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Governor’s budget director to retire January 31

News

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The man who has been state budget director for the past decade is retiring after a 38 year career in state government. Dave Roederer was part of former Governor Terry Branstad’s staff in the last century before Branstad’s return in 2011, when Roederer was named director of the Department of Management. Roederer is part of the three-member panel that makes state revenue forecasts. You’ve likely heard his commentary on the radio, like this prediction last March about the pandemic’s economic impact.

Roederer has served in a variety of state government roles. In 2008, he was John McCain’s Iowa campaign chairman.

 

Roederer’s last day on the job is January 31st.

Chief Justice of Supreme Court re-elected

News

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court has been elected by her colleagues to another term. Chief Justice Susan Christensen of Harlan was selected to continue in the role that she was first elected to following the retirement of Acting Chief Justice David Wiggins in February 2020. Wiggens became acting chief justice following the death of Chief Justice Mark Cady in November of 2019.

The justices take a vote on the chief justice during their first meeting in each odd-numbered year. Christensen released a statement saying, “After a very challenging first 10 months, I am honored to continue to serve as Chief Justice of Iowa’s court system.”

TIM SWEENEY, 58, of Audubon (IA) & formerly of Massena – Private family svcs.

Obituaries

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

TIM SWEENEY, 58, of Audubon (& formerly of Massena), died Thursday, Jan. 7th, at the Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. Private family services for TIM SWEENEY will be held at a later date. Steen Funeral Home in Massena is assisting the family.

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

Memorials may be directed to Tim Sweeney Memorial Fund to be established by the family.

TIM SWEENEY is survived by:

His wife – Jodi Sweeney, of Audubon.

His daughters – Emily (Jeff) Robinson, of Cameron, MO; Shaley Sweeney, of Audubon/

His son – Jacob (Jessica) Sweeney, of Audubon.

His sisters – Jean Wolfe, of Holt, Missouri, and Rosie Schrier (Stan) of Carbon, Iowa.

five grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

JERRY ROSENBECK, 76, of Exira (Service & visitation POSTPONED TO 1/18/21)

Obituaries

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

JERRY ROSENBECK, 76, of Exira, died Friday, Jan. 8th, at VA Medical Center in Omaha. Funeral services for JERRY ROSENBECK have been postponed to 10:30-a.m. Monday, Jan. 18th, at the Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton. Covid guidelines regarding social distancing, wearing of masks and hand sanitizing, will be observed during the service and visitation.

Visitation at the funeral home is on Sunday, Jan. 17th, will be from 2 until 4 pm.; Visitation will resume from 9-a.m. Monday until the time of service, at the funeral home.

Burial in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon.

JERRY ROSENBECK is survived by:

His son – Clint Rosenbeck, of Exira.

His brother – Mike Rosenbeck, of Bayard.

MARILYN REYNOLDS, 87, of Atlantic (private)

Obituaries

January 8th, 2021 by Jim Field

MARILYN REYNOLDS, 87, of Atlantic died Thursday, January 7th at Allen Place in Atlantic.  A private family funeral service for MARILYN REYNOLDS will be held at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

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Open visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 12th from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials may be left to the family for later designation to causes within the Atlantic community.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

MARILYN REYNOLDS is survived by:

Children:  Randy Reynolds of Council Bluffs; Diana (Dale) Rozmiarek of LaVista, NE; Jeff (Diane) Reynolds of Waterloo, NE.

4 Grandchildren

5 Great-Grandchildren

White man who drove into Iowa protesters avoids prison

News

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A white man who deliberately sped his car through a crowd of racial injustice protesters in Iowa City, striking many, will avoid prison and have the incident erased from his record if he stays out of trouble for three years.

This undated photo provided by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa City, Iowa, shows Michael Stepanek after his arrest on Aug. 25, 2020. Stepanek will avoid prison and could have the case dismissed under a plea agreement resolving charges related to his decision to intentionally drive through a crowd of racial injustice protesters in Iowa City, striking several. (Johnson County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

A judge has granted a deferred judgment for 45-year-old Michael Ray Stepanek, who told police he drove his Toyota Camry through the crowd in August because protesters needed “an attitude adjustment.” The sentence means Stepanek will have a felony charge of willful injury resulting in bodily injury dismissed and expunged if he doesn’t commit a crime during a three-year term of probation.

 

Ex-Iowa trash collection official sentenced for mail fraud

News

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa trash collection official has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of more than $1.6 million. Federal prosecutors in Des Moines say Jeffrey Dworek, of Urbandale, was sentenced Friday to 57 months in prison after pleading guilty last August to one count of federal mail fraud. Dworek had been the director of operations for Metro Waste Authority from 1996 until he resigned in 2017.

He was arrested and indicted in 2019. Prosecutors say he set up a shell company purported to provide services to Metro Waste Authority, then paid out company funds for his own use between 2012 and 2017. He also took kickbacks from various vendors.

 

Exira man cited Tuesday

News

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office said Friday (Today), 49-year-old Rodney Doss, of Exira, was cited Tuesday (January 5), for Driving While Barred. Doss appeared before the magistrate on Thursday (Jan. 7), and was released on his own recognizance.

College Springs woman arrested on an assault charge; Omaha man arrested on Pott. County warrant

News

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies responded Thursday, to a Domestic Disturbance. The incident took place at a residence in the 2400 block of 280th Street, or about one-mile north of College Springs.

Jackie Lynn Olson (Page County S/O photo)

During the investigation, 39-year-old Jackie Lynn Olson, of rural College Springs, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Olson was transported to the Page County Jail where she was held without no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

And, 40-year-old Travis Lamar Kellogg, of Omaha, NE, was arrested Thursday in Page County, following a traffic stop on Highway 59, about four-miles north of Shenandoah. Kellogg was arrested on a Pottawattamie County Warrant for Probation Violation. He was unable to post the $2,000 bond. Kellogg was turned over to a Pottawattamie County Deputy and transported to the Pott. County Jail. Shenandoah Police assisted with the arrest.

Aaron Donald, Travis Kelce unanimous AP All-Pro Team choices

Sports

January 8th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Dynamic defensive star Aaron Donald and unstoppable tight end Travis Kelce are unanimous choices for The Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team. Donald and Kelce swept the votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.

FILE – In this Nov. 8, 2020, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce makes a move during the second half of the team’s NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Kansas City, Mo. Kelce was a unanimous choice Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, for The Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)

It is the sixth All-Pro selection for Donald, who has helped the Los Angeles Rams to the top-ranked defense in the NFL, and the third for Kansas City’s record-setting Kelce. Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner matches Donald with six selections. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on his fourth All-Pro Team.

(By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer)