A southwest Iowa native is helping to train the crew of what’s touted to be one of the U-S Navy’s newest and most sophisticated warships. Chief Petty Officer Bobby Houseman of Winterset joined the Navy in 1997, in part, out of respect for his grandfather, who also served.

CPO Robert Houseman

The 35-year-old Houseman is stationed on a destroyer called the Zumwalt. It’s still being outfitted at the Bath Iron Works on the coast of Maine. While it’s 80 feet wide and more than two football fields long, the huge ship was built using the latest in stealth technology.

“It has reduced our radar signature down to approximately a fishing boat,” Houseman says. When at sea, he says the Zumwalt will perform a variety of missions, including attacking targets on land with gunfire and cruise missiles, hunting and tracking submarines, airspace surveillance and support to special operations forces. The ship’s two enormous main guns can hit targets at a great distance with incredible accuracy.

“They shoot a long-range rocketed projectile,” Houseman says.

The Zumwalt

“These projectiles can go approximately 63 nautical miles and really, if you threw a belt buckle out there, they’ll remove that belt buckle from the map.” The Zumwalt’s futuristic appearance and capabilities seems fitting — given the name of its commanding officer. Science fiction buffs know the commander of the starship Enterprise on “Star Trek” is Captain James Kirk, and his future birthplace is Riverside, Iowa. Like the science fiction hero, Houseman says this warship is commanded by a very-real person of the same name.

“When I heard that the captain of the USS Zumwalt would be Captain James Kirk, I really thought the person telling me was joking with me,” Houseman says. “I had to do some research to find out exactly what he was talking about and ensure that this individual wasn’t pulling my leg.” He says the real Captain Kirk is, much like the fictional version, a fine leader. “He’s very motivated, very inspiring,” Houseman says. “He keeps the crew on task and very focused, working toward getting that ship ready to go and get it away from the pier.”

The Zumwalt was named in honor of Admiral Elmo “Bud” Zumwalt Junior, who served as Chief of Naval Operations, the Navy’s most senior uniformed officer, from 1970-1974. The ship should be commissioned and set sail next year.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

Police in Harlan say two people were transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan following an accident this (Monday) morning. Authorities say 54-year old Gary Lemons and 80-year old Christian Blum, both of Harlan, were injured after their vehicles collided on westbound Highway 44 near Chatburn Avenue, at around 7:45-a.m.

The accident happened as a 2012 Lincoln MKZ driven by Lemon was stopped waiting for on-coming traffic, as he prepared to make a left turn. Blum, driving a 2006 Dodge Ram truck, failed to see Lemon stopped in front of him. His truck hit the rear of the car.

Lemon was transported by Medivac ambulance to the hospital, while Blum went by personal vehicle. Blum was later cited for Failure to come to a stop in an assured clear distance. Damage from the crash amounted to $10,000.

Jolene Smith, a member of Royal Neighbors Chapter 1373, from Atlantic, and a member of the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Board of Directors, was honored recently with the 2014 Iowa Fraternalist of the Year for her volunteerism within her community.  The award was presented during the Annual Iowa Fraternal Alliance meeting in Ankeny.

Jolene Smith, a member of Royal Neighbors of America Chapter 1373, Atlantic, IA, at right, was presented a plaque from Sarah Reemtsma on behalf of the Iowa Fraternal
Alliance. In recognition of her volunteer efforts in the community, Jolene was honored as a 2014 Iowa fraternalist of the Year. (Photo provided)

Smith’s volunteer efforts include working with Heads at Ease, the Allen House Retirement Home, the Cass County Memorial Hospital, Festival of Trees, and Hitchcock House. According to her fellow Royal Neighbors members, “Jolene is the life blood of our chapter.”

Royal Neighbors of America, one of the nation’s largest women-led life insurance organizations, empowers women to meet the needs of their families with annuities and life insurance products such as whole life, term, final expense, and universal life. Royal Neighbors’ philanthropic efforts are dedicated to changing women’s lives through its national programs, including the Nation of NeighborsSM Program, and through the Royal Neighbors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

For more information, visit www.royalneighbors.org or call (800) 627-4762.

A Shenandoah man was transported to Creighton Hospital in Omaha by Malvern Rescue Thursday night, after the motorcycle he was driving hit a deer. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened near the intersection of Noyes Avenue and 290th Street, at around 11:40-p.m.

Authorities say David Long, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2001 Honda eastbound on Noyes Ave a deer ran out in front of him and his cycle struck the animal. Long hit his handlebars hard upon impact. His injuries were reduced because he was wearing a helmet and protective leather riding gear. He was sitting in a motorist’s vehicle when the deputy arrived.

The deer was found dead in a ditch.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report the arrest on Sunday of two people on theft charges. 42-year old Brian Keith Floyd, of Council Bluffs, and 48-year old Jessie William Jackson, of Omaha, were taken into custody at around 9:07-a.m. in the vicinity of 190th Street and Highway 34. Both face charges of Theft/Stolen Property. Their bonds were set at $5,000 each.

And on Friday, 45-year old John Ray Nolan, Jr, of  Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd degree. Bond was set at $5,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa State Bar Association says all 72 judges on the November ballot should be retained. The association Monday released the results of a member survey that found all 72 were well qualified, receiving high marks for their professionalism and demeanor.

More than 1,100 lawyers statewide answered questions about judges. They ranked them from very poor to excellent on questions such as their knowledge of the law and the promptness of their rulings. A vast majority of respondents said all 70 district judges and two appeals court judges should stay in office.

More than 70 percent of the 40 lawyers who ranked Judge Emily Dean said she should be retained. The Iowa Supreme Court last month suspended her for 30 days showing up drunk to the job in 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials have revoked an online lender’s Iowa license over allegations of exorbitant interest rates. The Iowa Superintendent of Banking said Monday that CashCall Inc. must pay $1.5 million in restitution costs and stop lending money to Iowa residents. The state’s Division of Banking says the settlement offers restitution for more than 3,400 illegal loans by the company.

The California-based CashCall was accused of charging borrowers illegally high interest rates. Officials say that violated state lending laws. As part of the agreement, CashCall neither admits nor denies wrongdoing. The company has tried to argue that its lending activity is beyond Iowa’s jurisdictional reach because it originated through another company that offered loans on an Indian reservation in South Dakota.

The driver of a car that struck a building in Audubon, Friday afternoon, was transported to the hospital and cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports 65-year old Ruth Elaine Young, of Audubon, was attempting to park in a diagonal parking space at around 2:20-p.m.,  when she stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake.

Her 1997 Infiniti drove over  a curb and struck the side of the Community Insurance building, causing $8,000 damage to the business and $6,000 damage to the car. Young was transported to the Audubon County Hospital by Audubon Fire and Rescue.