Iowa

5 Gazette area high school baseball games to watch in Week 9

Published

2 years ago

July 7, 2024

5 Gazette area high school baseball games to watch in Week 9

Class 4A No. 3 Iowa City High welcomes No. 4 Johnston; Solon heads to Wahlert in a possible substate final preview; Marion and Liberty prep for postseason; districts and substates in full effect

K.J. Pilcher

Jul. 7, 2024 5:31 pm, Updated: Jul. 7, 2024 5:53 pm

City’s Talon Young pitches during a game between Iowa City Liberty and Iowa City High at Liberty High School in North Liberty, Iowa on Monday, June 24, 2024. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

By the end of the week, all four classes will be competing in the postseason. Class 1A and 2A will continue district play Tuesday and Saturday. Some intriguing matchups close the regular season with 3A and 4A substates begin Friday.

MONDAY: JOHNSTON AT IOWA CITY HIGH

City High hosts the two-time defending state champions at Mercer Park. The Little Hawks are ranked third in Class 4A, while the Dragons are No. 4. Both are No. 1 substate seeds. City High has qualified for the last two state tournaments, but the Dragons have created a dynasty. They have qualified for the state tournament the last eight seasons, reaching the championship game the last five years and six of the last seven. Johnston won titles in 2023, 2022, 2020 and 2017. The Dragons are 30-5. Adam Kayko leads the way for Johnston, tallying 40 hits and driving in 34 runs. Cole Kinman is batting .400 with a .525 on-base percentage. Adrian Broadus, Mitch Naig and Cade Ogden have 5 wins apiece. Ogden has a 1.03 earned-run average and 38 strikeouts in 34 innings, while Broadus has 48 strikeouts and a 2.39 ERA in 38 innings. City High can match Johnston shutdown pitching, posting a 1.77 team ERA. Talon Young and Jaxton Schroeder are the top Little Hawks hurlers. Schroeder is 6-0 with a 1.22 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. Young is 4-2 with a 1.51 ERA. City High has a deep staff to make a postseason run and this game will mirror a postseason atmosphere. A key will be whether the City High offense can scratch out some run support.

MONDAY: SOLON AT DUBUQUE WAHLERT

The Spartans take on the Golden Eagles in a top-10 meeting at McAleece Park and Recreation Complex in Dubuque. Wahlert is ranked third and Solon is No. 8 in 3A. This could be a prelude to a 3A substate 4 final next week. The Golden Eagles are the top-seed and open the postseason against Maquoketa. Solon plays Vinton-Shellsburg in the first round. The substate also includes contenders Mount Vernon, West Delaware, Clear Creek Amana and Williamsburg, which moves up a class after a 2A state appearance last year. Wahlert (29-8) has been one of the hottest teams, beating Dyersville Beckman and sweeping Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Linn-Mar during a current eight-game win streak. Solon (26-10) has won five straight as well. Brett White ranks among the state leaders in home runs with 11. He also has 36 RBIs and .389 average. Vince Steinbrech leads Solon with a 7-0 record and 47 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings.

TUESDAY: CLASS 1A AND 2A DISTRICT SEMIFINALS

District semifinals are slated for Tuesday in Class 1A and 2A. Single-game sites will be held in 1A. Among the Gazette-area hosts are South Winneshiek, Lansing Kee, North Linn, East Buchanan, Sigourney and Hillcrest Academy in Kalona. South Winn (21-9) hosts Dunkerton (9-11) and are the loan 2023 state qualifier in the field. If the Warriors advance, they will face the winner of Turkey Valley (11-15-1) and Kee Hawks in the 1A District 8 finals. South Winn swept all six regular-season games against Kee and Turkey Valley this year. Belle Plaine (11-10) plays at East Buchanan (14-8) in 1A D10. Both won one-run, eight-inning games to advance.

In 2A, district doubleheaders will be held at the same site. Defending state champion and No. 5 Dyersville Beckman (17-10) hosts Monticello (12-11). The Blazers and Panthers split a doubleheader July 3. The winner will face the winner between Cascade (12-12) and Iowa City Regina (14-18). Jesup (17-9) travels to Alburnett (24-11) for one of the top 2A semifinal matchups. The J-Hawks’ Jack Miller and Pirates’ Karson Rose are among the leaders for both teams. At Monona, MFL MarMac (23-7) hosts Denver (5-19) and Waukon (11-17) takes on Starmont (16-8). Anamosa (18-9) hosts Winfield-Mount Union (9-11) after Mid-Prairie (19-9) faces Mediapolis (20-7).

WEDNESDAY: MARION AT IOWA CITY LIBERTY

A good postseason tune-up game for both teams. Marion is 28-4 and is ranked second in 3A. Iowa City Liberty owns a 23-13 record and is No. 4 in the 4A poll. Both are No. 1 seeds in their respective substate bracket. The Wolves have reached state in five of the last seven seasons, winning the 3A title in 2021. The Lightning have reached the 4A state tournament the last two years, qualifying in 2023, which was the first season under Coach Uby Martinez. Liberty has won three of four meetings with Marion, including a 10-5 win a year ago. Liberty’s Mason Waterbury has been phenomenal, recording nine wins with a 0.14 ERA and striking out 53 in 51 innings. Ryan Schmierer leads the Lightning with 47 hits and 22 RBIs. Marion doesn’t have a superstar but finds success in the collective. The Wolves average 10 runs a game but only give up 2.7 per contest. Isaiah Scott has 45 hits and Trey Franck has 35 RBIs for Marion.

FRIDAY: CLASS 3A AND 4A FIRST ROUND SUBSTATE

The two biggest classes will begin the postseason Friday. In 4A, Kennedy, City High, Linn-Mar and Liberty are all No. 1 seeds. The Cougars host Waterloo West. The Little Hawks open against Clinton. The Lions have Cedar Rapids Jefferson and the Lightning welcome Waterloo East. Cedar Rapids Prairie hosts Iowa City West. Cedar Rapids Washington travels to Southeast Polk.

In 3A, two-time defending state champion Western Dubuque is top-seeded and hosts Charles City with the winner taking on Independence or Decorah in next week’s semifinals. Marion is the No. 1 seed in 3A Substate 6 and opens with South Tama. Cedar Rapids Xavier hosts Nevada with the winner advancing to play the Wolves or Trojans in the semifinal. Benton Community will also start the postseason at home, facing Gilbert.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com

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Iowa

Iowa Great Lakes businessman Butch Parks dies at 81

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Iowa Great Lakes businessman Butch Parks dies at 81

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) – The Iowa Great Lakes community is remembering Leo “Butch” Parks, a longtime lakes-area businessman and founder of Parks Marina.

He died Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the age of 81.

Parks established the marina on East Lake Okoboji in 1983, growing it from a small fishing boat operation into a business with marinas, sales, service, rentals, storage, and popular destinations like the Barefoot Bar.

Parks and his wife, Debbie, also owned Okoboji Boat Works for 23 years.

Funeral services are set for Friday, Jan. 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. It will be followed by a celebration of life at Snapper’s restaurant in Okoboji that evening.

Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.

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Iowa

Iowa woman accused of pandering for prostitution and harassment after incidents at Casey’s and a daycare

Published

23 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Iowa woman accused of pandering for prostitution and harassment after incidents at Casey’s and a daycare

AURELIA, Iowa (KTIV) – A Northwest Iowa woman is facing charges of harassment and pandering for prostitution after two incidents took place in December 2025.

Forty-seven-year-old Kristal Miller of Odebolt was taken into custody on an arrest warrant and faces three charges: one count of pandering for prostitution and two counts of first-degree harassment, according to court documents.

Kristal Miller(Cherokee County Jail)

The charges stem from two separate incidents that took place on Thursday, Dec. 18. 2025.

According to court documents, at 6:15 a.m., Miller reportedly went to the Casey’s General Store, located at 100 Pearl St. in Aurelia. Documents state Miller approached an employee and customers, requesting money from them.

Authorities state Miller claimed she was wanted by the FBI and told people, if anyone called the police, “she would kill them.”

During this encounter, she also allegedly asked an employee to remove the string from her hooded sweatshirt. Documents state when the employee refused this request, she threatened to strangle them.

That same day at 7 a.m., Miller reportedly approached a female employee outside an Aurelia daycare and asked them for money.

Court documents stated Miller suggested the unnamed employee leave her boyfriend. Miller reportedly told the employee, if she did, then she and Miller would both be paid.

Authorities say when she was told no by the employee, Miller became upset and started yelling at them.

Miller also allegedly threatened to “steal her car” and ”take her away to her guys to start a new life.”

She was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on a cash-only bond of $5,000. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Cherokee for Friday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m.

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Iowa

Iowa law on police appeals ‘constitutionally vacuous,’ prosecutor says

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Iowa law on police appeals ‘constitutionally vacuous,’ prosecutor says

The Iowa Supreme Court is reviewing a 2024 law that allows law enforcement officers to appeal their placement on a Brady-Giglio list.
A dispute between Jefferson County’s attorney and sheriff led to the sheriff being placed on the list, which identifies officers with credibility issues.
The county attorney argues the law is unconstitutional because it lets judges interfere with a prosecutor’s duty to disclose evidence to defendants.

A feud between two Jefferson County officials has landed before the Iowa Supreme Court, which must decide if a 2024 addition to Iowa’s Rights of Peace Officers law is unconstitutional.

Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding is asking the state’s high court to overturn what he calls the “constitutionally vacuous” law, which allows officers to petition the courts to be removed from their county’s Brady-Giglio list.

Named for two U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the lists compiled by prosecutors identify law enforcement officers and others whose credibility is in question, and it can provide grounds for questioning their testimony in court.

After a dispute over a case involving a sheriff’s deputy’s use of force, Moulding in 2024 notified Jefferson County Sheriff Bart Richmond he was placing him on the Brady-Giglio list. Richmond petitioned a court to reverse Moulding’s decision, and a district judge did, finding Richmond’s actions in connection with the case, while unprofessional, did not bring his honesty or credibility into question.

In his appeal, Moulding argues that’s not up to the court to decide, and that the law lets judges improperly intrude on prosecutors’ professional judgment and, ultimately, defendants’ rights.

“The practical real application of (the 2024 law) is to create a Kafkaesque scenario where a criminal defendant could face the prospect of criminal charges involving a State witness who is so lacking in credibility that the State’s attorney has qualms about even calling him to testify, but is prevented from disclosure,” Moulding wrote. “Such a situation is unconscionable, and underlines the constitutional vacuousness of the statute itself.”

The court has not yet scheduled arguments for the case, which could have impacts far beyond Jefferson County. Attorney Charles Gribble, representing Richmond, said this is just one of three Iowa Brady-Giglio appeals he personally is involved in.

What is a Brady-Giglio list?

Under the Fifth Amendment, criminal defendants are entitled to due process of law. In Brady v. Maryland in 1963 and in subsequent cases the U.S. Supreme Court held that due process requires a prosecutor to disclose any known exculpatory evidence to the defense. That includes anything giving rise to doubts about the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses, including law enforcement officers.

In 2022, Iowa formalized that process by mandating prosecuting agencies maintain a Brady-Giglio list of officers whose credibility can be questioned due to past dishonesty or other misconduct. The law requires agencies to notify officers when they are being put on a list and allows them to seek reconsideration.

Being placed on a list can damage or destroy an officer’s career, as prosecutors generally will decline to call them as witnesses or to bring charges that would depend on their testimony.

2024 law gives courts a role in Brady-Giglio lists

Iowa’s 2024 law went beyond requiring officers be notified of their placement on a Brady-Giglio list by giving them the right to appeal to a district court if their prosecuting agency refuses to take them off a list. The law requires judges to confidentially review evidence and allows them to affirm, modify or reverse an officer’s Brady-Giglio listing “as justice may require.”

In less than two years, courts have reversed local prosecutors on several Brady-Giglio placements, including a messy Henry County dispute in which prosecutors accused a sheriff’s deputy of making misleading statements on a search warrant application.

What happened in Jefferson County?

The lawsuit before the Iowa Supreme Court involves an April 2024 traffic stop by a Jefferson County deputy. As laid out in a subsequent memo by Moulding, video recordings show the deputy handling the driver roughly and, when the man complains, telling him “I can do whatever I want” and, “You’re not going to tell me what I can and can’t do. … You’re going to learn what respect is, young man.”

After learning about the incident, Moulding wrote, he repeatedly emailed Richmond, asking if the deputy’s actions had violated any county policies. Richmond did not respond. Concerned about possible litigation against the county, Moulding then asked another county to conduct an investigation. While the details are disputed, Moulding accuses Richmond of stonewalling both his office and the outside investigators and instructing his subordinates also not to cooperate.

“A county sheriff ordering deputies not to cooperate with an inquiry into a deputy’s use of force represents a fundamental lapse in judgment and raised serious concerns regarding the Sheriff’s honesty, candor and ethics as a law enforcement official,” Moulding wrote.

He scheduled a meeting that Richmond did not attend and then placed him on the county’s Brady-Giglio list. In an emailed statement, Moulding called the entire matter “unfortunate.”

“Frankly, I am shocked that instead of attempting to address this matter with my office cooperatively, the Sheriff instead decided to stonewall an investigation, stonewall the Brady-Giglio investigation, and then take this matter to court instead of sitting down and addressing the matter like an adult and an elected official,” he said.

In a letter, Moulding warned Richmond that he would no longer be called as a law enforcement witness and advised him to limit his involvement with criminal investigations, as “your engagement in such activities could likely negatively impact the outcomes in court.”

Judge disagrees with sheriff’s placement on list

After Moulding denied Richmond’s request for reconsideration, Richmond filed suit. In February 2025, Judge Jeffrey Farrell ruled Richmond should be removed from the list.

Farrell’s order criticized both parties, finding that Moulding had failed to comply with some procedural elements of the law but that Richmond could have avoided the whole situation with “basic and professional” responses to Moulding’s emails. Nonetheless, he found Richmond’s actions did not demonstrate dishonesty or deceit that would justify placement on a Brady list.

“This is not a case in which an officer lied to a court, was convicted of a crime, manufactured or destroyed evidence, or committed some other act that would serve as the basis for impeachment in any criminal case,” Farrell wrote. “Game-playing the county attorney is not the standard of professionalism that Iowans expect of our elected county sheriffs,” he added, but does not constitute grounds for a Brady-Giglio listing.

Prosecutor appeals, argues law is unconstitutional

In his appeal, Moulding does not address Farrell’s factual findings, instead asking the court only to decide whether the law is constitutional.

“The most glaring constitutional defect in (the 2024 law) is that it impedes a criminal Defendant’s substantive and procedural due processes of law, and right to a fair trial,” the appeal says. “These fundamental rights constitute the bedrock raisons d’être for the entire body of Brady-Giglio jurisprudence in the first place.”

Iowa appears to be the only state with a law allowing officers to sue to be removed from a Brad-Giglio list, but Moulding cites a recent federal lawsuit where a judge rejected a South Dakota officer’s attempt to get removed from a list, finding the request “in essence, asks this Court to require a State’s Attorney to violate the constitution.” He further argues that the law violates the constitutional separation of powers and is “so poorly drafted as to be unenforceable and void for vagueness.”

Sheriff’s attorney says single lapse of judgment is not grounds for listing

Gribble, Richmond’s attorney, argued in his Supreme Court brief that the law is constitutional and that the sheriff’s actions fall well short of Brady-Giglio standards.

“Under (the 2024 law), placement on the Brady-Giglio list results not from a single lapse of judgment but rather from repeated, sustained, intentional and egregious acts over a period of time,” he wrote. “Thus, while a singular act of bad judgement may undermine a police officer’s credibility in a particular case, placement on the Brady-Giglio list places a permanent and unreviewable scarlet letter on the officer that he/she is unlikely to be able to ever overcome.”

He also suggests that a court order removing an officer from a list “does not in any way alter the prosecuting attorney’s duty to provide exculpatory evidence in all cases.” In an interview, he argued there should be a legal distinction between prosecutors disclosing concerns about an officer’s conduct in the case in which it occurred, and doing so in every future case involving them.

“To me, that’s what Brady-Giglio is for, not for occasional or first-time wrongs, even if established of a police officer, but those that have a history of that sort of thing,” he said.

The Supreme Court has not yet set a date for arguments in the case.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.

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