Volume 135, Number 50 • Thursday, December 17, 2015
OFFICIAL PAPER FOR Franklin County City of Shef¿eld & West Fork School District Shef¿eld, Franklin County, IA
WARHAWKS KEEP WINNING STREAK GOING SPORTS: PAGE 10
IOWA DHS AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLS MEDICAID RECIPIENTS INTO MCOS $1 per copy
NEWS: PAGE 5
MURDER
Upcoming Events Upcoming S.T.P.A.T.S. nativity open houses The public is invited to a nativity open house at S.T.P.A.T.S. church, Dougherty, on Sundays, Dec. 20, 27 and Jan. 3 from 1-3 p.m. The nativity is 116-years old. There will be music and refreshments of cider and homemade cookies. Come celebrate the birth of the Lord, reflect on its importance in your life and remember the real reason for the season.
“AN OLD-FASHIONED HOLIDAY” BY KELLY MCGOWAN Classic carols rang through West Fork’s Rockwell campus on a chilly Monday night as P-K and 2-4th grade students performed their winter vocal concert for a full crowd. Led by Vocal Director Julie Novotney and accompanied by Lynda Becker, the students sang and danced to traditional and modern carols while Ken Meyer manned the sound booth. The crowd stood up and joined in song with the students for the last song, “Jingle Jive,” a back-and-forth, interactive version of Jingle Bells. See MORE PHOTOS: Page 6 KELLY MCGOWAN Ň PHOTOS
UBTC open house winners Following people were winners of the drawings at United Bank & Trust Company in Sheffield at their Christmas open house. Hams: Marilyn Grarup, Marlys Mondt, Jerry Dixon, Doris Hite, Joyce Wiele, Arliss Greimann and Stan Caspery Turkeys: Galen Eisentrager, Mary Lauffer, Ruth Ann Brayton, Bill Nolte, Gene Riles, Diane Nuehring and Terry Tull
FC Community Foundation grant applications available Grant applications can now be submitted to the Franklin Community Foundation for its 2016 grant cycle. The deadline to submit applications is midnight on Jan. 31. Grants are awarded to projects in the following areas: art and culture, community betterment, education, environment, health, historic preservation and human service. The online grant application and grant guidelines can be found on the Community Foundation’s website at www.franklinccf.org. Grant recipients will be announced in March 2016. Completed applications must be submitted no later than midnight on Jan. 31 to be considered for funding. First-time grant applicants should contact Dotti Thompson, Program Manager at (319) 287-9106 ext. 18 prior to submitting an application. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization (or government entity) serving Franklin County in order to be considered for funding. For more information, contact the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa at (319) 287-9106.
Lime Creek to host Christmas program A program entitled “Christmas Break at Lime Creek” will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 29, from 1-3 p.m. at the Lime Creek Nature Center. It’s time to get the kids out of the house for some fresh air! All ages are invited to join us for a snowshoe hike in search of wildlife signs, followed by craft activity in the nature center. If there is no snow we’ll take the hike without snowshoes. There will be a warm fire burning and hot chocolate will be served! There is no charge but registration is required – please call 423-5309. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
TOP: Third graders reach out their hands to finish off one of the four songs they performed Monday. Center, black dress: Lexah Reason. ABOVE: West Fork Para-educator Lynda Becker accompanies the young singers with her piano music during their concert. LEFT: Preschool students ring their jingle bells while singing the classic Christmas carol. Top row, left to right: Cale Fredin, Carter Schmidt, Jaxxen Hitzhusen. Front row: Ryann Orton, Kyla Nagel, Kiara O’Brien, Charleigh Martinez.
Santa stops in Sheffield Cities in the West Fork district were full of holiday cheer Saturday as Meservey, Sheffield and Rockwell hosted their annual Christmas parties. Children brought lists and went home with treats after meeting Santa Claus, who made special appearances in all three towns, taking a fire truck into Meservey and Rockwell, while a professional photographer, Sierra Willier of Sierra Willier Photography was there to capture the moment in Sheffield. Santa holds out a cookie as Tyler Lettellier convinces an apprehensive Brynnley Lettellier to take a photo with him. KELLY MCGOWAN PHOTO
shocks quiet Hampton neighborhood Hampton man charged with murder following girlfriend’s death; responding officers originally called to investigate possible suicidal individual BY NICK PEDLEY Local residents are expressing shock following the alleged murder of a Waterloo woman Sunday afternoon at a residence in Hampton. Investigators say Ronald Lee Rand, 60, Hampton, shot and killed his girlfriend, Michelle Key, 51, Waterloo, during an apparent domestic violence incident Dec. 13. He was charged with First Deg ree Murder on Mond ay a nd is being held without bond at the Hardin County Jail. Accordi ng to a press release, HampRand ton police responded to a call of a suicidal individual at 621 First St. NE shortly before 6 p.m. Upon further investigation, officers found Key dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Hampton Police Chief Bob Schaefer said responding officers quickly addressed the situation as a possible homicide and arrested Rand at the residence without incident. “They were responding to what they thought was a possible suicide,” he said. “It was a gunshot wound. That’s all I can really say.” Investigators have released few details about the case. Schaefer would not comment on a possible motive or whether drugs or alcohol were involved. “You want to give as much news as you can, but at the same time we can’t say anything to jeopardize the case,” he said. Schaefer said the house had not been on the police department’s radar for any recent issues. Officers had responded for various reasons in the past, but the police chief couldn’t recall any incidents of domestic violence. See MURDER: Page 4
2016 hunting, fishing licenses on sale The calendar insists it’s middle December – regardless of what the thermometer says – meaning 2015 will soon become 2016 and time to renew hunting and fishing licenses. A 2016 hunting, fishing or combination license is a permission slip for a year’s worth of outdoor enjoyment. It makes an excellent gift for the holidays and one that could be purchased online up to the last minute at www.iowadnr.gov. The menu of license options includes the popular Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/ habitat combo license; the Angler’s Special threeyear fishing license; and the Hunter’s Special threeyear hunting license with habitat included. Also available is the Bonus Line option for $12 allowing resident and nonresident anglers to fish with one additional line in addition to the two lines allowed with the regular fishing license. Iowa hunting and fishing license fees remain unchanged for 2016. Annual licenses, including those special three-year license purchased in 2013, expire on Jan. 10, 2016.
IN THIS ISSUE: Opinion ..................................... page 3 Community News ................page 4-5 Public Notices .......................... page 8 ClassiÀeds ...............................page 11 Sports ............................... page 10, 20 Letters to Santa ............ pages 12-19
The Sheffield Merchants annual Christmas party was held Saturday at First Grace Baptist Church. Participants enjoyed coffee, hot cider and cookies. JACK ZIMMERMAN PHOTO
Sheffield Merchants’ Christmas Party successful Sheffield Merchants held their annual adult Christmas party Saturday at First Grace Baptist Church in Sheffield with a large crowd attending the festivities. The party was the Merchants way of saying “thank you” to their customers and friends for their loyalty the past year.
Winners are as follows: • $50 in Sheffield Bucks: Mary Hendrick, Neil Hendrick and Richard Mason. • $20 in Sheffield Bucks: Lindy Miller, Karen Wood, Betty Engebretson, Shirley Richardson, Phyllis Walton, Shirley Madsen, Tom Jensen, Millie Schroeder, Harm DeGroot, Lorraine
Rust, Marilyn Sheahan, Sue Foreman, Arlis Bertelsen, Junice DeGroot and Arlene Gerdes • $10 in Sheffield Bucks: Mary Peter, Sandy Tull, Ward Miller, Kathleen Lutgen, Shirley Cockram, Wayne Foreman, Terry Fink, Diane Ballhagen, Pam Fink, Michelle Brady, Betty Heginger, Melvin Koenigsberg, Judy
Emhoff, Dan Steenhard, Meta Lage and Jim Card. • Subscriptions to The Sheffield Press: Ed Koenigsberg and Fred Schoning • $15 certificates to the West Fork Wharf: Doug Brady and Terance Fink • $40 Tupperware gift: Betty Larson. See MERCHANTS: Page 5