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Polk City Man Sentenced to 30 Years’ Imprisonment for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

News

October 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, IA – A Polk City man was sentenced on October 6, 2023, to 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. According to public court documents, Daniel Todd Little, 44, produced child sexual abuse material when he video-recorded himself sexually abusing a minor child.

The Court imposed the 30-year sentence to be served consecutively to Little’s sentence for his 2022 convictions in the Iowa District Court for Polk County for sexual abuse, controlled substance, and firearm charges. After completing his term of imprisonment, Little will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Little was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security and the Ankeny Police Department investigated the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

Posted in News |

2023 8 Player District 9 All District Teams

Sports

October 20th, 2023 by admin

The 2023 8 Player All District Teams have been announced. The MVP this season is Aaron Olsen a junior from Audubon. Offensive Player of the Year is JT Laufersweiler a senior from St. Edmond. The Defensive Player of The Year is Trenton Beard a senior from Colo-Nesco. And the Lineman of the Year goes to Charles Schon a senior from Glidden-Ralston.

The 2023 8 Player District 9 All District First team: QB: JT Laufersweiler a senior from St. Edmond. RB: Evan Alt a senior from Audubon. RB: Emmett Snyder a senior from Glidden-Ralston. WR/TE: Treyton Travis a senior from Baxter. WR/TE: Grant Gales a sophomore from St. Edmond. OL: Charles Schon a senior from Glidden-Ralston. OL: Tyler Mohr a junior from Coon-Rapids Bayard. OL: Logan Schmidt a senior from Audubon. K: Koleman Hanson a sophomore from St. Edmond. UTILITY: Aaron Olsen a junior from Audubon. 

First Team All Defense: DL: Adam Walker a junior from St. Edmond. DL: Mark Lensch a senior from Glidden-Ralston. DL: Lucas Frohwein a senior from Colo-Nesco. LB: Trenton Beard a senior from Colo-Nesco. LB: Josef Dvorak a junior from Collins-Maxwell. LB: Austin Christensen a sophomore from Audubon. DB: Cainan Travis a junior from Baxter. DB: Cal Heydon a sophomore from Coon-Rapids Bayard. PUNTER: Edward Miller a senior from Audubon. UTILITY: Wyatt Oswald a junior from Coon-Rapids Bayard. Returner: Breckin Clatt a junior from Colo-Nesco.

Secon Team All Offense: QB: Perrin Sulzle a junior from Baxter. RB: Sam Myer a junior from St. Edmond. RB: Mark Bower a junior from Colo-Nesco. WR/TE: Cade Robinson a junior from Baxter. WR/TE: Lane Oswalt a junior from Collins-Maxwell. OL: Carter Smith a junior from Baxter. OL: Colton Hansen a junior from Audubon. OL: Wade Hunter a senior from Glidden Ralston. UTILITY: Colby Wallace a junior from Glidden-Ralston. K: Landon Gjerde a sophomore from Colo-Nesco.

Second Team All Defense: DL: Cael Wishman a sophomore from Baxter. DL: Waylon Hein a junior from Glidden-Ralston. DL: Ely Jorgensen a junior from Audubon. LB: Cody Samson a senior from Baxter. LB: Kolby Culbertson a senior from Coon-Rapids Bayard. LB: Lucas Daggett a junior from Colo-Nesco. DB: Standan Vansice a sophomore from Baxter. DB: Jakob Koopman a sophomore from St. Edmond. PUNTER: Trenton Beard a senior from Colo-Nesco. UTILITY: Alex Daniel a sophomore from Glidden-Ralston. Returner: Cooper Weirson a sophomore from Collins-Maxwell.

Honorable Mention

Audubon: Zeke Konkler Sr, Gabe Jensen Jr

Baxter: Jack Anderson Jr, Grant Anderegg Jr

Collins Maxwell: Austin Boege SO. Dalton Martin SO.

Colo-Nesco: Ben Ryan SR. Preston Voelker SO.

Coon-Rapids Bayard: Mason Betts SR. Caden Oswald FR.

Glidden-Ralston: Lucas Christian JR. Daniel Thooft JR.

St. Edmond: Quintin Jaeschke JR. Kennick Henning SO.

ALL ACADEMIC 

Audubon: Zeke Konkler SR, Edward Miller Sr, Logan Schmidt Sr, Colton Hansen Jr, Colin Hartl Jr, Austin Heuss Jr, Adam Obrecht Jr, Aaron Olsen Jr, Jack Stanerson Jr, Mason Stecker Jr, Ryan Hermansen So, Sullivan McClain So, Izik Sorensen So, Carson Wessel So.

Baxter: Treyton Travis Sr, Cainan Travis Jr, James Esqueda Jr, Carter Smith Jr, Grant Anderegg Jr, Perrin Sulzle Jr, Eli Dee So, Trevor Hamilton So, Cody Spurgeon So, Cade Robinson So

Collins-Maxwell: Lucas Robinson Jr, Nate Smith Jr, Gavin Carnine Jr, Josef Dvorak Jr, Dalton Martin So, Landon Vaughn So, Cooper Wierson So, Austin Boege So.

Colo-Nesco: Lucas Frohwein Sr, Mark Bower Jr, Lucas Daggett Jr, Colton Niemeyer Jr, Jack Angell So, Jack Seyller So, Preston Voelker So

Coon-Rapids Bayard: Kolby Culberston Sr, Cade Behrens Sr, Parker Hays Jr, Ely Booth Jr, Cal Heyden Jr, Mason Culberston So, Sam Larsen So, Clay Yager So

Glidden-Ralston: Wade Hunter Sr, Mark Lensch Sr, Charles Schon Sr, Emmett Snyder Sr, Lucas Christian Jr, Waylon Hein Jr, Collin Strum Jr

St. Edmond: JT Laufwersweiler Sr, Leo Ehn Sr, Sam Myer Sr, Adam walker Jr, Jakob Koopman So, Kinnick Henning So, Jacob Moore So, Max Webster So

 

 

Posted in Sports |

Watering is key to planting trees in the fall

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who hope to do some tree planting yet this fall still likely have a couple of weeks to get the chore done, but given the long-running drought, those new seedlings will need plenty of water. Mark Runkel, a forest health technician with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says we may be able to plant trees into November — though it all depends on the weather and how soon the bitter cold temperatures arrive.

“Really, you could plant anytime in the fall, just before the ground freezes,” Runkel says. “So after we start seeing leaves fall, and after we start seeing trees start to go dormant, all the way up to before freeze, it’s pretty much a good time to plant those trees.” It’s important to pick a species of tree that matches your site’s growing conditions, things like soil type, drainage, available growing space, and full sun or shade.

You can’t plant it and forget it either, as Runkel says it’ll need regular waterings. “You should be watering, especially a new tree like that, you could water it twice a week,” Runkel says. “But really, you want to simulate at least a one-inch rain. A lot of times what I’ll do, if I planted a new tree in my yard, I’ll walk out and I’ll feel the soil around it, and if it feels damp, then it’s probably okay. If it feels a little bit dry, then I’ll add some water to it.”

Iowa DNR photo

Don’t set out the garden hose and let it run for an hour, as that’s just wasting water. Runkel says there’s a simple trick for watering a tree gradually and sufficiently. “A lot of times what we’ll do is, we’ll just get a five-gallon bucket and then we’ll drill a small hole in the side of it,” Runkel says, “and then when you are watering your trees, you can actually just take that five-gallon bucket with that hole pointed at the trunk of the tree and then slowly let that water drain out.”

Runkel says virtually all species of trees should be safe for planting in Iowa right now, whether they’re small seedlings or larger, more established trees with a big root ball. “I typically recommend planting trees in the fall, because once they’re starting to go dormant, they’ll start to send out some of those roots to establish themselves,” Runkel says. “Then when spring comes, and we get all of that snowmelt and we get all of those spring rains, it’s going to be a really great environment for that tree to be able to come out of its dormancy and start putting more those roots out.”

Before doing any digging, call Iowa One Call at 811 to locate any underground utilities. For more tips, visit: www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Urban-Forestry 

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

ROBERT “Bob” STRAKA, 76, of Atlantic (Celebration of Life graveside svc. at a later date)

Obituaries

October 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

ROBERT “Bob” STRAKA, 76, of Atlantic, died Thursday, October 19, 2023, at Atlantic Specialty Care in Atlantic. A Celebration of Life Graveside service for BOB STRAKA will be held at a later date at Brighton Township Cemetery, north of Marne.Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

UNI receives record donation from alum

News

October 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – University of Northern Iowa president Mark Nook announced a record 25 million dollar gift today (Friday) to the school’s business college. “This is an historic moment, not only is this the largest gift to date to the Our Tomorrow campaign it’s the largest single gift the university has ever received,” Nook says. The gift comes from 1970 U-N-I graduate David Wilson, who owns a nationwide chain of car dealerships.

“In honor of this gift, we are pleased to announce pending Board of Regents approval this next month the first named college in the history of the University of Northern Iowa, the David W Wilson College of Business,” Nook says. Wilson says he hopes the gift will ensure students will learn to do things the right way. “Ethical capitalism needs all the help it can get. We believe this is a perfect time to make this gift to present a philosophical defense of capitalism. That’s why we’re giving the money to the business school, not the university,” Wilson says.

David Wilson is giving UNI $25 million for its business college. (UNI photo)

“It is our hope this contribution will foster instruction that reveals the importance of maintaining ethical principles in the corporate environment at all levels.” Wilson donated money to U-N-I in 1999 which led to the creation of the Wilson Chair in Business Ethics. “In our judgment our nation’s political future our political and economic future is in peril and ethical defense of free markets is crucial to reversing the current anti-capitalist trend that we see today in America,” Wilson says.

A portion of the gift also establishes the Wilson Scholars Fund, which will provide renewable scholarships for students from Tama County where Wilson grew up in the town of Traer.

Posted in News |

Gov. Reynolds Issues Disaster Proclamation for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Buena Vista County  

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Today Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the signing of a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County in northwest Iowa effective immediately through November 19, 2023. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock there. 

This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.   

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. 

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Hawkeyes Set to Play in Hawai’i Invitational

Sports

October 20th, 2023 by admin

THIS WEEK 

The University of Iowa women’s golf team travels to Kapolei, Hawai’i, for the Rainbow Wahine Invitational. The 54-hole tournament will be held from Oct. 23- Oct. 25 at Kapolei Golf Course (par 70, 6,076-yards). The Hawkeyes will begin the tournament Monday with a 2 p.m. (CT) shotgun start.

• NOTE – Honolulu’s time is five hours behind Iowa’s time.

FOLLOW LIVE 

Fans can follow the tournament via live scoring at www.Golfstat.com.

THE LINEUP 

Iowa’s final tournament of the fall season’s lineup includes: sophomore Madison Dabagia, sophomore Shannyn Vogler, junior Paula Miranda, sophomore Kaitlyn Hanna and sophomore Riley Lewis.

THE FIELD 

The 16-team field includes: Hawai’i, Gonzaga, Nevada, Utah Valley, UNC Asheville, Murray State, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Kennesaw State, Sacramento State, Baylor, New Mexico State, Iowa, UC Davis, British Columbia and Osaka Gakuin.

THE COURSE
The Kapolei Golf Course was recognized as 4.5 out of 5-star courses by Golf Digest’s Places to Play. This 6,076-yard, par-70 course has elevated greens, 80 bunkers and five lakes that provide delightful tactical challenges. All of the greens are visible from the tee ground, and Kapolei’s wide fairways and generous greenside chipping areas deliver a high level of overall playability for golfers of all levels. The course was the proud host of LPGA and PGA Championship tournaments and a round for former President Barack Obama.

Posted in Sports |

ISU to Host Sixth-Ranked TTU in Regular Season Finale

Sports

October 20th, 2023 by admin

AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 regular season is set to wrap on Monday, as Iowa State welcomes No. 6 Texas Tech to the Cyclone Soccer Complex for a matchup with postseason implications. Monday’s match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and the action will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

The Cyclones (6-10-1, 3-6 Big 12) have recorded their most wins in a single season since 2016 and are looking to earn a spot in the Big 12 Championships. The No. 6 Red Raiders (13-0-4, 7-0-2 Big 12) are currently the top-ranked team in the conference, and a win guarantees that they clinch a regular season title.

An ISU win plus a loss from one of Baylor, Oklahoma, or Cincinnati would vault the Cyclones into the Big 12 Championships and would be the team’s first postseason visit since 2021, when it lost to top-seeded TCU in penalties. A win would also give the Cyclones their biggest win in program history as they’ve never beaten a top ten team.

The Matchup: Iowa State (6-10-1, 3-6 Big 12) vs. #6 Texas Tech (13-0-4, 7-0-2 Big 12)

Where: Cyclone Soccer Complex // Ames, Iowa

When: October 23 – 7 p.m.

Watch: Big 12 Now on ESPN+

Live Stats: cyclones.com

 

Leading the Cyclones 

Iowa State enters Monday night’s contest having won two straight and putting itself squarely in the postseason picture.

Seniors Salomé Prat had a monster match against Kansas State in the last outing, as the Tarbes, France, native notched her fourth career brace and second in the last four contests. Her two scores pushed ISU past K-State, 2-1.

Prat now leads the team in points (15), surpassing Mira Emma. Emma has 14 points and a team-high four assists. Prat has tallied seven goals on the season, a single-season best for her, and is one score away from entering the top ten single-season goal scorers in Iowa State history.

Abigail Miller joins Prat and Emma as the only other Cyclones to have multiple goals on the season while Lauren Hernandez is the only Cyclone outside of Emma to have multiple assists.

Goalkeeper Avery Gillahan has tallied 55 saves and has faced over 230 shots through 17 contests. Gillahan recorded her third career shutout against Kansas and was rewarded with a Big 12 weekly honor.

Series History 

Iowa State and Texas Tech will meet for the 28th time on Monday evening in a series that dates back to 1996. The Red Raiders hold the series edge, owning a 15-11-1 record, and TTU hasn’t lost to ISU since 2011. The Cyclones hold a 7-5-1 advantage in matches played in Ames.

Up Next 

With a win and a loss from either Baylor, Oklahoma or Cincinnati, Iowa State will advance to the Big 12 Championships later this week in Round Rock, Texas. The action in Round Rock gets underway on Saturday, Oct. 28. A loss or a tie would end the Cyclones’ season.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa Women’s Wrestling Tickets Announced

Sports

October 20th, 2023 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Tickets for the inaugural University of Iowa women’s wrestling season will go on sale next week.

The Hawkeyes will host their first ever dual in Carver Hawkeye Arena on November 12 as they welcome Sacred Heart, Presbyterian and Lindenwood. They will host a second home dual on January 21 with teams to be announced at a later date. Each competition will feature two mats running simultaneously, with Iowa competing on the north mat throughout the duals.

Ticket sales will be available for donors at the Kinnick Society Gold, Kinnick Society, and Champion Hawk levels I Club levels beginning Thursday, October 26 and to all other donors and current Iowa season ticket holders on Friday, October 27. General public ticket sales will begin on Monday, October 30.

Iowa will offer a “For Her” combo pack that includes tickets to both home quad duals on November 12 and January 21.  Parking for these two inaugural season events will be available in Lots 75, 33, 40, 65, and 52 free of charge.

“For Her” Combo Pack 

Premium Seat – $25

Standard Seat – $15

Youth (18 & under) Standard – $8

 Single Quad Dual Admission 

Premium Seat – $15

Standard Seat – $10

Youth (18 & under) Standard – $5

Admission to both duals will be free for UI students. UI students will be limited to one ticket per dual. Students must be currently enrolled and can claim their tickets through their student ticketing account at hawkeyesports.com/studenttickets.

Tickets are available over the phone at 800-IA-HAWKS and online at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.

Fans also have the opportunity see both the men’s and women’s wrestling teams compete at the Solider Salute on December 29-30, 2023. The event will be held at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa and tickets are available at soldiersaluteia.com.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa hosts Minnesota

Sports

October 20th, 2023 by admin

Iowa will continue rely on defense and special teams as the 24th ranked Hawkeyes get set to host Minnesota. Iowa is coming off a 15-6 win at Wisconsin and is 6-1 espite beging without its top quarterback and top two tight ends.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. In his first two games as the starting quarterback Deacon Hill is 12 of 35 for 147 yards but Ferentz says Hill has done a good job of limiting mistakes.

Ferentz says the Hawkeyes are committed to doing what it takes to win.

Iowa has won the last eight games in the series. The Gophers are 3-3.

Posted in Sports |