(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s political community is mourning this weekend’s death of Arizona Senator John McCain. McCain ran for president twice. His 2000 “Straight Talk Express” mostly by-passed the Iowa Caucuses, but in early 2007 McCain brought his second campaign for the White House to Iowa. He was in Iowa on October 26th of that year. It was the 40th anniversary of his capture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

During an interview with Radio Iowa that day, McCain credited Colonel Bud Day of Sioux City — one of the other P-O-Ws in the “Hanoi Hilton” — with literally saving his life. “Bud Day was the senior ranking officer in almost every situation and he inspired us to do things that we otherwise were incapable of,” McCain said. “And so it’s not that these are bad memories. Many of them are the most wonderful memories of my entire life.”

McCain has written that it was during those years as a P-O-W that he “fell in love with his country” and he voiced the same sentiments during that Radio Iowa interview. “You don’t appreciate America until you’re parted from her company,” McCain told Radio Iowa that day. “And then you really appreciate what a wonderful nation we live in.” Nearly four decades after he returned to American soil, McCain had landed the G-O-P’s presidential nomination. McCain finished fourth in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses, then he kept campaigning here in the spring, summer and fall of 2008.

“I want to be president because I want to inspire a generation of Americans to serve a cause greater than their self-interest,” McCain said in most speeches. At a McCain rally in September of 2008 in Cedar Rapids, a group of protesters began yelling and McCain’s supporters in the crowd started chanting to drown them out. “You know what, my friends? The one thing Americans want us to do is to stop yelling at each other, don’t they?” he asked, chuckling.

McCain returned to the Iowa campaign trail once more, in 2014, to campaign with Joni Ernst. Ernst, who won that U.S. Senate race, this weekend called McCain “a true American hero” and praised his “tenacious spirit.” Senator Ernst said McCain was a mentor who “personified service to our country.” Senator Chuck Grassley also praised McCain’s tenacity and courage, including his years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Grassley and McCain have served in the senate for the past 32 years and Grassley noted McCain’s humor, saying McCain often greeted him by saying: “Nothing runs like a Deere” or joking about having a daily glass of ethanol.

McCain was an outspoken critic of what he called “ethanol subsidies.” All four of the Iowans serving in the U.S. House have issued statements on McCain’s passing, describing McCain as a statesman, hero and patriot. Congressman Steve King praised McCain for using “every day of his life in preparation for or actively serving our country. Congressman David Young said McCain was a patriot who “inspired many to give the best they could to make community and country better.”

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — The father of the 20-year-old Iowa woman whose body was found in a cornfield last week wants people to remember her by “celebrating something wonderful” __ not by the way she died. Mollie Tibbets’ father, Rob Tibbetts, urged the hundreds of people at his daughter’s funeral on Sunday afternoon to remember her passion for life and her desire to help others. Her body was found last Tuesday after a suspect lead police to the field where her body had been since July 18.

To highlight his call to celebrate “wonderful” things, Rob Tibbetts recognized a couple who had just married the day before during his eulogy inside the gymnasium at Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom High School. Tibbetts graduated from the school in 2017.
“Today, we need to turn the page. We’re at the end of a long ordeal,” he said. “But we need to turn toward life __ Mollie’s life __ because Mollie’s nobody’s victim. Mollie’s my hero.”

Davenport Bishop Thomas Zinkula led the funeral Mass. More than 1,000 people filled the gymnasium for Tibbetts’ funeral in the central Iowa city of 1,500 where she grew up. Tibbetts had been staying in Brooklyn during a summer break from her studies at the University of Iowa.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts’ death. Authorities have said Tibbetts was abducted while running in July, and an autopsy showed that she died from stab wounds.

Rivera is being held in lieu of a $5 million cash-only bond, and he is suspected of being in the United States illegally. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, if convicted.

Several hundred people attended a Funeral Mass for the University of Iowa student whose body was found last week in a cornfield outside her hometown. The funeral Mass was held Sunday afternoon inside the gymnasium of BGM High School in Brooklyn, Iowa. Twenty-year-old Mollie Tibbetts attended the school before her death. Bishop Thomas Zinkula of Davenport, led the funeral. Mollie Tibbetts’ father, cousin and one of her teachers who spoke at the service. Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts’ death. Investigators say the 24-year-old Mexican farmworker led them to a cornfield Tuesday where Tibbetts’ body had been left since her July 18 disappearance. Tibbetts had been staying in Brooklyn during a summer break from her studies at the University of Iowa.

Today’s West Central Iowa Pullers Mid-America Pulling Association Tractor Pull will be held at the Cass County Fairgrounds beginning at 11:30-a.m. instead of 1-p.m., as originally planned (Due to the rain). Lunch on grounds by Cass County Beef Producers.

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — A Mass will be held for an Iowa college student less than a week after her body was found in a cornfield outside her small hometown. The funeral for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts will be held this (Sunday) afternoon in the gymnasium of BGM High School in Brooklyn, the city of 1,500 in central Iowa where she grew up. Tibbetts graduated from the school in 2017.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts’ death.  Investigators say the 24-year-old Mexican farmworker led them to a cornfield Tuesday where Tibbetts’ body had been left since her July 18 disappearance.

Tibbetts had been staying in Brooklyn during a summer break from her studies at the University of Iowa.

Officials in the City of Elk Horn (IA) have issued a Boil Order for a section of the community. The order issued Sunday morning is for residents along Pleasant Street, only, and is in effect until about Noon, Wednesday (Aug. 29th).

A Boil Order means any water used for cooking, drinking or brushing teeth, should be brought to a boil and let boil for a minute before cooling or using for cooking. Bottled water may be used an alternate source. The regular water may be used for bathing, but take care not to ingest any water during shower or bath.

A boil-water order is a public health advisory or directive given by government or health authorities to consumers when a community’s drinking water is, or could be, contaminated by pathogens.

Red Oak Police report the arrest of a man early this (Sunday) morning. 32-year old Kyle Gregory Wadley (whose address was redacted in the report), was taken into custody at around 12:45-a.m. in the vicinity of N. 8th and Joy Streets, in Red Oak. Wadley was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree, a Class-D felony. His bond at the Montgomery County Jail, was set at $5,000.

An accident Saturday night in southeast Iowa’s Lee County has claimed a man’s life. The Iowa State Patrol reports 64-year old Randy R. Carter, of Fort Madison, died when the 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle he was riding, was struck by a 2008 Chevy Silverado pickup. The accident happened at around 8:45-p.m. near Business Highway U-S 61 and the 61 ramps. Authorities say Carter was stopped at mailboxes on the west side of the two-lane (divided) highway, and attempted to cross both lanes to enter a private driver located on the east side of the Highway. In doing so, Carter failed to yield to the southbound pickup driven by 29-year old Jonathan W. Witt, of Burlington, IA.

The pickup struck the cycle, and came to rest partially in the median. The motorcycle came to rest in the median. Carter died at the scene of the crash. Witt was not hurt in the collision.

Red Oak Police say three people were cited Saturday night for alcohol-related offenses.  19-year old Jose’ Alfredo Clarence Portales and 18-year old Dylan Michael Kopiasz, both of Red Oak, were cited for Possession/consumption of alcohol under the legal age. And, 21-year old Jennifer Nicole Gibson, of Red Oak, was cited for Providing/permitting minors to consume alcohol. The citations were handed out at around 9:30-p.m. Saturday, at an apartment located in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street, in Red Oak. All three offenders were released at the scene.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An elections worker with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office says a petition seeking to add a conservative candidate for attorney general to the November ballot appears to have fallen short of the 1,500 signatures needed. Elections assistant Wes Hicok says the group turned in pages of signatures ahead of the 5 p.m. Saturday deadline, with a formal review of the paperwork taking place Monday. The effort aimed to put attorney Patrick Anderson, of Des Moines, on the ballot.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — A Pleasant Hill man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing his girlfriend’s father. The Des Moines Register reports that 27-year-old Ricky St. John was sentenced Friday. In a deal with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the November death of 46-year-old Timothy Neal. St. John had been charged with first-degree murder in the case.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The wife of a former Democratic Iowa congressman has died just eight days after her husband. A spokesman for the family says Darlene “Dody” Boswell died early Saturday morning at a Des Moines hospital following a prolonged illness. She was 82. Her husband, former Rep. Leonard Boswell died Aug. 17. A joint funeral service for the couple was held Saturday. Dody Boswell taught elementary school for 37 years.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Burlington business owners say they’ve seen lighter traffic, but plenty of support, in the wake of a fire in the downtown shopping district. Doreen Roy owns two businesses in the city. Roy tells The Hawk Eye that she’s cautiously optimistic after a blaze destroyed two historic buildings downtown at the Tama Complex earlier this month. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Roy says there’s fewer shoppers downtown but she’s had locals check in on her businesses.