DES MOINES – If you can’t make it to the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, why not let it come to Avoca? That’s the idea behind the State Historical Society of Iowa’s “History on the Move” mobile museum, a bright blue, custom-built Winnebago that travels the state’s highways and back roads to share stories from the past. The museum on wheels currently houses a 300-square-foot exhibition called “Iowa History 101” and is filled with artifacts from the State Historical Society’s collection. The mobile museum will offer free self-guided tours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 5-6 at Edgington Memorial Park in Avoca during the Avoca Sesquicentennial festivities.

“This exhibition shares some of the essential stories that every Iowan should know about who we are and what we’ve achieved since Iowa became a state more than 170 years ago,” State Historical Society of Iowa Administrator Susan Kloewer said. “We’re delighted to bring this traveling exhibition to Avoca, and we encourage all Iowans to learn about our state’s rich heritage.” Like a visit to a grandparent’s attic, the exhibition unpacks stories of Iowa’s past with nearly 50 artifacts, including:

·  battered miner’s cap worn by Carl Coghlan, a Marion County coal miner

·  1917 prototype of the state flag designed by Dixie Cornell Gebhardt of Knoxville

·  pen Gov. William Harding used to ratify the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote

·  basketball jersey Lynne Lorenzen wore during her glory days at Ventura High School

·  Olympic medal from sprinter Natasha Kaiser-Brown of Des Moines

·  patch from a spacesuit worn by astronaut Peggy Whitson of Beaconsfield

As a bonus, Mike Wolfe, the creator and star of the hit television series “American Pickers,” lent his voice and video talents to the exhibition’s multimedia elements. A native of Le Claire, Wolfe has a long-standing interest in history and a knack for using artifacts to unlock its stories.

The idea for the mobile museum emerged in 2014 from a series of community conversations organized by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, which oversees the State Historical Society. Iowans who care deeply about history made it clear they want new ways to access the State Historical Museum’s resources. Accordingly, the 38-foot Winnebago will visit all 99 Iowa counties over the course of three years, from 2017 through 2019, with stops at schools, libraries, local museums, community festivals, county fairs and other places where Iowans gather. Anyone who would like to request a visit can find the details online at iowaculture.gov, along with an updated schedule. (Follow the mobile museum’s statewide journey on Facebook at facebook.com/IowaHistory.)

The traveling exhibition – which is sponsored by EMC Insurance Companies, Casey’s General Stores and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – is one of a trio of “Iowa History 101” shows. Visitors to the State Historical Museum in Des Moines can find both a traditional museum exhibition, plus an interactive “Hands-On History” gallery designed especially for children.

The Harlan Police Department says one person was injured during an accident that occurred last Saturday. Authorities say a 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by Johnathan Moreland, of Bellevue, NE., was traveling east on Cyclone Avenue in Harlan, when Moreland made an emergency braking maneuver, and lost control. The cycle fell onto its left side and skidded down Cyclone Avenue. Moreland slid with the cycle and stopped on the grass at the intersection with 19th Street. Moreland transported himself to the hospital for treatment.

A separate accident June 15th caused damage to five vehicles, but no one was hurt. The Harlan P-D says Nicholas Andersen, of Harlan, was driving a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country van eastbound on Cyclone Avenue, when he fell asleep at the wheel. The van drifted off the road at 1220 Cyclone Avenue and damaged a few trees before continuing through the front yard, a cedar fence and into the driveway at 1214 Cyclone Avenue.

In the driveway, the van hit the front of a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek owned by Bennett Flaherty, of Des Moines, and the side of a 2014 Ford F-150 registered to Jane Smith, of Harlan. The pickup was pushed into a 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup, registered to Matthew Pfadenhauer, of Kiron and then into the yard. When the Chevy spun, it made contact with a 2015 Nissan Altima, owned by Jane Smith, of Harlan. Police took photos of the scene and notified the property owners.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department today (Wednesday), released a report on arrests and incidents dating back to May 22nd. Most recently:

• On Sunday (6/16), 28-year old Roger Wayne McIntosh, Jr., of Portsmouth, was arrested for OWI, Speeding and Failure to Display License plates.
• Last Saturday, 30-year old Johnathon Lee Paull, of Harlan, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While Suspended, Failure to Display a Safety Flag, and Motorcycle/Moped violation.
• On June 10th, 58-year old Bradley Allen Lewis, of Harlan, was arrested on an active warrant.
• On June 9th, 33-year old Timothy Shane Kerr, of Manilla, was arrested for carrying weapons, possession of paraphernalia,, and improper registration lamp.
• On June 7th, 57-year old Tami Jean Carter, of Harlan, was arrested for Prohibited Acts penalties, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of paraphernalia, no seat belt, no proof of insurance, and failure to display license plates.
• On June 6th, 26-year old Jacob Kyle Krienert, of Harlan, was arrested for Driving while revoked, and speeding.
• June 3rd, 36-year old Richard Joseph Graeve, of Harlan, was arrested by Harlan Police for Public Intoxication.
• And, June 1st, 48-year old Fred William Ehrman, of Anita, was arrested for Driving while revoked, no proof of insurance, and violations of a restricted license.

Those arrested in May, include:

May 22 – Anthony Michael Bennett, age 28, Harlan, was arrested on an active warrant out of Pottawatomie County. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

May 23 – Joshua Gerald Schmitz, age 38, Avoca, was arrested following a call for service. Schmitz was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

May 31 – Jolene May Olson, age 61, Harlan, was arrested following a stop. Olson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with public intoxication.

May 31 – Dale Eugene Stinn, age 62, Harlan, was arrested following a stop. Stinn was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

(Radio Iowa) — A 22-year-old from Bettendorf is the new Miss Iowa. Emily Tinsman was crowned last weekend in Davenport in what was her third try at the competition. Tinsman says she’s already learned a host of valuable “life skills” by taking part in the contests, including the honing of her interviewing abilities and gaining in self-confidence. “It’s not just a beauty competition, it’s not just the beauty, how you look,” Tinsman says. “We’re now moving towards what’s called Miss America 2.0. It’s about your talent, it’s about your intelligence, your poise and your confidence with yourself. Win or lose, we gain those skills.”

2019 Miss Iowa winner, Emily Tinsman. (Radio IA photo)

Tinsman says it was “surreal” to hear her name called as the winner at the Adler Theater last Saturday night. “It was really just this moment of, ‘Oh my gosh,'” she says. “My time in this program has just rounded itself out. It’s come full circle and now I get to inspire people throughout the state and girls who will be competing this next year.” In discussing her platform, Tinsman says her “social impact initiative” is advocating for artists — and for funding the arts in schools. “It helps build so many important skills, confidence, self-esteem, cultural awareness,” she says. “They believe in themselves and have a passion, but allowing them to have the same opportunities as you would with sports or academics, supporting a well-rounded education.”

Tinsman will represent Iowa in the Miss America Pageant, which is not yet scheduled. For now, she’s keeping a close eye on how she uses Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. “I have to be super-careful about social media, who’s following me, what I’m posting,” she says. “I’m really, essentially, supposed to be a role model for young women and I really need to prioritize how I’m being viewed in my actions.”

Tinsman graduated from Drake University in May. She was ready to start as an elementary music teacher in the Des Moines Public School System in the fall, but had to resign that post after winning the Miss Iowa crown.

(Radio Iowa) — A Marshalltown man is under arrest, facing a variety of charges after a high speed chase that began near the Des Moines Airport early this (Wednesday) morning. Forty-six-year-old Casey Sheriff was wanted for a probation violation. A police officer spotted him in a vehicle at a major intersection south of the Des Moines Airport. A spokesman for Des Moines Police says Sheriff fled in his vehicle, quickly reaching speeds of 100 miles an hour. Sheriff was taken into custody about 10 minutes after the chase began. He’s been charged with three probation violation, driving while his license was denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked and eluding authorities.

In 2013, authorities had to search for Sheriff after he walked away from a work release program in Marshalltown. He had been sent to prison for a domestic assault conviction. Sheriff has previous convictions for felonies and aggravated misdemeanors in Marshall, Polk and Clarke Counties.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports several prisoners from other agencies were transported to the Pott. County Jail, Tuesday, to address warrants for their arrest:

• 32-year old Sean P. Bagby, of Creston, and 31-year old Jeri D. Shoemaker, of Council Bluffs, were transported from the Montgomery County Jail to address Pott. County warrants for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order and Violation of Probation, respectively
• 36-year old Robert James McDonald, of Omaha, was transported to the Pott. County Jail from Douglas County, NE., on a warrant Sex Offender Registry Violation/2nd offense.
• 41-year old Daniel James Becerra, of Omaha, was transported from Douglas County Corrections to Pott. County, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 23-year old Tyrelle Tymia Henderson, of Omaha, was transported to Pott. County from Douglas County Corrections, on a warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree ($2,000 bond), and on a hold for another agency.
• 43-year old John J. Bergin, III, of Omaha, was also transported from DCC to the Pott. County Jail, on warrants for Burglary in the 3rd degree, and Theft in the 3rd.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state board has ruled the Iowa Board of Regents didn’t negotiate in good faith with unions from two public universities because it delayed negotiations until passage of a law limiting public employee bargaining rights. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the Public Employment Relations Board ruled last week that the regents deliberately delayed holding meetings starting in mid-December 2016 with the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students at the University of Iowa and United Faculty at the University of Northern Iowa while it waited for lawmakers to approve limits on public-sector union bargaining rights.

The board ordered the regents to not repeat such delaying tactics. The regents also must post flyers at the universities in the fall notifying employees they violated the law. The changes approved by legislators reduced the number of mandatory subjects for negotiation to only base wages.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa company that’s been fined thousands of dollars for the stink coming from its plant has lost its lawsuit targeting the city’s odor ordinance.
The Sioux City Journal reports that Judge Leonard Strand of the U.S. District Court in Sioux City granted the city of Sibley’s motion for a summary judgment. Strand disagreed with Iowa Drying & Processing’s contention that the ordinance was unconstitutionally vague.
Iowa Drying & Processing had said the city’s enforcement unfairly targeted the company and interfered with its efforts to sell the plant, which had drawn residents’ complaints for years.
One resident, Josh Harms, sued Sibley after city officials threatened legal action against him for saying on a website that Sibley smelled like “rancid dog food.” Strand ruled against the city in Harms’ case, barring officials from making more threats and ordering the city to pay him $6,500 in damages and $20,000 in legal fees.

Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office report numerous arrests took place over the past couple of weeks. Most recently: On Tuesday (6/18), Deputies arrested 42-year-old Ryan Nicholas Schwery, of Harlan, after a search warrant was executed at his place of residence.  Schwery was charged with Controlled Substance Violation – delivery of Methamphetamine, failure to affix drug tax stamp, possession of controlled substance meth 3rd or subsequent offense, prohibited acts, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to jail without incident and is currently being held on a $10,300 cash or surety bond.

On Sunday, Crawford County authorities arrested 30-year-old Jonathan Wayne Sparks, of Woodbine, as a result of a traffic incident. Sparks was turned over to Shelby County Deputies and transported to the jail, on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation.  His bond cash or surety bond was set at $1,000. Last Saturday, a Shelby County Deputy arrested 29-year-old Angela Michelle Williams, of Manilla, on a violation of a contact order charge.  Williams was released on her own recognizance the follow morning after appearing before the magistrate, and given a future court date.

Last Friday, authorities arrested 38-year-old Tabbatha Christine Collier, of Missouri Valley, on outstanding warrant for violation of probation charge.   Collier was transported to the Jail without incident and then released the following morning after posting the required $1,000 cash bond and given a future court date for the charge. On June 13th, a Shelby County Deputy arrested 33-year-old Jason Paul Crouse, of Council Bluffs as a result of a traffic stop.   After further investigation, it was determined that Crouse had a suspended license, therefore was arrested for driving under suspension.  He was transported to the Jail without incident and released the following afternoon on his own recognizance.

June 9th, authorities arrested 18-year-old Kaitlin Janet Polzin, of Elliott, for being a minor in possession of alcohol, and violation of no contact order.  Authorities were called to a disturbance on Umbrella Road where it was determined upon further investigation, that Polzin was in possession of alcohol and in violation of a previously set no contact order. She was transported to the Jail without incident and held without bond until appearing before a magistrate, and then released on her own recognizance the follow morning with a future court date set.

On June 6th, Pottawattamie County authorities arrested 21-year-old Morgan Earl Cox on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for original charges stemming back from April 2019. Cox was transferred to Shelby County Jail without incident and initially held under a $5,000 cash or surety bond.  As a result of a plea agreement, Cox was sentenced to 10 days in jail and given credit for time previously served. He was released on June 11th. And, 50-year-old Mark Allen Boardman, of Tennant, was arrested June 6th, on charges of Theft 2nd-Motor vehicle parts/accessories and Altering or changing VIN numbers.  His arrested was the result of an investigation stemming from a complaint filed within the Sheriff’s Office. Boardman was transported to the Jail without incident and is currently being held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.