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Iowa effort aims to boost rate of Latinos seeking cognitive care

News

July 10th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A public health collaboration in central Iowa is trying to close health disparities among Latinos seeking care for cognitive health. Jimmy Reyes, a professor at the University of Northern Iowa Department of Nursing and Public Health, says Latinos statistically have more uncontrolled chronic health conditions. Reyes says they also tend to have less access to health care and they tend to be more skeptical of it. This extends to cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.  “Many times in our Latino community, we know who the big hospitals are. We know the systems. We know that they exist,” Reyes says. “And many times we are very hesitant to go into those places because we don’t feel safe but having ‘promotoras,’ community health workers, who are lay individuals. They are the ones that are actually opening the doors to the community.”

Reyes is partnering with Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines and the Polk County Public Health Department to lead events in places like churches which are designed to increase access, and to get attendees thinking about their cognitive health. Dr. Yogesh Shah, director of the Broadlawns Memory Clinic, says it’s important to catch early signs of dementia before the symptoms manifest more critically. “It’s very significant. Stage wise, they might have more grade dementia but never been diagnosed,” Shah says. “And because of that, they end up in emergency rooms or end up in hospitals not knowing that some of the symptoms are related to their dementia diagnosis.”

Studies find Latinos in the U-S have a one-and-a-half times greater risk of developing dementia than their white counterparts. Reyes and Shah made their comments on the Iowa Public Radio program “River to River.”

(Contributed by Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio)

DOT Director gives update on flood recovery

News

July 10th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The director of the Iowa D-O-T gave the state Transportation Commission an update on flood recovery efforts during their meeting Tuesday. Director Scott Marler says one of the big jobs was helping haul debris away. He says Spencer for example had five-thousand homes damaged by the flooding and needed to have the material pulled out of those homes hauled away. The D-O-T brought in its large dump trucks and other equipment to help move the Spencer material to a dump site. “In total we hauled over 28-hundred loads of removed material to this location,” he says.

Marler says the floodwater kept people away for some courthouses, so they couldn’t renew driver’s licenses. “We actually mobilized some of our remote issuance kits, and our staff in one example, went up to Clay County and they started issuing replacement licenses in Clay County with our forces temporarily operating in the Sheriff’s Department to issue those licenses,” Marler says.

Marler says they also help out with inspected flooded buildings.”Some of our engineering staff had gotten a brief training with the Department of Inspections and Appeals. We actually were able to assist them in evaluating structures,” Marler says. “We sent five of our staff up to do that over the Fourth of July holiday.”  They also worked on getting flooded roadways back open. D-O-T Chief Engineer Tony Gustafson says at the height of the flooding there were 49 highway closures. Some highways had multiple closings. “Rapid fire rundown here, Iowa 3, Iowa 4, Iowa 9, Iowa 10, Iowa 12, Iowa 15. U-S 18, U-S 20, Iowa 31, U-S 59, Iowa 60, U-S 71, U-S 75, and U-S 169, as well as Interstates 29 and 680 north of Council Bluffs,” he says.

Gustafson says there were three highways still closed as of Tuesday. They include U-S 18 west of Spencer. “Iowa 4 south of Emmetsburg, that is still under water. That bridge there at the Des Moines River. The Des Moines River is not going down as quickly as the the Little Sioux is,” he says. “We still don’t know what the damage is there on Iowa 4 south of Emmetsburg. And then they are working on U-S 75 south of Rock Rapids.”

He says they are still working on a culvert that was blown out on U-S 75.

Mother of accused Algona cop killer testifies at murder trial

News

July 10th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The mother of the Algona man accused of shooting a policeman to death last year has testified at her son’s murder trial. Video from Algona Officer Kevin Cram’s police camera was played in the courtroom, showing the shooting happened just minutes after Cram arrived to arrest Kyle Ricke for a misdemeanor. The shooting happened at Irene Ricke’s house and the prosecutor asked her questions about the incident. “Was Officer Cram ever rude to your son?” the prosecutor asked. Irene Ricke replied: “Not at all and they were joking back and forth. Everything was fine. That’s why I know he snapped because that’s not in his character to do something like this.”

Dickinson County jurors also heard the interaction between Cram and Ricke from the officer’s body camera. It was only about 100 seconds before Ricke shot and killed Cram as he tried to serve the warrant.

Ricke left to put away a skid loader he was using to clear a trail. He returned from the garage with a gun, firing eight shots, hitting Cram three times in the head. The prosecution says after firing on Cram, Ricke tried to shoot himself, but there were no bullets left in the gun. Ricke fled to his sister’s home in Minnesota, where he was taken into custody four hours later.

His sister also took the stand, saying her brother admitted he did a “terrible thing” and he wanted to end his life. Algona Assistant Police Chief Mark Bacha testified that he was worried when Officer Cram did not signal dispatch or tell other officers the warrant had been served.

The trial was moved from Kossuth County to Dickinson County due to concerns about finding an impartial jury.

(Contributed by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)

Drake University files trademark infringement lawsuit against DMACC over rebrand

News

July 10th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] — Drake University filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in federal court on Monday against Des Moines Area Community College. WHO-TV in Des Moines reports, in the lawsuit Drake claims DMACC’s recent rebrand contains signature elements that have been a part of Drake’s brand identity for decades. DMACC’s rebrand includes a standalone ‘D’ in block-style lettering as part of their new logo, which Drake claims in the lawsuit looks similar to its standalone vintage-style ‘D’ logo that the university has used since at least 1902.

As part of the rebrand DMACC also changed its color scheme from navy blue and red orange to lighter blues and white. The lawsuit claims the new color scheme closely resembles Drake’s color scheme.

According to the lawsuit, officials at Drake contacted officials with DMACC to address concerns over the similarities and attempted to find a resolution. Drake claims in the lawsuit that in March DMACC assured the university that the college would only use the logo where the acronym ‘DMACC’ was under the standalone ‘D’. The lawsuit claims that when that email exchange occurred DMACC had already been selling merchandise with the standalone ‘D’ logo.

The lawsuit also claims that the similarity in the two logos and color schemes adds unnecessary confusion for future students and others. Drake is asking for the Court to deem DMACC’s rebrand an infringement on Drake’s trademarks and for an order directing DMACC to cease using the logo and other aspects of their rebrand that resembles Drake’s. The university is also asking for monetary relief and a jury trial.

DMACC released the following statement about the suit:

We’re disappointed that Drake University has chosen to protest DMACC’s new logo — the DMACC & D. Drake University has been a great partner throughout the years, including strong transfer options for our students. Both names for our outstanding institutions have always started with the letter D — you can’t say DMACC without it, and we both have always had blue as our primary color. Drake University simply does not own the letter D. In fact, multiple universities use the letter D in their branding and many own federal trademark registrations for the same. Our hope is that we can quickly resolve this issue amicably with a minimum of legal expense and move forward with our joint mission of providing students with a high-quality education.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Weather

July 10th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly sunny w/a 40% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. High near 83. NW winds at around 5-10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy w/a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 61.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. E/SE winds 5-10.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 86. Our Low was 60. We received .05″ rain Tuesday afternoon, in Atlantic (at KJAN). Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 85 and the Low was 65. The All-Time Record High in Atlantic on July 10th, was 104 in 1930 & 1936. The Record Low was 46 in 1895 & 1996. Sunrise: 5:55; Sunset: 8:55.

Iowa State’s Matt Campbell at Big 12 Media Days

Sports

July 10th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Hopes are high at Iowa State where Cyclone football coach Matt Campbell enters his ninth season at the helm. ISU has a lot of experience returning from last year’s team that finished 7-6. Campbell addressed Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas.

In the days of the transfer portal and N-I-L Campbell says player retention is a key. The Cyclones return 18 starters.

The Cyclones look to make a run after being selected to finish sixth in the Big 12 preseason poll.

After passing for more than 31 hundred yards and 23 touchdowns as a red-shirt freshman, quarterback Rocco Becht will be looking to take the next step.

The Cyclones open at home on August 31st against North Dakota

Special School Election results from Tuesday, July 9 2024: Foster & Dudley were winners

News

July 10th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg has released the unofficial results of Special School elections held in the County, Tuesday, July 9th. In the West Central Valley (WCV) Community School District (CSD), Dustin Foster received 20 votes to fill a vacancy in Director District 6. Laura Weber garnered 10 votes. In Director District 7, Jeff Dudley won 29 votes in Adair County to fill a vacancy. There were two write-in votes, but no other declared candidates.

WCV CSD voters in Dallas and Guthrie Counties also elected Dustin Foster and Jeff Dudley to their respective seats in District 6 and 7.

In Dallas County, unofficial results show Foster with 13 votes, and Weber with 2. In Guthrie County, Foster received 73 votes, and Weber 33. Dudley – who as mentioned was unopposed – received 16 votes in Dallas County, and 103 votes in Guthrie County.

Adair County votes

Dallas County votes

Guthrie County votes

4 die in three separate Iowa crashes, Tuesday

News

July 10th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Statewide News) – Three separate crashes Tuesday in Iowa claimed four lives. According to the Iowa State Patrol, one person died during a collision northeast of Carroll, between a tractor-trailer and a pickup truck Tuesday afternoon, in Carroll County. A 2014 International truck driven by 63-year-old Michael O’Keefe, of Kingsley, was traveling north on Noble Avenue at around  1:50-p.m., at the same time a 2019 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 65-year-old Ronald Eischeid, of Carroll, was traveling east on 150th Street. When the International truck failed to stop at the posted intersection, it was struck by the pickup on the driver’s side trailer portion of the vehicle. Ronald Eischeid died at the scene. Michael O’Keefe was not injured.

An accident in eastern Iowa, near Blessing, Tuesday afternoon, resulted in the death of a person from Mondamin. The State Patrol says a Chevy pickup was traveling east on Tama Road at around 3:50-p.m., when the 20-year-old driver from Cedar Falls stopped at Highway 63, but then failed to yield to a southbound Kenworth tractor-trailer. The semi struck the pickup on the left front side, causing the semi to go out of control before it tipped-over and entered the west ditch.  The 37-year-old driver of the semi died from their injuries. No names were released.

And, at around 7:30-a.m. Tuesday, two-people died in a crash in eastern Iowa’s Wayne County. The State Patrol says 84-year-old Larry Gene McDaniel and 70-year-old Linda Darlene McDaniel, both of Exline, died, when a pickup driven by 19-year-old Adrian Cooper Boggs, of Humeston, crossed the center line of Highway 2 as it was traveling eastbound and rounding a curve. The pickup and a westbound Toyota Camry driven by Larry McDaniel collided head-on. Larry and Linda McDaniel died at the scene. Their bodies have been taken to the State Medical Examiner for autopsies. Boggs was flown by medical helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines for treatment of his injuries. All of the accident victims were wearing their seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.

CAM baseball outlasts Woodbury Central in Second Round matchup

Sports

July 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The CAM Cougars baseball team had a nail biting 4-3 win over the Woodbury Central Wildcats through 9 innings on Tuesday. Both starting pitchers were sharp at the start of the game with Eric McGill for the Wildcats throwing high velocity pitches and Makade Paulsen sticking to a diverse arsenal of pitch types. The game stayed scoreless through the first two innings with neither side making much progress at the plate. The bottom of the third inning saw the first run come in for Woodbury Central as Joe Destigter hit an RBI single putting the Wildcats up 1-0. CAM responded in the top of the fourth with back to back RBI’s from Jack Follmann and Brody Paulsen giving the Cougars a 2-1 lead.

Woodbury Central tied the ballgame at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a sharply hit RBI grounder off of Destigter. Then in the top of the sixth CAM had the advantage again with a run scoring by a badly thrown error at first base. Making the score 3-2 for CAM. The Wildcats would rally in the bottom of the sixth with Jayden Lloyd hitting an RBI grounder at first base tying things up at 3-3.

The game then stayed at a 3-3 deadlock til the top of the ninth. It was then Makade Paulsen hit a triple towards right field putting the go ahead run 90 feet away. Lukas James was then walked, putting runners on the corner and Kegan Croghan smacked a sac fly out towards center field making it a 4-3 ball game. In the bottom of the ninth, the Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs, but ended the game on a groundout.

Cougars Head Coach Drew Ticknor acknowledged his team’s backbone as being key for their victory on Tuesday night.

CAM had solid performances from multiple players like Jack Follmann going 1-3 with an RBI and Lukas James relief pitching for 3 innings giving up 1 earned run, 3 hits, and 2 strikeouts.

The Cougars next game will be on Saturday night for the district championship against Coon Rapids-Bayard. Coach Ticknor wants to see strong performances at the plate.

Woodbury Central’s loss ends their season at a record of 19-8.

PAUL LUCKINBILL, 64, of Menlo (Celebration of Life 7/19/24)

Obituaries

July 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

PAUL LUCKINBILL, 64, of Menlo, died Monday, July 8, 2024, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A Celebration of Life for PAUL LUCKINBILL will be held from 4-until 7-p.m. on July 19, 2024,  at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Memorials:  May be made to the Paul Luckinbill Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

PAUL LUCKINBILL is survived by:

His wife – Cheryl Luckinbill, of Menlo.

His son – Nathan Luckinbill, of Johnston.

His daughters – Brittani Kinney Luckinbill, of Menlo, and Heather Luckinbill, of DeSoto.

His sisters –  Robin Clark (Tom) Robbins, of Clinton, and Renee (Jim) Cook, of Des Moines.

3 grandsons; his in-laws, other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.