Brandon Lewis
December 23, 2025
Tuesday 23rd December 2025
What a great event we have with Pack the Backpack, presented by Central Office Supply, a division of Minuteman and Kix 101.1! Each month during the school year, we will be awarding $101 to a Kix Country classroom to help out with supplies. We will award the prize on the last Wednesday of the month. You can listen to each new winner at 8:30a on the Morning Kix Start.
Our February winner is 5th grade teacher at South Tama Middle School, Ashley Raue. Ashley was nominated by Angela Popelka. Here is the letter nominating Mrs. Ashley Raue:
To whom it may concern,
I believe you should pick Ashley Raue as a back the back pack winner. Ashley teaches 5th grade at the South Tama County middle school and has had my daughter Terri and now has my twins Destiny and Desiray. When Terri was in 5th grade she didn’t have any interest in school she hated to go but that all changed because of Ashley. Ashley takes the time to get to know her students and what makes them tick. She cares for each student as if they where her own. She makes sure her students know and feels important and worthy of being a happy well rounded student and because of that Terri found her love of school and learning and became a straight A student with a love of reading. Ashley is always doing what she can to make sure her students have to be the most successful. Ashley’s students get a book for their birthday. I know she has to be putting her personal time and money into her class each year to make these students successful. This year Ashley has found herself not able to be there as much as she would like to be because of unexpected medical needs that have surfaced. Ashley’s family needs her and she knows in order to be a successful teacher and do what she does for her students she needs to also take care of herself and her family. My twins are missing there teacher horribly right now but they also understand taking care of yourself and your family is important too. So even when she’s absent she is still impacting and teaching her students valuable life lessons and by being a winner of back the back pack I think it would help relive Ashley by knowing her students are still getting the extra care she would most certainly be giving to them if she didn’t have to be absent and it would help the students get what they need to be extra successful in Ashley’s absence. Please consider Ashley Raue as a back the back pack winner so that she knows her students care about her and her family as much as she cares about each and every student that crosses her path.
-Angela Popelka
Below you can listen to my interview with Mrs. Raue!
Nominate your Kix Country class by submitting a letter to us at backpack@kixweb.com.
Welcome to The List,
Mike Tyson says he’s open to a rematch with Jake Paul after Jake’s recent loss to Anthony Joshua. Tyson claims this time he’s cracked the code on training, saying he went too hard before and “left most of the fight in the gym.” RadarOnline says Mike thinks a smarter camp would change everything. Which is wild, because the man is still Mike Tyson. If this happens, somebody hide the ear protection… literally.
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Taylor Swift reportedly used to be hesitant about dating athletes until Travis Kelce showed up. A source says her mom encouraged her to give Travis a chance, and now Taylor’s outlook has completely changed. Not only that, insiders claim the relationship has boosted the Chiefs’ global presence. Turns out the tight end also unlocked international brand expansion.
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Lainey Wilson told CMT she stays grounded by remembering where she came from. She said it’s about planting your feet, knowing who you are, standing up for what you believe in, and keeping your people close. Which explains why she can win everything, host award shows, and still sound like the most normal human in Nashville.
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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are reportedly still neighbors in Nashville as they focus on co-parenting their daughters. Nicole stays in the family home, Keith lives nearby, and they’re even spotted shopping at the same stores…just separately. A source says their dedication to the kids is unwavering. Awkward? Maybe.
You can catch The List, with Jonathan Knight at 4:20 weekday afternoons. Only on Iowa’s BEST Country KIX 101.1
Thanks for a great 2025!! I'll be back in 2026
Jacob Marley is the name of the of Ebenezer Scrooges's deceased business partner and the first of four ghosts that appear in "A Christmas Carol"
Welcome to The List,
Sad news from the NASCAR world. Greg Biffle, one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers, has died at age 55 in a plane crash in North Carolina. Authorities say seven people were killed, including Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children. Beyond his racing success, Biffle was widely praised for his humanitarian work, especially helping communities after Hurricane Helene. The racing world is mourning a champion on and off the track.
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Tom Cruise is allegedly on a long, carefully planned mission to become Sir Tom Cruise. A source says this has been years in the making hosting events, shaking hands, embedding himself deep in the British film world. Apparently he knows exactly how the system works and he’s been playing the long game. At this point, don’t be shocked if the next Mission: Impossible ends with him bowing politely and accepting a sword tap on each shoulder.
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Miranda Lambert is developing a new TV series for Hulu inspired by her music and real-life friendships. The show centers on a messy female friendship, an escape from an abusive marriage, and a fresh start in a small Texas town that turns out to be full of secrets. So basically heartbreak, healing, strong women, and Texas drama which is already Miranda’s brand. Country music meets prestige TV.
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Jon Pardi says Christmas music is what keeps his household sane. He’s got two little girls with very big emotions, so songs like Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph are on constant rotation. Forget parenting books the real hack is letting a cartoon reindeer handle crowd control..
You can catch The List, weekday afternoon at 4:20 with Jonathan Knight. Only on Iowa’s BEST Country KIX 101.1