(Burlington, Iowa) – A man who authorities say was hearing impaired, was struck and killed by a garbage truck this (Thursday) morning, in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2016 International garbage truck driven by 65-year-old Dale Deitrick, of Mediapolis, was backing southbound on Isabell Avenue, in Burlington.

49-year-old Brian Whittaker, of Burlington, was crossing the street, when he was hit by the truck. The accident happened at around 10:08-a.m.

Whittaker was transported by Burlington Fire/Rescue to a hospital in Burlington, where he died from his injuries.

The accident remains under investigation.

(Creston, Iowa) – A crash this (Thursday) afternoon in Creston resulted in one person being transported to the hospital. Creston Police report a 1999 Cadillac Deville was driven to the park by a male passenger. The male driver and female passenger then changed positions in the vehicle, so the female – who had just received her permit – could practice driving.

The woman – identified as 73-year-old Clarina P. Lee, of Creston – told police the male told her to “go.”  He then told her to press the brake, but she got flustered and was said to have stepped on the accelerator pedal instead. The vehicle went out of control and crashed, causing about $4,000 damage to the car. The accident happened at around 12:30-p.m.

Lee was transported to the hospital by law enforcement, after she complained of pain and unknown/possible injuries. No citations were issued.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A man working for the Iowa Department of Transportation was struck and killed in a Pottawattamie County construction zone this (Thursday) morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports 36-year-old Matthew Dickerson, of Neola, died in the crash that happened northeast of Council Bluffs at around 9:15-a.m. on Interstate 80 eastbound.

The Patrol says a 2024 International tractor-trailer registered to UPS and driven by 41-year-old Clifford Miller, of Millerstown, PA, was traveling on I-80 eastbound in a line of traffic, as two lanes merged into one. Two DOT maintenance crash attenuator (with illuminated arrow sign) vehicles notified traffic of the left lane closure.

Matthew Dickerson was at the rear of one of the DOT vehicles conducting patch work in the left closed lane, when the semi changed lanes between the DOT crash attenuator and a DOT 2021 Dodge RAM 3500 pickup, in order to pass other traffic. The semi struck Dickerson and the pickup truck. The driver of the pickup, 45-year-old Jordan Hargens, of Council Bluffs, was injured in the accident. He was transported by private vehicle to a hospital.

Jim Mayer, Senior Director of UPS Media Relations, told KETV in a statement, “”We’re aware of an accident on I-80 this morning involving one of our vehicles. We are saddened to learn of the death of a highway worker and our thoughts are with his family. We are cooperating with authorities as they investigate and are referring any additional questions to them.”

(Radio Iowa) – The April unemployment rate dropped to 2.8% compared to 2.9% in March. Iowa Workforce Development director, Beth Townsend, says there were no major ups or downs in the month.

“Overall not a bad report, our labor force participation rate went down slightly again, We think that’s primarily due to retirements and then earlier in the year I think the decrease has been related to people going back to school,” Townsend says. Townsend says the economy shows signs of easing with several industries inching back from huge hiring sprees earlier in the year. “The job market is tightening in the sense that we did shed some jobs in April and it looks like employers are not hiring at the same rate that they were earlier in the year so that’s concerning,” she says.

Townsend says there appears to be some concern about the national economy. “You get the sense that everybody’s kind of waiting to see what happens,” she says, “there just seems to be, you know we’re not seeing big movements in hiring, we’re not seeing big layoffs either so that’s good….you know we’re in an election year and maybe that’s what’s going on,” Townsend says.

The number of unemployed Iowans decreased by 15-hundred to 47-thousand-200 in April. Workers at the Tyson pork plant in Perry are slated to lose their jobs in June, and Townsend says they are holding a job fair there today. She says they are trying to find the workers new jobs that are close. “And that’s kind of you know where we’ve been focusing our efforts is connecting and with employers in the Polk and Dallas County area,’ Townsend says. “Right now there are 165 job openings in Perry itself. Dallas County has about 1,100 job openings. Overall, Polk County has over 12,000 job openings, but we’re doing our level best to connect folks with manufacturers.” The Perry plant has some 1,300 workers.

(Radio Iowa) – Due to challenging market conditions, Deere and Company is reducing is prediction of profits for its current operating year. Over the past three months, net sales and revenue for Deere products worldwide were down 12 percent. Deere’s chairman and C-E-O points to a decline across the global agricultural sector. Corn and soybean prices are falling, production costs are increasing, and the U-S-D-A predicts farm income in the United States will be down over 25 percent this year.

Deere predicts sales of large farm equipment, like tractors and combines, will be down between 20 and 25 percent for the year. Still, the world’s largest farm equipment maker projects net income for its current fiscal year will be seven BILLION dollars. That’s about half a BILLION below its previous estimate.

Deere’s C-E-O says the company is managing production and inventory levels to adapt to demand. Over three-hundred workers at John Deere’s Waterloo Works were laid off indefinitely at the end of April. Last week, Deere announced 34 workers at one of its plants in Moline, Illinois would be laid off at the end of May.

(Radio Iowa) – New sculptures are being added to the River City Sculptures on Parade display this week in downtown Mason City. It’s the 12th year of the program as artists from across the country are in town, installing their works on pedestals throughout the nearly two-mile route that winds through downtown. Sculptures on Parade director Mary Markwalter says 20 new sculptures are being installed this week. “It’s a really pretty walk, very diverse,” Markwalter says. “The artists came in for it, it was really nice, we have a lot of artists here for this install.”

Photos by Bob Fisher, KRIB

Markwalter says a key milestone of one-million dollars was recently reached with sculptures that have been purchased from the displays. She says one of the latest purchases will be placed along the city’s new trail system. “This year we had someone buy one of the sculptures that had come in, it was the little reindeer that was by Principal, and it is going on the city right-of-way on the new path that is along the old Scrip Road,” she says. “We’re kind of starting to spread out through the city, too, which I like to see that.”

One of the artists that’s new to this year’s display is Garth Hite from Wichita, Kansas. He says he’s enjoyed seeing the sculptures, the architecture and MacNider Art Museum being a big part of the community. Hite was asked him why art displays like the Sculptures on Parade are important to a community.

“It gives people a chance to think about the sculpture and what the artist was thinking about,” Hite says, “and just how people are so different, and just enjoying the beauty of each person’s interpretation of living in the living world.” Hite says he’s impressed with Mason City’s extensive display.

“They’ve had several sculptures and it’s good for all the artists out there to be able to show their work and just keep a living doing that,” he says. Maps will be available for this year’s display once the sculptures are all in place.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An Atlantic City Councilman is offering citizens in the Ward he represents, to meet him and discuss issues of concern to them. 4th Ward Councilman Sean Sarsfield said at Wednesday’s Atlantic City Council meeting, he wants to meet with his constituents on June 4^th, from 6-until 7:30-p.m., at The Venue, in downtown Atlantic.

Councilperson Elaine Otte added…

Atlantic Councilman Dana Halder reported Wednesday, the Community Protection Committee met Wednesday afternoon, prior to the Council meeting, and will forward a recommendation to the Council, with regard to citizen use of fireworks in July.

On a similar note, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed an order for a Special Fireworks display on private property at 1303 Maple Street on July 16^th, should the Atlantic Trojan Softball Team host the regional Softball Final, and win the game. The request was made by local fireworks specialist Dan Vargason.

And, with regard to a City-sponsored fireworks display, Councilperson Emily McDermott said those plans are still being finalized, with the idea to hold them around Labor Day once again. Last year’s 4^th of July fireworks program was reschedule to Sept. 2^nd, due to inclement weather. The Council last year had discussed moving the event to later in the Summer, so as to not draw attention away from popular events, such as those held in Exira, which also offers a parade.

Councilman Halder said the Community Protection Committee reviewed and discussed allowing side-by-side (off-road/Utility) vehicles on City streets in Atlantic.

In other business, the Council approved a recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission, to vacate a Phantom Right-Of-Way (ROW) that begins at the corner of W. 4^th and Laurel Streets, going westbound and terminating at the Phantom Railroad ROW. The Council ordered City Administrator John Lund to proceed with having the City Attorney prepare a public notice with regard to vacating the alley, turning it over to Rob Stamp, who would like to have access to his property to the north, and would do so by cutting the curb in the vacated area, pouring a driveway, and maintaining it as another entrance.

The Atlantic City Council then passed the 3^rd and final reading of an amended ordinance that changes vendor fees and dates, as they pertain to the July 23 RAGBRAI®  event in Atlantic.