(Washington, D-C) — The U.S. Capitol received a special delivery, Friday, when Tim Dean, a truck driver from Griswold (IA) arrived with a Christmas tree for the west lawn of the Capitol. The 63-foot-tall Norway Spruce was harvested from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Dean made over 19 stops in his two-week journey to D.C.

The giant tree was carefully transported along the way, with assistance from law enforcement and local fire department personnel. Along the way, Dean stopped in several communities so residents could give the tree a proper sendoff.

Dean said even though he has been driving for 35 years, nothing will ever top what he’s done these two weeks. He considers himself to be blessed to deliver the tree and the memories he will have of the journey that he can share for a lifetime.

The National Christmas Tree Lighting will take place November 30th in President’s Park, Washington, D-C.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Faculty, staff and students at Drake University are preparing for some painful cuts. Declining enrollment is hurting the university’s operating budget, so now Drake is slashing more than $10 million in spending. KCCI-TV obtained the minutes of a recent faculty senate meeting, which show faculty positions and academic programs will have to be cut.

According to Drake University, the institution is working with a $128 million operating budget. The Board of Trustees recently approved a deficit of $4.3 million for the current fiscal year. According to meeting minutes, the university has reached an “understanding” with the board to have a plan in place by fiscal year 2025 to balance the operating budget by fiscal year 2026.

In a statement provide to KCCI by Drake University, officials said (in-part) “Colleges and universities across the United States have been impacted by an approximate 10% nationwide decline in college enrollment over the last decade, and no Iowa institution has been immune to this shift. Drake is fortunate to have an incredibly strong balance sheet with healthy cash reserves, and a low amount of long-term debt. However, as enrollment revenues have declined, our operating budget has been put under stress.” The University has a $128-million operating budget, according to the statement.

The University says its projections indicate they would start with a budget that is out of balance by more than $10 million, if no action is taken. “This figure”…according to the school…”does not account for more than $4 million in temporary reductions in the current year that, for the most part, will be converted to permanent reductions next year. And it does not account for any expected changes in enrollment.”

Drake officials say they will continue to make institutional changes in their expense structure, with the overall goal being a balanced budget, while preserving academic excellence. According to Drake University’s website, nearly 4,900 total students are enrolled, including close to 3,000 undergraduates. The university offers more than 140 majors from six colleges and schools.

ORIENT, Iowa [KCCI] — A Union County man faces a Class-B Felony attempted murder charge, for allegedly threatening to kill another man in Adair County who he says sexually abused three kids. KCCI reports 52-year-old David Matthew Hanson, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday, in Orient.

Court documents say Adair County sheriff’s deputies were called to a home outside which Hanson was seen. They say Hanson was upset that the homeowner had not been charged following allegations of sexually abusing children. Hanson allegedly shot at the home, and told deputies he would kill the homeowner if he came outside. Hanson also told deputies he had been drinking.

In addition to the Attempted Murder charge, Hanson was charged: with Burglary in the 1st Degree – A Class B Felony; Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon w/injury or provocation of fear – A Class C Felony; Going Armed with Intent – A Class D Felony, and Possession or carrying of a dangerous weapon while under the Influence – A Serious Misdemeanor.

He made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday (Nov. 15th). A preliminary hearing in his case was set for 10:30-a.m. Nov. 27th, in Adair County District Court. Hanson was being held in the Adair County Jail on $750,000 bond.

(Black Hawk County, Iowa) – A collision Friday afternoon south of Denver, in eastern Iowa, resulted in two people being transported to a hospital in Waterloo. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2007 Toyota Tundra pickup, driven by 45-year-old Matthew Richard Matthias, of Readlyn (IA), was stopped at a stop sign facing eastbound at Black Hawk County Road C-57 and U-S Highway 63, and a 2013 Honda CRV driven by 60-year-old Charles Farnam Stone, of Cedar Rapids, was traveling north on Highway 63 at around 2:54-p.m.

When Matthias failed to yield the right-of-way from the stop sign, his pickup was struck by the Honda, as the pickup was crossing Highway 63. Stone, and a passenger in his vehicle, 56-year-old Lily Leo Toy Stone, of Cedar Rapids, were hurt in the crash and transported to UnityPoint-Allen Hospital.

Matthias was arrested for OWI and Failure to Yield. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, along with Denver Fire and EMS.

[See the updated report posted at 1:45-p.m., Saturday]

(DeWitt, Iowa) – A woman who was standing in the traveled portion of U-S Highway 61 southbound in Clinton County, Friday evening, died after she was struck by a pickup truck. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2020 Ford Escape SUV was disabled on left lane of the highway near mile-marker 148.

The woman and the SUV were struck by a 2012 Chevy Silverado pickup that was traveling in the left lane, after she and another occupant of the vehicle had exited the SUV. The woman died at the scene. Another person was injured and transported to Genesis East Medical Center, in Davenport.

The accident happened at around 5:25-p.m., near DeWitt. After the collision, the pickup came to rest in the west ditch, and the SUV came to rest in the median.  No names were released at the time of the report. The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and Dewitt Police.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced her appointment of Ashley Sparks as a district judge in Judicial Election District 2B.  Judicial Election District 2B includes Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Marshall, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster, and Wright counties.

Sparks, of Bondurant, Iowa, is the Owner of Sparks Law, PLLC and is a Boone County Magistrate. She received an undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University, a master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and her law degree from Drake University Law School.

Sparks fills a vacancy created following the retirement of the Honorable James C. Ellefson.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A central Iowa man was sentenced Friday (Nov. 17)  to 18 months in prison for preparing, presenting, and making false tax returns. According to public court documents, 41-yearold Bakou Kees Vonty, of Ames, also known as “Bob Vonty,” prepared and filed hundreds of federal individual income tax returns on behalf of individual taxpayers, from approximately 2011 to 2022.

On a 2019 tax return, Vonty, on behalf of an individual, falsely reported business losses and qualified education expenses. As part of his plea agreement, Vonty agreed to not prepare, file, or assist in any way with the preparation of federal or state tax returns for any third parties. Further, in at least 2016, Vonty falsely reported business losses and qualified education expenses on his own tax return. Vonty’s false returns resulted in a combined tax loss exceeding $400,000.

Following his prison term, Vonty must serve a one-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced the extension of a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista, Clay, Hamilton, Kossuth, Pocahontas, and Taylor Counties, effective immediately through December 17, 2023. The USDA has confirmed positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in all 6 counties.

The proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

(Radio Iowa) – The prosecution rested its case earlier than expected Thursday in the trial of the wife of a Woodbury County supervisor accused of 52 counts of voter fraud. Kim Phuong (Fong) Taylor allegedly filled out or helped fill out absentee ballots for numerous Vietnamese residents in the Sioux City area and either signed them or had them signed by other people who were not authorized to cast the ballot.

Prosecutors heard testimony from more local Vietnamese residents about that Thursday. Federal attorney’s then rested their case against Taylor, the wife of Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor, without calling other county officials to testify as had been expected.

The defense will call their first witnesses beginning next Monday

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by JJ Design, Thursday, November 16th, 2023, to celebrate their new building on Maple Street. The Ambassadors visited with the owner, Jamie Joyce, about the addition and observed a demonstration of their new equipment.

Jamie started his business in his Atlantic garage in 1998. Jamie saw a market for designing and creating which was already a passion of his and once he saw the opportunity to run his own business, he took the plunge. Fast forward, Jamie now has a small team that includes Gene Sanny, Allison Cooper, and Andrea Lowary and have, once again, outgrown their current location at 217 Walnut Street in Atlantic.

Pictured Left to Right: Linda Joyce, Grace Garrett, Tori Gibson, Kennedy Freund, Kathie Hockenberry, Rick Mericle, Beth Spieker, Russell Joyce, Allison Cooper, Tonya Larsen, Gene Sanny, Emily Kennedy, Scott Bennett, Karen Joyce, Bill Saluk, Kelsey Beschorner, Jamie Joyce, Dolly Bergmann, Elaine Otte, Andrea Lowary, Alisha Wagner, Sue Liston, Julie Waters, Jeremy Butler, Anne Quist, Keith Leonard, Jim Kickland, John Bricker, Graydon Schmidt, Lana Westphalen (Photo & story courtesy the Atlantic Chamber)

Earlier this year, Jamie purchased property on 3rd and Maple, and started construction on an additional building. The building is now home to multiple large format printing machines and space to work on large projects indoors. Jamie shared that with the addition of the climate-controlled building, the team is able to complete projects on vehicles, semi-trucks, and trailer year-round.

JJ Design specializes in designing and installing business signage, creating promotional items, brochures, school apparel, and much more. JJ Design’s retail space, located on Walnut Street, features an assortment of retail items such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, flannels, stocking hats, and more.

For more information about JJ Design call (712) 243-2925 or visit their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/jjdesignatlantic/