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WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – The pilot of an ultralight aircraft was flown to a Des Moines hospital after his aircraft crashed near Winterset. Madison County authorities say the aircraft struck ground in a field west of Winterset about 8 p.m. Thursday.

Authorities say 54-year-old Patrick Cook, of Winterset, suffered head, leg and abdominal injuries.  A witness told officers that the aircraft hit a power line before crashing.

The Iowa National Guard is rededicating readiness centers in Dubuque and Council Bluffs that have undergone renovation. Guard spokesman, Colonel Greg Hapgood, says it’s part of an ongoing maintenance program. “Renovations usually have to do with new heating, air conditioning, ventilation, paint, electrical wiring, they’ll generally create better spaces for soldiers to train and learn in. And so this will certainly improve the utility for both of these armories in Iowa,”Hapgood says. There have been armories for the Iowa National Guard around for years, and they are now becoming more modern facilities.

“The term armory for the most part is interchangeable with readiness centers, but we are really moving toward the term readiness centers, because that’s a lot more accurate depiction of what these facilities are used for,” Hapgood says. The Dubuque Readiness Center was rededicated Thursday afternoon.

The Council Bluffs Readiness Center and Field Maintenance Shop rededication is set for today (Friday) at 11 a-m. The four-point-five million dollar ($4.5) project began in October 2012 and features a complete renovation of both original facilities, which were built in 1993. The existing Readiness Center facility included the addition of some space along with new ceilings, wall and floor coverings, energy-efficient heating and conditioning systems and windows. The Field Maintenance Shop received an additional four-thousand square feet of space, including work bays, radiant heat and air equipment, new storm sewer, fencing, windows, and a new heating and cooling systems.

Colonel Hapgood says the completion of these facilities keeps them on track with maintenance plans. “Generally our philosophy with the Iowa National Guard is that we want every facility to be renovated within the last 20 years, or be newly built within the last 20 years, and we are absolutely on schedule for that,” Hapgood says. The centers not only serve as training facilities for the Iowa National Guard, but Hapgood says they can be rented out for use by the community. He says they provided a good link between the citizen soldiers and the communities they serve.

“The communities really are the hub in the Iowa National Guard. Those communities absolutely support our soldiers, airmen and families, and it’s an invaluable relationship for us,” according to Hapgood. The Council Bluffs Readiness Center is home to approximately 250 solders with Detachment 1, Company F, 334th Brigade Support Battalion; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry; Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry; and Company D, Iowa Army National Guard Recruit Sustainment Program.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa State Patrol reports five people were transported to Burgess Hospital in Onawa, following a collision about 4-miles north of the Onawa exit on Interstate 29, late Thursday morning. Officials say a 1997 Toyota Camry driven by 29-year old Abdirahman Awad, was traveling northbound at mile marker 116 at around 11:50-a.m., when for reasons unknown, the car went out of control, crossed the median, and collided head on with a southbound FedEx delivery truck, in the southbound lanes of travel. Both vehicles came to rest on the Interstate.

The driver of the semi, 38-year old Jimmy Ring, Awad, 41-year old Corey Dwight Zautke, and two unidentified passengers in the Toyota, were all transported to the hospital for treatment of what were described as non-life threatening injuries.

The accident remains under investigation.

John Lund, Assistant to Atlantic City Administrator Doug Harris, reports Street Department crews will begin spraying for mosquitoes next week. The weekly activity takes place on Thursday’s and Friday’s throughout the community, and is usually done early in the morning.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials at a Sioux City casino estimate that more than 1,000 people applied for jobs at the new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino during the first day of a job fair. The job fair began Wednesday and was continuing Thursday as the casino moves to hire more than 500 people before the $128.5 million operation opens August 1st.

Hard Rock human resources director Pat Lund told the Sioux City Journal the number of job seekers exceeded their expectations. No one will be hired during the job fair, which was designed to let candidates learn about the company, see what jobs are available and meet supervisors.

Lund says top prospects from the event will be invited back for interviews. Most of those hired will start work in mid-July.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Marshalltown is having a difficult time hiring a fire chief. The Times-Republican reports the central Iowa city has been seeking to fill the position since last fall, when the Fire Chief Steve Edwards retired. The job will pay from $79,000 to $94,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

WEVER, Iowa (AP) — Lee County supervisors in southeast Iowa are meeting with a resident before moving forward with plans to let a company install a water main near his property. The Daily Gate City in Keokuk reports Ron Meller of Wever told supervisors during a recent meeting that he wanted more input and information about the plans.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A Coralville police officer has sustained minor injuries after a semi-trailer hit his parked squad car along Interstate 80. Police Chief Barry Bedford tells Waterloo television station KWWL Officer Jeffery Barkhoff was assisting other officers yesterday morning when the wreck occurred.

CARLISLE, Iowa (AP) — A Pleasant Hill man has been accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl he met online. The Carlisle Police Department says 29-year-old Daniel Lee Ward went to the girl’s house Monday after communicating on Kik, a smartphone messaging system. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reported Ward faces charges of kidnapping, sexual abuse, enticing away a minor and lascivious acts with a child. He was booked at the Warren County Jail on $500,000 cash bond.