The good
The most popular sport in the world — soccer — arrives in South Africa from June 11 to July 11 as the country is set to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This will be the first time the tournament will be hosted in an African nation that will feature 32 teams — 13 teams from Europe, six African nations, five from South America, four from Asia, three from Concacaf and one from Oceania. The United States is located in Group C, which contains Algeria, England and Slovenia. While England is the favorite in the group, the U.S. is expected to make its way past Algeria and Slovenia.
The City of Des Moines hosted five men from Stavropol, Russia — one of Des Moines’ six sister cities last week — and introduced them to life to Iowa’s capitol city. The delegation spent four days touring the wastewater treatment plant, Des Moines Water Works, Anderson Erickson Dairy and Mercy Medical Center. Stavropol is located in the Caucasus Mountains in southwest Russia. Both towns are similar with a focus on education, and both have large agriculture sectors.
The bad
Last fall we warned readers about the impending doom that humans could face when the Mayan Calendar ran out (“12-21-12 The End is Near,” Oct. 29), and it seems the trouble is already starting. With several earthquakes, floods and volcanoes erupting, a pattern is forming. If the latest natural disaster is any indication of what’s to come, we’re all in big trouble. At least 115 people were killed recently when tropical storm Agatha tore through Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, causing massive mudslides and extreme devastation in all three countries. But the scariest part is after an extreme downpour, a giant sinkhole swallowed a three-story building and house in Guatemala City. Bomb shelters won’t help when the ground caves in.
If the hairs on the back your neck don’t stand up when you hear the name “Joran van der Sloot,” maybe they should. The 22-year-old Dutch man is already the key culprit in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba five years ago, and now he is the prime suspect in the death of 21-year-old Stephany Flores. Van der Sloot was arrested twice in regards to Holloway’s murder, but was later released for lack of evidence. The young woman disappeared while on a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean Island in 2005. No trace of her has been found. Van der Sloot was arrested by Chilean authorities last week. Now with nowhere to run, hopefully this mad man will start talking.
The ugly
Laws are in place to keep people safe. Clearly, Jessica Aberg doesn’t understand that. Last week, the 30-year-old Clive woman hit another vehicle on 100th Street in Urbandale and then led police on a dangerous, erratic chase through the metro. Police were able to box Aberg — accompanied with her two children, ages 7 and 3 — on Interstate Highway 35/80 using at least nine police cars. The two children were turned over to the Department of Human Services and then to Aberg’s parents. Aberg was charged with two counts of child endangerment, one count of eluding, two counts of assault on a police officer and one count of drug paraphernalia.
Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer, but this year’s was deadly on Iowa’s waters. The state experienced 11 boating accidents, the highest for the holiday period in at least a decade. Five fatalities took place, including on Briarstone Lake, Coralville Lake, Storm Lake, Rathbun Lake and Hobbs Access. Iowa averages approximately 40 boating accidents each year. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says boaters must keep their distance from other boats, limit alcohol consumption and run the engine-compartment blower before starting the engine to prevent fires. CV
