(Radio Iowa) – A century-old car with a fabled history for road trips was -supposed- to be chugging across Iowa today (Friday), but as happens with aging vehicles, it’s developed engine trouble. Tim Matthews, curator of the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska, says this was the ten-millionth Model T produced by Ford and it’s already made three cross-country treks — when it was built in 1924, on its 50th birthday in 1974, and again in 1999. Matthews says things were going well on this 100th anniversary trek when they left New York City last Sunday, but the engine blew apart in Pennsylvania.

“We actually had a connecting rod bearing failure, and anytime you have one thing go bad inside an engine, it usually creates a chain reaction,” Matthews says. “So that bearing came unglued, which destroyed the crank, and it threw a lot of material around the engine and it required us to take the engine completely out of the car.” The black buggy was hauled to Ohio for repairs and soon, it’ll be trucked back to Pennsylvania to resume its 45-hundred mile “Sea-to-Sea in a Model T” trek from New York to San Francisco. Matthews credits the team of expert Model T mechanics who are driving the vehicle, but also Henry Ford, who pioneered the industry, introducing mass production and assembly lines.

Photo from https://www.museumofamericanspeed.org/

“He built a car that really anybody could understand and anybody can take it apart,” Matthews says. “You’re talking about a time when a lot of Americans didn’t have electricity yet, but this car generated its own electricity, so for the time, it was very technically advanced, but it was simple enough that people with just common tools could take it apart and rebuild it. So that’s kind of the fun of the whole deal.” The Model T will soon resume its route, following the Lincoln Highway coast-to-coast. That’s Highway 30 in Iowa, which will take it through communities including: Clinton, Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, Ames, Carroll and Denison. Matthews says the historic car, with its “TENMIL” Iowa license plates, always draws crowds of onlookers when it stops, but there’s a steep learning curve to operate it.

“Most people look at a Model T, they get in and there’s three pedals on the floor, and none of them are the gas pedal, and so people are thinking, ‘What the heck? How do you even drive this thing?'” Matthews says. “It takes a little time to understand how to operate a Model T, with the three pedals and your throttle’s up on the steering wheel — that’s how you control your speed.” The Lincoln Highway Association says 85-percent of the original stretch of road across Iowa is still drivable, though some of it is gravel. While you might think a hundred-year old car would provide a rough, bumpy ride, Matthews says that’s not the case, though its top speed is only 45 to 50 miles an hour.

“The Model T is like a giant spring, basically, and it goes off road better than most of your off-road vehicles today,” Matthews says. “I mean, this thing was designed to go across the country before there were great roads, so it’s accustomed to going through ditches and over mountains and things of that sort, and they’re incredibly adept at doing that.” The car was recently donated to the museum by the family of Dr. Alan Hathaway, a Davenport dentist who died in 2016. The Hathaway family drove the “Tin Lizzy” cross-country twice, for its 50th and 75th anniversaries, while officials from Ford drove it sea-to-sea when it was new in 1924. If you’d like to see the historic Model T, it’ll be coming to Iowa — soon.

The schedule on the website (museumofamericanspeed.org) will be updated as soon as the vehicle is again roadworthy.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, has proposed legislation she says will create better border control. Hinson it is in response to the recent action by President Joe Biden that she calls inadequate. “Iowans and Americans see this for what it is. It is a cheap election year ploy by President Biden,” she says. Hinson says the House Appropriations Committee legislation would expand beds in border detention facilities to about 50-thousand. Biden’s plan puts a cap on those seeking asylum. “This weak, watered-down executive order won’t do anything to protect Americans from the potentially dangerous illegal immigrants that are already in the U-S, or to actually secure the border. The proposed legislation would also end grant programs for sanctuary cities.

Hinson also talked about the importance of keeping up efforts to battle the Avian Flu, especially with the first case being reported in an Iowa dairy herd. “We know its effect on poultry we know that if milk is pasteurized it is safe but obviously Animal Health is a huge priority for me,” she says. Hinson says part of the battle is maintaining adequate funding. “In the Ag/F-D-A bill we have continued to prioritize making sure we have resources available to properly research and fund potential vaccine efforts and to step up those efforts across the board,” Hinson says.

Hinson made her comments during her weekly conference call with reporters.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, Thursday evening, responded to an altercation at a residence east of Villisca, and ended-up arresting a man from Shelby County. When deputies arrived at 3153 110th Street at around 5:30-p.m., they arrested 57-year-old Rex Dean McDermott, of Elk Horn, for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree – a Class D Felony, and on three-counts of Aggravated Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon – which are aggravated misdemeanors.

McDermott was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa)  – An analysis released by the Sierra Club and landowners who object to the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline suggests the project will require drawing well over three BILLION gallons of water from Iowa’s aquifers each year. Jess Mazour is the conservation coordinator for the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club.  “This is not a good use of our public water supply,” Mazour says. “We need to ensure we have water for generations to come and not squander it on a private company.”

Mazour says ethanol plants already use a significant amount of water and the pipeline would be an even bigger drain on Iowa’s water supply. “We have no idea how much water is below us underground,” Mazour says. “…Our bottom line is we need Iowa to take a long, hard look and study our aquifers and we need to deny water for carbon capture and storage for any company.”

Jess Mazour of the Sierra Club’s Iowa Chapter speaking during an online news conference June 6, 2024.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has already granted Summit a permit to withdraw up to 55 million gallons of water each year from a new well near an ethanol plant in Chickasaw County. Wally Taylor, the attorney for the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club, says the agency has been handing out water use permits like candy, without considering the impact on groundwater resources.

“The DNR sees its role as serving its customers and the customer is the applicant for a permit,” he says. “In fact, they used to call that portion of the DNR the Environmental Protection Division. Now it’s the Environmental Services Division. That tells you all you need to know.”

According to federal reports, it takes between 10 and 17 liters of water to produce ethanol. More water would be required at each ethanol plant site to cool carbon so it can be compressed, liquefied and pushed through a pipeline. More than half of Iowa’s corn crop is used to produce ethanol. Summit and corn growers who support the project say the pipeline is crucial to the survival of the ethanol industry, as more consumers demand fuel that has a low or no carbon footprint.

Summit’s pipeline would sequester carbon from 57 Midwest ethanol plants, including 30 in Iowa.

Council Bluffs, IA) – Volunteers for local southwest Iowa fire departments went above and beyond in the aftermath of recent tornadoes that damaged homes and businesses in Pottawattamie County.  According to Jacob Nelson with the Minden Volunteer Fire Department, his colleagues immediately sprang into action checking on residents and their homes, ensuring safety, assisting with gas shut offs, and clearing streets among other duties. Several first responders did so even though their own homes were directly affected, according to Jacob Nelson with the Minden Fire Department.

“Our first responders -in the following hours, days, and weeks – put their lives on hold, taking time from work to assist in the daunting task of cleanup efforts and ensure our residents felt cared for,” he said. “We are so proud to call this our hometown.”

To recognize and support these efforts, the Iowa West Foundation board of directors approved a $10,000 grant to each volunteer fire department that aided in the disaster response. In addition to Minden, 10 other southwest Iowa departments responded including Avoca, Carson, Crescent, Lewis Township, McClelland, Neola, Oakland, Treynor, Underwood, and Walnut. IWF also awarded a $4,000 grant to Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department for their response in Shelby County.

“The Minden Fire Department is beyond grateful to all those who came from all over the county, state, and country to assist in clean-up efforts,” Nelson said. “The outpouring of support for our community is something magical and brings tears to our eyes. There are so many people, businesses, and entire communities to thank.”

Iowa West Foundation’s contribution to local fire department’s is in addition to its commitment of $50,000 to match donations to the Community Foundation for Western Iowa’s Southwest Iowa Disaster Relief fund.

“We’re fully committed to bolstering the immediate relief efforts in the affected regions and aiding those who have been impacted. Our dedication extends beyond the immediate crisis, as we remain steadfast in our commitment to stand by these communities and their residents throughout the rebuilding process,” said Brenda Mainwaring, President, and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “It’s inspiring to witness the outpouring of support from individuals rallying to assist their neighbors, and the Iowa West Foundation is privileged to play a role in supporting these commendable endeavors.”
About the Iowa West Foundation

The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the Midwest. It has awarded more than $550 million to nonprofits and governmental agencies throughout southwest Iowa. Funding for the grants comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contractual fees from casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s. The Foundation targets resources into programs and projects that focus on belonging, financial stability, opportunity, and wellbeing.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — Bridgestone will be laying off some employees at its Des Moines plant. In a statement, Bridgestone confirmed the layoffs but would not specify how many workers would be impacted.

“Bridgestone regularly evaluates all aspects of its business to ensure we remain competitive and resources are allocated in a manner that best supports our business strategy,” the company said in a statement.

Bridgestone says it notified United Steelworkers (USW) leadership in Des Moines about the workforce reduction, citing “demand constraints in the agriculture tire sector.”

More athletes than ever before are taking part in this year’s edition of the Iowa Senior Games. Cory Kennedy, spokesman for the 38th annual event, says it’s gratifying to see the popularity continue to grow, year after year.

The games opened Wednesday, with many events underway at Waukee High School in metro Des Moines.

Tennis is among the 30 sports at the games. (Iowa Senior Games 2023 photo)

The sports range from football and tennis to pickleball and granny basketball.

The events run through Sunday. You have to be at least 50 years old to participate in the Iowa Senior Games, though Kennedy says they have a good number of competitors who are well into their 90s.

Originally known as the Iowa Senior Olympics, Kennedy says the event provides a venue for competition among peers with the chance to earn the gold, silver, or bronze medals awarded to the top three individuals in each age group event. Winners have the opportunity to advance to the National Senior Games and world competition.

One the web at www.iowaseniorgames.org

(Radio Iowa) – As the experts study the damage, satellite photos and other data, the number of tornadoes that have hit Iowa this year continues to rise. The National Weather Service now says Iowa has had 94 tornadoes touch down in the state this year, in what’s still considered a preliminary count.

That includes 45 tornadoes during April, which broke the record for the month of 40, set in April of 2001. We had 48 more tornadoes in May, and one confirmed so far in June. The yearly total record for Iowa is 120 tornadoes, set in 2004.

There’s still roughly three weeks left in the three-month tornado season, though twisters can strike during any month.
Back in 2021, Iowa had a record of 63 tornadoes in a single day — in December.

Each dot or streak represents a tornado, color-coded for severity. The lone red slash is the EF-4 that hit Greenfield. (National Weather Service image)

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand says auditors have identified major concerns about how a city clerk in a small southwest Iowa town handled city funds.  “Cities have multiple accounts,” Sand says, “and if funds are not properly attributed to the accounts where they are due, then you can end up in a messy situation like this.” In August of 2022, Doris Loy was fired from her job as city clerk of Lorimor, a town in Union County with fewer than 400 residents.

The state auditor’s report shows there was a quarter of a million dollar deficit in the town’s General Fund budget — and Sand says auditors found Lorimor residents were being overcharged for natural gas service and had paid 44 percent more in property taxes than was called for in city records. The report also cites Loy’s request for back-pay after she was fired. “Someone asking for payouts when they are terminated and the basis that they are asking for that on is a handbook where electronic evidence shows it was edited just shortly before that person was terminated,” Sand says. The report identified over two dozen concerns about Loy’s bookkeeping, like checks getting signed before she had authority to do so. “This is a red flag,” Sand says. “That just shouldn’t ever happen.”

State Auditor Rob Sand, speaking at a recent news conference in his statehouse office. (RI file photo)

Auditors could not find two computers the city acquired about eight months before the clerk was fired. Loy has recently been city clerk in the small communities of Woodburn and Patterson as well. In 2013, Loy was fired after working for about a decade as city clerk in Grand River. A special investigation by the State Auditor’s office in 2013 found Loy was responsible for mishandling 27-thousand dollars worth of city funds.