(Afton, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol late Saturday evening in a **CORRECTED** report, released the names of the victims of a crash that occurred late Friday night, in Union County. Authorities say 19-year-old Halsie Lynn Barnes, of Tingley, died at the scene.

19-year-old Ella Jo Leonard, of Winterset**, was injured and flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Both were passengers in a 2017 Chevy Malibu that was struck nearly broadside by a 2016 Ford F-350 pickup. The crash happened at around 10:28-p.m., Friday, at Highway 34 and 190th Street in Union County.

According to the report, the pickup, driven by 59-year-old Andy David Merritt, of Seymour, was traveling east on Highway 34 approaching 190th Street, when the Malibu, driven by 19-year-old Madalynn Mae Stewart, of Maloy (IA), failed to stop at the stop sign on 190th Street. When the car entered Highway 34, it was struck on the driver’s side. Both vehicles ended-up in the north ditch.

Madalynn Stewart, and another other passenger in the car, 20-year-old Abigail Dawn Barnes, of Lamoni, were injured. Stewart was flown by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Barnes was transported to Methodist Hospital by ambulance. Andy Merritt, and 62-year-old Julia Ann Merritt, of Seymour, were injured and transported by a relative to their residence.

Halsie Barnes, Madalynn Stewart, Abigail Barnes, and Andy Merritt, were not wearing seat belts. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, along with Union and Clarke County EMS.

NOTE: The Patrol’s initial report early Saturday morning DID indicate 1 fatality. Saturday afternoon, however, it was changed to 2 fatalities. About 2-hours later, they changed the report AGAIN, with the clarification of 1 fatality.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, this past Wednesday, approved an Order to restrict down Chestnut Street parking spaces for a special event that takes place on August 19th. The Downtown Block Party/Food Truck event is being planned by four local businesses: Homebody; Brown’s Shoe Fit; Unique Salon, and Atlantic Jazzercise. The ordinance states that food trucks cannot park adjacent to brick-and-mortar businesses. At the time the order was passed, the nearby Xu’s Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant was still closed, but the owner has posted on social media, that the business was expected to re-open August 1st.

It remains to be seen how that will affect the plans for a a food truck parked across parking stalls on the right-of-way.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that repeals a subsection of the City’s Code of Ordinances, with regard to permitted truck parking.

City Administrator John Lund notes the ordinance is a “technical correction,” that allows truck parking on certain city-owned lots north of the railroad tracks. The lots have been leased for years to Murphy Heavy Construction.

The section being removed (69.11) states “All motor trucks, semi-trailers, semi-trailer tractors or any other motor vehicle with trailer attached may park, without charge, at the “truck/truck trailer parking area, located on Lots 31,32,33 and 34 in Walker’s Addition to the City of Atlantic, with an address of 110 State Street.”

Murphy’s trucks are not affected by the change, since he has a lease with the City. There currently is no designated truck parking within the City.

July 21, 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) – Today (Friday), the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for four companies, which will assist in the creation of 226 jobs and result in nearly $45 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Eldridge, Nevada, Osage and Story City.

The board also approved innovation funding in support of five startups located in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Denison and Slater. Earlier this week, IEDA approved assistance from Iowa’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) for an innovation startup in Coralville.

MOD Advisor, Inc., headquartered in Denison, was awarded a $100,000 Demonstration Fund loan for IP development and evaluation, proof of concept work, product refinement, key personnel and market planning and entry activities.

MOD Advisor, Inc. automates the process of performing workers’ compensation experience mod analysis. This software helps businesses make an instant decision on claims with a more efficient and simplified real-time analysis between policyholder, broker and carrier.

(Radio Iowa) – Tensions continue to run high over plans for the proposed carbon pipelines. Some Kossuth County residents questioned the County Board of Supervisors this week about their actions at the end of a recent meeting with representatives of a carbon pipeline company.

One resident asked about a gesture made by a pipeline representative. “As they’re walking out one of them, gives a thumbs up to the board and there were some gestures from board members back to that. How do you explain to the public that you guys are on their side and not in cahoots with pipeline members or representatives that don’t even live in this county or pay taxes in this county?,” he asked. Another resident asked a similar question.

Navigator map of proposed pipeline route.

Fourth District Supervisor Kyle Stecker spoke up about his acknowledgment of the pipeline representatives. “I was asked after the meeting if I noticed the thumbs up. No, I didn’t, I nodded as people were walking out. Common courtesy beyond that had no meaning to me,” he says. “So whatever thumbs up anyone does inadvertently don’t really pay attention to it. Simple as that.”

Second District Supervisor Jack Plathe said the supervisors are working for the landowners, but said he couldn’t go into detail on that. The Navigator pipeline route would run through Kossuth County if it is approved.

(Radio Iowa) – The D-N-R says Iowa’s air quality is good today (Friday), but we’ve had several bouts with very unhealthy air in recent days, weeks and months, due to the wildfire smoke wafting in from Canada. Now, an ophthalmologist says all of that smoke could be leading to more cases of dry eye syndrome. Doctor Omar Awad says the condition is often worse in the winter, but not this year.

Awad says it can be treated with a warm compress to the eyelid, topical lubricants and anti-inflammatory medicines.