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Police say man who went to use Iowa library’s phone had guns, meth

News

April 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities say a man who went to the Forest City Public Library to use the library’s phone to call police now faces gun and drug-related charges.

Forest City’s police chief says the man told library staff he’d had a fight with his roommate and needed to call police. A library employee asked the man to wait outside while she called police and, when officers arrived, they found the man was carrying a long gun wrapped in some jackets, a loaded handgun and ammunition as well as some meth in his backpack. Forest City’s police chief says it appears the man didn’t intend to use the guns and may have stuffed all his possessions in the backpack after the argument with his roommate.

Hery Geovanny Rodriguez-Ayala has been charged with drug possession as well as driving while barred and being a person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon. All are misdemeanors.

Panora teen injured in a crash April 5th

News

April 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office today (April 17th) released information with regard to four accidents that took place between April 5th and the 14th. One of the accidents resulted in a teen from Panora being flown by Life Flight helicopter to a hospital in Des Moines. Authorities say at around 8:10-a.m. on April 5th, 16-year-old Dylan McKenzie Burchfield, of Panora, was driving a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria at a high rate of speed, southbound in the 1800 block of Utopia Avenue.

The car went out of control and left the roadway to the right. The vehicle struck the west ditch and a tree before coming to rest on the driver’s side. Panora Fire and EMS responded and removed Burchfield from the car by mechanical means. Lifeflight responded to the scene due to the seriousness of her injuries and flew her to an unknown Des Moines hospital (Methodist or Mercy).  Authorities say it’s unknown what time the accident took place, but it is believed it occurred for up to 45-minutes before law enforcement was notified, due to Burchfield being trapped in the vehicle with no means to call for help. She eventually located her Apple Watch and called her father, who then called 9-1-1.  The vehicle was totaled in the crash.

On April 14th, a 1983 Ford F150 pickup driven by 31-year-old Cameron Joel Hester, of Guthrie Center, went out of control at around 2-a.m. on Redwood Avenue, and ended-up on its passenger side in the ditch. Hester was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. While the pickup was being towed from the scene, it caught fire. The flames were extinguished by crews with the Guthrie Center Fire Department. The vehicle was a total loss. There were no injuries.

An accident on April 13th caused a total of $11,000 damage to a 2012 VW Passat. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says 23-year-old Hannah Marie Stark, of Stuart, was driving the car, she struck a 2015 Hyundai Accent, driven by 24-year-old Jacob Lane Kelderman, of Waukee. The collision occurred just before 10-a.m. at the intersection of 200th Street and Highway 4. A witness said the Hyundai was facing north on Highway 4 and turning left onto 200th Street, when it was rear-ended by the VW. Stark admitted to causing the accident, which resulted in $5,000 damage to her car, and $6,000 damage to the Hyundai. No injuries were reported, and no citations were issued.

A minor, property damage accident occurred at around 9:45-a.m. April 6th, in Menlo. Authorities say 86-year-old Patricia Kay Trent, of Stuart, was attempted to turn and park in a parking spot on Sherman Street, in Menlo, when the pickup she was driving struck a legally parked 2018 Chevy Equinox. Damage from the mishap amounted to $1,450. No citations were issued.

And, at around 7:36-p.m. on April 6th, a 2021 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 62-year-old Dennis Dean Mleynek, of Panora, was backing out of a parking space in front of a bar in Jamaica, when  the vehicle scraped the driver’s side mirror and door of a parked 2019 Toyota Camry. There were no injuries. Damages amounted to $3,000.

Atlantic Rotary holds Senior Recognition luncheon & scholarship awards

News

April 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa)  – The Atlantic Rotary Club held its annual High School Senior Recognition luncheon, Tuesday, April 16th.  The event was attended by Atlantic High School Seniors in band, vocal music, drama/debate, art and the top 10 academic students.   Teachers introduced each group of students and advised the attendees of the many accomplishments of the past year.

Pictured are Riley Wood, Dolly Bergmann and Dawsen Sorensen. Parker Brock and Claire Pellett were unable to attend the luncheon.

Dolly Bergmann, Rotarian introduced the 2024 Atlantic Rotary Club Scholarship recipients.  Individuals receiving scholarships attending a Community College, Vocational or Technical College were Riley Wood and Parker Brock.

The four-year University or College Scholarship was awarded to Dawsen Sorensen.  The Rex Moorman Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Claire Pellett.  The scholarships are $1,000 each.

JOYCE TUCKER, 79, of rural Bridgewater (Svcs. 4/24/24)

Obituaries

April 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JOYCE TUCKER, 79, of rural Bridgewater, died Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at her home.  Funeral services for JOYCE TUCKER will be held 7-p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield.  Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The family will greet friends on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the Joyce Tucker Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

JOYCE TUCKER is survived by:

Her son – Curt Tucker, of rural Bridgewater.

Her daughter – Melissa (Eric) Woosley, of Redfield.

Her brother – Dick (Pat) Hogan, of Mt. Vernon, IA.

Her sisters – Jean (Larry) Baudler, of Fontanelle, and Kay Hogan, of Chapel Hill, NC.

2 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren;  other relatives and friends.

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

Gov. Reynolds Issues Disaster Proclamation for Cass & 5 other Counties in Response to Severe Weather

News

April 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Allamakee, Cass, Des Moines, Fayette, Henry, and Lee counties in response to severe weather that occurred on April 16. The governor’s proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program for those counties.   

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website at homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/assistance. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.   

  The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case advocates work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referrals to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Advocacy Program, contact your local community action association or visit iowacommunityaction.org.    

  You can find a copy of the proclamation here 

Drake coach Todd Stepsis on spring football

Sports

April 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Drake football coach Todd Stepsis says the Bulldogs are using a new motto during spring drills. After going a combined 5-17 in 2021 and 2022 the Bulldogs used “be the change” as inspiration and they responded by going 8-0 in winning the Pioneer Football League title and advancing to the FCS playoffs. Their new motto is “raise the bar”.

Stepsis says with a team loaded with veterans he is confident the Bulldogs will be able to handle success.

Stepsis says a battle-scarred senior class is the strength of the team.

Stepsis feels that experience helped the Bulldogs excel in close games. Drake won six PFL games last season by a touchdown or less.

Drake’s spring game is Saturday.

Sandfort Named CSC Second-Team Academic All-American

Sports

April 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Payton Sandfort has been named a College Sports Communicators Second-Team Academic All-American, it was announced Wednesday by the CSC.

Sandfort is the seventh Hawkeye and 10th overall Academic All-American in program history. He is the fourth Academic All-American under head coach Fran McCaffery and the first since 2016.

The Waukee, Iowa, native, earned Winter Academic All-Big Ten and CSC Academic All-District honors and was a fall semester Dean’s List honoree in 2023. Sandfort, who carries a 3.91 grade point average in finance, was a co-recipient of the team’s Academic Excellence Award during the end-of-year banquet.

On the court, Sandfort was a third-team All-Big Ten selection after leading the team in scoring (16.4 points) and ranking second in rebounds (6.6). He made a Big Ten-best 94 3-point field goals, shooting 37.9 percent from long range.

On Feb. 27 against Penn State, Sandfort recorded the first triple-double in Iowa men’s basketball history. He finished the season with five double-double, tied for the most on the team.

The Hawkeyes finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 overall record. The team tied for sixth in the Big Ten (10-10 record) and advanced to the NIT Second Round.

Lipsey Earns CSC Academic All-America Honors

Sports

April 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State sophomore point guard Tamin Lipsey has been named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Second Team, the organization announced Wednesday morning.

Lipsey is just the eighth Cyclone men’s basketball player to be named a CSC Academic All-American and just the third to do so in the same season as being named an All-American on the floor. He joins Fred Hoiberg (1995) and Melvin Ejim (2014), as both were named an All-American by Basketball Times. Lipsey is the first player in school history to earn AP All-America and CSC Academic All-America honors in the same season.

The award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Student-athletes must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and the proper athletic accomplishments to make the ballot. Lipsey was previously named to the Academic All-District® team and advanced to the national ballot.

All student-athletes are required to have one year in residence or be a transfer to be eligible for the team. Lipsey was the only sophomore selected to the 15-member team.

Lipsey was a finalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year, the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year and the Lute Olson National Player of the Year. He was also selected to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team after leading the Cyclones to their sixth Big 12 Championship. He was also named an NABC First Team All-District selection. Lipsey has also been named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team this season.

Lipsey averaged 12.4 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals this year. He is one of 17 players in the country, and the first in Big 12 history, to average those numbers since 1996-97. Lipsey had a school-record steal streak of 34-straight games snapped this season. It was the second longest streak in the country. He has a steal in 66 of the 69 games he has played.

Tyrese Haliburton Named to USA Basketball Olympic Team

Sports

April 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Former Iowa State Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton has been named to the 2024 USA Men’s National Team roster for the Paris Olympics. The 12-member team will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, set for July 26-Aug. 11, 2024. The team was selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.

This will be the fourth time Haliburton has appeared on a USA Basketball roster, as he was a member of the FIBA World Cup team last summer, U19 World Cup team in 2019 and the U.S. Select Team in 2021. A reigning two-time NBA All-Star, Haliburton made the all-tournament team after winning gold in 2019, while the 2021 USA Select Team trained alongside the 2021 USA Men’s National Team prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The team is highlighted by 12 athletes with extensive USA Basketball experience including three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) and the NBA’s all-time scoring leader LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), who owns a pair of Olympic gold medals.

In addition to Durant and James, the 2024 USA Men’s National Team features Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).

The squad boasts a combined 11 Olympic appearances and owns 10 Olympic gold medals as well as three FIBA World Cup titles. In total, the U.S. will take 12 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs and six NBA champions to Paris.

“It’s an honor to introduce the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team,” Hill said. “I’m grateful to these 12 men for their commitment to represent USA Basketball. The United States is home to some of the best basketball players in the world and I appreciate the vast interest in being part of this roster. These decisions weren’t easy, but it was a pleasure to go through the process and reach this outcome.

USA Basketball will commence training camp on July 6 in Las Vegas. Following the game vs. Canada, the Americans will embark on an international training window that begins when the USA hosts Australia and Serbia on July 15 and 17, respectively, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Australia and Serbia will also face off on July 18 in Abu Dhabi.

As part of Group C, the American men will face Serbia on July 28, South Sudan on July 31 and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Puerto Rico on Aug. 3 in the first round of the Olympic tournament. The 5-on-5 Olympic basketball group phase will take place in Lille, France, before the tournament moves to Paris for knockout and medal rounds.

 

Cyclones with USA Basketball
1959 – Gary Thompson (Pan American Games)
1979 – Joe Ashley (U.S. Olympic Festival)
1985 – Jeff Grayer (U.S. Olympic Festival)
1988 – Jeff Grayer (Seoul Olympics)
1989 – Victor Alexander (World University Games)
2000 – Jamaal Tinsley (U.S. Select Team)
2001 – Marcus Fizer (Goodwill Games)
2009 – Craig Brackins (World University Games)
2019 – Tyrese Haliburton (U19 World Cup)
2021 – Tyrese Haliburton (U.S. Select Team)
2023 – Omaha Biliew (U19 World Cup)
2023 – Tyrese Haliburton (FIBA World Cup)
2024 – Tyrese Haliburton (Paris Olympics)

Connections Area Agency on Aging Senior Farmer’s Market Voucher Distribution

News

April 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with Connection Area Agency on Aging say farmers market vouchers are available for seniors meeting income requirements. Vouchers can be used at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $50.00 worth of fresh, locally grown fruit, vegetables, herbs and honey.  The Vouchers are valid June 1st through October 31st.

New this year!   Applications will automatically be mailed to anyone that received vouchers in 2023. First time applicants and anyone who did not receive vouchers in 2023 will need to call 800-432-9209 and leave a message with their name, address, and phone number.  Applications will be mailed within 5-7 business days.

Program Criteria:

  • Must be at least 60 years of age or older.
  • Annual income must be less than

$27,861               One-person household

$37,814               2- person household

2024 Farmers Market Process:

 Applications will automatically be sent to last years voucher recipients by mid-May.

  • First time applicants will need to call and request an application.
  • Applicants must complete an application and meet eligibility criteria to receive vouchers.
  • Voucher distribution is limited. It is recommended applications be returned promptly.
  • Farmers Market distribution will be done by mail ONLY.