(Radio Iowa) – Frank Fritz, the Iowan who gained fame on the “American Pickers” TV show, suffered a massive stroke in July and court records indicate a judge has appointed a temporary guardian to oversee his care.

A judge has appointed a long-time friend of Fritz as a temporary guardian, to make decisions about Fritz’s personal affairs. The judge put a local bank in charge of the former reality TV star’s finances.

Fritz, who is 58, was found in his Davenport home in July and rushed to a hospital for treatment of a stroke. He is currently being cared for in a rehabilitation facility and a friend recently told the Quad City Times Fritz is getting better every single day.

American Pickers was launched on the History Channel in 2010 and quickly became a hit. Fritz’s departure from the program was announced in the middle of last year.

(Radio Iowa) – The C-E-O and manager of the Iowa State Fair is retiring. Gary Slater is a Missouri native who served as manager of the Missouri State Fair and the World Pork Expo before taking the top job at the Iowa State Fair 21 years ago. During his tenure, the Fair topped the one million attendance mark, saw multiple upgrades and changes to the buildings on the grounds, and led it through the pandemic cancellation in 2021.

Slater released a statement saying it has been “an honor of a lifetime to lead the Iowa State Fair.” Slater says his retirement comes with the Fair in a good place, having returned to pre-pandemic revenue levels, and he looks forward to spending more time with his family.

Gary Slater near the end of the 2022 Iowa State Fair. (RI photo)

Council Bluffs, Iowa – Officials in Pottawattamie County, today (Wednesday) unveiled a modern logo system that represents the storied history of residents and communities Pottawattamie County serves. The announcement comes after several logos and images were used to identify county departments and services. From Conservation to Public Health, colors and branding varied greatly. Most departments will now share the same brand image as Pottawattamie County, providing what county leaders say is much needed clarity. County Supervisor Justin Schultz says the “…announcement measures excitement beyond words. Sharing a common operating picture of the future will greatly clarify what we do for our residents. This takes Pottawattamie County to the next level.”

Modern-day Pottawattamie County evolved out of the Pottawattamie Purchase of 1847. It was named after the Native American tribe Potawatomi, that once possessed the Iowa Territory. Potawatomi is a Native American term meaning “Keepers of the Council Fires,” or “Makers of Fire.” Pottawattamie County is paying tribute to its history with the new brand. Along with a large P, the logo features a feather transitioning to a flame with the new county slogan “Find Your Fire.” The tribe has given its official approval of both. County Supervisors Chairman Tim Wichman says “Not only is the new slogan a reference to our great history, but to our bright future as well. We feel ‘Find Your Fire’ can also describe finding your passion. No matter what that is, we’re confident you can find it in Pottawattamie County.”

The transition for Pottawattamie County includes updating brand imaging on the county website, multiple department websites, and county owned social media channels. Signage and county vehicles will also be appropriately marked, though completing those changes will take time. “This is going to be a process, but a fun one,” said Schultz. “Our logo is the work of creativity at its best. It’s an image that instantly speaks to you and draws your attention, leaving you curious for more.”

Digital presentations, letterhead, email signatures and business cards will also reflect Pottawattamie County’s new branding. The official county seal will continue to be used in official county business, but residents should become familiar with the new brand system. “A brand is so much more than a logo, it’s an identity,” said Wichman. “With a shared image across multiple departments, our residents will easily recognize who we are and the services we provide. It’s a big deal.”

Pottawattamie County also announced plans to consolidate its online presence. Along with separate branding, several departments owned independent websites. The process to move content from those websites to the county website pottcounty-ia.gov may take months to complete, but the Board of Supervisors believes that offering a centralized location for residents to find information on all county related services is an important step. “The County is listening, and we believe that finding information about county government and services should not be a complicated process,” said Schultz. “Centralizing our resources and providing a user-friendly website will help simplify the experience and provide more effective routes for us to communicate with our residents.”

The new county slogan was created through a county employee submittal contest. Committees consisting of up to two members of the Board of Supervisors, and several employees, played an active role in deciding appropriate steps in the transition and selecting the final logo design created by Right Idea Media & Creative in Council Bluffs.

For more information on the new logo system visit https://www.pottcounty-ia.gov/find_your_fire/

(Radio Iowa) – The corn and bean harvest moved ahead quickly last week. The U-S-D-A report shows the beans in the bin went from 26 percent two weeks to 55 percent last week. The bean harvest had been one day behind the five-year average, but is now nine days ahead of that mark. The amount of corn pulled from the fields more than doubled from 11 percent two weeks ago, to 23 percent this past week.

The corn harvest is three days behind average. The corn condition rose slightly to 63 percent good to excellent.

(Radio Iowa) – A new report finds poll worker pay for the 2020 Primary and General Elections in at least one dozen counties was either not approved by the county’s board of supervisors or was higher than authorized. The review was launched after news reports that Scott County’s auditor had approved paying precinct election workers 15 dollars an hour. That exceeded the 10 dollar an hour rate approved by the Scott County Board of Supervisors. State Auditor Rob Sand’s office reviewed poll worker pay in Scott County and 15 other counties. The report cites seven counties for either paying poll workers more than had been approved by the county’s board of supervisors or providing something like unapproved small bonuses for working during a pandemic. Five of the 16 counties had no documentation of board of supervisors approval of election workers’ pay.

The state auditor’s report also indicates eight counties had discrepancies in calculating the number of hours or mileage reimbursements for poll workers in 2020. There’s a link to the 22 page report at Radio Iowa dot com. Under state law, temporary election workers are technically temporary STATE employees being paid by the counties. The state auditor’s report recommends that the secretary of state’s office develop new procedures to monitor poll worker pay. NONE of the discrepancies from 2020 that are cited in the report are subject to new fines the legislature approved in 2021 for election-related infractions.

Among the Counties in the state auditor’s review, was: Adams, Black Hawk, Boone, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Des Moines, Dickinson, Harrison, Howard, Linn, Louisa, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold and Scott.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) -Two men from Florida who were wanted on multiple warrants from Iowa and elsewhere, were arrested this (Wednesday) morning after the vehicle they were in crashed during a pursuit. A man from Shelby County was injured during the incident. Iowa State Patrol Trooper/Public Resource Officer Ryan Devault told KJAN News the incident began at around 7:08-a.m., when a Trooper tried to initiate a traffic stop on a speeding 2022 Ford Explore with Florida license plates on Interstate 80 at mile marker 35.
The SUV accelerated at a high rate of speed, resulting in a pursuit.

The vehicle weaved and out of traffic during the chase. Stop sticks were used twice before the SUV went out of control on I-80 westbound at mile marker 7, and struck a 2013 GMC Terrain, driven by 67-year-old Donald Sorensen, of Portsmouth.

The injured Sorensen was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs for treatment of minor, non life-threatening injuries. The suspects took off on foot. One of the subjects tried to enter a nearby assisted living facility, but the doors were locked. The arrested suspects were identified 26-year-old Victory Ogiste, from Fort Lauderdale, FL. And 28-year-old Xavier Najee, from Plantation, Florida. Both men had outstanding warrants. Ogiste’s warrants were from Black Hawk and Hamilton Counties, in Iowa. Najee had warrants out of North and South Carolina, Tennesse and Virginia. They will face additional charges following the incident in Pottawattamie County.

Traffic was backed-up for at least three-miles following the crash and during the investigation.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Traffic was backed-up for at least miles for a while, following a pursuit that reportedly began near Underwood, and ended with two suspects arrested this (Wednesday) morning. The chase ended on the eastern side of Council Bluffs at the seven mile-marker of Interstate 80 westbound, near Highway 6/Iowa Western Community College. Additional details are currently not available.

Photo from Trooper Ryan DeVault via Twitter

DOT traffic cams of where the pursuit ended (Via CB PD Facebook page)

(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation is hosting their 7th Biennial Lighted Halloween Campground, on October 22nd. The event takes place from 7-until 9-p.m., at Cold Springs Park in Lewis. The Lighted Halloween Campground is meant to be a great. non-scary, Family Friendly and FREE, drive into the night!

Prizes will be for the top three voted sites, and for some special categories. Prizes are donated by event sponsor, Cappel’s Ace Hardware. The LHC event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.

(Ladora, Iowa) – A Trailways bus driver from Omaha faces OWI and possession of prescription drug charges, after his passengers reported he was driving erratically. The Iowa State Patrol says Floyd Tilmon, of Omaha,  was driving the bus westbound on Interstate 80 south of Ladora, Monday, when passengers on-board reported the vehicles was all over the road. The said also, the bus hit a semi and a passenger vehicle.

According to court documents, Tilmon said he may have accidentally taken the wrong pill. Police said Tilmon was in possession of Zolpidem Tartrate pills, “which were not in the lawfully dispensed container by prescription.” He was arrested and transported to the Poweshiek County Jail. No injuries were reported. Trailways sent another driver and bus to pick up the passengers.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman from Montgomery County was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges that include (Felony) Neglect of a Dependent Person, and Child Endangerment (Agg. Misdemeanor). Red Oak Police report 29-year-old Chantal Kaye Sperling, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 4:40-p.m., at a residence in the 700 block of Skyline Drive. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $10,000 bond.