A collision involving three motorcycles in northwest Iowa’s Buena Vista County, Friday night, left two dead and one person injured. All of the victims are from Storm Lake. According to the Iowa State Patrol a 2020 Honda CBR600RA operated by 39-year-old Luis Angel Garcia Contreras, a 2013 Honda CBR1000RR operated by 28-year-old Phya Soe Aung, and a 2005 Yamaha YZFR6L operated by 30-year-old Martin De Jesus Cruz, were all westbound on Buena Vista County road C-65 at around 9:40-p.m,., when Garcia Contreras made a U-turn into the path of Aung’s motorcycle.

Aung’s Honda struck the left side of the other Honda. Cruz could not avoid the situation and struck the Honda operated by Aung. Aung and Cruz died at the scene. Garcia Contreras was injured and transported by Storm Lake Ambulance to the local hospital.

(Updated 6:30-a.m., 7/5/21) – Three people were injured during a single-vehicle accident at around 4:42-a.m. Sunday (today), in Cass County. According to dispatch reports, the crash happened on Interstate 80 westbound, near mile marker 62. Anita Rescue and Wiota Fire were paged to the scene. Wiota was later advised they could “disregard” the call. Initial reports indicated the vehicle was a Buick Park Avenue. The injured included a pregnant female, a male with a possible broken leg and a third victim with injuries that were not described. A Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy was the first on scene.

There were at least three other accidents in the area, Sunday:

• A man standing on the shoulder of I-80 westbound at mile-marker 54, was struck by a passing vehicle. The accident happened Sunday afternoon. The man suffered minor injuries.
• Sunday evening, two females suffered possible/unknown injuries during a rollover accident east of Elk Horn.
• And, a crash occurred near Lorimor, in Union County Sunday. At least two ambulances and an Air Med Helicopter were called to the scene. Additional details are currently not available on those incidents.

A woman died and three persons, including a child, were injured during an accident in Story County, Saturday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2007 Hyundai Sonata driven by 75-year-old Karen Wheeler, of Cambridge, was parked facing south on Main Street in Slater at around 11-a.m., with pedestrians in the roadway following a City parade. When Wheeler backed out of the parked position, her vehicle struck multiple pedestrians.

67-year-old Linda Nordstrom, of Huxley, was run over and left on the road. Nordstrom was transported by Mary Greeley EMS to Des Moines Methodist Hospital. 30-year-old Rikkie Powell, of Huxley, was struck and knocked from the path of the car. 59-year-old Mary S. Nienow, of Albert Lea, MN and six-year-old Reagan Powell, of Huxley, were struck and dragged under the car. Nienow died from her injuries at Mary Greeley Hospital, in Ames. The child was flown by Mercy Air to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Rikkie Powell was transported to Mercy by private vehicle.

KCCI reports witnesses as saying the vehicle reversed from a parking spot on someone’s lawn and lurched up a small gully and into a street still filled with people beginning to leave the parade. Firsthand accounts describe an elderly driver who was very distraught and said she confused the gas for the brake pedal. Dozens of people raced in to offer help in any way they could, from those trying to lift the car to off-duty medical workers trying to render aid.

The accident remains under investigation. The Iowa State Patrol was assisted by Story County Sheriff’s Deputies and other local officials, at the scene.

(Des Moines) – Keep Iowa Beautiful is announcing the 12th Annual Keep Iowa Beautiful Photography Contest. Iowans have the next six months to grab their cameras, or phones, and enter one or all of the five categories. “This is a great way for Iowans to share what they like about Iowa,” said Kevin Techau, Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director. “There are five categories to enter your favorite photo of what makes you proud to be an Iowan and captures the beauty and spirit of Iowa,” added Techau. “Again, this year our contest will feature over $2,000 in cash awards.”

The two-phase contest begins now with entry deadline on December 18, 2021. Each of the five categories will be awarded 1st place: $100, 2nd place: $75, and 3rd place: $50.

January 17-31, 2022, the five first-place winners will be featured on Keep Iowa Beautiful social media for voting and selecting the Public Favorite Photo. The winner will receive an additional $100. The Robert D. Ray Best of Show Awards, determined by a distinguished panel, will also be announced at that time. The Robert D. Ray Best of Show award amounts are as follows; 1st place: $500, 2nd place: $250 and 3rd place: $100.

Randi Ray, Robert and Billie Ray’s eldest daughter, has agreed to serve on a panel of judges. “Photography was one of my Dad’s favorite pastimes,” said Randi. “During his 14 years as governor, he and my Mother traveled to many places around the world and he always had a camera around his neck.” Randi added, “Dad was so proud of Iowans and their efforts to make Iowa a great place to live.”

The five categories are:

Iowa Landscape – Capture Iowa’s beauty through depictions of Iowa’s landscape, including but not limited to: farm fields, rolling hills, and wooded forests.

Iowa Water- Feature Iowa’s beautiful water systems with depictions of Iowa rivers, streams, ponds and lakes.

Iowa Cities – Iowa’s urban centers are hubs of history, culture, and beauty. This category features depictions of Iowa’s cities, street scenes, and urban landmarks.

Iowans in Action – This category aims to capture the spirit of Iowa through depictions of the people that live, work, and play in Iowa. All means of action that can be captured: biking, running, fishing, hunting and hiking are but a few.

Iowa Wildlife – Iowa is home to a variety of beautiful critters. This category aims to showcase Iowa’s beauty through depictions of Iowa’s wildlife animals: mammals, fish, birds, bugs and more!

A $5 fee is required for each photo entered. Contest rules and entry guidelines are on KIB’s website: https://keepiowabeautiful.org/photography-contest/

(Des Moines, Iowa) – 2021 has been declared the year of the road trip and Iowa is ready to be at the center of it all. With an increase in road trips and RV travel this summer, the Iowa Tourism Office announced today it will provide a financial incentive for those taking a road trip to and across the state.  The Fuel Your Road Trip initiative will provide a $25 gift card via email to anyone who plans their road trip using the Build a Trip tool available at traveliowa.com (while supplies last). In addition, each week through August 31, the Iowa Tourism Office will give away a $200 gift card.

“We know that travelers are ready to hit the road, and Iowa offers endless adventure,” said Amy Zeigler, state tourism manager for the Iowa Tourism Office. “Our research shows Iowans and residents in our neighboring states are more interested in taking trips closer to home this season. Whether they’re looking for natural lakes, historic caves, fine dining or local breweries, it’s all here waiting for them in Iowa. We’re excited to help fuel that journey and assist with our industry rebound.”

As an additional incentive, participants will receive a confirmation email including hashtags for use along their road trip. Those who engage via social media during their visit will have the chance to win additional gift cards.

Tourism in Iowa generates nearly $9 billion in expenditures and $517.5 million in state taxes, while employing 70,200 people statewide. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information, visit traveliowa.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa – With the fiscal year having wrapped up on June 30th, State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald’s Great Iowa Treasure Hunt passed a milestone in seeing more unclaimed property being returned, to the tune of $300 million.

Fitzgerald says “In fiscal year 2021, which ran July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, over $18.5 million was paid out to more than 20,000 past and present Iowans through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt.” He added, I look forward to what we will accomplish in the upcoming year!”

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt has been safeguarding and returning unclaimed property since Fitzgerald created the program in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other financial assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner cannot be located after a specific period of inactivity. Forgotten bank accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, unpaid life insurance policies and safe deposit box contents are all examples of unclaimed property.

According to Fitzgerald, “With the complexities of the pandemic, it comes as no surprise this past year was difficult for many Iowans. The average claim amount paid during this fiscal year was $925.78, so it’s great to know we were able to provide a financial relief when many needed it most.”

More than $423 million is still waiting to be claimed. Visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to begin your search and make your claim today. Keep up with all of Treasurer Fitzgerald’s programs on Facebook and Twitter.

(Updated 2:15-p.m.) Council Bluffs- Officials with Pottawattamie County Emergency Management, Saturday afternoon, said Emergency  Drinking Water can be picked up today between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm for Regional Water Association Customers  impacted by the loss of water service. Pickup locations are at the Avoca Fire Station (212 W Crocker St. Avoca IA 51521) and the Minden Fire Station (205 Main St. Minden, IA 51553).

Emergency bottled water will be available for Regional Water Association Customers with Account Codes that begin with the letters: A, C, CO, W, T, K, or P.

Officials are continuing to monitor the situation and future water distribution sites will be announced as needed. For Pottawattamie Residents that have those account codes, go to https://pcema-ia.org and register your need. The registry will ask for your contact information, address, customer code prefix identified above, and how many people are in your household. This will assist and help officials estimate water quantities.

For more details about the outage and status you can go to the Regional Water Website at https://rwrwa.org/home ,
stay tuned to your local media outlets, as well as follow our agencies Facebook and Twitter pages.

ANKENY – Iowa 3rd District Congressional Representative Cindy Axne has announced she will host two Connect With Your Congresswoman a town hall meeting in Guthrie County next Friday, July 9th.  The event  will be held at the Casey Creamery at 103 E. Logan St. in Casey, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Rep. Axne will provide attendees an update on her legislative work in Congress and hear concerns directly from her constituents.

Cindy Axne

PALO, Iowa – Two deceased individuals were found inside a parked vehicle at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area on Friday, July 2, 2021 around 10:45pm, when DNR parks staff were conducting routine patrols.

A DNR Park Ranger noticed a parked car in the first lot on the north side of the dam, an area that closes nightly at 10:30pm, and approached the vehicle. The ranger discovered one male and one female, both deceased, inside the vehicle.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is conducting a death investigation into this incident. Authorities believe this is an isolated incident and do not believe the public is any danger. Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area remains open for visitors and all recreational activities.

The DNR will issue a press release when more information is available.