(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol says there was one fatal, and one injury accident Saturday in the State. A three-vehicle crash in eastern Iowa’s Benton County resulted in a death. The Patrol says a 2012 Ford Focus was traveling west on 77th Street at around 2-p.m., and pulling a 1997 motorcycle with a rope. Both vehicles were traveling very slow. A 2015 VW Passat was also westbound on 77th Street and unable to stop before striking the motorcycle.

The cycle was pushed into the back of the Ford Focus, causing the motorcyclist to be ejected from their machine. The Ford rotated 180-degrees and faced east on the north shoulder of the road. The motorcycle ended-up in the north ditch, and the VW stopped on the north shoulder of the road. The operator of the motorcycle died from their injuries at St. Lukes Hospital. Their name and those of the others involved in the crash, were not released.

The other accident happened in Floyd County at around 7:22-p.m., Saturday. The Patrol says 39-year-old Joshua W. Duitscher, of Nora Springs, was traveling east on 115th Street when the 2004 Dodge he was driving went out of control and into the south ditch before rolling multiple times into a field. Duitscher was not wearing a seat belt. He was ejected from the vehicle and transported to the hospital by Mason City Ambulance. The crash remains under investigation.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report that on Thursday, June 15th, 10th street between Olive and Spruce Streets, will be blocked off for the removal of a large tree in that area. Authorities say large equipment will be brought in and used to accomplish the task, which could pose danger to vehicles on the road.

Please plan your travels accordingly as the work is expected to take most of the day, Thursday.

(Lewis, Iowa) – The male operator of a motorcycle was injured Friday night in Cass County (IA), when the machine failed to negotiate a curve, entered a ditch and rolled at least twice. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened at around 10:22-p.m., Friday, at Oxford Road and Lewis Road.

The unidentified man was flown by air ambulance to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, for treatment of what were described as life-threatening injuries. The accident remains under investigation. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted at the scene by Cass EMS, the Griswold and Lewis Fire Departments, and Life Flight, out of Audubon.

(Radio Iowa) – A new walking tour in the Iowa Great Lakes includes information about where music icons like Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash performed. Rebecca Peters is the director of Okoboji Tourism.  “People are always looking for a unique way to experience this area,” Peters says. “We really loved the idea of a walking tour because you get to explore the Arnolds Park area and you get to learn a little bit about some great rock and roll history.” The Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park was the second largest dance hall in the country when it opened in 1923. The Glenn Miller Orchestra was among its earliest bookings. In the 1950s, the venue began hosting rock ‘n roll acts. The Beach Boys performed there in 1963. Peters co-authored a book about the ballroom.

“We got to visit with people and hear stories about how friends would pile into their car and get as many people into a car as possible and come to Arnolds Park to listen to great music,” Peters says. “…Music has always drawn people here and so I think it’s really special to be able to have this walking tour that just remembers that history.”

The original ballroom was torn down in 1987. A brand new Roof Garden opened in 2019. That’s where the walking tour starts, at displays of memorabilia like signed contracts and posters for some of the concerts at the Roof Garden. The second stop is at the Iowa Rock and Roll Music Association Museum. The final stop is at the site of the original Roof Garden Ballroom. Walkers can stand on a newly installed star positioned where the ballroom’s center stage was located — and bands like The Turtles performed.

(Radio Iowa) – A new book offers a glimpse into what it was like to grow up about a century ago in the small north-central Iowa town of Duncombe (DUN-cum). Author and former Webster City resident Kent Wills, who uses the pen name Jack Weicz, is releasing the book this week called “Duncombe Gal.” Wills says it’s about a woman in the last year of her long life reflecting back on her many experiences as a member of what’s considered the Greatest Generation.

While the woman is Wills’ mother, who was from Duncombe, he says it’s a work of biographical fiction as he had to imagine certain conversations. He says his mother never longed for more than an ordinary life while living through one of the most remarkable times in American history. The 77-page book is available on Amazon and Kindle.