712 Digital Group - top

JERRY POCH, 85, of Atlantic (Svcs. 2/20/24)

Obituaries

February 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JERRY POCH, 85, of Atlantic (formerly of Chicopee, MA), died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, at his home in Atlantic. Funeral services for JERRY POCH will be held 10:30-a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20th, at Roland Funeral Service, in Atlantic.

Visitation with the family present will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service Tuesday, at the funeral home.

Burial with full military honors by the Atlantic Color Guard will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.

JERRY POCH is survived by:

His son – Matt (Jayne) Poch, of MA.

His daughter – Melissa (Josh) Rogers-Obal, of MA.

and one granddaughter.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Iowa police chief convicted of federal weapons charges

News

February 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(UPDATED 2/15/24) – DES MOINES, Iowa – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports that on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, a federal jury in Des Moines convicted 47-year-old Bradley Eugene Wendt, of Adair, of conspiring to make false statements to the ATF, making false statements to the ATF, and illegal possession of a machine gun.

Since July 2018, Wendt has been the Chief of Police for Adair, Iowa.  He is also the owner of BW Outfitters, a federal firearms licensee in Denison, Iowa. Evidence at trial showed that, between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt used his position as Chief of Police to obtain machine guns for his own personal use and profit, including to buy machine guns for his own store.

Generally, machine guns made after May 1986 are illegal to transfer and possess.  But, law enforcement agencies can buy machine guns for their official use and authorized dealer can get machine guns to demonstrate to a police department for the department’s future possible purchase.  If a police department wants to purchase or receive a demonstration of a machine gun, it can submit a letter to ATF, referred to as a “law letter,” expressing its need for and interest in the machine gun.

Between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt wrote nearly 40 law letters, requesting the purchase or demonstration of 90 machine guns for the Adair Police Department.  In the law letters to purchase machine guns for his two-man department, Wendt said he was buying the machine guns for the official use of his department and was not getting the machine guns for resale.  In the law letters requesting demonstrations of machine guns, Wendt said the Adair Police Department wanted a demonstration for the department’s future possible purchase of the requested machine guns.

A jury found that Wendt made false statements in several of these letters, convicting him of conspiracy to make false statements to the ATF and eight counts of making a false statement to the ATF.  Evidence at trial showed that Wendt purchased machine guns for the Adair Police Department, but later resold those machine guns at a personal profit of nearly $80,000.  The evidence also showed Wendt used demonstration law letters to purchase machine guns for his own gun store, BW Outfitters, including a .50 caliber machine gun called a “Ma Deuce,” which he immediately mounted to his personally owned armored Humvee.

Wendt was also convicted of illegal possession of a machine gun, based on his personal possession of a belt-fed, M60 machine gun registered to the Adair Police Department.  Wendt, along with his gun store BW Outfitters, hosted a machine gun shoot in April 2022, where he charged the public to shoot machine guns, including several registered to the Adair Police Department.  The jury found Wendt was not acting within the scope of his official duties when he possessed the M60 machine gun.

Wendt faces  up to five years’ prison on the conspiracy count, five years’ prison for each false statement charge, and up to ten years’ prison for illegal possession of a machine gun. Sentencing is scheduled for June 14, 2024 at the United States Courthouse in Des Moines.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said “In a stark abuse of the position of trust he held, Brad Wendt exploited his position as chief of police to unlawfully obtain and sell guns for his own personal profit. When so many law enforcement officers in our country are working to protect our communities and uphold the law,  Brad Wendt did exactly the opposite. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who violate their oath of office to enrich themselves.”

Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen stated “Mr. Wendt was in a position of trust and his egregious behavior betrayed his community he was entrusted to protect.  Wendt was sworn to uphold the law, but instead he abused his authority as the Chief of Police for his own personal benefit.”

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement. “No one relishes seeking criminal prosecution of a law enforcement officer,” stated U.S. Attorney Richard Westphal,
“however, with the oath of public service, comes the accountability of putting the public trust at the forefront of this duty. An oath that most officers zealously pursue every day with honor. If an individual law enforcement officer is the exception to this rule, then we should not shirk from holding them accountable. Our thanks to the dedicated work of the investigative ATF and FBI agents, and our hard working trial team.” This case was investigated by ATF and FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell, Ryan Leemkuil, and Shai Gonzales.

Posted in News |

DINNEBIER NAMED A BECKY HAMMON MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALIST

Sports

February 14th, 2024 by Jim Field

HOPEWELL, N.J. – Drake women’s basketball star Katie Dinnebier was named a Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Semifinalist, Her Hoop Stats announced this morning.

The junior point guard has been the Bulldogs’ top scorer this season with 18.7 points per game on percentages of .538 from the field, .383 from three-point territory, and .879 from the free throw line. Dinnebier is also leads the team and the Missouri Valley Conference with 150 total assists, good enough for a 6.5 apg average, and 60 total steals, a 26 spg average.

Dinnebier is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2024 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award. The 10 student-athletes (listed below) represent 10 different teams and nine different conferences.

In order to be eligible for this honor, players must compete in one of the 26 leagues considered “mid-major.” Dinnebier was named to the 25-player preseason watch list in October and was again included on the midseason watch list in January. Finalists will be announced in early March with the winner named around the Final Four.

2024 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Semifinalists

Izzy Higginbottom – Jr. – Guard – Arkansas State

McKenna Hofschild – Gr. – Guard – Colorado State

Abbey Hsu – Sr. – Guard – Columbia

Katie Dinnebier – Jr. – Guard – Drake

Meghan Andersen – Fr. – Road Runner – Fairfield

Emani Jefferson – RJr. – Shooter – FGCU

Yvonne Ejim – Sr. – Forward – Gonzaga

Diamond Johnson – Jr. – Guard – Norfolk State

Desi-Rae Young – Sr. – Center – UNLV

Rachael Rose – Jr. – Guard – Wofford

Posted in Sports |

State Wrestling Session 3- Class 1A – 02/14/2024

Sports

February 14th, 2024 by Jim Field

Class 1A Team Standings (Day 1)

1 Don Bosco 50.5
2 Wilton 45.5
3 Alburnett 37.5
4 Jesup 31.0
5 Underwood  28.0
6 West Hancock, Britt 27.0
7 Nashua-Plainfield 25.0
8 Pleasantville 21.0
8 West Branch 21.0
10  Earlham 20.0
10  Hinton
13  Riverside, Oakland  18.0

Class 1A First + Second Round Matches

106

Crosby Yoder (Logan-Magnolia) 41-1 received a (Bye)

Kaiden Belinsky (Wapsie Valley) 34-8 won by tech fall over Avery Vacek (Underwood) 26-19 (TF-1.5 4:41 (16-0))

Kingston Carrigan (Riverside, Oakland) 30-13 won by fall over Braeden Thomas (Central Decatur) 37-13 (Fall 2:56)

Round 2 – Wesley Sadler (Lisbon) 37-9 won by fall over Kingston Carrigan (Riverside, Oakland) 30-14 (Fall 5:42)

Round 2 – Crosby Yoder (Logan-Magnolia) 42-1 won by fall over Hunter Hodina (BGM, Brooklyn) 35-10 (Fall 1:52)

 

113

Kalab Kuhl (Logan-Magnolia) 30-3 received a (Bye)

Brayden Maeder (Southwest Valley) 37-8 won by fall over Brock Nebergall (Lone Tree) 14-16 (Fall 2:33)

Gavin Landers (Denver) 42-0 won by fall over Davin Holste (Shenandoah) 21-19 (Fall 0:38)

Round 2 – Tommy Booth (Pleasantville) 41-4 won by major decision over Kalab Kuhl (Logan-Magnolia) 30-4 (MD 13-1)

Round 2- Nic Brase (Nashua-Plainfield) 42-3 won by major decision over Brayden Maeder (Southwest Valley) 37-9 (MD 8-0)

 

120

Eli Becerra (Missouri Valley) 34-4 received a (Bye)

Tegan Slaybaugh (AC/GC) 47-2 received a (Bye)

Kellen Oliver (Riverside, Oakland) 34-14 won by decision over Gavin Kiger (Logan-Magnolia) 30-11 (Dec 9-5)

Caleb Hoffman (Kuemper Catholic) 23-7 won by decision over Ty Strode (Nodaway Valley) 30-17 (Dec 6-1)

Gabe Johnson (Southwest Iowa) 40-11 won by decision over Connor McLaughlin (Denver) 22-16 (Dec 3-2)

Round 2 -Rowdy Neighbor (Alburnett) 50-2 won by fall over Kellen Oliver (Riverside, Oakland) 34-15 (Fall 4:00)

Round 2 – Eli Becerra (Missouri Valley) 35-4 won by fall over Caleb Hoffman (Kuemper Catholic) 23-8 (Fall 1:53)

Round 2- Tegan Slaybaugh (AC/GC) 48-2 won by major decision over Sam Egan (Sumner-Fredericksburg) 32-9 (MD 13-5)

Round 2 – Luke Guseman (Highland, Riverside) 17-5 won by decision over Gabe Johnson (Southwest Iowa) 40-12 (Dec 11-4)

 

126

Seth Ettleman (Southwest Iowa) 42-5 received a (Bye)

Joel DeJong (North Mahaska) 39-10 won by decision over Max Wingert (Logan-Magnolia) 26-12 (Dec 4-2)

Gage Burden (New London) 22-9 won by decision over Jordan Smith (Riverside, Oakland) 13-5 (Dec 9-8)

Brock Morris (Cascade) 44-6 won by fall over Gavin Sloss (AC/GC) 38-17 (Fall 2:00)

Kaben Morrow (Sioux Central) 37-5 won by decision over Luke Schroeder (Missouri Valley) 38-9 (Dec 13-8)

Payton Harger (Earlham) 39-6 won by fall over Keyin Steeve (Nodaway Valley) 33-13 (Fall 2:33)

Round 2- Brock Morris (Cascade) 45-6 won by fall over Seth Ettleman (Southwest Iowa) 42-6 (Fall 3:04)

 

132

Carson Thomsen (Underwood) 27-5 received a (Bye)

Ethan Gayken (West Hancock, Britt) 29-8 won in sudden victory – 1 over Jack Branan (Riverside, Oakland) 25-17 (SV-1 11-9)

Kai Carritt (Logan-Magnolia) 38-8 won by fall over Jackson Colsch (Hudson) 27-14 (Fall 2:38)

Bradyn Burns (East Sac County) 46-12 won by fall over Owen Becerra (Missouri Valley) 24-18 (Fall 3:07)

Landon Price (Lake Mills) 41-9 won by fall over Tristan Becker (CAM) 28-22 (Fall 0:57)

Round 2 – Carson Thomsen (Underwood) 28-5 won by decision over Kai Carritt (Logan-Magnolia) 38-9 (Dec 10-3)

Round 2 – Ryan Groom (North Mahaska) 46-3 won by tech fall over Bradyn Burns (East Sac County) 46-13 (TF-1.5 4:17 (17-2)

 

138

Blake Allen (Underwood) 17-0 received a (Bye)

Dylan Stein (Lenox) 47-0 received a (Bye)

Ethan Christoffer (Don Bosco) 14-2 won by fall over Luke Cleaver (Missouri Valley) 27-18 (Fall 0:34)

Round 2 – Blake Allen (Underwood) 18-0 won by fall over Dawson Bell (Jesup) 43-7 (Fall 1:26)

Round 2 – Caleb Cook (Pleasantville) 43-5 won by decision over Dylan Stein (Lenox) 47-1 (Dec 12-11)

 

144

Corbin Reisz (Logan-Magnolia) 43-0 received a (Bye)

Charlie Veit (East Sac County) 42-3 received a (Bye)

Carmine Shaw (Nodaway Valley) 33-9 won by decision over Dawson Becker (Alburnett) 37-13 (Dec 7-4)

Lucas Bose (Underwood) 38-6 won by fall over Ryder Cline (AC/GC) 22-11 (Fall 2:27)

Jaxon Gordon (Riverside, Oakland) 41-14 won by fall over Colton Halterman (Southeast Warren/Melcher-Dallas) 27-14 (Fall 2:30)

Auron Marsh (West Branch) 18-8 won by decision over Brenner Sullivan (Woodbine) 38-14 (Dec 2-0)

Round 2 – Corbin Reisz (Logan-Magnolia) 44-0 won by fall over Carmine Shaw (Nodaway Valley) 33-10 (Fall 3:01)

Round 2- Tiernan Boots (Lisbon) 48-3 won by decision over Lucas Bose (Underwood) 38-7 (Dec 8-4)

Round 2 – Jordan Dusenberry (Wilton) 49-3 won by tech fall over Jaxon Gordon (Riverside, Oakland) 41-15 (TF-1.5 5:15 (16-0))

Round 2 – Charlie Veit (East Sac County) 43-3 won by fall over Auron Marsh (West Branch) 18-9 (Fall 1:45)

 

150

Riley Radke (Missouri Valley) 29-5 received a (Bye)

Danny Kinsella (Treynor) 36-4 received a (Bye)

Taven Moore (Riverside, Oakland) 32-8 won by major decision over Matthew Helscher (Wapello) 16-6 (MD 17-3)

Jacob McGargill (Shenandoah) 44-4 won by fall over Conlee Stark (Mount Ayr) 34-16 (Fall 5:26)

Round 2 – Reece Klostermann (Alburnett) 46-7 won by decision over Riley Radke (Missouri Valley) 29-6 (Dec 4-3)

Round 2 – Jacob McGargill (Shenandoah) 45-4 won by decision over Rory Prazak II (Central Springs) 32-7 (Dec 4-2)

Round 2 – Danny Kinsella (Treynor) 37-4 won by fall over William Lawson (Pocahontas Area) 41-9 (Fall 3:23)

Round 2 – Taven Moore (Riverside, Oakland) 33-8 won by decision over Sampson Henson (Martensdale-St. Marys) 41-5 (Dec 16-10)

 

157

Kayden Baxter (AHSTW) 30-4 received a (Bye)

Owen Laughlin (Shenandoah) 42-1 received a (Bye)

Ben Hansen (Missouri Valley) 38-7 received a (Bye)

Nolan Kriegel (Iowa Valley, Marengo) 43-4 won by decision over Jake Irlbeck (Kuemper Catholic) 32-9 (Dec 4-2)

Jett Rose (Riverside, Oakland) 22-8 won by fall over Chaz Graves (Southeast Warren/Melcher-Dallas) 18-4 (Fall 2:16)

Round 2 – Kayden Baxter (AHSTW) 31-4 won by decision over Jett Rose (Riverside, Oakland) 22-9 (Dec 11-5)

Round 2 – Will Buckholdt (Underwood) 35-13 won by fall over Conor Cassady (Martensdale-St. Marys) 42-4 (Fall 4:43)

Round 2 – Kanen Decker (Wapsie Valley) 41-5 won by decision over Ben Hansen (Missouri Valley) 38-8 (Dec 6-4)

 

165

Maddox Nelson (Underwood) 28-3 received a (Bye)

Clay Wilgenbusch (East Buchanan) 34-9 won by fall over Jacob Rystrom (Shenandoah) 35-16 (Fall 0:35)

Jensen Boorn (Wilton) 39-14 won by decision over A.C. Roller (Riverside, Oakland) 25-11 (Dec 10-3)

Tate Bieret (Kuemper Catholic) 32-8 won by fall over Ian Forsythe (Southwest Valley) 35-12 (Fall 5:15)

Round 2 – Maddox Nelson (Underwood) 29-3 won by decision over Hunter Sauer (Alburnett) 42-13 (Dec 9-3)

Round 2 – Jackson Kounkel (Hinton) 40-6 won by decision over Tate Bieret (Kuemper Catholic) 32-9 (Dec 6-2)

 

175

Jayden Dickerson (Shenandoah) 42-3 received a (Bye)

Zach Robbins (Treynor) 35-4 received a (Bye)

Cayden Van Meer (Panorama) 44-4 won by decision over Kody Jacobson (Ridge View) 32-11 (Dec 6-1)

Will Aitchison (Regina, Iowa City) 12-7 won by decision over Jordan Martin-England (Lenox) 41-8 (Dec 5-4)

Owen Hoover (CAM) 36-7 won by tech fall over Kaden Bush (Interstate 35) 26-18 (TF-1.5 4:27 (15-0)

Round 2 – Creighton Kelly (West Hancock, Britt) 31-3 won by decision over Cayden Van Meer (Panorama) 44-5 (Dec 5-1)

Round 2 – Zach Robbins (Treynor) 36-4 won by fall over Callyn Bishop (Baxter) 40-6 (Fall 0:43)

Round 2 – Gatlin Rogers (Wilton) 41-7 won by fall over Owen Hoover (CAM) 36-8 (Fall 5:06)

Round 2 – Jayden Dickerson (Shenandoah) 43-3 won by major decision over Gabe Anderson (Hinton) 40-8 (MD 10-2)

 

190

Tate Haffner (Southwest Valley) 41-4 received a (Bye)

Hayden Heun (Underwood) 31-16 won by fall over Michael Fuller (AC/GC) 38-14 (Fall 2:54)

Bryce Wiskus (Kuemper Catholic) 35-8 won by decision over Tate Frantz (West Branch) 28-10 (Dec 12-8)

Round 2 – Landon Fernandez (Don Bosco) 28-2 won by major decision over Hayden Heun (Underwood) 31-17 (MD 13-3)

Round 2 – Nathan Beitz (Maquoketa Valley) 43-2 won by fall over Bryce Wiskus (Kuemper Catholic) 35-9 (Fall 3:19)

Round 2 – Tate Haffner (Southwest Valley) 42-4 won by decision over Kyle Kuhlmann (Sumner-Fredericksburg) 34-8 (Dec 7-0)

 

215

Henry Lund (AHSTW) 28-4 received a (Bye)

Ashton Honnold (Nodaway Valley) 45-2 received a (Bye)

Kyler Sallis (Don Bosco) 27-3 won by fall over Jayden Beckman (St. Albert) 17-23 (Fall 2:21)

Grant Henderson (Sumner-Fredericksburg) 32-7 won in sudden victory – 1 over Carter Richter (AC/GC) 26-20 (SV-1 7-5)

Quintyn Rocha (West Branch) 29-7 won by decision over Carson Edney (Logan-Magnolia) 34-10 (Dec 6-4)

Round 2 – Kyler Sallis (Don Bosco) 28-3 won by decision over Henry Lund (AHSTW) 28-5 (Dec 16-14)

Round 2 – Ashton Honnold (Nodaway Valley) 46-2 won by decision over Quintyn Rocha (West Branch) 29-8 (Dec 5-2)

 

285

Trenton Warner (Nodaway Valley) 46-2 received a (Bye)

Payton Jacobe (AC/GC) 46-6 received a (Bye)

Jace Henderson (MVAOCOU) 43-5 won by fall over Steven Perkins (Shenandoah) 28-21 (Fall 0:49)

Cooper Marvel (Southwest Iowa) 15-5 won by fall over Kael Hanig (Newman Catholic) 19-13 (Fall 1:45)

Joel Cooper (Panorama) 40-11 won by major decision over Antoni Solovi (Postville) 34-14 (MD 10-0)

Garrett Hoyt (Iowa Valley, Marengo) 41-7 won by decision over RJ Dishong (Griswold) 37-11 (Dec 3-2)

Round 2 – Trenton Warner (Nodaway Valley) 47-2 won by fall over Isaac Cox (Cardinal Community) 32-8 (Fall 4:55)

Round 2 – Logan Wright (West Branch) 32-3 won by fall over Cooper Marvel (Southwest Iowa) 15-6 (Fall 5:16)

Round 2 – Payton Jacobe (AC/GC) 47-6 won by decision over Joel Cooper (Panorama) 40-12 (Dec 5-2)

Posted in Sports |

Airline travel sets record, highway travel up in 2023

News

February 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Travel by planes, trains, and automobiles was up across Iowa in 2023. D-O-T spokesperson Stuart Anderson says airplane travel led the way. “We did end 2023 setting a record for passenger counts at our eight commercial service airports. With four-point-six (4.6) million passengers, which was higher than four-point-five million, which was in 2019,” Anderson says. Travel on the state roadways in the last year was also above the pre-pandemic level.

“We did end the year slightly below the 2019 December, but overall we are one-point-seven percent higher in vehicle miles of travel than in calendar year 22, and one tenth of a percent higher than calendar year 2019,” he says. He says there was an increase in rail shipping of some products that had slowed during the pandemic.

“We did see motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts shipped on rail increased by twelve-point-three percent (12.3%) over the previous calendar year, petroleum products on rail went up eleven percent,” he says. “Grain products on rail went down nine-point-eight percent (9.8%) compared to 2022, in large part due to less exports of our grains overall.”

Anderson provided the numbers during the State Transportation Commission meeting Tuesday.

Posted in News |

Budmayr Elevated To Receivers Coach

Sports

February 14th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Jon Budmayr has been elevated to University of Iowa wide receivers coach after serving as the senior special assistant to the head coach in 2023 and an offensive analyst in 2022. Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz made the announcement on Wednesday.

“Jon is an excellent coach and a perfect fit for this position,” said Moon Family Head Coach Kirk Ferentz. “He has a wealth of knowledge and a familiarity with our program that make him a natural to take this role.”

“My wife and I are very appreciative to have the opportunity to be at Iowa,” Budmayr said. “I have so much respect for Coach Ferentz and the program he’s built over many years. I’m excited to work for him and alongside the great people on our staff. I’m also very appreciative of the opportunity to work with an incredible group of student athletes and help them develop on and off the field.”

Budmayr joined the Iowa staff from Colorado State, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2021. Prior to that, Budmayr spent six seasons at Wisconsin, including the final three as quarterbacks coach. Under Budmayr’s direction, Badger quarterbacks set Wisconsin program records, including a school-record 236 completions by Jack Coan in 2019. Coan’s 2019 season also included the third-most passing yards in a season in Wisconsin history (2,727), while his 69.6 percent completion rate also ranked third in school history and was No. 7 nationally that year.

A native of Woodstock, Illinois, Budmayr earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wisconsin in 2013. He and his wife, Kaitlyn, have a daughter, Sienna, and a son, Jack.

 

Posted in Sports |

3 Hawkeyes Earn B1G Preseason Honors

Sports

February 14th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three University of Iowa baseball players — Junior Brody Brecht, junior Marcus Morgan and junior Sam Petersen — have been named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch list, the conference announced Wednesday.

The Hawkeyes were selected to finish first in the preseason coaches’ poll. Indiana was tabbed to finish second, followed by Maryland, Rutgers, Nebraska and Michigan. Only the top six were released.

Brecht posted a 3.74 ERA in 17 appearances as a sophomore. The Ankeny, Iowa, native allowed just 38 hits and 28 runs over 77 innings. He allowed just nine extra base hits and a .174 batting average against. Brecht led the nation with 4.32 hits allowed per nine innings and tallied 109 strikeouts, the second most in program history.

Morgan made 17 appearances as a sophomore. He finished with a 5-2 record and a 3.72 ERA. He struck out 72 batters in 61 1/3 innings. The Iowa City, Iowa, native ranked third in the nation with 5.23 hits per nine.

Petersen appeared in 51 games for the Hawkeyes including 49 starts in his sophomore season. He hit .319 with 53 hits, 47 RBIs and led the team with 20 stolen bases. The Huxley, Iowa, native tallied 11 home runs, nine doubles, and a triple.

Iowa’s season opener is Friday, February 16, against Seton Hall in Charleston, South Carolina.

Posted in Sports |

State Wrestling Session 2- Class 3A – 02/14/2024

Sports

February 14th, 2024 by Jim Field

Class 3A Team Results

1 Southeast Polk 58.0
2 Ankeny Centennial 48.5
3 Bettendorf 47.5
4 Fort Dodge 37.0
5 Bondurant-Farrar 35.5
5 Indianola 35.5
7 Johnston 34.0
8 Linn-Mar 32.0
9 Ankeny 31.5
9 Dubuque Hempstead 31.5
21 Lewis Central 16.5

Class 3A  First + Second Round Matches

106

Weston Porter (Lewis Central) 32-0 received a (Bye)

Round 2 –

Weston Porter (Lewis Central) 33-0 won by fall over Trace Rial (Fort Dodge) 26-23 (Fall 0:44)

120

Drew Anderson (Lewis Central) 32-10 received a (Bye)

Jaymeson VanderVelde (Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln) 39-6 won by decision over Aiden Winkie (Ankeny) 20-17 (Dec 4-3)

Round 2 –

Jaymeson VanderVelde (Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln) 40-6 won by decision over Drew Anderson (Lewis Central) 32-11 (Dec 10-6)

126

Noah Phillips (Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson) 27-11 won by decision over Camron Bennett (Des Moines East) 30-18 (Dec 4-2)

Round 2 – Nate Fish (Linn-Mar) 20-2 won by fall over Noah Phillips (Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson) 27-12 (Fall 2:44)

132

Carter Schorsch (Lewis Central) 36-8 won by tech fall over Keller Wilson (Cedar Falls) 20-21 (TF-1.5 5:29 (20-3))

Round 2 –

John King (Waukee Northwest) 31-10 won in tie breaker – 1 over Carter Schorsch (Lewis Central) 36-9 (TB-1 4-3)

138

Nolan Howell (Clear Creek-Amana) 40-14 won by fall over Jaxon Brewer (Lewis Central) 27-22 (Fall 1:43)

157

Abe Bushong (Southeast Polk) 26-6 won by major decision over Parker Herzog (Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln) 37-12 (MD 8-0)

165

Hale Rhodes (Mason City) 24-12 won by fall over Matt Long (Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln) 26-16 (Fall 3:33)

190

Zander Wedemeier (Waverly-Shell Rock) 28-14 won by major decision over Cameron Moore (Lewis Central) 24-16 (MD 9-1)

215

Joseph Monge (Lewis Central) 34-15 won by fall over Jay Lightle (North Scott) 30-23 (Fall 5:49)

Round 2 –

Evan Franke (Muscatine) 31-3 won by decision over Joseph Monge (Lewis Central) 34-16 (Dec 3-2)

285

Carlos Andrade (Lewis Central) 12-6 won by major decision over Ashton Honore (Iowa City, West) 18-14 (MD 11-3)

Round 2 –

Luke Fierke (Fort Dodge) 34-9 won by fall over Carlos Andrade (Lewis Central) 12-7 (Fall 1:41)

 

Posted in Sports |

Bill would let private CPAs, not state auditor, review state spending

News

February 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill introduced in the Iowa Senate would let state agencies hire private C-P-A firms to audit government spending rather than have the state auditor’s office do it. Senator Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankeny, says private C-P-As can audit state agencies in Illinois. “It is a flexibility that exists today for our cities. In fact the City of Des Moines, the largest city in our state, hires not the state auditor’s office — even though they could, but they hire a private CPA firm,” Bousselot says, “as well as the vast majority of school districts in our state.”

Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, says this is the second year in a row Republicans have introduced a bill to limit the authority of State Auditor Rob Sand.  “You know we can all act like there’s no elephant in the room, but there is. We have one Democrat elected statewide — one — and he’s the auditor, unfortunately for you because he’s the guy that can look in to see what the rest of yous are doing,” Bisignano said. “That seems to be a problem here now.”

John McCormally is chief of staff in the state auditor’s office. He told lawmakers it would likely cost the state five MILLION dollars more to have private C-P-As do the work that’s being done now by the state auditor’s office. “Voters make a choice for state auditor every four years and the author of this bill doesn’t like who they chose,” McCormally said, “so he wants to use more taxpayer money to hire somebody else.”

Marlys Gaston recently retired as the chief deputy in the financial audit division in the state auditor’s office. She worked for two Republican state auditors as well as Democrat Rob Sand and she’s raising concerns about the bill. “Allowing the departments to choose their independent auditor would, I think, eliminate economy and efficiency to begin with,” Gaston says. “…You’re increasing costs exponentially.”

A lobbyist for the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants told lawmakers fewer C-P-A firms are willing to audit government agencies due to the nationwide shortage of C-P-As. Bousselot says letting state agencies hire private C-P-A firms for audits might boost the workforce. “The flexibility to hire ethical but private CPAs that are answerable to the same standards as a public CPA,…is something that we could leverage here at the state to get more CPAs and greater expertise in delivering audits for state government.”

The bill has cleared a Senate subcommittee and is likely to be approved by a Senate committee later today (Wednesday).

Posted in News |

Northern Iowa women visit Belmont Thursday night

Sports

February 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The Northern Iowa women take an 8-4 Missouri Valley Conference record to Nashville on Thursday night take play Belmont. The Panthers are tied for fourth in the Valley race with Murray State. Belmont is 10-2 and a game behind league leader Drake.

That’s UNI coach Tanya Warren. The Panthers have won four of their last five games and Warren says defense is the reason.

With guard Emerson Green out for the remainder of the season with an injury several players have stepped up off the bench.

Posted in Sports |