Hawarden Displays Replica Viet Nam War Memorial Wall
(Hawarden) — A half size replica of the Viet Nam Memorial Wall is scheduled to be in northwest Iowa through the weekend. The “Moving Wall” arrived in Hawarden Thursday afternoon and features all 58,306 names of those service men and women that lost their lives during the Viet Nam War. Roger Johnson is the chairman of the Sioux County Commission of Veteran Affairs and is overseeing the exhibition of the moving wall. He says it is referred to as the “moving wall” not just because of its capability of traveling from town to town, but he says, the wall also stirs up emotions for those that view it.
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For Johnson, the wall symbolizes a special meaning.
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In addition to his brother’s name, Johnson says there are four other names on the wall with either a Hawarden or neighboring town Ireton connection.
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Johnson says the local American Legion post had been trying for four years to bring the Viet Nam replica wall to Hawarden. He says when the wall arrived Thursday afternoon, a caravan helped escort it into town.
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Johnson says the “Moving Wall” will be accessible 24 hours, and it will have guards posted, as well as volunteers to assist with the locating of names. He says, like the Wall featured in Washington D.C., people will also have the opportunity to sketch a name. The Viet Nam replica wall will remain on display until Monday, August 17th. The wall is near the Hawarden Community Center.
Harkin Endorses Clinton For President
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Hillary Rodham Clinton has snagged a big endorsement as she brings her presidential campaign to the Iowa State Fair.
Former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is endorsing Clinton’s bid for the Democratic nomination, writing in the Des Moines Register that Clinton is “a fighter who has a record of getting things done.”
Harkin says in the op-ed published online Thursday night that Clinton “has devoted her career to championing the needs of children” and has been a “tireless advocate for women and families.”
The endorsement kicks off a weekend of campaigning in Iowa, home of the nation’s first presidential caucuses.
Jeb Bush Says Torture Should Be An Option For Interrogation
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush says he would leave the door open for resuming the use of torture by the U.S. government.
Bush told an audience of Iowa Republicans on Thursday that he did not want to make a blanket statement about whether he would keep or repeal President Barack Obama’s executive order banning so-called enhanced interrogation techniques by the CIA.
The former Florida governor says that he believes torture is inappropriate in general, and praises his brother, former President George W. Bush, for largely ending the CIA’s use of the techniques before he left office. But Jeb Bush says he cannot rule out ordering brutal interrogations, implying that they might be called for to keep the country safe.
Huckabee Delivers Comments At State Fair On “Soap Box”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -Mike Huckabee has veteran insight to share about the Iowa State Fair.
The former Arkansas governor says, “Pork chop on a stick. Trust me. It’s what’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack.”
The winner of the 2008 Iowa Republican caucuses, Huckabee started his turn atop the fair’s political soapbox Thursday with the dining tip.
When he got around to politics, the presidential hopeful spoke about his experience in office, his plans to create jobs and his opposition to abortion.
He then took questions from the crowd, but with a caveat. He said he didn’t actually want any Q and A, but rather some “questions and avoidance.”
Huckabee went on to banter easily with the crowd.
Webb Tells State Fair Crowd He Stays Away From PACs
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -Democratic presidential hopeful Jim Webb says people who don’t like big money in politics should take a look at his campaign.
Webb says he’s “unbought” and “unbossed” and has his own mind.
The former Virginia senator spoke Thursday at the Iowa State Fair from the fair’s political “soapbox.”
Webb deplores the number of super PACs that are raising money to support candidates in the race. He says he doesn’t have one.
Webb told fairgoers they should ask candidates who decry super PACs why they take the money. And he says if people want to change it, they should vote for him.
Webb also touts his military experience, saying he has the qualifications to be commander in chief. He was a Marine officer in Vietnam and later served as Secretary of the Navy.
Jesse Ventura Says He Would Be A Good Vice President With Donald Trump
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura says he hopes Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination for president – and that he would be open to running as his vice president.
The former pro wrestler’s support for Trump comes despite some major political differences, including on immigration. The billionaire businessman has taken a hardline stance on immigration, calling for the deportation of all 11 million people estimated to be living in the country illegally.
By contrast, Ventura lives in Mexico and has criticized Trump for his remarks about immigrants. Ventura says immigration status should not affect employment in the U.S.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press says Ventura talked about Trump on his Internet TV show “Off the Grid.” Ventura has previously endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Farm Accident Injures 6 Year Old Boy
COLWELL, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 6-year-old boy has been flown to a Minnesota hospital after being injured in a farm accident in northern Iowa.
The accident occurred around 10:45 a.m. Thursday at a farm south of Colwell. Floyd County Sheriff Rick Lynch said in a news release that the boy was with his family when a load of hay shifted and knocked the boy off a wagon, which ran over the boy.
He was flown to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. His name hasn’t been released.
