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Tip led to FBI arrests of Iowa mother, son in Capitol attack

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The FBI have identified an Iowa woman and her adult son as participants in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol after a tip from a longtime family acquaintance. An FBI agent says in a court document that videos posted to social media and surveillance video at the Capitol also confirmed that Deborah Sandoval and Salvador Sandoval Jr. were part of the mob.

The affidavit describes surveillance video showing 23-year-old Salvador Sandoval pushing two officers with the Metropolitan Police Department and trying to grab the shield of a third. The mother and son were arrested on Friday in Des Moines and have been released from custody pending further proceedings.

 

Benzan leads No. 8 Maryland past Iowa 111-93

Sports

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Senior Katie Benzan broke her school record with nine 3-pointers and scored a career-high 29 points to lead eighth-ranked Maryland to a 111-93 victory over Iowa on Tuesday. Hawkeyes freshman Caitlin Clark was

Iowa guard Gabbie Marshall, right, shoots a basket against Maryland guard Katie Benzan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

equally impressive and made nine shots from beyond the arc, one shy of a program record, and scored 29 of her 34 points in the first half.

 

Food groups fight to save one Trump virus program

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Agricultural groups and anti-hunger organizations are pushing the Biden administration to continue a program launched by President Donald Trump that spent $6 billion to prevent farmers from plowing under food and instead provide it to millions of Americans left reeling by the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture began the Farmers to Families Food Box program in April 2020 after many people were shocked to see farmers destroy crops even as food banks were being overwhelmed by demand from people suddenly out of work.

A USDA Farmers to Families Food Box is seen at a Des Moines Area Religious Council mobile food pantry stop at the downtown bus station, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa. Agricultural groups and anti-hunger organizations are pushing the Biden administration to continue the Farmers to Families Food Box program launched by President Donald Trump that spent $6 billion to prevent farmers from plowing under food and instead provide it to millions of Americans left reeling by the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

If the USDA extends the program, it will be a rare example of the new administration retaining rather than dismantling a Trump initiative.

 

WALTER HOWELL, 87, of rural Earlham (Graveside Svcs. 4/24/21)

Obituaries

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

WALTER HOWELL, 87, of rural Earlham, died Friday, Feb. 19th, at home. Graveside services for WALTER HOWELL will be held 10:30-a.m. April 24th, at the Earlham Cemetery. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham has the arrangements.

The graveside service will be followed by a luncheon at the Earlham Church of Christ on April 24th.

Memorials can be made to Earlham Fire and Rescue or Earlham Church of Christ.

WALTER HOWELL is survived by:

His wife – Nancy Howell.

His daughter – Marcia (Jeff) Anker.

His son – Jeff (Annette) Howell

7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

NANCY SWOPE CHRISTENSEN, 74, of Englewood, FL, formerly of Oakland & Lewis (no services)

Obituaries

February 23rd, 2021 by Jim Field

NANCY SWOPE CHRISTENSEN, 74, of Englewood, Florida (formerly of Oakland & Lewis) died Sunday, February 21, 2021.  No services for NANCY SWOPE CHRISTENSEN will be held.

————————————————————————-

NANCY SWOPE CHRISTENSEN is survived by:

Friend:  Tim Krebs of Englewood, FL

Mother:  Dolores Swope of Lewis

Children:  Geoff (Wendy) Christensen of Council Bluffs, Kimberly (Bill) Murphy of Colorado.

Stepchildren:  Mandy (Stephen) Mitchell of Tampa, FL and Clay (Laura) Krebs of Plantation, Florida.

Sisters:  Jolene Swope of Papillion, NE: LaDean Swope of Omaha NE; Claudia (Scott) Smith of Urbandale; Darcey Swope of LaVista, NE.

Brother:  Chuck (Donnell) Swope of Shelby.

3 grandchildren

4 Step-Grandchildren

6 great grand children

Also…2 nieces, 4 nephews, 1 great niece and 2 great nephews.

Officials ID man fatally shot during Iowa home invasion

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a man was shot to death last week after breaking into a rural home near Ottumwa. The Ottumwa Courier reports that 28-year-old Aaron Thompson, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, was shot by a homeowner after he broke into the home Thursday night and fought with the homeowner. Thompson was flown by helicopter to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, where he died.

The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says Thompson appeared to have been suffering from a mental health crisis at the time he broke into the home. Officials called the incident tragic and said no criminal charges would be filed against the homeowner.

 

Drive-through Mobile Food Pantry in Atlantic March 3

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoege reports on Wednesday March 3rd, the Cass County Local Food Policy Council is hosting a mobile food pantry through the Food Bank for the Heartland at the Cass County Community Center from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, or as supplies last. Hoege notes they have handed out double the amount of food at these mobile pantries in the past, given the increased needs related to COVID-19.

Anyone in need is welcome to visit the mobile pantry, and no documentation is needed. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Due to high rates of COVID-19, everyone visiting or volunteering for the pantry is asked to wear a mask.

Details for Food Bank for the Heartland Mobile Food Pantry:
When: Wednesday, March 3 (4:00-6:00 PM, or until supplies run out).
Where: Cass County Community Center (805 West 10th St. Atlantic IA 50022). Traffic will be directed by
volunteers.
What: A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a oneday
distribution. The mobile pantry is available free of charge. Visitors are asked stay in their vehicles
with the trunk open and wear a mask when talking with volunteers.
Who: Anyone in need is welcome. No documentation needed.
For more information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local
Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

Man charged in Des Moines shooting death takes plea deal

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors say a man charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and other counts in a 2019 Des Moines shooting that killed one man and injured another has taken a plea deal. Television station WHO-TV reported Tuesday that Michael Lyke Jr. has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, willful injury and intimidation with a dangerous weapon in the June 2019 killing of 41-year-old Earl Caldwell. Another man, 39-year-old Des Moines resident Littleton William Clark, was injured.

Lyke had been scheduled to go to trial in April on the more serious charges and would have received a mandatory life sentence if convicted. He now faces up to 30 years in prison when he’s sentenced on March 10.

 

Public Hearing on an FY 21 Budget Amendment & max. tax dollars Wed., during the Adair County BOS meeting

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Public hearings will be held Wednesday morning in Greenfield, as part of the Adair County Board of Supervisor’s regular, electronic* meeting that begins at 9-a.m.  The hearings (which are scheduled to begin at 9:20 and 9:30-a.m.), are with regard to a FY21 Budget Amendment, and the FY22 Maximum Property Tax Dollars, respectively. Both will be followed by action on Resolutions approving each matter, and the setting of a date for a Public Hearing on the FY22 Adair County Budget.

In other business:

  • County Engineer Nick Kauffman will present an award contract for the Board Chair to sign, with regard to Farm-to-Market granular surfacing.
  • County Recorder Janelle Schneider will discuss and/or present a County Land Record Information System 28-E agreement
  • And, Eddie Bajric, with Access Systems, will talk about a Cloud-based Phone System.

The Adair County Supervisors will also receive a COVID-19 update, discuss the latest information, along with acting on any claims to come before them.

*The meeting can be heard/joined by calling (605)-313-6157, and using access code 526272#   Please be sure to mute your phone if you are not part of the discussion during times of public comment.

Iowa COVID-19 update for 2/23/21: 26 additional deaths [1 more in Adams Co] (State total now 5,400); 690 new positive cases

News

February 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Heath, Tuesday, at 10-a.m., reported 690 new, positive COVID-19 test results were returned from the labs, for a pandemic total of 360,278. There were 26 additional deaths reported, for a total of 5,400. The coronavirus dashboard shows one additional death in Adams County, where the pandemic total is now four.

Health officials say Underlying Causes (diseases or injury that initiated the events resulting in death), amount to 4,849. The IDPH says 551 deaths listed COVID as a contributing factor. A pre-existing condition accounted for 4,973 deaths, while Long-Term Care (LTC) facility deaths accounted for 2,146 of the total number of deaths.

Long-Term Care facility COVID-Outbreaks are down slightly from Monday, at 20. Positive cases at LTC’s account for 520 of the total number of positive results, while 352 patients/staff at those facilities have recovered from COVID.

Hospitalizations are up. The IDPH said as of Tuesday, there were 227 persons hospitalized with COVID, compared to 222 on Monday. COVID patients in an ICU increase from 54 Monday to 58 Tuesday. There were 30 COVID patients admitted to hospitals across the State in Tuesday’s report, compared to 22 during the previous 24-hour report.  Patients on a ventilator remain at 25. Hospitals in Western & Southwest Iowa report: 13 people still hospitalized; six COVID patients are in an ICU, two people were admitted, and one person remains on a ventilator.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate as of Tuesday was steady at 4.3%, while the 7-day average was up slightly, to 4.2%.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

  • Cass, 1,315 cases; {+3}; 48 deaths
  • Adair, 911; {+3}; 26
  • Adams, 326 {+0}; 4
  • Audubon, 483 {+1}; 9
  • Guthrie, 1,157 {+2}; 28
  • Harrison County, 1,785; {+3}; 69
  • Madison County, 1,520; {+4}; 17
  • Mills County, 1,615; {+2}; 20
  • Montgomery, 1,036; {+0}; 36
  • Pottawattamie County, 10,666; {+16}; 140
  • Shelby County, 1,192; {+0}; 33
  • Union County,  1,256; {+2}; 31