The
good
The U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded
nearly $50 million to 25 community-based organizations,
and Des Moines’ own Spectrum Resources was one
of them, receiving $4.5 million. Another approximate
$1.5 million went to Siouxland Human Investment
Partnership in Sioux City. The grants will fund
education and training for formerly incarcerated
youth in high-poverty, high-crime communities.
The education will lead to high school diplomas
and/or industry-recognized credentials with
an emphasis on in-demand occupations in their
communities. That’s a lot of money, so let’s
hope it helps.
The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors
Bureau (GDMCVB) has been named as one of the
2012 Top Destination Award winners from Facilities
and Destinations magazine. The planners of meetings,
conventions and tradeshows have direct input
on who receives this Award of Excellence. “This
is a great honor for everyone involved in the
hospitality industry in our area,” said Greg
Edwards, President and CEO of the GDMCVB. “The
fact that meeting planners decide who receives
this award further demonstrates the appreciation
visitors have for our meeting venues, hotels,
attractions and city overall.” Keep the visitors
coming to town.
The bad
Someone should lock this mother in a room and
see how she likes it. Jacole Prince, 29, was
arrested last week after police discovered she
had forced her 10-year-old daughter to live
in a small closet. When officers arrived, neighbors
informed them that Prince had left the building
with her two daughters. Officers performed a
forced entry into her apartment and followed
a strong odor of human waste to a small utility
closet. Inside, they found Prince’s daughter
standing in a puddle of her own feces and urine.
The girl was severely malnourished and weighed
only 32 pounds. The girl told police she had
never played in the outside world, hardly ate
and went to the bathroom in the closet because
she was rarely let out. Prince was arrested
and charged with felonies for assault, child
abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Every summer, thousands of cats and dogs die
because they’re left in baking hot vehicles.
So far this summer, the Animal Rescue League
of Iowa’s Animal Care and Control Officers responded
to 10 calls in one day alone. When it is 85
degrees outside, the temperature inside a car
can soar to 160 degrees in a matter of minutes,
even with the windows cracked open. With recent
record high temperatures, it is even more imperative
that pets are left at home. The ARL reminds
people to act immediately if they see a distressed
animal in an unattended car. To report an incident,
call 283-4811 (in Des Moines). Residents outside
of Des Moines can call their local law enforcement’s
non-emergency phone number.
The ugly
Another week, another crazy person high on
synthetic drugs. Texas officials arrested Michael
Terron Daniel, 22, last week after he started
eating a dog while high on K-2. According to
police, witnesses reported a man “going crazy”
and for the police to “please hurry.” Upon arrival,
officers found Daniel sitting on the porch with
a dead dog on his lap. The dog had signs of
severe trauma, and Daniel had blood and dog
fur on his hands. Witnesses told police that
Daniel assaulted several people, then chased
after them barking and growling. Daniel then
grabbed the dog, beat it and eventually strangled
it to death. Daniel allegedly bit into the dog,
ripping pieces of the dog’s flesh away. After
being arrested, Daniel told officers he was
having a bad K-2 trip, and it was killing him.
Daniel was arrested and charged with felony
animal cruelty.
This makes a case for sterilization in the
U.S. Officials in Connecticut arrested Kellie
Park, 20, last week after she sent her ex-boyfriend
numerous videos showing her abusing their 10-month-old
daughter. According to police, an investigation
was launched after the child’s father reported
the abuse and showed them the videos. In numerous
videos, Park can be seen and heard yelling at
the child, telling her “eat food off the floor,”
throwing food at the child and shaking the baby
while singing “Shake it Up.” Park also sent
numerous text messages that threatened to harm
the child stating: “I love abusing this kid,”
and “I’ll beat her fucking face in.” Park was
eventually arrested and charged with third-degree
assault, cruelty to persons, risk of injury
and threatening. CV |
