Siouxland Garden Show In Its 12th Year
(Sioux City) — The 12th annual Siouxland Garden Show begins today and will run through Saturday. This year, the garden show moves back to familiar territory. It will be held at the Delta Center, formerly known as the Marina Inn Conference Center in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Katelyn Brinkerhoff serves as Woodbury County Extension Horticultural Educator and
says during the two days, more than 24 different speakers will be offering educational sessions.
Brinkerhoff says a couple of educational sessions will focus on the invasive Emerald Ash Borer that has been detected in several Iowa counties, and also nature photography.
In addition, there will be educational seminars focusing on the various aspects of garden care, landscaping, and creating a butterfly habitat.
Brinkerhoff says the garden show will feature more than 40 exhibitors, and attendees will have the opportunity to purchase plants, flowers, and crafts.
There will be features appealing to children as the Iowa State University Insect Zoo will be on hand.
The garden show will also host a winter farmers’ market. Admission is just $5 with children under 12 can get in free.
State Supreme Court Rules Police Departments Can Keep Investigative Reports Secret
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that police departments can keep investigative reports secret even after an inquiry has concluded.
The finding is significant because it could be used by municipalities to justify withholding a range of documents, including video, from the public and media.
The court ruled Friday that an exemption to the Iowa Open Records Act for police reports does not apply only to ongoing investigations. Instead, the ruling says lawmakers intended to treat those reports — which often include video from police cameras, audio of 911 calls and other records — as
confidential indefinitely.
Justice Thomas Waterman says police only have to release the “immediate facts and circumstances” of a crime or incident under the law.
The finding came in a dispute between the city of Cedar Rapids and a black motorist who was shot and paralyzed after a struggle with a white officer.
The court says a judge didn’t err by ordering the city to turn over some records related to that shooting without a protective order barring their public release.
University of Dubuque Receives Organ As Gift
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The University of Dubuque says a $2.4 million organ with more than 3,000 pipes will be installed in the university’s Heritage Center.
The Opus 97 pipe organ is being constructed by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, of Lake City. The pipes will range in length from the size of a pen to 32 feet (9.75 meters). It will be used for campus events such as worship, convocations and choir performances and will be a practice and recital instrument as well.
The university said Friday that the organ is a gift from university trustee John Butler and his wife, Alice, for whom the Heritage Center’s John and Alice Butler Hall is named.
Construction began in Dobson’s workshop last year. The university says installation will begin in May 2020 and be completed by November 2020.
Davenport City Officials To Consider Pedestrian And Bicycle Traffic For Long-term Traffic Patterns
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport aldermen are considering adding a transportation network expansion plan for bicyclists and pedestrians to the city’s list of long-term goals.
The Quad-City Times reports that the Davenport GO plan was nearly two years in the making.
Backers say the plan components would increase pedestrian and cyclist safety, reduce vehicle emissions and draw more cycle enthusiasts to the city. They say more bike lanes and walkways would improve public health.
Several aldermen say they’ll vote for the plan at next week’s meeting. Alderman Kyle Gripp says big biking races and trails are a growing attraction in the area.
Aldermen already approved next year’s budget without any money earmarked for Davenport GO projects, which means the plan’s dreams could take some time to realize.
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Tree Falls On Northern Iowa Woman — Killing Her
OSAGE, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa sheriff says a woman was fatally injured when a tree fell on her.
The accident occurred around 3:10 p.m. Thursday in Osage. Mitchell County Sheriff Gregory Beaver says 52-year-old Jacqueline Kapustynski was clearing an area of trees when one that had gotten lodged against another fell, striking her.
She was pronounced dead at the scene. Beaver says Kapustynski lived in Mason City.
