DES MOINES, Iowa –— This Friday (May 6th), Governor Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens and the state of Iowa will honor two Iowa State Patrol Troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice – Trooper Ted Benda and Sergeant Jim K. Smith.  Each of the officers dedicated their lives to serving Iowans to protect and keep our communities safe. You are welcome to attend the event or view it through the Iowa State Patrol’s Facebook Live page. (additional details can be found below)

The ceremony will honor Trooper Benda and Sgt. Smith, as well as the many other Iowa officers who have given their lives in the line of duty over the last 153 years.

On the evening of October 14th, 2021, Trooper Ted Benda was in route to assist a local law enforcement agency with the apprehension of a wanted subject in Clayton County. Trooper Benda was traveling down Highway 51 in rural Allamakee County. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Trooper Benda encountered a deer on the roadway. Evasive action was taken where he lost control of his vehicle, rolling it several times. Trooper Benda was airlifted to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he died from his injuries six days later. Trooper Benda served the Department of Public Safety for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Trooper Benda

On April 9, 2021, Sergeant Jim Smith was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a subject who had assaulted and disarmed another law enforcement officer during a traffic stop near Grundy Center. The subject initially fled as officers attempted to stop him, but the subject stopped and confronted law enforcement and antagonized them to shoot him. The man then assaulted one of the officers and disarmed him after placing the officer in a chokehold. The subject was able to get back into his car and fled to his home.

Responding officers established a perimeter around the home and established an arrest team. When the arrest team entered the home, the man opened fire with a shotgun, striking Sergeant Smith. Other members of the team were able to remove Sergeant Smith from the home. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The subject shot at an Iowa State Patrol tactical team at about 11:50 p.m. The man was wounded by return fire, taken into custody, and charged with murder.

Sgt. Smith

Sergeant Smith had served with the Iowa State Patrol for 27 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

IOWA PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL CEREMONY

Friday, May 6, 2022
10:00 AM

Iowa Peace Officer Memorial
Grounds East of Oran Pape State Office Building
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
(Rain Location: State Capitol rotunda)

FACEBOOK LIVE: Iowa State Patrol

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating two accidents, one of which resulted in a fatality. Authorities say at around 11:44-a.m. Sunday, a 2008 Chevy pickup was traveling south on Highway 218 at a high rate of speed in southeast Iowa’s Washington County, when, according to witnesses, the vehicle went out of control. It entered the west ditch, vaulted a small creek and made contact with a tree, before coming to rest beside the tree. The driver, 25-year-old Brenden Poole, of Ossian, died at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt. A minor passenger in the vehicle was injured.

And, at around 8:45-p.m. Friday, a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 52-year-old William Cleveland, of Nashua, was traveling south in a construction zone on Highway 218 north of Nashua (in Floyd County). When the cycle went onto the west shoulder, and crossed back over the road, Cleveland was thrown from the machine. He was transported by ambulance to the Floyd County Medical Center.

(Radio Iowa) – A large group of veterans, mostly from north-central and northwest Iowa, will fly to Washington, D-C this coming weekend. The Brushy Creek Chapter of Honor Flights will depart Fort Dodge early Saturday for the day-long journey. Charlie Walker, one of the tour’s organizers, says it’ll be a full charter. “We got about 150 total people,” Walker says. “I’m guessing about 130 veterans and the rest of them are support staff.”

The support staff members for this flight include a physician, three nurses, and a firefighter/paramedic. Among the veterans, there are at least six Iowans who served in the Korean War. “It’s mostly Vietnam veterans but we do have a 101-year-old World War Two lady veteran, Navy veteran going,” Walker says. “Edna Marusca out of Lake City, and her granddaughter is going to go and take care of her in the wheelchair.”

The group will fly to Dulles International Airport and board buses to visit various sites monuments and historic sites in Washington. The plane will return to Fort Dodge Saturday night. The flights have been held from Fort Dodge for more than 10 years. Another one is set for August 27th.

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Monday) marks the start of National Small Business Week as merchants and entrepreneurs all across Iowa are being credited for their resilience and staying power during the pandemic. Jayne Armstrong, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Iowa District Office, says she and other S-B-A staffers will be visiting a long list of Iowa businesses. “We always like to keep it personal,” Armstrong says. “We like to get out and recognize the businesses and organizations that win awards by celebrating in front of their employees, in front of their stakeholders, and other community leaders that played a role in their success.”

In the interest of health and safety, this week’s in-person gatherings in Washington D-C are being postponed for one more year, but they’re only as far away as your computer. “National Small Business Week is virtual this year, and next year we’ll be back to in-person with a lot of the classes online, too,” Armstrong says. “There’s always a lot of great speakers and different things like that in different workshops.” While some Iowa businesses were forced to close during the pandemic, others found ways to adapt, stay afloat and succeed, which she says is an accomplishment worth celebrating. “They’re survivors, they’re resilient,” Armstrong says. “These businesses, especially now that are being recognized, really deserve some extra praise if you will, because of coming out of one of the hardest economic cycles we’ve ever seen in this country.”

The S-B-A’s virtual summit is free and offers access to critical federal resources, new business strategies, and an opportunity to meet other business owners and chat with industry experts.

https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Sunday night, arrested a man for OWI/1st offense. Authorities say 38-year-old Keegun Michael Hoyt, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 8:15-p.m. in the 1800 block of Crestline Drive. Hoyt was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A REMINDER: The second of two Cass County Republicans “Know your candidates” forums will take place this (Monday) evening, at the Cass County Community Center, in Atlantic. The event will begin at approximately 7-p.m. and conclude at 8:30-p.m. Whereas the last forum covered the candidates’ positions on Laws & Regulations; Energy & Labor, and Exploring Agriculture, this second forum will lean more toward discussion concerning Government Control, Education, and Law and Order.

The following Republican candidates for office have been invited to attend:

• For U-S Senate: Incumbent Charles Grassley.
• State Senator – Candidate for U-S House: Jim Carlin
• Candidate for U-S House/3rd District: State Senator Zach Nunn; Nicole Hasso; Gary Leffler.
• Candidates for State Auditor: ToddHalbur; Mary Ann Hanusa.
• Candidate for State Attorney General: Brenna Bird.