When Pvt. William Eugene Stevens died, few were there to mourn him. He was homeless, living at the Bethel Mission Church in Des Moines, and he was just another tired, hungry face in the crowd.

      You could hear the rhythm echoing off the Raccoon River Valley. Phil DeLoriea, poised behind a pair of congas, sets the time, while his wife, Peg, adds a thumping timbre on the bongo between her knees. They play in a circle of two.

When board members walked into the new North Ridge Elementary for their Aug. 25 meeting Monday night, they were greeted by a table and walls littered with gratitude from students.

      Dallas County's appeal to the Environmental Protection Commission for the denial of two hog lot applications for the county was an emotional success Tuesday, Aug. 19 at a 2 p.m. hearing.

Eight hundred seventy-six million gallons of water are enough to provide the daily drinking water needs of every Iowan for one year, seven months and 10 days.

      The Waukee City Council voted unanimously Monday, Aug. 18, to pursue a grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation to pay for a portion of the roadway access for the TEAM Technologies facility to be built near the intersection of Hickman and Alice's Road.

This is the final in a four-part series following Adel resident Jim Steinberg, a recent athlete in the 2008 Transplant Games in Pittsburgh, and his story of kidney failure, the wait for an organ donor, and his goal of regaining the health that he once had to compete at a national level with others who had traveled a similar road. The Transplant Games are held every two years in cities around the United States to celebrate life, the athletes' return to full health, courage, caring for others, and a reaffirmation of the commitment to raise public awareness about the need for organ, bone marrow and tissue donation.

      Two Dallas Center-Grimes players were recognized on the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team, and both were invited to participate in the 2008 IBCA All-Star competition.

      Senior Woodward-Granger softball players Kylie Wunschel and Lynn Grossnickle were both given honorable mention recognition on the 2008 Class 2A All-State Softball Team.