The
good
Polk County Supervisor Robert Brownell, Prairie
Meadows Racetrack and Casino and William C.
Knapp were honored at the annual Central Iowa
Shelter and Services “Heroes for Homeless” awards
dinner in Des Moines on Wednesday, April 25
for their leadership and continued actions that
serve the estimated 6,100 homeless living in
central Iowa. We thank all three of these “Heroes
for the Homeless.”
Last weekend, One Iowa celebrated the third
anniversary of marriage equality in the state.
The Anniversary Gala kicked off on April 21
with dinner and awards honoring pro-equality
advocates who have shared their lives and their
stories to improve social awareness of LGBT
individuals. Zach Wahls, LGBT advocate who gave
an emotional testimony at the Iowa Legislature
last year opposing a marriage ban, was awarded
the Courageous 6; The Sharon K. Malheiro Award
was presented to former Sen. Jeff Angelo, founder
of Iowa Republicans for Freedom, and Sen. Matt
McCoy, D-Des Moines and longtime LGBT advocate.
The Distinguished Service Award went to Troy
Price, former One Iowa Executive Director. And,
The John Karn Award was presented to Jon and
Lisa Merkle.
The bad
A nearly two-week long, nationwide manhunt
for accused sex offender James Julius Beaudrie
ended last week with the fugitive’s arrest in
Chicago, Ill. U.S. Marshals and task force officers
located Beaudrie at an apartment complex and
arrested him. Beaudrie is wanted by the Des
Moines Police Department on eight counts of
third-degree sexual abuse following a six-month
investigation into allegations that he attempted
to sexually assault at least one of his nine
children.
Apparently this grandma used weed for more
than her glaucoma. Last week, Oklahoma police
arrested 73-year-old Darlene Mayes, who was
considered a major drug supplier for Craig County.
Officials discovered Mayes’ involvement after
a four-month investigation for suspicion of
trafficking marijuana. When officers raided
her apartment, they discovered four pounds of
marijuana and more than $270,000 in cash as
well as a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver.
Officials say Mayes had several dealers working
under her, and she’s believed to be responsible
for 40 percent of the Grand Lake area’s drug
trade. Mayes was arrested and charged with possession
of marijuana with the intent to distribute and
possession of a firearm during the commission
of a felony. Social security benefits just don’t
pay the bills, apparently.
The ugly
We’ll call this “Crappy Moms: Florida edition.”
Clearwater police arrested Lydia Chako, 39,
last week after she allegedly tried to throw
her 3-month-old child into the ocean, because
she believed the child was possessed by demons.
Officials were called to the building after
Chako’s property manager knocked on the door,
and she responded with disturbing comments about
her child being covered in snakes and lizards
and claiming that “demons” were trying to possess
him. Neighbors then saw Chako leaving the scene
and carrying the baby by his feet. Officers
found Chako partially naked while standing on
a sea wall, holding the child as if she were
preparing to drop him in the ocean. After a
short struggle, Chako was arrested and charged
with child abuse.
Keeping with the “crappy moms” theme, Ormond
Beach officials arrested Mallory Mims, 22, after
she left her 5-year-old child unattended in
the car with the windows rolled up for more
than an hour while she applied for a job at
a bar and stuck around for a few shots, too.
When an employee asked Mims if that was her
child in the car, she denied it and tried to
leave, but the bartender took her keys. When
officers arrived, Mims smelled of alcohol and
appeared to be intoxicated. Mims was arrested
and charged with child neglect and leaving a
child unattended in a vehicle for more than
15 minutes. CV |
