Iowa News

IOWA SOLDIER KILLED-FUNERAL        Funeral for Iowa soldier killed in Afghanistan        SHENANDOAH, Iowa (AP) – A U.S. Army soldier from Shenandoah who was killed in Afghanistan is being remembered for his infectious smile and his dream of being a soldier.        Nineteen-year-old Private First Class Brandon Buttry died November 5th while serving in the Kandahar province.        Hundreds of flags lined the streets of Shenandoah for his funeral on Thursday while the community honored Buttry and supported his family.        Buttry was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. He was deployed to Afghanistan in August. He was one of Don and Pam Buttry’s 14 children.        Among the mourners were Darian Slater and Ashley Hummel, students in nearby Sidney. One of their teacher’s is Buttry’s older brother. The girls say it’s important to show the family they care and “honor the sacrifice” that Brandon made.

DATA CENTER-ALTOONA        Altoona say $1.5B data deal down to the details        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – Officials say they’re discussing the details on a deal for a $1.5 billion data center in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona.        The Des Moines Register says lawyers were involved in conversations last week about infrastructure, development agreements and contracts with the still-unnamed company.        Altoona City Administrator Jeff Mark told the City Council the project is nearing a point at which the company will reveal itself.        He says the parties involved want to sign a contract and buy land before January.        The City Council rezoned land in June to support a site plan with three buildings.        Iowa is believed to be competing with a site in Kearney, Nebraska.        Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Catherine Lang says there haven’t been recent developments with the Kearney project.

FATAL APARTMENT FALL        Man dies after falling from Des Moines apartment        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police say a man died after falling six stories from a window at a high-rise apartment near downtown Des Moines.        The Des Moines Register says the man was found unconscious Thursday afternoon outside the Royal View Manor.        Police Sergeant Jason Halifax says 58-year-old William Comiskey was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Halifax says Comiskey fell at least 60 feet.        Halifax says Comiskey lived at the apartment complex, and the screen on the window had been torn out. Officials say foul play is not suspected.

IOWA CASINOS        Commission backs Iowa casino proposals        JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – Gambling will shift from the Missouri River to a Council Bluffs hotel under a plan approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.        The Des Moines Register reports the commission backed the plan Thursday at a meeting in Johnston.        The new casino will move from a riverboat to the first floor of Harrah’s Hotel, replacing a convention center. It will have 600 slot machines and 20 casino tables.        The boat will be put up for sale.

KCCI-TV reports the commission also approved an $8.5 million expansion at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona.        RIFLE THEFT CASE        Feds to take over stolen rifle case in Iowa        (Information in the following story is from: Quad-City Times, http://www.qctimes.com)        SABULA, Iowa (AP) – The federal government is taking over the case of a Clinton man suspected of stealing parade rifles from an American Legion in Sabula in eastern Iowa.        The Quad City-Times in Davenport says Jackson County Attorney Sara Davenport says state charges against 26-year-old Bradley Widener will be dismissed and he’ll be turned over the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.        Widener is charged with third-degree burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.        Widener is accused of stealing 14 rifles in September. They’re valued at $650 each.        Officials say most of the rifles had been disabled and couldn’t fire, but are collector’s items.

SERIAL ARSONIST-SENTENCE        Serial arsonist sentenced to 20 years in prison        CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A serial arsonist who set fire to homes and buildings in northeastern Iowa has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.        A federal judge Thursday also ordered 40-year-old Shawn Gant to pay $418,000 in restitution to victims of three fires he started.        Gant was convicted of setting fires to two rental homes in 2009, including one in Fayette where his ex-girlfriend and child lived. He was also convicted of setting fire to his Oelwein apartment in 2010, which spread because of wind and destroyed his building and the one next door. A firefighter suffered minor injuries fighting that blaze.        Gant was earlier convicted of arson in 2002, and prosecutors say he is linked to more than a dozen other fires in cars, apartments and homes dating back to the 1990s.

HOWARD-IOWA        Iowa throttles Howard 66-36        IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Junior Devyn Marble scored a season-high 22 points and Iowa throttled Howard 66-36 on Thursday night for its third straight win.        Aaron White added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Hawkeyes (3-0), who cruised despite hitting just four 3s in 21 tries.        Iowa took a 36-16 halftime lead over the overmatched Bison and never looked back. The Hawkeyes held Howard to the fewest points scored against them under third-year coach Fran McCaffery.        Mike Phillips had 11 to lead Howard (0-2), a MEAC school coming off a 10-21 season in 2011-12.

CLASS A FINAL        Wapsie Valley beats Hinton 21-14 for Class A title        CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Stone Kane barreled into the end zone from a yard out with 1:39 left to give Fairbank Wapsie Valley a 21-14 victory over Hinton on Thursday in the Class A state championship game in Cedar Falls.        Wapsie Valley (14-0) drove 80 yards in nine plays for the winning touchdown after Hinton’s Matthias Gross-Holtick hooked a 28-yard field goal try. It’s the fifth state title for Wapsie Valley, which also has won championships in Class 1A and 2A.        Hinton (10-4), a surprise finalist after winning three road games in the playoffs, saw its final hopes end when Jason Vander Kooi’s pass after a double reserve was intercepted.        Tyler Odneal scored Wapsie Valley’s first two touchdowns on runs of 10 and 50 yards.        Morgan Wenzel threw a pair of touchdown passes for Hinton.

8-PLAYER FINAL        MMC beats Don Bosco 51-16 for 8-player title        CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Tanner Utesch scored three touchdowns, passed for two and caught a TD pass, leading Marcus MMC past Gilbertville Don Bosco 51-16 Thursday for the eight-player state championship.        MMC (14-0) dominated a Don Bosco team that had scored 78 points in the semifinals and capped a season of firsts. It was the school’s first year of eight-player football, first appearance in the title game and it came under a first-year coach, Kyle Oswald.        The Eagles built a 37-0 lead in Cedar Falls when Utesch leaped between two defenders to catch an 8-yard scoring pass from running back Andrew Hoefling with 38 seconds left in the first half.        Don Bosco (12-1) was shut out until Jake Hogan threw two touchdown passes in the final 5 minutes.

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