(Radio Iowa) – One of the two inmates accused of killing a nurse and corrections officer at the Anamosa prison in March pleaded guilty today ( Friday) to all the charges against him. Thomas Woodard reached a plea agreement on two counts of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, attempt to commit murder in the deaths of correctional officer Robert McFarland and nurse Lorena Schulte, the injuring of another inmate. In the hearing streamed by K-C-R-G T-V, Judge Fae Hoover explained to Woodard that he is giving up his right to a trial on the charges

“With regard to the killing of Robert McFarland, I ask you at this time, Thomas Allan Woodard Junior, how you plead to the offense of murder in the first degree: guilty or not guilty?” Hoover asked. Woodard responded, “Guilty.” The judge continued with the second count of murder. “With regard to the killing of Lorena Schulte, a Class D Felony, how do plead, guilty or not guilty?,” She says. Woodard replied “Guilty.”

The judge followed the same procedure for the other counts and Woodard answered guilty to each charge. Under the agreement, he will serve his life sentence in his home state of Nebraska. The judge and attorneys are working on a sentencing date. The other inmate involved, Michael Dutcher, has pleaded not guilty, and waived his right to a speedy trial.

(Radio Iowa) – Green will be a popular color in downtown Waterloo this weekend when Iowa Irish Fest returns. The state’s largest Celtic celebration features an entertainment lineup that includes nearly 20 music groups from across the U.S. and around 50 performances. Festival Director Chad Shipman says organizers are preparing to welcome as many as 50,000 visitors to the Cedar Valley. “We have over 10-thousand tickets out there in people’s hands and we’ve got 70 partner sponsors that have employees, friends, and family that I know are coming out,” Shipman says. “That being said, we’re still short some volunteers. It’s looking good, but we could use some help. If you haven’t signed up online yet please come to the fest and go to the volunteer tent. If you want to work a couple of hours, we can definitely use your help.”

Shipman says it takes around 1,500 volunteers to make the festival run smoothly and around 500 of them are still needed to work at booths, beer tents, and other areas. Iowa Irish Fest was held as a virtual event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shipman says there’s plenty of excitement surrounding this year’s celebration, which is taking place just days after an overnight RAGBRAI stop brought an estimated 20,000 visitors to Waterloo last week. “We’ve got momentum going right now,” Shipman says. “I think everyone is excited about these outdoor events. RAGBRAI was a great success downtown and Experience Waterloo is a big (sponsorship) partner. The Convention and Visitors Bureau office over there supports us. From what it sounds, this is going to be incredible.”

Shipman says several first-time activities have been planned for this weekend’s festival. Among them will be a variety of workshops — some free and others requiring pay-in-advance registration — that focus on the Irish culture. “We’ve got Whiskey and Yoga and we’ve got the Irish Cream workshop. We’ve got Food and Whiskey workshop. We’ve got a new, large Bloody Mary Cedar Ridge Whiskey and Vodka Garden this year. I can go on and on,” Shipman says. “We’ve got a ton of new bands coming in. Some of them we’re able to get across the pond into the U.S., so we’ve got all kinds of Keltic and Irish bands coming from all over the U.S. this year.”

The 15th annual Iowa Irish Fest begins this afternoon and continues through early Sunday evening. Event organizers have launched an Iowa Irish Fest phone app, which is available on the Apple and Google store. The newly developed app allows users to purchase tickets and view the entertainment schedule, among other things.

(Radio Iowa) – After last year’s 49th annual event went virtual due to the pandemic, the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival is marking its golden anniversary with in-person live music this weekend in Davenport. Steve Trainor, president of the Bix Jazz Society, says their 50th fest got underway last (Thursday) night and is featuring five concerts of five hours each over three days with an all-American line-up of bands. “We do have ones from Denver, Minneapolis, Toledo, St. Louis, Chicago, Des Moines,” Trainor says. “So, a total of eight professional bands, two of which are all-star groups from some of the other bands, and then the ninth is our Bix Beiderbecke Youth Band.”

Bix, a Davenport native, was a jazz pioneer on the cornet and piano nearly a century ago who died at age 28 in 1931. His music remains popular around the globe and the festival has, in pre-COVID times, attracted Bix lovers from as far away as Australia, Japan and Europe. For this 50th year though, Trainor says far fewer people are traveling. “There was a time years and years ago when there wasn’t this thing called the internet and we didn’t have a festival every other weekend,” Trainor says.

Bix Beiderbecke. (photo courtesy of Bix Jazz Society.)

“We had 10,000 people in the park, sometimes more. We’re averaging about 3,000 (a day) and we have to be happy with that, especially considering last year. We’re just looking forward to seeing real people and to hearing real music.” Every effort is being taken, he says, to make sure this year’s festival is a *safe* festival. “There’s no mask mandate at this point in the state of Iowa, but we have masks that we can give people,” Trainor says. “We have seating for two, seating for four, and you can spread out as there’s like 700 seats. There’s hand sanitation stations.”

Most of the concerts are being held at the Rhythm City Casino’s Events Center in north Davenport, though a few select shows will be performed at the Putnam Museum and at the Oakdale Cemetery, where Bix is buried. Fans will also want to visit the Bix Museum in the lower level of the River Music Experience in downtown Davenport. It’s dedicated to telling the story of the hometown hero through recordings, photos, videos, storyboards, letters and his instruments.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Armour Insurance on Thursday, August 5th to welcome their new agent, Jake Olsen. Jake was born and raised in Atlantic, went to Northwestern University where he graduated with a degree in Finance. Soon after graduation, owner Lucas Mosier, approached Jake about coming on board in which he accepted and joined the Atlantic team at the beginning of June 2020. Since joining the company, Jake has received licensing in personal, commercial and life insurance.

Armour Insurance has offices in Atlantic, Griswold and Council Bluffs and specializes in auto, home, farm, business, personal, commercial, life, health and crop insurance. Armour Insurance is located at 700 E. 7th St. Contact 712-243-1630 or visit https://www.insarmour.com/ for more information.

Ambassador’s Pictured Left to Right: Kevin Ferguson, Abby Becker, Kelsey Beschorner, Jim Kickland, Rachel Czaja, Jason Nicholas, Krysta Hanson, Anne Quist, Kennedy Freund, Margo Larson, Ruth Sears, Jessi Klever, Katie Hockenberry, Bill Saluk, Jessica Oswalt, Dr.Keith Leonard, Dolly Bergmann, Marcia Anderson, Colt Doherty, Alden Harriman, Dawn Marnin, Nedra Perry, Rich Perry, Amy Coenen, Donnie Drennan, Graydon Schmidt. Seated: Lucas Mosier & Jake Olsen.

(Denison, Iowa)  – Officials with Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) are putting out an urgent request for foster parents in western Iowa. Danette Morgan, Training and Development Coordinator for LSI in Denison, says if you have ever considered foster parenting, NOW is the time.

LSI is contracted with the Department of Human Services to cover 30 counties in western Iowa. They take referrals from DHS, which provides services in the home before the children are removed. Morgan says this is far different from the “myth” of simply coming in and grabbing the children from their unsafe home and bouncing them around until they find suitable temporary housing.

Danette says in cases where the child is not able to stay in their original home, LSI is notified of the need for a home. This year, up through the end of June, that has happened more than 300 times for the 30 counties LSI serves. She says throughout the State of Iowa, from January 2020 through the end of December, 3,936 children entered foster care.

When it’s not possible for the child to return home, they become eligible for adoption. As of July 22, 2021, there are 780 children eligible for adoption, in Iowa. Becoming a foster parent is a process that begins with an filling out an inquiry form at lsiowa.org/foster.

Free orientation classes will be held August 12th in Council Bluffs, September 9th in Audubon, and September 23^rd, in Sioux City. The no obligation classes offer you an opportunity to learn more about what it is to be a foster parent. If you’re still interested, the paperwork, including a background check is conducted.

If you pass that, LSI will talk with you about TIP (Trauma Informed Parenting) Classes. That involves training once a week for 3-hours each week for 10 weeks, or a total of 30 hours training, in addition to your home study.

There is no amount of income requirement to be a foster parent, but LSI does ask for verification of income. Single parents over the age of 21 may become foster parents, regardless of whether you own or rent your home. They’re simply looking for a safe, nurturing environment for foster children.

For more information, go to https://lsiowa.org/foster-care-adoption/, or Email fosteradopt@lsiowa.org to ask questions and sign up.