Vision Iowa Board To Meet To Discuss Sioux City Park Funding
SIOUX CITY (AP) – The board of directors of an Iowa economic development group will meet next month to discuss concerns over a state grant awarded to help create a Christian park in Sioux City.
Vision Iowa board will meet June 11th to discuss whether it should take any action after the Freedom From Religion Foundation, of Madison, Wisconsin, complained about funding the Christian-themed park with public money.
The group says the $140,000 grant to The Shepherd’s Garden violates the U.S. and Iowa constitutions.
Iowa Economic Development Authority spokeswoman Tina Hoffman has said the state grant money would pay only for green space at the park and not for any of the project’s religious elements.
Iowa DOT To Review Traffic Cameras In Six Cities
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Six Iowa cities have submitted reports outlining traffic camera use to state transportation officials and now await word on whether they’ll be able to keep their speed and red light cameras on state-run highways and interstates.
The Iowa Department of Transportation implemented rules in February dictating where and why cameras can be installed along state roads and requiring local jurisdictions to submit reports by May 1st justifying camera placement. Steve Gent, director of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s office of traffic and safety, says the department plans to review the reports in coming weeks.
The cities are Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Muscatine and Sioux City.
Gent says the review process will involve collaboration between DOT and local officials to fully understand why cities believe cameras are needed.
Judge Asks For Improved Security At Courts
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A central Iowa district judge is calling on Madison County and other officials to beef up security at county courthouses in the wake of a gun incident in March.
Iowa Fifth Judicial District Chief Judge Arthur Gamble recently told judges from the 16 counties he oversees that they need to start talking with sheriffs and county supervisors about putting deputies in courtrooms when court is in session to protect judges and the public.
The conversations are part of an effort to avoid a situation similar to the March 24th incident in Winterset, when a man pulled a handgun out of his pocket as a deputy tried to handcuff him. The man was captured after briefly escaping.
RaceTrack Death
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Race track officials say a car bumper sent airborne when a hobby stock car crashed at the Iowa State Fair Speedway is what killed a track volunteer.
The volunteer spotter was behind cement blocks in the backstretch on the north side of the track when the crash happened Friday night.
Authorities have not yet named the volunteer killed, but Midwest Racing Promotions, which manages speedway races, identified the man as 45-year-old Richard Welch.
Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Ben Lampe says the car lost control on the dirt track at about 8:30 p.m. and hit part of the concrete barrier, and debris went over the barrier.
Worker Rescued
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Rescue crews tunneled through two walls at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to save a worker who fell into a large ventilation shaft.
The man was performing work on the hospital roof when fell down the 25-foot deep shaft about 7:50 a.m. Friday.
Iowa City Fire Department Batallion Chief Brian Platz says the shaft was about two stories deep.
Nearby ambulance workers were able to lower a ladder down and start treatment before rescue crews cut through walls to reach him about 30 minutes later.
Platz says the man was conscious and alert during the ordeal.
Dog Saves Family From Fire
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Members of a West Des Moines family discovered a fire in their garage, thanks to their 7-year-old dog.
Three residents in a home say they were awakened by their dog’s barking around 2 a.m. Friday. The residents then discovered a fire in the garage and escaped outside.
West Des Moines fire officials tell the Des Moines Register that the fire started in a vehicle’s engine compartment.
The fire damaged three vehicles and the interior of the garage, but the main portion of the home only sustained minor smoke damage.
Damage costs are estimated around $70,000. No injuries were reported.
