The Broadway musical production of the Iowa-based love story, “The Bridges of Madison County,” will open its first-ever national tour at the Civic Center in Des Moines later this year. Jeff Chelesvig, president and C-E-O of Des Moines Performing Arts, says it’s a “real coup” to land the premiere show. It’s based on the best-selling romance novel from 1992 which was followed by a tear-jerking Hollywood blockbuster three years later, starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

“I think of the three versions of “The Bridges of Madison County,” this is the version that tells the story most beautifully because of its score and because it really gets into areas of where Francesca came from and tells the story of her and the family,” Chelesvig says. “It also talks about the people of Iowa in a beautiful and caring way.” Des Moines Performing Arts was an investor in the Broadway production which won two Tony Awards last June.

Based in the picturesque rural county in southeast Iowa, it’s considered by some to be one of the most romantic stories ever written, about two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance and much more. Chelesvig anticipates tickets will go exceptionally fast and it will be a huge tourism boost for central Iowa.  “I think this is going to be a huge draw in a number of ways,” Chelesvig says. “People around Iowa, of course, know the story and know about the bridges of Madison County. All of the folks from the convention and visitors bureau and from Madison County are all so thrilled that we are going to be opening this and they are looking forward to selling it.”

Des Moines has hosted at least four previous launches for national Broadway productions, including “State Fair” in 1995 and “The Music Man” in 2001. “Bridges” will play in Des Moines November 28th through December 5th, followed by a six-week run in Los Angeles.

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police Department reports two women were arrested on felony forgery charges Tuesday, following a lengthy investigation that encompassed part of Mills County and stretched into the State of Missouri. Officials say 23-year old Desiree Pauline Willis and 23-year old Jessica Lynn Hardman, both of Red Oak, were taken into custody. Willis was arrested at around 3:10-p.m on seven counts of Forgery, while Hardman was arrested just before 7-p.m on a single forgery charge. Both women were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 cash bond, each.

And, at around 1:45-p.m., Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 51-year old David James Altstad, of Red Oak, on charges that include Possession of Marijuana/3rd offense, Possession of Meth/2nd offense, and Delivery of a Controlled Substance/Meth -2nd offense. Altstad was taken into custody at 2nd and Nuckols Street in Red Oak, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $14,000 bond.

An accident at a food-processing plant in Oakland Tuesday morning has reportedly left one person injured.  Officials with OSI issued a statement to the media Tuesday afternoon saying “At approximately 11:30 this morning, a contractor was servicing a piece of equipment when the accident occurred outside of the plant. The contractor’s employee was transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs via Oakland Fire and Rescue and the extent of injuries is unknown, but the person has been discharged from the hospital.”

Some reports from employees on their social media sites made reference to a generator exploding  outside the facility, but that has not been confirmed.

The discussion got a little heated during a meeting Tuesday night of the Glenwood City Council, when several residents in the crowd of more five-dozen complained about the Council’s vote to raise property taxes in order to replenish the city’s general fund and to pay for two street projects on the south side of town. According to the Omaha World-Herald, residents alleged mismanagement on the part of city officials led to the general fund being drained. Some residents also said that the council should try cutting the budget instead of raising taxes, and that the proposed street projects should be more modest.