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Ex-Drake trainer, school reach settlement in lawsuit

Sports

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Drake University and its former head athletic trainer fired in 2016 after 31 years on the job have agreed to settle his wrongful termination lawsuit. KCCI reports that the university admits no wrongdoing in the settlement. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Scott Kerr filed the lawsuit after he says he was abruptly fired when a medical condition forced him to urinate in a dirty training room whirlpool. Kerr said he had been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and another condition that caused him to urinate more frequently. Kerr said he urinated in the whirlpool because he didn’t have time to get to a bathroom. Kerr said he thoroughly cleaned the whirlpool tank afterward.

His lawsuit said he was fired because of his disability, age and gender.

Posted in Sports |

Muscatine man arrested in stolen cemetery vases case

News

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested a 44-year-old Muscatine man on suspicion of stealing dozens of brass vases that marked graves at a local cemetery.
The Muscatine Journal says Thomas Edgar Thornburg was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of theft.

A police report filed last month said 15-20 vases had been taken from Muscatine Memorial Park. Cemetery officials later said up to 50 of the urns may be missing.

The vases are chained to markers at the cemetery, are 10 inches tall and weigh up to 8 pounds. Cemetery manger Cindy Allen has said each vase can cost up to $650 to replace.

Posted in News |

Adair, Audubon and Guthrie Counties Become Home Base Iowa Communities

News

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend today (Friday) announced that Adair, Guthrie and Audubon Counties have become the 83rd, 84th and 85th Home Base Iowa Communities. They joined other state and community leaders along with local businesses and veterans to recognize their efforts to become the newest Home Base Iowa Communities.

Home Base Iowa is a one-of-a-kind program to connect veterans and transitioning service members with almost 2,000 businesses statewide who have pledged to hire over 10,000 veterans. In addition to the 85 communities statewide, the program also has 24 college and university partners.

The program connects businesses and communities with veteran job seekers using the “Find a Veteran” feature on the Home Base Iowa website. Find a Veteran allows Home Base Iowa businesses and communities access to all active veteran job seekers who have submitted their resume through the website. The program has had over 250 veteran resumes submitted in 2018.

Iowa offers many incentives to veterans and transitioning service members including no state taxes on military pension and veteran hiring preference, which allows veteran preferential treatment in hiring decisions for both public and private organizations. Additionally, the state of Iowa provides up to $7,500 for the down payment or closing costs of a home through the Iowa Finance Authority Military Homeownership Assistance Program. The state also provides in-state tuition rates for qualifying veterans, their spouses and their dependents.

Home Base Iowa designates qualified communities as centers of opportunity for military veterans based on four standards:

  • Within a designated community, at least 10 percent of eligible, hiring businesses must become HBI businesses and pledged to hire veterans,
  • Community develops its own incentive package for veterans,
  • Community prominently displays Home Base Iowa Community designation, and
  • Community must obtain a resolution of support from the appropriate local governing body

All three counties have met or exceeded these requirements. For more information on Home Base Iowa, please visit www.HomeBaseIowa.gov.

Posted in News |

3 arrested for Disorderly Conduct in Mills County

News

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested Thursday night on Gingry Lane in Glenwood, and charged with Disorderly Conduct. 18-year old Jonathon Jo Arrick, 32-year old Amanda Fay Malm, and 30-year old Robert Richard Fate, all of Glenwood, were taken into custody at around 10:50-p.m. Their bonds were set at $300 each.

Posted in News |

JEAN WILLIAMS, 68, of Massena (Private Graveside Svcs.)

Obituaries

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

JEAN WILLIAMS, 68, of Massena, died Friday, July 6th, at home. Private family graveside services for JEAN WILLIAMS will be held. Steen Funeral Home in Massena is assisting the family.

There is no visitation; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

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

JEAN WILLIAMS is survived by:

Her husband – Doug Williams, of Massena.

Her sons –  Shane (Michele) Williams, Kyle (Julie) Williams, Drew (Alice) Williams, all of Massena.

Her brother – Kim (Diane) Jorgensen, of Council Bluffs.

6 grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Boaters warned water still running high and full of debris

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is warning you to remain careful if you plan on being out on the state’s rain swollen rivers this weekend. D-N-R Outreach Coordinator for River Programs, Todd Robertson, says high water brought on by heavy rains is sweeping a significant amount of extra material into the fast moving current of the rivers. “When you get a lot of rain, if you went and stood by the river and looked upstream you would see all this debris coming downstream: trees, tree limbs, things that have washed in off the bank, those things can be very hazardous for people,” Robertson explains.

Robertson says you must have enough life jackets on your boat. “An adult doesn’t have to have a life jacket on, but it has to be onboard, which when you think about it, when you need it, if you don’t have it on, it’s not gonna do you any good, so you might as well just have it on,” Robertson says. And for kids under 12 if they don’t have a life jacket — it could cost you. “If you take the kids out, the family and they don’t have their life jackets on you can face a citation for sure,” Robertson says.

Robertson suggests instead of rivers, family outings may be safer on so-called flat water venues like lakes and large ponds.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Gov. Reynolds orders flags at half-staff to honor fallen sailor

News

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, July 7, 2018, to honor a fallen sailor. Seaman First Class Leon Arickx, of Mitchell County, was killed in action when the USS Oklahoma was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The 22-year-old’s remains were identified in January 2018 and returned to his family in Iowa for burial. He will receive full military honors.

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Graveside services for Seaman First Class Leon Arickx: Sacred Heart Cemetery, Osage – 11 a.m.

Posted in News |

ALVIN FAUX, 82, of Bridgewater (Svcs. 7/10/18)

Obituaries

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

ALVIN FAUX, 82, of Bridgewater, died Thursday, July 5th, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle.  Funeral services for ALVIN FAUX will be held 10:30-a.m. Tuesday, July 10th, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, in Fontanelle. Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, from 4-until 8-p.m. Monday, July 9th, with the family greeting friends from 6-until 8-p.m. ; Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Garner Cemetery in Bridgewater, with full military graveside rites by the William Thompson Am. Legion Post #703 of Bridgewater. A luncheon will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, following services at the cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Alvin Faux Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

ALVIN FAUX is survived by:

His wife – Evelyn Faux, of Bridgewater.

His son – David Faux, of Bridgewater.

His daughters – Cynthia Quiroz, of Yukon, OK., and Diane (Steve) Brown, of Corning.

His brothers – Eugene Faux, of Macksburg, and Donald Faux, of Patterson.

His sisters – Fannie Palmer, of Norwalk, and Rose (Chuck) Benedict, of Redfield.

11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, a great-great grandchild, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Officials: Iowa Medicine board director on paid leave

News

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say the executive director of a prominent Iowa health care regulating board has been placed on administrative leave, but they refuse to say why. The Des Moines Register reports that Mark Bowden has been the executive director of the Iowa Board of Medicine since 2008. The board licenses physicians, and also has the authority to fine or suspend them for poor care or violating ethics rules.
Iowa Department of Public Health spokeswoman Polly Carver-Kimm confirmed Bowden’s leave Thursday, but declined to offer other details.

Attorney general’s spokeswoman Lynn Hicks says Bowden began his paid leave last week. State records show Bowden was paid $114,312 last year.

Posted in News |

Adair County Extension will Host County Fair Kick-Off and Summer Social on Thursday, July 12th

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 6th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Adair County ISU Extension and Adair County 4-H will be hosting the 4-H County Fair Kick-Off event, combined with the Summer Social event on Thursday, July 12th at the 4-H/FFA Center on the fairgrounds in Greenfield. Join Extension staff, council members, and Youth Action Committee members for a fun family event! Dinner will be served from 5:00 – 7:00 pm (or until food is gone) featuring hamburgers and pork burgers grilled by the Adair County Cattlemen and Adair County Pork Producers, along with baked beans, potato salad, cake, and drinks. Free will donations will be accepted to support the Adair County 4-H program. The 4-H program reaches over 400 Adair County youth annually through 4-H community clubs, Clover Kids, and out-of-school enrichment programs, including summer youth camps.

The audience will get a glimpse of some of the talent that will be appearing as part of the county fair ‘Share the Fun’ program. There will be live entertainment, good food and fellowship as we celebrate the kick off to the Adair County Fair which is set for July 18-22. Adair County Fair Queen candidates will be introduced and conduct on-stage interviews to cap off a night of pre-fair fun, food, and activities. The actual crowning of the Adair County Fair Queen will be the opening night of the fair, Wednesday, July 18th, at 8:00pm at the fairgrounds courtyard gazebo in Greenfield.

Several items will be available at the 4-H/FFA Center during the July 12th Kick-Off and Summer Social Event. 4-H families who pre-ordered county fair 4-H t-shirts may pick them up. 4-Hers wishing to enter the Cookie/Cupcake Decorating challenge may register and pick up their containers and challenge information. County Fair gate passes can also be purchased in advance during this event. 4-H exhibitor fair passes (wristbands) must be picked up at the Extension office by Monday, July 16th. 4-H’ers will need their wristband for admission to the fairgrounds beginning Wednesday, July 18th. To help with this process, Extension staff will have wristbands available for pick-up during the County Fair Kick-Off event. The general public may also purchase fair passes (packet of 5 one-day tickets) that evening.

This event is for everyone! Join Extension as we celebrate summer and the kick off to the Adair County Fair!

(Press Release)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |