Iowa

DMACC moves ahead with new facilities planning for dental, diesel programs • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Published

8 months ago

August 12, 2024

DMACC moves ahead with new facilities planning for dental, diesel programs • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Seeping groundwater. Cracked and bowing walls. Outdated equipment and facilities never meant to be utilized for so long. Des Moines Area Community College Board of Trustees members saw these first-hand Monday while touring buildings on the Ankeny campus slated for possible renovation or demolition under the college’s new facilities master plan.

During its meeting, the board discussed two capital projects slated as priorities within the facilities master plan. The projects encompass programs in need of larger, more modern spaces.

DMACC President Rob Denson said in an interview that the college hasn’t focused on these buildings for renovations or demolition before now because there have been other needs across campus and a limited amount of money. The faculty and staff have done a lot to keep the buildings suitable for use up until now, he said.

“We want to get every ounce of life out of every facility we’ve got, and we pretty much don’t move on a new facility and tear something down until we’re at the end of life,” Denson said.

Dental programs to find new home

The community college’s dental assistant and hygiene programs were in danger of losing their accreditation last fall due to concerns with program facilities and other areas. The programs received full accreditation in February with the contingency of building a new, up-to-code space. That clinic has been included in the facilities master plan with an area on campus already picked out and the college moving ahead with finding a firm to act as construction manager and contractors.

DMACC Vice President of Operations Bill LaTour said in the meeting that the board should have the chance to approve a recommended construction manager at its October meeting, after which staff can get started on design, development and collecting all the necessary construction documentation. The plan’s timeline has construction starting in September 2025 and finishing in summer 2027, with an estimated total cost of $17 million.

Jeanie McCarville-Kerber, dean of Health & Public Services at DMACC, said the college will need to let the accreditor, the Commission on Dental Accreditation, know that the new facilities will be finished anywhere from six to nine months after the date stated in previous communication, but she hopes there won’t be any issues.

The new 24,000-square-foot clinic will take the place of tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts located on the Ankeny campus. It has existing parking and better traffic flow for the patients who receive care in the program, Denson said.

As some of the equipment currently utilized by the dental programs is outdated or cannot be moved, such as sterilization equipment purchased to keep the current location in compliance, some items will need to be purchased for the new facility.

“Some of the curricular materials and things that we purchased just to keep this location running will come over with us,” McCarville-Kerber said.

The building currently housing the dental programs would not be demolished, Denson said, as it is used by other programs and is in “pretty good shape.”

A new building for diesel, building trades

Planning is set to begin on a new trades building as well, which would house the college’s diesel programs; fire science; heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) training and building trades, among other areas of study. LaTour said the hope is to fast-track the process to construction, which would look similar to the dental building, in order to have them both going at the same time.

The project is estimated to cost $34 million and would be 55,000 square feet, replacing the current, 31,000 square-foot building.

Money for the projects could come from the college’s plant fund, but donations or other sources could contribute to the dental building, Denson said.

Board Chair Joe Pugel asked that the possibility of postponing the new diesel trades building be explored from a cost perspective, in order to see if it would save money in the long run to keep the current facilities working for one to two additional years before starting on a new building.

A cracked wall on building 14 of DMACC’s Ankeny campus. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Jenny Foster, executive academic dean of building trades, transportation/engineering and manufacturing, said the diesel programs are “living on borrowed time” in their current home.

“Is the building functional? Yes. Can students take classes there? Yes,” Foster said. “But at any moment, something could happen, and then we’re in a lot of trouble.”

LaTour said in an interview the buildings proposed for demolition, built between 1969 and 1970, were not intended to last 50 years. During the tour of building 14, the oldest on campus, Foster and Joe Baxter, physical plant and construction services director, pointed out areas in the buildings where cracks had formed on the walls and where water would seep up from the ground, creating times where students and faculty would have to walk through water in the halls.

It lacks a sprinkler system, still houses the original electrical system and, despite repair efforts, still leaks heat in the winter, Baxter said. The things that could be repaired or replaced, like the roof and electrical system, would take anywhere from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. With certain problem areas, such as the outdated bathrooms, he said if you update one thing, you need to commit to updating all of it.

Programs housed in the building are also running out of room, with engines and equipment sitting out in the hallway due to lack of space.

In buildings 15-20, which make up a connected semi-circle of classrooms, offices and labs, programs have grown to take up empty rooms left behind by others that moved into new facilities. Baxter said they “truly were built as temporary buildings,” and have bowing walls, issues with standing water and a permanent blockage in one of the sewer lines.

With programs needing more space and buildings far past their prime, Baxter said they’re at a point where decisions need to be made on whether to fix what they can to keep the buildings alive a bit longer or do something more drastic.

“I think we’re kind of on the threshold,” Baxter said. “We can get by for another one to three years, and then at that point in time, three years out, then you’re replacing the roof. So we’re kind of at the end here of, ‘Okay, do we start investing money in this? Or do we start over?’”

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Iowa

Man wanted on Iowa warrant chased by police across state lines

Published

8 hours ago

April 3, 2025

Press Room

Man wanted on Iowa warrant chased by police across state lines

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A man wanted on an Iowa arrest warrant was chased across state lines by police Wednesday.

The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Houston County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Office at 10:16 a.m. Wednesday.

Houston County police informed the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office they were chasing a vehicle headed toward the Iowa-Minnesota border.

The vehicle, driven by 39-year-old Tyler Pierce, had struck a Houston County Sheriff’s vehicle while attempting to outrun law enforcement.

After receiving the report from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the chase entered Allamakee County and continued south on State Highway 76 N.

This is when Allamakee County deputies joined Houston County police in the chase.

Pierce drove westbound into Winneshiek County and then crossed state lines again into Filmore County, Minnesota.

Police deployed stop sticks, deflating three of Pierce’s tires.

However, he continued to drive over 90 mph in an attempt to evade the police.

Pierce then entered the city of Preston, Minnesota on Highway 52, where he attempted to pass a semi-truck trailer.

However, he failed to pass and instead struck the semi, causing severe damage to his vehicle.

Pierce’s car eventually came to a stop, and he was taken into custody.

Pierce was transported to a Rochester, Minnesota hospital for treatment of his injuries.

No other people were injured in the chase.

A Houston County Sheriff patrol car and an Allamakee County Sheriff patrol car were damaged during the pursuit.

Pierce is now in the custody of Minnesota Law Enforcement.

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Iowa

Pitt Basketball Hosting Iowa State Transfer

Published

20 hours ago

April 2, 2025

Press Room

Pitt Basketball Hosting Iowa State Transfer

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers are making progress in the transfer portal, as they are hosting a talented guard on a visit.

DuShawn London of 247Sports reported that Pitt is currently hosting Iowa State transfer freshman guard Nojus Indrusaitis, according to his agent Deirunas Visockas.

Indrusaitis hails from Chicago and played for St. Rita High School in the Chicago Catholic League, before heading to Brewster Academy, a boarding school in Wolfeboro, N.H.

He is of Lithuanian desent and played for the Lithuanian U18 FIBA team at the FIBA U18 Eurobasket, which the city of Tampere in Finland hosted.

Indrusaitis starred for Lithuania, averaging 20.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28.2 minutes per game, while shooting 44.6% from the field, 35.4% from 3-point range and 69.6% from the foul line.

He was a consensus four-star recruit in the Class of 2024, with 247Sports ranking him No. 96 in the nation, No. 19 shooting guard and No. 2 recruit in Illinois, Rivals ranking him No. 86 in the country and No. 23 point guard, On3 ranking him No. 77 in the United States, No. 16 shooting guard and top recruit in New Hampshire and ESPN ranking him No. 70 in the nation, No. 14 shooting guard and No. 5 in Illinois.

Indrusaitis committed to Iowa State over offers from Big Ten schools in Illinois, Iowa, Maryland and Nebraska, Big East schools in DePaul, Marquette and Xavier, plus Missouri.

He played in the first eight games for the Cyclones, but just seven more the rest of the season, as he fell down the rotation.

Indrusaitis played in 15 games as a freshman, averaging 5.7 minutes and 2.1 points per game, while shooting 33.3% from the field, 14.3% from 3-point range and 52.9% from the foul line.

Pitt desperately needs players on its team for next season, as they have lost five players to the transfer portal so far.

This includes guards in All-ACC Third Team honoree Jaland Lowe and Amsal Delalić, plus forwards in Marlon Barnes Jr. and twin duo of Jorge and Guillermo Diaz Graham.

Pitt also had three players graduate who started throughout last season, including guards Ish Leggett and Damian Dunn, as well as forward Zack Austin, who earned All-ACC Defensive Team honors.

The Panthers only have four returning players in forwards Cameron Corhen, Papa Amadou Kante and Amdy Ndiaye and jut one guard in Brandin “Beebah” Cummings. They also have an incoming guard in Omari Witherspoon from St. John’s College in Washington, D.C.

Senior (One Year Left of Eligibilty)
Forward Cameron Corhen

Junior (Two years Left of Eligibility)
Forward Benjamin Mayhew (Walk-On)
Forward Jajuan Nelson (Walk-On)

Redshirt Sophomore (Three Years Left of Eligibilty)
Forward Papa Amadou Kante

Sophomore (Three Years Left of Eligibility)
Guard Brandin “Beebah” Cummings
Forward Amdy Ndiaye
Center Liam Mignogna (Walk-On)

Freshman
Guard Omari Witherspoon

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt

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Iowa

Iowa baseball cruises to run-rule victory vs. Bradley

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2025

Press Room

Iowa baseball cruises to run-rule victory vs. Bradley

In a single-game midweek matchup vs. Bradley (3-20, 0-6 Missouri Valley), Iowa baseball (17-9, 10-2 Big Ten) defeated the Braves through a 13-3 run-rule decision in seven innings on Tuesday night from Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill.

Freshman Jaron Bleeker (2-0, 5.68 ERA) started on the mound for the second time in his career and was credited with the win. He gave up one run, walked a batter, and struck out a batter in his lone inning of work.

Six other pitchers saw the mound for Iowa, each throwing an inning. The pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts and seven walks and didn’t give up a run after the fourth inning. The Hawkeyes also held the Braves to three hits.

“On the mound we were definitely better than we were last Tuesday, which was a good sign,” said head coach Rick Heller. “A few too many free bases, but it wasn’t a great night to play. To get out of here with a 10-run rule win — we’ll take it.”

In terms of the Hawkeyes’ offense, Iowa mustered a total of eight hits and earned walks on 14 occasions.

“It was a strange game tonight, really,” said Heller. “We were able to take advantage of a lot of Bradley free bases.”

The Hawkeyes plated five in the first off seven walks and an error. They didn’t score again until the fifth frame when junior Gable Mitchell hit a 2 RBI single and transfer Miles Risley slapped a 2 RBI double.

“In the fifth, we broke through with some clutch hits,” said Heller. “Gable Mitchell had a big two-out hit that gave us some breathing room, and Risley followed two batters later.”

Iowa scored its final three runs in the seventh inning when grad transfer Daniel Rogers hit an RBI triple and junior Kooper Schulte smacked a two-run home run.

Risley was the lone Hawkeye with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. Freshman Jaixen Frost walked in two runs and scored twice. Junior Caleb Wulf and redshirt sophomore Reese Moore each scored two runs. Senior Ben Wilmes also recorded an RBI walk.

Up next for Iowa will be a three-game Big Ten series vs. Northwestern (13-13, 5-4) from Rocky and Berenice Miller Park in Evanston, Ill., with Game 1 scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. CT. The entire series can be seen on Big Ten Plus (Subscription required) and heard on the Hawkeyes Radio Network alongside play-by-play voice John Leo and color analyst John Evans.

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