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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
AMES, Iowa – In another record-breaking year, officials with Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council, said today (Monday), the 42nd annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show continues to elevate the bar, raising $568,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. The figure was a significant jump from last year’s record of $501,000. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer is inching close to $6 million in donations since its inception in 1983.
All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.
The Governor’s Charity Steer Show would not be possible, officials say, without the sponsors, youth exhibitors and their families, celebrities, and buyers. Their impact through volunteering, donations, and dedication created another successful show and fundraising outcome. This year, more donations and support were collected in advance of the event than ever before.
There were also two exhibitors that exceeded the threshold of the most dollars raised throughout the event from donations and the sale of their steer. Baylen Brink raised $71,354 and Jacob Ringkob raised $58,211, which topped the previous record of $48,000.
Not only was Pioneer Pavilion packed for the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show, but more than 4,000 people watched online. The 42nd Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show was held on August 10 in Pioneer Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair. Winners in four categories were recognized in the show ring – Community Hero, Grand Champion Showman, People’s Choice, and Judge’s Grand Champion. This year’s event hosted 24 sponsored steers, shown by their youth exhibitor and a local celebrity.
The Community Hero Award recognizes the youth exhibitor who goes above and beyond collecting non-monetary donations and creating awareness for the event. This year’s winner of the Community Hero Award was Layne White from Blakesburg. Iowa. Layne collected 175 pounds of pop tabs and a lot of nonperishable items for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Layne was sponsored by the Davis County Beef Promoters and showed with celebrity, Mercedes Northup, who was on The Bachelor.
The showmanship contest was judged by Brad and Drake Hook. Their focus was on the partnership between the celebrity, youth exhibitor, and the steer. While we had some excellent celebrity showmen in the ring, who had done their homework, Drake awarded Cheyenne Houk also from Blakesburg, Iowa, and her celebrity showman, Mark McCully, CEO of American Angus Association, as the Grand Champion Showman. Their steer was The Business and they were sponsored by the Monroe County Cattlemen and Supporters.
A fan favorite, the People’s Choice Award, gives the audience and team supporters a voice in the competition as they help select the winner of this event. This year Brad Hook helped judge this award and as he worked the ring, he had the crowd roaring for their favorites. In the end, it was two-time NCAA champion wrestler, David Carr, and his youth partner, Kate Totemeier from Columbus Junction, Iowa, along with her steer, ZZ, who took the award! David, Kate, and ZZ were sponsored by the District 20 Cattlemen’s Associations.
Finally, the most prestigious award of the show, the Judge’s Grand Champion, was selected. Ross Havens from Nichols Farms in Bridgewater, Iowa, had the hardest task of working through and judging the stellar lineup of steers and showmen. Whopper and his youth exhibitor, Emma Norman of Searsboro, Iowa, and celebrity showman Jeff Angelo, a radio personality, received the honor. The team was sponsored by the Iowa Bankers Association.
Following the show, a live auction was conducted to raise funds through the sale of each steer and additional value-added items donated by industry supporters and celebrities. These funds were added to the donations received by each youth participant, resulting in the $568,000 donation going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.
(Radio Iowa) – A Georgia man who was extradited to Iowa on a gun charge is now charged with second-degree murder in the death of a teenager. The Winnesheik County Sheriff’s Office says, following a two-year multi agency investigation spanning several states, 65- year-old James Bachmerski has been charged in the death of 15-year-old Jade Marie Colvin.
Authorities say in 2017 Colvin was brought from Arizona to Iowa by her mother to live at the Bachmerski farm in southern Winnesheik County.
The Sheriff’s Office says they were made aware in 2022 that Colvin had not been seen or heard from since two days after arriving in Iowa.
(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds of thousands of Iowans hit the Iowa State Fair at least once a year, but very few go as many times as Connie Taylor of West Des Moines. Taylor and her daughter, Stephanie, will make a pilgrimage to the fairgrounds all 11 days this year, and they’ve attended at least seven days of every state fair, every year, for the past 19 years. Taylor writes about their daily exploits online and has amassed a wide audience, especially when it comes to her fair food reviews.
“The best corn dog is from the Coney Corner by the Horse Barn. It’s owned by Campbell’s, and they use Nathan’s hot dogs, and they go through 24,000 pounds of batter and two semi loads of corn dogs every year,” Taylor says. “Another always go-to is a gyro, we always share one of those. The secret to eating at the fair is share everything.” For all of the tasty fried concoctions they may wolf down, the mother and daughter also burn plenty of calories as they stroll the Grand Concourse. When they were a bit younger, Taylor says they used to walk seven to eight miles a day at the fair, but now average five or six.
“We sit more now than we used to,” Taylor says, laughing, “but you know, to do the fair, you’ve got to walk. Part of it is, we always park about six blocks away, so there’s 12 blocks right there, just to and from our car, but it doesn’t seem like walking — you’re just wandering the fair and then it just adds up.” How many times has Taylor been to the fair? Well over 130, over two decades. Some people may have a hard time grasping what makes the Iowa State Fair worthy of so many visits over so many years, but Taylor says she always manages to find new things to see and do, or new ways to enjoy what’s already familiar.
Connie Taylor (left) and her daughter, Stephanie, are sporting state fair earrings — blue ribbons and butter cows.
“The fair changes every minute, every minute,” Taylor says. “We’ll be like, ‘Yeah, we’ve seen the Butter Cow a million times,’ but it’s different. She always has something different with it. And when you go in the Ag Building to see it, they have different exhibits. I have looked at the fruits and veggie displays in there. I think they are beautiful and I love them every time I see them.” Her latest column is titled after something her granddaughter said — “What’s the best smell in the world? Pig poo and donuts.” Taylor says her daughter actually started the online state fair dairy but passed the blogging baton to her mother after having twins. It’s continued to grow in popularity, Taylor says, just like the fair.
“You never know what you’re going to see at the fair,” she says. “Like yesterday, we were sitting and someone won a giant panda and hung it from a branch in a tree, and we just looked at it like it was normal. And then I thought, I’ll take a picture of that, because other people don’t think that’s normal.”
Read about Taylor’s adventures at Substack.com under her column, “The Life and Times of a Midwestern Girl.”
(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests:
On Thursday (Aug. 8th), 37-year-old Clayton Shane Geick, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Sarpy County, NE, Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond at the Mills County Jail was set at $20,000.
There were two arrests on Aug. 6th, in Mills County:
Tarus Mae Delores Hayes, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, for Public Intoxication. Her bond was set at $300; and, 48-year-old Lisa Marie Elliott, of Malvern, was arrested for Harassment in the 1st Degree, and Public Intoxication.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns, today (Monday), said three additional candidates have filed their nomination papers in advance of the November 5th General Election. As previously mentioned, Linda L. Pelzer filed last month for one of three seats on the Cass County Hospital Board Trustees. Since then, Leanne Pellett has also filed. Both currently serve on the Board. Candidates running for that Board may file their papers any time.
Delmar South has filed nomination papers to serve as Union Township Trustee (1 seat open), and Marcy J. Dorsey has filed to run for one of four seats on the Cass County Agricultural Extension Council. Dorsey currently serves on the Council on as a Secretary.
As a reminder: the filing period for candidates for Non-party political organization (NPPO) and Non-Affiliated persons for the upcoming General Election to be held November 5, 2024, are as follows:
County positions open are:
For more information and for the number of signatures required for each office, please contact the Auditor’s office at 712-243-4570
(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Connections Area Agency on Aging and USAging in Washington, D.C. have been awarded the 2024 Immunization Neighborhood Champion Award by the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) for their work through the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative (ADVC). The NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and organizations towards improved vaccination rates within their communities during the past year.
Connections Area Agency on Aging is a founding member of the ADVC, which works with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and other community-based organizations (CBOs) nationwide with a network of over 1,400 partner organizations to increase the number of older adults and people with disabilities who receive COVID-19 and Influenza (flu) vaccines.
The ADVC is led by USAging, which represents and supports the national network of AAAs and advocates for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs that help older adults and people with disabilities live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities.
Since May 2023, Connections Area Agency on Aging and other ADVC partners have administered more than 378,000 COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Approximately 11 percent were given to people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time. Additionally, ADVC partners have administered 112,000 RSV, shingles, pneumococcal and other vaccines. They also provided 441,000 supportive services such as transportation to vaccine clinics, assistance with appointments and information and referral to aging and disability resources. 
In Iowa, through a collaboration with local public health organizations, Hy-Vee stores, Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Area Agencies on Aging statewide, we administered a total of 1,931 flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, in 2023, the ADVC partnership facilitated the administration of 1,772 other vaccines, including those for pneumococcal disease, shingles, RSV, and more. Connections Area Agency on Aging’s CEO Kelly Butts-Elston says “We are proud to be a grantee for this important initiative. It’s been an honor and privilege to participate in a program that has done so much for the health and well being of older Iowans.”
USAging CEO Sandy Markwood says “It’s an incredible honor for USAging’s ADVC to be recognized with this award by the NAIIS. It’s a testament to the power of this collaborative and the critical role that AAAs, CILs and CBOs play in promoting life-saving vaccinations which are a centerpiece of health and healthy aging for all of us.”
The ADVC also works with more than 20 national partners with expertise in areas such as autism, LBGTQ+ issues and ethnically diverse older adults to best serve people with different or unique needs. USAging’s ADVC is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through USAging as part of a financial assistance award to USAging totaling $74,999,835 with 100-percent funding by ACL/HHS.
(Radio Iowa) – Ryan Melton, the Democrat running in Iowa’s fourth congressional district, says Republicans like his opponent, Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull, it’s ridiculous to identify immigration as the top concern of voters. “The amount of scapegoating and vilification of our immigrant friends here in Iowa is absolutely immoral and shameful,” Melton says. Melton says there is no invasion and immigrants are giving new life to places like Hawarden, Storm Lake, Marshalltown, Denison and Carroll. “There are parents that are willing to walk thousands of miles out of war torn countries and drug riddled countries in order to give their kids a better life and then people like Randy Feenstra try to create false narrative about them,” Melton says. “We should want people who are willing to put their lives on the line to give their kids a better life.”
Melton says the hollowing out of rural Iowa is the issue that comes up over and over as he speaks with voters in the 36 counties that make up the fourth congressional district. He says low paying jobs, attacks on public education and a lack of access to health care and child care are the root causes. “These stressors stacking on top of each other, one after another for a young person deciding whether to stay here or whether to leave and eventually the list gets burdensome enough that the list makes the decision for them,” Melton says. “If you can’t find child care in your state, you can’t build your family here.”
Melton made his comments during an appearance on The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Feenstra declined the Register’s invitation to speak at the same spot on the fairgrounds. Melton ran against Feenstra in 2022 and lost by 37 percent in a district with a sizable voter registration edge for Republicans.
(Radio Iowa) – Christina Bohannan of Iowa City, the Democrat running in Iowa’s first congressional district, says immigration is something people from all parties care about it. “We hear this a lot,” Bohannan said this weekend. “People want to secure the border and we should secure the border.” Bohannan, who’s running a second time against Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport. said Miller-Meeks and other Republicans played politics with the issue this year by rejecting a bipartisan border security that was backed by the union that represents Border Security agents.
“The strictest border security bill that our country has ever seen,” Bohannan said. “…Rather than do anything about it, Representative Miller-Meeks and U.S. House Republicans wanted to keep playing politics with it, they wanted to keep using it as a campaign issue. If that is not the best example of putting party over country, I don’t know what is.” Bohannan also is criticizing Miller-Meeks for voting against the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill three years ago.
First district congressional candidate Christina Bohannan speaking on August 10, 2024. (RI photo)
“An infrastructure bill that’s fixing our roads, bridges, dams, locks here in southeast Iowa and creating hundreds of great paying jobs in the process. How can you vote against fixing the damned roads?” Bohannan asks. “…Senator Chuck Grassley helped negotiate that infrastructure bill and voted for it because he knew how great is was going to be for Iowa.” Grassley was the only Republican in Iowa’s congressional delegation to vote for it.
Bohannan made her comments during a speech on the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Miller-Meeks declined the paper’s invitation to speak at the venue.
WAUKEE, Iowa [KCCI] – Waukee police have identified the person who was found dead after being pulled from a pond last week. Police responded around 3:30 p.m. Aug. 8 to a report of a drowning in the 2500 block of Grand Prairie Parkway.
According to the Waukee Fire Department, two boys were fishing on the pond and lost their pole. When a man who had been working in the area went into the water to retrieve the pole, he started to struggle and the boys called 911.
The man, now identified as Keith Bychinski, 31, of Earlham, was pulled from the water hours later.
(Radio Iowa) – The Libertarian Party’s candidate for president says the federal government’s deficit spending is a hidden tax. Chase Oliver — making his fifth trip to Iowa — is promising to veto any budget that isn’t balanced if he’s elected president. “Every single day, $8.9 billion is being added to the deficit,” Oliver said. “That is going to affect our kids and our grandkids and the cost of living here on out.” The Libertarian Party’s platform calls for significantly reducing the scope of the federal government by getting rid of regulations and cutting spending. “Inflation is a hidden tax…because the government is making our worth dollars less and less and less each year because they run deficit spending to the tune of trillions of dollars and they have to print money to make up for that,” Oliver says, “and what that does is it devalues the money you have in your pocket.”
Libertarian Party presidential nominee Chase Oliver spoke to reporters in Iowa on August 10, 2024. (RI photo)
Oliver won the Libertarian Party’s 2024 presidential nomination nearly three months ago. He says the two major political parties treat voters like dupes and have created a centrally planned economy that benefits corporations. “An abusive, an intrusive and overly large government that continues to rob us of the value of our dollar, that continues to insert itself into our business and our property and and over and over again we do not have advocates either in Des Moines or Washington, D.C. who fight for us,” Oliver says. “They fight for the people who line their pockets.”
Oliver, who says he is the first presidential candidate to have visited all 50 states this year, filed the paperwork to get his name on the Iowa ballot last Wednesday. “You should not have to sacrifice your vote to say: ‘Oh, well, I’m going to vote for the lesser of two evils,'” Oliver said. “Dare to pick the best choice on your ballot. Compare my platform to that of Kamala Harris or Donald Trump or RFK, Jr. or any other challenger.”
Oliver made his comments at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. cited security concerns and cancelled his appearance at the venue.
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