This weekend is setting up to be a very busy weekend on the roadways. Although AAA is projecting fewer people traveling this Fourth of July, Trooper Jason Marlow of the Iowa State Patrol says it will still be a very busy.
Marlow also says that there will be STEP and CARE programs ongoing, which means an added presence on the highways all weekend long. In 2008, five motorists lost their lives on Iowa’s roadways during the Fourth of July weekend.
Marlow reminds travelers that your help is needed to reduce accidents, and is asking every Iowan that gets behind the wheel to buckle up and drive responsibly, and to make this Fourth of July holiday a safe one. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Fairfield Police Department officials will be working along with 250 other statewide law enforcement partners in the enforcement of the 2009 Independence Weekend Special Traffic Enforcement Project.
Sentenced Former Ottumwa Child Therapist Dies
Joseph Curtis, a former child therapist at Ottumwa Regional Health Center who was recently convicted of receiving and possessing child pornography, died during transport according to officials with the U.S. Marshall’s Service. According to authorities, Curtis suffered respitory distress while being transported by bus from one correctional facility in Leavenworth, Kansas to another in Terre Haute, Indiana.
According to reports, Curtis began having difficulty breathing less then three miles from the Indiana facility. The bus continued to the Terre Haute prison where a medical facility was located, but Curtis died of the distress before arriving at the facility.
Curtis had been sent from Iowa correctional facilities in Davenport to Des Moines before being transported out to the Correctional Corporation of America in Kansas. An autopsy of Curtis, 66, found no conclusive cause for his death.
Curtis was sentenced to more than five years in prison each on three counts of child pornography and to 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. Concerning the 64 months on each charge, U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker said in March 2009 that the time would be served concurrently.
For More On This Story, Check Out Today’s Edition Of The Ottumwa Courier Or Go To www.ottumwa.com.
Sentencing For Former V.B Engineer Set
Former Van Buren County engineer Ron Bonjour has learned the date of his sentencing on charges of being in Possession of Child Pornography. Bonjour is scheduled to be in U.S. District Court next month for a 1 p.m. sentencing on August 25.
Bonjour pleaded guilty in March to the child pornography possession charges after a grand jury alleged Bonjour was in possession of ‘one or more matters of computer images and videos containing visual depictions involving the use of minors in a sexually explicit way.’ Bonjour agreed to turn over his computer accessories, equipment, identification documents and three website addresses as part of the process.
Van Buren County supervisors voted unanimously not to renew Bonjour’s contract as the county engineer. That contract officially expired at the end of June.
Offices Closing For Fourth Of July Today
Several offices will be closed today in observance of the Independence Day holiday. The Jefferson County Courthouse, including all county offices, will be closed Friday in observance of the holiday.
Government offices, including Fairfield City Hall, are closed today. Also, the Fairfield Community School District Offices will be closed for the three-day holiday weekend.
The Fairfield Public Library has announced they will be open for part of Friday before closing early for the holiday. The library will close today at 1 p.m.
Mannequin ‘Alternative Names’ Part Of Art Walk
The Fairfield Art Association's ‘My Fair(field) Ladies’ mannequin exhibit will be a part of July’s 1st Friday’s Art Walk. An ‘Alternative Name Contest’ will be held for a dozen different mannequins that were put out on display downtown along Main Street last month, all made out of recycled materials.
Everyone is invited to participate in the contest by filling out a form at the FAA's Opening Exhibit in the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center tonight. Entries can be for one mannequin or all twelve. Prizes will be given for most creative suggestions.
Twelve local artists created this light hearted summer time display, as a way to share Fairfield's creative talents as many other community's have done with similar projects. Out of town visitors have been seen having their photo's taken with the Fair Ladies, taking home memories of Fairfield. A CVB grant helped make this project possible.
Poetry was inspired by the My Fair(field) Lady exhibit in June, and mysteriously appeared in written form attached to each lady. After about a week, a notebook full original poems, complete with color photos, appeared on Suzan Kessel's door step.
It was eventually discovered the talented poet was Michael Mescon. The notebook of poetry will be on display at the FA&CC during the Art Walk tonight.
One mannequin by Dylan Katz, a welded copper bikini clad lady named Chastity, went missing about a week after the June Art Walk. A ‘Wanted: return of this mannequin’ sign is posted at the display site with the FAA hoping whoever took the mannequin might want it returned, perhaps in a swim suit cover-up.
Lord’s Cupboard Seeking Donations At Art Walk
The 1st Fridays Art Walk has also announced they will be partnering up with the Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County to replenish the food bank with ‘Fill a cart, Do your part’ as the central theme of the food drive Friday. Art Walk attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items.
The Lord’s Cupboard, which operates from their 54 South B Street address, will have a grocery cart on the north side of the square to accept donations that can also include money or items to benefit those less fortunate. The mission of the Lord Cupboard is to help the needy of Jefferson County.
Norma Bogner, who worked 21 years to establish the Lord’s Cupboard, mentioned that community support is key to helping as funding is not as high normally from national agencies. Those in need of help in Jefferson County can come to the Lord’s Cupboard four times a year, or in times of emergency, and can receive assorted foods, shampoos, soaps and anything available to help a family.
Streetscape Work Will Not Hamper Art Walk Friday
The 1st Friday’s Art Walk will not have to worry about the ongoing work of the continuing Fairfield Streetscape Project hampering the fun. Melissa Muir, coordinator of the Art Walk, told KMCD-Classic 96 News that workers will be scaling back the work on Friday and clearing away from their area of work on the east side of the Fairfield Square to allow for the entertainment of July’s Art Walk to go on unhampered.
This Friday’s Art Walk features the theme of ‘Party in the Park.’ In honor of the Independence Day weekend, the Art Walk will feature its second annual apple pie contest with entries being taken from 6-7:30 p.m.
A panel of judges, including Fairfield mayor Ed Malloy, will make their selection of the winner, which will be announced on the sound stage at 8 p.m. Slices of all the pies will be made available for sale at the Art Walk booth following the judging.
With the streetscape project moving out of the way, the Art Walk will be able to set up for additional entertainment on Friday. Performances by bands including ‘She Swings, She Sways,’ ‘Truckstop Souvenir’ and ‘Rockabilly Bobcats’ will all be performing.
For all the details on the Fairfield 1st Friday’s Art Walk, see the events page at fairfieldiowaradio.com or go to www.fairfieldartwalk.org.
Carnival Change May Come For 2010 Jeff. Co. Fair
The Jefferson County Fair may see a change in its carnival provider for the 2010 year. Korwin Hinshaw with the fair board told KMCD-Classic 96 News that a more local provider for the fair’s entertainment.
According to Hinshaw, rides were down at this year’s fair due in large part to a last minute company replacement. The carnival that was booked to arrive to the fairgrounds became impounded by Kansas Department of Transportation officials on its way to Fairfield.
Outside of that change, not much will change with the fair in 2010 according to Hinshaw. The 2010 Jefferson County Fair will be held from June 22-28.
Small Plane Crashes In Washington County
A crop duster crashed into a field just outside of Ainsworth yesterday afternoon. Washington County rescue officials responded to reports of a small plane coming down in a farm located in the 1800 block of Underwood Avenue approximately six miles north of Ainsworth.
The pilot of the plane, 39-year-old Koehn Newton, was transported from the scene of the crash to University Hospitals in Iowa City. The Mount Pleasant man’s plane was also found to be filled with nitrogen and leaking fuel at the scene, leading to crews with Haz-Mat being called to the scene for safety clean-up.
Keokuk County Officials Make Second Meth Arrest
A second individual has been arrested by Keokuk County officials on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine. Officials arrested 46-year-old Tad Wilson at his rural Keokuk County home Tuesday morning on charges that include the Class B state felony charge of manufacture more than five grams of Methamphetamine.
Wilson also is facing charges of being in possession of a precursor and officials found pseudoephedrine following the execution of a search warrant. Two weeks ago, 53-year-old Kim Wasson was also taken into custody on charges of conspiracy to manufacture less than five grams of meth.
Fairfield Native Hired As Henry Co. Deputy Sheriff
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office announced the hiring of a Fairfield native as their newest deputy sheriff. Michael Shelangoski, who is currently a resident of Mount Pleasant, was hired to the vacated position on Wednesday.
Shelangoski is a graduate of Fairfield High School and attended both Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, completing his college education with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a minor degree in Business Administration. Shelangoski replaces former Henry County Deputy Matt Simpson, who resigned in March to take a similar position with the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
Shelangoski has previously been working in the management position with Hy-Vee Food Stores since 2001 in a variety of roles. The former Fairfield grad still has to attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, which Shelangoski will do starting on September 14.
Click here for the latest commodity quotes and ag news,
courtesy of Reiff Grain & Feed of Fairfield.
For
up-to-the-minute news all day, tune to 1570 KMCD &
Classic 96 FM. For news, weather and sports delivered
to your e-mail every weekday morning, check out our
E-News service. To take the
latest news with you wherever you go, see FairfieldIowaRadio
To Go.
Contact
KMCD-Classic 96 FM News Director Scott Jackson:
