(Radio Iowa) — The Rocklin Manufacturing building in downtown Sioux City has been added to the National Register of Historic Places for its role in helping produce materials for U-S war efforts. Known earlier as the Albertson and Company building and built in 1912 (at 110 South Jennings Street), the building housed various machinery manufacturing endeavors until 1914 when shop foreman, Swedish-born Frans Oscar Albertson founded Albertson & Company, which took over the manufacturing plant. Rocklin Manufacturing Company took over the building in 1942 and during World War II manufactured equipment for Chrysler, International Harvester and Allis Chalmers while supplying the Chicago Ordnance District, the Detroit Arsenal and the Tank Automotive Center in Detroit with products. Company President Ross Rocklin is the third generation of his family to manage the business.

He says the manufacture a product called the Rocklinnizer, which is added to tools and dies to make them last longer.  They also make another product, a microwelder which repairs molds and dies made of steel. Rocklin would eventually play a key role in providing spring and shock mounts for the national missile defense system. The company received the rare and coveted Ordnance Corps flag from the U-S Army in 1944for outstanding contributions in the field of ordnance production. “They provided us that flag based on really exception performance in support of the war effort,” Rocklin says. “That’s a rare flag — there are only 13 of them out of 22 applicants that received it. It’s something that we proudly display in the entryway of our building.”

The company also has one of Sioux City’s most prominent murals painted on the side of its building facing Gordon Drive from the end of Jennings Street. Rocklin is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year.

The Atlantic RAGBRAI Committee reports they are still trying to find housing for at least 20% of the registered riders in the event, before they arrive in town this Sunday. Billie Hoover and Mike Waters are on the Committee. With temperatures expected to be in the 90’s and the Heat Index around 100 degrees, those riders are going to be looking for a place to cool down and hydrate themselves. Billie Hoover says the month started off slow for persons willing to make room in their homes and properties for the riders, but since then, the community has made a concerted effort to fill the need.

She said they’ve placed over 80% of their requests, and they thank those who have agreed to provide housing or yard space. The riders won’t only be looking for relief from the heat and humidity. Mike Waters said they’re also looking for an escape from the mosquitoes.

Most of the registered riders have already communicated with their hosts, and are grateful for the chance to get a room, or set-up a tent on a homeowner’s property. Residents shouldn’t be too concerned they’ll find their lawn or properties trashed when the bicyclists leave July 22^nd. Hoover says many of those taking part in the rider are professionals and otherwise responsible adults who come from all across the State and Country to enjoy one of the premiere biking events in the U-S.

Hoover says most the groups left looking for a place to rest for the night are looking for indoor housing. If you’re willing to help the riders find housing or a space to pitch a tent, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712- 243-3017, or online at atlanticragbrai.com, and fill-out the housing form. Waters said “Atlantic is all about friendliness. We’re open. It’s going to pay dividends in the end, so open your hearts and your houses if possible, and give us a try. Hoover added, “Let’s show some of these folks some good old Atlantic hospitality.”

On a related RAGBRAI note: The Iowa National Guard’s water buffalo will appear along the RAGBRAI route Sunday, in Marne, and on Monday between Earlham and Winterset, for those riders needing to refill their water bottles.

(Radio Iowa) — All this week, law enforcement officers in Iowa and across the nation will put a special emphasis on cracking down on risky motorists through Operation Safe Driver Week. Dave Lorenzen, chief of Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement, says this time of year, people are often traveling unfamiliar roads. “Mix that in with the trucking population and the number of commercial vehicles that are moving up and down the roads on a daily basis, traffic counts are at an all-time high,” Lorenzen says. “So, it’s just an opportunity for us to concentrate on making sure that folks are following the laws, being attentive to all of the safety aspects of sharing the road with those larger vehicles.”

Lorenzen says patrols will be ticketing drivers who break common driving laws. “We don’t like to give citations but to affect driver behavior, sometimes there has to be that ultimate consequence,” Lorenzen says. “Most folks know when they’re speeding, they know they are not supposed to have their phone in their hands, they are not supposed to be doing things that are distracting them, and they know they are supposed to be belted in. Those three main things are no surprises to people. It’s just sometimes we become a little less attentive than we need to.”

We’re in the midst of what’s considered the “100 Deadliest Days” of the year, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when crash fatalities historically climb, especially for teen drivers.
(By Julie Englander, Iowa Public Radio)

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a domestic call with strangulation involved resulted in the arrest Sunday, of a man from Oakland. 26-year old Alex John Rutledge, of Oakland, was taken into custody at around 3:20-p.m. for Domestic Abuse Assault with strangulation, and was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail. Authorities say sheriff’s deputies, as well as Oakland Fire and Rescue responded to a 911 call from a 23-year old woman who claimed she had been physically attacked by her husband at their residence in the 300 block of Hill Street, in Oakland. The victim claimed she had been choked to the point where she was having a hard time breathing. Alex Rutledge admitted he wrapped his hands around the woman in a domestic dispute that became heated and also involved child custody. Authorities say at no time was the child in the area at the time of the altercation.

The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office said also, 53-year old Deborah Coleman was arrested at around 6-p.m. Sunday outside the Sheriff’s Office. She was taken into custody on a Council Bluffs Police Dept. warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree and transported to the Pott. County Jail. At around 1:20-a.m. Sunday, 30-year old Matthew D. Churchill was arrested in Honey Creek, for Assault causing bodily injury without intent, following an incident involving a 37-year old male.

At around 2-a.m. Saturday, 25-year old Darrell Jerome Boyer, of Neola, was arrested following a traffic stop for failure to have a front license plate. Boyer was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. An inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was presented with a warrant for Violation of Parole, Friday afternoon. Once the warrant was read to 23-year old Jerran Lee Baker, of Council Bluffs, he was returned to the custody of jail staff. And, 45-year old Aaron Michael Wulff was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – causing bodily injury, following an altercation with his 68-year old father.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a 12-year-old boy who died after being thrown from an off-road vehicle in eastern Iowa. The crash occurred Saturday afternoon outside Bellevue. Authorities say Gavin Milder was riding in a Chevrolet Suburban driven by a 15-year-old when the crash happened. Milder was ejected when the modified sport utility vehicle rolled, and he became pinned underneath it. Three other people in the SUV were not hurt.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says the boy was a student at Clinton Middle School in Clinton.