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Drake Football Media Day

Sports

August 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Drake coach Todd Stepsis says the Bulldogs are embracing high expectations as they get ready for the new season. After three straight losing campaigns, the Bulldogs won the Pioneer Football League title with a perfect 8-0 record last year and made the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history. They enter this season as the PFL favorite.

Stepsis says there is no carry over and the Bulldogs view this as a new season and a new challenge.

Stepsis says the Bulldogs have shown they can handle adversity and he is confident they will be able to handle success.

Drake always plays a tough nonconference schedule ands this season is no different.

Big things are expected from junior defensive end Finn Claypool. The Des Moines native is the reigning PFL Defensive Player of the Year and was named a second team FCS preseason All American.

The key for Drake last season was winning the close games. Six of their league wins were by a touchdown or less.

Drake has won 11 straight PFL games and Claypool credits a demanding nonconference slate.

Drake opens at home on August 29th against Quincy University.

Posted in Sports |

Even after 130+ visits, Iowa State Fair blogger finds new things to love

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(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.”

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 8/12/24

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(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.

Posted in News |

Additional candidate filings in Cass County (IA)

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(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:

  • Non-Party candidates and Township Trustees- August 5th-August 28th
  • Soil & Water Commissioners and Agricultural Extension-August 5th – August 28th
  • Hospital Board of Trustees- Anytime with a deadline of Wednesday August 28th.

County positions open are:

  1. Board Of Supervisors District 1, District 4 & District 5
  2. County Auditor
  3. County Sheriff
  4. Edna Township Trustee
  5. Union Township Trustee
  6. Soil & Water Commissioners (3)
  7. Hospital Board of Trustees (3)
  8. Ag-Extension (4)

For more information and for the number of signatures required for each office, please contact the Auditor’s office at 712-243-4570

Posted in News |

DERIK MICHAEL TIBBEN, 53, of Tampa, FL (formerly of s.w. Iowa) – Celebration of Life 8/17/24)

Obituaries

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DERIK MICHAEL TIBBEN, 53, of Tampa, FL (formerly of S.W. Iowa), has died. A Celebration of Life for DERIK TIBBEN will be held 11am-4pm on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, at the Treynor Community Center (Treynor, IA). His family is handling the arrangements.

A lunch will immediately follow the service. Casual attire is recommended. Derik loved the Kansas City Chiefs, so Chiefs attire is encouraged in his memory.

Memorials may be directed to Derik’s wife, Melissa Tibben.

DERIK TIBBEN is survived by:

His wife of 24 years: Melissa

His father: Roger (Carol)

His sister: Angela (Jason) Lang

Step-sisters: Ana (John) Funkhouser

Sister-in-law: Monica (Matthew) Sanchez

Brothers-in-law: Michael Chambers and Chano Sanchez

Nieces, nephews and many friends

Posted in Obituaries |

Five Big 12 Programs Receive Preseason AP Top 25 Rankings

Sports

August 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IRVING, Texas – The Big 12 Conference opens the 2024 season with five programs ranked in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 with Utah earning the league’s top ranking of 12th place. Oklahoma State (17th), Kansas State (18th), Arizona (21st) and Kansas (22nd) round out the Conference’s top 25 teams in the AP poll as Iowa State, West Virginia and Colorado received votes as well. Monday’s poll marks the first time the Big 12 Conference has had five teams voted to the AP Preseason Top 25 since 2017.

The preseason AP voting mirrors the Big 12’s rankings in last week’s AFCA Coaches poll, which also ranked Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Kansas in its preseason top 25.

Big 12 Conference Preseason AP Top 25 Notes
-Kansas was voted into the AP’s Preseason poll for the first time since 2009.
-Utah earned a preseason AP ranking for the fifth consecutive season, excluding the COVID-impacted 2020 season.
-Joining the Jayhawks with a noteworthy spot in the poll, Arizona earned its first preseason ranking since 2015.
-Oklahoma State was ranked in the preseason poll for a fifth time since 2016 and continues a run of being ranked in an AP poll in every season since 2008.
-Kansas State will open a second consecutive season in the top 20 of the AP poll.
-The 2024 Big 12 football season will officially begin on Thursday, Aug. 29 with Colorado, Kansas, UCF and Utah opening their schedules.

Posted in Sports |

Bulut Ozturk and Jeff Parker Join Fannon’s Staff

Sports

August 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State soccer coaching staff is now complete, as Coach Matt Fannon has announced the hiring of both Jeff Parker and Bulut “Turk” Ozturk. Parker has been named the team’s second assistant coach, while Ozturk will be the team’s soccer development coordinator.

Both Parker and Ozturk come to Ames after stints as head coaches at the NCAA ranks. Parker spent the past 24 years as the head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology, a DIII school, where he owns the most wins in school history. Ozturk spent the past four seasons as the head coach of Michigan Tech, a DII school, where in 2023, he took the Huskies to their first NCAA tournament appearance in nearly a decade.

“The level of experience they bring is really exciting,” says Fannon. “Experienced, accomplished coaches who understand how it works with squads. Both of them being former head coaches is such a big deal as they’ll be able to support the team in multiple ways. Both Jeff and Turk are an incredible boost for us that will make a big difference.”

The pair of Parker (28 years) and Ozturk (8 years) will bring 36 years of collegiate coaching experience to the staff.

For Parker, ISU will be his first non-head coaching role since 1998, when he was an assistant coach at Georgetown. He spent a pair of seasons as the head coach at Saint Peter’s before he took over at Stevens.

Parker’s success spanned decades in the Northeast, as he oversaw a program in Stevens that made 22 consecutive postseasons under his direction. Parker led the Ducks to 16 conference championships and 13 NCAA postseason berths.

Parker coached four athletes to All-American status at Stevens and helped guide nine athletes to become Academic All-Americans. In total, Parker led three squads to the NCAA’s Sweet 16.

Turk, not to be outdone, has had his own collegiate successes prior to arriving in Ames. He has helped coach at both Tennessee and Northwestern before his time at Michigan Tech.

At Michigan Tech, Turk had 17 of his players earn GLIAC All-Conference Awards, one earn All-American and over 60 players named to the All-Academic Excellence Team with eight to the All-Academic Team.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Ozturk spent 15 years making a significant impact at the semi-professional, club, and high school levels in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. He led Lakeville North and Eagan High Schools to seven Minnesota state final fours over eight seasons, including four state championship game appearances and three state titles.

The Iowa State soccer program will kick off its season on August 15, welcoming Western Illinois to the Cyclone Soccer Complex for the start of the 2024 regular season. As a reminder, admission to all home matches is free.

Posted in Sports |

3 Hawkeyes Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Sports

August 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa football players Sebastian Castro, Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson were named on Monday to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List for the most outstanding defensive player in the nation.

Iowa’s three candidates tie Georgia, Miami, Michigan and Ohio State for the most in the country in 2024. Castro, Higgins and Jackson were each named to the Bronko Nagurski Watch List last month, which is a different award for national defensive player of the year.

Presented annually since 1994, the award is named for University of Pennsylvania linebacker Chuck Bednarik. Preseason honorees are determined by the Maxwell Football Club in collaboration with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications.

Higgins (6-foot-2, 232-pounds) recorded 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists) last season, which led the Big Ten and ranked third in the nation. That total ties the program record for tackles in a single season. The Indianapolis native was named to the FWAA All-American First Team in 2023.

Jackson (6-foot-2, 235-pounds) contributed 110 tackles (51 solo, 59 assists) at linebacker, good for second on the team and fourth in the conference. The Atlanta, Georgia, native was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree by league media and honorable mention all-conference by league coaches in 2023.

Castro (5-foot-11, 205-pounds) led the team in 2023 with eight pass break-ups and three interceptions in the defensive backfield. Those totals ranked fourth and ninth in the Big Ten, respectively, last season.

Castro was a PFF first-team All-America, an Associated Press third-team All-American and a Phil Steele honorable mention All-American a year ago. The native of Oak Lawn, Illinois, was voted second-team All-Big Ten by conference media and honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches.

Iowa has had nine semifinalists for the award since 2005, most recently with former Hawkeye cornerback Cooper DeJean last season. Other recent Bednarik semifinalists from the University of Iowa include Jack Campbell (2022), Daviyon Nixon (2020), Josh Jackson (2017), Desmond King (2016), Adrian Clayborn (2010), Pat Angerer (2009) and Chad Greenway (2005).

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bedanirk Award will be announced on Nov. 12, and the three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 24. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 12.

HAWKEYES ON 2024 WATCH LISTS
* Sebastian Castro – Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Jim Thorpe Award (DB)
* Jay Higgins — Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Wuerffel Award (community service)
* Nick Jackson — Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY)
* Leshon Williams — Doak Walker Award (RB)
* Logan Jones – Outland Trophy (OL) // Rimington Award (C)
* Drew Stevens – Lou Groza Award (PK)
* Luke Elkin — Mannelly Award (LS)
* Cade McNamara – Comeback POY
* Luke Lachey – Mackey Award (TE) // Comeback POY

Posted in Sports |

Connections Area Agency on Aging Recognized for Excellence in Making Vaccinations Available to Older Adults and People With Disabilities

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(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.

Posted in News |

Melton says it’s wrong to scapegoat immigrants

News

August 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(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.

Posted in News |