February 9, 2012

Soccer registration deadline approaching for Iowa Games

A registration deadline is approaching for the Iowa Games’ biggest sport. Executive director Jim Hallihan the deadline for youth soccer is next week. Hallihan says they hope to have about 3,000 youth soccer players, and a total of 4,000. The deadline is May 30th for mail applications and June 4th for on-line registration.

It may be the largest sport but Hallihan says teams don’t need to qualify through regional play. You go directly to Ames and play. The Iowa Games summer games are July 12th through the 15th and the 20th through the 22nd. 

Governor signs three bills involving military

Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed three bills into law during a stop in Sioux City today. All three bills involved state military veterans. The first would provide up to 500 dollars for Vietnam era veterans who served from 1973 to 1975, the second would allow active duty Iowans the ability to purchase a special military license plate, and the third would allow family members of soldiers who’ve lost their lives in the military to purchase a "Gold Star" license plate. Fifty-six Iowans have lost their lives in the military action since September 11th 2001.

Audio: Randy Renshaw report. :38 MP3

Brownback: "cultural data" could sway culture

Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback says the government should release "cultural statistics" in the same way it releases economic data, like the unemployment rate. "What would happen then in a state like Iowa, or in my state of Kansas, if you started having data out like that? ‘Out of wedlock child birth rates up seven percent from a year ago’ — What would happen?" Brownback asks. "…People would react to it."

Brownback says such data could be a powerful force in helping to rebuild America’s culture. "We have to have a culture that honors what’s good and not what’s bad — and knows the difference between the two of them," Brownback says.

Brownback opposes gay marriage because he says it undermines the family, which he argues is the foundation of America. Brownback today told reporters he would not comment on whether he approves of the decision Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter made to raise a child with her lesbian partner. "That’s their personal activity," Brownback said. "I congratulate them on having a baby."

Mary Cheney gave birth to Samuel David Cheney this week and plans to raise the child with Heather Poe, her long-time partner.  Samuel is the vice president’s sixth grandchild.

Brownback is holding six receptions around the state today and tomorrow for potential supporters, giving them a chance to hear a presentation from David Barton, an author who Time magazine once named as one of the 25 most influential evangelical Christians in the country.

Golfer Zach Johnson honored at Iowa Statehouse

A native Iowan, who became champion of the golfing world last month, returned to the state today. Governor Chet Culver, before several hundred Iowans at the statehouse, signed a proclamation recognizing 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson.

Johnson, a Cedar Rapids native and Drake graduate, won The Masters golf tournament in Georgia last month. Johnson says he’s overwhelmed but not shocked with the ceremony, adding that Iowans seem to be everywhere he travels.

“I see every week the pride of Iowa,” Johnson said, “it’s on the first tee, it’s on the 18th green, it doesn’t matter where I am, on or off the golf course, I hear it.” Johnson has been quick to mention his love for Iowa when interviewed by national media. “This is where I started playing the game and it’s where my game progressed and when I have the platform to say that, I’m going to take full advantage of that,” Johnson explained.

Johnson surprised a lot of golf fans by holding off Tiger Woods to win at Augusta. “It wasn’t just Tiger,” Johnson said, “when I got done Justin Rose was only one shot back, so I really didn’t know where everybody was, and it was probably a good thing, I was just trying to stay focused on my game and fortunately things went in my favor.”

Johnson’s coach in high school at Cedar Rapids Regis, now known as Xavier, was Carol Trueg. “I was just in awe, I had company over for Easter and I’d sneak peaks and I’d hear the screams when he’d birdie, and it was just so exciting”, Trueg says of watching Johnson win the Masters on TV. Trueg has been teased lately, since she listed Zach as the number two golfer on the Regis team.

“He was little,” Trueg explains, “not mature physically, but he had the game and just a nice demeanor on the course that he just felt (golf) isn’t the most important thing in life and I believe that’s what has carried him over these days.” Since winning the Masters, Johnson has claimed the championship at the AT&T Classic near Atlanta.


Audio: Radio Iowa’s Pat Curtis reports on Zach Johnson. :40 MP3

Hale Irwin will play Principal Charity Classic

The Champions Tour all-time money leader is returning to Des Moines. Hale Irwin has committed to play in the Principal Charity Classic next month at the Glen Oaks Country Club. Irwin is currently second in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.

Tournament director Jeff Starr says they’re excited to have Irwin play the tournament, as he’s one of the premiere player son the tour. Starr says every tournament hopes to attract the game’s most recognizable players. He says Irwin has a great personality, and he encourages people to come out Wednesday and Thursday and see the players before they put their work face on.

The field includes the six former winners of this event, including 2006 champ Gil Morgan, and nine of the top ten from the current money list. The Principal Charity Classic is June fifth through the tenth. 

Brian Street sentenced to over 40 years in prison

A western Iowa man was sentenced today to over 40-years in prison for sex crimes. Cass County Sheriff Bill Sage said Judge Robert W. Pratt ordered Brian Street, of Griswold to be held for 30-years for sexual exploitation of a minor and 10-years for possession of child pornography.

Sage says Street will be under life supervision once he’s paroled, and the sentences will run concurrently. Sage says Street’s attorneys are likely to appeal the sentence. They will have 10-days to do so, after which it will go to the Eight U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Sage says the victim of the crime, Street’s stepdaughter Tracey Dyess, issued a written statement.

Dyess’ statement said she was afraid Street would get out of prison some day and come after her and/or her family and that he should be "Put away for life." Sage says Street also made a statement at today’s proceedings. He indicated that he would "Never hurt anyone" and that he "did not hurt anyone."

Sage says Street was very arrogant at the beginning of the session. He started laughing loudly and boisterously and belittled the judge when he was introduced to the court. Street’s mother claimed that she and Brian were abused by his stepfather.

Street said he did not deserve to go to prison. Sage says as the court proceedings ended, Street said "I love you Tracey," and he indicated that he was the one who set the fire at the family’s home in Griswold in March of 2005. Tracey Dyess is serving a 45-year sentence for arson, voluntary manslaughter and attempted murder. Her sister and nephew were killed in the blaze she says she set in order to kill Street for years of sexual abuse. Street initially said he would not appear at his sentencing, Sage says Street claims he was forced to do so,and was "man-handled by the U.S. Marshal’s.

UNI sued over youth event

The University of Northern Iowa is being sued by a Waterloo woman, who’s accusing the school of being negligent. The lawsuit stems from an overnight youth event that UNI sponsored in November of 2005. According to court documents, Ursula Holmes claims organizers of an "Up All Nighter" event sent her 11-year-old son home early because he was noisy.

Holmes alleges her son wasn’t allowed to phone for a ride and was forced to walk the eight blocks home alone in the dark. Holmes filed the suit in Black Hawk County District Court, claiming negligence, breach of duty, and infliction of emotional stress.

In her suit, Holmes claims her son now suffers from anxiety attacks, distrust, and mental anguish as a result of the early morning walk home. The state of Iowa is also named as a codefendant. State officials haven’t formally responded to the suit, but they are expected to challenge the claim.