712 Digital Group - top

State tax rebate for Knoxville Raceway extended to 2030

News

June 28th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Managers of the Knoxville Raceway are getting five more years to accumulate a state tax break of up to one-point-eight MILLION dollars to finance facility improvements. Iowa lawmakers originally approved a sales tax rebate nearly a decade ago, letting the track keep state sales taxes charged on services and goods sold at the track. Senator Julian Garrett of Indianola, who represents Knoxville, says the rebate was set to end in 2025.

“We all know what happened. COVID came along and that really disrupted things,” Garrett says. “Some of their big races they were not able to have and the ones they did have had very limited attendance, so they’re way behind in what they would have normally had in the amount of money collected from these rebates.” A state law that goes into effect Saturday extends the state sales tax rebate for the Knoxville track until 2030.

“In a way, you could say it’s not really changing anything,” Garrett says. “It’s just giving them a little more time to collect the money they would have been able to collect by 2025 had it not been for COVID and some of these other things.” One of them was a dispute with the Iowa Department of Revneue. It prevented the track from claiming the sales tax rebate for a couple of years. Knoxville’s population of about 75-hundred will swell to more than 30-thousand during each of the four days of racing for the Knoxville Nationals in August.

Senator Bill Dotzler says the races attract sprint car racing fans from around the world. “These are cultural events. They mean something,” Dotzler says. “People in Iowa love racing.” Weekly stock car racing began in 1954 on the Marion County Fairgrounds, but a few years later lighter weight sprint cars began racing on the track. The first Knoxville Nationals were held in 1961.

Posted in News |

Fatal accident in Greene County, Monday evening

News

June 28th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Scranton, Iowa) – A multi-vehicle chain reaction crash Monday evening in Greene County claimed the life of a woman from Carroll. The Iowa State Patrol, Tuesday, reported that a front seat passenger in one of the vehicles, 84-year-old Mary Ann Haberl, of Carroll, died in the crash. The drivers of two of the vehicles were injured.

The Patrol says the accident happened at around 5:34-p.m. on Highway 30 near Forest Avenue, northeast of Scranton. Vehicles driven by 88-year-old Donald Clayton Haberl, of Carroll, 17-year-old Harley Marie Smith, of Jefferson, and 63-year-old Becky Jo Wolf, of Scranton, were stopped on the highway due to road construction.

A 2003 Toyota Prius driven by 30-year-old Amy Marie Yager, of Coon Rapids, collided with the rear of Haberl’s 2019 Chevy Equinox, which then proceeded to hit the rear of a 2007 Ford Focus, driven by Smith. The impact pushed the Ford into rear of the 2018 Ford Explorer driven by Wolf.

Amy Yager and Donald Haberl was transported to the Greene County Medical Center by Greene County EMS. Each of the crash victims were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office Office.

Posted in News |

Montgomery County officials mourn the loss of a former Sheriff; Some offices to close Thursday

News

June 27th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office said Tuesday evening, that “Out of deepest respect, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors would like to announce that some courthouse departments and other county department locations may be closed for the funeral of the late Montgomery County Sheriff, Joe Sampson on Thursday, June 29th.

Joe Sampson died Sunday, June 25th, at the age of 67. His funeral services take place 10-a.m. Thursday, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Red Oak. Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel in Red Oak is in charge of arrangements.

Sampson served as sheriff in Montgomery County from 2009 until his retirement in December, 2020.  A native of Elliott, Joe Sampson began his law enforcement career serving as a military police officer in the U-S Army during the Vietnam War. He then joined the Griswold Police Department in 1977, and served as an officer before becoming chief. Sampson joined the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in September, 1992, and worked as a road deputy, civil process deputy, jail administrator and first deputy until becoming sheriff.

Sampson’s successor as sheriff, Jon Spunaugle, worked with Sampson for 22 years, including 12 years as his chief deputy.

Posted in News |

Tips for calming your pet during fireworks season

News

June 27th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – We’re still a week from Independence Day but many Iowans are celebrating early by setting off fireworks and other explosives — and those sporadic, unexpected noises can scare your pets. The loud booms can also make dogs, in particular, feel threatened or trapped. Veterinarian Susan Lowum says you’ll know when your dog is stressed as they may be more alert than usual or downright terrified, trembling and trying to escape.

If your pet shows symptoms of stress, Lowum says don’t ignore or scold them, but instead, get them to a quiet place in your home away from the noise. That might be in the basement or a room that doesn’t have windows, and Lowum says if your pet’s safe place is in a kennel, be sure to leave the door open to avoid them injuring themselves by trying to get out.

Posted in News |

Branstad says US-China relations at low point

News

June 27th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recently returned to China, the country where he served as U-S Ambassador for three years. “We still do a significant amount of business with them,” Branstad says. “The Chinese appreciate the quality and the safety of American food. We sell them a lot of agriculture goods, but we’re very concerned about the aggressive relationship both in terms of economic and military.” Branstad resigned as ambassador to China in the fall of 2020. A year later he formed a consulting firm that gives advice on how to conduct business in China.

“Xi Jinping treated me well while I was there, but I’m certainly very concerned about the economic differences that we have,” Branstad says. Branstad met China’s president in 1985, when Xi was part of a delegation of Chinese officials who visited Iowa. Branstad says he’d like to see U-S relations with China get back to where they were when he was governor.

“I’m hopeful that it’ll get better,” Branstad says, “…It’s at a kind of a low point right now.” Branstad was in China with two other former U-S Ambassadors three weeks ago to launch the non-profit U-S China Green Institute, to promote collaboration on climate solutions in both countries.

Posted in News |

Family and friends mark 28th year since Jodi Huisentruit disappeared

News

June 27th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Tuesday) marks 28 years since the disappearance of K-I-M-T T-V news anchor Jodi Huisentruit. She was believed to have been abducted from the parking lot of her apartment complex early in the morning in 1995 and her body has never been found. She was legally declared dead by a Cerro Gordo County district court judge in 2001, and the case remains unsolved. Family and friends gathered in front of K-I-M-T late this morning and family friend Dean Hager read a statement from the Huisentruit family.

“We know that along with us, you feel the pain and agony over Jodi’s case still being unresolved. Jodi lived her life as an optimist and she had a great passion for living life to the fullest. She was a bright light in this world and we would often hear her exclaim ‘I love life!’. We know that she would want us to be happy, be positive about the future, and to make the most out of our lives. However, we have to admit that as much as we remind ourselves to do so, sometimes it’s just too hard to feel that way.” Hager says the family is hoping to someday find closure.

“Jodi had such a bright future ahead of her and she should be here every day enjoying it,” Hager says. “She deserves better and we continue to pray that someone will come forward with the missing piece that will finally solve this case and given Jodi the justice she deserves.” Doug Merbach was Huisentruit’s news director at K-I-M-T.

“It just gets back to we want justice, we want someone to be found. It’s not through a lack of effort. It’s not through anything that we haven’t tried,” Merbach says. “Law enforcement has done everything they can. Outside agencies like findjodi.com have done just an incredible job keeping Jodi’s story out there and keeping her memory alive.” Merbach says he thinks of Huisentruit almost every day and he doesn’t want to see anything like this 28-year saga happening again. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent Ryan Herman asks everyone that if you know something, say something to law enforcement.

“I think that any bit of information, any clue, anything, whether it’s about Jodi’s disappearance or about Jodi herself, feel free to reach out to law enforcement, the Mason City Police Department or the D-C-I,” Herman says. If you possibly have any information regarding Huisentruit’s disappearance, you can call the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636.

Posted in News |

2 vehicle accident in Guthrie Center

News

June 27th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – One person was cited, but no injuries were reported, following an accident Tuesday (Today) morning, in Guthrie Center. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says a 2015 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 18-year-old Jacob Carl Matthew Thomas, of Guthrie Center, was northbound on Highway 25, leaving a stop sign at the intersection with Highway 44.

A 1987 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 67-year-old Dan Webb, of Guthrie Center, was traveling east on Highway 44 and was stopped at the stop sign. When he pulled away to turn north onto Highway 25, Webb failed to yield the right-of-way (ROW) to the Thomas pickup. the vehicles collided, causing a total of $2,750 damage. The accident happened at around 10:55-a.m.

Webb was cited for Failure to Obey a stop sign, and Failure to Yield the ROW.

Posted in News |

KEITH VERNON REAGLES, 81, of Marne (Celebration of Life 7/8/23)

Obituaries

June 27th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

KEITH VERNON REAGLES, 81, of Marne, died June 20, 2023, at a nursing home in St. Joseph, Missouri. A Celebration of Life Memorial service for KEITH REAGLES will be held at 11-a.m. Saturday, July 8, 2023 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic.  Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Interment, with military honors by the Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard, will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Marne Volunteer Fire Department.

KEITH REAGLES is survived by:

His brother – Jamie (Carol) Razor, of St. Joseph, Missouri

His sister – Sue (Bill) Wiedemeyer, of Des Moines, Iowa.

and nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com

Posted in Obituaries |

73 Hawkeyes Named B1G Distinguished Scholars

Sports

June 27th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

 

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Seventy-three University of Iowa student-athletes have been named Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholars, it was announced Tuesday by the league office.

Among the Iowa honorees, 21 maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the 2022-23 academic term, including:

Aaron Blom, Football

Alli Bookin-Nosbisch, Women’s Cross Country/Women’s Track & Field

Jenny Cape, Women’s Soccer

Samantha Cary, Women’s Soccer

Anna Davis, Volleyball

Molly Davis, Women’s Basketball

Natalie DeGabriele, Rowing

Harper Dunne, Field Hockey

Sharon Goodman, Women’s Basketball

Heidi Hines, Rowing

Jamie Kofron, Women’s Track and Field

Alix O’Brien, Women’s Swimming & Diving

Felipe Pedraza, Men’s Golf

Molly Rygh, Rowing

Lillian Schmidt, Women’s Cross Country/Women’s Track & Field

Cullan Schriever, Wrestling

Kenni Smith, Rowing

Konnor Sommer, Mn’s Cross Country/Men’s Track & Field

Lokke Stribos, Field Hockey

Sofie Stribos, Field Hockey

Kelli Tosic, Women’s Cross Country/Women’s Track & Field

Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program.  Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher for a student-athlete’s academic career.

The Big Ten recognized 1,696 student-athletes in 39 different sports as Distinguished Scholars, including more than 355 who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during the previous academic term.

 

Baseball (1)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Brayden Frazier                      Sr.         Entrepreneurial Management                                                           Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

Women’s Basketball (4)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Caitlin Clark                             Jr.          Marketing                                                                                              West Des Moines, Iowa

Molly Davis                             Sr.         Health Studies                                                                                      Midland, Mich.

Sharon Goodman                  Sr.         Health Studies                                                                                      Lime Springs, Iowa

Gabby Marshall                      Sr.         Health Studies                                                                                      Mason, Ohio

Men’s Basketball (1)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Payton Sandfort                     Jr.          Business Direct Admission                                                                 Waukee, Iowa

Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field (3)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Armando Bryson                    Grad.    Public Affairs                                                                                        Long Beach, Calif.

Spencer Gudgel                      Sr.         Sport and Recreation Management                                                 Carmel, Ind.

*Konnor Sommer                   Sr.         Electrical Engineering                                                                         Bettendorf, Iowa

 

Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field (17)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

*Madeline Block                    Grad.    Clinical Anatomy                                                                                  Marion, Iowa

*Alli Bookin-Nosbisch           Sr.         Sport and Recreation Management                                                Ottumwa, Iowa

*Grace Bookin-Nosbisch       Sr.         Marketing                                                                                              Ottumwa, Iowa

Mariel Bruxvoort                   Grad.    Accounting                                                                                            Grand Rapids, Mich.

*Laney Fitzpatrick                  Jr.          Sport and Recreation Management                                                 Davenport, Iowa

Anne Guest                             So.         Elementary Education                                                                         Ottumwa, Iowa

*Kaitlin Knape                        So.         Political Science                                                                                   Tecumseh, Mich.

Jamie Kofron                          Sr.         Finance                                                                                                  Tipton, Iowa

*Leah Kralovetz                      Sr.         Enterprise Leadership                                                                        Denmark, Wis.

Lia Love                                   Sr.         Public Health                                                                                        Chapel Hill, N.C.

*Lauren McMahon                Jr.          Biomedical Sciences                                                                           Ankeny, Iowa

Tahlee McVee                        So.         Environmental Policy and Planning                                                  Perth, Australia

*Abigail Ryon                          Jr.          Biology                                                                                                   Mount Pleasant, Iowa

*Lillian Schmidt                     So.        Biomedical Engineering                                                                     Dubuque, Iowa

*Samantha Strauss                So.         Environmental Sciences                                                                     Johnston, Iowa

*Kelli Tosic                              Sr.         Theatre Arts                                                                                         Grayslake, Ill.

*Ellie Twedt                            Jr.          Pharmacy                                                                                              Elkhart, Iowa

 

Field Hockey (6)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Hillary Cox                               So.         Mechanical Engineering                                                                     Wilmette, Ill.

Harper Dunne                         Sr.         Global Health Studies                                                                         Fort Worth, Texas

Olivia Frazier                           Grad.    Data Science                                                                                         Cary, N.C.

Anthe Nijziel                           Sr.         Psychology                                                                                            Eindhoven, Netherlands

Lokke Stribos                          Sr.         Biomedical Engineering                                                                     Brussels, Belgium

Sofie Stribos                           Jr.          Civil Engineering                                                                                  Brussels, Belgium

 

Football (8)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Aaron Blom                             Jr.          Human Physiology                                                                              Oskaloosa, Iowa

Jeremy Chaplin                       Jr.          Sport and Recreation Management                                                 Waverly, Iowa

Gennings Dunker                   So.         Pre-Physical Therapy                                                                          Lena, Ill.

Nick Phelps                             Sr.         Management                                                                                        Kingsley, Iowa

Quinn Schulte                         Sr.         Human Physiology                                                                               Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Josef Smith                              Jr.          Exercise Science                                                                                  Britt, Iowa

Louis Stec                                Sr.         Enterprise Leadership                                                                        LaGrange Park, Ill.

John Waggoner                      Sr.         Management                                                                                        Des Moines, Iowa

 

Men’s Golf (2)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Ronan Kleu                             Sr.         Business Analytics                                                                               Zollikerberg, Switzerland

Felipe Pedraza                       Jr.          Business Analytics and Information Systems                                Lima, Peru

 

Women’s Golf (1)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Lea Zeitler                               Sr.         Journalism & Mass Communication                                                 Tyrol, Austria

Women’s Gymnastics (1)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Allison Zuhlke                         Jr.          Enterprise Leadership                                                                        Waukesha, Wis.

Rowing (13)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Verity Carstensen                  Jr.          Interdepartmental Studies                                                                Waukee, Iowa

Natalie DeGabriele                Jr.          Human Physiology                                                                              Cedar Falls, Iowa

Heidi Hines                              Sr.         Human Physiology                                                                              Three Rivers, Mich.

Abby Jaynes                            Jr.          Elementary Education                                                                         Greenwood Village, Colo.

Kirsten Jurgersen                   Sr.         CLAS Non-degree Student                                                                  Wilton, Iowa

Abbey Klostermann               Sr.         Biology                                                                                                   Davenport, Iowa

Taryn Lindaman                     Sr.         Graduate Nondepartmental                                                              Ankeny, Iowa

Myah Lugar                             So.         Elementary Education                                                                         Kalona, Iowa

Emma Mask                            Sr.         Nuclear Medicine Technology                                                          Bettendorf, Iowa

Kassandra McWhorter         Sr.         Neuroscience                                                                                       Atkins, Iowa

Molly Rygh                             Sr.         Sport and Recreation Management                                                Cedar Falls, Iowa

Molly Shannon                       So.         Elementary Education                                                                         Clinton, Iowa

Kenni Smith                            So.        Business Standard Admission                                                           Toronto, Canada

Women’s Soccer (7)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Jenny Cape                              Sr.         Biomedical Sciences                                                                            Brookfield, Wis.

Samantha Cary                      Sr.         Public Health                                                                                        St. Charles, Mo.

Cassidy Formanek                  Grad.    Business Analytics                                                                               Evergreen, Colo.

Maggie Johnston                    So.         Enterprise Leadership                                                                        Corona, Calif.

Kenzie Roling                          So.         Enterprise Leadership                                                                        Waverly, Iowa

Hailey Rydberg                       Sr.         Psychology                                                                                            St. Charles, Ill.

Anastasia Savich                    Grad.    Sport and Recreation Management                                                 Macomb, Mich.

Softball (1)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Kalena Burns                           Sr.         Elementary Education                                                                         Corona, Calif.

Women’s Swimming & Diving (3)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Claire Hartley                          Jr.          Communication Studies                                                                     Omaha, Neb.

Makayla Hughbanks              So.         Enterprise Leadership                                                                        Bettendorf, Iowa

Alix O’Brien                             So.        Enterprise Leadership                                                                         Apple Valley, Minn.

Volleyball (4)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Amanda Darling                     Jr.          English Education                                                                                 Oswego, Ill.

Anna Davis                              Jr.          Computer Science                                                                                Castle Rock, Colo.

Bailey Ortega                          Jr.          Sport and Recreation Management                                                 Davenport, Iowa

Michelle Urquhart                 Jr.          Marketing                                                                                              Virginia Beach, Va.

Wrestling (1)

Name                                       Year      Major                                                                                                     Hometown

Cullan Schriever                     Jr.          Business Standard Admission                                                           Mason City, Iowa

*Multi-sport honorees

Posted in Sports |

John Deere Classic returns to the Quad Cities next week

Sports

June 27th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

The tournament director of the John Deere Classic says he likes where the PGA tournament falls on the calendar. Up until a few years ago the JDC was the week before the British. It is now the week before the Scottish Open, an event generally considered a tune-up for the British.

That’s Andrew Lehman, who is his first year as tournament director after replacing Clair Peterson. Lehman says they have tried to embrace the fact that the tournament falls on the week of Independence Day.

The John Deere Classic has been known over the years as a tournament that launches the career of young golfers and Lehman says that won’t change. Th tournament has doled out sponsor exemptions to a number of golfers who are hoping to break onto the national stage.

Posted in Sports |