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Sioux City Man Sent to Federal Prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography

News

May 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Sioux City, Iowa) – A man who was convicted by a jury for receiving and possessing child pornography was sentenced, this past Thursday (May 16, 2024), to 16 years in federal prison. 35-year-old Anthony Michael Tucker, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a jury verdict finding him guilty of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.

Evidence at trial showed that in January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a Cybertip from Google that accounts belonging to Tucker contained over 85 images and seven videos of child sexual abuse material.  The images and videos included depictions of sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.

During trial, jurors watched a video-recorded interview of Tucker speaking with an Iowa DCI agent where he admitted he was responsible for the content on the Google account and stated, “there’s more that I run across…those are just the ones I kept.”  In 2010, Tucker was previously convicted for Lascivious Acts with a Child.  Tucker, then 21, had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old female.

Tucker was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Tucker was sentenced to 192 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense.  He was also ordered to pay $1,200 in additional fines and assessments.  Tucker must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Tucker is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc

For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Nurse Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Pain Medication from Patients and Fined $20,00

News

May 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Sioux  City, Iowa) – A registered nurse from northwest Iowa was sentenced today (Friday) in Sioux City District Court, to seven months in federal prison for stealing controlled substances from patients and falsified medical records at a life care center where she was employed. 32-year-old Cassandra Lynne Vonnahme, of Arcadia, in Carroll County, was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

Vonnahme pled guilty to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by means of misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, and one count of false statements relating to health care matters on November 30, 2023.

Vonnahme admitted that between November 2020 and December 2020, she diverted controlled substances and falsified related medical records. The controlled substances she stole and the records she falsified pertained to actual patients. Evidence at sentencing also revealed that Vonnahme burglarized 5-6 homes after losing her job as a nurse for stealing patient’s medication. She was later convicted of impersonating a public official after another burglary in Carroll County in 2021, where she pretended to be a county assessor in order to gain entry into a stranger’s home and then stole controlled substances.

In addition to her prison sentence and fine, Vonnahme must serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Vonnahme was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.

Governor approves new regulations for traffic cameras, consumable hemp products; vetoes change in Iowa’s sunshine law

News

May 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has approved a bill that establishes state oversight of traffic cameras that generate tickets for speeding. Cities and counties will have to submit an application to the Iowa Department of Transportation, showing the camera is placed in an area due to the number and severity of traffic accidents there. The law also says fines from traffic camera tickets must be used on law enforcement expenses.

The governor VETOED another bill today (Friday). Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

The governor has now completed action on ALL the bills that passed the 2024 Iowa legislature. Just today (Friday), she approved new limits on the T-H-C content in consumable hemp products, like gummies. The new law will make it illegal to sell the products to anyone under the age of 21. Reynolds says she has concerns about the limits, but decided to sign it into law to protect minors from dangerous and intoxicating products.

Senator Ernst says student loan bailout hurts military recruiting

News

May 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the student loan bailout is hurting the military’s ability to recruit new soldiers.*

The Republican from Red Oak says the anti-American rhetoric on campuses and online has also influenced those considering military service. Ernst is a retired National Guard soldier, and made her comments while discussing recruiting with the Secretary of the Navy.

Ernst says the Biden Administration’s student loan payoffs haven’t helped.[

Ernst says part of the challenge of recruitment that we don’t reward those who serve enough or we give their benefits to others that don’t deserve them.

Snider Promoted to Associate Head Coach

Sports

May 17th, 2024 by admin

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head gymnastics coach Ashley Miles Greig has announced the promotion of assistant coach Ryan Snider to associate head coach.

“I’m delighted to share the news that Ryan has been elevated to Associate Head Coach for our program,” says Miles Greig. “His coaching experience and knowledge of the planning and execution required to build a championship-caliber program were invaluable to me as a new head coach and our program’s remarkable results this season.”

She continues, “Ryan’s dedication to building strong relationships with our student-athletes and providing a positive atmosphere that encourages personal growth makes him great for this new role. The future is bright for Cyclone Gymnastics, and I’m excited to continue working alongside Ryan to pursue new and greater accomplishments for this program.”

Snider, who is entering his second season with the Cyclones, works primarily with gymnasts on both bars and vault while also helping run day-to-day practices.

In his first season with the Cyclones, Iowa State returned to the postseason after missing out in 2022. Snider helped play a role in ISU’s rapid ascension up the Road to Nationals rankings, as the team finished last year ranked 44 before jumping all the way up to 29 at the end of the 2024 season. The 15-spot jump was the largest of any team in the country this season.

Along with Coach Miles Greig, Snider assisted in bringing an entertaining form of gymnastics back to Hilton Coliseum, as the team drew the largest gymnastics-only crowd in school history against Iowa this season.

Snider’s vault squad was the highest-ranked rotation on the team, as the event was rated 30th by RTN. In fact, the team earned a season-high 49.350 on vault against BYU, marking the highest vault score by ISU in three years, and is the eighth-highest single-meet team vault score in program history.

Snider arrived in Ames after a six-year stint at the University of Pittsburgh where he also served as an assistant coach. During his time as the Panthers’ assistant, he saw his student-athletes set program bests on both bars (49.275) and vault (49.325). Five of the top ten bests in bars and four of the top ten marks on vault came from athletes under his direction.

ISU will look to build on its 2024 season momentum next winter when it returns to the confines of Hilton Coliseum for another year of Cyclone Gymnastics.

 

Distance Medley Relay opens day two at state track

Sports

May 17th, 2024 by admin

Day two of the state track ad field championships opened with a record. After winning the three thousand meter run on Thursday Noelle (no-ell) Steines ranked the 800 anchor leg as Tipton won the girl’s 2A Distance Medley. The winning time of four minutes, six-point-37 seconds is a 2A record.

Steines shook off pre-race jitters.

Freshman Emee Dani ran the anchor 800 leg as Gilbert claimed the 3A girl’s Distance Medley Relay.

Dani gave up the lead briefly on the final lap before a strong close.

Sophomore Caleb Ten Pas (Ten Pass) ran the anchor leg as Des Moines Christian won the boy’s 2A Distance Medley Relay. The Lions won out of the second heat and had to wait to see if there time held up.

Western Dubuque sophomore Quentin Nauman won his second title in as many days. Nauman anchored the Bobcats to the win in the boy’s 3A Distance Medley relay.
He was the 32-hundred meter run on Thursday.

Nauman got the baton for his anchor 800 leg two seconds off the lead.

2024 State Track and Field Meet – Day 2 – Class 1A and 4A Session

Sports

May 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Girls 1A 1600M Sprint Medley Relay 

-6th ACGC (Nora Langgaard, Meranda Gruber, Savannah Akers. Ava Campbell) 4:20.89

-15th Logan Magnolia (Zoe Heim, Kylee Fogelman, Haedyn Hall, Madison Sporrer) 4:28.20

-21st Riverside (Kayden Schnack, Olivia Lund, Veronica Schechinger, Bentley Rone) 4:30.50

Boys 1600M Sprint Medley Relay

-2nd Woodbine (Adam Barry, Landon Blum, Brody Pryor, Landon Bendgen) 3:33.43

-12th Riverside (Cole Jeppesen, Grady Jeppesen, Mason McCready, Dawson Henderson) 3:40.11

-19th ACGC (Joe Crawford, Anthony Solorzano, Luke Brincks, Jarrett McClain) 3:44.23

-22nd Boyer Valley (Owen Garside, Levi Reineke, Justin Heiman, Dane Gorham) 3:45.61

Girls 1A 100M Hurdles Prelims

4th- Hannah Olson, Stanton, 15.95 Qualified 

6th- Lauren Johnson, Stanton, 16.18 Qualified 

8th- Carsyn Adams, Griswold, 16.40 Qualified 

12th- Annika Nelson, Nodaway Valley, 16.79

14th- Izzy Weldon, Fremont-Mills, 17.01

Boys 1A 110M Hurdles Prelims 

1st- Jack Follmann, CAM, 14.99 Qualified 

2nd- Gabe Funk, Lenox, 15.21 Qualified 

8th- Jaxon Gordon, Riverside, 15.53 Qualified 

9th- Donald Bashor, Lenox, 15.63

11th- Nolan Grebin, Stanton, 15.70

14th- Brexton Schneider, ACGC, 16.02

15th-Treyton Schneider, ACGC, 16.04

19th- Peyton Cook, Griswold, 16.43

Girls 1A 4x200M Relay

-3rd Riverside (Elly Henderson, Emma Gordon, Carly Henderson, Lydia Erickson) 1:47.94

-7th Fremont Mills (Bella Gute, Carlie Chambers, Lana Alley, Emily Madison) 1:48.63

-9th Nodaway Valley (Annika Nelson, Grace Britten, Maddie Weston, Emma Lundy) 1:48.82

Boys 1A 4x200M Relay

-3rd ACGC (Joe Crawford, Lance Bunde, Anthony Solorzano, Eli Madsen) 1:31.14

-8th Logan-Magnolia (Cael Wallis, Evan Roden, Wes Vana, William Anderson) 1:32.77

-21st Exira-EHK (Alex Hansen, Bryce Brabham, Jonas LaCanne, Cash Emgarten) 1:34.47

Girls 1A 400 Meter Hurdles

-1st Carly Henderson, Riverside, 1:04.58

-2nd Bella Gute, Fremont-Mills, 1:06.68

-3rd Ada Hansen, CAM, 1:06.91

-9th Carsyn Adams, Griswold, 1:08.35

-10th Lauren Johnson, Stanton, 1:08.57

-11th Addison Adams, Griswold, 1:08.60

-12th Lauren Malone, Boyer Valley, 1:08.76

-23rd Quincey Schneckloth, Tri-Center, 1:12.56

1A Boys 400M Hurdles

-2nd Gabe Funk, Lenox, 53.65

-7th Nolan Grebin, Stanton, 56.20

-12th Jack Follman, CAM, 56.81

-15th Peyton Cook, Griswold, 57.61

-17th Jaxon Gordon, Riverside 57.77

-23rd Jonas LaCanne, Exira-EHK, 58.55

Girls 1A 4×100 Meter Relay Prelims

-3rd Nodaway Valley (Grace Britten, Maddie Weston, Emma Lundy, Annika Nelson) 50.56 Qualified 

-8th Riverside (Elly Henderson, Adaline Martens, Emma Gordon, Lydia Erickson) 51.43 Qualified 

-12th Fremont-Mills (Izzy Weldon, Bella Gute, Carlie Chambers, Emily Madison) 51.88

-17th Lenox (Bentley Petersen, Gabby Robles, Zoey Reed, Sadie Cox) 52.48

Boys 1A 4x100M Relay Prelims

-8th Riverside (Cole Jeppesen, Aaron Smith, Jaxon Gordon, Grady Jeppesen) 44.09 Qualified

-9th ACGC (Joe Crawford, Lance Bunde, Anthony Solorzano, Eli Madsen) 44.15

Girls 1A 4x400M Relay Prelims

-3rd Riverside (Veronica Schechinger, Elly Henderson, Lydia Erickson, Carly Henderson) 4:06.20 Qualified

-5th Tri-Center (Isah VanArsdol, Jozie Payne, Sophia Hazen, Tess Casey) 4:12.35 Qualified

Boys 1A 4x400M Relay Prelims

-5th ACGC (Luke Brincks, Lance Bunde, Jarrett McClain, Eli Madsen) 3:27.38 Qualified 

-11th Riverside (Mason McCready, Cole Jeppesen, Owen Fenner, Grady Jeppesen) 3:31.51

-12th Audubon (Aaron Olsen, Ezekiel Konkler, Adam Obrecht, Brody Schultes) 3:31.97

Girls 1A Discus Throw

-11th, Amanda Newton, Woodbine, 114-09

-15th, Jorja Holliday, Nodaway Valley, 109-05

-19th, Arilyan Steenblock, Panorama, 105-02

-22nd, Courtney Follmann, CAM, 100-05

Boys 1A High Jump

-1st Lance Bunde, ACGC, 6-06.00

-5th, Landon Blum, Woodbine, 6-03.00

-9th, Cash Emgarten, Exira-EHK, 6-01.00

Boys 1A Discus Throw

-8th, Cooper Marvel, Fremont-Mills, 147-10

-10th, Trenton Warner, Nodaway Valley, 145-02

-11th, Jax Pryor, Woodbine, 144-10

-16th, RJ Dishing, Griswold, 135-06

-17th, Gavin Kelley, Woodbine, 133-10.

Girls 1A High Jump

-11th Morgan Hast, Boyer Valley, 5-00.00

-12th Emily Madison, Fremont-Mills, 5-00.00

-16th Carlie Chambers, Fremont-Mills, 4-10.00

ROSALIND “Rosie” JOY DALE, 87, of Audubon (Svcs. 5/22/24)

Obituaries

May 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ROSALIND “Rosie” JOY DALE, 87, of Audubon, died Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Friendship Home in Audubon. Funeral services for ROSIE DALE will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Schmidt-Kessler Funeral Home of Audubon has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will take place one hour prior to the funeral at the Church also on Wednesday.

Interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery following the funeral. A luncheon will be held following the committal in the fellowship hall of the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Dale Family in memory of Rosie. They will be designated to many of her favorite local organizations and charities and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.

ROSIE DALE is survived by:

Her son – Todd (Linda) Dale, of San Diego, California.

Her daughters – Jennifer (James) Mossyge, of LeRoy, Minnesota, and Polly Weitl of Audubon.

Her brother – Dan Jorgensen, of Audubon.

5 grandchildren; her step-grandson 6 great-grandchildren, in-laws, other relatives and friends.

Near-record Iowa travel numbers forecast for upcoming holiday weekend

News

May 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – With the Memorial Day weekend just ahead, it’s predicted travelers from Iowa will be on the roads in record or near-record numbers. Brian Ortner, with Triple-A Iowa, says the motor club is forecasting more than three-point-six million people across the Midwest will be traveling 50 miles or more during the long weekend, which is up 136-thousand travelers from last year.

The vast majority of vacationers will be traveling by car, and Ortner says gasoline prices in Iowa are more than a dime a gallon cheaper than a year ago.

For families on a budget, vacations can be expensive ventures, with gasoline being one of the biggest costs, so Ortner says this is welcome news.

For Iowans traveling by air, Triple-A says the average price for a round-trip domestic flight will cost 778-dollars, which is up two-percent from Memorial Day weekend last year.

(Updated) Boil advisory issued for City of Audubon

News

May 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

AUDUBON, Iowa — A boil advisory has been issued for the City of Audubon in Audubon County, following a water main break. The incident happened late this (Friday) morning, when a contractor hit a main near the city water tower, resulting in pressure loss.  Nearly 1200 connections are affected by the break. City officials have isolated the leak, and have shut down the water treatment plant until repairs are complete.

Once repairs are completed the affected area will be disinfected and flushed. City officials are notifying residents via radio, the city website, Facebook, and the Audubon city marquis.

Officials say there is no reason to believe water quality has been compromised, but as a precaution, customers are encouraged to boil water that will be consumed or used for food preparation. Water should be boiled for two minutes and allowed to cool before use. Water is safe to use for showering, laundry, general washing and outdoor use without boiling.

Two sets of bacteria samples will be collected for testing. The boil advisory will be lifted once two consecutive sets of bacterial samples have tested negative for bacteria.