(Radio Iowa) – The parks director in Sioux City says damage to the Flight 232 memorial on the city’s riverfront was caused by nature — not vandalism. Two pieces of the monument have toppled over and parks director Matt Salvatore says there are underlying issues in the area. “The Flight 232 memorial was under water last year with flooding. There is a utility issue in there — so the issues that we are having are not necessarily linked to the flooding that occurred last year,” Salvatore says. “There seems to be a utility issue in the area so the sidewalk leading to the monument snapped in about four different places,” Salvatore says.

The monument celebrates the heroic efforts by the community when a damaged United Airlines plane crashed at the Sioux City Airport on July 19th in 1989. There were 112 deaths in the crash — but 184 people survived. Salvatore says the city has been assessing the damage and what they need to do to repair the monument. “Our staff removed the sidewalk, relocated some of the stones along the walkway. Relocated those out of the way,” according to Salvatore. “The sidewalk itself was replaced with fill. And we’ve been keeping an eye on it. The fill continues to settle.”

He says they are working with the utility department to fix that issue. “Once we locate the problem, we are going to pack that area, pour back the sidewalk, relocate all the stones, and we are going to do some landscaping repairs from the flooding last year. We are going to have everything back in order by the anniversary date of 232.” The monument features a sculpture of Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nielsen of the 185th Air National Guard carrying young Spencer Bailey from the crash wreckage. A photo of Nielson carrying Bailey from the wreckage gained nationwide attention.

(Radio Iowa) — The F-A-A is investigating a single-engine plane crash near a Minnesota airport involving a Winneshiek County couple. The pilot, 73-year-old Richard Zahasky of Decorah, and his 68-year-old wife Roseann Zahasky, were treated for minor injuries and have since been released from the hospital. Authorities say the plane had been heading back to Iowa and had engine problems.

Zahasky attempted to land at the Eveleth-Virginia municipal airport in northeast Minnesota when the plane crashed.

The Mills County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), adopted procedures for the next phase of reopening of County offices beginning July 13, 2020, at 8:00 a.m.  Based on current recommendations from Mills County Emergency Management, Mills County Public Health, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control the following regulations will be enforced for those individuals conducting business in Mills County offices.

Officials say your adherence to the following procedures is important to help the County take precautionary measures to protect you and county employees:

1. Social distancing must be maintained at all times in the common areas by all individuals.
2. All visitors must wear a face covering. Parents are encouraged NOT to bring children with
them while conducting business in County offices.
3. County employees shall wear masks while serving the public when there is no other barrier
between the employee and the customer.

Any person with COVID-19 symptoms should refrain from entering a public building. At this time, self-monitoring is required by the public and employees. Stay home if you are ill. Social
distancing measures such as increasing the space between workers and the public and decreasing social contacts in the workplace are still in place. Hand shaking is prohibited. Everyone should wash hands thoroughly before entering county facilities and throughout the day. Hand sanitizers will be available at the entrance of the courthouse and in all offices. Office/workspace areas will be cleaned at least daily. Common areas will be cleaned/sanitized regularly throughout the day.

Water/drinking fountains will be closed. Individuals should consider conducting business online if possible before visiting any facility. Should you have questions specific to your business, contact the appropriate department directly.

These procedures do not affect the emergency protocol put in place by State Court Administration. Any court related questions should be directed to the Mills County Clerk of Court at (712) 527-4880. Please be advised that these precautions are in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and meant to keep everyone safe. However, these measures may not eliminate the possibility of contracting or spreading the virus. Entering any public place may still pose a risk to your health and you should act accordingly.

Visit www.millscoia.us for updated information and specific duties of offices/department.

Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley will not be attending the Republican National Convention for the first time in his 40-year Senate career due to concerns about the coronavirus. Grassley says moving the convention to Florida was probably the right thing to do since North Carolina officials didn’t feel it was safe. He says he thinks the Republican Party should have a convention but do it as safely as possible, and that includes wearing face masks and social distancing.

The convention is now scheduled to begin on Aug. 24 in Jacksonville, Florida, where officials began requiring face masks in public a week ago.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Employees at the Iowa Veterans Home have been disciplined more than 20 times for personal protective equipment lapses that potentially exposed residents and staff to coronavirus.Commandant Timon Oujiri says the strict approach to requiring masks and other equipment when interacting with residents and colleagues has helped keep coronavirus largely out of the state’s biggest nursing home. He says 25 employees and seven residents have tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic and all have recovered.

Oujiri says he considers that a major success, noting that the Marshalltown home has 456 residents and 900 employees. Nineteen employees have been suspended or reprimanded for potentially exposing residents or staff, and two others were fired during their probationary periods.

(Radio Iowa) — A federal judge has ordered the Dakota Access oil pipeline that runs through Iowa to shut down until an environmental review is completed. The pipeline carries oil from North Dakota to Illinois. It runs 350 miles through 18 Iowa counties, entering the state in northwest Iowa’s Lyon County and exits from Lee County in the southeast. Oil began pumping through the pipeline more than three years ago. The company that runs the pipeline is seeking permits to double its capacity.

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s lawsuit asks the court to throw out the federal permit for the pipeline. In 2016, the Sierra Club and more than a dozen Iowans who owned land along the pipeline’s route unsuccessfully sued in state court to try to block operation of the pipeline.

(Corrects earlier post with regard to O’Neall’s residence) A man and woman from Adair County were arrested on felony warrants June 29th at the Union County Sheriff’s Office on Sexual Abuse and other charges. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports 20-year old Joel William Blazek, of Greenfield, was arrested by Adair County Deputies, and 21-year old Tommie Lynne O’Neall, of Fontanelle, was arrested by Stuart Police. Each face felony charges that include: Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree (involving a person 12-to 13 years of age); Lascivious Acts with a Child/Solication, and Child Endangerment without injury. In addition, O’Neall faces two felony counts of Supplying Alcohol to a person under legal age.  Blazek was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $32,000 cash only bond. O’Neall’s cash only bond was set at $35,000. Additional details concerning their arrests was not immediately available.

In other activity, 25-year old Zachary Trenton Holder, of Greenfield, was arrested June 30th on Adair County warrants for Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, Theft in the 2nd Degree, and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. His cash-only bond was set at $2,000. And, on July 3rd, 41-year old Mark Anthony McFarland, of Redfield, was arrested by Stuart Police for OWI/2nd offense. McFarland was later released on his Own Recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) — The bear that captured attention as it wandered through eastern Iowa last month attracted more crowds in Missouri. Almost 150,000 people have joined the Facebook group “Keeping Bruno Safe” which has been chronicling the adventures of a black bear that left Wisconsin and ended up in Missouri. After becoming trapped by 10 foot high fences close to I-70 near Wentzville; the exhausted and dehydrated Bruno was tranquilized and taken to a safer, undisclosed location.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s four Catholic bishops are asking President Trump to cancel the July 17th execution of an Iowan found guilty of killing five people, including two children. Dustin Honken, who was originally from Britt, was convicted in 2004 of murdering a family in a rural area outside of Mason City in 1993. Authorities say Honken was a meth king pin at the time and the man he murdered was another drug dealer who had become an informant. Honken shot the man, his wife and two children in the head.

The state’s four Catholic bishops are asking President Trump to commute Honken’s sentence to life in prison.  The bishops say they believe capitol punishment perpetuates a cycle of violence and contributes to a growing disrespect for the sacredness of all human life.