(Radio Iowa) – A report from the Iowa Tourism Office finds visitors spent seven-point-three BILLION dollars in Iowa during 2023, a new all-time record. The report says tourists shelled out an average of 20-million dollars — per day — experiencing all that Iowa has to offer. Chelsea Lerud, executive director of Iowa Travel Industry Partners, says the figures represent an increase from the year before of better than five-percent. “Usually, it’s in that 2-to-3% increase range,” Lerud says. “That 5% increase this year was a pleasant surprise, and it’s great to see the numbers well surpassing 2019. We’re out of that COVID downfall that the state felt in 2020.” She says tourism is all about importing dollars from outside the state so local residents don’t have to pay for all of the services we enjoy and need.

“Visitors are contributing over $800 per home to the state, to the tax base,” Lerud says. “That means that those dollars are then filtered to the municipalities to pay for our police force and our fire and things that we love as residents that we’re not having to rely on higher property taxes to support.” The study found travel-generated state and local tax receipts exceeded one-billion dollars last year, enough to pay the salaries of more than 19-thousand public school teachers. Iowa has many hidden gems for tourists, in addition to a host of attractions that are well advertised.

“The Iowa State Fair had record numbers this last year,” Lerud says, “so we’ll see that reflected in the 2024 economic impact when those numbers come out. Outdoor recreation is huge for us in the state, and so we’re seeing more people come to experience our bike trails and our waterways for canoeing and kayaking and white water and enjoying the great outdoors.” Tourism isn’t just a weekend draw, either. Larud says Iowa’s visitor economy is taking place seven days a week. “Our partners around the state are doing a fantastic job at recruiting those regional and national-level sporting events and conferences,” she says, “which are bringing in the travelers during the week as well, not just the families jumping in the car or the retired couple coming for a weekend getaway.”

The report says tourism plays a crucial role in Iowa’s job market, supporting nearly 71-thousand jobs, which accounts for more than five-percent of all employment in the state.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report a man was arrested this (Friday) morning on an OWI charge. 24-year-old Tyler Bascue, of Glenwood, was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and driving under suspension. He posted a $2,300 bond, and was released from the Mills County Jail.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Oct. 18, 2024 – If you travel on Interstate 29 near Iowa 141 (exit 127) at Sloan you need to be aware of an upcoming ramp paving project that may slow down your trip, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Sioux City construction office. The southbound I-29 on-ramp and the northbound I-29 off-ramp at Iowa 141 (exit 127) at Sloan will be closed beginning at noon on Monday, Oct. 21. The ramps will reopen at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, weather permitting. During the ramp closures, oversize loads will not be permitted through the cities of Whiting or Sloan and the following marked detours will be in place:

Southbound Detour: From I-29 at the Iowa 141 interchange (exit 127), you will travel east on Iowa 141, travel south on Woodbury/Monona County Road K-45/Old Highway 75, travel west on Monona County E-24 near Whiting, and then south on I-29 (exit 120).
Northbound Detour: You will exit at the interchange with Monona County Road E-24 (exit 120), travel east on Monona County Road E-24, travel north on Woodbury/Monona County Road K-45/Old Highway 75 to Sloan and Iowa 141.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, Thursday, announced her Small Business of the Week: Greenfield Dental of Adair County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. “While you may think you know the drill with dentists, Greenfield Dental is putting a smile on every face,” said Ranking Member Ernst. “You would think Dr. Frost is as popular as the tooth fairy given all of the rave reviews. The Greenfield Dental team really knows how to fill a need in our community!”

In 2018, Dr. Ryan Frost graduated from the University of Iowa’s College of Dentistry. Following graduation, Dr. Frost moved to work at Greenfield Family Dentistry. In 2020, he became the owner and merged with Nodaway Valley Dental to establish Greenfield Dental. Dr. Frost expanded from four workspaces to eleven and further invested in 3D X-ray imaging technology, which enabled Greenfield Dental to provide same-day emergency care, in-office root canals, and dental implant procedures.

In addition to his role at the practice, Dr. Frost is the treasurer for the Greenfield Main Street Chamber Board and aided in the community’s tornado clean-up and recovery this past spring. This fall, Greenfield Dental will celebrate its fourth business anniversary.

(Radio Iowa) – Court records show a 58-year-old northern Iowa man has agreed to plead guilty to second degree murder for killing a nurse who worked in Mason City. Sixty-two-year-old Leallen Bergman of Ventura was stabbed to death at a home in Britt last year. Police responding to a disturbance at the address encountered Monte Eckels before they entered the home and found Bergman’s body. Eckels was charged with first degree murder, but earlier this year he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial.

After receiving treatment, a judge ruled he was mentally fit for a trial, which had been scheduled in December. By pleading guilty to second degree murder, Eckels will be eligible for parole after serving 35 years in prison.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation news release identified Eckels as being from Britt, where the murder happened, but Iowa D-O-T records show Eckels has a Titonka address.

DES MOINES—Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warns Iowans to be on high alert for government imposter scams. Her warning, Thursday, follows an instance last on Oct. 10th, where a scammer attempted to defraud a woman by calling from what appeared to be the Iowa Attorney General’s office’s phone number. Government imposter scams occur when a scammer pretends to be affiliated with a government agency to trick Iowans into sending money. Scammers often claim to be from agencies such as the Iowa Department of Revenue, Social Security Administration, or law enforcement.

“Scammers are master manipulators who will lie and scare people to get their way,” said Attorney General Bird. “I am warning Iowans to be on the lookout because these scammers will stop at nothing to steal from you, even if it means impersonating my office or law enforcement. If you or someone you know is suspicious of a call, please hang up and call my office at 888-777-4590.”

On Oct. 10th, the Iowa Attorney General’s office was alerted of a scammer who was spoofing the Iowa Attorney General office’s phone number to deceive people. A scammer, using an Iowa phone number, called a woman in Oregon and left a voicemail claiming to be a special agent with the Department of Justice. The concerned woman immediately forwarded a transcript of the voicemail to her husband. He returned the scammer’s call and asked for proof of identification or government affiliation. The scammer refused and instead insisted on calling back from a “main line” to prove they were a special agent. As the scammer called back from a different Iowa phone number, the husband found online that the number appearing on the caller ID was associated with the Iowa Attorney General’s office. The husband then confronted the scammer, but the scammer evaded questions and abruptly ended the call. The husband immediately reported the scam to the Iowa Attorney General’s office.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird (file photo)

How to Spot a Government Imposter Scam:

• Unexpected Contact: Scammers call out of the blue and claim to be affiliated with a government agency.
• Threats: They use scare tactics, including threats of arrest, deportation, or fines.
• Demands for Immediate Payment: Scammers ask for money to solve a problem, such as paying taxes, fines, or fees. They also ask for the money to be sent via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency—all methods where it is near impossible to retrieve the stolen money.
• Flawed Emails or Letters: They send fake letters or emails that look like they are from a legitimate agency but contain spelling errors or mismatched logos.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Verify the Source: If suspicious of someone claiming to be from a government agency, hang up or ignore the message. Use a verified phone number to directly call the agency.
• Use Official Channels: Always check the official website of the government agency for communication, guidelines, or instructions.
• Be Skeptical of Threats: Government agencies and law enforcement will not make threats of immediate arrest or ask for payment over the phone.
• Protect Your Pocketbook: Never provide personal or financial information over the phone, text, or email.

If you or someone you know has been targeted by a government imposter scam, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s office at 888-777-4590 or file a complaint online: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint.

(Creston, Iowa) –  Police in Creston, Thursday night, arrested a woman on an OWI charge. Authorities report 31-year-old Paige Nicole Ruggle, of Creston, was arrested at around 11:20-p.m. at McKinley Lake. Ruggle was charged with Operating While Under the Influence – 1st Offense. She was taken to Union County Jail and later released after posting a $1,000 bond.