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Iowa couple charged in Va. with sex trafficking

News

February 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — An Iowa couple are being charged in Virginia with sex trafficking after a woman found in their recreational vehicle said they were holding her against her will. The U.S. attorney’s office says 36-year-old Aldair Hodza and 31-year-old Laura Sorensen of Clive, Iowa, made in an initial appearance Thursday in federal court.

The two were arrested on Jan. 6 east of Richmond in New Kent County after police said a frightened and malnourished 20-year-old woman told officers the couple had physically and sexually abused her. She also said she had been forced to engage in prostitution during the trip from Iowa to Virginia.

The government said Sorensen and Hodza told officers they were on vacation.

IA native, former Creighton President Schlegel diagnosed with cancer

News

February 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Former Creighton University President John Schlegel has been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. The Omaha World-Herald reported Thursday the Jesuit priest who led Creighton during a period of growth between 2000 and 2011 shared news of his diagnosis in a letter. Schlegel asked for prayers from his family and friends as he decides whether to undergo chemotherapy or let the disease take its course. He says this week’s letter may be his farewell, but he does not fear death.

Schlegel is currently pastor of Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa in 1943. Before becoming president at Creighton, Schlegel was president of the University of San Francisco, another Jesuit college. Earlier in his career, he also worked at Marquette University and John Carroll University.

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, Feb. 13th 2015

News

February 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — By posting online all of his personal email from his eight years as Florida’s governor, Jeb Bush sought to show himself as a tech-savvy executive, in touch with constituents and an active administrator. But tucked away in a small percentage of those hundreds of thousands of messages were the names, birthdates and Social Security numbers of more than 12,000 people. A data security firm, Identity Finder, audited the database. By Thursday, Bush had removed the private information from all but a few hundred of the emails he had posted to a website, jebemails DOT com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 28-year-old man who fell into a large tank filled with chemical cleaning solution has been rescued. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded yesterday to a call that an employee had fallen into a vat of chemical cleaner at Chemorse, Limited in Des Moines.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 30-year-old Davenport man has been sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and other crimes. The Quad-City Times reports that Devyn Fix was sentenced Thursday for the shooting death of 18-year-old Thomas Taylor in September.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa assistant coach Brian Ferentz has been named the program’s running game coordinator. Ferentz, the son of head coach Kirk Ferentz and a former three-year starter for the Hawkeyes, has served as Iowa’s offensive line coach for the past three seasons. He’ll continue to coach the linemen.

LARRY EDWARD JACOBSEN, 73, of Walnut (Svcs. 2/16/15)

Obituaries

February 12th, 2015 by admin

LARRY EDWARD JACOBSEN, 73, of Walnut died Thu., Feb. 12th, at home. A Celebration of Life services for LARRY JACOBSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, Feb. 16th, at the Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.

Visitation at the funeral home will be from 3-until 7-pm Sunday, with his family present from 4-until 7-pm.

Burial will be in the Layton Township Cemetery at Walnut.

LARRY JACOBSEN is survived by

His wife – Sherry Jacobsen, of Walnut
His sons- Tomas (Katherine) Jacobsen, of Lawson, MO. & Jason (Tori) Jacobsen, of Roland, IA

His daughter- Shelley (Steven) Welter, of Atlantic

His sisters – Shirley Bladt, of Walnut, and Sharon Yearsley, of Omaha NE.

and 7 grandchildren

DARWIN PETERSEN, 84, of Tucson, AZ (formerly of Elk Horn) Svcs 2/14/15

Obituaries

February 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DARWIN PETERSEN, 84, of Tucson, AZ (& formerly of Elk Horn), died Jan. 10th, in Tucson. Services for DARWIN PETERSEN will be held Sat., Feb. 14th at 11-a.m., at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, in Elk Horn. Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton has the arrangements.

Friends may call after 10-a.m. Sat., at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church.

Burial will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.

DARWIN PETERSEN is survived by:

His wife – Wanda Jean Petersen, of Tucson.

His sons – Sheldon Petersen, of Leesburg, VA., & Curtis Petersen, of Sioux Center.

His daughter – Beth Brower, of Torrington, CT.

His brothers – Gary Petersen, of Osceola, & Marc Petersen, of Omaha.

7 grandchildren & 1 great-grandchild.

Iowa State says DL Meyers has cancer

Sports

February 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State says defensive lineman Mitchell Meyers has been diagnosed with cancer. Coach Paul Rhoads says Meyers has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He’ll begin a treatment plan that will include chemotherapy. Team physician Dr. Marc Shulman says the cure rate for Hodgkin’s lymphoma is 90 percent, adding that the fact that Meyers is in excellent overall shape should help his prognosis.

Meyers, who grew up in Texas, says in a statement that he’s receiving his treatment in Ames so he can stay in school. Meyers’ treatment plan is expected to last at least four months. Meyers started all 12 games for the Cyclones last season and was a first-team Academic All-Big 12 pick.

HAZEL SNELL, 91, of Greenfield (Svcs. 2/17/15)

Obituaries

February 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

HAZEL SNELL, 91, of Greenfield, died Wed., Feb. 11th, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston.Funeral services for HAZEL SNELL will be held 2-p.m. Tue., Feb. 17th, at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 16th, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield, where the family will greet friends from 6-to 8-pm. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Greenfield United Methodist
Church following the burial.

Memorials may be directed to the Bishop Drumm Foundation (for Margery Court), 5837 Winwood Drive, Johnston, Iowa 50131.

House fire reported in Wiota Thu. afternoon

News

February 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters from Anita and Wiota were called to the scene of a house fire this (Thursday) afternoon, on the east side of Wiota. The call about flames and smoke visible from the roof at 69424 White Pole Road, came in at around 3-p.m. Anita Fire Chief Josh Peach told KJAN News when they arrived there was just smoke visible from a wood stove chimney that caught an external decorative rooftop box on fire. The flames had been extinguished before the bulk of the firefighters arrived.

Peach said the fire never entered the house, and there was minimal structural damage from the water and firefighting efforts. The home’s owners…Jim and Kathie Mailander…were outside and safe when crews arrived. Firefighters were quick to get the situation under control. Peach said they remained on the scene for about one-half hour.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Manager Mike Kennon were also at the scene for the event.

Iowa Democrats introduce $8.75 minimum wage bill

News

February 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Democrats have introduced a bill that would raise Iowa’s minimum wage to a level they say is lower than they’d like, but maybe one that would garner more Republican support. Democratic leaders said Thursday the bill would raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.75. It would increase gradually by 2016.

Some Democrats had expressed support earlier in the session for a bill that would have raised the minimum wage gradually to $10.10. Senate President Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, said the new bill will still address people who work minimum wage jobs and have families to support.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Hiawatha Republican, declined to comment on the bill’s chances. Paulsen said he wants to focus on training for higher-paying jobs.

House panel OKs bill that would increase Iowa’s fuel tax

News

February 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House panel has approved a bill that would increase Iowa’s fuel tax, a move that mirrors action in the Senate. Members of a transportation subcommittee approved the bill Thursday. It now moves to a full committee for consideration. The bill would raise the state fuel tax by 10 cents. A Senate transportation subcommittee approved similar legislation Wednesday. A full committee can now review that bill.

Iowa’s current fuel tax is 22 cents per gallon for gasoline, including fees. Diesel fuel has a slightly higher tax and ethanol blends are a bit lower. The tax hasn’t been raised since 1989. Gov. Terry Branstad and lawmakers have been vocal about raising money to help fix the state’s network of bridges and roads, many of which are in disrepair.