Council Bluffs officials are unveiling plans for a two-week celebration this summer to debut the community’s newest attraction. Larry Foster, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, says the massive River’s Edge Park will open on Memorial Day weekend to much fanfare — and all events are free. “We’re showing concerts and movies and soccer and sports activities and family things,” Foster says. “It’s a real facility actually for the entire Midwest.” The event is being called Loessfest, after the region’s rolling Loess Hills. The string of entertainment will kick off May 25th with a free concert by The Beach Boys. “We have a great product,” Foster says. “We have a great place. We have a great river. We have a great park. We’re going to have a great series of events to open it up.”

There will be several more concerts, sporting events and entertainment for the celebration, running from Memorial weekend through June 8th. A unique, interactive light display will debut on May 25th on the park’s five-acre Great Lawn. The permanent display, entitled Rays, is a half-million dollar installation, an eight-minute light show that repeats on the hour and half-hour. This is the first Loessfest, what’s planned to be an annual event.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Congressman Steve King has announced that he will be honoring Sioux City resident and Vietnam War Veteran Richard Plueger with medals he did not formally receive for his service. The ceremony will take place 4-p.m. Thursday, at Congressman King’s office  in Sioux City.

Plueger is set to receive: The National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service stars; A Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device; Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross with Palm and Frame), and a Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.

Richard Plueger  joined the Navy in 1966, at the age of 17.  Seven months later he was enrolled in Engineman Class A school to learn his field which transitioned him to be stationed in Vietnam until October 1967. He spent most of his time in Dong Ha, Vietnam where he ran supplies on a four man craft called “Mike 8.” He was responsible for hauling ammo, tanks , M-tracks and jet fuel for the Air Force Base. During his time in Vietnam, Plueger survived many fire fights along the Cu Viet River, which was the dividing line between North and South Vietnam.

He was then transferred to the USS Shadwell in Norfolk, VA where he worked on two cruises that took him to Puerto Rico, Turkey, Spain, Italy and Greece. During one of the “night maneuvers” at sea, his ship was hit by another ship leaving them stranded for three days and then towed to Malta for three months of ship repairs. However, the ship was decommissioned in October 1969 and Plueger was released to inactive duty.