(SIOUX CENTER) More than 400 athletes will compete in Sioux Center Saturday (April 16) for Special Olympics Track and Field games.
Opening ceremonies at the Sioux Center Athletic Field are at 9:30 in the morning on April 16th.
The track and field events begin at 9:35 and the last relay is scheduled for 1:15 in the afternoon.
There are 408 athletes registered to participate from the ages of eight to 70. Athletes may participate in two events and run with a relay team. More than 125 volunteers will help to make the day a success.
The first place winners will compete in Ames on May 26th through May 28th at the Special Olympics State Competition.
(SHELDON)–Christian artists will perform in Orange City when RiseFest returns to the Northwestern College campus June 25.
RiseFest ’11 will feature artists Lincoln Brewster; Superchick; Hawk Nelson; Disciple; Go Fish; TruEmotion; and Manafest.
Performances will begin at 11 in the morning. The Kids Zone will feature inflatables, games, face painting and more. Seminars are planned and the day begins with the fifth annual RiseFest 5k/10K run, walk and strolls.
(ORANGE CITY)–St. John’s Passion will be performed by the Sioux County Oratorio Chorus on Palm Sunday in Orange City.
Bach composed St. John’s Passion as a retelling of the narrative from the Gospel of John in the Bible.
Dr. Thomas Holm who is professor of music at Northwestern College will conduct the concert. The Northwestern College A cappela Choir will join the Sioux County Oratorio Chorus for the performance.
(SIOUX CITY)–A Le Mars Community High School and Morningside College graduate is the new alumni and event coordinator at St. Luke’s College in Sioux City.
St. Luke’s College is the only hospital-based school of its kind in Siouxland. The college offers two-year associate degrees in nursing education, radiologic technology and respiratory care.
As Alumni and Event Coordinator, Jonalee Jackes will be responsible for connecting with alumni through special events and involving students, faculty and alumni in the college.
Jackes serves as a Board Member for Sioux City Growth Organization and Young Professionals of Iowa. She is also a volunteer for Every Classroom Counts.
(Sheldon)–The Sixth annual Run, Walk and Roll benefit will be hosted at Village Northwest Unlimited in Sheldon June 4th.
The event features a 5K Race, 10K Race and a one-mile walk/roll. This year’s sponsors are Sanford Health, Hy-Vee and Ag Partners.
All Sport Central services and their chip timing system will provide fast and accurate finish results.
There are eight age groups with medals awarded to the top three male and female finishers in each age group. Trophies will be awarded to the overall male and female winners in the 5K and 10K.
Village Northwest Unlimited encourages runners, walkers and wheelchair operators of all ages to join the fun while supporting people with disabilities.
Iowa toddler drowns in display pond at home
ALTA VISTA, Iowa (AP) A 1-year-old boy has drowned in a display pond for his family’s business in Alta Vista.
A release from the Howard County sheriff’s office cited by KIMT-TV says Darrin Oberholtzer died Wednesday. He was found by his sister as she and other family members searched for him.
The pond was part of the family’s flower business at their home. It was 16 inches deep.
An autopsy has been ordered.
Police search for Iowa teen who fell from boat
(Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com)
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) Authorities are looking for a teen who fell out of a boat on the Des Moines River near Johnston.
Rich Blaylock of the Polk County sheriff’s office told the Des Moines Register that rescuers found the teen’s boat and vehicle loaded with fishing equipment. He’s believed to have gone missing about 2 p.m. Saturday near the Sycamore Park river access in Johnston.
The teen’s name has not been released.
Suspect arrested in fatal stabbing in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A man faces a first-degree murder charge in a fatal stabbing in Des Moines.
Police say 19-year-old Oscar Ibarra is being held in the Polk County jail on $500,000 bond.
Ibarra was arrested Saturday in the death of 41-year-old Patrick Wilson. Police say Wilson was stabbed multiple times during an altercation at a Des Moines residence. He died at a hospital.
Reward raised to $10K in West Des Moines killing
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Authorities continue to search for the person who shot and killed a real estate agent at a model townhouse in West Des Moines.
The reward for information in the death of 27-year-old Ashley Okland grew Saturday to $10,000. The money is being offered through Polk County Crime Stoppers.
West Des Moines police say Okland died at a hospital after suffering two gunshot wounds around 2 p.m. Friday at the home.
Authorities say there’s no reason to believe the shooting was anything other than an isolated incident. Investigators are still trying to determine a motive and possible suspect.
Thousands turn out for Iowa deputy’s funeral
(Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com)
SIGOURNEY, Iowa (AP) Thousands of people have gathered to mourn a sheriff’s deputy shot this week during a standoff in southeast Iowa.
The funeral service for 39-year-old Eric Stein was held Saturday at Sigourney High School. The Des Moines Register reports mourners filled the school’s gymnasium and two overflow rooms.
About 7,000 people, with some law-enforcement officers from across the U.S., were estimated to be in attendance.
The Keokuk County sheriff’s deputy from What Cheer was killed Monday when he and two other officers went to 53-year-old Jeffrey Krier’s (KREER) home. Authorities say Krier opened fire in an ambush, killing Stein. Krier was killed after a standoff. The other officers weren’t injured.
Stein was the first officer shot in the line of duty since 1985.
Iowa judges unlikely to commit the mentally ill
(Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa judges won’t commit mentally ill people to locked treatment facilities unless there’s strong evidence that those people are likely to harm themselves or others.
That’s because Iowa law says people cannot be locked up just because they are ill.
Relatives of Jeffrey Krier say they tried to have him committed for mental health treatment a few weeks before he shot and killed Keokuk County sheriff’s deputy Eric Stein. The deputy’s funeral drew thousands of people to Sigourney High School on Saturday.
Krier had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He was fatally shot by officers after he came out of his home near Sigourney with weapons a few hours after killing Stein.
The family told the Des Moines Register that a judge denied the commitment request after Krier was assessed at a hospital.
Donations save Iowa TrekFest after city backs out
(Information in the following story is from: The Gazette, https://www.gazetteonline.com/)
RIVERSIDE, Iowa (AP) This year’s TrekFest won’t be beamed up to Scotty after all. The annual festival celebrating Riverside’s self-titled claim as the “future birthplace” of “Star Trek” Capt. James T. Kirk had been in doubt because of financial woes. The Riverside City Council recently voted not to fund the $10,000 needed to put on TrekFest.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the Riverside Area Community Club, the organization sponsoring the festival, responded with pleas for donations. That call was answered by the Mindbridge Foundation, a non-profit outfit that helps to organize science fiction, anime, animation and gaming conventions in eastern Iowa.
Mindbridge’s board voted unanimously to give the final $5,000 necessary to ensure the festival would go on.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
