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TOM STIREK, 62, of Wiota (Svcs. 5/25/24)

Obituaries

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

TOM STIREK, 62, of Wiota, died at Ellsworth, Iowa. Funeral services for TOM STIREK will be held May 25th at 11-a.m., at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation with the family will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Burial will follow at the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic. A luncheon will be held in the Schmidt Family Funeral Home community room following the burial.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to the family for future designation and can be sent in care of Schmidt Family Funeral Home to P.O. BOX 523 Atlantic, IA 50022.

DANNY BRAWE, 66, of Massena (Svcs. 5/24/24)

Obituaries

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DANNY BRAWE, 66, of Massena, died Sunday, May 12, 2024, at his home.  Celebration of Life services for DANNY BRAWE will be held 11-a.m. May 24th, at the United Methodist Church, in Massena. Lamb Funeral Home in Massena has the arrangements.

A luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the service.

There will be no visitation.

Memorials may be directed to the Massena Fire Department.

DANNY BRAWE is survived by:

His daughters – Kristen and Tess.

The mother of his girls – Kathleen

His brother – Larry (Sue) Brawe.

1 grandson, his sons-in-law, other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Lisa Bluder Announces Retirement

Sports

May 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Dear Hawkeye Nation:

It is with a range of emotions that I share with you today that I have decided to step down from leading the Iowa women’s basketball team after 24 memorable years. I informed President Wilson and Director of Athletics Beth Goetz of my decision and I am grateful for their unwavering support and offered them my assistance in any manner in the future.

It has been the honor of my career to be a part of the Iowa Hawkeye family, and to lead a women’s basketball program filled with so many talented and remarkable young women, who have gone on to do great things in their careers and, more importantly, in their lives. There is no denying that this past season was incredible for so many reasons, and we could not have accomplished our achievements without all of you. After the season ended, I spent time with our student-athletes and coaches reviewing the season and preparing those moving on for what comes next. With that also came personal contemplation about what this journey has meant to me, how to best champion this program, and what the future looks like for my family and me. After then taking some time away with my husband, David, it became clear to me that I am ready to step aside.

There is never an ideal time to retire and I am sure this fall that I will miss the games, the practices, the road trips, the atmosphere, the tremendous fans and, most importantly, the players. But my belief in the foundation of this program, knowing that success is now an unrelenting component of women’s basketball at the University of Iowa gives me comfort as I transition to become the program’s biggest champion.

I want to thank each and every young woman who believed in our program and in our values for nearly a quarter of a century, and who proudly wore the Black & Gold.

I want to thank Presidents Coleman, Skorton, Mason, Harreld and Wilson for their unequivocal support of our program and Directors of Athletics Dr. Christine Grant, Bob Bowlsby, Gary Barta and Beth Goetz for their unrelenting partnership.

I want to thank my assistant coaches and operations and support staff who each played an integral role in our journey. I specifically want to acknowledge the work of Jan Jensen and Jenni Fitzgerald whom I have had the pleasure of working alongside for the past 32 years.

I want to thank the incredible fans for believing in what we were doing and how we were doing it, creating the greatest home court advantage in all of women’s basketball.

And finally, I want to thank David and our children, Hannah, Emma and David, Jr., for supporting me while I pursued my dreams and for their own sacrifices along the way.

It is my hope that now with more time and energy, I can be an asset to our basketball program and this athletics department in any way that I am able.

With Love and Gratitude,

Lisa

That garage sale purchase may be cheap, but it may not be safe

News

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who enjoy the thrill of finding great deals at yard sales need to be wary of the potential dangers when purchasing items second-hand. Consumer protection expert Michelle Reinen says you should take special care with toys that might be unsafe, in addition to things like old cribs and used car seats.

Reinen says, “The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls products annually that could cause injury and death.” You can look up your potential purchase in an online database at Safer Products-dot-gov to see if a recall has been issued. For Iowans who might be planning to hold a garage sale, there’s always a risk of scammers trying to trick you. Reinen says there have been recent reports of people passing counterfeit bills at rummage sales.

“If you’re selling a $2 item and you’re handed a $100 bill, maybe that’s something you need to analyze a little more closely and see if you can get the $2 out of them, rather than being at risk with that $100 bill in your hand,” she says. If you think you’re being scammed, Reinen says to call local law enforcement and file a report.

Iowa Attorney General Bird attends Trump’s trial in New York

News

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is in New York City today, among a group of supporters who’ve joined Donald Trump at his trial.

Bird endorsed Trump last October, the only statewide elected official to publicly back Trump before the 2024 Iowa Caucuses. She spoke briefly at a news conference held during a break in the trial. “What we need to do is get politics out of the courtroom and let President Trump get back on the campaign trail,” Bird said. “Let the American people decide who the next leader of the free world will be and politics has absolutely no place in this courtroom or any other.”

In a written statement issued after her arrival in New York, Bird called the criminal charges against Trump “lawfare” and :election interference.” Bird said the trial is an effort by President Biden “and his far left allies” to keep Trump :off the campaign trail by keeping him tied up in court.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird speaking to reporters in New York City today. (Photo from @BrennaBird X account.)

Bird began her written statement by calling the case against Trump a “political prosecution.” Delegates at the Iowa GOP State Convention applauded Bird when she made a similar statement earlier this month.

“Politics has absolutely no place in a prosecution, right? It never should and never has when I prosecuted cases,” Bird said May 4. “We have to protect our court system and our justice system, too, from those kind of overreaches and people who would use it for political purposes.”

Bird, a former aide to Congressman Steve King and Governor Terry Branstad, was a county attorney when she was elected Iowa Attorney General in 2022.

In a written statement, Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Rita Hart said Iowans “deserve an Attorney General who’s focused on serving her constituents rather than her political ambitions.”

A spokesperson for Bird says no taxpayer dollars were spent on Bird’s travel to the trial.

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 5/13/24

News

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report seven recent arrests:

On Monday (May 13th), at around 8-a.m., Mills County Deputies arrested 41-year-old Jennifer Lynne Kugland, of Council Bluffs, on a warrant for Harassment int eh 1st degree. Kugland taken into custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail, held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

There were two arrests Sunday, in Mills County: 50-year-old Jeffery Scott Leytham, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for  Possession of Controlled Substance and Driving Under Suspension (Bond $1,300); and, 48-year-old Jason Vaughn Young, of Silver City, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear (Bond: $2,000).

Early Saturday morning, Mills County Deputies arrested Jose Manuel Maldonado-Santamaria, of Bellevue, NE, for OWI/1st Offense, and Interference with Official Acts (Bond: $1,000).

Last Friday, 52-year-old Scott Michael Hardman, of Malvern, was arrested for DUS (Bond $300); and 36-year-old Joshua Michael Brizendine, Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation (Bond $10,000).

And, finally, on May 9th: 23-year-old Alberto Lopez Velazquez (No known address), was arrested for Harassment 3rd, Operating Without Certificate of Title, No Valid Drivers License, Provide Proof Financial Liability and Operate Without Registration/Plate (Bond $300).

Montgomery County Supervisors likely to attend pipeline info. meeting

News

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna reports the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors may be attending an Informational meeting to learn more about the proposed CO2 pipelines. They meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 14th, from 7-until 8-p.m., at the Stanton Viking Center.

Ozuna says “There is a possibility that there will be a quorum. No official county business will be acted upon during that time.”

Iowa REALTOR® Awarded $150,000 Grant to Assist Iowans Displaced By April Tornadoes

News

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — Following devastating storms in southwestern and central Iowa, the Iowa Association of REALTORS® wants to ensure Iowans are afforded the resources to rebuild their homes and sense of community. Today (Monday), IAR announced the launch of a grant program providing individuals impacted by recent storms with funds to help with their mortgage or rental payments.  In partnership with the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF), IAR will provide up to $1,500 in mortgage and rental payments due to displacement, to individuals who primarily reside in Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Ringgold, Shelby, Union, and Pottawattamie counties.

Gavin Blair, CEO of Iowa Realtors said “We are thrilled to partner with the REALTOR® Relief Foundation to provide $150,000 in grants to Iowans who suffered displacement due to recent tornadoes in Southwest and Central Iowa. The devastation caused by these storms is immense and it will take the entire community of Iowa to help ensure these communities can once again thrive. Iowa REALTORS® stand behind our communities and are ready to provide support, both financially and physically, to help get Iowans back home.”

Severe storms and 24 tornadoes wreaked havoc on many parts of Iowa on April 26. More than 300 residences and buildings were damaged during the storms, significantly impacting the housing for hundreds of Iowans.IAR

Qualifications for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation assistance include:

  • Individual grants may be approved up to a limit of $1,500 per household.
  • Recipient must be a primary resident of the following counties: Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Ringgold, Shelby, Union, and Pottawattamie
Assistance is available to qualified applicants as one of the following options:
  • Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged during the severe storms on April 26, 2024.
  • Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the severe storms of April 26, 2024.
  • Reimbursement for hotel lodging required due to displacement from primary residence as a result of severe storms on April 26. 2024. Reimbursement only covers hotel room and tax costs.
  • Relief assistance is limited to a maximum of $1,500 per household.
All grants are contingent upon the availability of funds. As a result, aid will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applications close on June 28, 2024.
Learn more about Tornado Relief

$5 million in state gambling taxes going to renovation of state office building

News

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The resolution of a disagreement between Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate means five million dollars in state gambling taxes will be used to complete renovations of the Lucas State Office Building. The building, which opened in 1952, is east of the Iowa Capitol. Republican Representative Jacob Bossman of Sioux City says the original plan House Republicans developed for spending gambling taxes did not include funding for the Lucas Building upgrades, while Senate Republicans suggested spending 10 million dollars on the building.

“We originally weren’t funding that project,” Bossman says, “but are acknowledging this money is necessary to complete the DHHS merger and allow everybody to be housed under one roof.”

In 2022, lawmakers approved the governor’s plan to merge the Departments of Human Services and Public Health — but the agencies were housed in two different state office buildings. The Department of Health and Human Services is the largest agency in state government, with over five-thousand employees. The Lucas building has six floors of office space and is named for Iowa’s first territorial governor, Robert Lucas.

Governor OKs State of Iowa’s $8.91 billion budget for next fiscal year

News

May 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The governor has another week to sign or veto the remaining bills passed by the 2024 Iowa legislature. She’s already approved a billion dollar tax cut AND the state spending plans for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. The nearly nine BILLION dollar state budget is four-point-two percent higher than the current year’s spending level. The budget for the state’s court system includes a five percent salary increase for Iowa judges.

The governor has signed bills that divert 10 million dollars from Iowa’s Area Education Agencies to set up a new division in the Iowa Department of Education to oversee the A-E-As. As many as 62 new state employees will be hired for the Division of Special Education.

The budget for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources includes a quarter of a million dollars to address accessibility issues at state parks.