The daughter of a Siouxland man received a prestigious medal that was posthumously awarded Thursday in Washington, D.C.
The Congressional Gold Medal was given to Hollis Stabler, who is an Omaha Tribal Member who served as a U.S. Army Ranger during World War II.
On hand to receive the medal on behalf of Hollis Stabler was daughter, Wynona Stabler, of Walthill, and five Omaha Tribal veterans. The event took place at Emancipation Hall.
Stabler died in 2007 at age 89. An Omaha Tribe of Nebraska press release said only four of the 7,000 U.S. Army Rangers who served in World War II are still alive.
Stabler served an extraordinary 28 continuous months in combat, as part of his 6.5 years in the service during the war. He covered four major military campaigns in the European Theatre.
Stabler was wounded in action, and previously received the Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star.
The tribal release said Stabler is owed “deep respect and gratitude for his bravery and commitment” to the military.
He wrote a memoir, “No One Asked Me,” and was honored as a Siouxland Warrior at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City. His brother, Robert Stabler, was killed in action in the war in Anzio in 1944.
*A Northwest Iowa state lawmaker has died of cancer.
Rocky De Witt, a Republican, who lived in Lawton won election to the Iowa Senate in 2022 after first serving on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors.
Before getting into politics about 10 years ago, he worked for MidAmerican Energy, as a security worker in the Woodbury County Courthouse, and was also a licensed gun dealer.
A post on his Facebook page called De Witt a fierce defender of the Second Amendment and a true patriot and public servant.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement that said in part, quote “In just three years, Rocky made a profound impact in the state legislature, all while heroically battling cancer. He was a dedicated husband, a loving father, and a grandfather. His family and friends remain in our prayers.”
There are 1.5 years left on his four-year term. The governor will soon call a special election to fill his Iowa Senate seat.
*In other news, the city of Sioux City on Thursday launched a new tenant program that aims to financially assist entrepreneurs who open retail stores or restaurants in the heart of downtown.
The program helps cover up-front costs for new businesses by offering reimbursement grants after project completion. Funding is capped at $45,000 for retail tenants and $60,000 per restaurant tenants. There are other financial thresholds for covering up to 50 percent of construction costs.
Marty Dougherty, Sioux City Economic & Community Development Director, said the goal is to breathe new life into vacant properties, attract new businesses, and create a more walkable and vibrant downtown area.
The project is a joint endeavor of the city and the Downtown Partners group, whose executive director, Ragen Cote, said it has exciting possibilities.
Funding is awarded via a scored application process beginning July 1, 2025 and reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis.
In addition to the City’s program, Downtown Partners is offering a 50 percent match, up to $8,000, through their Storefront Grant Program and up to $7,000 through their Rent Relief Program to further support new and expanding businesses.
*The Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Department of Education could strip åway funding for the TRIO programs.
Trio is a program that helps first generation college students who come from low income families, and students with disabilities, to achieve their academic goals.
Upward Bound, a college prep program under Trio, has students work with an educational coordinator, who helps with academic advising, career planning, scholarships, and more throughout the school year.
Upward Bound allows students to participate in recreational, educational, and social activities. That can include prep for the ACT test, financial aid counseling, and study skills.
Kathy Lehman, Director of the Upward Bound Program, told Siouxland Public Media, “it’s really important that we give exposure to those students so that they can see that there’s this big, huge world out there and there is a lot to dream about”.
“Just let them see the world in a different way than maybe they wouldn’t have been able to see without us”.
WIT’s Upward Bound program serves 60 students from different parts of Iowa and Nebraska.
*Additionally, there are some notable changes happening by June 30 for two important education organizations in the Sioux City area, as two leaders are heading for retirement.
Superintendent Rod Earleywine will retire in June 2025 after three years in the chief executive role of the Sioux City School District. Earleywine also worked for many years as superintendent at Sergeant Bluff-Luton.
The other person departing is Dan Cox, who is the chief administrator for Northwest Area Education Agency, which covers several counties in the area, providing specialty services in school districts.
