(Radio Iowa) – An exhibit at the Sioux City Public Museum features the photos, instruments and personal memorabilia of a local rock legend. Museum curator Matt Anderson says the “Gypsy Soul” exhibit features guitarist Tommy Bolin, who was known for his solo session work and for playing with the James Gang and Deep Purple.

“If you look up Tommy Bolin online you’ll find numerous very influential guitarists and rock musicians that cite him as an influence and an inspiration. He is just a highly regarded historically for his talent,” Anderson says. Anderson says Bolin was born in 1951 and taught himself to play the guitar and seem to have an aptitude for it. “And also just the desire to work hard at it. And so at 16 years old, he went out to Denver, Colorado where there was a burgeoning music scene, and he got involved with a band called Zephyr,” Anderson says. “And that was actually kind of his first national touring act, they recorded two albums with him. And they were kind of a blues rock ensemble with the lead singer, a female lead singer that was kind of the Janis Joplin mold.”

Bolin went on to become one of the most talented and versatile hard rock guitarists to emerge during the first half of the 1970s. It started with him being asked to play on Billy Cobham’s Jazz Fusion album called “Spectrum.” Anderson says it was big step. “He is self-taught, doesn’t read music, and he was in a room with a bunch of veteran jazz musicians, you know virtuoso musicians who all read charts and things like that and he would just listen to what they were going to play and then improvise the lead guitar and on this album, his guitar playing is really the driving force,” he says. Bolin then replaced Joe Walsh in the James Gang in 1973 and Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple in 1975. He released a solo album “Teaser” in 1975, while his 1976 album “Private Eyes” earned him opening concert slots with Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Rush, and ZZ Top.

His life and career were cut short by a drug overdose on December 4th of 1976. Many of the items on display are from the collection of Bolin’s brother Johnnie, who was the drummer in the original Tommy B

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowans own just one chicken, while the state’s large operations may house thousands of the birds, and for everyone in between, there’s what’s being called Murray Fest Midwest. Coordinator Tom Watkins says the event in Webster City later this month is designed for keepers of backyard chickens, hobby farmers, and budding homesteaders. Watkins works at the Murray McMurray Hatchery, which hatched the idea for a festival.

“Fourth of July falls in the middle of the week, so we’re not actually able to ship chicks that week, so we said, ‘Let’s have a quick sale’ and that kind of evolved into how do we get people into town to purchase chicks?” Founded more than a century ago, the hatchery offers all sorts of tiny feathered creatures via mail order, including chickens, ducks, geese, pheasants, quail and turkeys. “In this kind of market, we say chickens are the ‘gateway animal’ that gets you started,” Watkins says, “and then you end up with a goat and a cow or some other critters well.”

Watkins says a range of speakers and demonstrations are scheduled for the three-day fest. “We’re trying to cover all the bases,” Watkins says. “It’ll be a lot of chicken information but it’ll be a lot of gardening information, we have speaker on sheep, we’ve got milk cows, we’ve got pigs, we’ve got dog training and stuff like that, just a little bit everything.”

Watkins says there are multiple live music acts that will be performing during the fest which runs June 29th through July 1st at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Webster City.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials have approved the purchase of an industrial property about two miles northwest of the Iowa Capitol, to consolidate Iowa Department of Public Safety facilities. Once the two building complex is occupied, two district offices for the Iowa State Patrol in Des Moines will be closed. A vehicle storage facility, a warehouse for supplies and the shop where squad cars are put together will also be relocated to the new site.

Governor Kim Reynolds and other statewide elected officials who serve on the state’s Executive Council approved spending 10-point-eight MILLION dollars to buy the centrally located property. This is one of several moves over the past few years that are changing the footprint of state government operations in Iowa’s Capital City.

Last August the Executive Council spent 21 MILLION dollars to buy a two-story office building on the south side of Des Moines — for staff from two state agencies who’ve been working in the Wallace Building across the street from the statehouse. In 2019, the state acquired an office building near the Des Moines Airport and it’s where the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority are located.

This spring, the Iowa legislature approved spending five MILLION dollars to complete renovations of the Lucas State Office Building, which is directly east of the Iowa Capitol. The 45-hundred employees of the Department of Health and Human Services will work in the building once that project’s done. In 2011, the Iowa Utilities Board moved into a new building constructed on the southeast side of the Capitol Complex. And, in 2007, a restored building to the southwest of the Iowa Capitol became the headquarters of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced her appointment of Jeffrey McDaniel as a district judge in Judicial District 7.   

McDaniel, of Bettendorf, Iowa, serves as shareholder and president of Brooks Law Firm, P.C. He received his undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Iowa. 

McDaniel fills a vacancy created following the retirement of the Hon. John D. Telleen. Judicial District 7 includes Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine, and Scott counties.  

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – June 12, 2024 – If you travel on the Pottawattamie County Road L-55 bridge over Interstate 80 in Neola you should be aware of an upcoming road closure that may slow down your trip.

The Iowa DOT’s Council Bluffs construction office announces that both directions of Pottawattamie County Road L-55 at I-80 (exit 23) will be closed on Monday, July 1, weather permitting, so crews work on repairs to the bridge approach and guardrails.

If you are traveling on southbound Pottawattamie County Road L-55 you will be detoured around the work zone using eastbound I-80, westbound I-880, and Railroad Highway.

If you are traveling on northbound Pottawattamie County Road L-55 you will follow a marked detour route using westbound I-80, Magnolia Road, and eastbound I-80.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

(Creston, Iowa) – The driver of 2007 Ford Mustang was cited following a non-injury accident Tuesday afternoon, in Union County. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the car, driven by 41-year-old Christopher David Zimmerman, of Clearfield, was traveling east on Highway 34 at around 1:20-p.m., when Zimmerman tried to pass multiple vehicles at one time. The attempt started in a legal passing zone, but ended-up in a no passing zone at the crest of the road.

Zimmerman saw a 2018 Ford Transit van approaching from the west, and tried to evade a collision by traveling toward the north shoulder of the road. The driver of the van, 28-year-old Sean Ray Hodges, of Carlisle, also took evasive action toward the same shoulder at the same time. The reaction of both drivers resulted in the vehicles colliding before they came to rest in the north ditch.

Union County Sheriff’s Deputies cited Zimmerman for Unsafe Passing. Damage from the accident amounted to $10,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee says the Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council and Healthy Cass Coalition are currently planning the Family Fun Day at the Cass County Fair. The event will be held July 27th from noon until 4-p.m., at the Cass County Fairgrounds. The event is meant to encourage families to visit the Cass County Fair, by hosting fun activities for the entire family. In past years, booths have included Water Fights, Yard Games, a Duck Pond, a Book Walk, and more.

Mark your calendar for July 27th for this free family fun event. If your community organization would be interested in hosting a free activity booth at Family Fun Day, please get in touch with Grace McAfee by Tuesday, June 25th, at mcage@casshealth.org or 712-250-8170.

Getting ready for the Free Family Fun day, 2024

(Kellerton, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident this (Wednesday) morning in Ringgold County claimed the life of a man from Lucas County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2015 Chevy Express 3500 van driven by 34-year-old James Cody Sage, of Lucas, was traveling east on Highway 2 west of Kellerton at around 4-a.m., when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the south ditch before striking a tree. James Sage was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office.

(Creston, Iowa) – Three people from Union County were arrested on separate charges recently. According to the Creston Police Department, a little after 1-a.m. today (Wed., June 12th), 58-year-old Melody Ann Miller, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Miller was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Late Tuesday evening, 20-year-old Jordyn Marie Gonzales, of Creston, was arrested the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). Gonzales was charged on two Union County Warrants, for Failure to Appear (FTA) on an OWI/1st offense charge, and FTA on five-counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Gonzales was later released on a $2,200 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 7:30-p.m., Tuesday, 18-year-old John Jeremy Scarpello, of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Violation of No Contact/Protective Order. Scarpello was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by the Magistrate.

(Iowa DNR News) – Athletes from 120 teams across Iowa converged on the Iowa State Trapshooting Homegrounds, north of Cedar Falls, June 3-9 for the 2024 Scholastic Clay Target Program State Trap Shooting Championship. During the event, two young women from Underwood, Lacey Gangwish and Quincy O’Donnell, were named to the Ladies Singles Trap – All State Team. They were also named to the Ladies High-All-Around Trap Team.

More than 3,000 athletes ranging from 4th grade through high school shot nearly 780,000 clay targets for the week. Athletes competed in three different competitions; singles trap, doubles trap, and handicap trap. The Ankeny Centennial Jaguars were the top Varsity squad in Singles and Handicap, while the Pleasant Valley Trap Team were Varsity Squad Champions in Doubles Trap. Individual honors are also awarded by age group for each discipline.

State Trap Shoot

A complete list of the results can be found online at: https://bit.ly/2024TrapResults.

The All-State team for singles trap is determined by the combination of the athlete’s league score and the Championship Event Score.

All-State Teams

Ladies Singles Trap – All State Team

1. Lacey Gangwish, Underwood Youth Trap Team, Captain
2. Quincy O’Donnell, Underwood Youth Trap Team
3. Natalie Gibson, I-35 Roadrunners
4. Evelynn Erhardt, Cedar Valley Shotgunners
5. Abbie Hill, Gilbert Clay Commanders
6. Lexi Henning, Wilton Trap Team

Men’s Singles Trap – All State Team

1. Logan Sease, Ankeny Centennial Jaguars Shooting Sports, Captain
2. Matthew Eilers, Pleasant Valley Trap Team
3. Hunter Strong, Davenport Youth Trap
4. Ethan Swehla, New Hampton Youth Trap
5. Kail Schmelzer, Cresco Area Clay Crushers
6. Preston Feuerbach, Xavier High School

The High-All-Around Trap team is determined by the combination of the athlete’s Trap Singles, Doubles, and Handicap Championship Events Scores.

High-All-Around Trap Teams

Ladies Trap High-All-Around

1. Quincy O’Donnell, Underwood Youth Trap Club, Captain
2. Lexi Henning, Wilton Trap Team
3. Lacey Gangwish, Underwood Youth Trap Club
4. Addison McGehearty, Mt. Pleasant Panthers
5. Evelynn Erhardt, Cedar Valley Shotgunners
6. Lily Jennings, Ankeny Centennial Jaguars Shooting Sports

Men’s Trap High-All-Around

1. Matthew Eilers, Pleasant Valley Trap Team, Captain
2. Hunter Strong, Davenport Youth Trap
3. Grant Yuska, Pleasant Valley Trap Team
4. Logan Sease, Ankeny Centennial Jaguars
5. Robert Curtis, Pleasant Valley Trap Team
6. Mason Goche, Bettendorf Bulldog Trap Team

The Scholastic Clay Target Program is the largest, fastest growing, and most exciting youth clay target program in the U.S. Student athletes from elementary through high school and college have the opportunity to compete in sports such as trap, skeet, and sporting clays, as well as Olympic disciplines like bunker trap and international skeet.

The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) are youth development programs that promote shooting sports and competitive shooting. The program’s goal is to instill personal values and character traits, such as fair play, compassionate understanding, individual responsibility, sportsmanship, self-discipline, and personal commitment in young people.