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New robotics course at SE Iowa school preps students for future tech careers

News

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – For the first time this fall, students at Oskaloosa High School are being offered a robotics course, where they’re learning all about 3-D printing and electronics, while also soaking in important lessons about teamwork and leadership. Teacher Cory Sheeley says the 14 students who are taking the premiere class are very enthusiastic about the topic and they’re growing in ways they probably didn’t expect.

“Students are communicating every day,” Sheeley says. “They show up to class and they do what’s called a scrum, and they’re all standing for five minutes and they’re having a conversation about what they’re going to do today, what they did yesterday, they’re assigning tasks to each person, and they’re trying to basically accomplish building a robot.”

While this is the first year for the class, students at Osky High have been competing for at least 15 years in what’s known as the FIRST Tech Challenge or F-T-C, a competitive robotics program that encourages inter-team collaboration across multiple schools. In the latest version of the contest, they’re building robots with claws that are designed to grab blocks.

Sheeley says, “The goal is to basically pick these blocks up — for this year’s game — and either put them in the low basket, which is four points, high basket is eight points, hang them on the high rung, which would be 10 points, low rung is six points.” Four competing robots will be in the ring, simultaneously grabbing blocks in a two-and-a-half minute duel, with an “end game” where the robots have to park or hook themselves in a certain area.

During part of the contest, the robots will have to be controlled by two students, and at other times, autonomously grab the blocks without any human help. Sheeley says the students are focused on what could be their future careers, diving into hands-on engineering, problem-solving and team-building.

“You can see students getting better and better at that each day,” Sheeley says. “They’re constantly communicating with each other about who needs to do what, if somebody’s slacking, ‘Hey, I need you to do this.’ They’re managing each other, and I think that that’s a pretty good skill for the workforce.”

Sheeley, who also teaches courses including calculus, coding and statistics, says he’s thrilled to see robotics moving from an after-school club to a full in-school class.

Posted in News |

GUY SMITH, 81, of Wiota (Svcs. Pending)

Obituaries

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

GUY SMITH, 81, of Wiota, died Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at Cass Health in Atlantic. Arrangements for GUY SMITH are pending with Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Posted in Obituaries |

ISU Softball Announces Five Signees

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Jamie Pinkerton has announced the signings of five prep players to National Letters of Intent.

The Cyclones have signed Kylee Espinoza, Hailey Holtz, Kasey Kane, Liv Palumbo and Ava Wilmes.

“I feel that we as a staff did a good job identifying what our immediate needs were to supplement our large 2024 class,” says Pinkerton. “This group adds depth to our pitching staff, catchers and both corner and middle infield. Offensively, we gained a much-needed left-handed bat that our 2026 team will need. Overall, I am really pleased with this group that just joined Cyclone Nation.”

Kylee Espinoza – 5’7 | INF | Murrieta, Calif. | Vista Murrieta HS
A four-time letterwinner and three-year starter in high school, Espinoza comes to Iowa State boasting experience all over the infield. In her most recent season, she earned first-team all-league honors. She’s not the only Division I softball player in her family, as her cousin, Taylor Becerra, played four seasons at Arizona State (2015-19).

“We feel that Kylee will be a big boost to our infield,” says Pinkerton. “She is a natural middle infielder who can also play third base. I am excited about the depth she will be able to provide to our team. She is a contact hitter that has power and continues to get stronger.”

Hailey Holtz – 5’8 | RHP | Richmond, Ill. | Richmond-Burton HS
Coached by Tyler Stanton and Carly Mattson, Holtz has lettered four times and helped her high school to 62 wins over the last three seasons. A two-time team captain, Hailey registered her 500th career strikeout this past season as she helped Richmond Burton to a Class 2A Regional Championship and earned 2A All-State First Team honors.

“Hailey is a welcome addition to our staff,” says Pinkerton. “She owns a mix of pitches that she is able to throw to different areas of the strike zone. She has the ability to change speeds and I am eager to see how she and Olivia work together.”

Kasey Kane – 5’6 | C | LeClaire, Iowa | Pleasant Valley HS
Kane will reunite with former Pleasant Valley teammate Jessie Clemons as she continues the Iowa high school to Ames pipeline. Kane won the 2024 Iowa Girls High School softball title with Clemons this past summer as well as the 2023 basketball state championship in 2023. In her junior season, Kane was First Team All-State, All-Conference, All-District and academic.

“We are excited to add Kasey to this class,” says Pinkerton. “We feel she was one of the top players in this class from Iowa. She’ll help provide catcher depth that we have been lacking for the last couple of years. She is a middle of the lineup hitter that can produce runs and hits for average and power. Behind the plate, she handles pitchers very well, blocks balls in the dirt, and will deter the run game because she has an excellent arm.”

Liv Palumbo – 5’8 | RHP | Washington, Okla. | Washington HS
A multi-sport athlete, Palumbo earned seven high school letters between track and softball. Through three seasons of high school softball, Palumbo has yet to own a season ERA that exceeds 1.00. A two-time softball champion in Oklahoma, Palumbo was also a part of her high school’s 3A 4×200 state champion relay as the team won the 3A state track title in 2024.

“Liv will be a great addition to our pitching staff,” says Pinkerton. “She will complement the bullpen that Coach Sinnott has put together the last couple of years. Liv can work all quadrants of the zone and has the ability to change speeds.”

Ava Wilmes – 5’8 | INF | Kansas City, Mo. | Blue Springs South HS
A four-time high school letterwinner, Ava comes to Ames after having her best high school season during her junior year. In 2024, Wilmes was First Team All-Conference, All-District, and All-Region as she bat .427 and totaled 32 RBI. Her high school team finished state runner-up in her sophomore campaign.

“I am really excited to add Ava to the 2025 class,” says Pinkerton. “She is a corner infielder and a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. She is a left-handed power hitter who can hit for average and produce runs. She fills some much-needed depth we need for left-handed hitting on our future roster.”

Posted in Sports |

Jensen Adds 3 on National Signing Day

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – P. Sue Beckwith, MD, head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen announced on Wednesday that Addie Deal, Layla Hays, and Journey Houston signed a scholarship agreement to attend the University of Iowa.

For the first time in program history, the Hawkeyes have signed three or more ESPN.com top-100 prospects in back-to-back years.

ADDIE DEAL | Twitter: @deal_addie | IG: @addie.deal
Guard – 6-foot-0 – Irvine, California (Mater Dei)
– No. 18 overall prospect and 96 overall scout grade (ESPN.com)
– Five-star prospect
– As a junior, Deal participated in the Nike Skills Camp, World Basketball Festival (New York), Section 7 3pt Contest Champion, USA Minicamp
– She also earned Jersey Mike’s Naismith Player of the Year Watchlist, Nike TOC standout, USA Minicamp, CalStars 17u EYBL – Second Team Nike Nationals during her junior year
– No. 2 player in California (2025)
– Mother played volleyball at the University of New Orleans
– Father played basketball at Springhill College and brother plays at Grinnell College with Lisa Bluder’s son

JAN JENSEN on ADDIE DEAL
“Addie is one of the nation’s premier point guards and off guards – she can play either. She has an extremely high IQ, and she is extremely talented. One thing that I’ll always be thankful for with Addie and Journey is that they held their commitments.”

ADDIE DEAL on WHY IOWA?
I chose Iowa because of the amazing community and culture, style of play, phenomenal coaching staff, conference, and competitive level Iowa has been playing at. I’m so blessed and excited to get started and be in Iowa City! Go Hawks!

LAYLA HAYS | Twitter: @LaylaHays2 | IG: @layla_hays12
Center – 6-foot-5 – Wasilla, Alaska (Wasilla)
– No. 70 overall prospect and 92 overall scout grade (ESPN.com)
– Four-star prospect
– No. 1 player in Alaska (2025)
– Averaged 16.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game as a junior and won her first state title, 2x Alaska Player of the Year
– Father played basketball at College of the Desert
– Familiar connection that Hays has to the program is the fact that her mom’s best friend Leah Magner, who played for the Hawkeyes from 1998 to 2002

JAN JENSEN on LAYLA HAYS
“Layla is just a tremendous post player that just about everyone in the country has taken notice of, and we are so fortunate to get her. She’s versatile in how she can run, how she can score at the block, and I think she’s just scratching the tip of the iceberg. She’s also a tremendous young woman, and we are beyond pumped to have her.”

LAYLA HAYS on WHY IOWA?
The immediate connection with the team and coaches! Coach Jan believes in me not only as a player but as a person as well, and I am confident that she will help me grow into the player I want to become! Go Hawks!

Journey Houston | Twitter: @Journey_Renae| IG: @journey_renae23
Guard – 5-foot-11 – Davenport, Iowa (North)
– No. 85 overall prospect and 91 overall scout grade (ESPN.com)
– Four-star prospect
– Recorded 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in two and a half seasons
– Was rated as highly as 19th nationally and was a five-star prospect before her season ending injury as a junior
– 2023 Nike EYBL National Runner-Up
– Mother played basketball at the University of Nebraska-Omaha
– Father played football at William Penn

JAN JENSEN on JOURNEY HOUSTON
“Journey is a hard-working, high-motor kid who just makes everything she is a part of better. Unfortunately, she had a knee injury, so she missed the last part of her junior season and the AAU season, but she’s coming back stronger than ever, and we are excited for her to join our team.”

JOURNEY HOUSTON on WHY IOWA?
I chose Iowa because I loved the environment and the people who were there. It was very welcoming, and it felt like a second home. It is less than an hour from my home so my family can come watch me play and I can go home frequently.

Posted in Sports |

Montgomery County Supervisors canvass election results & draw lots for Grant Township

News

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors gathered at the courthouse in Red Oak this (Wednesday) morning, to canvass the results of the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election. Auditor Jill Ozuna said with regard to the township positions, where there were no declared candidates, write-in nominations were accepted, and there were many names written-in. Lincoln and Washington Township candidates did file nomination papers with the assumption their names would be written-in.

There was a tie for the Grant Township write-in’s, and the name drawn by the Supervisors was Dane Belt. Ozuna then went over the election results for the Supervisors, precinct by precinct, as well as the voter turn-out data.

Montgomery County Supervisors meeting, 11-13-24

Board Chair Mike Olsen commented there was an excellent turnout. Auditor Ozuna backed-up the comment with some statistics.

The Board passed a resolution approving the canvass of results as presented. The official results will be turned-in to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. In other business, Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert provided her weekly Secondary Roads report to the Board of Supervisors.

She said they’re also still working on their plans for the 5-year construction program, and she reminded Montgomery County residents there will be a public meeting on December 3rd, with regard to the County’s Comprehensive Plan and discussion on a proposed Wind Turbine Ordinance.

Posted in News |

Cass County Sheriff’s report on arrests from 10/22-11/9/24

News

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that occurred between Oct. 22nd and Nov. 9th. In order from most recent to the earliest:

On November 9th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested William Edie, 53, of Atlantic, for OWI 2nd Offense.  Edie was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On November 8th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested James Wharton, 85, of Avoca, for OWI 1st Offense.  Wharton was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On November 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mikel Erickson, 33, of Omaha, on the charge of Violation of a No Contact Order.  Erickson was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On November 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shawn Assman, 38, of Waukee, on the charge of Indecent Exposure.  Assman turned himself in on the Cass County Warrant, was booked in to jail and subsequently released after posting bond.

On November 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kyle Wilson, 29, of Hancock, on the charge of Driving While Revoked.  Wilson was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On November 5th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dajuan Brantley, 36, of Kansas City, KS, on warrants for Theft 1st Degree, Criminal Mischief 1st Degree and Burglary 3rd Degree.  Brantley was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On November 4th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Michelle Evans, 58, of Bridgewater, on a warrant for Animal Neglect Causing Injury.  Evans was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On November 2nd, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steven Steele, 67, of Massena, for OWI 1st Offense.  Steele was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On November 1st, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Julius Lee, 43, of Griswold, on two charges of Sex Offender Registration Violation as well as Child Endangerment.  Lee was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On November 1st, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Crystal Branch, 44, of Griswold, on the charge of Child Endangerment.  Branch was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release after time served.

On October 29th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Barrett Driskill, 39, of Afton, on a warrant for his arrest.  Driskill was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his release to another agency.

On October 28th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ianangi Kosuo, 31, of Atlantic, on the charges of OWI 1st Offense and Driving While Revoked.  Kosuo was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On October 24th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Skyanne Christensen, 24, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Theft 2nd Degree.  Christensen was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release to another agency.

On October 22nd, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jon Steckelberg, 55, of Adair, on a warrant for Drug Trafficking.  Steckelberg was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

Posted in News |

U.S. Capitol Christmas tree to make stop in Iowa, enroute from Alaska

News

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans will have a rare opportunity this week to get an up-close peek at one of the national Christmas trees without having to journey all the way to Washington D-C. Susan DeCourcy, a regional administrator with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says the 74-foot-long spruce is being trucked more than four-thousand miles cross-country and it’ll make a festive pit stop in central Iowa.

“It’s a 54-year tradition in which there’s 154 national forests that provide a tree for the West Lawn at the U.S. Capitol,” DeCourcy says, “and so this year, the tree is coming from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. It’s making its way across the country.” The truck carrying the giant tree will stop at the Bass Pro Shops along Interstate 80 in Altoona on Friday from 11 A-M to 1 P-M.

Photo courtesy of the Truckload Carriers Association

“People are going to be able to sign the side of the trailer that it’s on,” DeCourcy says, “and they’ll be able to see the massiveness of it.” In addition to seeing the tree, DeCourcy says staff from the N-H-T-S-A will be on hand to talk with folks about highway safety. “This is the time when people are going to start making travel plans, and we really want to make sure that people are traveling safely,” she says. “We’re going to take this opportunity to interact with people and share traffic safety messages with them.”

That will include topics like child car seats, teenage drivers, bicycle safety and pedestrian safety. The event is free.

Posted in News |

Carroll Named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Ames, Iowa – Iowa State 197-pounder Christian Carroll has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday. It marks the first Big 12 weekly honor by a Cyclone this season and the first of Carroll’s young career.

Carroll, in his collegiate dual debut, earned a top-15 win over Stanford’s No. 13 Nick Stemmet on Friday.

The redshirt freshman exploded for two takedowns in the opening minute of the match to set an early tone, and added a reversal and a third takedown in the second period, to secure a comfortable 11-7 decision over Stemmet.

The win moved Carroll up in several wrestling outlets’ rankings, most notably, in FloWrestling’s where he went from unranked to the No. 13 197-pounder nationally.

Iowa State is back in action Friday, Nov. 15 against Navy in Hilton Coliseum at 7 p.m.

Posted in Sports |

Cyclone Men’s Basketball Signs Four

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger announced Wednesday the signings of four preps for the 2025-26 season. The fourth signing day under Otzelberger, the class ranks as the best in school history. It is the second time in four recruiting cycles that Otzelberger has turned in a Top 10 class in the country.

The Cyclones signed Macari Moore (6-3 | Guard | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Huron), Xzavion Mitchell (6-6 | Forward | Oshkosh, Wis. | Oshkosh North), Jamarion Batemon (6-3 | Guard | Milwaukee, Wis. | Milwaukee Academy of Science) and Killyan Toure (6-3 | Guard | Pamiers, France | Brewster Academy).

The class is rated No. 8 nationally by 247sports and Rivals and No. 9 by ESPN. It is the top ranked class in the Big 12 by all three organizations.

Moore was the first to commit to the class, ranking as a Top 25 guard by 247sports and Rivals. He is ranked No. 134 overall by 247sports and is the second-ranked player from Michigan in the class. He helped Huron to a 23-5 record as a junior, which included a trip to the state semifinals. He played for The Family on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer. He led Huron to the district title with the go-ahead basket in overtime, a game in which he scored his 1,000th career point.

“Macari gets in the paint, making plays for himself and his teammates,” Otzelberger said. “He is a physical, downhill playmaking guard. He takes tremendous pride in being a physical, on-ball defender and he can rebound the basketball well from the guard position. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his character and work ethic.”

Mitchell is a consensus four-star recruit by 247sports, Rivals and ESPN. He is the 11th highest-ranked signee for Iowa State in the modern era. Mitchell is ranked No. 55 by Rivals, No. 70 by ESPN and No. 129 by 247sports. He is a Top 25 forward by 247sports and Rivals, while 247sports ranks him the No. 4 player in Wisconsin. He played for Team Herro on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer, while also participating in the NBPA Top 100 Camp. He was named the Nike EYBL Session II MVP, averaging 28.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.

“Xzavion is a versatile, big wing who has the ability to attack off the dribble,” Otzelberger said. “He has mismatch ability and can really help facilitate offense. He’s somebody that has been a great rebounder and defensively he has tremendous versatility with an ability to guard all positions on the floor. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his toughness and consistency.”

Batemon is a consensus four-star recruit by 247sports, Rivals and ESPN. He is the sixth-highest-ranked signee for Iowa State in the modern era. Batemon is ranked No. 41 by 247sports, No. 63 by ESPN and No. 92 by Rivals. He is the top-ranked player in Wisconsin from 247sports, while also ranking as the No. 5 guard in the country. He played for Power 5 on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, averaging 22.2 points per game. He was 7-of-11 from downtown in a 92-77 win over Compton Magic.

“Jamarion has great long-range ability but is also terrific at attacking the closeout and getting downhill as a playmaker,” Otzelberger added. “He’s an elite scoring guard, who has range as soon as he steps on the court. He takes tremendous pride in guarding the basketball and picking guys up full court. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his discipline and daily focus.”

The latest Cyclone from Brewster Academy, Toure is originally from Pamiers, France. With his recent arrival to the United States, Toure is not in any national rankings, but is listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals. He played in the French ProA U21 League, averaging 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists for ASVEL Basket Lyon-Villeurbanne. He also participated in the 2023 NBA Basketball Without Borders Europe, where he earned Defensive MVP honors.

“Killyan is a dynamic, open court playmaking guard,” Otzelberger said. “He’s somebody who operates best in transition, seeing the play a step ahead. He takes tremendous pride in guarding the basketball and being disruptive. He’s proven to defend at a high level and has the maturity of playing high-level basketball overseas. His work habits and maturity will help him make an immediate impact on our program.”

Posted in Sports |

Kaleb Johnson Named Walter Camp Semifinalist

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior running back Kaleb Johnson has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Walter Camp National Player of the Year award, it was announced Wednesday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Johnson, who is also a Maxwell semifinalist, is having a record-breaking year for the Hawkeyes. He has tallied a school-record 126 points this season, via a school-record 21 total touchdowns. Johnson (6-foot-0, 212-pounds) has rushed for 20 scores, which ties Shonn Greene’s single-season record set in 2008. Johnson has rushed for 1,328 yards in 10 games in 2024, the second-most in the country and seventh most in program history.

The native of Hamilton, Ohio, has scored at least one touchdown in 10 straight games — the longest stretch in school history. He has seven games this season with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history.

Former Hawkeyes CB Desmond King and QB Brad Banks were finalists for the prestigious awards in 2015 and 2002, respectively.

Semifinalist voting for the Maxwell Award begins today and will close on Nov. 23. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 26 and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media.

The Walter Camp Player of the Year will be voted on by the 134 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors later this month. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 26, and the 58th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year award will be announced on Dec. 12.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3) returns to action Saturday, Nov. 23 at Maryland. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. (CT) in College Park, Maryland. The game will be televised on BTN and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Kaleb Johnson | National Rankings
Total Touchdowns: 2nd (21)
Rushing Yards Per Game: 2nd (132.8)
Rushing Touchdowns: 3rd (20)
Total Points scored: 3rd (126)
Rush Yards Per Carry: 6th (7.06)
All-Purpose Yards: 8th (143.7)

Kaleb Johnson | 2024 Honors
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Walter Camp National POY Semifinalist
Doak Walker Watch List
CBS Sports, Sporting News, The Athletic Midseason All-America
Doak Walker National RB of the Week (Sept. 24)
Big Ten Co-Offensive POW (Sept. 23)
Big Ten Offensive POW (Nov. 4)
Senior Bowl Co-Offensive National POW (Oct. 14)
UI September Male Athlete of the Month

Posted in Sports |