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Nevery Hillary!’ the battle cry at Iowa GOP fundraiser

News

May 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The first big Republican gathering in Iowa since the Caucuses was in Des Moines last (Thursday) night. Governor Terry Branstad gave a rousing pep talk to the crowd of 650 at the party’s annual spring fundraising banquet.”Americans are anxious about the future. We need new leadership,” Branstad said, before yelling: “We need to make America great again!” That, of course, is Donald Trump’s campaign slogan.

Branstad acknowledged there had been “bruising” primary fight among the Republican presidential candidates, but Branstad told the crowd they “need to support Donald Trump” NOW. “America’s in trouble,” Branstad said. “We have the right message. We have the right philosophy. We have the right candidates and we have a great opportunity to turn this country around.”

Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann took the baton from Branstad and turned it up a notch. “Who’s with me tonight on ‘Never Hillary? Who’s there? Never Hillary,” Kaufmann yelled. “Never Hillary.” Kaufmann said Republicans who supported other candidates should “take the time they need to concentrate on how best” the G-O-P can win back the White House. “In the end, it’s ‘No More Hillary!” Kaufmann yelled as he pounded the lectern. “That is what binds us together.”

Kaufmann told the crowd Trump would be better than Clinton when it comes to gun rights, reducing the national debt and cutting government regulation. “Most importantly of all, perhaps, if Donald Trump is president compared to Hillary Clinton we will have Supreme Court justices that understand the constitution and understand exactly what America is like,” Kaufmann said.

Iowa’s two U.S. Senators delivered brief video messages to the crowd, without mentioning the name Donald Trump. However, both Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley praised the evening’s keynote speaker. It was a military contractor who was in Benghazi when the U.S. consulate there was attacked on September 11th, 2012. Kris Paronto is a former Army Ranger.

“Politics is what got us there,” Paronto said. “Politics is what failed us to get more security there for the State Department guys and politics is what left us there and politics is what’s covered up this story from the beginning.” Paronto, who goes by the nickname “Tonto”, lives in Omaha now. He spoke for an hour last night and got a lengthy standing ovation as he concluded.

“We’ve got to keep Hillary out of office and I’m going to be there, right up front, trying to help you guys,” Paronto said. The next big gathering for Iowa Republicans is May 22nd. The G-O-P state convention delegates will vote on a party platform and vote on the final slate of Iowans who will attend the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

(Radio Iowa)

Luther and Simpson set for NCAA regional

Sports

May 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Luther and Simpson open an NCAA Division III softball regional in Decorah today (Friday). Luther (36-2) is the top seed after winning the Iowa Conference regular season and tournament titles. Known for outstanding pitching, a balanced lineup carried the Norse in the conference tournament as they scored 25 runs in two wins.

The Norse will play fourth seeded Wisconsin-Superior in the opening round. Third seeded Simpson plays second seeded St. Catherine of Minnesota in the other first round game.

(Learfield Sports)

Grinnell seeks elusive MWC title

Sports

May 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Grinnell College will try to win a first Midwest Conference baseball championship beginning today (Friday) in De Pere, Wisconsin, with the start of the conference tournament. The Pioneers won the South Division title for the sixth time in seven years but they have never won the league title. They open the double elimination tournament by taking on North Division runner-up Beloit College.

Grinnell coach Tim Hollibaugh says the Pioneers are entering the tournament with the right mentality. They swept a doubleheader from Cornell on the final day of the regular season to win the division crown.

Cornell plays North Division champ and host St. Norbert College in the other first round game.

(Learfield Sports)

New Gopher A-D Has Strong Iowa Ties

Sports

May 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(Minneapolis, MN) — The University of Minnesota named an Iowa native as its new athletic director yesterday. Waterloo native Mark Coyle plans to take over full-time Gopher duties in early June. Coyle had been the A-D at Syracuse for the past year. Coyle had previously served as athletic director at Boise State. Coyle was a wide receiver for the 1986 Iowa high school state champion Waterloo Columbus football team and played college football for the Drake Bulldogs. He holds two degrees from Drake. He began his career as a volunteer assistant football coach at Des Moines Lincoln. His wife Krystan is also an Iowa native.

(Learfield Sports)

Holliday homers twice, Cardinals complete sweep of Angels

Sports

May 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Matt Holliday homered twice in two innings off Jered Weaver, Matt Carpenter homered as well and the St. Louis Cardinals held off a late rally to beat the Los Angeles Angels 12-10 on Thursday night and complete a three-game sweep. Holliday matched his career high with four hits to pace an 18-hit outburst by the Cardinals. Matt Adams and Yadier Molina added three hits apiece, and every Cardinals starter had a hit.

The Angels scored three runs in the ninth and had the bases loaded with one out, but Kevin Siegrist struck out Carlos Perez and got Shane Robinson to pop out to end the threat. Jered Weaver (3-2) gave up nine hits and eight runs allowed in four-plus innings for the Angels, who have lost six straight and 10 of their last 12.

Adam Wainwright (3-3) got the win despite allowing 11 hits and seven runs, six earned, in five innings.

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, May 13th 2016

News

May 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:40 a.m. CDT

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — Federal officials say they are revoking a central Iowa casino’s nonprofit status. The Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday that Prairie Meadows, in Altoona, should lose its tax-exempt status, following an 18-month audit. The casino plans to appeal the decision. Prairie Meadows has faced questions about its nonprofit status partly due to the amount of money it spends on salaries for executives compared to money spent on charitable activities.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — West Des Moines police have charged a bus driver with having a gun on school grounds. The incident began about noon Wednesday when police say a Des Moines police captain was driving an unmarked car and a private bus started tailgating him on Interstate 235. Police say the bus driver honked his horn and flashed his lights before passing the officer, who followed the bus to Valley High School and approached the driver, 64-year-old Paul Smiley-Oyen. He was holding a handgun and was arrested.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Opponents of a proposed oil pipeline to cross North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois have increased pressure on Iowa regulators to resist allowing a Texas-based petroleum company to start construction before all federal permits are approved. Dakota Access, which hopes to build a 1,150-mile pipeline, tells the Iowa Utilities Board it must begin laying pipe where landowners have given permission by Tuesday if it hopes to finish before winter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that is expected to reduce prison time for inmates convicted of certain drug offenses. Branstad signed the bill Thursday. It will allow certain non-violent drug offenders in Iowa to be eligible for parole after they serve at least half of their mandatory minimum sentence. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency says the law is expected to reduce the disproportionate number of minorities in Iowa’s criminal justice system.

Atlantic Girls Golf places second at SE Polk Invite

Sports

May 12th, 2016 by admin

The Atlantic Girls Golf Team came away with a second place finish at the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday, May 12th at Copper Creek Golf Course in Pleasant Hill.

Team Scoring

  1. WDM Dowing Catholic 319
  2. Atlantic 340
  3. Fairfield 359
  4. WDM Valley 370
  5. SE Polk 380
  6. Newton 382
  7. DM Roosevelt 409
  8. Ankeny 421
  9. Marshalltown 443
  10. Indianola 444
  11. DM East/Lincoln/North 465
  12. Urbandale no team score

Individual Scores

Medalist: Allison Olberding, Dowling 76
3rd: Brooke Newell, Atlantic 78
5th: Erin Olsen, Atlantic 83
9th: Alyssa Ginther, Atlantic 85
Baylee Newell, Atlantic 94
Sarah Fixmer, Atlantic 98
McKenna DenBeste, Atlantic 104

Notes from Head Coach Kathy Hobson: “Because of an open playing date and assistant Marty spending a lot of time searching team schedules, we were able to add this tournament to our schedule.  It gave us an opportunity to match up with the best in the state (Dowling is currently ranked #1 out of all classes and the defending 5A state champ with all players back from a year ago) and the opportunity to play an unfamiliar course.  Very pleased with the outcome. Shooting a 340 on an unfamiliar course is great.  Our 2 losses thus far in our season have come at the hand of 2 of the top schools in the state (we got beat by Waukee, currently ranked #3 overall, earlier in the season at the WDM Valley tournament).  Playing tough competition can only help us become more competitive and focused on our game. Brooke Newell, Erin Olsen and Alyssa Ginther played right along with 3 of 5A’s top 11 individuals and Baylee Newell scoring in the mid 90’s was important for us.”

Class 1A Boys District Tennis 5/12/2016

Sports

May 12th, 2016 by admin

Class 1A Boys District Tennis @ Carroll

Atlantic Results

Singles

Alec Plagman 11 (Harlan) def Kaleb Flory 10 (A) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
Andrew Troe 11 (Boone) def William Weppler 12 (A) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles

Caleb Williams 11/Luke Hohenberger 10 (A) def
Josh Cheek 11 / Kaleb Kaster (Harlan) 6-4, 6-0
Danny Anderson 12/ Ethan Patterson 12 (Boone) def
Caleb Williams 11/Luke Hohenberger 10 (A) 6-2, 6-3

Grant Podhajsky 10/Cooper McDermott 10 (A) def
Jackson Zehr 10/Mason Hulse 10 (Boone) 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4
Grant Podhajsky 10/Cooper McDermott 10 (A) def
Jaden Heiden 10/ Sam Weber 11 (Denison) 6-2, 6-5
*Podhajsky/McDermott qualify for State Tourney.
Danny Anderson 12/ Ethan Patterson 12 (Boone) def
Grant Podhajsky 10/Cooper McDermott 10 (A) 6-0, 6-3

 

Class 1A Boys District Tennis @ Shenandoah

Team Scoring

  1. Glenwood 21
  2. Creston 17
  3. Clarke 10

Glenwood advances to Substate, Creston an Clarke dual in a Prelim Substate round Saturday.

Singles

  1. Travis Miller, St. Albert 6-2, 6-3
  2. Ryan Kucera, Creston

Both advance to state.

Doubles

  1. Aaron Bertini/Adam Konfrst, Glenwood 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
  2. Alex Chekal/Sam Lauritsen, Glenwood

Both teams advance to state.

IA West Foundation awards $32.5k grant to Golden Hills RC&D

News

May 12th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(Oakland, Iowa) -The Iowa West Foundation recently awarded $32,500 to Golden Hills Resource Conservation & Development for continued development of Arts & Culture in Rural Southwest Iowa. Golden Hills RC&D is a non-profit organization based in Oakland, that serves residents and communities of southwest Iowa.

gh-logoThe funding is designed to build solid capacity for the newly formed Southwest Iowa Art Council, including visioning, member recruitment, board development, event promotion and community outreach. It will also provide technical assistance to expand the 2016 Southwest Iowa Art Tour, and create Porchlight, an online hub for rural arts and culture promotion.

Golden Hills RC&D will work in partnership with the new Southwest Iowa Art Council to develop a written plan and solid structure for the group to operate into the future. A key project of the Southwest Iowa Art Council is the Southwest Iowa Art Tour, to be held September 17 and 18, 2016. The goals for the 2016 Southwest Iowa Art Tour are participation of 12 communities in the region, 50 participating artists and 1,000 documented visitors on the tour.

The initial 2015 event was well received, with 9 communities, 40 artists and over 500 visitors. The University of Iowa will also partner on this project to develop a coordinated marketing and events online hub, Porchlight. Porchlight will serve as an arts and culture hub, museum without walls, and maker-to-market venue for the rural southwest Iowa region. Through the development of coordinated marketing and events via Porchlight, this increased exposure will entice visitor-ship to rural communities from surrounding metro areas.

The Southwest Iowa Arts Council and Golden Hills RC&D are working in partnership to build a creative and supportive climate for area artists in rural southwest Iowa. Funding support from Iowa West Foundation will jump-start a coordinated and collaborative arts and culture environment and enhance community efforts towards increased livability and economic growth for rural Iowa.

IA West Foundation logo

About the Iowa West Foundation: The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the Midwest. It has distributed more than $300 million in grants to non-profits and governmental agencies through southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska since the inception of its grant program in 1996. Funding for the grants comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contractual fees from casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s.

Fallen Omaha Police Officer/Walnut IA native, honored w/U-S Senate Resolution

News

May 12th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON, D.C – Thursday evening, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Officer Kerrie Orozco of the Omaha Police Department. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced the resolution earlier this week.

KerrieOfficer Orozco was killed in the line of duty on May 20, 2015, while serving an arrest warrant in Omaha. Her death was an enormous loss for the surrounding community, where she was known for her volunteer work and service to local organizations. Senator Fischer released the following statement: “Officer Kerrie Orozco was a proud police officer, beloved wife, and caring mother. This month we mark the first anniversary of her death, but her memory and service to Omaha live on in the hearts of all Nebraskans. By honoring her life and legacy in the U.S. Senate, we can share her remarkable story with the nation and inspire others to ‘Kerrie On.'”

Senator Sasse released the following statement: “Nebraskans are grateful for the life and service of Officer Orozco – someone who personified public service and taught our kids what courage and sacrifice mean. She led by example and will be remembered as a hero.” Senator Grassley released the following statement: “In so many aspects of her life, Officer Kerrie Orozco exemplified what it means to serve your community. Whether volunteering at area youth organizations or putting on a badge to protect and serve, she was, and continues to be, an important role model of what community is all about. We will forever be grateful for her selflessness and courage.”

Senator Ernst released the following statement: “Officer Kerrie Orozco was a respected member of the Omaha Police Department, a devoted member of her community, and beloved by her family. She paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. I am pleased the Senate recognized the incredible sacrifice and memory of Officer Orozco.”

Officer Kerrie Orozco was the first female to die in the line of duty while serving in the Omaha Police Department. Officer Orozco was killed one day before she was scheduled to bring her 3-month-old daughter Olivia home from the hospital and begin her postponed maternity leave. Kerrie was an active member of the Omaha community, where she coached baseball through the North Omaha Boys and Girls Club and volunteered with Special Olympics. A native of Walnut, Iowa, Officer Orozco resided in Council Bluffs, Iowa with her family.

Here is the full text of the resolution honoring Officer Orozco: ” Honoring the memory and service of Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco. Whereas Officer Kerrie Orozco bravely served the Omaha Police Department for 7 years as an officer and detective, working in the gang unit of the Omaha Police Department; Whereas Officer Orozco was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, and mother; Whereas Officer Orozco was a devoted public servant who engaged in many volunteer pursuits in Nebraska and Iowa, including youth sports, youth mentoring, and animal rescue; Whereas, as a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Omaha, Officer Orozco was committed to her Catholic faith; Whereas Officer Orozco was killed in the line of duty on May 20, 2015, while serving an arrest warrant on a suspect; and Whereas Officer Orozco was the first female officer of the Omaha Police Department to be killed in the line of duty: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate honors the memory and service of Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco.”