Girls Track & Field Results From Tuesday Apr. 29

Sports

April 30th, 2025 by Lori Murphy

GLENWOOD MEET 

1. Glenwood – 138 pts 

1st – Brooklyn Schultz, 400 meters (1:00.04) 

1st – Grace Berglund, 1500 meters (5:01.39) & 3000 meters (10:27.20) 

1st – 4×200 meter relay (1:49.30)

1st – 4×400 meter relay (4:08.80)

1st – 4×800 meter relay (9:47.85) 

1st – Sprint medley relay (1:53.48) 

1st – Distance medley relay (4:27.31) 

 

2. Lewis Central – 115.33 pts

1st – Jordyn Matiyow, discus (117-04.00) & shot put (36-01.00) 

1st – Olivia Ausdemore, high jump (5-01.00) 

1st – 4×100 meter relay (50.00) 

 

3. Atlantic – 87 pts

1st – Jayci Reed, 100 meter hurdles (16.07) 

1st – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:09.20) 

2nd – Lila Wiederstein, 100m (12.65) & long jump (16-11.00)

 

4. Clarinda – 82 pts

1st – Stevie Wilmes, 400 meter hurdles (1:10.69)

 

5. Creston – 62.33 pts

6. Red Oak – 48 pts

8. Underwood – 41.83 pts

9. Shenandoah – 41 pts

11. St. Albert – 33 pts

1st – Lili Denton, 800 meters (2:15.14) 

 

12. Thomas Jefferson – 11 pts

 

AUDUBON MEET

1. Tri-Center – 184 pts

1st – Zohie Payne, 100 meter hurdles (16.50) 

1st – Tess Casey, 200 meters (26.50)

1st – Reese Dittmer, 1500 meters (5:34.61) 

1st – Jozie Payne, long jump (14-09.00) 

1st – 4×400 meter relay (4:11.55)

1st – 4×800 meter relay (10:08.62)

1st – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:07.79)

1st – Sprint medley relay (1:53.46)

 

3. IKM-Manning – 98.5 pts

4. CAM – 81 pts

1st – Ada Hansen, 400 meters (1:00.35) & 400 meter hurdles

1st – Ruthie Rich, high jump (5-00.00) 

 

5. Panorama – 66 pts

6. ACGC – 64 pts

1st – Ava Campbell, 800 meters (2:21.34) 

1st – Distance medley relay (4:21.59)

 

7. Audubon – 52 pts

3rd – Distance Medley Relay (4:45.83)

3rd – Taryn Petersen, 200m (27.59)

 

8. Coon Rapids-Bayard – 50.5 pts

9. Ar-We-Va – 17 pts

10. Paton-Churdan – 6 pts 

 

FREMONT-MILLS MEET

1. Fremont-Mills – 179 pts

1st – Bella Gute, 400 meter hurdles (1:07.67) 

1st – Carlie Chambers, high jump (5-00.00) 

1st – Hayleigh Mattox, discus (110-07.00) & shot put (33-07.50)

1st – 4×100 meter relay (50.54)

1st – 4×200 meter relay (1:47.97)

1st – Sprint medley relay (1:58.89) 

1st – Distance medley relay (4:31.85) 

1st – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:06.29) 

 

2. Griswold – 138 pts

1st – Carsyn Adams, 100 meters (13.58)

1st – Amanda Houser, 400 meters (1:07.05)

1st – Alexa Steinhoff, 800 meters (2:45.55)

1st – 4×400 meter relay (4:30.64)

1st – 4×800 meter relay (10:50.40) 

 

3. East Mills – 80 pts

4. Heartland Christian – 62 pts

1st – Grace Steinmetz, 1500 meters (5:13.60) & 3000 meters (11:01.43)

 

5. Stanton – 56 pts

6. Sidney – 39 pts

7. Iowa School for Deaf – 2 pts

 

LADY RED RELAYS AT MISSOURI VALLEY

1. Treynor – 144 pts

1st – Madalynn Kerkmann, 800 meters (2:34.21)

1st – Rylee Hemmingsen, 100 meter hurdles (15.34) 

1st – Stella Sornson, long jump (16-04.50) 

1st – Delaney Mathews, shot put (37-05.00) & discus (114-05.00)

1st – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:09.99) 

 

2. Harlan – 109 pts

1st – Lindsey Sonderman, 1500 meters (4:47.54) & 3000 meters (10:29.88) 

1st – Distance medley relay (4:27.13) 

 

3. Riverside – 104 pts

1st – 4×200 meter relay (1:49.73) 

1st – 4×800 meter relay (10:04.48) 

 

5. Denison-Schleswig – 77 pts

1st – Sara Mun, high jump (5-02.00)

1st – 4×100 meter relay (52.59) 

 

6. AHSTW – 62 pts

1st – Bella Lamp, 400 meters (1:01.02)

1st – 4×400 meter relay (4:08.06) 

 

7. Boyer Valley – 61 pts

1st – Morgan Hast, 100 meters (12.87) & 200 meters (26.99) 

 

8. Woodbine – 45 pts

9. Logan-Magnolia – 34 pts

10. Missouri Valley – 24 pts 

 

 

 

Posted in Sports |

Boys Track Results from Tuesday Apr. 29

Sports

April 30th, 2025 by Lori Murphy

AUDUBON BOB CLARK RELAYS 

1. ACGC — 114 pts

1st – Brexton Schneider, 110 hurdles (14.76)

1st – 800 sprint medley relay (1:34.92)

1st – 4×100 meter relay (43.16)

2. Tri-Center — 90 pts

1st – Brennan Boden, 800 meters (2:08.95)

1st – Haven Weers, 1600 meters (4:50.39) & 3200 meters (10:18.52)

1st – 4×400 meter relay (3:31.20)

3. IKM-Manning — 83 pts

  • •4×200 meter relay (1:33.00)
  • •Distance medley relay (3:54.41)

6. Griswold — 64 pts

1st – Cody Dorscher, 400 meters (51.48)

1st – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:01.50)

2nd – Conner Bowers, High jump (06-02.00)

2nd – Peyton Cook, 110m hurdles (14.95)

7. CAM — 60 pts

1st – Carson McKee, 400 hurdles (57.27)

3rd – Collin Bower, 100m (11.47)

8. Audubon — 46 pts

2nd – Distance Medley Relay (3:55.33)

3rd – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:06.34)

3rd – Aiden Kjergaard, 800m (2:12.18)

13. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton — 5 pts

4th – Austin Rasmussen, 1600m (4:57.32)

 

GLENWOOD RAM RELAYS 

1. Glenwood — 137 pts

1st – Aaden Lopez, 110 hurdles (15.39)

1st – Chase Razor, high jump (5-10.00)

1st – 4×100 meter relay (43.82)

1st – 4×200 meter relay (1:31.08)

1st – 4×400 meter relay (3:28.73)

2. Riverside — 85 pts

1st – 4×800 meter relay (8:06.44)

1st – Distance medley relay (3:43.54)

3. Shenandoah — 72 points

4. Clarinda — 71 points

1st – Kyle Wagoner, 1600 meters (4:30.38) & 3200 meters (9:50.04)

5. Atlantic — 65 points

1st – Xavier Darrow, discus throw (151-00)

2nd – Ethan McNeal, 100m (11.21)

3rd – Shelton Mualia, 110m hurdles (15.88)

 

6. Red Oak — 64 points

1st – Cale Hall, 100 meters (11.17)

7. Lewis Central — 55 points

8. Underwood — 40 points

10. Creston — 33 points

1st – Tom Mikkelsen, shot put (51-09.00)

12. St. Albert — 27 points

1st – Parker Heisterkmap, 800 meters (2:01.34)

 

FREMONT-MILLS INVITATIONAL 

1. Fremont-Mills — 176 pts

1st – Landon Baker, long jump (18-11.75)

1st – 4×100 meter relay (44.95)

1st – 4×400 meter relay (3:57.31)

1st – Distance medley relay (3:58.79)

1st – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:13.51)

2. AHSTW — 126 pts

1st – Luke Sternberg, 100 meters (11.57) & 200 meters (22.98) & 400 meters (51.22)

1st – Collin Harder, 800 meters (2:04.02) & 1600 meters (4:54.43)

1st – Jett Peterson, shot put (49-01.00)

1st – 800 sprint medley relay (1:40.85)

3. Sidney — 106 pts

4. East Mills — 85 pts

5. Heartland Christian — 48 pts

6. Stanton — 27 pts

 

MOUNT AYR MEET 

1. Mount Ayr — 116 pts

1st – Garrett Walter, 200 meters (23.07)

1st – Adan Trujillo, 3200 meters (10:58.85)

1st – 800 sprint medley relay (1:38.19)

1st – 4×400 meter relay (3:37.25)

2. Lenox — 95 points

3. Southeast Warren — 64 points

4. Southwest Valley — 56 points

1st – 4×100 meter relay (45.26)

1st – Distance medley relay (3:51.57)

5. Central Decatur — 52 pts

6. Bedford — 51 pts

7. Lamoni — 36 pts

8. Creston — 30 pts

1st – Wyatt Goodenberger, 800 meters (2:08.77) & 1600 meters (4:52.43)

9. Wayne — 28 pts

10. Intersatte 35 — 23 pts

12. Murray — 12 pts

13. East Union — 4 pts

 

MADRID MEET

1. Madrid — 163 pts

1st – Jacob Farrell, 100 meters (11.32)

1st – Kinnick Grimm, 400 hurdles (58.07)

1st – Brody Buck, high jump (5-10.00)

1st – 800 sprint medley relay (1:37.71)

1st – 4×100 meter relay (44.38)

1st – 4×200 meter relay (1:32.84)

1st – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:03.95)

2. Earlham — 152 pts

3. Ogden — 122 pts

5. Nodaway Valley — 73 pts

1st – Gabriel Winkelmann, 3200 meters (10:43.01)

1st – Trenton Warner, discus throw (141-06) & shot put (52-09.75)

6. Kuemper Catholic — 29 pts

7. Martensdale-St. Marys — 24 pts

Posted in Sports |

Funding flat for state universities, community colleges in proposed appropriation bill

News

April 30th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa’s public universities and community colleges would see flat funding for the upcoming fiscal year if proposed education appropriation legislation is passed, causing concern for some lawmakers. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Senate Study Bill 1231 would set fiscal year 2026 state funding for the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Board of Regents and the institutions it governs, Department for the Blind and other individual programs. Under the bill, general university funding for the University of Iowa would stay at almost $223.5 million, Iowa State University funding would remain at more than $178.4 million and funding for the University of Northern Iowa would remain at almost $101.9 million.

While neither the University of Iowa or Iowa State University requested any general funding increases, the University of Northern Iowa asked for an additional $2.5 million for the upcoming year, which was not reflected in the bill. Sen. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, said Tuesday during a subcommittee meeting on the bill that data from the board of regents shows around 66% of the higher education system budget is driven by tuition, with less than 30% made up of state appropriations. Public education is incredibly important, she said, and when the Legislature keeps funding flat for state universities and community colleges — especially with national challenges all colleges must weather — the students and families paying to attend them feel the hurt of rising costs.

Funding for community colleges is listed at close to $235.9 million, the same as last year. Katrina Holck, representing Community Colleges for Iowa, said many community colleges are concerned  about the proposed funding as well. Lobbyists expressed general support for the legislation during the meeting, including proposed funding of $10 million for a health care professional incentive program and more than $2.3 million for the therapeutic classroom incentive fund for school districts.

Other funds left out of the legislation mentioned by commenters included the Iowa Tuition Grant program, $14 million for paraeducators and other civil work personnel and a $335,000 ask for a dyslexia endorsement tuition reimbursement program.

Posted in News |

Senate approves bill requiring schools to publicize vaccine exemption information

News

April 30th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Any communication from schools on immunization requirements would have to include information and requirements for families seeking an exemption under a bill sent to the governor Tuesday. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, House File 299 was passed by the Senate 32-16. The bill requires all Iowa K-12 schools, as well as child care centers, community colleges, universities under the Iowa Board of Regents as well as private universities using the tuition grant program, to include information on exemptions when communicating with students and families about vaccine requirements. For child care facilities and K-12 schools, information on vaccine requirement exemptions must also be published on their website and be included in student registration documents.

Republicans who spoke in support of the measure said it was needed because there were some reports of school staff falsely claiming that vaccines were required — with no exceptions — for students to be able to attend school.

Iowa law requires students to receive vaccinations to enroll in schools, including receiving the polio, measles, hepatitis B, varicella and meningococcal vaccines while in the K-12 school system. However, families have the ability to opt out from these requirements if vaccinating their child “conflicts with a genuine and sincere religious belief.” The law does not require families to obtain a waiver or specify their religion to claim the exemption. Medical exemptions can also be granted by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who finds a required vaccination would be harmful to the health and well-being of the child or a member of their family.

While exemptions exist, Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Marion, said the bill “risks sending a mixed message about the importance of the safety of vaccines” by emphasizing vaccine exemptions, potentially putting students in danger by diminishing herd immunity.

As of April 24, there were a total of 884 confirmed measles cases in 29 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The largest outbreak has been in Texas, where two unvaccinated children died from the disease. Though no cases have been reported in Iowa since 2019, according to state public health officials, the neighboring states of Illinois and Minnesota have reported confirmed measles cases in 2025.

The bill, which the Iowa House passed in March, goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds for final approval.

Posted in News |

Girls Golf Results From Tuesday Apr. 29

Sports

April 30th, 2025 by Christian Adams

Tri-Center 230 Riverside 240

Medalist: Cameron Way (44) -Tri-Center

Runner-up: Jadyn Beckman (51) – Riverside

Other Tri-Center: Delainey Dollen – 59, Avery Assman – 59, Paige Wurderman – 68, Kendra Calhoun – 72, Joanna Cook – 84

 

Heartland Christian – 255 vs Griswold – NTS

Medalist: Joanna Reynolds (47) – Griswold

Runner-up: Kate Tischer (55) – Griswold

Other Griswold: Abigail Henderson – 68

 

1. East Union 209

2. Logan-Magnolia 225

3. CAM 256 4.

Woodbine 273

5. Lenox NTS

Medalist: Gwen Nixon (47) – East Union

Runner-up: Kathryn Lack (50) – East Union

CAM: Kaitlyn Platt 58, Kesley Platt 60, Brooklynn Zimmerline 68, Hallie Keeler 70

Logan-Magnolia: Steph Schmit – 51, Addison Busing – 54, Makennah Bales – 58, Hunter Bratetic – 62, Jordan Buffum – 65, Kendyll Knauss – 66

Woodbine: Charlie Pryor – 53, Ellie Deforest – 63, Elise Olson – 69, Rowan Krause – 88

 

Red Oak 183 Clarinda 187

Medalist: Taylor Rasmussen (41) – Clarinda

Runner-up: Addy Weinreich (42) – Clarinda

Other Clarinda: Alli Allbaugh – 48, Jalon Olson – 56, Gianna Rock – 56, Mataya Eighmy – 56

Red Oak: Brynn Knaus – 43, Addey Lydon – 43, Emily Sebeniecher – 46, Ellison Johnson – 51, Nellie Blaine – 51, Riley Burke – 58

 

Shenandoah 192 Glenwood 255

Medalist: Sarah Pickens (43) – Shenandoah

Runner-up: Kylie Foutch & Rachel Jones (49) – Shenandoah

Other Shenandoah: Ashlee Dinges – 51, Alaina Anderson – 56, Carley Jones – 61

Glenwood: Aubrey Clark – 50, Charli Sorenson – 65, Alivia Jones – 69, Isabella Wake – 71 

Chariton – 224 vs Creston – NTS

Medalist: Averi Culbertson (53) – Creston

Other Creston: Ricci Johnston – 58, Nora Barton – 69

 

LeMars – 413 vs Denison-Schleswig – 435 

Mount Ayr – 189 vs Southwest Valley – 215

Medalist: Jaylee Shaffer (37) – Mount Ayr

Runner-up: Olivia Huntington – Mount Ayr & Miaya Fourez – Southwest Valley (49) 

Other Southwest Valley: Sidney Grill – 51, Grace Bain – 56, Katey Lillie – 59, Kenzie Fast – 60, Josie Harris – 62 

 

1. Martensdale-St. Marys 207

2. Nodaway Valley 249

3. Central Decatur NTS

Medalist: Mallory Russell (44) – Nodaway Valley

Runner-up: Carly Franey (48) – Martensdale-St. Marys

Nodaway Valley: Brailyann Coffman – 62, Chloe Rardin – 71, Delaney Blomme – 72, Taryn Gutierrez – 72 

Coon Rapids-Bayard 230 Boyer Valley 231 Glidden-Ralston NTS

Medalist: Brielle Bass & Kerra Hart (53) – Coon Rapids-Bayard

Other CRB: Mallory Schroeder – 59, Sophia Sperry – 65, Summer South – 67, Ella Heithoff – 67

Boyer Valley: Reese Miller – 54, Hayley Follmann – 56, Zoey Soma – 58, Mataya Bromert – 63, Gwen Neilsen – 64, Sarah Roberts – 77 

Glidden-Ralston: Emersynn Chaney – 68, Madilyn Trost – 70 

Posted in Sports |

Emerson man arrested Wed. morning in Red Oak

News

April 30th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports a man from Emerson was arrested this (Wednesday) morning, following a traffic stop in the 1700 block of 200th Street. 45-year-old Brian Wayne Price was taken into custody at around 12-a.m., for Driving While Barred. Price was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Posted in News |

Boys Golf Results from Tuesday Apr. 29

Sports

April 30th, 2025 by Christian Adams

1. Atlantic 157

2. Kuemper Catholic 157

3. Treynor 177

4. Harlan 178 

Medalist: Kayden Schon (36) – Kuemper

Runner-up: Sam Brosam (37) – Atlantic

Other Atlantic: Tristan Hayes – 40, Gage Gross – 40, Trevan Hansen – 40, Hudson McLaren – 41, Brady Wood – 42

Other Kuemper: Dawson Billmeier – 39, Braxton Vonnahme – 40, Jack Lenz – 42, Collin Venteicher – 45, Garrett Babe – 46

Harlan: Jonas Reynolds – 42, Owen Neve – 45 Gabe Arkfeld – 45, Hayden Soma – 46, Caleb Ernst – 46, Kiron Leinen – 51

 

Rolling Valley at Boyer Valley

1.  Coon Rapids-Bayard – 155

2. Boyer Valley 157

4. 74, Exira/EHK – 179

5. Glidden-Ralston – 191

Medalist: Tristen Burkhart (37) – Boyer Valley

Runner-up: Jace Baker (38) – Coon Rapids-Bayard

Exira-EHK: Austin Rasmussen 39, Alex Hansen 43, Josh Nelson 45, Josten Kilworth 52, Jack Hansen 58

 

Rolling Valley at Boyer Valley

1.Woodbine – 155

2.CAM – 161

3. East Union – 172

4. Lenox – 96

5. Logan-Magnolia – 198

Medalists: Zayne Eslinger (36) – East Union & Cody Dickinson (36) – Woodbine

Other top 10:

3. Chase Jahde (37) – CAM

4. Xander Johnson (39) – Woodbine

5. Austin Eblen (40) – CAM

5. Carson Kelley (40) – Woodbine

5. Wyatt Coenen (40) – Woodbine

8. Terrian Islas (41) – East Union

9. Chase Spieker, CAM (42) – CAM

9. Coby Venteicher (42) – CAM

9. Cal Pryor (42) – Woodbine

Riverside 159 Tri-Center 187

Medalist: Peyton Amdor (38) – Riverside

Runner-up: Kai Sonderland (38) – Tri-Center

Other Riverside: Nathan Smith – 39, AC Roller – 39, Austin Zimmerman – 43, James McCready – 44, Taven Moore – 47

Other Tri-Center: Brant Freeberg – 49, Evan Wham – 50, Keegan Cook – 50, Jayden Johnson – 54, Jayce Walker – 57

 

Griswold 195 Heartland Christian 242

Medalist: Hogan Hook (40) – Griswold

Runner-up: Colten Taylor (48) – Griswold

Other Griswold: Alex Nelson – 52, Brayden Lockwood – 55, Calden Turner – 58

 

Clarinda – 165 vs Red Oak – 200

Medalist: Weston Couse (40) – Red Oak

Runner-up: Jac Fine, Karsten Beckel & Sam Kline(41) – Clarinda

Other Clarinda: Kort Neal – 42, Jack Kline – 44, Carson Turner – 44

Other Red Oak: James McDonald – 46, Dylan Reynolds – 54, Caden Sallach – 60, Clay Culver – 62, Brayton Adams-  64

 

Carroll – 161 vs Denison-Schleswig – 170

Medalist: Wyatt Ragaller (34) – Carroll

Runner-up: Nash Langenfeld (39) – Denison-Schleswig

Other Denison-Sschleswig: Michael Collins – 41, Malachi Esteves – 45, Payton Emery – 45, Karsen Bruhn – 46, Ryan Slechta – 55

 

1. Nodaway Valley – 200

2. Martensdale-St. Marys – 209

3.Central Decatur – 212

Medalist: Nathan Mundil (46) – Martensdale-St. Marys

Runner-up: Ty Rardin (47) – Nodaway Valley

Other Nodaway Valley: Ty Strode – 48, Sam miller – 52, Jack Berg – 53, Derek Raasch – 56, Collin Akers – 66

 

Shenandoah – 158 vs Glenwood – 167

Medalist: JJ Martin (38) – Shenandoah

Runner-up: Ethan Laughlin (39) – Shenandoah

Other Shenandoah: Levi Green – 40, Clay Foutch – 41, Brody Burdorf – 44, Ayden Johnson – 50

Glenwood: Jack Johnson – 40, Evan Stanislav – 41, Brad Hughes – 43, Grant Schroeder – 43, Ryder Salazar – 44, Jaxon Erickson – 44

Mount Ayr 158 Southwest Valley 208

Medalist: Jaxson Greene (37) – Mount Ayr

Runner-up: Dylan Graham & Tanner Streit (40) – Mount Ayr

Southwest Valley: Casey Jones-  50, Kaden Greenwalt – 52,  Ethan Johnson – 52, Gage Sesker – 54, Jake Brandt – 58, Kase Schafer – 59

Posted in Sports |

DNR Preparing For Bear Sightings In NE Iowa

News

April 30th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is trying to prepare northeast Iowa residents for black bear sightings in the area. D-N-R biologist Vince Evelsizer says there have already been a few early sightings of bears who stayed here this winter. He says the most bear activity happens in late May and through most of June during bear breeding season. Evelsizer wants anyone who spots a bear to call the D-N-R so they can keep track of the animals. He says you can help keep bears away by getting rid of pet food, bird food, human food, or garbage that attracts them. Evelsizer says it’s exciting for anyone to see a bear wandering around, and it’s okay to watch or get a picture, but stay a healthy distance of somewhere around 100 yards or more.

DNR officials have been meeting with local conservation boards, police departments, sheriff’s offices and dispatchers from counties in northeast Iowa to discuss how to respond when black bears come strolling through later this spring. Evelsizer says during the breeding season, a few black bears are more likely to disburse from Minnesota and Wisconsin, where populations are much larger and growing. Minnesota has an estimated 16,000 black bears, while Wisconsin’s population is around 24,000. “Black bears are not that far from Iowa’s border,” Evelsizer said. “We typically have two to five bear sightings each year, which we believe are usually younger males. They are relatively timid, and just looking for food and/or females. It’s new and exciting, but can lead to human-bear conflicts.”

Bears have been responsible for destroying bee hives and have been found on back decks and in back yards emptying bird feeders. If a bear does show up around the house, he said try to scare it from a safe distance because bears don’t like loud noises. “Use loud noises, like yelling at it, clapping two pieces of two- by- fours loudly, or banging pots and pans,” he said. “Give bears plenty of space to move on and also, take away food attractants,” he said. “Do not feed bears as that rewards the bear for coming into town and associate’s humans with food. Removing any outdoor pet food dishes, bird feeders, trash cans and grills into secure locations will help to avoid conflicts and encourages the bear to move on.”

A Black Bear

Meetings were held in Dubuque and Fayette with city and county officials from Winneshiek, Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette and Dubuque counties, connecting officials who will likely be involved in one way or another when a bear appears this spring. “We don’t want to block the bear’s travel, or back it into a corner. If a bear climbs a tree to escape onlookers, it can jeopardize the safety of the bear itself – you need to give it plenty of space. Folks can enjoy seeing a bear, but from a safe distance. It’s a neat thing, but give it space – as in 100 yards or more,” he said. “It would be nice, in an ideal world, that we would know when a bear is coming through ahead of time, to notify citizens so they can remove any attractants,” he said. “Sometimes that happens, thanks to our citizens, area DNR staff and local partners, and that helps us track the bear’s location occasionally to keep tabs on its travel.”

Iowa has gone from having an occasional visiting bear, to more frequent visiting bears to now having two- to- four bears move in and over-winter. And could see more in the future. “Sightings are still of individual bears. We haven’t documented cubs or a breeding population yet,” Evelsizer said. Students from Drake University modeled habitat across Northeast Iowa favorable to black bears, as part of a capstone project, and determined that with its larger sections of timber, Northeast Iowa could support up to 1,100 black bears. Black bears are native to Iowa, but had been eliminated by the late 1800s as the state was settled. Since the species was gone, black bears were not listed as a furbearer species by the Iowa legislature of the day, and currently have no protection in the state.

“The public is keenly interested in bears and we hope to be proactive with education and outreach as the bears move in to the state,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting to think about that – there might be a bear in the woods,” Evelsizer said. “Some people love bears; some people are scared to death of bears and bear attacks, because of the amount of misinformation out there.” The biggest takeaway, he said, is that between 1900 and 2009, there was only one black bear fatality in Minnesota, none in Wisconsin, and two in Michigan. Bear attacks are extremely rare, and most incidents involved unsecured food sources, he said. “We encourage Iowans to give black bears space if they see one. It is a large, wild animal. Also, enjoy the sighting and continue to enjoy the outdoors. Residents in Minnesota and Wisconsin have learned to live with bears,” he said.

The Iowa DNR is a member of BearWise, a national organization that provides information on living responsibly with black bears around the home, when recreating in the outdoors, and more at www.bearwise.org.

Posted in News |

Democrat wins special election for Iowa House seat

News

April 30th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Unofficial results show a Democrat has won a special election to represent southeast Cedar Rapids in the Iowa House. Former Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat, resigned April 1st and was appointed to a vacancy on the Linn County Board of Supervisors. Democrat Angel Ramirez had about 80 percent of the votes counted by 10 p.m. last (Tuesday) night. She’s executive director of a non-profit program in Cedar Rapids that provides money and mentoring to people who plan and complete community projects.

Posted in News |

Soccer Scoreboard from Tuesday Apr. 29

Sports

April 30th, 2025 by Christian Adams

GIRLS

  • St. Albert – 7 vs Atlantic – 1
  • Riverside – 8 vs AHSTW – 1
  • Harlan – 2 vs Denison-Schleswig – 1
  • Kuemper Catholic – 2 vs Glenwood – 2
  • Lewis Central – 10 vs Creston – 0
  • Underwood – 6 vs Logan-Magnolia – 1

BOYS

  • St. Albert – 11 vs Atlantic – 1
  • AHSTW – 10 vs Riverside – 0
  • Denison-Schleswig – 3 vs Harlan-  0
  • Glenwood – 2 vs Kuemper Catholic – 1
  • Treynor – 10 vs Red Oak – 0
  • Lewis Central – 10 vs Creston – 0
  • Underwood – 3 vs Logan-Magnolia – 3

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