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State Auditor plans a review of the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown

News

August 27th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand says his office will conduct an audit of the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Sand says the audit comes at the request of State Representative Sue Cahill, a Democrat from Marshalltown. Cahill tells Sand the audit is needed after the unexpected layoffs in July of eleven full-time staff.

She says these cuts were made without input from the Legislature and occurred despite the home receiving an additional one million dollars in state funding during the budget process.

Cahill says in her letter to Sand that the cuts are in direct conflict of their mission to “provide a continuum of care to Iowa’s veterans and their spouses in an environment focusing on individualized services to enhance their quality of life.”

State Regulators Hold Hearing On Renewable Energy Rules

News

August 27th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Commission held a hearing today (Tuesday) to review potential changes to the state’s renewable energy rules. Environmental groups claim the rules, written in 2017, are outdated and have been used by utilities to mislead Iowans about their renewable energy usage. They want them rescinded and new rules put in place.

Environmental Law and Policy Center attorney Josh Mandelbaum says they believe the rules are actively causing harm to the public by facilitating, legitimizing and failing to hold an account deceptive utility practices All sides will submit their concerns about the rules to the commission next month for further review and discussion.

2 from Red Oak arrested Tue. afternoon

News

August 27th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) — A man and a woman were arrested this (Tuesday) afternoon in Red Oak, on numerous charges. According to the Red Oak Police Department, 34-year-old Dylan Thomas Griffeth, and 26-year-old Abigail Jean Kates, both of Red Oak, were taken into custody at around 12:15-p.m., at a residence on E. Market Street.

Griffeth was arrested on five Iowa warrants that include two counts of probation violation — each carries a $10,000 cash-only bond; Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd offense ($5,000 cash-only bond); Harassment in the 3rd degree; and a warrant for violation of a no contact order (with bonds at $300 each). Griffeth was also charged with interference with official acts ($300 bond).

Abigail Kates was arrested for Violation of a no-contact order, Interference with official acts, and being an Accessory after the fact. Her bond was set at $300.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Fourth Judicial District parole officer also assisted in the arrest of both subjects.

Water level to drop at Three Mile Lake starting Sept. 3

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 27th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON – Lake water levels at Three Mile Lake in Union County will be lowered an additional three feet as a part of an ongoing lake restoration project.

Managers will maintain the lake at approximately eleven feet below normal pool to expose additional areas of the lake bed and shoreline for construction. Water released through the lake’s outlet structure to lower the lake level will be released slowly to avoid downstream impacts.

Construction activities began in the fall of 2023 and will be completed in the spring of 2025, when managers will allow the lake to refill. An effort will be made to maintain recreation throughout the project and access to the lake for boating via the main boat ramp. Boaters should use caution throughout the lake as tree stumps, cedar tree brush piles, and underwater reefs may be at or near the water’s surface with the lower water levels.

The restoration project will improve and protect water quality in Three Mile Lake and provide new recreational opportunities for this popular destination. Planned activities include stabilizing the shoreline, improving the jetties, installing fish habitat and modifying the existing in-lake silt basin.

Iowa Men’s Wrestling: Big Ten Announces 2024-25 Conference Opponents

Sports

August 27th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Big Ten Conference announced the opponent rotation for the 2024-25 wrestling season on Tuesday.

The University of Iowa will host Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois and Ohio State inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes will travel for road duals against Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State and Maryland.
The complete schedule will be released once finalized.

Cropley and Obermueller Added to Baseball Staff

Sports

August 27th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller has announced the addition of two former Major League Baseball players and Iowa alumni to his coaching staff on Tuesday. Tyler Cropley will join the Hawkeyes as a student assistant and Wes Obermueller joins as Director of Player Development.

Cropley played for Heller and the Hawkeyes from 2017-18. He hit a team-best .342 with 20 doubles, nine home runs, 50 RBIs and 43 runs scored as a senior. He was a named a second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and was a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award.

Cropley was selected in the eighth round of the 2018 Major League Draft by the Washington Nationals with the 251st pick. He was the first Hawkeye catcher drafted in top eight rounds since 1972.

The Sioux City, Iowa, native made his MLB debut on August 19, 2023, for the Kansas City Royals. He appeared in two games for the Royals.

Obermueller played for Iowa from 1997-1999 before being selected by Kansas City in the second round of the MLB Draft. In 1999 he had a 6.83 ERA while recording 91 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings. He also had a .352 batting average with 24 RBIs. Obermueller started his career at Iowa as a shortstop and then a right fielder before making his debut on the mound as a junior. He locked down a spot in the starting rotation in 1999.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native made his major league debut on September 20, 2002, and played parts of five seasons in the big leagues (Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Florida Marlins) starting 48 games and appearing in 80. He had a 5.82 ERA over 315 1/3 innings tallying 166 strikeouts.

He also pitched for the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball League and the Samsung Lions of the KBO League.

Obermueller is the father of junior LHP Cade Obermueller.

Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking participates in multi-state operation

News

August 27th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa – On August 22, 2024, the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Office to Combat Human Trafficking partnered with law enforcement and service providers from across the United States to conduct a multi-state human trafficking operation.

This operation, named “Coast to Coast,” was a grassroots effort involving 12 states with the common goals of identifying trafficking victims, offering these victims much-needed services, arresting traffickers, and making our communities safer. The following Iowa agencies assisted in the operation:

Department of Public Safety (including the Iowa State Patrol and the Division of Intelligence & Fusion Center, Division of Criminal Investigation, and Division of Narcotics Enforcement); Ames Police Department; Ankeny Police Department; Bettendorf Police Department; Burlington Police Department; Cedar Rapids Police Department; Clinton Police Department; Davenport Police Department; Des Moines Police Department; MINE Task Force; Ottumwa Police Department; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Scott County Sheriff’s Office; Wapello County Sheriff’s Office; West Des Moines Police Department; and prosecutors with the Polk County Attorney’s Office, Scott County Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office.

Iowa joined law enforcement agencies and service providers from New Jersey, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, California, Minnesota, and Washington to carry out the operation. Private organizations also assisted, including the Human Trafficking Training Center, Safe House Project, and Nurses Against Trafficking.

Dorothy’s House, Chains Interrupted, and Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services provided victim services during the Iowa operation. Seventeen adults were contacted and offered food, lodging, medical services, drug rehabilitation, counseling/therapy, and childcare. Seven adults were contacted, detained, or identified during the operation.

Further details cannot be released at this time as the investigations are ongoing.

Human trafficking continues to be an issue across America and agencies across the country are taking it seriously to minimize its devastating impacts. For more information on Operation “Coast to Coast” from a national perspective, please contact Dan Nash at dan@humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com.

If you suspect human trafficking in your area, please call 911 or your local law enforcement agency.

Fareway kicks-off the 4th Annual Iowa Wave shirt round-up

News

August 27th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(BOONE, IA) – Fareway Stores, Inc. is partnering with The Iowa Wave Shirt to conduct the fourth annual Round Up at the register from August 26 – September 7 at all Iowa store locations, the two weeks ahead of the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game.

Customers will have the opportunity to round up to the next dollar or provide an additional donation on their grocery bill to help fund The Iowa Wave Shirt’s mission. Dollars raised through the round up will benefit the Iowa Wave Shirt, a non-profit created to support the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Fareway employees can purchase a co-branded Iowa Wave Shirt in their favorite team colors to wear during the event, on game-days, or other events throughout the year.

“The Iowa Wave Shirt team is thrilled to partner with Fareway as part of their Lead with Love commitment to our local communities. Celebrating the third year of collaboration is an exciting way to bring the spirit of The Iowa Wave into each store while also embracing some friendly state rivalry competition,” said The Iowa Wave Shirt co-founder Meighan Phillips. “We are so moved by the support of Fareway customers across our Iowa communities and look forward to celebrating with the campaign-leading store!”

“We are so proud to partner with the Iowa Wave Shirt to help make a difference in the lives of children treated at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital,” said Rob Stevenson, Director of Corporate Outreach and Employee Engagement for Fareway Stores. “Thanks to our generous customers and employees for helping lead the way in providing enhanced care for kids and their families.”

About The Iowa Wave Shirt

The Iowa Wave Shirt brings together Hawkeye fans, friends of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital (UISFCH) and generous hearts across our country in support of children at UISFCH. Support of the Iowa Wave Shirt demonstrates that together, we can make a difference in the lives of the children that are treated at UISFCH.  In the first six seasons of The Iowa Wave, our community of givers donated more than $2 million to UISFCH.  Today, each person that supports the Iowa Wave Shirt supports enhanced care, new and innovative research through the Iowa Wave Shirt Pediatric Research Fund, the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Center and care within the Child Life Program. 

Iowans can now request absentee ballots for the November election

News

August 27th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who want to vote by mail can now start requesting absentee ballots for this fall’s election, as today (Tuesday) is the first day county auditors can accept applications for those absentee ballots. Becky Bissell, president of the Iowa State Association of County Auditors, says it’s a good idea for Iowans to request ballots sooner rather than later to allow for processing at the auditor’s office and for mail times.

“It’s really important to get them in ahead of time so that you have more days at home to fill out your ballot,” Bissell says, “and then that also gives you more days that you can get it mailed back to us.” Bissell says if you want to vote absentee, get your application in as early as possible.

“The window is only 20 days before the election, and so that is for you to get it voted and mailed back,” she says, “and we know that in most rural areas, the postal service is a little bit slower, and so it could be five to seven days before any of my residents get their mail back to me or get the mail to them.”

Bissell, who’s from Adams County, says Iowans who want to vote by mail should make sure they’re registered to vote. Voters can then print an absentee ballot request form at voterready.iowa.gov, or call their county auditor to have an application mailed to them.

Completed ballot request forms must be mailed or delivered to the voter’s county auditor. County auditors can start sending ballots to voters on October 16th.

DARLENE KNUTSEN, 91 of Atlantic (Celebration Of Life Svc 9/5/24)

Obituaries

August 27th, 2024 by Lori Murphy

DARLENE KNUTSEN, 91, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Monday, August 26, 2024, at the Exira Care Center. Celebration of Life Memorial Service for DARLENE KNUTSEN will be held on Thursday, September 5th at 2:00 p.m. at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation at the funeral home, with the family present, will begin at 1:00 p.m. on September 5th.

Burial will be held at a later date in the Atlantic Cemetery

DARLENE KNUTSEN is survived by:

Her husband – Carl.

Her sons – Kenneth (Patricia) Knutsen, and Kevin (Carol Wolfe) Knutsen.

Her daughters – Carol Logue, Brenda (Brad) Herrick, and Jolene (John) Klocek.

13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.