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Statesmen Earn 13 All-Heart North Awards

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — A total of 13 William Penn football players garnered postseason laurels as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division teams were announced Thursday.

The trio of running back Destynd Loring (Jr., Charleston, S.C., Sports Management), tight end Alexander Price (Jr., McKinney, Texas, Sports Management), and linebacker Brian Weatherspoon (So., West Memphis, Ark.) were all chosen for the first team.

Seven players received second-team, including wide receiver Amir Everett (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn., Sports Management), offensive linemen Logan Myers (Sr., Joplin, Mo., Business Management) and Chris King (Jr., Culver City, Calif.), defensive lineman Malcolm Bryant (Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio, Sports Management), defensive back Howard Huerta (Sr., Panorama City, Calif., Business Management), punter Mason Ford (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Business Management), and longsnapper Tommy LeGardye (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif., Sports Management).

Honorable mentions were awarded to offensive lineman Adrian Ayala (Jr., Cerritos, Calif.), defensive back Brandon Young (So., Houston, Texas, Computer Science), and linebacker Matt Mehrhoff (Jr., Fenton, Mo., Business Management).

The group helped William Penn to a 4-6 overall record, including a 2-4 mark in the Heart North.

Loring, who is now a two-time all-Heart recipient (honorable mention last year), led the rushing attack with 179 carries for 1,041 yards and 13 touchdowns.  He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 104.1 yards per contest.  The junior recorded five 100-yard rushing performances, headlined by 262 yards versus Culver-Stockton on November 9.

Loring also caught nine passes for 54 yards.

Price, now a two-time award winner (honorable mention in 2023), was not only a competent blocker at the tight end position, but also one of WPU’s top targets in the pass game with 25 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns.  His top outing came against William Woods on August 29 with four grabs for 78 yards.

Weatherspoon managed 66 tackles (35 solos, 31 assists) for the Statesmen, including 5.5 for a loss (0.5 sacks).  The sophomore forced one fumble and finished the fall with three double-digit tackle games.  His top showing of 12 tackles occurred against St. Ambrose on October 5.

Everett headlined the air attack with 36 receptions for 638 yards and six touchdowns, all WPU bests this year.  He averaged 70.9 receiving yards per game and posted three 100-yard games.  The junior’s best game was against Peru State on October 19 with six grabs for 143 yards and a score.

Myers and King helped the Statesmen offense average 377.5 yards (229.7 passing yards) and 26.7 points per game.  Myers is now a three-time award recipient; it is the second time he is on the second team.

Bryant topped the defense with 70 tackles (13 solos, 57 assists), including five stops behind the line of scrimmage (one sack).  The producer of three double-digit tackle games, he also tallied one fumble recovery.  Bryant’s season-best 13 tackles happened against St. Ambrose on October 5.

Now a two-time all-Heart honoree, Huerta collected 38 tackles (22 solos, 16 assists) this season with two for a loss of yardage.  He also broke up a pair of passes and recovered two fumbles.  A season-high eight tackles occurred for Huerta in a September 7 matchup with Benedictine.

Ford averaged 39.0 yards over the span of 25 punts.  He had five 50-plus yard punts with a long of 65 yards.  The senior landed 11 kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

LeGardye’s long-snapping efforts helped the Statesmen only have one combined punt or kick get blocked in 2024.

Ayala’s offensive line work limited defenses to just 13 sacks against Statesmen quarterbacks this year.

Young finished his campaign with 46 tackles (32 solos, 14 assists) with half of a stop behind the line of scrimmage.  He managed one interception, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble.  His season-high eight tackles came against Baker on September 14.

Mehrhoff was good for 55 tackles (26 solos, 29 assists) in 2024, highlighted by 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.  The junior picked off a pass and forced a fumble as well.  In WPU’s battle with St. Ambrose on October 5, Mehrhoff had a season-high 14 tackles.

Jackson Waring of Grand View was chosen as the Heart North Division Player of the Year.  Graceland’s Gerald Monroe was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while the Defensive Player of the Year accolade was given to John Argo of Grand View.  Kaden Thomas (Culver-Stockton) and Jakari Starling (Peru State) shared the Freshman of the Year laurel.

Joe Woodley of Grand View was selected as Hearth North Coach of the Year, while GVU’s EJ Peterson took home the Assistant Coach of the Year award.

To view the complete all-Heart North teams, click HERE

Increased Law Enforcement Presence Expected on Iowa Roadways During Thanksgiving Holiday

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is teaming up with law enforcement agencies across Iowa to promote road safety during the Thanksgiving holiday season. Drivers can expect to see increased police presence on Iowa roads through December 1, 2024.

As families travel near and far to celebrate, GTSB urges everyone to remember: Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. Seat belts are not only the law, they are also your best defense against serious injury or death in a crash. Last year, during Thanksgiving week (November 19-26, 2023), 34 people died or suffered severe injuries on Iowa roads—tragically, 40% were not properly restrained. This heartbreak may have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

“The Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of a cherished season for many,” says Marigrace Porcelli, GTSB Occupant Protection Program Coordinator. “Whether your journey is short or long, it’s essential all drivers and passengers buckle up—Every Trip, Every Time. Ensure every passenger in your vehicle is secured, including children.”

Additionally, GTSB reminds everyone that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving and to plan for a sober driver before heading out.

GTSB collaborates with city, county, state, and local organizations to create and implement strategies aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries on Iowa roads through federally funded grants.

For more tips on safe travel this Thanksgiving, visit Drive Smart Iowa. Be safe and enjoy your holiday!

Updates to Pella Middle School Knife Attack on Wednesday

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA — On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 7:41 a.m., the Pella Police Department was alerted to a situation involving a student at Pella Middle School who was reportedly armed with a knife. Officers quickly responded to the scene. Law enforcement officers secured the area within two minutes and placed one juvenile into custody at 7:43 a.m. The juvenile was held in the custody of officers until he was transported to the Pella Police Department at 7:58 a.m. 

An investigation revealed that a 14-year-old male student at Pella Middle School brought a large kitchen knife to the school and attacked three students in the cafeteria. The male student first attacked a student, striking her in the neck and back several times with the knife. He then lunged with the knife to strike a second student but was unsuccessful; he then successfully struck a third student, striking her with the knife in the arm. Two students sustained minor laceration-type injuries but did not require medical transport. Personnel from the Pella Community Ambulance were on-site and treated the injured students. Pella Middle School staff reunited the victims and several other students with their parents.  

Juvenile referrals for the 14-year-old male offender were filed with the juvenile court for the following crimes: 

  • Three counts of Attempt to Commit Murder, a Class B Felony 
  • Two counts of Willful Injury, a Class D Felony 
  • One count of Assault with Intent to Inflict a Serious Injury, an Aggravated Misdemeanor • One count of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon by a Minor, a Serious Misdemeanor 

The investigation into this matter is ongoing. Any students or parents with information are asked to contact the Pella Police Department. 

Duct-taped banana sells for $6.2 million at art auction

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NEW YORK (AP) — A piece of conceptual art consisting of a simple banana, duct-taped to a wall, sold for $6.2 million at an auction in New York on Wednesday, with the winning bid coming from a prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur.

“Comedian,” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was a phenomenon when it debuted in 2019 at Art Basel Miami Beach, as festivalgoers tried to make out whether the single yellow piece of fruit affixed to a white wall with silver duct tape was a joke or cheeky commentary on questionable standards among art collectors. At one point, another artist took the banana off the wall and ate it.

The piece attracted so much attention that it had to be withdrawn from view. But three editions sold for between $120,000 and $150,000, according to the gallery handling sales at the time.

Five years later, Justin Sun, founder of cryptocurrency platform TRON, has now paid more than 40 times that higher price point at the Sotheby’s auction. Or, more accurately, Sun purchased a certificate of authenticity that gives him the authority to duct-tape a banana to a wall and call it “Comedian.”

The piece attracted heavy attention at the busy auction at Sotheby’s, with attendees in the crowded room holding up phones to take photos as two handlers wearing white gloves stood at both sides of the banana.

Bidding started at $800,000 and within minutes shot up to $2 million, then $3 million, then $4 million, and higher, as the auctioneer, Oliver Barker, joked “Don’t let it slip away.”

“Don’t miss this opportunity,” Barker said. “These are words I’ve never thought I’d say: Five million dollars for a banana.”

The final hammer price announced in the room was $5.2 million, which didn’t include the about $1 million in auction house fees, paid by the buyer.

In a statement, Sun said the piece “represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.” But he said the latest version of “Comedian” won’t last long.

“Additionally, in the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture,” Sun said.

Sotheby’s calls Cattelan “among Contemporary Art’s most brilliant provocateurs.”

“He has persistently disrupted the art world’s status quo in meaningful, irreverent, and often controversial ways,” the auction house said in a description of “Comedian.”

The sale came a day after a painting by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte sold for $121.2 million, a record for the artist, at a separate auction.

“The Empire of Light,” an eerie nighttime streetscape below a pale blue daytime sky, sold Tuesday as part of Christie’s sale of the collection of interior designer Mica Ertegun, who died last year at age 97.

The sale lifts Magritte into the ranks of artists whose works have gone for more than $100 million at auction. Magritte is the 16th member of the club, which also includes Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, according to the market analyst firm Artprice.

“The Empire of Light,” executed in 1954, was one of 17 versions of the same scene that Magritte painted in oil. Marc Porter, chairman of Christie’s Americas, called the sale “a historic moment in our saleroom.”

The $121.2 million price included the auction house’s fees. The buyer was a telephone bidder whose identity was not disclosed.

Turkey price trims Thanksgiving meal cost, but not to pre-pandemic levels

Posted on by Sam Parsons

WEST DES MOINES — This year, the American Farm Bureau Federation reports the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 is $58.08, a 5% decrease from last year.

Turkey, the centerpiece of America’s Thanksgiving table, accounts for 44% of the total survey cost. Despite highly pathogenic avian influenza contributing to the lowest turkey inventory since 1985, demand for turkey has also decreased, according to an American Farm Bureau market intel. With demand falling, turkey prices dropped to $1.68 per pound, bringing the cost of a 16-pound bird to $25.67—6% less than in 2023.

Other notable price changes from the survey include a 14% drop in the cost of a gallon of whole milk and a 14.3% decrease in the price for three pounds of sweet potatoes. However, some items saw increases. Price tags on a 14-ounce package of cubed stuffing mix and a dozen dinner rolls are up roughly 8%.

While the decline in this year’s Thanksgiving meal costs offers some relief to Americans, this year’s meal is still 19% more expensive than the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

“When considering these costs, it’s important to remember farmers aren’t necessarily benefiting from higher food prices at the grocery store,” says Dr. Christopher Pudenz, Iowa Farm Bureau’s economics and research manager. “Farmers receive only 16 cents of every food dollar spent and are also battling inflationary pressures on inputs like machinery and fertilizer.”

These pressures are evident in net farm income, which is projected by USDA’s Economic Research Service to lower by at least 23% in 2024 compared to 2022. This strain on farmers is rippling through the broader economy, particularly in Iowa, where businesses and communities rely on agriculture.

Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 10, 2024, 23 agriculture-related businesses in Iowa announced layoffs, affecting nearly 4,100 workers. An analysis commissioned by the Iowa Farm Bureau estimates job losses could climb to 11,400 statewide as the impact of reduced farm income spreads. The same analysis projects a $1.5 billion decline in value-added economic activity and a $100 million decrease in state and local tax revenue.

The American Farm Bureau’s annual Thanksgiving dinner survey, conducted from Nov. 1-7, offers a snapshot of current grocery prices. Farm Bureau volunteers from all 50 states compile data on traditional Thanksgiving items, including frozen pie crusts, pumpkin pie mix, whipping cream, dinner rolls, fresh cranberries, whole milk, frozen peas, sweet potatoes, and stuffing. For those planning a larger feast, an expanded menu—including boneless ham, russet potatoes, and frozen green beans—brings the cost up to $77.34.

For more details on this year’s survey, visit www.fb.org.

North Mahaska Girls Wrestling Opens Season

Posted on by Sam Parsons

SIGOURNEY – North Mahaska’s girl’s wrestling team took to the mats for their first competition of the season Tuesday night at the Sigourney-Keota Invitational. The Warhawks competed in an 18-team event with more than 100 wrestlers seeking one of three places on the podium.

Pekin won the team meet with 132 points followed by West Liberty with 123.5.North Mahaska placed eighth with 63 points, just one point behind East Union. The Warhawks crowned one champion, two runnerup finishes, a fifth and two sixth place.

NM coach Erica Groom fund many positives in Tuesday’s matches.

“I’m proud of all of the girls win or lose,” said Groom. “We take every chance we can get to learn and that’s what we did tonight. We didn’t get to have all our girls wrestle tonight due to the structure of the tournament so I’m excited to see a couple other girls hit the mat Saturday at BGM.”

Addison Terpstra had just two matches at 100 pounds but pinned Izzy McCullough of Sigourney in 3 minutes 56 seconds then outlasted West Liberty’s Addison Guerra 14-7 for the title.

“Addie is a go-getter and fighter,” said Groom. “She pushed herself tonight and didn’t give up no matter how tired she was. Wrestling a real match is tough and she did great. She is a quick learner and has been working hard in practice and it showed tonight on the mat.”

Sophomore Kaylie Shipman started her night at 120 pounds with a pin of Newton’s Julianna Maldanoado-Hidal in 42 seconds. In her semifinal match with Sadie Clarahan of Sigourney, a late takedown led to a pin 5:36. In the finals she lost to Silvia Garcia-Vasquez of West Liberty in 1:14.

“Kaylia met a girl in the finals who placed second at state last year,” said Groom. “She fought hard and will learn from that match moving forward. She’s been a leader in the room and handled herself well tonight.”

Last season’s lone state qualifier for NM, Macie Little, pinned her way into the finals at 135. She pinned Kenna Spencer of Moravia in 22 seconds and took just 1:03 to pin Lone Tree’s Olivia Magruder  to reach the finals. Pekin’s Lila Miller made a move and Little found herself on the wrong side falling in 1:54.

“ Macie didn’t make the weight she wanted to, so she wrestled up a weight class,” said Groom. “She’s been working on legs and tried some new things tonight in her finals match. Unfortunately, she got too high in the wrong position and pinned herself. 

“She’s hard on herself but she will pick herself up and work hard to learn from this mistake. She too has been a leader in our room and will remind herself of her goals and push forward.”

Freshman Madison Davis took the mat for the first time in high school at 105 pounds. She faced five opponents on her way to a fifth place finish. She lost to Gracie MacCready of Tri-County in 1:32 and Piper Madren of Grinnell in 52 seconds. East Union’s Ouynn Foster pinned her in the third round in 58 seconds. Elyssa Gaber of WACO won by pin in 28 seconds. In the fifth place match, Davis took what she learned in the prior matches to earn a fall over Lisbon’s Ann Mari Morgan in 30 seconds.

Junior Amara Edwards-Hinton fell in all her matches for sixth place. Freshman Lilly Briggs also placed sixth going 1-2 on the night. Her win came in the consolation semifinal where she pinned Pekin’s Alyvia Traner in 1:29.

“Lilly saw No. 1 ranked Reanah (Utterback) in the first round,” said Groom. “It was a learning experience and great opportunity to wrestle one of the best. You just have to hold your head high and move to the next match.”

Groom said she is pleased with the team this early in the season. 

“Currently, we have nine active wrestlers with hopefully a couple more coming soon,” said Groom. “I keep trying to recruit new girls every day. Girl’s wrestling is the fastest growing sport. It’s still new so it’s a good time for girls to try it. The group we have is such a fun group. They encourage each other no matter the level of experience. These girls are gonna turn heads and I’m excited for it.”

The Warhawks will see more action this weekend at the BGM tournament.

Authorities Investigating Pella Middle School Stabbing

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

Authorities are continuing to investigate an assault that took place in the Pella Middle School cafeteria yesterday morning.

The Pella Police Department says that before school began, around 7:41am yesterday, a 14-year-old student at Pella Middle School used a knife to assault multiple students in the cafeteria. Two female juvenile students sustained minor laceration-type injuries but did not require medical transport. Pella Ambulance personnel were on-site to treat the injured students and assist with reunifying them with their parents.

The 14-year-old suspect is now in custody, and the injuries sustained by the two victims did not require medical transport. Classes at Pella Middle School were canceled for the day.

Pella Police Chief Shane McSheehy said that the incident remains under investigation and that the police department was working with the Marion County Attorney on appropriate charges. He added that it was too soon to tell whether the juvenile would be charged as an adult.

Jersey Mike’s sandwich chain is acquired by private equity firm Blackstone for $8 billion

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NEW YORK (AP) — Jersey Mike’s, the quickly expanding sandwich chain, is being acquired by asset management giant Blackstone.

In the transaction announced Tuesday, private equity funds managed by Blackstone will be used to acquire majority ownership of Jersey Mike’s. The deal is “intended to help enable Jersey Mike’s to accelerate its expansion across and beyond the U.S. market,” the companies said, as well as aid ongoing technological investments.

Blackstone and Jersey Mike’s did not immediately disclose financial terms in their Tuesday announcement. But a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that the transaction would value Jersey Mike’s at around $8 billion, a figure previously reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The acquisition of the private company is expected to close in early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Under terms of the agreement, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO Peter Cancro will continue to lead the business and maintains a “significant equity stake” in the chain, the companies said.

“We believe we are still in the early innings of Jersey Mike’s growth story and that Blackstone is the right partner to help us reach even greater heights,” Cancro said in a prepared statement — adding that Blackstone “has helped drive the success of some of the most iconic franchise businesses globally.”

Jersey Mike’s roots date back to 1956, with a Point Pleasant, New Jersey storefront location that was originally called Mike’s Subs. In 1975, Cancro, then a 17-year-old high school senior who had worked there since he was 14, bought the operation with the help of his football coach.

The chain has expanded rapidly over the last decade, more than tripling its locations from 857 stores in 2014, to more than 2,800 this year, according to Technomic, a restaurant consulting company.

Jersey Mike’s posted sales of $3.3 billion in 2023, up 25% from the prior year, according to Technomic. It’s the 30th largest chain in the U.S. based on annual sales.

Its aggressive growth has helped Jersey Mike’s take market share from rivals like Subway, which has been struggling with a glut of aging stores. Last year, Subway was acquired by Roark Capital, a private equity firm with expertise in restaurant management. Roark also owns Inspire Brands, which houses two other Jersey Mike’s rivals: Jimmy John’s and Arby’s.

Tuesday’s agreement with Jersey Mike’s follows a series of similar investments from Blackstone. Just earlier this year, the private equity firm acquired Tropical Smoothie Cafe in a deal that it said would also aid the chain’s expansion.

Report: Iowa’s childcare pilot program boosted kids enrolled, wages for workers

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Bob Fisher (Radio Iowa)

A new report shows a state pilot program raised the number of children who could enroll in childcare services in select communities, which improved wages and benefits for local childcare workers.

The “Iowa Childcare Solutions Fund: A Model for Closing the Childcare Gap” report analyzed the effect the Childcare Solutions Fund had in pilot communities, matching private investments from businesses and individuals with state funding.

Iowa Women’s Foundation president and CEO Deann Cook says she’s proud to see a public-private partnership successfully address this issue.

“These are funds that were raised with private investment in local areas, local communities, and then matched with state dollars,” Cook says. “It was really the merger of those public and private dollars that created an investment fund into the childcare workforce, and it’s really made a difference.”

In Cerro Gordo County, a two-dollars-an-hour wage supplement program was started to address a workforce issue, but Cook says each area taking part in the program has its own unique way to address the childcare shortage.

“They’re doing all slightly different things. What Iowa Women’s Foundation has found is there’s a local ‘secret sauce,’ we can’t impose any solution across the state,” she says. “It has to really be driven from the ground up. All of them are being invested in childcare workforce wages, some in retention bonuses, some in a higher increased hourly wage. They have the freedom to do that.”

Now that the pilot program has shown positive results, Cook says state leaders will need to look into the next steps on how to address the childcare crisis statewide.

“That’s exactly why we did the report, to determine how successful these communities in our pilot program were and determine if it’s worth pursuing and replicating across the state,” Cook says. “What the report is telling us is just in this pilot program, it increased 22 childcare slots per 1,000 children in each pilot community. That statistic alone would tell you, it’s definitely worth considering how public and private dollars can merge together to make a difference in childcare.”

The report shows that if the pilot program was expanded statewide, it would create 8,000 new jobs, enable 5,000 more parents and guardians to join the workforce, add 11,000 new childcare slots, and increase Iowa’s gross domestic product by $13-billion.

Johnson Recognized as Doak Walker Semifinalist

Posted on by Sam Parsons

IOWA CITY — University of Iowa junior running back Kaleb Johnson has been named as a semifinalist for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, it was announced Tuesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.

In its 33rd year, the award is named after SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker.

Johnson, who is also a Walter Camp and Maxwell semifinalist, is having a record-breaking year for the Hawkeyes. He has tallied a school-record 126 points this season, via a school-record 21 total touchdowns. Johnson (6-foot-0, 212-pounds) has rushed for 20 scores, which ties Shonn Greene’s single-season record set in 2008. Johnson has rushed for 1,328 yards in 10 games in 2024, the third-most in the country and seventh most in program history.

The native of Hamilton, Ohio, has scored at least one touchdown in 10 straight games — the longest stretch in school history. He has seven games this season with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history.

Greene won the 2008 Doak Walker Award, while former Hawkeye Albert Young was a semifinalist in 2005.

Voting begins tomorrow (Nov. 19) to determine the finalists, which will be announced on Nov. 26. The award recipient will be announced on Dec. 12.

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