Midwest Wrap...

[wx247]

TWW and TxStooge gave me an idea for a central topic. Instead of clobbering up the board with all the news from this regional area I will just place it here unless it is a major national story. Then it will be easier to organize and respond to.

[Lindaloo]

Good idea Garrett.

[wx247]

Des Moines, January 9th, 2004- The football coach at Des Moines Christian High School has died in a car accident in central Iowa.

Forty-seven-year-old Rich Dellaca of Urbandale was killed Wednesday night near Winterset when his car collided with another car on U-S Highway 169.

Authorities say the driver of the second car, 48-year-old Mary Ann Jerkovich of Winterset, lost control and crossed the center line.

Dellaca was a teacher who coached at four Des Moines area high schools.

He coached eight-man football at Des Moines Christian the past two seasons and assisted with junior high wrestling in Winterset. He also taught or coached at Saydel, Southeast Polk in Runnells, Eagle Grove and Crystal Lake.

[Josephine96]

Good idea Garrett. Tough loss for the school though

[wx247]

CONVENIENCE STORE ROBBED TWICE IN ONE NIGHT

Two different robbers stole money from one Joplin, Missouri convenience store in a ten hour period, and the same clerk was on duty for both robberies.

The robberies happened at the Snak Atak on 20th and Main Streets in Joplin.

Video taken from a surveillance tape during the robberies shows the seperate incidents where one man just motioned as though he had a weapon and the other displayed a knife.

The first robbery happened around 6:30 Wednesday night and the second was just before 3:30 Thursday morning.

Police have interviewed the clerk and are searching for suspects.

[Josephine96]

That's gotta be kinda scary.. I thought they would have closed the store for a bit after the 1st robbery

[blizzard]

That's gotta be kinda scary.. I thought they would have closed the store for a bit after the 1st robbery

Its not very often that they will close a store such as that after a robbery. The owner is usually itching to get back open for business.

[Lindaloo]

I can vouch for that blizzard. When I worked at a convenience store and was robbed the store never closed. Police had to make them close the store because of an approaching hurricane. I quit shortly after that and went back to the insurance industry. The money I was making was excellent, but not worth it.

[blizzard]

Clerks at Convenience stores should get hazardous duty pay, especially at night.
Everytime I hear about something like this, it reminds me of when Donald Blom kidnapped and killed Katie Poier at a convenience store just a mile from where I grew up.

There should always be at least two employees on at any given time. That may deter a would be thief or kidnapper.

[DaylilyDawn]

When I worked for CircleK convenience store , I was robbed the the first time by a guy who had a knife, he took the money and ran. several months later I was robbed 3 times in 6 weeks, the last 2 robberies by the same guy. I gave up that job shortly after the last robbery. All 4 robberies were in the same year.

[StormCrazyIowan]

I worked at a Casey's, and forunately for me, the only robberies I had to deal with were people driving away without paying for gas, or doing a beer run....gotta love Iowa.

[Lindaloo]

Clerks at Convenience stores should get hazardous duty pay, especially at night.
Everytime I hear about something like this, it reminds me of when Donald Blom kidnapped and killed Katie Poier at a convenience store just a mile from where I grew up.

There should always be at least two employees on at any given time. That may deter a would be thief or kidnapper.

Unfortunately cashiers only make minimum wage in a convenience store. They are truly underpaid. When I was robbed it was 7:30 in the morning by a regular customer. Police told me he was casing me and my deposit procedure then he made his move.

There was a similar incident in Mobile Alabama as the one you described. Only difference is they decapitated the employee that they kidnapped out of the store. Scary thing is even the District Managers tell you that if you leave the store with them you are on your own. Police tell me that 9 times out of 10 you will be killed. Fight them tooth and nail if they want you to leave the store. Nawww I think I will quit.

[wx247]

Prosecutors won't press charges against K-state playerBy Associated Press
KSNW-TV
Updated: 1:30 p.m. ET Jan. 09, 2004Jan. 9 - Coach Bill Snyder apologized to Kansas State fans Thursday and announced senior quarterback Ell Roberson and other players would lose their scholarships for the spring semester for violating team rules two nights before the Fiesta Bowl.

Snyder made the announcement in a letter on the same day the Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined to press charges against Roberson, who was accused of sexually assaulting an acquaintance early New Year's Day.

Prosecutors said Roberson could not have known the 22-year-old woman who accused him did not consent to having sex with him.Roberson acknowledged having sex with the woman, but said it was consensual.

Maricopa County Attorney spokesman Bill FitzGerald declined to elaborate.

"I cannot adequately convey to you how badly I feel for those within the Wildcat family who, through their allegiance to our university and athletic program, are suffering immensely," Snyder said in the letter.

"A day has not gone by that I have not prayed that the Lord would ease the pain for our players, coaches, staff, the athletic department, the university faculty, student body, and administration, and the remarkable K-State fan base throughout the county. The accusation that was falsely made in this incident will live within each of use for a long time to come."

Synder said he has kept punishments ordered for rules violations "within the 'family."' But because of the nationwide publicity the accusations against his star quarterback garnered, he decided to make an exception.

Synder said Roberson and the unnamed players who had violated team regulations would lose scholarship aid for the spring semester, valued at about $8,500, forfeit their Fiesta Bowl rings and be ordered perform public service by addressing youth groups within the community.

Snyder's statement did not identify the other players who were punished. While a police report lists other players who violated curfew, Snyder does not elaborate on the violations that led to his decision to punish them.

Sports information director Garry Bowman said he didn't know why the other players weren't named.

"I guess Coach Snyder decided not to include that information in the letter, but that would be speculation on my part," Bowman said.

The Wildcats went to Arizona with high hopes after trouncing then-No. 1 and unbeaten Oklahoma 35-7 in the Big 12 championship game. After a few close calls in previous years, it was Kansas State's first Bowl Championship Series berth.

But early on the morning of New Year's Day, a 22-year-old Kansas State alumna told security at the team hotel that she had been sexually assaulted by senior quarterback Ell Roberson, with whom she was acquainted.

There was some question about whether Roberson would be allowed to play in the Fiesta Bowl, but eventually he was cleared to play in the Jan. 2 game against Ohio State. Roberson came out flat in the first half, and while he played better in the second half, the Wildcats lost 35-28.

In the letter, Snyder reiterated concerns raised by athletic director Tim Weiser before the game that police shouldn't have released Roberson's name because no charges had been filed.

"It is unfortunate that this damaging information was released prior to a thorough and complete investigation, which ultimately concluded there was no validity to the allegations of sexual assault or sexual abuse," Snyder said. "The fact that the initial charges were found to be erroneous in many cases will fall on deaf ears."

Synder, who is known for being tightlipped with the media about internal issues regarding his team, acknowledged that he had provided few details to the media about the allegations.

"Please understand," he wrote, "that it has not been my intent to withhold information from the media, but to cooperate with the legal process."

Snyder described the situation as "the most agonizing and painful event in my entire professional career."

"I do not condone any form of sexual abuse or, for that matter, sexual activity for young, unmarried males or females. I have three daughters and three granddaughters. Each of whom I pray to be safe and secure and to carry strong moral values that coincide with those of our family."

Snyder said when he first heard of the allegations, he decided to suspend the players from the program and send them home. But he said he changed his mind after an "outside investigation which led us to the conclusion that ... no crime of any nature was committed by any player in our program."

Snyder responded to those who though he should have not allowed Roberson to start the game.

"The idea of allowing them to play, but not start the game and sit out for a series or two seemed merely a token consequence," he said. "I believed the price of this irresponsibility should be far greater. All the while, I was well aware that any decision I made would be met with criticism."

[wx247]

The 79th session of the South Dakota Legislature will begin next Tuesday. Representatives and senators are already contemplating what will be the hot button issues in 2004. Senator J.P. Duniphan says this session will likely delve into hunter's issues including roadside hunting and other property rights. Another issue up for debate, the elimination of food taxes statewide.

Senator Mac McCracken says he'll also look for a bill that creates an authority to take over the Homestake mine to help create a National Science Lab there. As for the House of Representatives, Representative Don Van Etten says he expects folks to battle over 14-million dollars from tobacco settlements.

McCracken says other issues on the agenda include the state fair, the congressional special election date, Ellsworth Air Force Base funding and aid to education.

Story by: Jennifer Dowling, Fox 7: Rapid City

[wx247]

Iowa Newspapers Endorse Edwards, Kerry
Dean Leads Polls, But Newspapers Endorse Others

POSTED: 8:02 AM CST January 11, 2004
UPDATED: 8:43 AM CST January 11, 2004

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Several Iowa newspapers are endorsing candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination in editorials published this weekend.

The Des Moines Register is backing North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. The Register said Edwards is a cut above several well-qualified candidates, despite the fact that he doesn't have as much experience as other Democrats.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen, the Hawk Eye in Burlington and the Quad-City Times in Davenport have endorsed Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

The newspapers cited Kerry's foreign policy experience, his plan to provide health care insurance to all Americans and his overall grasp of the issues as reasons why he's the best choice to oppose President George W. Bush next fall.