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Des Moines Woman Indicted in Relation to Deadly Traffic Stop

News

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a three-count indictment yesterday charging Shawnna Marie Cunningham, 47, with offenses related to her possession of a firearm as a drug user and her aiding and abetting the possession and disposal of a firearm to a person she knew was a felon.

According to public court documents, on September 16, 2024, Cunningham was a passenger in a vehicle that refused to stop when law enforcement attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver, Joshua Dean Green, a convicted felon, produced a nine-millimeter pistol and fired at Des Moines Police officers. One officer was struck in the head and another officer was struck in the arm. Officers returned fire and Green ultimately died from his injuries. Cunningham was searched immediately following the traffic stop. A methamphetamine pipe was located on Cunningham’s person. In addition, Cunningham admitted to using methamphetamine. It is a crime under federal law to possess a firearm as a drug user.

In May 2020, Cunningham purchased the nine-millimeter pistol Green used to shoot the police officers. In September 2021, Green was arrested with the same pistol and later convicted of unlawfully possessing it as a felon. In March 2022, the gun was returned to Cunningham at her request. After Green was released from prison in January 2024, Cunningham again knowingly allowed Green to access, possess, and use her firearm.

If convicted, Cunningham faces a sentence of up to fifteen years in prison on each count.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ROBERT “Bob” PARKER LEHMAN, 78, of Adair (Graveside Svcs. 10/19/24)

Obituaries

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ROBERT “Bob” PARKER LEHMAN, 78, of Adair , had died. Graveside funeral services with Military Honors for BOB LEHMAN will be held 11-a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in the Sunny Hill Cemetery in Adair. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair has the arrangements.

Honors will be rendered by the Iowa National Guard and Adair American Legion.

A visitation with the family present will be from 10-a.m. Saturday until the time of services, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair.

A luncheon will follow the services at the cemetery at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Adair.

ROBERT “BOB” LEHMAN is survived by:

His wife – Laurel Lehman, of Adair.

His sons – Allen (Randi Sue) Lehman, of Guthrie Center, and Andrew Lehman, of Adair.

His daughter – Angela (Jason) Hill, of Harper, TX.

His brothers – Don (Kathy) Lehman, and Jerry (Connie) Lehman, all of Anita, and Gene (Keri) Lehman, of Van Meter

His sisters – Judy Larsen, and Jane McCann, both of Anita.

8 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren; his in-laws, other relatives and friends.

Condolences may be sent to schmidtfamilyfh.com

MARY SPAYER, 91, of Greenfield (Mass of Christian Burial 10/25/24)

Obituaries

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MARY SPAYER, 91, of Greenfield, died Thursday, October 17, 2024, at The Lakeshore Village in Panora.  A Mass of Christian Burial for MARY SPAYER will be held 11-a.m. Friday, Oct. 25th, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

A Rosary service will precede the Mass at the church, beginning at 9-a.m. on Oct. 25th.

Visitation with the family is at the church, from 9:30-until 11-a.m. Oct. 25th.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery with a luncheon following the burial at the church.

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

MARY SPAYER is survived by:

Her son – Jon Spayer, of Des Moines.

Her step-daughters: Tery Spayer, of Orlando FL., and Caryn (Ben) Putra, of Westchester, IL

Her sister – Isabel Frances Benedict, of Sabin, MN.

Her sister-in-law, and other relatives.

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

Final county now infected with Emerald ash borer

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The final Iowa county has fallen to the Emerald ash borer invasion. The invasive insect that destroys ash trees was discovered recently in an ash tree in Armstrong in Emett County in northwest Iowa, marking the 99th county with an infestation. The first E-A-B infestation was discovered in Allamakee County in eastern Iowa in 2010.

There were an estimated 54 million woodland ash trees and three million in urban areas when the outbreak was first discovered. Many infect ash trees were cut down, and some were also cut down as a precaution. Some tree owners have opted to treat their ash trees to keep them alive as long as they can.

EAB is now found in all 99 counties after being discovered in Emmet county.

Vitamins may help improve Iowans’ health, but they’re not a cure-all

News

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowans are in the habit of gobbling a few multivitamins daily, but one health care professional says too much of a good thing -can- lead to complications.

Halley Molstad, a registered dietician at Gundersen Health System, says you don’t need a multivitamin if you’re eating a well balanced, healthy diet, though she knows older Iowans often face a series of potential barriers.

Halley Molstad (Gundersen photo)

“People might have conditions like arthritis or Parkinson’s that interfere with their ability to cook,” Molstad says. “They might have dental issues which might make it harder for them to chew certain foods, or they might have limited access to the grocery store due to transportation issues, so they’re more at risk of not getting in all of those nutrients.”

Studies show most Americans are -not- getting the recommended amounts of healthy foods they need, so Molstad says they might benefit from taking a multivitamin.

“I would prefer that people would really focus on trying to improve their diets, trying to get more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, lean proteins, low fat dairy, that would be my first choice,” Molstad says, “but sometimes, people just aren’t able to do that consistently, so a multivitamin can be helpful to kind of fill in those gaps.”

She says people who have various health conditions should -not- be taking certain nutrients in a supplement form.

“Definitely, there can be some health risks to having very high doses of vitamins and minerals,” Molstad says. “If you are planning to start a supplement, I would encourage you to talk to your doctor, especially if you have a serious health condition. High doses of Vitamin A, high doses of Vitamin E, have some health risks.”

Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

Drake basketball Media Day

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

New Drake basketball coach Ben McCollum says getting the right fit was a focus as he rebuilt the Bulldog roster. Only two players return from last years team that won a second straight Missouri Valley Tournament title in the final season under former coach Darian DeVries.

Among the key newcomers is six-seven junior college transfer Tavion Banks. McCollum says Banks has made big steps since it was discovered he was having trouble with his eyesight.

McCollum says the biggest chore in his new job was putting together a schedule. Drake released its non-conference schedule on Wednesday and is still short a game.

They open at home on Monday, November fourth against York College of Nebraska.

Key official says court system’s pricey computer error has not been fixed

News

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) [updated]- The governor’s budget director says he’s been told by a top court official that the computer programming error that has improperly distributed over 53 million dollars in court fees and fines has NOT been fixed. Kraig Paulsen spoke with reporters late this (Thursday) morning. “My understanding is that the system is still not corrected and I have offered assistance to the chief justice and she is taking me up on that and we’re meeting here very soon, as in yet this week,” Paulsen said. “…We don’t have the code, we haven’t seen the code and by this I mean the programming code and so that all has to be analyzed, but it is my understanding that the errant distributions continue to this day.”

The Judicial Branch has not issued a statement on the situation. Paulsen says the state fund for road and bridge projects has been shorted by nearly 10 million dollars over the past few years, for example, and some of the money it should be getting is still being sent elsewhere. Paulsen says he’ll discuss all the misdirected funds with the chief justice.  “What has to be corrected from what’s already been done and how do we fix this prospectively,” Paulsen said. The state court system is an independent branch of state government. However, the legislature and governor approve the budget for the courts. Spending levels for several programs that were changed five years ago were not programmed correctly into the court’s computer system.

Paulsen says court officials have given his department spreadsheets explaining the under-funding and where the over-payments have gone. “Some counties got more than the distribution dictated or the law dictated and some got less, so on and so forth and we’re going through that right now,” Paulsen says. “It’s a lot of money and a lot of different distributions. It’s going to take a little bit to unwind.”

Paulsen says he believes the age of the computer system for Iowa courts is a factor in this, but he’ll find out more when he meets with the Iowa Supreme Court’s chief justice.

Iowa State’s Rocco Becht previews Central Florida

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht says the ninth ranked Cyclones are not soaking up the national attention they are receiving with an unbeaten start. They look to go 7-0 for the first time since 1938 Saturday night by hosting Central Florida.

Becht says the Cyclones have done a good job of staying grounded.

Becht says a key for the Cyclones has been balance on both sides of the ball. It begins with a defense that is ranked fifth in the country in points allowed.

UCF enters looking to break a three game losing skid.

Iowa offense previews Michigan State

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

It will be a final game against Michigan State for Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara when the teams collide in East Lansing Saturday night. McNamara played the Spartans when he was at Michigan and last years suffered a season ending knee injury early in a Hawkeye win in Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa is coming off its most complete effort of the season in a 40-16 win over Washington and McNamara says it started in practice last week.

McNamara says the wide receivers are making progress. Redshirt freshman Dayton Howard had his first catch and his first touchdown against the Huskies.

A year ago as a true freshman Howard was on the scout team.

 

Depth has been a factor in Iowa’s improved play along the offensive line. Tyler Elsbury stepped in at guard last week when Beau Stephens went down with an ankle injury and center Logan Jones says Elsbury’s versatility is a plus.

Iowa State’s Beau Freyler talks UCF

Sports

October 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State safety Beau Freyler says the Cyclones are not focused on the big picture as they get ready to host Central Florida. Ninth ranked ISU is 6-0 and firmly established as a Big 12 title and playoff contender.

The Cyclone defense is one of the nation’s best but Freyler says they can still do a better job of starting faster.

UCF has an outstanding rushing attack but the Knights have struggled in the red zone. Freyler says the Cyclones need to be ready for some different looks.