Latest news with #AnkenyChamber
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Iowa Marine Veteran shares memories of Vietnam evacuation
URBANDALE, Iowa — John Morgan grew up a military kid, his Dad was in the military and they moved around a lot. When he grew up, the last thing he wanted to be was military. Morgan was able to defer military service until after college. The draft operated on a number system. Since John had a low number in the draft, it made sense for him to enlist in the military. He joined the Marines and became a helicopter pilot. 'There was a tremendous amount of anger and protest against the war in Vietnam and so, I didn't want to go, but I had to,' Morgan said. After flight training, he was stationed aboard the USS Okinawa in the South China Sea. He flew a helicopter and ferried people around from ship to land and back. Former Ankeny Chamber CEO withdraws not guilty pleas, admits to stealing from the organization His first evacuation flight came on April 12, 1975 when they flew to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 'We saved around 300 or 350 people,' said Morgan. 'They had huge grounds there like huge soccer fields and so we could land three helicopters on those soccer fields at the same time.' The mission to Saigon on April 29 was a little more complex. The mission was ready to launch around 6 a.m., but there was a hold up, a diplomat had not okayed the rescue mission. So, they waited until around noon and the choppers arrived in Saigon in mid-afternoon. 'We did land once at the U.S. Embassy, but our helicopter was so large, before we could land in the Embassy they had to have a crew of engineers go there and blow up a couple of trees,' said Morgan. They made multiple landings at another site in Saigon. Morgan experienced rifle fire on his chopper when going to Saigon on multiple trips. The shooters were too far away to hit the aircraft. Before the first rescue mission to Cambodia, he was nervous about maybe never seeing his two daughters again. 'The part that I'm most proud of right now is that when I was in the Marine Corps my operational missions had to do with saving people,' said Morgan. 'We were bringing people back to our country to, helping them out get out of harms way.' Metro News: How a local doctor and a 'life-changing' class are helping people lead healthy lives Iowa Marine Veteran shares memories of Vietnam evacuation Former Ankeny Chamber CEO withdraws not guilty pleas, admits to stealing from the organization Iowa programs impacted by AmeriCorps cuts Truck scrapes railroad bridge on Des Moines' east side Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
For Sale: The biggest house in Polk County
ELKHART, Iowa — Now starring in the central Iowa housing market: the biggest house ever to be built in Polk County. 'It's just the two of us now,' says Kim Menadue. 'All of our kids are out of the house, and so we just figured that it might be a good time to downsize a little bit and travel more.' Passersby in the Elkhart area might never notice the Menadue house is there. But through the closed gates and down the quarter-mile driveway, it appears — their stunning, 15,000-square-foot mansion on 23 acres. When Mark Menadue finished it in 2007, it was everything he'd ever wanted. 'It was kind of my dream home,' he says. 'I'd worked hard all my life and we've been very fortunate, lucky and were successful — and this was it. But I never really thought about the other end.' The 'other end' will be finding someone with $4.9 million to spend on a home, and more still to keep up its extensive features. Among them: 9 bathrooms 9 fireplaces 4 laundry rooms 3 full kitchens 2 swimming pools (one indoor, one outdoor) 2 hot tubs (one indoor, one outdoor) 1 indoor tennis facility Polk County tax assessments rolling out; expert says they're looking better than 2023 'If you have the budget for a house like this,' says listing agent, Rick Wanamaker, 'of course you want it to look like it's worth $4.9 million. And this one absolutely does.' Wanamaker and his wife, Marcia, have sold many of the biggest and most extravagant houses in central Iowa. But even for them, the Menadue Mansion is something else. 'I've never sold a house with two swimming pools,' Rick says. 'They built the outdoor one so they'd have it during the pandemic, and most of the other features are newly-updated, too.' 'It's like a vacation house,' Marcia says. 'Only you don't have to go anywhere to take the vacation. It's right here.' While the sound of selling an expensive house in the midst of an economy rocked by President Trumps tariffs might sound daunting, the Wanamakers believe there are buyers out there right now. 'People in the market for a house like this sort of have their own economy,' Rick says. 'And if you wanted to build this house today it would cost probably twice as much.' 'There are a lot of buyers around here that can afford a home like this,' Marcia says, confidently. The Wanamakers says the sale—when it comes—might be a bit unconventional. 'Probably we'll sell this to someone who is not actively looking,' Rick says. 'They'll just hear about it and it intrigues them, and they take a look, and it's the right house for them.' Metro News: For Sale: The biggest house in Polk County Polk County tax assessments rolling out; expert says they're looking better than 2023 Tariffs could mean more expensive car repairs Wild Lights at Blank Park Zoo returns this weekend Former Ankeny Chamber CEO accepts plea deal on alleged money laundering charges Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tariffs could mean more expensive car repairs
DES MOINES, Iowa — Tariffs mean more expensive car repairs according to local auto shops. Joe Burch, the owner of Burch Auto Repair in Valley Junction, said auto part suppliers are already starting to see tariff induced price hikes. 'They'll see at first for sure. Eventually, it'll be passed to me and then it'll be passed on to the owners of the vehicles,' Burch said. Iowa drivers share thoughts on hands-free law Burch said that for now only the cost of parts will increase, but labor could follow. 'It's mainly the part prices are going to be going up. Things like labor, things like labor are going to take a lot longer to change just because the only reason the labor would increase is that cost of living goes up,' Burch said. Burch said drivers should take their cars for scheduled maintenance to prevent expensive repair bills down the road. 'The best things that you can do to help offset this and avoid some of the sticker shock of sudden repairs like this would be maintenance, making sure that you're getting maintenance,' Burch said. Metro News: For Sale: The biggest house in Polk County Polk County tax assessments rolling out; expert says they're looking better than 2023 Tariffs could mean more expensive car repairs Wild Lights at Blank Park Zoo returns this weekend Former Ankeny Chamber CEO accepts plea deal on alleged money laundering charges Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Ankeny Chamber CEO considering plea deal on alleged money laundering charges
DES MOINES, Iowa — Former Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Melisa Cox is considering entering a plea deal in connection to charges of alleged money laundering and theft. The 47-year-old was in court Thursday for a pre-trial conference. She is accused of stealing more than $250,000 from the chamber over three years while she was at the helm of the organization. Initially, Cox faced more than a dozen charges. New court records show the state is offering a deal in connection to just four, including three Class C Felonies of Money Laundering, First-Degree Theft, and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. Class C felonies can carry up to a 10-year sentence and thousands of dollars in fines. The plea also includes a charge of Second Degree Theft, which is a Class D Felony and can carry a sentence of up to five years, plus fines. MELISA-COXDownload The finite details of the plea offer were not disclosed. Below are the court descriptions of the charges attached to the current plea offer: COUNT III: THEFT IN THE FIRST DEGREE, in violation of Iowa Code Section(s) 714.1 and 714.2(1), on or about 2024, Defendant took possession or control of the property of another with the intent to deprive the other thereof, and/or misappropriated property which she had in her possession or control, by using or disposing of it in a manner which was inconsistent with the owner's rights or appropriated such property to her own use, said property having a value in excess of $10,000 (Class C Felony) COUNT V: UNAUTHORIZED USE OF CREDIT CARD, in violation of Iowa Code Section(s) 715A.6(1) and 715A.6(2)(a), on or about 2023, Defendant used a credit card for the purpose of obtaining property or services with the knowledge that said use was unauthorized, said property having a value in excess of $10,000 (Class C Felony) COUNT VII: MONEY LAUNDERING, in violation of Iowa Code Section(s) 706B.2(a), on or about 2022-2024, Defendant conducted transactions knowing that the property involved in the transactions is the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity with the intent to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of the property. (Class C Felony) COUNT VIII: FRAUDULENT PRACTICE IN THE 2ND DEGREE, in violation of Iowa Code Section(s) 714.8(4) and 714.8(10), on or about 2024, Defendant made an entry in or alteration of any record of a corporation, partnership, or other business enterprise or nonprofit enterprise, knowing the same to be false, the value in excess of $1500. (Class D Felony) Cox was terminated from her position in November 2024 after an internal audit found financial irregularities. Court records show Cox entered a not guilty plea on Feb. 27. A plea hearing has been set for April 30. A trial is still tentatively set for May 5. Former Ankeny Chamber CEO considering plea deal on alleged money laundering charges DART requests public input on proposed overhaul Otley resident expresses concern following co-op fire Griff II on a mission to feed central Iowa pets Christkindlmarket Des Moines expanding in 2025 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
