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Mills County Sheriff’s report, 6/26/23

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 5:20-a.m. Saturday, of 26-year-old Edy Geovani Baltazar-Franciso, of Omaha. Baltazar-Franciso was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 29, and charged with OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, a man from Malvern reported Sunday afternoon, an incident of Theft in the 2nd Degree. The only other information provided was that the incident occurred at a location on Rains Avenue.

Posted in News |

120 Hawkeyes Earn Spring Academic All-Big Ten Honors

Sports

June 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – One hundred twenty University of Iowa student-athletes have been named to the 2023 Spring Academic All-Big Ten team, the conference office announced Monday. The list includes student-athletes from baseball (11), men’s golf (3), women’s golf (2), rowing (32), softball (11), women’s tennis (4), men’s track and field (15), and women’s track and field (42).

The 32 rowing and 42 women’s track and field honorees are both school records.

A total of 2,192 students competing in spring and at-large sports were honored, including 360 in baseball, 181 in softball, 311 in women’s rowing, 74 in men’s and 79 in women’s golf, 180 in men’s and 178 in women’s lacrosse, 63 in men’s and 70 in women’s tennis, 263 in men’s and 336 in women’s track and field and 262 in at-large sports (representing bowling, men’s and women’s fencing, ice hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s and women’s rifle and pistol, men’s volleyball, sand volleyball, synchronized swimming and water polo.)

Eighty-one student-athletes carried a perfect grade point average, including rowing’s Natalie DeGabriele and track and field’s Jamie Kofron, Lillian Schmidt, Konnor Sommer and Kelli Tosec.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team, as verified by being on the official squad list as of May 1 for spring sports, who have been enrolled fulltime at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Baseball (11)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Brody Brecht                         So.           Management                                                                                   Ankeny, Iowa

Ben DeTaeye                          Sr.            Environmental Policy and Planning                                            Clive, Iowa

Brayden Frazier                     Sr.            Entrepreneurial Management                                                      Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Sam Hojnar                           Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Naperville, Ill.

Kyle Huckstorf                       Sr.            Interdepartmental Studies                                                           Waterford, Wis.

Luke Llewellyn                       Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Urbandale, Iowa

Cade Moss                             Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Johnston, Iowa

Will Mulflur                           Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Mercer Island, Wash.

Sam Petersen                         Jr.             Finance                                                                                             Huxley, Iowa

Michael Seegers                    Jr.             Sport and Recreation Management                                            Oconomowoc, Wis.

Ben Tallman                           Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Billings, Mont.

Men’s Golf (3)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Ronan Kleu                            Sr.            Business Analytics                                                                          Zollikerberg, Switzerland

Callum Macfie                       So.           Exercise Science                                                                              Yorkshire, England

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

 

Women’s Golf (2)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Caroline Gray                        So.           Pre-Business                                                                                    Winnetaka, Ill.

Lea Zeitler                              Sr.            Journalism and Mass Communication                                        Tyrol, Austria

Rowing (32)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Lily Beardsley                        So.           Psychology                                                                                      Bettendorf, Iowa

Liz Blewett                             Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Dallas, Texas

Sydney Brands                      Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Iowa City, Iowa

Verity Carstensen                 Jr.             Interdepartmental Studies                                                           Waukee, Iowa

Melissa Cronnolly                Sr.            Speech and Hearing Science                                                        Park Ridge, Ill.

Orla Cuffe                              So.           Management                                                                                   Auckland, New Zealand

Emma Dabinett                     Jr.             Psychology                                                                                      Bracknell, England

Natalie DeGabriele              Jr.            Human Physiology                                                                        Cedar Falls, Iowa

Grace Ethofer                       Jr.             Pharmacy Interest                                                                          Polk City, Iowa

Elora Fierke                            Sr.            English and Creative Writing                                                        Fort Dodge, Iowa

Jaecee Hall                            Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Ankeny, 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

Nina Lawrence                       Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Wellington, New Zealand

Paige Leibfried                      Jr.             Exercise Science                                                                              Waukee, Iowa

Taryn Lindaman                    Sr.            Graduate Nondepartmental                                                         Ankeny, Iowa

Myah Lugar                           So.           Elementary Education                                                                   Clinton, Iowa

Natalie Maher                       Jr.             Business Analytics and Information Systems                            Huxley, Iowa

Emma Mask                          Sr.            Nuclear Medicine Technology                                                     Bettendorf, Iowa

Kassandra McWhorter        Sr.            Neuroscience                                                                                   Atkins, Iowa

Hailey Mercuri                      Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Grimsby, Ontario

Ava Parris                              Sr.            Management                                                                                   Capron, Ill.

Haley Reeves                         So.           Environmental Sciences                                                                Ames, Iowa

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

Ava Satterfield                      Jr.             Human Physiology                                                                         Bettendorf, Iowa

Molly Shannon                     So.           Elementary Education                                                                   Clinton, Iowa

Kenni Smith                           So.           Business Standard Admission                                                      Toronto, Canada

Abbyl Thoms                         So.           Human Physiology                                                                         Marion, Iowa

Maggie Toennis                    So.           Human Physiology                                                                         Naperville, Ill.

Claire Wragge                        Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Hampton, Iowa

 

Softball (11)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Grace Banes                          Sr.            Human Physiology                                                                         Kansas City, Kan.

Kalena Burns                         Sr.            Elementary Education                                                                   Corona, Calif.

Nia Carter                              Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Amber DeSena                      Jr.             Psychology                                                                                      Concord, Calif.

Tristin Doster                        So.           Elementary Education                                                                   Fort Dodge, Iowa

Haley Downe                         So.           Environmental Engineering                                                          Norwalk, Iowa

Anna Henderson                   Jr.             Biology                                                                                             Battle Ground, Ind.

Emma Henderson                 Jr.             Human Physiology                                                                         Battle Ground, Ind.

Brylee Klosterman                Jr.             Enterprise Leadership                                                                    North Liberty, Iowa

Rylie Moss                             Jr.             Health Studies                                                                                Muscatine, Iowa

Breanna Vasquez                  Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Norwalk, Calif.

Women’s Tennis (4)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Samantha Mannix                Grad.       Sport and Recreation Management                                            Elkhorn, Neb.

Vipasha Mehra                     Jr.             Science Studies                                                                               Calgary, Canada

Barbora Pokorna                  So.           International Relations                                                                  Ostrava, Czech Republic

Marisa Schmidt                     So.           Business                                                                                           KarlSenioruhe, Germany

 

Men’s Track and Field (15)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Armando Bryson                  Sr.            Political Science                                                                              Anaheim, Calif.

Grant Conway                       Sr.            Sport and Recreation Management                                            St. James, Mo.

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

Peyton Haack                        Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Westfield, Ind.

Kaleba Jack                            Jr.             Psychology                                                                                      Iowa City, Iowa

Noah James                           So.           Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Treynor, Iowa

Khullen Jefferson                  Jr.             Sport and Recreation Management                                            Lynwood, Ill.

Aidan King                             Jr.             Political Science                                                                              St. Charles, Ill.

Max Murphy                         Sr.            Mechanical Engineering                                                                Bettendorf, Iowa

Tyler Olson                            Sr.            CLAS Non-degree Student                                                            Muscatine, Iowa

Gratt Reed                             Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Atlantic, Iowa

Konnor Sommer                   Sr.            Electrical and Computer Engineering                                        Bettendorf, Iowa

Martin Strong                       Jr.             Mechanical Engineering                                                                Kirkwood, Mo.

Nick Trattner                         Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Naperville, Ill.

Austin West                           Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Iowa City, Iowa

 

Women’s Track & Field (42)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Amber Aesoph                     Sr.            Health Studies                                                                                Sioux City, Iowa

Alivia Bauer                           Sr.            Elementary Education                                                                   Indianola, Iowa

Myreanna Bebe                    Jr.             Journalism and Mass Communications                                      Marion, Iowa

Maddie Block                        Other      Clinical Anatomy                                                                            Marion, Iowa

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

Grace Bookin-Nosbisch       Sr.            Marketing                                                                                        Ottumwa, Iowa

Miya Brines                           So.           Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Loveland, Colo.

Mariel Bruxvoort                 Sr.            Accounting                                                                                      Grand Rapids, Mich.

Dimia Burrell                         Jr.             Journalism and Mass Communication                                        Marion, Iowa

Claire Edmondson                Jr.             Ancient Civilization                                                                        Dubuque, Iowa

Laney Fitzpatrick                  Jr.             Sport and Recreation Management                                            Davenport, Iowa

Bryce Gidel                            Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Humboldt, Iowa

Emma Gordon                      Sr.            Law                                                                                                   Ankeny, Iowa

Anne Guest                            So.           Elementary Education                                                                   Ottumwa, Iowa

LaSarah Hargrove                 Sr.            Criminology, Law and Justice                                                       Tampa, Fla.

Amanda Howe                      Sr.            Sociology                                                                                         Southington, Conn.

Jade Hunter                           So.           Exercise Science                                                                              East Moline, Ill.

Kaitlin Knape                         So.           Political Science                                                                              Tecumseh, Mich.

Jamie Kofron                        Sr.            Finance                                                                                            Tipton, Iowa

Leah Kralovetz                      Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Denmark, Wis.

Chloe Larsen                          Jr.             Health Studies                                                                                Waukee, Wis.

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

Paige Magee                          Jr.             Sport and Recreation Management                                            Columbia, Mo.

Mytika Mayberry                 Jr.             African American Studies                                                             Ankeny, Iowa

Brooke McKee                       Jr.             Business Analytics and Information Systems                            Johnston, Iowa

Lauren McMahon                 Sr.            Biomedical Sciences                                                                       Ankeny, Iowa

Tahlee McVee                        So.           Environmental Policy and Planning                                            Perth, Australia

Ella Meeuwsen                      So.           Nursing Interest                                                                              Green Bay, Wis.

Kat Moody                             Sr.            Political Science                                                                              Clive, Iowa

Katherine Moore                  Jr.             Radiation Sciences                                                                          Olathe, Kan.

Nylah Perry                           Jr.             Communication Studies                                                                Sicklerville, N.J.

Katie Petersen                       Sr.            Human Physiology                                                                         Ankeny, Iowa

Claire Pitcher                        Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Franklin, Wis.

Micah Poellet                        Jr.             Environmental Sciences                                                                Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Ianna Roach                          Sr.            Journalism and Mass Communication                                        Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

Abby Ryon                             Sr.            Biology                                                                                             Mount Pleasant, Iowa

Miriam Sandeen                   So.           Exercise Science                                                                              Eden Prairie, Minn.

Lillian Schmidt                      Jr.            Biomedical Engineering                                                               Dubuque, Iowa

Sam Strauss                           Jr.             Environmental Sciences                                                                Johnston, Iowa

Kelli Tosic                               Sr.            Theatre Arts                                                                                   Grayslake, Ill.

Ellie Twedt                             Fr.            Pharmacy                                                                                         Elkhart, Iowa

Kathryn Vortherms              Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Ankeny, Iowa

Posted in Sports |

Grinnell forum explores intersection of agriculture and space exploration

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s two U.S. senators say NASA’s lunar research may help improve food production and resource conservation on Earth. The lawmakers joined NASA astronaut Raja Chari for a discussion at Grinnell College this (Monday) morning. Chari, who was raised in Cedar Falls, says as astronauts learn to live on the moon through NASA’s Artemis Project, they’ll need to learn to grow food.

“I think it’s important that we invest in the technology in getting there so that we can continue to lead as a nation and lead the world,” Chari says, “just as we did during the Apollo era.” Chari is the leader of astronaut development and testing for the Human Landing System for NASA’s Artemis Program. Republican Senator Joni Ernst says what astronauts learn from living on the moon may wind up influencing a wide range of federal policies.

“It’s important not just for the Farm Bill, but it’s important for other departments as well as we’re moving forward doing research on crops, on protecting our water — water purification,” Ernst says. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says NASA’s ag research may be more quickly adopted by the private sector. “What we learn from research out of gravity is very important for agriculture research,” Grassley says. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, was also at the event in Grinnell.

“My key takeaway is that collabortation is essential to making sure we can continue to collaborate,” Hinson says. “Hearing about the work happening on the International Space Station down to the work we’re going to be doing on the Farm Bill to make sure that research and that innovation is supported, I think it’s absolutely critical.”

NASA’s Artemis crew has begun training, with a target date in 2026 for landing on the moon and spending nearly a month living on the surface.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Iowa attorney general hiring three new prosecutors

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is hiring three new attorneys for the Statewide Prosecutions Section in the Iowa Department of Justice.  “Back in 1997, there were 11 prosecutors who could travel around Iowa and do cases in every corner of Iowa. When I took office in January, they were down to seven,” Bird says. “Sexual assault cases are up about 101% (and) homicides are up about 70% since then, so there’s clearly an even greater need than there was before.” According to a job posting on the Attorney General’s website, the salary range for the new prosecutors is between 120- and 135-thousand dollars and they will assist county attorneys in the prosecution of felony-level crimes, like murder. The legislature provided Bird’s office with extra money for these positions, as well as others.

“A victim witness coordinator, also someone who can help as an investigator to help put together those cases,” Bird says. The government reorganization plan lawmakers approved this spring included language saying Bird may intervene in criminal prosecutions, even if a local county attorney does not request assistance. The Iowa County Attorneys Association objected, saying county attorneys are elected officials who answer to their constituents and they should retain prosecutorial discretion. A representative from Bird’s office told lawmakers it was important for the legislature to weigh in, so Bird’s authority would be clear.

“The attorney general has had statewide criminal jurisdiction since the 1860s and they further clarified that to make that clear, but as far as how we’re working with county attorneys, that hasn’t changed,” Bird says. “We have county attorneys here in this state who doing a great job and we work with them on different cases that come up in their county.” Bird, who’s been attorney general for nearly six months, says she has not intervened in any county-level prosecutions. Bird, a Republican, defeated Tom Miller last November. Miller, a Democrat, had served as Iowa’s attorney general for 40 years.

Posted in News |

Court rules U.S. government is to blame for repeated Missouri River flooding

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Court of Appeals has ruled the federal government bears responsibility for causing atypical recurrent flooding that damaged farms and property in the Missouri River basin since 2007. Initially filed in 2014, the plaintiffs in the case include more than 370 landowners from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Seth Wright, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, says while some landowners were frustrated with how long the case is taking, they were pleased with this latest ruling.

“In some respects, our clients feel vindicated that the government has caused the flooding — which is something they knew all along — and that they are now hopefully going to receive some compensation from the government,” said Wright. “It’s been almost a decade since we filed this case and a decade-and-a-half since the first flood began in 2007.” Wright says the primary allegation from the plaintiffs was that the changes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made to the river through the Missouri River Recovery Program (or M-R-R-P) caused flooding along the river — which the court also ruled violated the 5th Amendment.

“The 5th Amendment also provides that the government cannot take private property without just compensation,” Wright explained. “That’s what this case was about — that the government had taken the property rights of the plaintiffs through the appropriation of a flowage easement and had not compensated them for that flowage easement.” Wright says it was a massive win for the ruling to favor their cross-appeals, including compensation for crop losses, damages from the 2011 floods, and the value of the permanent flowage easement on the impacted landowners’ properties.

“The changes they made to the river through the MRRP is what’s caused this flooding and they have appropriated a permanent flowage easement over our client’s property, which will allow the government to continue to flood their property,” said Wright. “So, the only recourse through the 5th Amendment is just compensation.” Wright says it’s unclear whether the federal government will choose to appeal the ruling. “The next appeal from this would be to the United States Supreme Court,” he said, “so, we’ll have to wait and see what the government does and whether they want to appeal this ruling.”

Unless appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals has ruled to remand the case back to the trial court.

Posted in News |

Griswold woman injured in a rollover accident near Elliott

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Elliott, Iowa) – A woman from Cass County (IA) was injured during a single-vehicle accident late Sunday evening north of Elliott, in Pottawattamie County. According to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, an SUV driven by Olivia Kay Ewing, of Griswold, was traveling east on Pioneer Trail at around 7:50-p.m., Sunday, when the vehicle went out of control while she was trying to turn north, onto 535th Street.

The SUV slid into the northeast ditch and hit an embankment before rolling over. Ewing was transported by Griswold Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, for treatment of minor injuries.

The SUV, a 2017 Nissan Rogue, sustained $18,000 in damage.

Posted in News |

2023 IHSBCA Baseball Rankings June 26, 2023 (Week 6) – Final 1A/2A Rankings

Sports

June 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

4A

  1. Ankeny Centennial (25-2)

  2. Cedar Rapids Prairie (27-3)

  3. Johnston (27-7)

  4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (25-9)

  5. Southeast Polk (23-9)

  6. Iowa City High (22-12)

  7. West Des Moines Dowling (19-9)

  8. Dallas Center-Grimes (21-6)

  9. Indianola (22-7)

  10. Ankeny (16-15)

Others Mentioned (alphabetical order): Ames (22-11); Linn-Mar (19-12); Pleasant Valley (20-13); Sioux City North (23-9); Urbandale (17-15)

3A

  1. Western Dubuque (26-6)

  2. North Polk (20-3)

  3. Lewis Central (22-3)

  4. Marion (21-5)

  5. ADM (20-7)

  6. Knoxville (27-2)

  7. Wahlert, Dubuque (22-10)

  8. Assumption, Davenport (21-10)

  9. Ballard (15-8)

  10. Heelan, Sioux City (19-11)

Others Mentioned (alphabetical order): Benton (24-8); Central DeWitt (19-8); MOC-Floyd Valley (21-7); Sergeant Bluff-Luton (23-11); West Delaware (19-9)

2A

  1. Van Meter (22-8)

  2. Mid-Prairie (20-6)

  3. Beckman, Dyersville (18-8)

  4. Estherville-Lincoln Central (17-6)

  5. Underwood (18-2)

  6. Kuemper, Carroll (18-9)

  7. Cascade (16-7)

  8. West Marshall (21-6)

  9. New Hampton (19-8)

  10. Pleasantville (22-6)

Others Mentioned (alphabetical order): Anamosa (17-8); Sumner-Fredericksburg (16-4); West Lyon (18-2); Williamsburg (16-16); Woodward-Granger (14-4)

1A

  1. Newman Catholic, Mason City (25-3)

  2. Kingsley-Pierson (21-1)

  3. Remsen-St. Mary’s (23-2)

  4. Lynnville-Sully (21-1)

  5. Don Bosco (23-5)

  6. North Linn (22-4)

  7. West Harrison (18-3)

  8. Burlington, Notre Dame (23-6)

  9. Lisbon (19-4)

  10. Gehlen Catholic, LeMars (17-3)

Others Mentioned (alphabetical order): Bishop Garrigan, Algona (19-5); Coon Rapids-Bayard (21-4); Newell-Fonda (17-5); Saint Ansgar (20-5); Woodbury Central (13-5)

Posted in Sports |

Johnston Woman Charged with Insurance Fraud

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A central Iowa woman faces a Class-D Felony charge of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information. The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau reports 25-year-old Kayla Dennis, of Johnston, was also charged with one count of Forgery, and one count Theft in the 3rd Degree, following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

The charges against Dennis stem from an investigation that began in May 2023. According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Dennis provided false information and fabricated documents in support of a short-term disability claim and to receive benefits she otherwise would not have been entitled to. On June 19, 2023, Dennis was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail where she posted a $10,000 bond.

Kayla Dennis (Photo courtesy the Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Posted in News |

Union County man arrested Sunday morning in Ringgold County

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Mount Ayr, Iowa) – The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office reports a Union County man was arrested at around 4:40-a.m. Sunday, for OWI/1st offense. 34-year-old Jeremy Richard Tipton, of Afton, was arrested following an investigation into an accident on Highway J55, west of Redding, in Ringgold County.  Tipton was booked into the Ringgold County Jail.
*Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Jeremy R. Tipton (Ringgold County S/O photo)

Posted in News |

Cass County Supervisors to act on vacating a road, zoning change, CBA w/Sheriff’s Deputies & more

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting beginning at 9-a.m. Tuesday, in the Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse. There are two public hearings and several action items on their agenda, which can be viewed here: Agenda for Publication – 2023.06.27.

 

Posted in News |