Latest news with #BeforeTheyWereSoldiers'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
One month in: Iowa veteran logs nearly 500 miles on the Appalachian Trail
WHO 13 NEWS – Iowa veteran Joedy VanVelzen has been hiking the Appalachian Trail for one month. He is making his way to Virginia with the veteran group he's a part of called Warrior Expeditions. The veterans met in Georgia back on March 17. They've accomplished a lot in the first month with three states in the rearview mirror, including Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. 'Before They Were Soldiers' profiles Iowans who did not return from Vietnam VanVelzen said he's averaging more than 100 miles a week and coming across countless views and people along the way. While the weather has been a challenge at times, he said the vet supporters along the way have been amazing in their rest and recovery. One tradition on the Appalachian Trail is that fellow hikers give you a trail name. A fellow veteran gave VanVelzen the trail name 'Unicorn' because it is a rare person to have forty years of military service, the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five, and be a Black Hawk helicopter pilot. He tells us he should be over 500 miles by Friday, April 25, meaning they have nearly 1,700 miles to go until the end of the trail in Maine. He hopes to get there by the last week of August. If you'd like to follow along, follow his Facebook page: On the Appalachian Trail with Joedy Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Indianola daycare provider charged with murder in 4-month-old's death
DES MOINES, Iowa — An Indianola daycare provider has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a four-month-old boy she was caring for in 2024. The Indianola Police Department issued a news release Wednesday, announcing the arrest of Melissa Hancock, 51. The department said a joint investigation with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Warren County Attorney's Office resulted in the charges. Early morning storage facility fire in north Des Moines Hancock was caring for the infant at her in-home daycare at 307 E. Clinton Avenue in Indianola on October 8, 2024 when emergency responders were dispatched to the location after receiving a 911 call. First responders found the four-month-old boy unresponsive. He was transported by air ambulance to a hospital in Des Moines and died on October 12, 2024. A criminal complaint filed in the case said the child was 'determined to have suffered a traumatic skull fracture, bilateral retinal hemorrhaging, and spinal trauma consistent with inflicted blunt force trauma.' New and healing injuries to the child's head, neck, and spine were also identified by medical professionals. The complaint said that indicated a pattern of prior abuse. According to the complaint, text messages from Hancock 'expressed irritation with the victim, and her conduct reflects a callous disregard for his wellbeing.' Hancock turned herself in to authorities Wednesday morning. She is being held in the Warren County Jail. Court records show a cash-only bond of $500,000 has been set. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 12th. Man hospitalized after pursuit, crash involving Iowa State Patrol trooper Indianola daycare provider charged with murder in 4-month-old's death New high school program helps Indianola students with disabilities join the workforce Transparency concerns on the mind at Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting 'Before They Were Soldiers' profiles Iowans who did not return from Vietnam Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man hospitalized after pursuit, crash involving Iowa State Patrol trooper
DES MOINES, Iowa — A late-night crash in Mahaska County Tuesday was the result of a pursuit involving the Oskaloosa Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol. A crash report from the Iowa State Patrol said it happened about 11:43 p.m. at Highway 92 and Dean Avenue. That's about seven miles west of Oskaloosa. Indianola daycare provider charged with murder in 4-month-old's death Sgt. Alex Dinkla, spokesperson for the Iowa State Patrol, said the Oskaloosa Police Department initiated the pursuit because the driver was suspected of being impaired. The OPD, assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, was pursuing a Chevy S-10 pickup driven by Laverne Brackett, 52, of Indianola, when the crash happened. The report said the truck was traveling westbound on Highway 92 when Brackett lost control near Dean Avenue, and the truck came to face eastbound in the westbound lane where it was struck by an Iowa State Patrol vehicle. Brackett was transported by air ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. His current condition is unknown. Man hospitalized after pursuit, crash involving Iowa State Patrol trooper Indianola daycare provider charged with murder in 4-month-old's death New high school program helps Indianola students with disabilities join the workforce Transparency concerns on the mind at Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting 'Before They Were Soldiers' profiles Iowans who did not return from Vietnam Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New high school program helps Indianola students with disabilities join the workforce
INDIANOLA, Iowa — A new program at Indianola High School is helping students with disabilities join the workforce. The Transition Alliance Program, or TAP, is a partnership between the school district and Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Other school districts across Iowa already have the program, but this is Indianola's first year with the initiative. Indianola's TAP coordinator, Alivia Nelson, helps special education students determine what fields they find interesting to pursue after graduating from high school. She meets with students during a non-core class, like study hall, to gauge their interest. Transparency concerns on the mind at Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting 'I really focus on what kids are telling me that they like. I try to ask them what they're interested in. If they don't know, that's okay, and I can say here's what we've done before,' she said. Nelson then organizes field trips to different colleges and workplaces so students can see firsthand what different professionals do day-to-day. Students also get to job-shadow and intern, while some even get offered jobs as a result of the program. 'I encourage kids if they're not really sure to go on field trips if they can because it gives them that exposure to something new that they didn't know existed,' said Nelson. Nelson has even connected with the community by taking students to local businesses across Indianola. One of her students now works at Savor the Rise, a local cafe, and another works at Pipsy's Wee Care and Pre School, a local daycare. The program is important for students, according to Nelson, because not only is she helping them explore their interests and see if a specific career is suited for them, but she also helps them understand and navigate employment while they're still in high school. 'Indianola is a growing school district and it's amazing for all of the students to have opportunities, but I think special education students tend to be missed for one reason or another, and it's a great opportunity for those students to get involved with some activities and different ideas that they may not be exposed to before,' she said. 'Before They Were Soldiers' profiles Iowans who did not return from Vietnam Students receive help applying for jobs, creating resumes, and perfecting interview skills. Once they secure an internship or job, she helps them understand expectations and navigate conflicts. 'Most of these kids are extremely capable of working, it's just they need to have the exposure and right support to get put in that position,' Nelson said. Despite this being the first year of TAP, around 60 Indianola high schoolers are already enrolled. Nelson said her goal is to continue to grow the program. Indianola daycare provider charged with murder in 4-month-old's death New high school program helps Indianola students with disabilities join the workforce Transparency concerns on the mind at Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting 'Before They Were Soldiers' profiles Iowans who did not return from Vietnam A family affair at the Grand Blue Mile Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Before They Were Soldiers' profiles Iowans who did not return from Vietnam
FORT DODGE, Iowa — T.J. Martin has always been interested in the stories of those who served in Vietnam, and those who did not return. Martin's mother's first husband, was one of those who was killed in action. Martin's interest in his own family history spawned an idea, to capture the stories of those soldiers from northwest Iowa who did not come back. The Iowa Central College Campus where he works, supported his idea, and students were signed up to help put the project together. The class plan was to spend the whole year doing interviews and putting it together. The project lasted three years. A family affair at the Grand Blue Mile 'We're an institution of higher learning. 'We bring the students and to have them work with us to go out to conduct interviews, ask questions, some critical thinking skills on their behalf then write up the bio about each of these individuals and then at the end of the project, we decided what we would do is compile all into a book,' Martin said. Students involved in the project quickly realized this is more than a class to help raise their GPA. 'It reminded us that remembrance is not merely a duty, it's a privilege. That gratitude is not something to be performed, but something to be felt,' said Matt Helmers, an Iowa Central grad, who worked on the project. 'As students we walk away, not just more educated, but more human, more aware of the threads that tie us to one another across generations and across times.' The book 'Before They Were Soldiers' looks at the life the Iowa soldiers experienced, prior to going to Vietnam. It includes thee fun times, fishing trips, working with a tractor, girls they may have dated, and life experiences. 'Before They Were Soldiers' is on Amazon, and copies of the book were given to families who talked about their loved ones for the project. The 55 soldiers were chosen from the nine county region served by Iowa Central Community College. Iowa News: 'Before They Were Soldiers' profiles Iowans who did not return from Vietnam A family affair at the Grand Blue Mile Iowa Board of Regents member discusses UI's center for intellectual freedom Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs bill to help 2024 flood, tornado victims Serious injuries reported in Marshall County crash that shut down highway for hours Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
