Mark Becker, 24, walked into the high school weight room at approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday morning and shot Thomas multiple times at point blank range. The 2005 NFL High School Coach of the Year died a short time later at a Waterloo hospital.
The motive for the shooting is still unknown.
Becker was charged on Monday with Eluding Police Pursuit for taking a baseball bat to a Cedar Falls home on Saturday night and leading police on a car chase. Police say Becker was supposed to be taken to a hospital psychiatric ward in relation to that incident.
Coach Ed Thomas was shot multiple times at point blank range this morning at the school's weight room, officials have confirmed he died a short time later at a hospital.
The family of Ed Thomas released the following statement:
"The family of Ed Thomas would like the media to know that Ed passed away shortly after arriving at Covenant Medical Center," the statement read.
According to sports secretary Sue Muller, Thomas was supervising an early-morning weightlifting workout at the school when the shooting happened around 8 a.m. About 50 students were present at the time.
An adult male suspect was arrested and taken to the Butler County Jail in Allison, Iowa. The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time.
No students were hurt or injured in this incident according to Jessica Lown, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
Ed Thomas coached football for 37 years and led the Falcons to 19 state playoff appearances and two state titles. His career record is 292-84.
Thomas coached Centers Casey Wiegmann (Denver Broncos) and Brad Meester (Jacksonville Jaguars) as well as Defensive Ends Jared DeVries (Detroit Lions) and Aaron Kampman (Green Bay Packers). That a small Iowa High School such as Aplington-Parkersburg would produce four NFL players is a remarkable achievement.
Check back with the Coralville Courier for more details on this developing story.
Representing Kang's Martial Arts Academy, the Thayer brothers attended the 2009 US Open Taekwondo Hanmadang/US National Taekwondo Hanmadang in the Chicago suburb of Shaumburg, IL. All three Thayer brothers medaled in each event they entered at the tournament, which was held June 20 - 21.
First degree blackbelt Daniel Thayer, 12, won a silver medal in a Family Forms event with brothers John and Drew. He also won a bronze medal in Individual Form and another bronze medal for his performance in a jumping high kick competition.
Brownbelt Drew Thayer, 9, won a gold medal in the Individual Form event and a silver medal in Family Forms.
Bluebelt (high) John Thayer, 9, won a silver medal in the Individual Form event and a silver medal in Family Forms.
Demonstrating how good the Kang's Martial Arts Academy (KMAA) is, all members attending this first time ever national event medaled.
Other medal winners from Kang's:
Academy Master Ms. Lonnie Matthews - gold medal - power breaking knife hand; gold medal - power breaking fist; gold medal - power breaking turning back kick.
Ms. Rose Lee - gold medal Individual Form, gold medal - power breaking step side kick.
Mr. Lukas Schmidt - gold medal - Family Poomsae Forms; silver medal - Individual Poomsae Form.
Ms. Olga Kravchuk - gold medal - Individual Form.
Mr. Joshua Kwok - gold medal - jumping high kick; silver medal - Individual Form.
Stefen Schmidt - gold Medal - Family Form; silver medal - Individual Poomsae.
Soren Schmidt - gold medal - Family Form; silver medal Individual Form; Bronze Medal - jumping high kick.
Eric Rothman - silver medal - Individual Form; bronze medal - jumping high kick.
Kalen McCain - gold medal - Individual Form.
Christian Zirbes - silver Medal - jumping high kick.
Kelly Oelmann - gold medal - Individual Form.
Max Collins - bronze medal - Individual Form.
Michael Swenzenski - silver medal - Individual Form.
Josh Smalldridge - gold medal - Individual Form.
In total, Kang's Martial Arts Academy brought home 14 golds, 10 silvers, and 6 bronze medals.
Specializing in Taekwondo and Kum Do Martial arts training, Kang’s Academy is located at 2421 James St. in Coralville. Located directly across from the Coral Ridge Mall and close to IHop, Kang’s is open from 4:45pm into the evening hours Monday through Thursday. A second school is located in Cedar Rapids at the Lindale Mall. For more information check out the Kang’s Martial Arts website at http://www.uskmaa.com or call 319-338-2264.
CORALVILLE, IA. -- Taekwondo students from Kang’s Martial Arts Academy in Coralville will be conducting a fundraiser event in order to help raise funds for a trip to Chicago.
A bake sale and Taekwondo demonstration will be held at the Coralville Walmart parking lot Saturday, June 6 at 1pm. There will also be a raffle, featuring a Starbuck’s gift bag and a gift certificate to Paris Nails.
The fundraiser is for students hoping to attend the first ever U.S. National/International Hanmadang Games in Chicago. In attendance at the games will be Taekwondo Masters, Grandmasters, various officials from across the world, and of course the athletes participating in the games such as those representing Kang’s Martial Arts and Coralville.
Bring the kids to watch the Kang’s Martial Arts demonstration team at the event! Information about the academy and the Hanmadang games will be on site.
Specializing in Taekwondo and Kum Do Martial arts training, Kang’s Academy is located at 2421 James St. in Coralville. Located directly across from the Coral Ridge Mall and close to IHop, Kang’s is open from 4:45pm into the evening hours Monday through Thursday. A second school is located in Cedar Rapids at the Lindale Mall. For more information check out the Kang’s Martial Arts website at http://www.uskmaa.com or call 319-338-2264.
DES MOINES, IA. -- Today, Governor Chet Culver issued the following statement after Iowa native Zach Johnson finished first in the Valero Texas Open. This is Johnson’s second victory at the Texas Open.
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR CULVER
"Iowa's own Zach Johnson has once again demonstrated his skill and mastery on the golf course today with his impressive victory at the Valero Texas Open. Today's win marks the second time Zach has taken home the championship in Texas. When joined with his previous victories, Zach is no doubt one of the greatest players in golf. I join with all Iowans in congratulating Zach on his impressive win and wish him the best of luck in the future."
The University of Iowa Hawkeye athletics program is one step closer to its goal of a renovated Carver-Hawkeye Arena, thanks to a $250,000 gift from Donald A. and Andie Vogt of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Fort Meyers, Fla. The gift was made through the University of Iowa Foundation.
UI Director of Athletics Gary Barta said the Vogts' support for Carver-Hawkeye Arena is instrumental to the continued vitality of UI athletics. Barta pointed out that not only is the 26-year-old arena home to the UI wrestling, volleyball and men's and women's basketball programs, but two-thirds of the university's coaches and staff work out of the facility as well.
"Carver-Hawkeye Arena is central to UI athletics. It's a terrific venue, but it's in need of significant renovation to keep pace with Big Ten and national standards, as well as with the growth of our program," Barta said. "We are extremely grateful to Don and Andie Vogt for their partnership and their generosity."
Don Vogt is the chairman, president and CEO of West Side Unlimited Corporation of Cedar Rapids, which includes trucking, grain salvage and grain sales operations. Andie Vogt is the company's vice president for marketing.
The couple cited their respect for the University of Iowa athletics program as their reason for making their gift, which follows years of philanthropic support for the Iowa Hawkeyes in addition to Don Vogt's service on the board of directors of the Linn County and National I-Club organizations.
"We want to support the university not just because it is a great place of higher learning but because it is a part of our community and our culture here in Iowa," Don Vogt said. "We are proud to make this donation for the University of Iowa and help the Hawkeyes provide great opportunities for UI student-athletes."
The UI is one of two Big Ten universities without dedicated practice facilities for its men's and women's basketball teams and volleyball team, and the available strength-training and conditioning space at Carver-Hawkeye Arena lags behind what peer institutions offer.
To address these challenges, the UI is planning a series of enhancements to Carver-Hawkeye Arena, including a new practice gym complex for men's and women's basketball and volleyball; a state-of-the-art, 11,000-square-foot strength and conditioning center; renovation and expansion of the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex; new locker rooms for volleyball, wrestling and men's and women's basketball; a new large, high-speed patron elevator; improved and more numerous rest rooms; premium seating opportunities with expanded hospitality and entertainment areas; and new/remodeled office and meeting space for the more than 135 coaches and staff who work with student-athletes in the arena. Preliminary approval of the project plan was granted by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, in June 2008.
The UI acknowledges the UI Foundation as the preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the university. For more information about the UI Foundation visit http://www.uiowafoundation.org.
Despite giving up a first and third round pick in acquiring quarterback Jay Cutler from the Broncos, 'da Bears are still in a good situation regarding this year's NFL Draft. They have eight picks to make. That's a solid number and enhanced by the fact that 'da Bears shored up their offensive line concerns during the off-season in acquiring Orlando Pace, Kevin Shaffer and Frank Omiyale. Now they can look at other areas like the defensive backfield and wide receiver without hesitation.
'da Bears paid a high price in giving up two first-round draft picks, a third-rounder and quarterback Kyle Orton to do so, but the bold move most likely solves Chicago's quarterback woes of recent years. Lost in the news of the Jay Cutler trade, was the Bears' acquisition of offensive lineman Orlando Pace, another player with Pro Bowl credentials.
Under the guise of anti-trust laws, U.S. Senators who don't like how the NCAA determines its football champion have announced hearings on the matter.
The current BCS system "leaves nearly half of all the teams in college football at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the millions of dollars paid out every year," the Senate Judiciary's subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy, and consumer rights said in a statement.
Under the BCS, some conferences get automatic bids to participate in bowl games, while others do not. The BCS features a championship game between the top teams in the standings, based on polls and computer ratings.
Editor's Note: The country is going bankrupt, North Korea is a launching a nuclear-warhead-capable test rocket, Mexican thugs are crossing our southern border killing and kidnapping people, and Senators want to talk football.
CORALVILLE, IA. -- The registration deadline for the Coralville Parks & Recreation Department’s summer youth baseball and softball leagues for children age 9-13 is Sunday March 22, 2009.
Fees for these leagues are $40 for residents and $50 for non-residents.
Games will be played in both Coralville and North Liberty.
Anyone with questions should contact the Coralville Recreation Department at 248-1750.
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