DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A riverfront amphitheater that draws thousands of people to downtown Des Moines will close for two years to accommodate the construction of a bridge. The Simon Estes Amphitheater will be closed from 2019-20, the Des Moines Register reported.

Bridge construction is expected to start August and estimated to cost up to $9 million. The new bridge will replace the downtown Locust Street bridge. No events will take place at the city-managed amphitheater during construction, said Ben Page director of Des Moines Parks and Recreation. “There’s not going to be any parking down there,” Page said. “(It’d be a) dusty, dirty mess.

The 2018 Nitefall on the River concert series, is typically held at the amphitheater and the nearby Brenton Skating Plaza. Construction won’t cause any of this year’s events to be relocated, said Tim Leach, the senior vice president of downtown development for the Des Moines Partnership, which manages the plaza.

“We don’t think any of these closures are going to affect (Nitefall),” Leach said.
This year’s concert series includes performances by Turnpike Troubadours, Lake Street Dive, Arch Allies and The Nadas.

The performances will be hosted at the skating plaza full-time when the amphitheater closes for construction, Leach said.

Red Oak Police report the arrest late Saturday night, of 26-year old Whitney Marie Stephens, of Red Oak. Stephens was taken into custody at around 10:25-p.m., for Failure to Provide SR-22 Insurance. She was also cited for Driving While license Suspended. Stephens was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Federal authorities have charged a former central Iowa high school educator who taught for 30 years with multiple child pornography counts. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that federal investigators say 67-year-old Glen Sedlacek, of Marshalltown, had numerous computer files containing pornography of children younger than 12, dating back to March 2013. Sedlacek retired from the Marshalltown Community School District in 2010.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Dubuque City Council is supporting plans to turn a crumbling 120-year-old brewery complex into apartments and retail space. The Telegraph Herald reports that City Council members voted unanimously this month to support developer Stephen Emerson’s application for state workforce housing tax credits for the project. Architecture and design firm Aspect Inc. is looking to redevelop the brewery.

DECORAH, Iowa (AP) — Residents in northeast Iowa are facing strong opposition from utility giant Alliant Energy as the community considers establishing a municipal utility in hopes of investing more in renewable energy. The Des Moines Register reports that Decorah residents hope to take millions of dollars built into the utility’s rates and use them for community projects and initiatives instead. The Decorah Power group is supporting a May 1 referendum that would encourage the city to explore the option.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say three people have died in a two-vehicle crash in northeastern Iowa. Mason City television station KIMT reports that the crash happened around 5 p.m. Friday at an intersection east of Charles City. Investigators say a pickup truck driven by 28-year-old Jacob Allen Mahnesmith, of Nashua, ran a stop sign and collided with another pickup, killing Mahnesmith, his passenger, 28-year-old Shane Allen Wiltse of Charles City, and the driver of the other truck.

One person died and another was injured during a collision Friday afternoon, in Benton County. The Iowa State Patrol says 90-year old Arlene A. Erusha, of Cedar Rapids, was driving a 2014 Hyundai SUV when she attempted to cross Highway 30, while traveling north on 32nd Avenue, when her vehicle was struck by a westbound 1994 Freightliner semi. Erusha died at a local hospital. The driver of the semi, 69-year old William L. Butterfield, of Tama, was injured and transported by ambulance to St. Lukes Hospital. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. The accident, which occurred at around 4:45-p.m. Friday, remains under investigation.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say three people have died in a two-vehicle crash in northeastern Iowa. The crash happened around 5 p.m. Friday at an intersection east of Charles City. Investigators say a pickup truck driven by 28-year-old Jacob Allen Mahnesmith, of Nashua, ran a stop sign and collided with another pickup. The Iowa State Patrol says Mahnesmith and a passenger in his truck, 28-year-old Shane Allen Wiltse, of Charles City, as well as the driver of the other pickup were killed in the crash.

Authorities have not yet released the name of the third person killed. The patrol says 29-year-old Thomas John Parcher, of Marble Rock, who was a passenger in the second truck, was injured.

Two people were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop late Friday night, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s Officials report 63-year old Jeff E. Mendenhall, of Corning, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)/Methamphetamine. And, 46-year old Kerry Lynn Pace, of Villisca, was arrested for PCS/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond, each. The Montgomery County K9 Unit assisted in making the arrests.

Also arrested Friday night on a separate charge, was 32-year old Chad Mitchell Gaiser, of Kellerton. He was taken into custody for Failure to provide SR-22 insurance. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond. And, 60-year old Jim Junior Hyde, of Kellerton, was arrested at about the same time, on a warrant for Theft in the 3rd degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office stopped a car Friday evening at the Thurman exit on I-29, for traffic violations. During the stop the driver identified as 41 year old Alison Kay Burford of St.Joseph MO, was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. Burford was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center being held on $1,000.00 bond. The Fremont County K9 Unit assisted in the arrest.

Alison Burford

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A combination of fees and parking difficulties could be prompting many food truck operators to abandon Des Moines and instead rumble off to the suburbs. The Des Moines Register reports the city of Des Moines has issued only three mobile vendor permits this year. That’s down from 15 permits last year and 21 permits in 2016. Food truck owners must pay $1,750 in permitting and parking fees to Des Moines annually and can only operate in specific locations.

That has led some vendors to leave downtown for suburban business parks where parking is free. Kevin Gollhofer says he gave up on street sales from his barbecue truck and has focused on catering. He says people like to see trucks downtown but don’t buy from them consistently.

An Atlantic resident, upset about a stolen cement yard ornament she’s owned for about 30-years, says if the person who took it returns it, undamaged, she won’t press charges. The woman, who resides in the 600 block of Elm Street, told KJAN News the 12-inch tall, black statue of a female “Hillbilly,” was taken sometime April 10th or early April 11th. And, while it’s only worth about $30, the sentimental value means much more to the woman from whom it was stolen.

The incident has been reported to the Atlantic Police Department, and the victim says a neighbor has surveillance video of the thief that police are reviewing. The woman promises that if the thief returns the statue in one piece, or can direct authorities to where it is, no charges will be filed.

A two-state pursuit Thursday that began in Fremont County, ended in Nebraska with the suspect crashing into three sheriff’s department vehicles and an arrest. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 39-year old Jay Rickman, of Eagle, NE., was finally arrested with the assistance of a Fremont County K9 Unit. The incident began, when the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a possible wanted subject staying at a hotel in Percival, Iowa. Deputies were advised the subject was possibly armed, and had made statements that he would kill law enforcement if they attempted to arrest him.

Deputies attempted to stop a 1999 Chrysler Sebring at the intersection of 195th Street and Highway 2, when the vehicle fled the area and traveled west on Highway 2 reaching speeds of about 115mph. The vehicle continued west on Hwy 2 into Nebraska, where Otoe County deputies began leading the pursuit. The vehicle attempted to turn north on Highway 43, west of Palmyra, NE., when it went out of control. The vehicle then rammed an Otoe County Deputy’s vehicle, causing disabling damage. The car then rammed a Fremont County vehicle, causing minor damage, and rammed a second Fremont County vehicle, causing extensive damage to the deputy’s vehicle and disabling the suspect vehicle.

Charges against Rickman are pending in Fremont County for Felony Eluding from law enforcement.