SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The three giant Gateway Arches that for 35 years told travelers that they were in Sioux City have come crashing down. Each 40-foot-tall, 36-ton structure was pushed over on Wednesday after dirt was dug from the base beneath them. Now they’re no longer in the way of a new Nebraska Street exit to be built as part of the ongoing Interstate 29 project.

The estimated $165,000 cost of moving and installing the arches elsewhere in the city ruled out proposals to save them. Joanne Grueskin led the community drive to build the arches in 1980, and she says they helped spur development of the Anderson Dance Pavilion and the riverfront bike trails. She says the arches well-served their purpose.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City officials say some people who have paid parking tickets have still gotten city notices that they haven’t, so the city has stopped sending all notices until the problem is resolved. The Sioux City Journal reports that the city sends notices to people if their tickets aren’t paid within 15 days of the tickets being issued. The notices say that if the tickets aren’t paid within 30 days of their issuance, extra $5 charges will be added to the tickets.

The city usually sends 100-150 notices on Fridays. Last week 240 notices were sent.
No program problems have been found so far with the computer system that keeps track of parking tickets.

The Creston Police Department today (Thursday) issued a report on incidents and an arrest. Officials say 35-year old Haley Miller, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday night on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Miller was later released on $2,000 bond. And, 24-year old Carlos Merazsanchez, of Creston, was cited  Wednesday morning for an annoyance or disturbance occurring at his residence, related to animal complaints.

A resident in the 600 block of N. Walnut Street, in Creston, reported this (Thursday) morning that her home and vehicle had been hit by projectiles from a paintball gun. And, early Wednesday afternoon, a resident in the 600 block of Oak Street, in Creston, reported someone took a small children’s pool and hot tub covers from her yard at her residence. The loss was estimated at $325.

A GoFundMe account has been established for a former Marne area resident who was viciously assaulted Sunday morning over an incident involving fireworks. Mark Paulsen, who lives in Omaha, and Logan Skow, both suffered injuries when they were attacked after they asked neighbors near 156th and Giles Road, to stop shooting-off fireworks at around 2-a.m., Sunday.

Family members said on the fundraising page established for Paulsen, that Skow walked away from the incident with bruises, cuts, bloody nose, and broken blood vessel in his eye. Paulsen, however, was in critical condition following the incident, after suffering several face and skull fractures, as well as bleeding on his brain. He was last reported to be in the Intensive Care Unit at CHI Health Creighton University.

The suspects in the case, Nathan Christensen, Andrew Short, his brother Branden Short and a juvenile, are charged with 1st degree Class 3 Felony Assault for beating, Paulsen, and 1st degree misdemeanor assault, for beating Skow. All four suspects posted bond at 10% of $25,000 ($2,500) and were released from the Sarpy County Jail. They are due in court again, on July 21st.

Paulsen is expected to be out of work for several months while he recovers from his injuries. Donations to help with his medical expenses can be contributed via GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/markpaulsen. So far, around $2,790 has been raised.

Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley will hold Town Hall meetings Saturday, July 25th, in Carroll, Calhoun and Sac Counties. The meetings are part of Grassley’s annual 99 county tour.

His July 25th schedule includes at stop from 8-to 9-a.m. at the Rockwell City Community Center. Afterward, he travels to Carroll for a Town Hall meeting that takes place from 10-until 11-am in the meeting room at the Carroll County Courthouse. Grassley’s final stop for the day is at the Law Enforcement Center in Sac City, from 12:15-until 1:15-p.m., again on July 25th.

Iowa’s senior Senator will speak at the public meetings before taking comments and answering questions.