(Radio Iowa) – An archaeological dig in northwest Iowa at the site of what’s known as the Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857 has uncovered an item potentially used during the battle. State Archaeological Director John Doershuk is also a University of Iowa professor. He supervised a four-week long Archaeological Field School in Spirit Lake this summer for students from Iowa colleges and universities. “We got very lucky. We found a gun flint the second to last day from a buried, secure context,” he says. “That is exactly the type of weaponry that both the native peoples and the settlers coming into this area would have been using in this area at that time.”

About three dozen European settlers were killed in the battle with members of the Dakota tribe. Abbie Gardner was taken captive and released for a ransom a few months later. Three decades later, Gardner published a memoir about her experience and in 1891 she purchased her family’s cabin. Most of the items uncovered this summer date from 1891 to 1921. “Which was the return of Abbie Gardner Sharp to purchase the property, set up a tourism business,” he says, “and the majority of what we found corresponds to that, including a trash dump, which was just chock-a-block full.”

A student uncovered a silver dime minted in 1899. “A real nice time marker,” he says. “That is what I think Abbie was charging at that time — a dime to get into the show.” And it was one of Doershuk’s students who found the gun flint. Doershuk is planning to return to the site next year for another four-week dig for students. He’s hoping to find evidence of Native American deposits from the 1840s, including the Dakota village that’s been referenced in historic documents from that era.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater has issued a report on arrests and citations. Friday night, 25-year-old Jose Medrano, of Creston, was arrested by Police in Stuart on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)-Marijuana/1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Medrano was released the next day on a $1,300 cash or surety bond. At around 12:45-a.m. Friday, 23-year-old Jenna Shane Christensen, of Fontanelle, was arrested by an Adair County Sheriff’s Deputy, for OWI/1st offense. Her Breath Alcohol Content registered .114%. Christensen was released later on a citation.

On July 13th, Adair County Deputies arrested 40-year-old Julie Ann Holmes, of Des Moines, on an Adair County Felony warrant for Violation of Probation. She remains held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. On July 10th, 48-year-old Eric Wayne Whiting, of Stuart, was arrested in Stuart, for Driving While Barred. He was released the following day, on his Own Recognizance.

And, on July 9th, 19-year-old Johnathon Scott Clarke, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Adair County on a warrant out of Guthrie County. Clarke was subsequently turned over to Guthrie County Sheriff’s Deputies.

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities are asking for tips from the public after a man was found dead in a residential area of Clinton. Clinton Police say they were responding to a report of gunshots in the area shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday and they found 43-year-old Antoine Sampson of Clinton lying in an intersection. The news release from the department did not offer other information about Sampson’s death, but Clinton Police said there does not appear to be any ongoing threats to the community. Police say people who phone in tips about the case can remain anonymous.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood are reporting three recent arrests. Today (Monday, 7/18), 43-year-old William Jensen, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County Warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree and and Trespass in the 1st Degree. His cash-only bond was set at $300.

On Sunday, 22-year-old Nicholas Foster, of Red Oak, was arrested for unlawful possession of prescription drugs and possession of marijuana. His total cash or surety bond was set at $2,000. And, on Saturday, Glenwood Police arrested 29-year-old Aaron Jansen, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000.

AMES, Iowa – July 18, 2022 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting public input for three proposed bridge replacement projects on Iowa Highway 2, east of I-29. Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2024. Through traffic on Iowa 2 will be detoured using U.S. 275 and I-29 to the south through the town of Hamburg. For more information, see the website listed below.

To review the pre-recorded PowerPoint, visit the Iowa DOT’s project-related public involvement event website at www.iowadot.gov/pim If you do not have access to the internet, or need assistance viewing the materials, please contact the DOT representative listed below.

For general information or to make a comment regarding the proposed bridge projects, contact Scott Suhr, field services coordinator, Iowa DOT District 4 Office, 2210 E. Seventh St, Atlantic, IA 50022, phone 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368, email scott.suhr@iowadot.us.

(Radio Iowa) – The Des Moines Register “Iowa Poll” shows Governor Kim Reynolds widening her lead over Democratic challenger Deidre DeJear. In February, the Register’s “Iowa Poll” found Reynolds leading DeJear by eight points. The new survey shows 48 percent of likely voters support Reynolds and 31 percent support DeJear — a 17 point margin. The February survey asked likely voters about Reynolds and DeJear, while this month’s poll asked about other candidates. Rick Stewart, the Libertarian candidate for governor, got five percent support. Nine percent of those surveyed said they weren’t sure who they’d vote for in the General Election.

An Iowa Poll on the state’s U-S Senate race released Saturday found incumbent Republican Chuck Grassley leading Democratic challenger Mike Franken by eight points.