The
good
Four Iowa lawmakers have been chosen by the
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV)
as the 2012 “Safe Community Partners,” a distinction
that is given to legislators and/or community
leaders who have shown an ongoing commitment
to ending domestic violence. The criteria looked
at when nominating and approving a legislator
or community leader for this distinction include:
leadership and support on legislation that would
address domestic violence and make our communities
a safer place; availability and responsiveness
to ICADV’s membership not only during session
but throughout the year; and an overall ongoing
commitment to ending domestic violence. Congratulations
and thank you to Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Boone
and Story Counties, Sen. Pat Ward of Polk County,
Rep. Vicki Lensing of Johnson County and Rep.
Jeremy Taylor of Woodbury County.
The Des Moines Symphony Orchestra has successfully
raised more than half of its $10 million fundraising
goal with its recent 75th Anniversary Endowment
Campaign launch — “Orchestrating the Future.”
The campaign is poised to raise more on behalf
of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and Academy
in celebration of the Orchestra’s anniversary
to assist with two capital projects, including
the design and construction of a new state-of-the-art
acoustical shell for the Orchestra’s performances
at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines and
renovations to the Symphony Academy’s performance
and rehearsal spaces at The Temple for Performing
Arts. Leadership gifts have already been received
from Honorary Campaign Chairs Linda and Tom
Koehn, from Dr. Stephen C. Smith and from Pioneer
Hi-Bred. Only $7.5 million to go.
The bad
It’s always important to lead your kids by
example. California resident Mayra Gonzalez,
32, was arrested last week after she had sex
with her daughter’s 16-year-old boyfriend and
became pregnant with his child. According to
police, Gonzalez and the boy had a secret relationship
for almost five months, which resulted in her
pregnancy. The boy’s parents contacted police
after learning of the relationship. Gonzalez
admitted to police that she was in love with
the boy. Gonzalez was arrested and charged with
six felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse
with a minor under 16 and two felony counts
of oral copulation with a minor under 18.
The City of Des Moines decided to fire Officer
Brandon Singleton after he falsely reported
a hit-and-run collision in which he was the
alleged culprit and was found with meth and
weed in his squad car. Singleton was officially
terminated last week on the following violations
to administrative rules: standard of conduct,
obedience to laws and orders, false reports,
sleeping on duty, leaving area of assignment,
loss or replacement of handguns, accident with
a city vehicle and alcohol/drug abuse. Curious:
Where did the missing DMPD-issue handgun end
up?
The ugly
Sometimes jail just isn’t enough of a punishment.
Oklahoma police arrested Jodi Rock, 19, last
week after she burned the genitals of her 15-month-old
baby boy. Deputies were called to a local hospital
after the baby arrived at the emergency room
with three serious burns to his genitals and
bone fractures in both of his shoulders, wrists
and forearm. Rock gave police several reasons
on how the child became injured but then finally
admitted to burning the baby with a hair-straightening
iron by closing it on the baby’s genitals. Rock
was arrested and charged with felony injury
to a child.
Talk about a nicotine fit! Yolanda Stills,
43, was arrested last week in Jacksonville,
Fla., after she stabbed her fiancé to death
during an argument. According to police, officers
arrived at the house and found Ricardo McMillian,
56, on the floor. He was rushed to the hospital
but died a short time later. Stills, who was
released from jail in January after violating
a protective order, told police the two were
arguing about cigarettes. Stills was arrested
and charged with murder. CV |
