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Military vet wins award as first-year teacher

May 26, 2009 By

A military veteran that’s now teaching business education classes in north-central Iowa is the first recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for Iowa’s Troops-to-Teachers Program.

Kyle Teeselink is working at Manson Northwest Webster High School after spending 22 years as a weather forecaster in the U.S. Air Force. Principal Shawn Holloway says the 42-year-old Teeselink isn’t the typical first-year teacher.

"What we got was a guy that was a first year teacher, but came with a wealth of knowledge from other areas that he brings into the classroom," Holloway said. "Like all first year teachers, there’s been growing pains, but he’s done an outstanding job."

The Troops-to-Teachers Program allows eligible military veterans to receive federal funding to pursue a teaching certificate. Holloway says Teeselink commands a lot of respect from his students.

"That experience from the military, I think, just right away gives credibility to his position (as a teacher)," Holloway said. Holloway says Teeselink doesn’t bark orders at his students, but instead, leads by example. "He’s not a ‘raise your voice’ type of guy, but he has high expectations of his classes," Holloway explained. "He’s very much a professional."

Teeselink was recognized during Memorial Day services at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Manson. This is the first year Iowa has had a stand-alone Troops-to-Teachers program. Previously, the state worked with Missouri. 

Filed Under: Education, Military

Grassley says freeze North Korea’s assets

May 26, 2009 By

Senator Chuck Grassley believes having banks around the globe freeze North Korea’s assets would change the community country’s nuclear ambitions. "One thing that seemed to work during the Bush Administration was when we froze their assets," Grassley says.

"They banked internationally…We froze the assets of North Korea…and it seemed to make a very, very big impact on them." North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test on Monday and fired off two short-range missiles today as a show of force.

There’s been almost universal condemnation of North Korea for its nuclear test from countries around the globe. The Bush Administration lifted the international restrictions which froze North Korea’s assets and Grassley says North Korea’s leaders have proven they cannot be trusted.

"They wanted their assets unfrozen and Bush did melt the freeze and they were able to do international banking again," Grassley says. "It seemed to be a big thing to ‘em and I would suggest reimposing the freezing of assets for North Korea." The United Nations Security Council has condemned North Korea’s recent actions and is drafting a new resolution to rebuke the country.

It’s unclear, though, how tough the Security Council might be as China — a Security Council member — doesn’t want to create a situation which would see thousands of refugees flee North Korea and settle across the border in China. North Korea already relies on foreign aid to feed most of its 23 million residents.

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Governor not revealing bills he might veto

May 26, 2009 By

Governor Chet Culver is not saying which bills or parts of bills might get the ax today — which is the deadline to sign legislation into law. Culver has been traveling the state today for a series of public bill signings and was asked at a stop in Des Moines if there were bills he was going to veto.

Culver said he would fill reporters in with all the details, "and if I had some additional news for you, I’d share it with you." One of the key bills left before Culver is call the "standings" bill. The bill includes money for standing issues such as state employee salaries, but also had several other items added to it before the legislature adjourned in the early morning hours.

Culver was asked if his comments mean he would sign the standings bill as it is. "I didn’t say that, I am still going through the standings bill and will have something to say on particular parts to that bill," Culver says. Culver says the most time consuming part of his job right now is going through the bills line-by-line.

The governor signed a portion of the I-JOBS bill during his Des Moines stop that will provide $750,000 dollars for the riverwalk project in the capital city. Culver has been criticized for borrowing the $830-million  that includes the I-JOBS program during a down economy. Culver defended the move again today.

Culver says the scary thing would have been to not pass the bill and create the state’s own economic stimulus package. He says the money will be a bonus to get the state’s economy turned around. Culver says Iowa will be fighting with other states to get back on top in the economic recovery. Culver has until midnight tonight to sign or veto bills.

 

Filed Under: Politics & Government, Recreation & Entertainment Tagged With: ,

New benefits, protections for Iowa veterans signed into law

May 26, 2009 By

Governor Culver and veteran Ed Gallagher. Iowa veterans and their families have a few new benefits as a result of four bills that were signed into law today.  Governor Culver signed the four bills during a ceremony at the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo.

"I’m here today to send a clear message to Iowa’s veterans and to men and women in uniform, and the message is simple," Culver said. "We thank you for your service and we will support you when you come home."

One law forbids banks and other financial institutions from foreclosing on the Iowa home of a soldier who is on active duty. Another allows out-of-state veterans and their families to enroll at Iowa, Iowa State or U.N.I. and pay instate tuition. A third bill clarifies the workplace rules for soldiers who are called to active duty and then return to their job in the private sector.

State Senator Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls served in the Navy from 1988 to ’94 and he was on hand for today’s event. "It’s an incredibly proud day for a lot of Iowans because many of us have close, personal connections to Iowans who have served and their families," Danielson says.

While each bill may not seem important to an individual veteran or military family, Danielson says the four bills, collectively, create a multitude of benefits for active-duty soldiers and their loved ones.

"Decisions that we make and probably don’t think about ‘em much — for a military family, that’s an incredibly difficult time for them when it comes to finances and keeping them together and so we think if we can reduce those burdens, we ought to, and honor the service at the same time," Danielson says.

Iowa has one of the highest rates of men and women in uniform on active duty. "We believe that not just on Memorial Days, but on all the other days of the year we ought to be doing the things that make their lives easier and honor that service," Danielson says. "So the legislation that the governor signed today reduces some of the families burdens that occur when a service member serves overseas."

Waterloo attorney Ed Gallagher, a World War II veteran, spearheaded the effort to create the Iowa Veterans Museum and he was in the facility today for the bill signing ceremony.

"It means a great deal to me to see the support that our legislature, that they’re thinking of veterans, and recognize the sacrifices that veterans made to serve their country," Gallagher says.

After signing the bills, Governor Culver named Gallagher an "Outstanding Iowan" and presented him a certificate for his efforts on behalf of the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum which opened last fall.

Filed Under: Business, Military, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Iowa Workforce Development still hiring for flood cleanup

May 26, 2009 By

Iowa Workforce Development is still hiring workers for jobs repairing public buildings and cleaning up parks in the wake of last year’s floods and tornadoes. Liz Buck says so far the state has received $17-million in federal money to hire the workers.

"It’s a two-year program so it’s been in effect right now, so we still have emergency public job workers right now all across the state. We think we have enough funds to get us through the end of September," Buck says. Buck says more than one thousand workers have helped with storm recovery at over 500 locations around the state.

Buck says they covered the workers comp and their benefits, too. She says it’s been growing by about 150 people a month, and with the warmer weather it’s easier to get out there and do the work. Buck says they can re-apply for more jobs money when the current funds run out in September. 

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Iowa City man charged with extortion over cell phone

May 26, 2009 By

Police in Iowa City arrested a homeless man who is accused of demanding cash for a cell phone from the phone’s owner. Sergeant Troy Kelsay says it happened after the victim told officers he either lost his phone or had it stolen Saturday night.

"The cell phone owner received a phone call from an individual stating that he was in possession of the cell phone and he would return the cell phone, but only if the cell phone owner paid 30 dollars," Kelsay said.

The owner of the phone made arrangements to meet the caller, but also flagged down two police officers to arrive at the location. The officers questioned the man, identified as 38-year-old Kevin Penro, and charged him with extortion.

Kelsay says Penro claimed he bought the phone from another person at a gas station. The officers noted in their report that his story seemed "unlikely." Penro remains in the Johnson County Jail. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Audit finds former Russell City Clerk pocketed over $29,000

May 26, 2009 By

A state audit has found the former city clerk in a small south central Iowa town improperly paid herself over $29,000 in the roughly 19 months she held the post.

In February of 2007, Amy Rodgers started work as the city clerk in Russell, a town of fewer than 600 residents. She quit showing up for work just over a year and a half later, at the end of September of 2008. The audit found Rodgers had improperly paid herself just over $16,000.

The audit also found she failed to deposit over $10,000 in water, sewage and garbage fees paid by Russell residents and another $2600 in rental fees for the Russell Community Center.

State Auditor Dave Vaudt says it’s possible Rodgers may have pocketed more, but city records were inadequate. The state audit has been turned over to the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lucas County Attorney.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,
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