(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that at around 10:35-p.m., Friday, Fremont County Deputies were called to the Fremont County campgrounds south of Sidney for a report of a male who had threatened to kill three campers. Prior to law enforcement arrival, the male fled into a wooded area near the Fremont County Golf Course. A search was conducted, and the male was not located.

On Saturday (today), Deputies were called to the Fremont County Golf Course for a report that the male had returned to the area. The male, attempted to hide again in a wooded area, but was apprehended by Fremont County Deputies. The male, identified as 56-year-old Jeffrey Bloomfield, with no known address, was placed under arrest. A search of his person uncovered property stolen from a residence in Sidney.

Jeffrey Bloomfield (Fremont County S/O booking photo)

Bloomfield faces charges that include Burglary 3rd Degree, Theft 5th Degree, Interference with Official Acts, and three counts of Harassment 1st Degree. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Mills County K9 Unit, Shenandoah K9 Unit, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Sidney Fire Department Drone Team, assisted with the case.

The Iowa State Patrol reports a total of three people died and three others were injured in separate northern Iowa crashes, Friday. Two people died and one person was injured during a single-vehicle crash that occurred at around 8:15-p.m. Friday, in Cerro Gordo County. The Patrol says a 2006 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 31-year-old Paul N. Swann, of Fertile, Iowa, was traveling north on Fir Avenue, when it went out of control and entered a ditch. The vehicle came back onto the road before entering the ditch a second time and coming to rest in the south ditch off of 330th Street, on its passenger side. Swann, and a passenger in the vehicle, 33-year-old Cody A. Keeney, also of Fertile, died at the scene. A second passenger, 31-year-old Jenns B. Berggren, of Mason City, was flown from the scene to a hospital. The crash remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Mason City and Clear Lake EMS Departments, and the Hanlontown Fire Dept. First Responders.

The second fatal accident happened at around 3:20-p.m., Friday, in Hancock County. The Patrol says a 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 16-year-old Kaden Buckley, of Ventura, was traveling east on 190th Street, when Buckley failed to stop at the posted intersection with Highway 69, south of Garner. The pickup struck a northbound 2019 Subaru Ascent broadside. The driver of the Subaru, 79-year-old Sharon Schneider, of Clear Lake, died from her injuries. The accident remains under investigation. Schneider was wearing her seat belt. The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, along with Garner EMS.

And, two people from Slater were injured during a crash that happened at around 8:32-p.m. Friday, in Butler County. The Patrol reports a 2019 Chevy Suburban, driven by 29-year-old Zachary Toben, of Slater, was stopped at the intersection of Highways 14 and 57, when the vehicle was struck from behind, by a 2013 Ford Fusion, driven by 56-year-old Craig Pals, of Cedar Falls.

The force of the impact pushed the Suburban through the intersection before it came to rest on the north side of Highway 57. Toben and his passenger, 31-year-old Brittany Toben, of Slater, were injured and transported by Parkersburg EMS to the hospital in Grundy Center. Both were wearing their seat belts. The crash remains under investigation. Assisting the State Patrol at the scene, was the Butler County Sheriff’s Dept., Parkersburg Police and Parkersburg EMS.

Officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Friday evening, released the names of the victims in a triple-homicide at the Maquoketa Caves State Park. All three victims were from Cedar Falls. They were identified as

• 42-year-old Tyler Schmidt
• 42-year-old Sarah Schmidt
• and six-year old Lulu Schmidt

The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner will conduct autopsies of all three victims. Once completed, the findings will be released. Additionally, the State Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy on the suspect, 23-year-old Anthony Orlando Sherwin, of LaVista, Nebraska. Authorities say he shot the victims before turning the gun on himself. It’s not clear what connection the victims had to the shooter. 

The incident happened just before 6:30 a.m. Friday, as the family was staying in a tent at the state park campground. Investigators do not believe there is an on-going risk to the public. This is an on-going investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa — RAGBRAI — starts Sunday. However, riders and support crews started converging on Sergeant Bluff Wednesday, as the town is the starting point for this year’s route. Sergeant Bluff City Councilwoman Andrea Johnson says 28-thousand people are expected in the community for the opening festivities this weekend — so the city is asking motorists to avoid the entertainment zone.

“We are asking that people do not drive through our town just because we have lots of bikes and we’re just trying to keep everyone safe,” she says. Saturday’s series of concerts and other activities will begin around noon in Sergeant Bluff. The city has established designated parking areas and three shuttle routes. “We encourage everyone to come and eat our food and enjoy our bands,” Johnson says. Emergency officials are preparing for excessive heat and the possibility of severe weather.

Riders on a past RAGBRAI. (file photo)

Sergeant Bluff Fire Chief Anthony Gaul says his fire station will be the command post to deal with whatever Mother Nature has in store. “We did a final test of our outdoor warning system which is meant to alert people that are outdoors in case of severe weather or any other disasters,” Gaul says. “We have a voice function on that as well as the tone siren alert.” If a tornado or winds of more than 70 mile an hour are forecast, the outdoor warning system in Sergeant Bluff is triggered, but they plan to announce any severe weather that does not meet that threshold.

Fourteen campgrounds have been established around Sergeant Bluff for the RAGBRAI crowd. “We have established tornado and storm shelters for every campground. We have access to all of those public safety wise so we can open them up whenever need be and we have sent that all throughout the campground so they know where they are to go.” Gaul and other Sergeant Bluff officials are walking through the campgrounds, too, welcoming RAGBRAI riders and pointing out the emergency shelters. Gaul says the city has a valuable tool that likely will alter the crowds find shelter before dangerous lightning arrives.

“We have a lightning prediction system called THOR GUARD,” he says. “It is set to alert when we have about a 12-15 minute time frame before lightning impacts the community and over the last years it has been very accurate.” Officials have been handing out yard signs to Sergeant Bluff residents that indicate the home is open as an emergency shelter to bicyclists in case of severe weather. The latest forecast indicates there’s a chance for severe storms in the area on Saturday.

Early Sunday, RAGBRAI riders will leave Sergeant Bluff and pedal through Bronson, Anthon and Battle Creek before reaching the overnight stop in Ida Grove. The week-long ride covers 454 miles and ends in Lansing on July 30th.

This year is bittersweet for riders – it’s the first year without one of its founders. Ninety-one-year-old John Karras died due to complications from a stroke. He co-founded Ragbrai with Donald Kaul in 1973.

Officials with the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC), today (Friday), released their Beach Advisory for the week of July 22nd. There are eight 8 beach advisories this week, seven of which advisories are related to unhealthy E.coli levels:

• Backbone Beach (Dundee, Delaware County, IA)*
• Big Creek Beach (Polk City, Polk County, IA)*
• Black Hawk Beach (Lake View, Sac County, IA)*
• Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)*
• Lake of Three Fires Beach (Bedford, Taylor County, IA)* [temporarily closed; see note below]
• McIntosh Woods Beach (Clear Lake, Ventura, Cerro Gordo County, IA)*
• Prairie Rose Beach (Harlan, Shelby County, IA)*

There is also one beach with a Microcystin-related Advisory: Geode Beach (Danville, Des Moines County, IA)*

*Data from the Iowa DNR State Park Beach Monitoring Program
**Data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District

Lake of Three Fires is temporarily closed for swimming.
A Missouri resident who swam in Lake of Three Fires had a confirmed infection and passed away from Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” There is no new information to share at this time other than the beach has been sampled and the samples have been sent to the CDC laboratory. The beach will remain closed pending test results. Additionally, the test results for E. coli exceed the advisory threshold this week.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has issued reports on several arrests between July 7th and the 19th. At around 12:30-a.m. on July 7th, Deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop on an un-plated GMC pickup, in the area of 220th and Vine Avenue, in Montgomery County. The vehicle fled from Deputies, with the pursuit traveling south into Villisca, before heading east into Adams County. The truck eventually turned south into Taylor County, where it entered a farm field and became stuck.

The driver, 36-year-old Brandon Ray Larson, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges that include Possession with the Intent to Deliver (more than 5 grams of meth) – A Class B Felony, Driving While Barred, and Felony Eluding. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $25,000 bond.

On Tuesday (July 19), Deputies conducted a traffic stop at around 8:45-p.m., on Boxelder Avenue, south of Highway 34. Upon investigation, 58-year-old Scott Wuster, of Omaha, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana/1st offense (A Serious misdemeanor), and Poss. of an Offensive Weapon (A Class-D Felony). Wuster was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond. The Mills County K9 Unit and Montgomery County Communications Center assisted in handling the incident.

On July 11th at around 11:30-p.m., Deputies in Montgomery County conducted a traffic stop at 180th Street and Highway 49. They arrested 37-year-old Cory Ross Smith, of Elliott, for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000. On July 8th, 50-year-old Kevin Lee Ward, of Urbandale, and 45-year-old Justine Elaine Gregory, of Hamburg, was arrested in Montgomery County, for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. They were transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on full bond. Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in handling the incident.

(Randolph, Iowa) – One person was injured during a single-vehicle accident that took place at around 9:55-a.m. Friday (today), in Fremont County. Sheriff’s officials say a car driven by 58-year-old Teresa Elliott, of Randolph, was traveling south on 370th Avenue, east of Randolph, when the vehicle drove into the west ditch.

Elliott over-corrected and left the roadway to the left before rolling over and coming to rest on its wheels, in a cornfield. Elliott was transported by medical helicopter to a hospital in Omaha, for treatment of unknown injuries. The Sheriff’s Department said the woman was wearing her seat belt, and that alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

Shenandoah Fire and Rescue assisted Deputies at the crash site.

(UPDATE/Radio Iowa) – Three people were found shot to death in the campground at Maquoketa Caves State Park early this (Friday) morning and authorities say suspect has been found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities have identified the suspected gunman as 23-year-old Anthony Sherwin, of Nebraska.

Police arrived at Maquoketa Caves State Park shortly before 7 a.m. after reports of a shooting and found the bodies of three campers. The campground was evacuated and the park was closed. The suspect’s body was found between 11 and 11:30 a.m. west of the park.

An agent with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says there is no threat to the public, but the park will remain closed.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs today (Friday) announced that 13 Iowa communities will receive the state’s support through two creative placemaking programs that put the arts, culture and history at the center of creative community development. The department designated new Iowa Great Places in Jefferson, Oskaloosa, Washington and Woodbine, and re-designated Appanoose County/Vermillion Township, Bondurant, Council Bluffs, Malvern, Maquoketa and the Turkey River Recreation Corridor. The department also designated new Iowa Cultural & Entertainment Districts in Iowa City, McGregor and Winterset.

“The Iowa Great Places and Iowa Cultural and Entertainment Districts form the backbone of our state’s overall community building and tourism strategy,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said. “Each place tells an authentic story, and we’re proud to support their proud community spirit and hard work.” Iowa Dept. of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer says “These communities are committed to transforming their towns and businesses by growing their creative workforce. These programs help Iowans develop and focus a vision for the sustainable development of their cultural places while generating new economic opportunities. We look forward to partnering with them to make their visions a reality.”

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs designates Iowa Great Places to support new and existing infrastructure that cultivates arts and culture, architecture, business, community diversity, historic assets, housing options and the natural environment in their neighborhoods, communities and regions. Today’s (Friday’s) announcement brings the total number of Iowa Great Places to 42 communities, which have collectively received more than $22 million in state support – while leveraging millions more in local investments – since the program started in 2005. Funding for the program comes from the Iowa Legislature through an annual appropriation from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund.

The department designates Iowa Cultural & Entertainment Districts to recognize well-identified, walkable, mixed-use destinations with a high concentration of flagship cultural facilities. Today’s announcement brings the total number of districts to 16. Both designation programs are key components of Iowa’s creative placemaking strategy, which drives cultural community development and economic opportunities across the state.

Arts and culture production accounts for more than $4.5 billion in economic activity, 43,000 jobs, and 2.3 percent of Iowa’s economy and is one of three key sectors that drive regional economies. In addition, more than two-thirds of young people choose a place to live before a job. Amenities and quality of life are key factors in their decisions. In rural areas, research shows that communities with more arts and design businesses, music venues and performing arts facilities attract more out-of-county visitors, have higher business innovation scores and experience faster population growth.

Both the Iowa Great Places and Iowa Cultural & Entertainment District programs are administered by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The list of new Iowa Great Places and CED designations announced today follows:

In Western Iowa, newly designated Iowa Great Places include:

Woodbine and Willow Lake
Woodbine’s track record includes an iconic artistic grain elevator, historic street lights, the Downtown Sculpture Competition and the CREW Center, a $13 million regional wellness center that opened in 2021. Woodbine was recognized in 2014 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street America for its outstanding downtown revitalization. Woodbine Main Street and Harrison County Conservation will lead the new Iowa Great Place project plans.

Woodbine downtown (Michael Morain photos)

Newly designated Iowa Cultural & Entertainment Districts include:

Winterset
The Winterset Cultural & Entertainment District is a walkable and accessible 11-block area that comprises multiple cultural, arts and tourism attractions along with green space, murals and public sculptures. It is anchored by the Winterset Public Library, Winterset Art Center, John Wayne Birthplace and Museum, George Stout Marker, Madhaus Gallery and the Madison County Chamber of Commerce and is home to 78 contributing buildings, such as the Iowa Theater, Madison County Courthouse, Iowa Quilt Museum and more.

Madison. Winterset. Iowa Theater. RAGBRAI, 7-21-19.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa State University professor is creating a podcast that tracks the subjects of letters written to the host of the popular syndicated radio program “American Top 40.” Emma Murray says she got the idea for a podcast while traveling to Council Bluffs listing to a rerun of the program in 2018.  ” I heard this letter that was submitted back in 1983 in August by a woman from Cedar Rapids and I was like I bet I could find this person,” she sys. “And so that was where it began. Love radio, love those letters that were written by people from all over the world into Case Kasem’s program and ended up finding that person from the 1983 episode and have just kept going from there.”

Kasem would dedicate a song to the person writing the letter based on what they had to say. He was known for telling listeners to “keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.” Murray is an assistant professor of English and started working with her students on the project last fall. She says they are creating a database featuring the “Dear Casey” letters that aired on the broadcast. “There are over 26-hundred letters that were written — so we are building a database to find these people one by one, reach out to them, and tell their stories about — okay you wrote this letter anywhere from 1978 to the early 2000s — where are you now?,” she says.

Emma Murray

Murray says it has been fun to talk to people about their old letters. “The response has been interesting. Most people think, ‘Ah, I didn’t think anyone would care about my letter’, but people did I do,” she says. “And this is just so diverse and just the human experience, love, love loss. Mental health is one topic that’s really popular. And kind of cool to see that back in the 70s. That was talked about, even with today and the mental health stigma.”

The Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts are funding this project. The first podcast in this series will go on www.dearcasey.org in late August.