about your kid’s first day in their new grade give away a lot of key details of their lives that could be misused. “Are they holding a board with their name, their age, their height, what grade they’re in, whatever it is? Maybe they’re wearing the school uniform,” Temmer says. “Scammers or predators could use that information.”

That could mean basic identity theft, or even using that information to gain your child’s trust. “Make sure your home with your address and street sign are not visible so they can’t find out exactly where you live,” he says, “or there’s some landmark that everybody would know where you are.”

Temmer says if you are going to share those pictures on social media, make sure they’re only going out to actual friends.

Adair County Sheriff’s report, 8/12/24

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. Saturday night, 30-year-old Raymundo Herrera, of Houston, TX., was arrested in Greenfield for OWI/1st offense. His arrest was the result of a traffic stop on an SUV he was driving, that was moving at an “extremely slow” rate of speed on eastbound Highway 92, while entering the Greenfield City limits. There about one-block’s worth of vehicles stacked-up behind the vehicle, according to the deputy’s report. He said also, the SUV, a 2020 Jeep Wrangler, was swerving back-and-forth onto the shoulder of the road.

When he approached the vehicle following the traffic stop, the deputy had knock on the driver’s side window of the Jeep, to get the driver’s attention, because he was not paying attention to the deputy’s flashlight being shined through the window. Instead of rolling down the window, the driver – identified as Herrera, opened his door . During questioning of Herrera, the deputy detected an odor of alcohol coming from the man. Herrera completed a Field Sobriety Test, but ultimately refused a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT). He also refused to provide a breath sample for chemical testing at the Sheriff’s Office. Herrera was released later that night on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

As we’ve previously mentioned, on August 7th,  Adair County Deputies arrested 28-year-old Joshua James Jost, of Creston, on an Adair County warrant for failing to appear in court on a Violation of Probation charge. He was released the following day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On August 7th also, Luke Daniel Hommes, of Fontanelle, was arrested on an Adair County warrant, after his bond on an Assault charge was “Revoked and Exonerated,” when his bail bondsman withdrew his surety bond for reason that Sheriff Jeff Vandewater said were not clear.  This was therefore NOT a new charge. Hommes was released the following day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on August 5th, Police in Stuart arrested 50-year-old Eric Wayne Whiting, of Stuart, on charges that include: Driving While Barred; Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense; Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and Felon in dominion/control of a firearm or offensive weapon by a domestic abuser. His arrest followed a traffic stop on a motorcycle in Stuart, whereby the Officer knew Whiting possessed a restricted license and did not possess a valid motorcycle license. A follow-up investigation at Whiting’s residence resulted in the discovery of multiple items of drug paraphernalia, a plastic baggie with a substance believed to be marijuana, a .9-mm pistol, and a black powder rifle. Whiting has a previous court order prohibiting him from possessing weapons, and a previous conviction in Madison County, for possession of marijuana.

He was taken to the Adair County Jail and released the next day on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.