(Radio Iowa) – After nearly five years and one-point-two billion dollars, the Interstate 74 bridge project between Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline, Illinois is finally complete — with the opening of a bicycle and pedestrian path. George Ryan, the I-74 corridor manager, says the 14-foot wide path is fully separated from the six lanes of traffic and offers a safe way for cyclists and walkers to cross the Mississippi River.  “The trail also includes an overlook area out over the channel that’s actually a destination point,” Ryan says. “There’s a 10-foot diameter glass oculus that you can stand on and watch the river flow beneath you, as well as benches and some lighting to really make that spot a destination.” Anyone who’s squeamish about great heights may be a little wobbly when they first approach the big, glass disc, with the Mississippi churning far below.

“People seem to be a little hesitant. I was a little hesitant myself the first time I stepped out on it,” Ryan says, laughing. “It’s perfectly safe. It’s laminated. It’s multiple layers and it’s plenty safe. It’ll hold more people than can physically stand on it.” The bridge path is seven-tenths of a mile long and joins existing bike trails on both sides of the river. In years to come, Ryan muses that the oculus might make a good destination for RAGBRAI riders, the next time the Quad Cities hosts the final day of the statewide bicycle ride. The path’s opening signals the close of a massive bridge project that first broke ground in July of 2017.

“Quad City residents put up with a lot of traffic detours, a lot of different construction over the past five years,” Ryan says. “They’ve responded very well to our different stages of construction and now they have a brand new pair of bridges over the interstate and a very nice corridor.” The new bridge fully opened to traffic in December. The cities of Bettendorf and Moline are assuming maintenance responsibility of the bike and pedestrian path. Bids will be taken soon on demolishing to old I-74 bridge nearby, a job that will likely take more than a year to complete.
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Just days after it was dedicated, an alleged drunk driver drove onto the new path, striking three pedestrians, killing two of them. The driver is jailed.

(UPDATE) A 19-year-old Sioux City woman died in a U-T-V crash early Monday in rural Plymouth County. The Iowa State Patrol says Zoey Rene Cason was driving a utility terrain vehicle down a hill on private property at 12:20 a.m. Investigators say Cason braked and turned to avoid hitting a fence post and fencing which caused the vehicle to roll. Cason was transported by private vehicle to UnityPoint St. Luke’s where she was pronounced dead. The two-seater vehicle was occupied by four people and no seat belts were used. Twenty-year old Cass Camarigg, a passenger from Sioux City, was taken to MercyOne hospital with injuries. Cason just graduated Saturday from Sioux City East High School.

Counselors will be at East High today (Tuesday) from 8 a.m. until noon for any students who wish or need to talk with them. Cason is the 2nd Sioux City student to die in an A-T-V type of accident in Plymouth County in the past four days. Austin Blakey died Friday, the day after his 8th grade graduation from Holy Cross Catholic School.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors have a full agenda for their meeting Tuesday morning. Their session takes place at 9-a.m. in their Boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse.

The Supervisors are expected to hear a request for ARPA funds from Jason Rouse, with the Cumberland Fire Department. They are then expected to discuss a new employee or employees, in the Cass County Treasurer’s Office. You may recall, on April 29th, the Board  had a lengthy conversation with regard to a new hire and the hiring process. That issue had been brought about after the Board of Supervisors previously approved hiring an employee as a Driver’s License Examiner at $18 per hour, a lower rate than what was requested by Treasurer Tracey Marshall.

Marshall had stated $18 per hour was not a proper wage for an employee in the Treasurer’s Office. The Supervisors stated that their biggest issue was that Tracey did not follow the proper hiring procedures. During the April 29th meeting, the Board agreed to hire Stacy Mueller, who at that time was a Dispatcher with the Cass County Communications Center. The sometimes heated discussion concluded with a motion to hire Mueller at $19 per hour with an increase on June 6^th pay to $20 per hour. Upon full certification her pay will increase to $22.25.

In other business, the Board will act on passing:

• A Rural Transit System Joint Participation Agreement with SWIPCO
• A Business Service Agreement with the DHS – re: Mediacom
• A Resolution approving ARPA funds for the Anita Child Care Center and Cass County Fire Association.

The Supervisors are expected to approve a cigarette, tobacco, alternative nicotine or vapor products sales permit to Hansen Valley Oil, Dollar General Store #20294, and 21st Century Co-Op. They will receive a weekly report as well, from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

(Epworth, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident Sunday in eastern Iowa’s Dubuque County, claimed one life and resulted in one person being injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country van was traveling west on Millville Road at around 7:10-p.m., when the vehicle went out of control and entered a ditch before rolling over.

One occupant of the van died at the scene. The other was injured and transported by Epworth Fire/Rescue to Mercy Hospital, in Dubuque. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt. Their names were being withheld pending notification of family.

The accident remains under investigation. Peosta Police assisted the Patrol at the scene, along with the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and Medical Examiner.

(Radio Iowa) – A new state law outlines the visual language skills deaf and hard of hearing children need to learn — things like fingerspelling and American Sign Language — so they’re prepared for kindergarten. The law also establishes a mentoring program for parents of newborns and toddlers who are diagnosed with hearing difficulties. Tina Caloud, outreach director for the Iowa School for the Deaf, attended the bill signing ceremony in the governor’s office and spoke with Radio Iowa through an interpreter.

“We have been trying to propose this bill for several years now and it finally has been passed into law and we are absolutely thrilled. We are ready to work hard, work collaboratively for education our deaf and hard of hearing children across the state, to ensure they have language access,” she said. “This means both American Sign Language and English.” Studies show the majority of deaf children who enter kindergarten without knowing American Sign Language never catch up academically. Shirley Hampton of Davenport, president of the Iowa Association for the Deaf, spoke through an interpreter during a Radio Iowa interview.

“Don’t leave deaf children out. Don’t leave them behind,” she says. “Involve them in any type of communication that is occurring and that will allow them to thrive.” At least 2000 deaf and hard of hearing students are enrolled in Iowa’s K-through-12 schools. The Iowa Association for the Deaf is pushing legislators to offer closed captioning on the livestream of debate in the House and Senate. And the group says a state law may be needed to ensure emergency warning systems alert everyone.

“Any public places, such as the airport, anything like that, restaurants — we really need to make sure that it’s accessible for deaf individuals and the community, especially in those emergency situations such as a tornado,” Hampton said. “It’s vital not only for deaf people, but blind people as well to make sure they have access to that communication.” Hampton says she was recently eating in a central Iowa restaurant and saw other customers clustered around a television, then leave the dining room. She had no idea they had heard about a tornado warning through the television and were seeking shelter in the kitchen.

A collision on Interstate 80 Sunday morning in Pottawattamie County, claimed the life of a man from Nebraska and resulted in a woman being injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2004 Toyota 4Runner pulling a camper, and a 2015 Ford F350 & camper, were both traveling eastbound about a mile west of Shelby, when the Toyota, driven by 66-year-old Andrea J. Barge, of Oshkosh, NE, went out of control as it was traveling in the left lane.

The SUV/camper struck the pickup/camper, which was in the right lane, and driven by 31-year-old Benjamin J. MIller, of Lennox, SD. The pickup and camper went into the south ditch and came to rest. The SUV/Camper spun and came to rest on the driver’s side, partially in the right lane and south shoulder, facing southwest. The accident happened at around 10:54-a.m.

Andrea Barge – who wore her seat belt – was injured and transported by Shelby Rescue to Myrtue Medical Center, in Harlan. Her passenger, 72-year-old Delbert E. Barge, of North Platte, NE, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Benjamin Miller was not injured.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Three people were arrested Sunday, in Montgomery County. Red Oak Police report 35-year-old Cody Allen Keith Tunnel, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:20-a.m. for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, for allegedly damaging a windshield. He was taken into custody and held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, at around 7:16-a.m. Sunday, Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year-old Garret Allen Horgdal, and 38-year-old Jannelle Marie Davis, both of Henderson. They were taken into custody on valid U.S. Marshals warrants. Horgdal was wanted for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Davis was wanted for making False Statements during the purchase of a firearm, and Sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person.

Horgdal and Davis were being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. On Saturday (May 28th), the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man laying on the road at 220th Street and Fig Avenue in rural Adams County. Upon further investigation, 50-year-old James Ross Woods was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was transported to the Adams County Jail and held on a $300 bond. And, a little after 11-p.m. Saturday, Deputies responded to a call about another man sitting on the road, this time at 1801 Quincy Street, in Corning. 38-year-old David Christopher Yazell was arrested for Public Intoxication. His bond was also set at $300.

On May 23rd, at around 5:34-a.m., Adams County Deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle speeding 78 mph in a 55 mph zone on Highway 34, near the intersection with Dogwood. The driver, identified as Caleb Driggers, of Omaha, was arrested for Driving While Revoked and No SR-22 insurance. He was also cited for speeding. Driggers was held in the Adams County Jail on a $1,300 bond.

And, on May 19th at around 5:03-p.m., Adams County Deputies saw 34-year-old Sunita Phipps, of Creston, enter a black Jeep Grand Cherokee, and begin driving. At the intersection of Corning Carl Road and John Street, Deputies initiated a traffic stop and ended-up placing Phipps under arrest for Driving While Suspended, Interference with Official Acts, Failure to Provide Insurance (SR-22 required), along with other traffic violations. Phipps was transported to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

**Any potential charges identified above are merely allegations, and and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.**

An accident involving a motorcycle trike in Montgomery County, Saturday morning, left the operator seriously injured and his passenger dead. Both were from Stanton. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2018 Harley Davidson operated by 66-year-old Wendell Keith Gourley was westbound on Highway 34 at around 10:10-a.m., when a gust of wind pushed the trike off the road to the right. The cycle collided with a cable barrier and six barrier posts before it rolled onto its top.

Wendell Gourley and his passenger, 66-year-old Jeannie Marie Schomburg-Gourley, were ejected from the motorcycle. She died at the scene. Wendell Gourley was transported by Air Med to the UNMC in Omaha. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management assisted the Patrol at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is planning to consolidate the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs and the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown into one agency. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs helps Iowa veterans and their families secure military benefits and it oversees the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. According to a news release from the governor’s office, department director Steve Lukan is “leaving for employment in the private sector” and has resigned.

Reynolds has appointed Iowa Veterans Home Commandant Matthew Peterson as interim director of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The governor says she’s exploring a merger to house all veterans services in one agency.

The Iowa Veterans Home sits on a 150 acre campus and has about 500 residents. It’s the fifth largest veterans home in the country. The Department of Veterans Affairs has offices at Camp Dodge in Johnston. The agency’s website
still lists Lukan as its executive director.