THROWBACK NEWS Twenty years ago, Larry Wynn, owner of F&M Body Shop, was back to work as usual after winning the election for Creston’s mayor. More Throwback news on 2A.
UNI-DOME BOUND? The Mount Ayr Raiders football team is seeking a repeat trip to the UNI-Dome when they host Lynnville-Sully 7 p.m. Friday. Read a game preview in SPORTS, page 9A. >>
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Human Japanese student wants to trafficking make the world peaceful sting conducted in Osceola southwestern community college
By KELSEY HAUGEN
“She really wants to understand the material. If she does have any difficulty (with English), she certainly overcomes it with a super-human amount of effort, attentiveness and asking for help.”
CNA staff reporter
khaugen@crestonnews.com
Tomomi Kawasaki’s dream job is one in which she helps establish peace among countries. A veteran traveler with a curiosity for international relations, Kawasaki is currently more than 6,300 miles from her home in Osaka, Japan, to study at Southwestern Community College (SWCC) and learn more about a relationship she finds especially intriguing. “I really wanted to study the Middle East in the U.S. because the two countries have a bad relationship,” said Kawasaki, 20. Before coming to Creston, Kawasaki spent one year at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, studying international relations and political science. She also spent time traveling to other countries, including Thailand, Australia and the United States, where she visited Washington, D.C. and New York City. This is her first time studying abroad, though. She chose SWCC mainly because it offers history courses in both American and Middle Eastern studies. “Few colleges have Middle Eastern studies,” Kawasaki said. For now, she is taking general education classes at SWCC. She is enjoying studying solely what she wants to study. Taking introductory rather than high-level courses has also been helpful for Kawasaki in learning English. She isn’t taking an English as a Second Language (ESL) class; she has instead been learning English in her classes and through conversations with others. “I should have studied
— Randy Hughes
History instructor at Southwestern Community College
Contributed photos
Top, Tomomi Kawasaki meets an elephant while visiting Bangkok, Thailand. Above are Japanese lanterns in Kyoto, Japan, where Kawasaki spent her first year of college.
English more in Japan before coming here,” Kawasaki said. “I want to learn English, but many Japanese d o n ’ t speak English, so it’s hard for me.” H e r Hughes favorite class right now is Middle East studies, taught by Randy Hughes,
SWCC history instructor. She also takes one of Hughes’ American history courses. Hughes appreciates Kawasaki’s interest in the Middle East. “I think it’s commendable because (the Middle East) is an interesting and important part of the world,” Hughes said. “She is trying to understand the world around her.” Kawasaki frequently visits with instructors after class to ensure she under-
stands the material correctly. She said language has been a significant barrier for her. “She really wants to understand the material,” Hughes said. “If she does have any difficulty (with English), she certainly overcomes it with a super-human amount of effort, attentiveness and asking for help.” This “super-human” effort she exerts may be KAWASAKI | 14A
By AMY HANSEN OST news editor
ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
OSCEOLA — Six people were charged in a human trafficking sting in Osceola Tuesday. The sting was conducted at a local Osceola business, according to an Osceola Police Department press release. Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus said the owner of the business has asked not to disclose its name. “We set up in that business and did the sting from there,” he said. Those charged in the sting are: • Eugene Burnell Garrett Jr., 43, of Afton, male — one count of prostitution • Daveta Diane Williams, 41, of Des Moines, female — one count of driving while barred and one count of possession of paraphernalia • Mya Aung Kyaw, 46, of Des Moines, male — one count of prostitution • Matt Micheal Conner, 21, of West Des Moines, male — one count of prostitution • Belladonna Melissa Guirgis, 35, address unknown, female — one count of prostitution • Sharree Laray Austin, 27, of Des Moines, female — one count of prostitution According to Duffus, no children were involved in the sting. Of the six people arrested, there may be one or two additional charges coming, but no other arrests made. Duffus said this human trafficking sting was con-
ducted because of Osceola’s proximity in location to Des Moines, Kansas City and Omaha, as well as how easy travel can be on Interstate 35. Duffus pointed out those charged in the sting were mostly from the Des Moines area. “What we learned by this was given all the modes of transportation to our area and the number of transient people; prostitution and human trafficking, it’s something that is from outside our area, and it’s not a huge problem, but it’s certainly is one that’s there,” Duffus said. “We want to protect our businesses and our citizens.” Another factor in the sting was the police department had seen a few postings on various social media sites, including Craigslist. Duffus said the light social media traffic is not all of what drew law enforcement to doing the sting, but it certainly added to it. “Even though it’s light, (hopefully), it won’t come back,” he said. All those charged were held at Clarke County Law Enforcement Center. “We’re in front of it and we’re watching,” Duffus said. Law enforcement agencies involved in the sting were Osceola Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Clarke County Sheriff’s Office. Additional key support in the investigation was provided by Adams County Sheriff’s Office, STING | 2A I Think I Can Daycare employee Amanda Creighton paints a yellow submarine in one of the daycare’s hallways Tuesday. This painting, which depicts an ocean scene that includes Nemo and Squirt from “Finding Nemo” and the house of Spongebob Squarepants, is Creighton’s second hallway painting project in the past few months. Creighton has drawn all of the elements freehand and is using paint recycled from other daycare projects and donated by parents. She said she plans on adding more fish to the hallway, and she said the kids have a long list of characters they want to see on it.
I Think I Can Daycare employee Amanda Creighton’s first completed hallway painting project depicts a train with zoo animals. CNA photo by IAN RICHARDSON
CNA photo by IAN RICHARDSON
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