(Radio Iowa) – The rolling city on spoked wheels known as RAGBRAI is entering its second day this (Monday) morning, as between 25- and 30-thousand bicycle riders pedal the 57 miles from Storm Lake to Carroll. Carroll Chamber of Commerce program director Ashley Schable says an exceptionally busy day is ahead and they hope to limit the impact on local residents. “We hope people just are prepared. There are going to be bikers everywhere, and vehicles that you’re not used to seeing,” Schable says. “I think the big thing is just encourage people to be patient. Know that things are going to be a little slower to get to where you normally go, but hopefully it goes as smoothly as possible.”

The first cyclists should start rolling into Carroll around midday, and dozens of vendors are in place along with a host of live music. “11 am on Main Street, we’ll have inflatables down there, there’s a big waterslide, and then music starts at the Barrel Stage around 1, there’s three acts that will go on there,” she says, “and then the main stage, four o’clock, Piano Palooza will start and then the big act, the Pork Tornadoes will take the stage at 7:45.”

A Carroll handbook is available for riders at www.carrollragbrai.com that includes maps of the town and festival area, schedules, ATM locations, emergency contacts, and more. The 50th Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa is headed for Ames tomorrow, about 86 miles from Carroll.

[Updated] (Creston, Iowa) – Official with Southwestern Community College, in Creston, announced on social media, Sunday afternoon, a candlelight service will be held Tuesday, July 25th two of its student athletes. The service takes place on the SWCC Sofball Field, beginning at 8:15-p.m.

Halsie Lynn Barnes (SWCC Facebook photo)

19-year-old Halsie Lynn Barnes, of Tingley, died in the crash Friday night between a pickup and the car she was a passenger in. The college also reports 19-year-old Ella Jo Leonard, of Winterset, died Sunday from injuries she received during the crash.

Four others, including the driver of the car and another passenger, plus two people in the pickup, were injured. The crash happened at around 10:28-p.m. on Highway 34 at 190th Street, east of Afton.

A statement from the college said “Halsie was the light and spirit of our team. Her presence at Southwestern next year will be missed greatly. We send our deepest condolences to her family, friends and teammates. We also pray for the other individuals involved in the accident.”

Ella Leonard, the college says, was a member of last year’s SWCC College Dance team, and was returning as a captain this upcoming season. “She was a sweet, talented and passionate team member that we will miss very deeply. Please keep Ella’s family and friends in your prayers,” college officials said.

Ella Jo Leonard (SWCC Photo)

A come-and-go grief counseling and gathering session will be held on Monday, July 24, in the Instructional Center, room 180, from 2-4 p.m. All members of the SWCC family are invited to attend.

Counselors will be available during this time to assist in healing conversations as the community and college come together to grieve and continue to be there for the students and their families who were affected by Friday evening’s auto accident.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police report two recent arrests. Friday afternoon, 30-year-old Stephanie Rose Eggleston, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Family Dollar Store, for Theft in the 5th Degree. Her bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $300. And, 51-year-old Wendi Jo Latus, of Red Oak, was arrested Friday in the 1200 block of N. Broadway, for Theft in the 4th Degree. Her bond was set at $1,000.

(Oakdale, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Corrections, late Saturday, said a man serving a prison sentence for the Harrison County crimes of Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree, and Lascivious Acts with a Child – has died. 72-year-old James Robert McDuffie was pronounced dead due to natural causes at 5:50 p.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023 in a hospice room of the Iowa Medical and Classification Center where he had been housed due to chronic illness.

McDuffie had been serving a 25-year maximum term on the charges with a Lifetime Special Sentence. His sentence began on August, 30th 2016.

(Afton, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol late Saturday evening in a **CORRECTED** report, released the names of the victims of a crash that occurred late Friday night, in Union County. Authorities say 19-year-old Halsie Lynn Barnes, of Tingley, died at the scene.

19-year-old Ella Jo Leonard, of Winterset**, was injured and flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Both were passengers in a 2017 Chevy Malibu that was struck nearly broadside by a 2016 Ford F-350 pickup. The crash happened at around 10:28-p.m., Friday, at Highway 34 and 190th Street in Union County.

According to the report, the pickup, driven by 59-year-old Andy David Merritt, of Seymour, was traveling east on Highway 34 approaching 190th Street, when the Malibu, driven by 19-year-old Madalynn Mae Stewart, of Maloy (IA), failed to stop at the stop sign on 190th Street. When the car entered Highway 34, it was struck on the driver’s side. Both vehicles ended-up in the north ditch.

Madalynn Stewart, and another other passenger in the car, 20-year-old Abigail Dawn Barnes, of Lamoni, were injured. Stewart was flown by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Barnes was transported to Methodist Hospital by ambulance. Andy Merritt, and 62-year-old Julia Ann Merritt, of Seymour, were injured and transported by a relative to their residence.

Halsie Barnes, Madalynn Stewart, Abigail Barnes, and Andy Merritt, were not wearing seat belts. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, along with Union and Clarke County EMS.

NOTE: The Patrol’s initial report early Saturday morning DID indicate 1 fatality. Saturday afternoon, however, it was changed to 2 fatalities. About 2-hours later, they changed the report AGAIN, with the clarification of 1 fatality.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, this past Wednesday, approved an Order to restrict down Chestnut Street parking spaces for a special event that takes place on August 19th. The Downtown Block Party/Food Truck event is being planned by four local businesses: Homebody; Brown’s Shoe Fit; Unique Salon, and Atlantic Jazzercise. The ordinance states that food trucks cannot park adjacent to brick-and-mortar businesses. At the time the order was passed, the nearby Xu’s Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant was still closed, but the owner has posted on social media, that the business was expected to re-open August 1st.

It remains to be seen how that will affect the plans for a a food truck parked across parking stalls on the right-of-way.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that repeals a subsection of the City’s Code of Ordinances, with regard to permitted truck parking.

City Administrator John Lund notes the ordinance is a “technical correction,” that allows truck parking on certain city-owned lots north of the railroad tracks. The lots have been leased for years to Murphy Heavy Construction.

The section being removed (69.11) states “All motor trucks, semi-trailers, semi-trailer tractors or any other motor vehicle with trailer attached may park, without charge, at the “truck/truck trailer parking area, located on Lots 31,32,33 and 34 in Walker’s Addition to the City of Atlantic, with an address of 110 State Street.”

Murphy’s trucks are not affected by the change, since he has a lease with the City. There currently is no designated truck parking within the City.

July 21, 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) – Today (Friday), the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for four companies, which will assist in the creation of 226 jobs and result in nearly $45 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Eldridge, Nevada, Osage and Story City.

The board also approved innovation funding in support of five startups located in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Denison and Slater. Earlier this week, IEDA approved assistance from Iowa’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) for an innovation startup in Coralville.

MOD Advisor, Inc., headquartered in Denison, was awarded a $100,000 Demonstration Fund loan for IP development and evaluation, proof of concept work, product refinement, key personnel and market planning and entry activities.

MOD Advisor, Inc. automates the process of performing workers’ compensation experience mod analysis. This software helps businesses make an instant decision on claims with a more efficient and simplified real-time analysis between policyholder, broker and carrier.

(Radio Iowa) – Tensions continue to run high over plans for the proposed carbon pipelines. Some Kossuth County residents questioned the County Board of Supervisors this week about their actions at the end of a recent meeting with representatives of a carbon pipeline company.

One resident asked about a gesture made by a pipeline representative. “As they’re walking out one of them, gives a thumbs up to the board and there were some gestures from board members back to that. How do you explain to the public that you guys are on their side and not in cahoots with pipeline members or representatives that don’t even live in this county or pay taxes in this county?,” he asked. Another resident asked a similar question.

Navigator map of proposed pipeline route.

Fourth District Supervisor Kyle Stecker spoke up about his acknowledgment of the pipeline representatives. “I was asked after the meeting if I noticed the thumbs up. No, I didn’t, I nodded as people were walking out. Common courtesy beyond that had no meaning to me,” he says. “So whatever thumbs up anyone does inadvertently don’t really pay attention to it. Simple as that.”

Second District Supervisor Jack Plathe said the supervisors are working for the landowners, but said he couldn’t go into detail on that. The Navigator pipeline route would run through Kossuth County if it is approved.

(Radio Iowa) – The D-N-R says Iowa’s air quality is good today (Friday), but we’ve had several bouts with very unhealthy air in recent days, weeks and months, due to the wildfire smoke wafting in from Canada. Now, an ophthalmologist says all of that smoke could be leading to more cases of dry eye syndrome. Doctor Omar Awad says the condition is often worse in the winter, but not this year.

Awad says it can be treated with a warm compress to the eyelid, topical lubricants and anti-inflammatory medicines.

(Radio Iowa) – A pair of World War Two aircraft are at the Mason City Municipal Airport this weekend. The C-47 named “That’s All Brother” was one of the lead aircraft that delivered the first Allied troops to France on D-Day in 1944. Pilot Doug Rozendahl of Clear Lake says to have a historic artifact like this out where the public can see it and experience a ride is really special.

Rozendahl says there were 18 paratroopers on the plane that night, and people can experience what it was like to be involved on that D-Day flight.

Doc the B-29 Superfortress. (KGLO photo)

Rozendahl is part of the Commemorative Air Force that flies numerous historic planes around the country.

Learn more about the C-47 as well as the B-29 Superfortress aircraft named “Doc” by heading to thatsallbrother.org/tour.