(Guernsey, Iowa) – The start of the Memorial Day weekend began with a fatal UTV accident Friday evening, in central Iowa’s Poweshiek County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2016 Polaris Ranger Crew operated by an 11-year-old, was traveling southeast on 230th Street onto 450th Avenue, southeast of Guernsey, when the vehicle went out of control as it was negotiating the curve.

The UTV rolled onto the driver’s side into the north ditch. The operator was injured and flown by helicopter to the University of Iowa. A 13-year-old passenger in the vehicle died. No names were released. The accident, which occurred at around 5:20-p.m. Friday, remains under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, today (Friday), issued a statement on behalf of the Ida County Sheriff’s Office, with regard to an incident that occurred this (Friday) morning in the northwest Iowa county. Authorities report that at 11:14-a.m.., the Ida County Communications Center received a 911 call of a shots fired incident in the 300 block of 5th Street in Battle Creek, Iowa.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and discovered 53-year-old Kevin Lee Blume, of Battle Creek, Iowa, suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was flown to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

At this time, the investigation is ongoing and there is no danger to the public.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; the Iowa State Patrol; the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; the Monona County Sheriff’s Office; the Battle Creek Ambulance; Ida Grove ambulance and Ida County EMS.

(Menlo, Iowa) – In honor of Memorial Day, Greenfield native Ray “Bubba” Sorensen repaints this 12-foot tall, approximately 60–90-ton boulder to pay tribute to our military men and women. With the town of Greenfield reeling from the Tornado devastation, Sorensen who serves as a State Representative has been on the ground helping to facilitate donations and clean-up efforts during the day and trying to find time to work on the Freedom Rock® in the evenings and nights.

Sorensen started painting the original Freedom Rock® the second week of May and plans to be finished by Memorial Day 2024, but again he may miss his mark due to the tornado. His stories on this year’s version include:

“For the 26th version of the original Freedom Rock®, the “front” road facing side of the rock was envisioned to be a broad Thank you to all our Veteran, especially those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice, with a Revolutionary War soldier and current service member and a perched eagle with a ribbon in its mouth that reads “When you go home tell them of us & say for your tomorrow we gave our today.”

It also has a mourning widow standing amongst poppies. On the south side of the rock, PTSD piece, that shows a Veteran sitting in a cemetery, staring at the grave of his brother-in-arms, remembering the chaos of battle with a quote that reads “No bullet, no shell, no demon in hell, shall break the bond called Brother.” On the east side of the rock, an illustration of Lafayette G Pool who was a WWII Veteran nicknamed “War Daddy”. He was a tank-crew and tank-platoon commander in World War II and is widely recognized as the US tank ace of aces.

On the northeast side with the Huey that contains the cremains of over 150 Vietnam Veterans, is Paris D. Davis is a retired United States Army officer who received the Medal of Honor on 3 March 2023 for his actions on 18 June 1965 during the Vietnam War. He was twice previously nominated for the Medal of Honor, but both times the paperwork relating to his nomination disappeared. Davis, then a captain with the 5th Special Forces Group, was instead awarded the Silver Star. He subsequently commanded the 10th Special Forces Group.

On top of the North facing side is my version of the POW/MIA flag, featuring a prisoner gripping the barbed wire while being grabbed by a prison guard. Finally, the “Lion of Fallujah”, Douglas A. Zembiec, referred to as the “Unapologetic Warrior”, was an officer in the Marine Corps and member of the CIA who was killed in action while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is best known for his actions during Operation Vigilant Resolve.

Sorensen is not commissioned for his work on the original Freedom Rock® in Menlo, Iowa but works as an independent mural artist having completed the Iowa Freedom Rock® Tour last September. Sorensen is working on the 50 State Freedom Rock Tour. “I always say I have three goals with ‘The Freedom Rock® Tour’ and that is to honor America’s Veterans, promote tourism and provide for my family.”

Sorensen’s oldest two children, Indie and Michael, enjoy helping him in the early stages of many Freedom Rocks® including the original, filling in sketched areas at his discretion, and his littlest, Libby, has even scribbled a bit of paint on as well.

For a list of the Tour and other info, please visit www.thefreedomrock.com. Sorensen plans to be at The Freedom Rock® over Memorial Day weekend, including Memorial Day to meet with visitors. Calendars as well as other merchandise are also available to help offset costs for the original Freedom Rock® project. The Freedom Rock® exit from Interstate 80 onto
Highway 25 is open to the Freedom Rock®, but is closed to the entrance into Greenfield that has been devastated by a tornado.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – As yet another storm system has caused damage to both public and private property, Pottawattamie County Emergency Management officials continue to request damage reports and pictures from the public. Director of Emergency Management Doug Reed, says “We’re now included in three active State Proclamations of Disaster Emergency, it’s almost unprecedented.

“Covering a county of over 93,000 square miles can be challenging for our staff of three, so reports from the public are crucial in expediting the process to help identify needs and apply for assistance programs that can help our jurisdictions, residents, and businesses,” Reed said.

Reporting Damages. Damages for the most recent storms occurring in the county are being requested from those impacted. Any renters, homeowners, or businesses that have not yet reported their damages for the May 6 or May 20 through May 24 storms should do so on the emergency management website. Please indicate the exact date damages occurred and provide photos if possible.

Current Declaration Status:

• Severe Storms and Tornadoes (April 26) – Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for FEMA Individual Assistance and Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance. FEMA Public Assistance program is being requested.
• Severe Storms and Tornadoes (May 6) – Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for state assistance to local governments, Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, and Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program – please report damages here.
• Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Derecho (May 20 through May 24) – Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for state assistance to local governments, Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, and Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program. An expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for FEMA Individual and Public Assistance is being requested – please report damage here.

Assistance for Farmers: USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has approved the Governor’s request for the activation of USDA disaster assistance in the state and Pottawattamie County. The Governor’s press release on the announcement can be found here. A USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet can be viewed at this link. Impacted farmers in Pottawattamie County should report their damage and inquire on available assistance programs through their FSA Service Center in Oakland or Council Bluffs.

Access to Assistance Information and Ways to Help:
Information and links to available assistance programs and ways you can contribute to disaster relief can be
found at the emergency management agency website and the Share Iowa website. Both websites are updated
as information is received from partners and service providers.