DES MOINES – Now that spring has sprung, the State Historical Society of Iowa’s “Iowa History 101” mobile museum is on the road again, resuming its three-year mission to visit all 99 Iowa counties by the end of next year. Launched in 2017, the 300-square-foot museum is housed in a bright-blue, custom-built Winnebago that travels the state’s highways and back roads to share stories from Iowa’s past. It visits schools, libraries, local museums, community festivals, county fairs and other gathering places to show Iowans multi-media presentations and artifacts from the historical society’s collection. State Historical Society of Iowa Administrator Susan Kloewer said “The mobile museum shares some of the essential stories that every Iowan should know about who we are and what we’ve achieved since Iowa became a state more than 170 years ago. It’s one of the best ways we can share the history of Iowa with people in their own communities.”

Like a visit to a grandparents’ attic, the mobile museum unpacks stories of Iowa’s past with nearly 50 artifacts, including: a battered miner’s cap worn by Carl Coghlan, a Marion County coal miner; a 1917 prototype of the state flag designed by Dixie Cornell Gebhardt of Knoxville; a pen Gov. William Harding used to ratify the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote; a basketball jersey Lynne Lorenzen wore during her glory days at Ventura High School; an Olympic medal from sprinter Natasha Kaiser-Brown of Des Moines, and a patch from a spacesuit worn by astronaut Peggy Whitson of Beaconsfield.

As a bonus, Mike Wolfe, the creator and star of the hit television series “American Pickers,” lent his voice and video talents to the mobile museum’s multimedia elements. A native of Le Claire, Wolfe has a long-standing interest in history and a knack for using artifacts to unlock its stories. The idea for the mobile museum emerged in 2014 from a series of community conversations organized by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, which oversees the State Historical Society. Iowans who care deeply about history made it clear they wanted new ways to access the State Historical Museum’s resources.

Last year, the mobile museum kicked off its three-year mission by traveling more than 8,000 miles to 45 towns in 36 Iowa counties, serving more than 24,000 Iowans. This year, it is scheduled to visit the following communities:

·  Elk Horn, June 22-24

·  Harlan, July 12-15

·  Le Mars, Sept. 23

More information is available at iowaculture.gov or 515-281-5111.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A former Council Bluffs city employee is scheduled to be sentenced in September for his child pornography convictions. Federal court records say Jamin Fletcher was found guilty April 20 of receiving and distributing child pornography. He was acquitted of advertising child pornography. His sentencing is set for Sept. 19 in U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs. Authorities say Fletcher was an accounting clerk for the city from 2008 to 2017.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests and warrants served. Officials say 40-year old Moreice Putnam Stewart, of Omaha, was served with a Nebraska warrant at the Pott. County Jail, for being a fugitive from justice. Stewart was then returned to the custody of jail staff. On Saturday, a Pott. County Deputy was called to the 2600 block of Old Lincoln Highway, to check on the welfare of an adult male walking southbound. He ended up arresting 42-year old James Anthony Miller, of Council Bluffs, for Disorderly Conduct, by blocking a street. Also arrested Saturday, was 25-year old Austin Charles Harmon, of Crescent. Harmon was arrested on a Pott. County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). He was brought to the jail in Council Bluffs.

Sunday morning, 25-year old Ladarius James Moye, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail for allegedly breaking a shower head in the jail. The damage was estimated at $400. Moye was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree and returned to the custody of jail staff. A traffic stop Sunday on Interstate 80 for a vehicle with a possibly intoxicated driver, resulted in the arrest of 34-year old Koka Konya Shebe, of Bellevue, NE, for OWI/1st offense, and driving while suspended. A passenger in the vehicle, 25-year old Martha N. James, of Omaha, was arrested on a warrant out of Des Moines, for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, and Criminal Trespass w/injury or damage greater than $200.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque mobile home park owner accused of bypassing water meters to save thousands of dollars has been sentenced to two years of probation. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that Michael Friederick paid the city $110,000 in restitution before sentencing. He’d entered an Alford plea to a charge of theft. In an Alford plea, a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to reach a guilty verdict. Friederick also was given a suspended jail sentence of 180 days.

Court records say city officials suspect Friederick opened a valve that let water bypass meters into lines for his Table Mound Mobile Home Park. The officials estimate more than 21.5 million gallons were taken.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate arrests, both of which occurred last Friday. At around 11:40-p.m. a traffic stop on Highway 59, about five-miles north of Shenandoah, resulted in the arrest of 44-year old Derek Jason Ellis, of rural Emerson. Ellis was arrested for Driving under suspension. His bond was set at $566. And, at around 7:15-p.m., Friday, a traffic stop on 140th Street in Page County, about 5-miles east of Essex, resulted in the arrest of 45-year old Tina Ann McClain, of Essex. She was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McClain was transported to the Page County Jail, posted a $300 bond, and was released pending further court appearances.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 9:50-p.m. Sunday, of 44-year old Luke Alan Johnson, of Greenfield. Johnson was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation. Johnson was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, a woman from Lorimor, reported on March 19th, that sometime that day someone damaged two doors to her residence and took food from her refrigerator. On April 24th, she provided authorities with a list of missing items, which included: Two PlayStation 4’s and 4 games; A Visio 60” flat screen TV; two mountain bikes; A DeWalt tool kit; Snap-On tools; An HP Laptop; dry goods and canned goods; and miscellaneous food from a freezer. The value of items taken and damage to doors was estimated at $10,000.

Another woman from Lorimor reported on April 21st, that sometime between the 18th through the 21st, someone entered here residence and took approximately 30 pairs of jeans, a vacuum cleaner, and numerous tools. The loss was estimated at $3,400.

Iowa Secretary of Agricultire Mike Naig will make two stops in Pottawattamie County, Wednesday (May 2nd). Naig will stop at 22000 510th Street, in Walnut at 3-p.m. , and at 3:40-p.m., at Old Town Park (12515 385th Street) in Macedonia, as part of Soil and Water Conservation Week (April 29-May 6), to view work done by Hungry Canyons Alliance to address stream channel erosion and degradation of the deep Loess (Luss) soils region of western Iowa.

This year’s theme of Soil and Water Conservation Week, is “Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home.” More information about the activities that will take place this week, can be found at www.iowaagriculture.gov/conservationweek.asp. The Hungry Canyons Alliance works in a 23 county area of the deep loess soils region.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A research facility in Des Moines wants to bring more bonobos to central Iowa in hopes of breeding the animals and learning more about the apes’ abilities and behaviors.
The Des Moines Register reports that the Ape Cognition & Conservation Initiative has applied for accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accreditation would give the initiative permission to breed with other captive bonobos in the U.S.

The initiative’s goal is to learn more about human evolution through the study of bonobos. Researchers say bonobos are the closest genetic relative to humans. The nonprofit hopes to hear back on its application next year. There are less than 100 bonobos living in captivity in the U.S. Philanthropist Ted Townsend brought five to Des Moines in 2004 through the Great Ape Trust.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association has started accepting nominations for their 2018 best pork tenderloin contest. Any café, restaurant, or tavern that serves breaded or battered pork tenderloins is eligible to be nominated. The establishment must also be open year-round to win the contest, but seasonal restaurants can make it in the top 5. The top 5 restaurants from each of the IPPA’s districts with the most nominations will be judged. One person who nominates the winning restaurant will be entered into a drawing for $100, and the winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque, and statewide publicity. In the 2017 contest, the IPPA received 3014 nominations between 271 different establishments. The Winner of the 2018 contest will be announced during National Pork Month in October. Nominations can be submitted up until June 5^th, via their website or by using the form in the May issue of the Iowa Pork Producer Magazine.

For more information about the Iowa Pork Producers and their contest, visit their website or call 800-372-7675.

Past winners from the Area:
2015: 2^nd – Three C’s Diner – Corning, Top 5 – The Office – Lenox

2014: Honorable Mention – B&S’s 529, Carroll, Menlo Café – Menlo

2011: Honorable Mention – The Rusty Duck, Dexter

2007: 1^st – Larsen’s Pub – Elk Horn

2006: 2^nd – The Links Restaurant & Lounge, Panora

2005: Honorable Mention- The Farmer’s Kitchen, Atlantic

2004 (Best GRILLED Tenderloin): 1^st– Darrell’s Place, Hamlin, Honorable Mention – Elm’s Club, Creston, Viking Lake, Stanton

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to be on the lookout for a silver Dodge Caravan, following an incident that took place last Thursday. Authorities say at around 3-p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a person performing a sex act in the Sidney City Park. The witness said the subject was driving a silver Dodge Caravan with Iowa license plates, but the witness was unable to get the license plate number. The driver was described as being a white man in his mid-30’s, with brown hair and a beard. When the man saw that he was being observed, he left the park and was last seen heading west on Knox Road.

If you see the suspect vehicle or driver, do not approach the man. Instead, call your local law enforcement agency.