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Spiritual guru Williamson ends 2020 presidential campaign

News

January 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A 2020 presidential candidate who had a yoga-themed fundraiser in Iowa City last weekend has exited the race. Marianne Williamson laid off her campaign staff on December 31st and has ended her campaign 10 days later. Williamson is a 67-year-old spiritual guru who is the author of popular self-help books. She had called for the creation of a Department of Peace and gained attention on social media for saying during a mid-2019 T-V debate that only love could cast out the fear President Trump was spreading.

Williamson told supporters in an email she would be unable to garner enough votes in this year’s primaries and caucuses to continue spreading her message — and she did not want to stand in the way of other progressive candidates seeking votes.

Williamson dedicated a fair amount of campaign resources to Iowa. She rented a Des Moines condo for a while after announcing in June she was moving to Iowa to campaign here.

Posted in News |

Midwest Sports Headlines: 1/11/20

Sports

January 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs could be missing defensive tackle Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce when the AFC West champs face the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs on Sunday. Jones showed up on the injury report Thursday after coach Andy Reid said he had “tweaked his calf” at practice the previous day. Jones did not practice Friday and Reid declined to say whether there was a chance he’ll play. Kelce has been limited all week with a knee injury that Reid characterized as “a bruise.” He also is questionable.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals and slugging outfielder Jorge Soler agreed to a $7.3 million contract for next season, allowing the sides to avoid salary arbitration Friday and keep things amicable between them as they explore a long-term deal. The contract includes a $50,000 bonus for making the All-Star Game and a $100,000 bonus for winning the Hank Aaron Award, which is voted by fans and the media and given out to the best hitter in each league. Soler hit .265 with a franchise-record 48 homers last season. He also drove in 117 runs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Joe Wieskamp scored 26 points and Big Ten scoring leader Luka Garza had 21 as Iowa beat No. 12 Maryland 67-49. Garza added 13 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season. Wieskamp and Garza had 32 of Iowa’s 38 first-half points. The Hawkeyes improved to 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. Maryland dropped to 13-3 and 3-2). The Terrapins were held to their second-lowest point total of the season. Jalen Smith scored 13 for the Terrapins. Iowa ended its two-game losing streak while Maryland had its thee-game winning streak snapped.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Big 12 is heading into its second week of conference play. A high-profile matchup between third-ranked Kansas and No. 4 Baylor on Saturday could set the stage for the rest of the season. The other big game Saturday features No. 17 West Virginia against Texas Tech. On the women’s side, sixth-ranked Baylor is flying high into the weekend after routing No. 1 Connecticut, ending the Huskies’ 98-game home winning streak.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Sydney Manning hit a 3-pointer as time ran out to give No. 20 Missouri State a 69-67 victory over Drake. Trailing 65-58 with 2 1/2 minutes to go, the Lady Bears finished the game on a 11-2 run, the first eight points coming on free throws before Manning’s shot. Sydney Wilson, trying to split two defenders in the paint, was falling to the floor as she tipped the ball to Manning who swished the winner. Sara Rhine scored 23 points to lead the Bulldogs.

Posted in Sports |

Manning’s 3-pointer lifts No. 20 Missouri State to 69-67 win over Drake

Sports

January 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri (AP) – Sydney Manning hit a 3-pointer as time ran out to give No. 20 Missouri State a 69-67 victory over Drake. Trailing 65-58 with 2 1/2 minutes to go, the Lady Bears finished the game on a 11-2 run, the first eight points coming on free throws before Manning’s shot.

Sydney Wilson, trying to split two defenders in the paint, was falling to the floor as she tipped the ball to Manning who swished the winner. Sara Rhine scored 23 points to lead the Bulldogs.

Posted in Sports |

Wieskamp leads Iowa to 67-49 win over No. 12 Maryland

Sports

January 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Joe Wieskamp scored 26 points and Big Ten scoring leader Luka Garza had 21 as Iowa beat No. 12 Maryland 67-49. Garza added 13 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season. Wieskamp and Garza had 32 of Iowa’s 38 first-half points.

The Hawkeyes improved to 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. Maryland dropped to 13-3 and 3-2). The Terrapins were held to their second-lowest point total of the season. Jalen Smith scored 13 for the Terrapins. Iowa ended its two-game losing streak while Maryland had its thee-game winning streak snapped.

Posted in Sports |

Area High School Basketball Scores from 1/10/20

Sports

January 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

MOC-Floyd Valley 65, West Lyon, Inwood 51

OA-BCIG 58, Lawton-Bronson 40

Ridge View 53, Westwood, Sloan 45

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

Boone vs. Carroll, ppd.

CAM, Anita vs. Paton-Churdan, ppd.

Carlisle vs. Winterset, ppd.

Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson vs. Louisville, Neb., ppd.

Denison-Schleswig vs. Creston, ppd.

East Union, Afton vs. Southeast Warren, Liberty Center, ppd.

Glenwood vs. Shenandoah, ppd. to Feb 3rd.

Glidden-Ralston vs. West Harrison, Mondamin, ppd.

Kuemper Catholic, Carroll vs. Atlantic, ppd.

Lenox vs. Nodaway Valley, ppd.

Sidney vs. East Mills, ppd. to Jan 30th.

Woodbine vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard, ppd.

Woodward-Granger vs. AC/GC, ppd.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Kingsley-Pierson 64, MVAO-CO-U 45

OA-BCIG 70, Lawton-Bronson 23

West Lyon, Inwood 45, MOC-Floyd Valley 36, OT

West Monona 85, River Valley, Correctionville 39

Westwood, Sloan 60, Ridge View 51

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

Boone vs. Carroll, ppd.

CAM, Anita vs. Paton-Churdan, ppd.

Carlisle vs. Winterset, ppd.

Denison-Schleswig vs. Creston, ppd.

East Union, Afton vs. Southeast Warren, Liberty Center, ppd.

Fremont Mills, Tabor vs. Underwood, ppd.

Glenwood vs. Shenandoah, ppd. to Feb 4th.

Glidden-Ralston vs. West Harrison, Mondamin, ppd.

Lenox vs. Nodaway Valley, ppd.

Sidney vs. East Mills, ppd. to Jan 30th.

Woodbine vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard, ppd.

Woodward-Granger vs. AC/GC, ppd.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020

News

January 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Supreme Court Acting Chief Justice David Wiggins says he’s retiring. The 69-year-old Wiggins said Friday he will retire March 13. He was appointed to the court by Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack in 2003. He was named acting chief justice in November after the unexpected death of Chief Justice Mark Cady. Wiggins’ departure will give Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds an opportunity to replace one of the two remaining Democratic appointees on the seven-member court. She just received the names of three nominees Thursday to fill Cady’s vacant seat.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Schools in Nebraska and Iowa cancelled after-school activities and shut down early, Friday, as residents in both states braced for the latest winter storm. The National Weather Service had issued winter storm warnings for the southeastern corner of Nebraska and southern, central and much of eastern Iowa for Friday afternoon into early Saturday. Those areas — including Fall City in Nebraska and Des Moines, Dubuque, Davenport and Burlington in Iowa — were expecting high winds and up to 8 inches of snow. Surrounding areas, including Omaha, Nebraska, and Waterloo, Iowa, were under a winter weather advisory for 2 to 4 inches of snow.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ruled that a man charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of a central Iowa pastor is mentally unfit to stand trial. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports that a Webster County District judge on Friday found 36-year-old Josh Pendleton incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment at the Iowa Medical Classification Correctional Facility in Oakdale. Pendleton’s attorney says he has a long history of mental illness and was unable to assist in his own defense. Pendleton is accused of robbing and beating to death the Rev. Al Henderson, who was found unresponsive on Oct. 2 outside St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge.

COLO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of two people who were found dead by a relative in their Story County home _ deaths that authorities say were the result of a murder-suicide. They’ve been identified as 79-year-old Richard Davis and his 78-year-old wife, Charlotte. Authorities say Richard Davis shot his wife before shooting himself. A shotgun was found Wednesday near his body on the kitchen floor of their Colo home. Her body was found in a living room chair. No note was found. Their son Russell Davis told The Des Moines Register that his parents seemed happy at Christmas.

Posted in News |

DOROTHY McELFISH, 93, of Massena (Svcs. 1/15/20)

Obituaries

January 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DOROTHY McELFISH, 93, of Massena, died Friday, January 10, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle.  Funeral services for DOROTHY McELFISH will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Jan. 15th, at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena.

Friends may call at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial is in the Victoria Township Cemetery, south of Massena.  A luncheon will be held at the Massena Lions/Legion Hall in Massena following the burial.

Memorials may be directed to the Dorothy McElfish memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

DOROTHY McELFISH is survived by:

She is survived by her three children: Cheryl (Dean) Christensen, and Mary (Rex) Erickson, all of Cumberland, and Bill (Deb) McElfish, of Greenfield.

5 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Man ruled not mentally fit for trial in Iowa pastor killing

News

January 10th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ruled that a man charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of a central Iowa pastor is mentally unfit to stand trial. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports that a Webster County District judge on Friday found 36-year-old Josh Pendleton incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment at the Iowa Medical Classification Correctional Facility in Oakdale.

Pendleton’s attorney says he has a long history of mental illness and was unable to assist in his own defense. Pendleton is accused of robbing and beating to death the Rev. Al Henderson, who was found unresponsive on Oct. 2 outside St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge.

Posted in News |

Iowa Supreme Court Acting Chief Justice Wiggins to retire

News

January 10th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) –  Iowa Supreme Court Acting Chief Justice David Wiggins says he’s retiring, a vacancy that will give Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds an opportunity to build an even more conservative court. The 69-year-old Wiggins says Friday he will retire March 13.

He was appointed to the court by Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack in 2003. He was named acting chief justice in November after the unexpected death of Chief Justice Mark Cady. Wiggins is one of the two remaining Democratic appointees on the seven-member court. Reynolds just received the names of three nominees Thursday to fill Cady’s vacant seat.

Posted in News |

MILDRED “MICK” M. BIEKER, 90, of Harlan (Mass of Christian Burial 01/13/2019)

Obituaries

January 10th, 2020 by admin

MILDRED “MICK” M. BIEKER, 90, of Harlan died Thursday, January 9th at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial for MILDRED “MICK” M. BIEKER will be held on Monday, January 13th at 11:00am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 12th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with family greeting friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. that evening. A Wake service will also be held at 7 p.m.

Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Earling.

MILDRED “MICK” M. BIEKER is survived by:

Daughters: Mary (Dale) Fledderman of Omaha, NE. Cindy (Dan) Sommer of Omaha, NE. June (John) Swiercek of Omaha, NE.

Sons: Terry (Tec) Bieker of Des Moines. Jim (Sharon) Bieker of Des Moines. Jack (Susan) Bieker of Phoenix, AZ. Mike (Michelle) Bieker of Fremont. NE.

Sister: Sr. Liz Heese of Milwaukee, WI.

33 Grandchildren

58 Great-Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |