(Des Moines, Iowa) – The number of new COVID-19 cases in Iowa continues to rise. The Iowa Health Department says more than 2,700 positive tests were reported over the past week. That’s a 36% increase from last week.

Ninety-one people are hospitalized with the virus, up seven from the last report. Eight people are in the ICU with COVID-19. Four more COVID-19-related deaths were reported in the last week.

The total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic has reached more than 9,500.

(Villisca, Iowa) Two people suffered from smoke inhalation and minor injuries during a fire Wednesday morning, in Villisca. According to a press release, the incident occurred at around 9:07-a.m., when Villisca Fire/Rescue personnel were dispatched to 129 W. 4th Street. The firs arriving emergency responders reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the structure, with the flames impinging on a neighbor’s house as well.

Firefighters were able to quickly determine the occupants of the home had escaped. Mutual aid was called for from Red Oak Fire/Rescue, the Stanton and Grant Fire Departments. The flames extended from the first floor to the second, and eventually the attic space. The blaze was extinguished and ground operations at the scene were terminated at 12-p.m., Wednesday.

Villisca House Fire, 5/4/22; Villisca FD photo

The occupants – Patricia Graham and Wayne Shook – were transported by Villisca Ambulance to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment. Graham is the owner of the home, which was valued at $27,000, and was deemed a total loss. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the residents as needed. Firefighters were able to save some family valuables and turn them over to family members.

Authorities say the Iowa State Fire Marshal was contacted due to there being injuries associated with the incident. The blaze remains under investigation.  In addition to the aforementioned fire and rescue departments, Villisca Fire was assisted at the scene by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Communications Center, Villisca Ambulance, Montgomery County EMA, Villisca Public Works, and the Villisca Electric Company.

Officials also extended their gratitude to the family members who were able to provide information concerning items within the residence, as well as the layout of the home.

(Radio Iowa) – N-B-C Universal is going to create a prequel series to the “Field of Dreams” movie that will stream on the Peacock network and is looking for production people in Iowa to help. The leader of the Iowa Office of Media Production, Liz Gilman, says they won’t be filming at the original movie site in Dyersville.

“It’s a little too built up for what they need for the storyline, because they’re really diving into more of like I said, more of a prequel, and more of the backstory of what happened before Ray Kinsella, you know, plowed up his cornfield and put a baseball field there,” Gilman says.

The movie site is also hosting major and minor league games at the same time the filming for the streaming series will be going on. So the producers will build a set for the series in central Iowa. “They will be kind of constructing their own field of dreams and a new farmhouse here in the greater Des Moines area,” Gilman explains. Gilman says all types of people are needed here in Iowa to get the production going.

“There’ll be construction, there’ll be catering, transportation, there’ll be needing to prop things. So set decoration, really all kinds of different jobs that are available, besides the usual that you’d think of with like, you know, makeup artists, and camera people and sound and such like that,” according to Gilman. She encourages anyone interested in working on the project to go to produce iowa.com and register on their free media production directory.

“You just go on there and create your own listing, and then you can upload your resume, or if you have an IMDB site or a website, and really kind of sell yourself on this listing,” Gilman says. “So when people come to town, even other, you know, producers that work on commercials or T-V shows and things — they check out our media production directory, and that’s how Iowans are hired.” Gilman says the production and building of the site is the first step in the process. They will also be looking for people to appear in the show.

“We are going to be looking for extras. They’re working with casting people, and they will be setting up some of their needs with casting in the next few weeks. So that’s why we would encourage people to sign up on Facebook with our Produce Iowa,” she says. Gilman says the producers need some dry weather for another key part of the series site.

“They have a site determined and soon, as soon as it warms up enough they can start planting their corn ,” she says, “that’s been the big thing. It’s just watching and waiting for Iowa to warm up so they can plant the corn and then they’ll be clearing the land and creating the new field.” Gilman says the site is in Polk County, but they are not giving out the exact location yet. Other filming will take place in Mahaska, Clinton and Boone counties.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Arts Council has awarded its highly coveted Iowa Scholarship for the Arts to four of the state’s most talented high school seniors. They include: Harbour Buchanan of Glenwood, Ella De Haan of Ankeny, Ella Hayden of Blairstown and Aidan Krell of West Burlington are the recipients of the prestigious award, which will help pay for part of their college education this fall.

The Iowa Scholarship for the Arts program supports Iowa high school students with proven artistic ability in dance, creative writing, music, theater, traditional arts or visual arts who plan to pursue a major in the arts at an accredited Iowa college or university. Each scholarship winner will receive $2,500 for his or her college tuition and related expenses as a full-time undergraduate student in 2022-2023.

“Each of this year’s scholarship recipients has demonstrated exceptional artistic promise and dedication to continuing to develop their skills and knowledge,” Iowa Arts Council Administrator David Schmitz said. “We are pleased they will continue their studies here in Iowa and pursue an education that will last them a lifetime and open up many career pathways, in the arts and other creative fields. ”

Harbour Buchanan of Glenwood has been playing the oboe since sixth grade, when her school started offering band classes. She will pursue a degree in music education at Iowa State University and hopes to teach high school band and give private lessons. She said performing music has helped her develop leadership and communication skills, as well as the compassion, trust and dedication needed to be successful in teaching.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a woman from Elkhorn, NE., was arrested May 1st for OWI/1st offense, following a property damage accident. Authorities say 56-year-old Donna Wild was arrested after the 2017 Toyota Corolla she was driving struck a stop sign at 221st Street and Highway 34. Authorities had earlier received a report of an erratic driver. Wild was later released after posting a $1,000 cash or surety bond. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $100.

And, on May 3rd, 48-year-old Darrell Clevenger, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Theft in the 4th Degree. He subsequently posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond.