UPDATE: Grant County Woman Located Unharmed

A Grant County woman who was reported missing late Sunday afternoon has been found. The Grant County disptacher tells KDTH that twenty nine year old Lacey Brinkman has been located and is safe. Brinkman had gone missing and was last heard from at around nine p.m. Sunday. The dispatcher didn’t give any details on where Brinkman was found, only telling that she is safe. Brinkman left Cassville at around Five:30 p.m. Sunday heading to BioLife in Dubuque.

Grant County Woman Missing

Authorities in Grant County are asking for the public’s help in locating a woman who was last seen Sunday afternoon in Cassville. A press release from the sheriff’s office says twenty nine year old Lacey Brinkman told her beau she was going to BioLife in Dubuque and left at around Five:30 p.m. Brinkman was driving a silver two thousand seven Toyota Corolla with Wisconsin plates AAK-5910. Brinkman is five feet six inches tall and weighs one hundred sixty pounds. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a plain T-shirt and a baseball cap. If you have information on the whereabouts of Lacey Brinkman contact the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.

City Looking For Board And Commission Members

Volunteers are presently being sought to pack positions on city boards and commissions in Dubuque. Selected individuals will assist in the development of policy recommendations to the city council, provide leadership and support to city staff, promote the city and its’ programs and provide expertise in specialized areas. Applications can be printed or submitted online by visiting the city’s website or the City Clerk’s office in person. Applications remain on file for one year from the date they’re submitted. Some positions may require specific applicant qualifications or compliance with the State of Iowa Gender Balance Law.

Ernst Frustrated by Recess

Iowa’s junior Senator says she would have gladly turned down some time off work because she and her colleagues aren’t having discussions on significant legislation. Congress – both the House and Senate – are both presently in recess. That’s permitted representatives to comeback to their home states to hold local meetings. Senator Joni Ernst says that with so many issues unsettled in Washington, she’s rather be working. Ernst says she actually asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to cancel the August recess. Congress goes back to work after the Labor Day holiday.

Dubuque Nonprofit Assisting Harvey Victims

Dubuque nonprofit Resources Unite is asking people in the Tri-States to donate water and emergency supplies to Hurricane Harvey victims. The nonprofit posted on their Facebook page last week asking for help in purchasing eighteen pallets of water. Theisen’s is supplying the water at their cost. Resources Unite Director Josh Jasper says organizations, companies and individuals raised or bought enough pallets that they now have eighty five pallets of water to donate. Each pallet of water has eighty four cases. They were hoping to take one semi utter of water to Houston, now they will be able to take six semis total. Jasper says as soon as the water is purchased and loaded into the semis, they will begin to drive the water to Houston. If you’d like to learn how to donate, Jasper says to keep up with their Facebook page. Those wanting to volunteer or donate can check out their website.

Jackson County Fatality

A Bellevue man was killed and two others were injured in a head-on collision in Jackson County Saturday morning. A crash report from the Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened at around 7:40 a.m. in the 16-thousand block of Iowa sixty two north of Andrew. A vehicle driven by sixty year old Marjorie Hendrickson of Bellevue was traveling north of sixty two when her vehicle crossed the centerline and struck another vehicle head-on driven by forty year old Tina Kelchen of Bellevue. Kelchen’s passenger, forty year old Mitchell Kelchen was killed in the accident. Hendrickson and Tina Kelchen were airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Their conditions are not being released. The accident remains under investigation.

Police ID Man Killed By Deputy

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has released the name of a man killed by a Grant County Sheriff’s deputy Friday. Forty five year old Roger Helgerson Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting Friday morning near Climb on Hope. Deputies were attempting to serve warrants on Helgerson at his residence on Millville Hollow Road. Helgerson fled on foot, which led to a brief pursuit. Helgerson was able to arm himself and confronted a deputy, who shot him. The WDJ is investigating the incident and will turn its’ findings over to the Grant County District Attorney’s Office. The deputy involved in the shooting is on paid administrative leave.

Dubuque Man Issued Numerous Citations Following High Speed Pursue And Crash

A Dubuque man was issued a half dozen citations following a high speed pursue that began in East Dubuque this morning, and ended after he crashed his car in Dubuque. At around 8:30 a.m., an East Dubuque police officer attempted to stop a car for minor traffic violations at the intersection of Wall and 2nd Streets. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as twenty one year old Michael Harkey of Dubuque refused to stop and sped away. Harkey headed in a westerly direction across the Julian Dubuque Bridge at a high rate of speed with police in pursuit. Harkey continued traveling west on U.S. Highway 20, reaching speeds of almost one hundred mph before turning north onto Bryant Street and then west onto YMYW Street where he crashed his car into a utility pole at the intersection with North Booth. Harkey then hopped out of his car and fled on foot. He was located a brief time later by Dubuque police and taken into custody. There were three passengers in Harkey’s vehicle. Harkey and one of his passengers were transported to Grace Hospital to be treated for their injuries. Harkey is charged with operating with an expired registration, disobeying a stop sign, speeding, fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving while license is revoked and driving under the influence.

Highway Closed After Semis Crash Spilling Cheese

One lane of U.S. Highway one hundred fifty one in Iowa County was closed for a while Thursday morning, after an accident involving two semi-tractor trailers spilled cheese onto the roadway. The crash happened at around Ten:20 a.m., about a half mile north of Wisconsin thirty nine near Mineral Point. A semi driven by twenty four year old Ayman Khatib of Appleton was traveling in the right lane of 151, when he was rear-ended by another semi driven by Kenneth Carston of Bloomfield Iowa. The influence caused cheese that Kahtib was hauling in his trailer to spill onto the highway. The southbound lane of one hundred fifty one was closed for about two hours while the cheese was cleared away. Charges are pending.

One Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting near Climb on Hope

One person is dead and a Grant County Sheriff’s deputy is on leave following a shooting near Climb on Hope this morning. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has announced that it is investigating the shooting, which happened at a home near the intersection of US Highway eighteen and Clark Road. That’s where deputies attempted to make contact with a suspect. It’s not clear if the person killed is the suspect that deputies were looking for. The deputy who was involved in the shooting will be on paid administrative leave until the Department of Justice completes its investigation.

Wildfire Smoke Unlikely to Influence Dubuque for 2nd Day

We won’t know for sure until later this morning, but it does not show up that the Tri-States will be dealing with smoke from Canadian wildfires for a 2nd straight day. Late yesterday afternoon, winds shoved some of that smoke into the air over the Dubuque area. That created a significant haze in the sky, as well as a strong chemical smell in some areas. The situation was so bad that the National Weather Service rated the local Air Quality Index as “moderate.” At that level, people with certain breathing problems could be impacted by the pollutants in the air. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also issued an Air Quality Alert for Grant County. That alert expired at 6:00 this morning.

Furniture Store Proprietor to Challenge Buol

Dubuque Mayor Roy Buol will face a challenger this fall after all. Business proprietor Eddie Severns submitted nomination papers to run for mayor with only about an hour to spare before the filing deadline yesterday. Severns and his wifey co-own the RF-2 furniture store in Dubuque’s Historic Millwork District. The duo moved to Dubuque from Chicago about four years ago to open the store, which sits inwards the Caradco Building. This emerges to be the very first time Severns has sought city office. He’ll again be challenging incumbent Roy Buol, who’s been Dubuque’s mayor since two thousand six and would become the very first person to ever win four terms as Dubuque’s mayor if re-elected.

Fliament Restaurant Opens At The Diamond Jo

The Diamond Jo Casino has added another restaurant. A ribbon-cutting was held today for Filament. Diamond Jo General Manager and Vice President Wendy Runde says Filament offers an electrifying atmosphere with a fresh twist on food and a fantastic craft beer practice. Filament’s menu is puny, but offers some very unique items, like the reuben eggroll appetizer. Then there are the signature items on the menu, including bacon packaged dates and house made hummus. Runde says over time they want Filament to be known for its craft beers. Filament is located in the north end of the casino near the parking ramp entrance. The restaurant employs inbetween twenty five and thirty people and Runde says there is an chance to expand hours of operation in the future.

Phone Services Restored In SW Wisconsin Towns

911 services have been restored for people with landline phones in several southwest Wisconsin communities. Yesterday the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office was notified about a fiber line possessed by Centurylink that had been bruised, but crews primarily couldn’t find the location of the bruised line. The line was located and repaired today. Nine hundred eleven services for landline Centurylink customers in Wiota, Argyle and Gratiot were all affected. Cell phone nine hundred eleven services were not interrupted.

Phone Service Restored In School District

Inbound and outbound phone service has been restored in the Dubuque school district. Spokesman Mike Cyze says the outage was discovered at around six o’clock this morning and the issue was with their phone service provider CS Technologies. He says service was restored at around one this afternoon and all schools are operating on their normal schedules. Calls inbetween district phones were not affected by the outage.

Bob Woodard Jr. Dies At 80

Woodward (Courtesy: Telegraph-Herald)

A former KDTH General Manager has passed away. Bob Woodward, Junior, died Wednesday at the age of 80. Woodward served as the General Manager of both KDTH and the forerunner to Kat-FM until 1995, when he became Chairman of Woodward Communications, the parent company of the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. Woodward served in that role until 2002. He was also an active philanthropist in the Dubuque community, providing particularly to the Dubuque Museum of Art and Junior Achievement.

George Washington Charged with Forging Checks in Dubuque

The George Washington that helped found the United States was said to never have told a lie. A Dubuque man who shares his name evidently doesn’t share his honesty. According to police, a 61-year-old George Washington was passing forged checks at a pair of local financial institutions. Washington was arrested Tuesday morning and has been charged with four counts of Forgery. Earlier this month, officers were contacted by the Lattner Dental Office. Employees there said they had heard from their bank that checks from a closed account had been passed at the American Trust location on Jackson Street and the DuTracs on Asbury Road and Elm Street. The checks totaled $1,500. Surveillance footage and employee accounts identified Washington as the person depositing the checks. Should he be convicted on all four counts, he would face a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison.

Reynolds Undecided on Special Legislative Session

Iowa’s Governor isn’t yet ready to place odds on whether she’ll call the Legislature back for a special session this fall. The state’s Revenue Estimating Commission has predicted that Iowa brief when its books close at the end of September. Governor Kim Reynolds could stir as much as $50 million in discretionary funds to cover a shortfall. But if the deficit is larger than that, it would require a special legislative session. Reynolds says the exact deficit likely won’t be known until late next month, and she’ll determine on whether to call a special session when the numbers are a little clearer. Estimates have placed the projected shortfall as high as $100 million.

City Fast-Tracks Project After Traffic Complaints

Dubuque city officials say they understand drivers’ complaints about the closure of a busy intersection, and they’re attempting to get things opened back up as quickly as possible. Earlier this month, the intersection of Loras Boulevard and North Grandview Avenue was partially closed for traffic signal replacement. Cars travelling on Loras can no longer get through, and the crossing is only open to southbound traffic on Grandview. Cars are being detoured to University Avenue, which is causing long backups at its intersection with Grandview. Robert Wilson of Dubuque says it has significantly enlargened his daily commute. The closure actually began on the same day that Dubuque Schools began classes, something Civil Engineer Dave Ness says was a mistake. But to make up for it, crews are attempting to finish the 8-week project in a timeframe closer to six weeks. Ness believes the improvements to the intersection will be worth the traffic headaches. The cost of the project is about $300,000, but $250,000 of it is being paid for with a state grant.

Iowa Committee Studying Opioid Crisis Includes Isenhart

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, and a Dubuque lawmaker will be among a handful of Iowa legislators studying how the state is responding to the opioid crisis. State Representative Chuck Isenhart has been named to an interim examine committee tasked with evaluating the state’s prescription and treatment policies. He says the crisis is a national problem that needs instantaneous attention. Also up for review is Iowa’s Prescription Monitoring Program. Doctors and pharmacists us it to control patient access to prescribed opioids. But the problem with it is not everyone is on board. Research shows that many opioid maniacs were introduced to the drugs via a prescribed painkiller. But when they use up their supply, many go “doctor shopping.” The committee has until mid-November to report its findings to Governor Kim Reynolds and the rest of the Legislature. Isenhart is one of six lawmakers on the committee. He says he will proceed to take input from Dubuque residents through the November fifteen th deadline.

Climb on Carroll Woman Killed In Crash

A Climb on Carroll woman was killed in a three vehicle crash late Tuesday afternoon. A release from the Carrol County Sheriff’s Department says seventy six year old Sandra Andersen died in the crash which happened at around Five:40 p.m. on Illinois 78, just north of Climb on Carroll. Andersen was a passenger in a car driven by seventy six year old Lawrence Andersen that was traveling north on seventy eight attempting to turn left into a private driveway. Andersen’s car was then struck head-on by a southbound pick-up truck driven by seventy two year old Ronald Preston of Savanna. The influence spun the Andersen vehicle around which was struck again by a pick-up driven by twenty five year old Tyler Stricker of Savanna. Lawrence Andersen was transported by ambulance to FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport where his condition is not known. Preston and Stricker were not injured.

Vet Center To Receive Vintage Caddy

The Veterans Freedom Center in Dubuque will be adding another vehicle to its’ arsenal thanks to the generosity of an area business holder. Tomorrow morning John Lucksted, proprietor of Tamarack will present Freedom Center Director Jim Wagner with a vintage restored one thousand nine hundred six Cadillac. Wagner says when he was very first contacted by Lucksted, he was under the impression that the car was a two thousand six model. The car is black with black leather seats. The one cylinder Cadillac has a chain drive and will be used in a number of Freedom Center activities. Wagner says they plan to have the car appraised in the near future. Along with the Cadillac, the Freedom Center has a one thousand nine hundred forty five Jeep that was also donated. The presentation of the Cadillac to the center will be held at Tamarack at 8:30 tomorrow morning.

Phone Services Interrupted In Parts Of Grant County

A fiber line in Grant County wielded by Centurylink has been bruised and is affecting phone service for people with landline phones in several communities. The sheriff’s office says the bruised line is in an unknown location, and crews with the phone company are attempting to locate it so that it can be repaired. All nine hundred eleven landline services in the county are affected as well as customers with telephone prefixes nine hundred sixty eight in Wiota, five hundred forty three in Argyle and nine hundred twenty two in Gratiot. Cell phone nine hundred eleven services are not affected. Officials says it could be tomorrow afternoon before landline services are restored.

Wahlert Renovations to Wrap Up in Mid-September

Students walk through one of Wahlert High School’s newly-renovated hallways (Courtesy: Holy Family Schools).

Renovations at Wahlert High School in Dubuque are nearing completion several weeks ahead of schedule. Holy Family Schools broke ground on renovations to Wahlert in January of last year. At that time, the project was expected to last until at least this October. But Wahlert Principal Ron Meyers tells KDTH that crews are on tempo to have work packaged up in the next duo weeks. Meyers says that despite not adding any area to the buildings, the school still feels fatter. The fresh cafeteria is a space that has drawn a lot of compliments. Meyers says those he’s shown the improvements to have come away affected. The total cost of the renovations was about 17-million dollars. Meyers made his comments on today’s edition of KDTH’s “Voice of the Tri-States.”

Larson, McCoy File to Run for Dubuque Council

The Dubuque mayor’s race is now the only City Council election that will not be contested, after two more candidates filed to run for the council. Both Kate Larson and Jonathan McCoy filed their nomination paperwork this week. Larson will be running in the three rd Ward, where she’s hoping to substitute the retiring Joyce Connors. Larson works in Boyd Gaming’s advertising department and is presently a member of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission. She’ll face fellow youthfull professional Damien Waid for the three rd Ward seat. McCoy will be running for the at-large council seat presently held by Ric Jones, who is seeking re-election. McCoy is the holder of McCoy Jewelers, located on Main Street. He’s also the chair of the city’s zoning board. With Larson’s and McCoy’s entrances to the race, the mayor’s position is the only council seat presently going unchallenged, as incumbent Roy Buol seeks a fourth term. The deadline for candidates to file is Thursday.

Federal Authorities Make twenty Arrests Connected to Elderly Scam

A year-long investigation has resulted in the arrests of almost two dozen Dubuque residents who authorities allege were involved in a scam targeting the elderly. Dubuque Police worked with both state and federal authorities – including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – to make the arrests. Six of the people arrested are facing federal wire fraud charges. Those individuals are accused of calling people and falsely telling them that a relative had been arrested. They then asked the victims to wire money to get the relative released. Fourteen others have been booked on state or local charges. Authorities say they are the so-called “runners” who would pick up the money, then send it on to those in charge of the scam. The “runners” would be paid inbetween $20 and $50 per pickup. If they had to travel out of Dubuque, they’d get $100 and a total tank of gas. It’s believed that the scam targeted victims in at least sixteen states and brought in more than $1 million.

Those facing federal charges are:

– 34-year-old Paul Pursue

– 20-year-old Morgan Cornell

– 33-year-old Tobey Hines

– 23-year-old Payton McCarville

– 32-year-old Tiffany Reynolds

– 21-year-old Joshua Willis

Those arrested on local and state charges are:

– 19-year-old Jenna N. Bowman

– Adriana M. Flores

– Nicole M. Sharkey

– Lawrence L. Williams

Deery Brothers to Buy Dubuque Auto Plaza

A Dubuque car dealership has been sold. The Dubuque Auto Plaza, located near Kennedy Mall on Century Drive, has been bought by the Deery Brothers chain of dealerships. Dubuque Auto Plaza has been possessed by Doug Warthan since 2006, when he led the purchase of the former Dan Kruse Pontiac-Nissan. According to a release issued by the Deery Brothers, the dealership will proceed to sell fresh Nissan and BMW vehicles, as well as a range of used cars. They also plan to retain all of the current employees and add about a dozen staffers. This is the 2nd purchase of a Warthan-owned property by the Deerys this year. In June, they also bought out the Warthan Brothers Maquoketa Ford operation in Maquoketa. The Deery family, based in Cedar Falls, already wields more than a dozen dealerships across Iowa.

Budget Plan Good For UW-Platteville

The budget plan approved by the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee is good news for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The plan would boost funding to the state’s schools by almost six hundred forty million dollars. It includes almost seventy five million dollars for a fresh engineering building on the UW-P campus and renovations to Boebel Hall. State Assemblyman Travis Tranel of Cuba City says the budget plan is a win-win for public schools and the UW-System. The fresh engineering building will permit UW-P to educate up to an extra eight hundred freshmen and two hundred transfer students. The Boebel Hall renovations will convert seventeen laboratories into modern facilities for STEM education.

Rental Property Management Training Scheduled For Dubuque Next Month

If you are a landlord or you manage property in Dubuque, you are encouraged to attend a rental property management training session next week. Corporal Scott Koch with the Dubuque Police Department says the training program will provide comprehensive information on all aspects of managing a rental property. Current city ordinance requires all landlords and property managers in Dubuque to attend at least one of the training sessions, which are held in the spring and fall. Three local attorneys will give presentations during the program. Representatives from the Dubuque Housing Department will talk about leasing and licensing. Fire safety and crime prevention will also be discussed. You can register for the session by visiting NICC’s website. The training session will be held on September 9th from eight a.m. until Trio:30 p.m. at the NICC Town Clock Center in downtown Dubuque.

Missing Inmate Arrested in Wisconsin

An inmate who ducked out of a Dubuque correctional facility has been arrested in Wisconsin. According to the Iowa County Sheriff’s Department, 38-year-old Melvin Bogus was arrested Monday morning near Barneveld. Iowa authorities had been looking for Bogus after he did not report back to the Elm Street Correctional Facility. He’d been transferred there in July after serving about seven years in prison on a robbery conviction. In Wisconsin, deputies found Bogus after being called about a woman standing in the roadway on US Highway 151. He’s now facing an extra charge of Resisting or Obstructing Officers. The woman – 36-year-old Renita Bessette of Madison – was also arrested on bail leaping and theft charges.

Cascade Native: Houston Hurricane Harm “Apocalyptic”

These pictures demonstrate Houston’s Memorial Park before and at the peak of flooding(Courtesy: Aaron Cohen).

A Tri-State native living near downtown Houston describes the devastation from Hurricane Harvey as “apocalyptic” and “other-worldly.” Niki Knepper is a latest graduate of the University of Houston originally Cascade. She and her beau live just outside of Houston’s downtown area, about a block from the flooded Allen Parkway. Knepper says the normally busy area has been diminished to a near ghost town because of the storm. This is the very first hurricane that Knepper has experienced since she’s lived in Houston. She was anticipating more wind harm, and not the deluge of rain that the city has received. While there was enough warning for her to stock up on groceries, Knepper says finding bottled water was a challenge. Knepper says the storm actually arrived later than expected. But since it began raining on Saturday night, it hasn’t stopped. At this point, it seems no one truly knows what the future holds for Houston. Knepper says city officials have warned that it could take weeks before the city gets back to any semblance of normalcy. Buffalo Bayou near where Knepper lives reached major flood stage late Sunday night. It reached a crest of almost thirty nine feet the following morning. It then had a secondary crest last night. At this point, it is not expected to fall below flood stage until tomorrow afternoon.

Three Arrested After Fight Cracks Out During Basketball Game

A hard foul in a pickup basketball game led to a fight that resulted in the arrests of three Dubuque residents. At about 6:45 Monday night, police were called to Comiskey Park. That’s where officers spotted two boys squaring off with each other. Those guys, 22-year-olds Uraniel Jibas and Ranley Bolten, had been playing basketball. According to a police report, Jibas checked Bolten hard during the game, which led to the two of them getting into a fight. Both guys had bloody faces when police arrived on scene. They were each arrested on disorderly conduct charges. A third person, 19-year-old Juliet Tommy, was also arrested on the same charge. According to police, she is Bolten’s gf. When she learned of the fight, she approached the two boys, but was held back by her sister. Disorderly conduct is a Plain Misdemeanor, punishable by up to thirty days in jail.

Cascade Council Approves Golf Cart, UTV Use

Another Dubuque County community has joined the ranks of those which permit golf carts and UTVs to be driven on city streets. The Cascade City Council on Monday approved the final reading of ordinances that permit those vehicles to be operated on the community’s streets, with several exceptions. The vehicles will not be permitted on any part of Iowa Highway 136, which passes through the western part of the town. They are also barred from operation on much of one st Avenue, the community’s main haul. Cart drivers must be over the age of eighteen and are required to have both a valid driver’s license and a permit from the city. The carts are required to display either a slow-moving vehicle sign or a bicycle safety flag. The carts are also required to have both head- and taillights, and can only be driven during daylight hours.

Regional Blood Center Seeking Donations for Harvey Victims

Kristine Duehr gives blood at a blood drive at the Grandview United Methodist Church (Courtesy: KCRG).

One way you can help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey is to give blood. The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center is asking people for donations this week. They say that once they pack their own supplies, they’ll send any extra donations to Texas. Our coverage playmate, KCRG-TV, caught up with Kristine Duehr at a blood drive in Dubuque this week. She says donating blood seemed like a plain way to help out. In addition to blood drives around the area, you can also make a donation at the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center’s Dubuque location, which is located on Asbury Road, just west of its intersection with the Northwest Arterial.

Teenage Cited After Backing in to School Bus

A Dubuque teenager received a traffic ticket after backing his car into a school bus yesterday morning. According to police, 16-year-old Robert Kues was backing out of a driveway in the 11-hundred block of Rockdale Road at about 7:00 AM. As he pulled onto Rockdale, he collided with a Dubuque Community School District bus. Kues complained of a head injury, and was taken to Grace Hospital to be checked out. He was cited for Unsafe Entry to a Roadway. About eighteen students headed to Senior High and Washington Middle schools were on board at the time. None of them were injured. The bus sustained about three thousand dollars in harm, and a 2nd bus was sent to pick up the students on board. Police estimate the harm to Kues’ car at about four thousand dollars.

Inmate Fails to Come back to Dubuque Facility

Dubuque Police are looking for a prisoner who is missing from a local correctional facility. 38-year-old Melvin Bogus is supposed to be serving time on a 2nd Degree Robbery conviction from 2010. That’s when he and another man attempted to rob a Jackson Street convenience store with a knife. Bogus was sentenced to ten years in prison, but had recently been transferred to the Iowa Department of Corrections facility on Elm Street. According to a press release, Bogus is a black man who stands Five’6″ and weighs about two hundred thirty five pounds. If you know his whereabouts, contact the Dubuque Police Department.

Longtime Lancaster Council Member Dies

A council member from Lancaster passed away over the weekend. 68-year-old Dennis Morgan died following a five-year battle with cancer. He had served on the Lancaster Common Council for more than thirty five years, in addition to time spent on many city committees. Morgan was a graduate of the former West Grant High School, and went on to be a member of Southwest Technical College’s very first graduating class. He then worked as an electrician and welder at John Deere Dubuque Works for almost four decades. Funeral services for Morgan will be held on Friday morning.

Package Labeled “Bomb” Causes Warehouse Evacuation

A warehouse in Dubuque’s Industrial Park West was evacuated due to a bomb scare this morning. Dubuque police officers and firefighters were sent to the Nordstrom Distribution Center on Chavenelle Road at about 8:00 this morning. Workers there had called nine hundred eleven after finding a package with the word “bomb” written on it. The building was evacuated as a precaution, and a bomb-sniffing dog was brought in to inspect the package. But the dog did not indicate any explosive material was inwards. The box actually contained several articles of clothing and nothing dangerous. The package had originated in Tennessee. Police believe the word “bomb” had been written on it before it reached Dubuque.

Gas Prices Expected to Increase Due to Hurricane

Hurricane Harvey is expected to have an influence on gas prices here in the Tri-States, but analysts predict it will be short-lived. Gail Weinholzer from AAA tells us that a handful of oil refineries along the Gulf Coast decreased or stopped production ahead of the storm. She says that’s going to cause in slight interruption in the gas supply. Weinholzer expects gas prices will increase by at least ten cents, and will stay elevated through the upcoming Labor Day weekend. But she says that increase will be countered by a dip in prices toward the end of September. Even with the anticipated increase, Weinholzer says gas prices here in the Tri-States are at or below latest levels. The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Iowa is $Two.30.

Three Arrested After Woman Knocked Out in Bar Fight

Three people are facing charges for their roles in a bar fight where a woman was knocked out. According to Dubuque Police, officers were called to Mason Dixon Saloon on Main Street at about 1:45 Saturday morning. Police primarily made contact with 23-year-old Jonas Steinborn of Dubuque, who appeared to be irate. As officers attempted to peaceful him down, they were directed to the bar’s lower level, where a woman was on the ground unconscious. She was identified as 22-year-old Kelli Herrig of Bernard. Officers determined Steinborn and Herrig had gotten into an argument which led to Herrig punching Steinborn in the face. She attempted to walk away, but Steinborn grabbed her by the shoulder. At that point, Herrig began punching Steinborn again. Police say he punched back, landing a gargle that knocked Herrig unconscious. They were both arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication. Additionally, 25-year-old Nicholas Santillo was also arrested for Public Intoxication after police say he became argumentative with officers.

P2C Website Nears 1st Anniversary

Dubuque Police are touting the response they’ve gotten to a fresh website that posts daily arrests, reports, and mugshots. The site is called “P2C,” which stands for “police to citizens.” Dubuque’s version of the site went live almost a year ago, and department spokesman Lt. Scott Baxter says the feedback from citizens has been generally positive. Among the features of the site is a ‘daily bulletin,’ where arrests, incidents, and other reports are posted. Users can also access a list of the department’s most wished suspects, do an address-based search for incidents, and look up who is presently in the county jail. While the department doesn’t track which feature is the most popular, Baxter believes they’re all accessed regularly. Baxter says that P2C is supported by the fresh software that the department switched to about three years ago. Other cities that have their own version of the P2C site include Pueblo, Colorado and Greensboro, North Carolina.

Days Before Filing Deadline, Just One Dubuque Council Race Contested

With just a handful of days left until the filing deadline, just one of this year’s four Dubuque City Council races is presently contested. The last day that candidates can submit their nomination paperwork is Thursday. So far, six candidates have filed for the four council seats that will be on the ballot this year. The seat that’s drawn the most attention is in the one st Ward, where three candidates have entered the race. John Pregler, Brett Shaw, and Lou Oswald have all filed paperwork to substitute Councilman Kevin Lynch, who is not running for re-election. Since there are more than two candidates in that race, there will be a primary election to narrow the field on October Ten. Each of the other seats have had just one candidate file thus far. Marketing executive Damien Waid is presently the foot candidate for the three rd Ward seat that is being vacated by Joyce Connors. Ric Jones is running for a fourth term as an at-large council member, and presently has no opponent. And Mayor Roy Buol has also filed for what would be an unprecedented fourth term. He is also presently unopposed.

“Building a Better Iowa” Tour Brings Reynolds to Manchester, McGregor

Iowa’s governor will be stopping in two area communities as part of her “Building a Better Iowa” tour this week. Governor Kim Reynolds’ office has announced stops in both Manchester and McGregor as part of the tour, which will take her to nine communities this week. The Manchester stop is actually the beginning of that tour. Reynolds will tour Henderson Products on Wednesday afternoon in an event her office says will highlight workforce. From there, the governor will turn her attention to the economy as she makes her way to McGregor on Thursday morning. Her stop there will be a Pikes Peak State Park. Among the other cities Reynolds plans to visit this week are Decorah, Independence, Grundy Center, and Iowa Falls.

Dubuque Dudes Among Crimson Cross Volunteers Assisting with Harvey Ease

As flooding proceeds in parts of Texas due to Hurricane Harvey, two Dubuque guys are on their way to the impacted area. Marty Schiessl and John Shirkey are volunteers for the American Crimson Cross who are being deployed to the Houston area. They spent much of Saturday loading up a response vehicle before getting on the road. Schiessl is being deployed for the ninth time. He says their main job when they get to Texas will be taking meals to impacted residents. Schiessl says he likes volunteering for the Crimson Cross, and encourages others to do so as well. Harvey made landfall Friday as a Category four storm. While it’s since been downgraded to a tropical storm, it has stalled out over the Texas coast. Many areas near Houston have received upwards of twenty inches of rain since the storm hit.

Clayton County Included in Presidential Disaster Declaration

Tornado harm in downtown McGregor (Courtesy: KCRG).

A Tri-State area county has been included in a presidential disaster declaration. Clayton County is one of seven Iowa counties that President Donald Trump has opened up for federal assistance. The funding will help local communities deal with harm caused by storms in mid-July. That’s when an EF-1 tornado struck the community of McGregor. Strenuous rains also caused flooding in many areas, with the town of Volga being put under a mandatory evacuation. The federal funding can cover up to seven million dollars in recovery efforts. Clayton County had already been given a state disaster declaration, meaning that state money will be available as well.

Dubuque City Expo Comebacks

An event that was held in Dubuque for twenty years is coming back this year. On September 14th City Expo will be held inwards the Five Flags Center. Public Information Officer Randy Gehl says City Expo was discontinued in two thousand thirteen because of some budget concerns, but it’s returning this year to commence the tradition again. If the weather cooperates, there will be a large equipment display set up along 5th Street, inbetween Main and Locust. To get a accomplish list and schedule of City Expo events visit the City of Dubuque’s website. Expo is free and open to the public.

Felony Hook-up Charges Dismissed

Two felony sexual manhandle charges against a Galena man have been dismissed by a Jo Daviess County Circuit Court Judge. Online court records say thirty four year old Stephan Blackamore was charged with two felony counts of criminal sexual manhandle and one count of battery. Blackamore was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Jo Daviess County in early June. Jo Daviess County State’s Attorney John Hay said there was not sufficient evidence to take Blackamore to trial, so he moved to have the charges against him dropped.

Fatal Wisconsin Accident

One person died as the result of a two vehicle head on crash in Lafayette County on State Highway seventy eight yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department reports that 72-year old Patrick B. Calhoun, of rural Dodgeville died in the accident. He was traveling south on Highway seventy eight when he was struck head-on by a northbound pickup driven by 34-year old Mary E. Bernet of Argyle. Bernet’s vehicle appeared to have crossed the center line and was traveling in the southbound lane. Calhoun was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lafayette County Coroner’s Office. Bernet and her passenger, 38-year old Aaron C. Bernet, also of Argyle were transported to the Monroe Hospital for injuries.

Mary Bernet was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated at the Monroe Hospital and then transferred to UW Hospital in Madison for treatment of injuries. Further charges are pending.

The highway was detoured for approximately four hours due to the crash.

Dunkel: No Timetable for Setting Tuition Rates

A member of Iowa’s Board of Regents says while there’s no definite timetable for setting tuition rates at the three state-supported universities, she’d like to see a decision yet this year. The presidents of each of those schools introduced budget proposals to the board earlier this month. Under those plans, Iowa and Iowa State would boost tuition by 7% in each of the next five years. UNI has proposed a 7% increase next year, but lower hikes from there. Former state legislator Nancy Dunkel of Dyersville is in her very first term on the board. She says the presidents provided very detailed proposals that will take some time to look over. Dunkel says the board understands that the earlier they make a decision, the more time students and parents have to review the tuition switches. Dunkel was nominated to the board by then-Governor Terry Branstad in March. She was confirmed by the Iowa Senate about a month later.

Jackson County Authorities Looking for “Noncompliant” Lovemaking Offender

Authorities in both Jackson and a neighboring county are asking the public to be on the lookout for what they’re calling a “noncompliant hookup offender.” 46-year-old Carl Geier, Junior, had previously lived in Preston. He’s required to register as a hook-up offender due to a two thousand one conviction for aggravated sexual manhandle in Illinois. Geier last updated his information in April. He was supposed to do so again in July, but did not check in with law enforcement at that time. According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Geier spent time in a jail Colorado, but was released earlier this month. It’s possible he could come back to Preston, or to Clinton, where his mother lives. Geier is a white masculine standing Five’9″ tall and weighing about one hundred sixty five pounds. He has thinning brown hair and blue eyes, and a noticeable scar above his left eye. If you have any information about his whereabouts, you’re asked to contact the Jackson or Clinton County sheriff’s office.

Dogs Rescued from Hoarder House in Darlington

Four dogs which had been kept in squalid conditions were rescued from a home in southwest Wisconsin this week. On Tuesday, Darlington police officers investigated a complaint of poor living conditions at a home on East Street. Officers spotted evidence of hoarding and dog neglect, but couldn’t inject the house because of the stench coming from inwards. The Darlington Fire Department’s Haz-Mat Team was called in and provided breathing equipment so officers could get inwards rescue the dogs. The home has deemed uninhabitable and was sealed off so that no one can get inwards. The resident was in the hospital, and agreed to give up custody of the dogs. They were transported to a veterinarian clinic to be treated for a multitude of ailments. The animals were then taken to the Green County Humane Society, where they will be put up for adoption. The Lafayette County Attorney’s Office will determine if any charges will be filed against the resident.

Racist Graffiti Discovered on Dubuque Floodwall

Racism has once again reared its ugly head in Dubuque. Police on Thursday said that a city employee had discovered racist graffiti sprayed on the inwards of the Mississippi Sea floodwall. The messages contained a slur and a reference to the Ku Klux Klan. They were found facing the sea on the portion of the floodwall that sits near the intersection of Terminal and Jones Streets. That’s in the so-called “South Port” area, near the Julien Dubuque Bridge. Police Lt. Scott Baxter tells our coverage fucking partner KCRG-TV that because the area is kind of remote, it’s hard telling how long the graffiti had been there. The Dubuque Human Rights Commission held an emergency meeting to discuss the graffiti last night. Commissioner Anthony Allen, who’s also the president of the local chapter of the NAACP, notes the graffiti comes as racial tensions are on the rise nationwide. Allen says it’s clear that Dubuque still has a long way to go to rid itself of racist attitudes. Police are estimating that the graffiti was placed on the floodwall as recently as Monday, or as far back as a month ago.

Woman Faces Drug Charges After Traffic Stop In Jo Daviess County

A Schaumburg woman faces two felony drug charges following a traffic stop in Jo Daviess County last week. Last Friday night an officer with the Warren Police Department stopped a car driven by thirty four year old Christine Somev for minor traffic violations. As the officer approached the vehicle he could smell a strong odor of burnt and fresh cannabis coming from inwards of the car. Deputies from the Jo Daviess Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene and the vehicle was searched. Officers found over one hundred grams of marijuana and several items of drug paraphernalia inwards the car. Somev was arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and two felony counts of unlawful possession of cannabis and unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to produce.

Dubuque Man Facing Seven Charges After Domestic Incident

A Dubuque man faces more than a half-dozen charges after being accused of kicking his live-in gf and menacing to kill her. Police were called to an apartment in the two thousand six hundred block of Central Avenue just before 12:40 this morning. A woman there told police that after she’d gotten home from work earlier that night, her beau had kicked her into a wall. The two of them fought, with the man grabbing her by the mouth. They stopped when one of their infant children began sobbing. After comforting the child, the woman said she went to an upstairs bedroom. She told officers that the man then came at her with a knife, telling “I’m going to kill you,” and stabbing the bed near where she was lounging. He eventually left the apartment and the woman called police. Officers found the man, 23-year-old Jarrod Ruggles, about a block away. According to a police report, Ruggles had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. He refused to identify himself and officers had to hold his arms so he could be manacled. He’s now facing seven charges: Domestic Manhandle Onslaught while Using or Displaying a Weapon, one st Degree Harassment, Public Intoxication, and two counts each of Child Endangerment and Interference with Official Acts.

Former Spahn and Rose Warehouse to Become ‘Open Market’

The same developer that is turning the old Spahn and Rose lumber yard into a hotel will also attempt to convert a former warehouse into usable space. Tom Kelzer of Platinum Realty is already working to turn Spahn and Rose’s old production facility near the Historic Millwork District into an 84-room hotel that would open next spring. He recently announced plans to convert Spahn and Rose’s old warehouse into and “open market” type building. That could include everything from retail to restaurants to office space, similar to the Caradco Building. Kelzer tells our coverage playmate, KCRG-TV, the concept for the old warehouse should increase foot traffic to the area. Sitting inbetween the two former Spahn and Rose locations is Kalmes Breaktime Grill and Spirits. That restaurant closed earlier this week, but Kelzer says he has no plans to acquire the building.

Walker Requests Federal Declaration for Flood-Damaged Counties

Wisconsin’s governor is asking President Donald Trump to issue a federal disaster declaration for eleven counties hit hard by flooding last month…including four counties in our listening area. Scott Walker sent that request to President Trump on Wednesday. The declaration would permit local officials in Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and seven other counties to recover clean-up costs through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. Those counties were all struck by mighty rains in mid-July. The resulting flooding caused more than $Ten million in harm.

Winning Powerball Ticket Sold in Massachusetts

There was a winner in last night’s $758 million Powerball drawing, but if you’re somewhere within the KDTH listening area…odds are it wasn’t you. A ticket sold in Massachusetts matched all six of the winning numbers. But there were some tickets sold in Iowa and Illinois which won secondary prizes. A ticket that matched all five white ball-sac, but missed on the Powerball, was sold in Joliet, Illinois. Whoever claims that ticket wins $Two million . In Iowa, three tickets matched four of the very first five numbers and the Powerball to win $50,000. Those tickets were sold in Fort Dodge, Dakota City, and Evansdale. For those of you who are nosey, the winning numbers were 6-7-16-23-26 and the Powerball was Four.

Dubuque Police Seek Onslaught Suspect

Dubuque police are looking for a man they believe may have been involved in a latest onslaught. The brunt took place in the two hundred block of Main Street on August 12th. The department has posted photos of the suspect on its’ ID4PD website. We’ve posted an pic of the suspect as well on our website KDTH.com.

Authorities ID Motorcycle Fatality Victim

The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of a man who was killed in a motorcycle crash in the county last evening. The victim is identified as thirty four year old Keith Kunde of East Dubuque. At around Five:20 p.m. deputies along with Epworth Fire and Ambulance responded to the scene of the accident near the intersection of North Cascade Road and Waters Forest Drive. An investigation exposed that Kunde was railing his motorcycle in a westerly direction on North Cascade at a high rate of speed. He lost control while attempting to round a curve and went into a ditch. Kunde was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dubuque County Medical Examiner Investigator. The crash coerced the closure of North Cascade Road near the accident scene for about two hours. The investigation into the accident is on-going.

UPDATE: Police Identify Woman Killed in Lawnmower Accident

Dubuque Police have released the name of the woman killed when she became trapped inbetween her lawnmower and an air conditioning unit. 61-year-old Barbara Casey was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which happened near the intersection of Wingate and Sylvan Drives at about 1:30 yesterday afternoon. Police say that Casey had been operating a lawn tractor up an incline when the mower began moving rearwards, pinning her inbetween it and the elevated air conditioner. It’s not yet known why the mower went rearwards, or what specific injuries led to Casey’s death. Her assets has been taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, where an autopsy will be performed.

911 Text Messaging Still On Hold

People in Dubuque will have to wait a little longer before they’re able to text police for help. Managers of the Dubuque County Emergency Communication Center were expecting to have the technology needed to receive nine hundred eleven text messages a few weeks ago. But they tell our coverage fucking partner, KCRG-TV, they’re having issues with the software company so the project is delayed. The technology will permit people to send a text message to dispatchers when they’re having an emergency. Managers aren’t sure when the issue will be resolved.

Dubuque Freshmen Get Laptops for School

A Dubuque Senior freshman is given her laptop by school staff on Tuesday (Courtesy: KCRG).

Incoming freshmen at Dubuque’s public high schools received some typical items during their orientation on Tuesday: locker combinations, gym uniforms, lunch account key codes. But they were also given something no classes before them received: laptop computers. Beginning this year, each freshman student at Senior and Hempstead are being assigned laptops to use both in the classroom and at home. Freshman Jim Bonifas believes it’ll be a big help. Coby Culbertson, the district’s Director of Technology, says the laptops will give students access to many classroom materials even when they’re away from school. The laptops were paid for with money generated by a local one-cent sales tax.

Lottery Scammer Sentenced to twenty five Years in Prison

Eddie Tipton stands during his sentencing hearing in Des Moines Tuesday (Courtesy: Des Moines Register).

A computer programmer who admitted rigging lottery jackpots in Iowa, Wisconsin, and three other states will be going to prison for twenty five years. That was the sentence passed down to Eddie Tipton in a Des Moines courtroom Tuesday afternoon. Iowa Assistant Attorney General Rob Sand was the state’s lead prosecutor in this case. Back in 2010, Tipton was caught on movie buying a winning Hot Lotto ticket. The prize went unclaimed for more than a year, until someone else attempted to cash the ticket in. A coworker recognized Tipton, who had been the head of security for the Multi-State Lottery Association. A six-year investigation has not only led to prison time for Tipton, but to charges against co-conspirators in Texas. Tipton’s attorney, Dean Stowers, argues lottery officials should have spotted the scheme sooner. But Sand says the lottery dreamed to be thorough in their investigation. During Tuesday’s hearing, Tipton told the judge he regrets his deeds. The judge voiced doubts about Tipton’s sincerity and passed down the maximum sentence for the charge against him, on-going criminal conduct. Tipton has also been ordered to pay more than two million dollars in restitution. He’s is due to be sentenced on similar charges in Wisconsin next month.

Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson contributed to this story.

Powerball Reaches $700 Million, Second-Largest Prize in Game’s History

If there’s a winner in tonight’s Powerball drawing, they’ll be claiming the second-largest prize in the game’s history. Lottery officials say the jackpot for tonight’s drawing will be at least $700 million . Now that still pales in comparison to the largest jackpot ever, which was the $1.6 billion prize that three players split early last year. Still the $700 million would still make someone a rich as many puny island nations. But Uncle Sam would take a significant share of the prize. The lump sum payment is about $443 million. Put that on next year’s 1040, and you’ll be looking at a federal tax payment of about $110 million. Here’s one more large number: the odds of winning the jackpot are one in about two hundred ninety two million.

Gas Leak Compels Evacuation of NW Arterial Bank

A bank branch on the Northwest Arterial was evacuated after a gas leak outside their building yesterday morning. Shortly before 11:15 AM, construction crews working near the American Trust location on Asbury Road struck a gas line with an excavator, causing a leak. About ten employees and customers from the bank were cleared out until the leak could be capped off by crews from Black Hill Energy. No injuries have been reported.

Dubuque Woman Dies When Lawnmower Pins Her Against AC Unit

A Dubuque woman died after the lawnmower she was operating pinned her against an air conditioning unit. According to the Dubuque Police Department, the incident happened a few minutes before 1:40 yesterday afternoon at a home near the intersection of Wingate and Sylvan Drives. That’s just to the west of Kennedy Mall. The woman, who has not yet been identified, was operating the mower when she became pinned inbetween it and the air conditioner. Police expect to release the woman’s name will be released once they finish notifying her relatives.

East Dubuque Resident Killed in Motorcycle Crash

An East Dubuque resident was killed in a motorcycle crash southwest of the Dubuque city thresholds last night. A release from the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department indicates that the crash happened just before Five:20 PM near the intersection of North Cascade Road and Waters Forest Drive. The sheriff’s department has determined that the motorcyclist was headed west on North Cascade Road when they went into the ditch after failing to make it around a curve in the road. Authorities have not released the name of the motorcycle operator, but have indicated that the person was a 34-year-old from East Dubuque. The person’s name is expected to be released later today.

Del Toro Questions City Attorney’s Salary

Del Toro, Brumwell

A member of the Dubuque City Council has called into question the salaries being paid to employees in the City Attorney’s office. An item on the council’s agenda this week called for the establishment of City Attorney Crenna Brumwell’s salary. Kicking off next month, she will receive an annual salary of $165,000. That’s an increase of almost $25,000 over the office’s original budget recommendation, which put Brumwell’s salary closer to $139,000. Brumwell became the City Attorney about a year ago, when former City Attorney Barry Lindahl moved into semi-retirement. He is still working in the office, but now on a part-time basis. At the time, those moves were expected to save the city about $50,000, but Del Toro says that has not been the case. Under the original budget recommendation, Brumwell would have been paid about Two.5% more than Assistant City Attorney Maureen Quann. The increase in Brumwell’s salary is meant to create a larger pay gap inbetween those positions, something Del Toro admits is necessary. Del Toro says the budget for the City Attorney’s office is something the Council will likely proceed to scrutinize in coming budget processes. A review of this year’s budget recommendations shows the City Attorney’s office is paying its staff about $Ten,000 less than last year. But that includes the hiring of a Legal Assistant, a position that had not previously been on staff. The council approved setting of Brumwell’s salary at $165,000 on a 6-1 vote. Del Toro was the only council member to vote against the proposal.

Kalmes’ Breaktime Now Closed for Business

Residents of and visitors to the Historic Millwork have one less dining option. Kalmes’ Breaktime Grill and Spirits has closed, according to a post on the business’ Facebook page. The off-shoot of the popular Kalmes Restaurant in Saint Donatus had been located at the intersection of eleven th and Jackson Streets for twenty one years. According to the post, Sunday was the business’ last day. A note taped to the door indicated that the closing was due to restructuring within the family business, which also includes a supper club in Cascade. The closure also comes less than a month after the matriarch of the Kalmes family passed away. Helen Kalmes died July twenty seven at the age of 77.

Police: Known Drug Dealer Caught with Marijuana, Cocaine, Cash

A man Dubuque Police say is a known drug dealer was arrested on numerous drug charges last week. 33-year-old Silvester Durrah stands accused of Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia, as well as Driving While Barred. According to police, Durrah was involved in a hit-and-run crash a few minutes before midnight Saturday night. Using traffic cameras, police were able to track Durrah’s vehicle to the six hundred block of Chestnut Street, where he was pulled over. Durrah was sitting in the driver’s seat, but denied driving the car. Due to his history of drug-related crimes, police called in the K-9 unit, which indicated that there were drugs in the car. A search of the vehicle turned up cocaine, marijuana, several empty baggies with cocaine residue in them, and more than three thousand dollars in cash. Police say that evidence indicates that Durrah was likely selling drugs. Durrah has another charge of Possession of a Managed Substance pending against him in Dubuque County District Court. He’s also facing trial on a Pimping charge filed against him in January.

“Shop With a Cop” Fundraising Doubles Last Year’s Total

Dozens of Dubuque schoolchildren will go on a shopping excursion with local police officers next month. The Dubuque Police Protective Association recently finished the fundraising for their annual “Shop With a Cop” event. Fundraising began in mid-April and packaged up last week. Nick Schlosser, a police investigator who goes up the event, says amount of funds brought in was twice what they raised last year. More one hundred kids will join police officers for a day of shopping at Target next month. Each year the DPPA attempts to pick kids for the shopping tour who applied, but weren’t selected, the previous year. Schlosser says Key Services plays a vital role in the fundraising effort each year. Officers are presently planning to take the kids shopping for school clothes and supplies in the middle of September.

Police Urge Caution Near Schools as Students Comeback

Students comeback to Dubuque’s schools this week, and local police are reminding drivers to be cautious around school zones. Dubuque Police Lt. Scott Baxter says making those areas safe is a responsibility that has to be collective by students, school staff, and drivers alike. Baxter encourages drivers to familiarize themselves with the school zones along their commute route. That includes knowing the speed thresholds in those areas. At the same time, Baxter doesn’t believe it is necessary for drivers to attempt to avoid school areas. The very first official day of school for Dubuque students is Wednesday. There will be several grade levels visiting their school buildings for orientation today.

Intersection of Loras and Grandview to Close for Signal Repairs

A project could influence how you travel through the city of Dubuque over the next duo months. That’s because a significant intersection is being closed for improvements to its traffic signals. The intersection of Loras Boulevard and Grandview Avenue closed this morning. City Engineer Gus Psihoyos tells us that the city will be installing fresh features to make the traffic lights there more visible to drivers. Once the work is accomplish, Psihoyos says the intersection will look a lot more like the ones Loras Boulevard has in the downtown area. The closure is presently planned to last eight weeks, until mid-October. But Psihoyos says the city will be looking at ways to shorten that timeframe. Traffic on Loras Boulevard will be rerouted to University Avenue using Nowata Street. Vehicles travelling north on Grandview will be detoured using University, Asbury Road, and Clarke Drive. Southbound traffic on Grandview will not be impacted.

Man Faces Charges After Burglary At Dubuque Store

One man was arrested and another remains at large following a burglary at a Dubuque business over the weekend. According to a police report officers responded to an alarm at the Sprint Store on Asbury Road at around midnight Saturday. When they arrived they found both glass doors to the business had been shattered and several drawers were open. Police used traffic cameras to track two suspect vehicles to the parking lot at Wal-Mart. As police were setting up a perimeter around the parking lot, one of the vehicles attempted to leave but was stopped by officers. The passenger was identified as twenty three year old Matthew Moore of Chicago. The vehicle then fled the scene with officers in pursuit. The pursuit went through several fields and the Dubuque County Fairgrounds. Police laid down stop rams, which disabled the vehicle and two suspects leaped out and fled on foot. A deputy with the sheriff’s department eventually caught up with Moore, who had to be tazed before he became compliant. The driver of the vehicle managed to escape. Moore is charged with burglary, criminal mischief, interference with official acts and possession of stolen property. Moore could face extra charges. Harm to the store was estimated at around three hundred dollars.

Another Dubuque City Council Candidate Files Paperwork

A third candidate has filed to run for the Dubuque City Council seat that represents the southern and western parts of the city. John Pregler submitted his nomination paperwork to the City Clerk’s office yesterday. Pregler is seeking the one st Ward seat presently held by Kevin Lynch, who announced earlier this year that he would not run for re-election. Pregler is an infrastructure consultant for the local, state, and federal government. He says several issues prompted him to run for the council. Number one is public safety, specifically what he calls “gang-related” shootings. Pregler is also worried about the amount of debt the city has taken on. Pregler says he would thrust for the addition of a fresh fire station within the one st Ward. In addition to Pregler, Brett Shaw and Lou Oswald have also filed to run in the one st Ward. That means there will be a primary election inbetween those three candidates. That will be held on October ten th . The two top vote-getters there would stir on to November’s general election.

Greater Dubuque Welcomes College Students to Dubuque

Dubuque’s college students will be returning to classes soon, and a local workforce organization is hoping to make them feel at home in the Key City. You might have noticed several “Welcome Students” billboards on the highways that lead into Dubuque. Those ads were taken out by Greater Dubuque Development. Kristin Dietzel, Greater Dubuque’s Vice President of Workforce Solutions, says that’s just one facet of the organization’s efforts to retain Dubuque’s college population. Another part of Greater Dubuque’s college outreach effort includes hosting a Leadership Luncheon at each school. Dietzel says it’s hard to quantify just how many of the students attending Dubuque’s colleges have come to the area from somewhere else. In addition to educating students about their fresh city, Greater Dubuque is also pushing local employers to think more about their college relations efforts. Last spring, they produced a manual that helps companies streamline their connections with local schools. Classes commence this Thursday at the University of Dubuque. Both Clarke University and Loras College open their academic years next Monday.

Fresh Iowa License Plate Design Exposed

Iowa’s fresh license plate design has been exposed. Earlier this month, the state’s Department of Transportation introduced three finalist designs. For the past week-and-a-half, Iowans have been able to vote for their dearest design online and at the State Fair outside Des Moines. The DOT this morning announced that the design called “City and County Reboot” garnered the most votes and will begin appearing on plates next year. The design pulled in a little more than 113,000 votes, and edged out the runner-up design by fewer than three thousand tallies. “City and County Reboot” features a blue stripe across the top of the plate, with a green one along the bottom, and white space in inbetween. Silhouetted in the blue are items seen in Iowa’s urban and rural areas: a barn, wind turbine, the state capitol dome, and other buildings from the Des Moines skyline. The green stripe includes prairie grasses that are native to the state.

Vet: Leave Dogs Indoors During Eclipse

Obviously, humans will need to wear eye protection if they’re attempting to view today’s eclipse. But what about pets? Many people have been wondering whether it will be safe for their dog to be outside during the eclipse. Dubuque veterinarian Robin Mundt says that while it’s unlikely that most dogs would look at the sun, it’s still very likely best to leave them indoors this afternoon. Mundt works at the PetMed Animal Health Center in downtown Dubuque.

Sea Museum, Mines of Spain Hosting Eclipse Viewing Parties

A duo of Dubuque’s more popular nature sites are hosting viewing parties for today’s eclipse. But the National Mississippi Sea Museum and Aquarium’s and the Mines of Spain’s events will be fairly different. At the Mines, they’re hosting an indoor eclipse party. Park Technician Jenny Stromberg tells us that they’ll display a movie feed of the eclipse. The event starts at noon on Monday and runs until Two:00 PM.

Down at the sea museum, their eclipse party commences at 9:00 this morning. Guests will be able to take part in hand-on activities inspired by the sun’s energy for the very first duo hours. Then, when the eclipse embarks, staff will pass out five hundred free pairs of the special eclipse viewing glasses. The party is being held in the museum’s plaza. It is free to attend, but anyone wishing to tour the rest of the museum will have to pay for admission.

Tri-States Can Expect 90% Sun Blockage During Eclipse

Well, today is the big day. You’ve no doubt heard lots of talk over the weekend about the total solar eclipse happening later this morning and into the early afternoon. That’s when the moon’s orbit will bring it directly in inbetween the Earth and the sun. While eclipses happen about every eighteen months, a total eclipse that is viewable by most of the United States is much rarer, according to KCRG Chief Meteorologist Joe Winters. While the Dubuque area is not in the path of “totality,” or where the entire sun will be blocked out, we can still expect to have about 90% of the sun covered up by the moon. That means the sky will darken and temperatures may drop a duo degrees. The eclipse will begin here at about 11:45 AM, with the peak coming at 1:13 this afternoon. It will then take more than another hour for the moon to downright budge past the sun. Now this could all be moot if the sky is too cloudy to see the sun. But Winters says even with clouds in our forecast, there could still be petite cracks when the eclipse will be visible. The next time that people in the Tri-States will be able to see a total solar eclipse with more sun blockage than today won’t happen until September of 2099.

A Portion Of JFK To Close

A portion of a well-traveled street in Dubuque will be closed for a duo of days this week. On Monday and Tuesday, John F. Kennedy Road, inbetween Barony Drive and Rupp Hollow Road will be closed so that crews can install a fire hydrant. The closures will run from around seven a.m. to five p.m. both days. A detour will be posted for motorists to go after.

Traffic Enforcement Project Conducted In Downtown Dubuque

The Dubuque Police Department teamed up with the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa State Patrol last week to conduct a traffic enforcement project in the downtown area. Officers issued fifty four citations or warnings, mostly for seat belt violations. Citations or warnings were also issued for no driver’s license, driving with a suspended license, driving while texting no insurance, equipment violations, tinted windows, expired registration and driving the wrong way on a on way.

Dubuque Man Arrested On Drug Charges

A Dubuque man faces several drug related charges after law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at his residence last night. At around ten minutes after ten, members of the Dubuque Police Department Neighborhood Response Team, the Tactical Patrol Division and the Dubuque Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence of thirty two year old Joshua Carter in the 21-hundred block of North Main Street. Once inwards, authorities located approximately one third of a pound of ice methamphetamine, over 47-hundred dollars in cash, twenty grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and ammunition. Carter was arrested and charged with possession of meth with intent to produce, possession of marijuana with intent to produce and possession of drug paraphernalia. Two of the charges are felonies and carry sentences of up to thirty years in prison, while the other charge is a elementary misdemeanor, which carries a thirty day jail term. Two other people inwards the residence were not charged.

Foxconn Bill Approved By Wisconsin State Assembly

Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled state assembly has passed a bill that paves the way for a three billion dollars incentives package for a proposed liquid-crystal display plant for Taiwan’s Foxconn. The vote comes just three weeks after President Trump and Governor Scott Walker announced the deal for Foxconn to invest up to ten billion dollars on the display panel manufacturing facility. It could employ up to 13-thousand people. Republican State Assemblyman Travis Tranel of Cuba City voted for the measure. Opponents of the legislation question the cost to taxpayers and weakening of environmental protections. Trannel says the bill will have zero influence on the environment. Tranel says he understands the financial influence the legislation would have on taxpayers, but in the long term the state’s economy will be better off. Tranel says Foxconn will bring good paying jobs to the state. Foxconn hopes to break ground for the fresh facility in 2018, which would be located in either Racine or Kenosha county. The assembly passed the measure on a 59-to-30 vote. It must also be passed by the Senate before moving on to the Governor office for his signature.

Graf Garage Fire Causes $100,000 in Harm

A garage that’s collective by both sides of a Dubuque County duplex suffered severe harm after a fire early this morning. Firefighters from Epworth were originally called to the duplex in Graf at about 1:20 AM. When they arrived, they found the garage already fully engulfed in flames, with fire spreading to the living area of the duplex. Firefighters from Centralia, Peosta, and Asbury were also called in. Crews were on scene for about three hours putting out hot catches sight of. The garage is being called a total loss. The adjoining living area also suffered significant fire harm, while the other side of the duplex received light smoke harm. It’s estimated that the harm will cost about $100,000 to repair. The foot occupant of the duplex was able to get out securely. The fire has been originally ruled as accidental.

Eye Doctor: Special Glasses Needed to View Monday’s Eclipse

Monday’s solar eclipse will be visible here in the Tri-States, but eye care professionals say that it is vital that people attempting to view the eclipse protect their eyes by wearing special glasses. While our area is not within the path of totality, almost ninety percent of the sun will be blocked from view early Monday afternoon. This is the very first total eclipse to pass over the Midwest in more than twenty years, and Optometrist Dr. Stephanie Sloan from Dubuque’s Vision Health Center says it’s understandable that people will want to see it. Sloan says that viewing the eclipse without eye protection can cause permanent harm. The specialized glasses needed to view the eclipse have been in high request, which has also prompted some scammers to produce fake sets of the specs. Authentic eclipse glasses will have a special code printed on them. When checking glasses for authenticity, look for the ISO logo, as well as the number code 12312-2. Several area locations received petite numbers of eclipse glasses, however they are going quick. As of this morning, Vision Health Center was down to their last fifty pairs. Other places where you might be able to find the glasses include the public libraries in Manchester and Monticello, area Casey’s General Stores, and select Wal-Marts.

Mega Millions Scam Targets Jo Daviess County

The Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Department is putting residents on notice about a scam involving the so-called America Mega Million Lottery Sweepstakes. Potential victims will receive a letter from the lottery telling them that they won a large sum of money. A check is enclosed in the letter, which is supposed to be deducted from the total winnings and used to help pay for the documentation and tax fees. The unaware victim is instructed to call the agent listed on the letter to claim the check and begin the claim process. America Mega Million Lottery Sweepstakes claims that it has offices in a number of countries, including Las Vegas. The sheriff’s office says if you receive one of these letters do not react and do not attempt to cash or deposit the checks, because you cannot win a prize for a lottery you did not come in.

Facebook Post Leads Police to Suspected Hat, Shoe Thief

A bit of advice: If you happen in possession of stolen merchandise, it’s not a good idea to post pictures of those items on Facebook. That’s what led to the arrest of a Dubuque man this week. 24-year-old Deondre Wilson faces charges of 2nd Degree Theft, Interference with Official Acts, four probation violations, and escape. In late April, police investigated a burglary in which fifty baseball caps and fifty pairs of boots were stolen from an apartment in the five hundred block of Loras Boulevard. The merchandise was valued at more than $Four,700. The following day, the victim told police that Wilson posted a photo to his Facebook page, showcasing several hats and footwear that looked like the ones that had been stolen. Police set up an interview with Wilson, but he never showcased. Investigators then executed a search warrant at a home on Queen Street where some of the hats and boots were recovered. The escape charge against Wilson stems from him not returning to the correctional facility where he was living at the time of the burglary.

Cedar Rapids Woman Accused of Passing Fake $100s in Dubuque

A Cedar Rapids woman was arrested this week for attempting to pass counterfeit one hundred dollar bills at several Dubuque businesses. 19-year-old Kaylan Dixon faces five forgery charges, all felonies. In mid-July, Dubuque Police were told that a woman was going to different businesses in the downtown area and on the West End attempting to pass fake one hundred dollar bills. Police used a surveillance picture from one of the businesses and collective it with several other law enforcement agencies. Authorities in Linn County were able to identify Dixon. She was arrested on Tuesday and will make an initial court appearance next week.

Shaw Files to Run for 1st Ward Council Seat

Another candidate has emerged for this fall’s Dubuque City Council election. Brett Shaw filed nomination paperwork on Wednesday. He’ll be running to represent the city’s Very first Ward. That seat is presently held by Kevin Lynch, who’s chosen to step down from after three terms on the council. Shaw is a Portfolio and Program Manager at John Deere who presently serves on the city’s Housing Commission. He’s one of two candidates who have filed to run for Lynch’s seat. Longtime Dubuque resident Lou Oswald filed his paperwork earlier this week. Former newspaper reporter Craig Reber has also said he’ll be running in the Very first Ward, which includes much of the southern and western portions of the city.

Dubuque Reminds Businesses of Sidewalk Sign Ban

A sandwich board sign advertising Everything Photography sits near the corner of 1st and Main Streets in downtown Dubuque (Courtesy: KCRG).

The city of Dubuque is warning downtown businesses that it will be enforcing a ban on sidewalk signage along Main Street. Several businesses in the Lower Main area recently received a letter from the city reminding them that so-called “sandwich board” signs are against city code. That’s because the signs can block sidewalks and make it more difficult for people with disabilities to stir through the area. But Michael Pacheco, who works at Java Joe’s, says they’re also a good way to drum up business. Sean MacDonald, holder of Everything Photography, has also used a sidewalk sign to draw in customers. He tells our coverage playmate KCRG-TV he had no idea they were illegal. City Engineer Gus Psihoyos says that as the signs have become more popular, complaint have also risen. But the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce is siding with the businesses. Chamber Vice President Barry Gentry says there is very likely a compromise that could be worked out. According to the letter sent to businesses, they can be fined seven hundred fifty dollars per day that the signs are in the sidewalk.

Federation of Labor Endorses Just Two School Board Candidates

Union leaders in Dubuque have endorsed two candidates for the upcoming school board election, despite the fact that there are three seats up for vote. The Dubuque Federation of Labor announced its endorsements for the Dubuque Community School Board on Wednesday. The federation is backing incumbent Terra Siegert and challenger Anderson Sainci in their bids for four-year terms on the board. Those two are among seven candidates in the running for three seats on the board. But the federation chose not to endorse a third candidate. The school board elections will be held on September twelve th .

Jochum Not Astonished Medicaid Managers are Losing Money

An Iowa State Senator says she’s not astonished that the three private insurers managing the state’s Medicaid system have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in their very first year of running the program. But Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque says before former Governor Terry Branstad resigned to become US Ambassador to China, he signed another contract with the companies ensuring they’ll make a profit. Earlier this year, representatives from AmeriHealth Caritas, Amerigroup Iowa, and United Healthcare told lawmakers that they anticipate to lose about $450 million over the very first year. Jochum says they knew they were going to suffer a financial lost. Before agreeing to take over the Medicaid program, Jochum says insurance company representatives told her that they didn’t know how expensive it would be to provide all of the needs for people with disabilities. Jochum is hopeful that lawmakers will eventually turn the Medicaid program back over to the state.

Grace Named Best Regional Hospital

A Dubuque hospital has been named the best hospital in the region by a world renowned publisher of news and information. Grace Medical Center recently received that distinction from U.S. News & World Report. The 2017-2018 hospital rankings released by U.S. News ranks Grace fifth overall in Iowa. The hospital is recognized as “high performing” in heart failure, knee replacement, colon cancer surgery and COPD. U.S. News evaluates data on almost five thousand hospitals across the country each year to help patients determine where they want to receive care. To be nationally ranked, a hospital must excel in caring for the sickest, most medically elaborate patients.

Imagine Dubuque Event Moved Indoors

Showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for this afternoon and tonight have promoted officials with Imagine Dubuque to stir this evening’s “Treat and Greet” event indoors. The event will be held inwards the Historic Federal Building on West 6th Street at Five:30 p.m. Over the past year, a draft plan from Imagine Dubuque has received over 12-thousand ideas and suggestions from residents on what they would like Dubuque to look like in the future. Those ideas and suggestions will be the topic of discussion at the event which is open to residents and stakeholders in the city. This is the final community input event for Imagine Dubuque.

Police Don’t Expect Charges in Cupps’ Death

The Dubuque Police Department is certain that no charges will be filed against officers who had a suspect die while in their custody. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s office released the findings of its investigation into the death of Chad Cupps of Manchester yesterday. Cupps died after being arrested by Dubuque Police for his part in an quarrel at Shannon’s Bar in early May. The medical examiner says Cupps died of unexpected heart failure, brought on by latest amphetamine use. The case has been turned over to the Dubuque County Attorney, who will determine if any charges will be filed. Police Department spokesman Lt. Scott Baxter does not expect any officers will be charged. Cupps’ death has been ruled a homicide. But that’s largely due to the limited categories the medical examiner can put deaths into. The incident has already been investigated by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, which looks into each case when police are involved in a death. Baxter says the department received exceedingly positive feedback from the DCI. Cupps had entered Shannon’s just before closing on May 7. Police say he then assaulted several people. Patrons held him down until police arrived. Cupps was pepper sprayed by officers when he became combative during his arrest.

Absentee Ballots Available for School Elections

Absentee ballots are now available for the school board elections being held in the Dubuque and Western Dubuque districts next month. The Dubuque County Auditor’s Office says voters have three ways they can obtain an absentee ballot:

– They can be picked up in person at the County Elections office on the four th floor of the Dubuque County Courthouse, or at the Elections Annex on Locust Street,

– Or voters can request the ballot by mail.

Absentee ballots will be available through Monday, September 11, the day before the vote. They must be postmarked by midnight on the eleven th to be counted in the final vote tally. There will be seven candidates on the ballot for three available positions on the Dubuque School Board. In the Western Dubuque district, two seats are up for grabs. Mark Tilson of Peosta is unopposed in his bid for re-election. Three candidates are seeking the seat that represents Cascade, Bernard, and the surrounding area.

Rural Dubuque Lady Dies of Bike Crash Injures

Katilyn Ohnesorge (Family photo)

An 8-year-old woman from rural Dubuque has died from injuries she suffered in a bicycle accident last week. Our coverage fucking partners at KCRG-TV have learned that Kaitlyn Ohnesorge passed away on Sunday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Last Thursday morning, sheriff’s deputies and paramedics were called to Ohnesorge’s home near Sageville. Kaitlyn had been railing her bike on a sloped, grassy area when she lost control and fell. She was originally taken to Grace Hospital in Dubuque before being transported to Iowa City. Ohnesorge’s funeral has been scheduled for this Friday morning.

Muscatine Man Wins $50,000 on Powerball Ticket Sold in Cascade

A latest journey through Cascade turned out to be a fortunate one for a southeast Iowa man. According to the Iowa Lottery, James Harmon of Muscatine won $50,000 on a Powerball ticket he bought at McDermott Oil in Cascade last week. Harmon matched four white testicles and the Powerball in last Saturday’s drawing. The Powerball jackpot has been growing for more than two months, and is up to $430 million ahead of tonight’s drawing. Should someone win the jackpot, they’d be claiming one of the ten largest prizes in the game’s history.

Suspect’s Death Ruled Homicide

Cupps (September two thousand sixteen arrest photo).

The death of a man who passed away while in the custody of Dubuque Police has been ruled a homicide. But authorities say that doesn’t mean that any crime was committed. 43-year-old Chad Cupps of Manchester passed away following his arrest by Dubuque Police in early May. According to police, Cupps came in to Shannon’s Bar on East 22nd Street near closing time on May 7th. Other patrons say he began assaulting people and drinking directly from liquor bottles. Some of those people restrained Cupps until police arrived. As officers attempted to arrest Cupps, he became combative and had to be pepper sprayed. He was cuffed, but became unresponsive. Cupps was then taken to a hospital by paramedics, where he was pronounced dead. The Iowa State Medical Examiner has determined that Cupps died as a result of heart failure, brought on by latest amphetamine use. His death has been ruled a homicide, but that’s largely because medical examiners have just a few categories that they can put deaths into. Because another person was involved in Cupps’ death, it fits the bill of a homicide. The case has been turned over to the Dubuque County Attorney, who will determine whether any charges will be filed.

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