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BRETT NICHOLAS GUBBELS, 34, of Westphalia (3-2-2024)

Obituaries

February 29th, 2024 by Jim Field

BRETT NICHOLAS GUBBELS, 34, of Westphalia died February 27, 2024.  A Mass of Christian Burial for BRETT NICHOLAS GUBBELS will be held 10-a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is assisting the family.

Visitation at St. Boniface Catholic Church will be held from 4-until 8-p.m. Friday, March 1st.

Burial is in the St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia.

BRETT NICHOLAS GUBBELS is survived by:

Parents:  Glen & Sharon Gubbels, of Westphalia.

Sister:  Samantha (Kevin) Kruse, of Redfield.

His Niece:  Quinn Kruse, of Redfield.

His Nephew:  Harrison Kruse, of Redfield.

Southwest Iowa Athletes selected for IBCA 2024 Pizza Ranch All-Star Games

Sports

February 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The IBCA has announced their lineup of Pizza Ranch All Stars for the 2024 All Star Games. Below are lists of local athletes selected.

Southwest Iowa – Girls

Coaches: Ben Anderson (Bondurant-Farrar) and Joe Wollum (CAM)

Number Name School
10 Tyme Boettcher Panorama
12 Kayla Reis Dallas Center-Grimes
14 Danika Arnold Glenwood
20 Abby Hall Des Mones Christian
22 Lindsey Davis Nodaway Valley
24 Eva Steffensen CAM
30 Maclayn Houston West Harrison
32 Elise Yaeger WDM Valley
40 Erica Rust Harlan
42 Aili Tanke Johnston
50 Sophie Hope Waukee
52 Vanessa Bickford Dallas Center-Grimes

 

Southwest Iowa- Boys

Coaches: Scott Rucker (Treynor) and Justin Einerson (WDM Dowling)

Number Name School
10 Grady Jeppesen Riverside
12 Jacob Khounsourath Nevada
14 Redek Born Norwalk
20 Luke Winkel Ankeny Centennial
22 Jace Tams Treynor
24 Carson Johnson Ankeny
30 Jonovan Wilkinson Roland-Story City
32 Mason Costello Waukee
40 Tanner Berggren Bondurant-Farrar
42 Adam Bryte ADM
50 Evan Hammer Carroll
52 Colton Rasmussen Atlantic

NE Iowa church is ‘net zero’ after converting to solar power

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A report from the U-S Department of Energy found Iowa churches are below the national average for use of renewable energy, though a church in northeast Iowa is helping to change that. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah is one of just 17 houses of worship in Iowa that uses solar power, according to the report. Jim Fritz has been a member of the congregation for about 30 years and first proposed the idea. He says it started in his own backyard.

“We had also done a lot of solar at our house, and I’d done about all I possibly could, and didn’t feel like I’d done enough,” Fritz says, “so we live two blocks from the church and I thought, ‘Ok, let’s just go down there instead.’” In the past year, the church has devoted itself to switching over to renewable energy. Fritz says three of the church’s rooftop furnaces were failing, and all five were ugly, so the solution was simple.

“You either go back to what you’ve been doing for the last however long and continue to spew emissions,” Fritz says, “or you can do something creative and clean up an eyesore.” The church replaced all five furnaces with 102 solar panels and is now operating at net zero. The switch to solar will allow the church to offset an estimated 25 tons of carbon emissions per year.

Iowa High School Sports Network to Broadcast Boys State Basketball Tournament

Sports

February 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

EMERSON, IA — The Iowa High School Sports Network will broadcast all 28 IHSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament games from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, March 4-8.

The quarterfinals and semifinals will air on the IHSSN Cable Network and the finals on the IHSSN Broadcast Network. Check local listings for details.

In addition, all games will be streamed at IHSSN.com and the Watch IHSSN App. To access streaming viewers must purchase either a Tournament or Game Pass.

Iowa men prepare for Saturday visit to Northwestern

Sports

February 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Iowa Hawkeye men play their final road game of the regular season Saturday afternoon with a visit to Northwestern. The Hawkeyes are 9-9 in the Big Ten and this will be the first meeting with a Wildcat team that at 11-6 is third in the conference race.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. The Hawkeyes will be challenged on defense by a Northwestern team that is the top three-point shooting team in Big Ten play at 42 percent.

Northwestern senior Boo Buie is averaging nearly 20 points per game and is also fourth in the Big Ten in assists. McCaffery believes he is one of the top point guards in the country.

McCaffery says Buie is a leader at both ends of the court.

Wartburg women host Wisconsin Lutheran Friday night in NCAA DIII Tournament

Sports

February 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Wartburg women’s basketball team opens the NCAA Division III Tournament at home Friday night against Wisconsin Lutheran. The sixth ranked Knights are 25-2 and making their eighth straight appearance in the tournament.

That’s Wartburg coach Bob Amsberry who says an experienced senior class has been a key part of their success.

Wisconsin Lutheran enters the game with a record of 23-4.

Illinois Wesleyan and Concordia Moorhead collide in the other first round game. The winners meet Saturday night in second round.

Gov. Reynolds announces $1 million to support Credentials for Child Care Careers grant program

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Governor Reynolds today (Thursday) announced $1 million in initial funding for competitive grants available through the Iowa Department of Education to support school districts that partner with or create local child care centers to help more high school students earn a national child development credential. With 246 districts across Iowa currently offering family and consumer science pathways as part of their career and technical education, the new Credentials for Child Care Careers grant will help schools support a strong child care pipeline.

“Preparing Iowa’s future workforce begins in our schools. Our investment in work-based learning opportunities introduces students to in-demand careers and offers programs that provide the training necessary to earn a credential while still in high school,” Governor Reynolds stated. “This forward-looking approach not only prepares young Iowans to be career ready upon graduation, it also supports local businesses in building their workforce pipeline.”

“The Credentials for Child Care Careers grant will expand access to high-quality child care, while supporting an early childhood workforce of and for local communities,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “By aligning existing programs to the attainment of an industry-recognized credential, this innovative program will strengthen pathways to in-demand child development careers.”

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is a nationally recognized credential in early childhood education awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition, a leader in the credentialing of early childhood educators worldwide. Obtaining the CDA credential requires coursework, experience in the field and a demonstration assessment during which the student is observed while working with children. Districts that are awarded funding will receive course curriculum that meets both the professional development requirements outlined by Iowa Health and Human Services for employees of Iowa licensed child care centers and the classroom requirements for a CDA credential.

Eligible school districts that partner with a licensed child care center, including school-operated child care programs, can apply for up to $15,000 for each of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, for a total of $30,000. Allowable costs include student exam fees, textbooks, CDA course materials, student stipends, licensed child care partner stipends, and other approved expenses that help remove barriers to participation.

Applications for the Credentials for Child Care Careers grant will be accepted in IowaGrants.gov beginning today, Feb. 29, 2024.  The application deadline is noon on March 29, 2024.

More information about the Credentials for Child Care Careers grant is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
Initial funding for the Credentials for Child Care Careers grant is made available through the state’s allocation of funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Northern Iowa women host Valparaiso tonight

Sports

February 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Northern Iowa women open their final home stand of the season tonight by hosting Valparaiso. UNI is 10-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference and takes on a Valparaiso team that is 4-12.

That’s UNI coach Tanya Warren. The Panthers sit in fifth place in the Valley standings with four games remaining before the conference tournament.

Warren says a key for the Panthers going forward will be on the glass.

Governor Reynolds Announces $8 Million in Grants to Assist 16 Communities Advance Water Quality Infrastructure

News

February 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Governor Reynolds recently announced that 16 communities have been awarded a total of $8 million in grants to advance water quality projects. The funding is made available through the Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program, which was created as a part of Senate File 512, the first legislation signed into law by Governor Reynolds in 2018. Among the Drinking Water Financial Assistance grants, was $500,000 to the Guthrie County City of Jamaica.

The Governor says  “This was the first bill I signed into law as Governor in 2018s.  Since then, the program has assisted 68 communities through a total of nearly $26 million in grants and an additional $550 million in other funds leveraged to advance water quality infrastructure projects throughout the state.”

The 2023 program received 48 applicants requesting more than $23 million in water quality grants. A committee consisting of designees from the Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship judged the Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program applications based on the program’s priorities.

Priorities for grant awards include: Disadvantaged communities; Projects that will significantly improve water quality in their watershed; Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies; Communities with the highest sewer or water rates; Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction; and projects to address improvements to drinking water source waters. The program receives a portion of the tax on metered water and had $8 million available for allocation in 2023. Grants will be awarded through the program on an annual basis through 2039.

The Wastewater program has assisted 68 communities through a total of nearly $26 million in water quality grants since the first awards were granted in 2019. The program is expected to have approximately $7 million in available funds in 2024 based on the portion of tax that will be allocated to the program.

Chun Named USA Today’s Woman of the Year for Iowa

Sports

February 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling head coach Clarissa Chun has been named USA Today’s Women of the Year Honoree for the state of Iowa on Thursday.

This award is presented annually to 12 national honorees and one honoree per state.

This year’s honorees are described as “our neighbors and role models. They use their voices for others, many overcoming immense challenges, to make change happen. Simply put, they make us want to do better.”

Chun was named the first head coach of the women’s wrestling program in 2021. The two-time Olympian has led the team to a National Duals title in their inaugural season and has 15 student-athletes qualified for the NCWWC National Championships next weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The Hawaii native is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished member and a 2018 Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

Previous honorees in the state of Iowa include Iowa City native, Daisa Taylor and Gina Zastrow-Hayes. Previous collegiate head coach recipients have been Patty Gasso of Oklahoma softball, Dawn Staley of South Carolina women’s basketball and Tara VanDerveer of Stanford women’s basketball.