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Sheldon woman accused of falsely claiming to have killed her kids

March 30, 2010 By

A northwest Iowa woman is behind bars charged with a serious misdemeanor after allegedly falsely claiming that she had killed her three children. The Sheldon Police Department report that Tuesday just before 3:30 A.M., their dispatch, at the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Department, received a 9-1-1 call from a female cell-phone caller who advised that she had just killed all three of her children.

The caller gave her name and an address in Sheldon and then disconnected her call. Officers discovered that the address she had given did not exist and a search for the name she had given was also unsuccessful. Attempts to contact the caller back were also unsuccessful. Officers were able to obtain ownership information for the cell-phone that had been used and learned that the phone had been sold to someone else.

As a result of the investigation, officers learned that the entire story was false. Officers arrested 42-year-old Kimberly L. Boneschans in Sheldon, at about 9 A.M. the same day and charged her with filing false reports or communications with a public safety entity.

By Scott Van Aartsen, KIWA, Sheldon

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

First Iowan to scale Mt. Everest plans World Triathlon

March 30, 2010 By

A Des Moines man who became the first Iowan to reach the peak of Mount Everest in 2003 is now hoping to conquer what he believes could be the toughest human endurance event ever conceived. In July, 33-year-old Charlie Wittmack plans to begin a 12-nation, 12,000 mile journey he’s calling the World Triathlon.

The expedition will start in London with a 230-mile swim ending in France. From there, Wittmack will travel by bicycle more than 11,000 to Kathmandu, Nepal. The final leg of the triathlon will cover 450 miles and involve a run to the lowest point of Nepal, followed by a climb to the summit of Mount Everest. Wittmack expects the expedition to take 11 months. He dreamed up the idea at the age of 15 and started preparing by joining his high school cross country and swim teams and working at a bike shop.

“As a kid, I guess I was smart enough not to talk about this to anyone, but I was idealistic enough to get started,” Wittmack said at a press conference Tuesday. At the age of 17, Wittmack borrowed $10,000 to attend the National Outdoor Leadership School in Kenya. He learned basic climbing techniques, but also began to learn about health and education challenges around the globe. Wittmack says the World Triathlon will help address some of those challenges.

For instance, a team of medical professionals will join Wittmack on his trip through Nepal – which has one highest infant mortality rates in the world. The doctors will work to raise public awareness and educate women about how they can ensure a safe delivery. Wittmack’s wife, Cate, and their two-year-old son, James, will join him on the expedition. They’ve sold their house and vehicles to help finance the trip.

“I think many of us have a hard time getting off the track of what we feel we have to do and maybe making the sacrifices of the things that aren’t important to make the things that are important happen,” Wittmack said. “It’s a little bit different way of thinking, but we’re very passionate about this path and we’re just putting everything in it.”

Wittmack is receiving support on his World Triathlon dream from Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Des Moines University and other donors. Wittmack’s also helped develop a curriculum for schools – so students can follow his progress, interact with Wittmack and learn about the areas of the world through which he’ll be traveling.

You can hear Wittmark talk about the the event here: Wittmack 10:55 MP3

Find out more about the triathlon here: www.facebook.com/TheWorldTri

Filed Under: Human Interest, Recreation & Entertainment

Olympian to headline mile run at Drake Relays

March 30, 2010 By

A U.S. Olympian will headline the invitational mile run at next month’s Drake Relays. Bernard Lagat ran the 1,500 meters and the 5,000 meters for the U.S. in the 2008 Olympics.

Drake Relays director Brian Brown who says the mile run is always one of the favorite event of the fans. He says a couple of years ago when Alan Webb broke Steve Scott’s record in the mile, there was a buzz around the stadium, and he says they could see the same thing in Lagat’s performance.

The invitational mile is the afternoon of April 24th.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With:

UNI coach looks back on accomplishments

March 30, 2010 By

After a lengthy tournament run the U.N.I. basketball team can enjoy the accomplishments of the just ended season. The Panthers made it all the way to the Midwest Regional semifinals before losing to Michigan State last Friday night in St. Louis.

U.N.I. coach Ben Jacobson says he is proud of the team, the student body and the crowd that came to the game. he says the crowd was unbelieveable. “And that was the neatest basketball experience that I have ever been a part of,” Jacobson said. He says it has “been a terrific ride.”

Jacobson gives much of the credit to a five-man senior class that not only put up big numbers but also provided leadership. He says having a great season doesn’t guarantee that you get to do it again, but he says having seniors who build a foundation of working hard, allows you to do that.

By Elwin Huffman KOEL Oelwein

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,

ISU softball finally returns home

March 30, 2010 By

The Iowa State softball team will finally open the home season on Wednesday when the Cyclones host Iowa. I.S.U. has played its first 34 games on the road. Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler says it will be great to be home and in front of their fans.

I.S.U. played its best softball during the second half of the 2009 season and finished with a record of 26-29. That momentum has carried over as the Cyclones stand 21-13.

Gemeinhardt-Cesler says they were feeling more confident at the end of last year and took that into this year. Gemeinhardt-Cesler says the matchup with the Hawkeyes is not just another non-conference game. She says they started talking about the game right after their game Sunday.

This will be their second meeting with the Hawkeyes this season. The teams played in a tournament back in mid-February in the Metrodome and won the game. It was the first time they had won since she was the coach.

Iowa is 16-12 on the season.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With:

Crowded backfield a good problem for Iowa coach

March 30, 2010 By

It will be crowded at running back for the Iowa Hawkeyes when pre-season practice begins. Jewel Hampton was the heir apparent to Shonn Greene heading into last year but a knee injury during the summer ended his season before it even began. He is expected to be ready for the 2010 season and will join freshmen Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher on the depth chart.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says Hampton showed a lot two years ago and everyone was all ready to anoint him as the next Greene, which Ferentz says was a little much, but says Hampton did show he was a good player and will be in the mix. He likes having depth at the running back spot.

Ferentz says the first goal is to get more than two guys to the game, which he says has been tough. An area of emphasis this spring has been the offensive line. Riley Reiff and Julian Vandervelde return on the interior while Allen Reisner returns at tight end. He says Reisner played when last season when thrust into the role by injury.

Riley Reiff and Julian Vandervelde will anchor the interior, and Ferentz says they both played good footbal last season with Reiff maybe the most consistent, even though he was a freshman.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,

Man found guilty in 2001 Webster County murder

March 30, 2010 By

A Webster County jury in Fort Dodge this afternoon found Mark Anthony Wilson guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Joni Manning. The 12 member jury made their decision after deliberating since 10:45 this morning and came back with their verdict just before one this afternoon.

Manning was murdered in July of 2001 at her rural Webster County home. Wilson surrendered to law enforcement authorities in California last August after being on the run for eight years. The sentencing for Wilson is scheduled for April 30th.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City

Filed Under: Crime & Courts
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