The good
Bravo Greater Des Moines recently awarded a total of $274,083 to 18 central Iowa arts and cultural organizations as part of its FY2013 Capital Campaign and Projects (CCP) Grant allocation process. The award amount and number of applicants are record-breaking for the regional arts council. Through 28E agreements Bravo shares with area municipalities, the organization receives two-sevenths of the hotel/motel tax revenues from each municipality, and about 95 percent of that Bravo then allocates back out to various local agencies and services.
In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre in Newtown, Conn., the Obama administration is considering funding more police officers in public schools to secure campuses as well as the installation of surveillance equipment. The proposed “school safety initiative” would make federal dollars available to schools that want to hire police officers and install surveillance equipment. History reveals that throwing money at a problem isn’t the solution, but it’s a start, and it’s well overdue.
The bad
Stop the violence, man. Aren’t dreadlocks usually associated with peaceful hippie-types? Such is not the case for Oregon man Caleb Grotberg, 32. Portland Police arrested him last week for reportedly strangling his girlfriend with his dreadlocks. Officers responded to the woman’s 2:30 a.m. domestic abuse call, describing Grotberg’s long, dreadlocked hair, which helped the police find him while searching the neighborhood. Grotberg was taken into custody on suspicion of second-degree kidnapping and strangulation, as well as other domestic violence crimes.
The times they are a changin’, and that includes board games, too. Apparently Monopoly’s game pieces — thimble, shoe, top hat, clothes iron, wheelbarrow, Scottie dog, racecar and battleship — just aren’t cutting it anymore. Senior Vice President of Hasbro Gaming is inviting the public to go to Monopoly’s Facebook page and vote on which of the old pieces to save and pick from the new options he says are “more representative of today’s Monopoly players,” which include a robot, helicopter, guitar, diamond ring and a cat.
The ugly
Des Moines Police are investigating a bank robbery at the First American Bank, 4729 S.W. Ninth St., which was reported last week. The suspect is described as a white, adult male approximately 5’5’’ tall. He passed a note to the teller and showed what appeared to be the handle of a handgun sticking out of his waistband. Then he left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash and was last seen eastbound on foot. Police urge anyone with information about this case to call 283-4869 or Polk County Crime Stoppers at 223-1400.
The Des Moines Police Narcotics Unit recently completed an investigation that has yielded the seizure of a rather elaborate marijuana growing operation. During the investigation, narcotics officers located an individual who was making purchases of very high-grade marijuana from an address of 1012 Leland in Des Moines. One of the suspects from this address was observed making drug transactions. While searching the residence, narcotics officers located and confiscated approximately 150 marijuana plants — the equivalent of 40 pounds of pot with an estimated street value in excess of $100,000. A large amount of hydroponic growing equipment was also confiscated, including an assortment of grow lights, tents, chemical sprayers, a water supply/filtration system, timers and devices used to infuse carbon dioxide into the plants typically used to heighten the quality of the product. This equipment is estimated to be worth $40,000-50,000. Police also seized a smaller quantity of methamphetamine, powdered cocaine and two loaded handguns. Among those arrested were: Phaly Tuon, 42; Matthew Jones, 40; Julia Jones, 41; Kevin Foust, 53; and Deena Foust, 60. CV
