News

Highway 136 Project in Cascade to be Completed by end of October

Work continues to progress on the Johnson St./IA136 project in Cascade.  Early last week the drive lanes of the rural portion of the project were paved. This amounted to about 1,250 feet of 24-foot-wide pavement.  On Friday, the 4-foot shoulders on each side of the rural drive lanes were paved. The plan for this week is to continue handwork placement of concrete on the remaining sidewalks and ADA ramps. Additional fine grading and topsoil placement will also continue through the week and remaining asphalt is scheduled to be placed as well. Those who live and travel throughout the project corridor on a regular basis, please use caution around the ongoing construction. The project should be completed on November 1st.

Report Says East Central Iowa Deer Population Density Stable

A new report from the Iowa Department of Natural resources details county-level deer population densities across the state and reports East Central Iowa counties’ densities are at a relatively stable level and vary based on land use. Clayton County was found to have one of the highest deer-population densities across Iowa. It also boasted the highest deer harvest statewide. Dubuque and Jackson counties’ populations are stable and increasing, while Delaware County’s population was among Eastern Iowa’s lowest. The new county-level report will help the DNR and other conservation agencies make management decisions regarding whitetail deer. The animals provide an economic benefits to rural businesses but also bring potential negative impacts on both crops and motorist safety. To get the county-level counts, the DNR analyzed surveys and the number of deer harvested by hunters during annual hunting seasons, tallied the number of reported deer vs. vehicle collisions on the state’s roads and conducted a nocturnal survey of deer with spotlights. Altogether, those results showed that Clayton County had 34 deer per square mile from 2022 to 2024, Jackson County had 24, Delaware County had 20 and Dubuque County had 15. DNR also weighed the surveys’ deer counts against each county’s deer habitat quality, by which area counties were ranked the same as in their deer habitat density.

Farmers Use Field Equipment to Stop Field Fire in Dubuque County

Farmers used field equipment to halt a field fire in Dubuque County. According to Dubuque County Sheriff Joe Kennedy, a group of hay bales caught fire at approximately 3:30 p.m. Sunday at 16461 N. Cascade Road. Kennedy says winds pushed the fire across the road into an adjacent field, where area farmers used field equipment to till the area to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby standing corn. No damage estimate was listed in the report.

Three Killed in Delaware County Wrong-Way Crash

Three people are dead after a wrong-way driver crash on Highway 20 in Delaware County. The driver of a Chevy Impala was driving eastbound in the westbound around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. The car collided head-on with a large freight truck and both vehicles became fully engulfed in flames. Three people in the car were killed, the driver and two passengers. The driver of the truck survived the crash but was injured. The names of those killed are currently being withheld. The crash remains under investigation.

Dubuque Man Dies after being Struck by Semi

A Dubuque man died after being struck by a semi-tractor trailer early Monday morning in Dubuque. According to a Dubuque Police Department crash report, a semi driven by 56-year-old Eric Fiene, of Rock City, Ill., was eastbound on East 16th Street on the ramp to U.S. 61/151 at about 3:15 AM, when he struck 44-year-old Joseph Ray of Dubuque. Ray was transported by EMS to UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. No citations or charges have been issued at this time.

Woman Dies after being Struck by Car at Independence Walmart

Independence Police have identified a Jesup woman killed this week after she was hit by a car and forced into the side of the local Walmart. According to a press release, around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to an accident in the Walmart parking lot on Enterprise Drive. At the scene, police found that 27-year-old Leann Dumire had been forced into the side of the building. Dumire was brought to the Buchanan County Health Center where she was pronounced dead. Police say the driver of the vehicle was a 14-year-old who was driving with an adult family member. The 14-year-old has a valid learners permit and the adult family member is a licensed driver.

Authorities Identify the Person Killed in Jackson County Crash

Authorities have identified the person killed last week in a Jackson County crash. According to a an Iowa State Patrol crash report, 48-year-old Tamara Lazak, of Muskegon, Mich., was killed in the crash, 32-year-old Andrew Lindemann of Victoria, Texas, and 58-year-old Randall Diesling, of Maquoketa sustained injuries in the crash. The crash happened Oct. 3 near the intersection of 196th Avenue and U.S. 61. The report states that Lindemann’s vehicle was traveling south on U.S. 61 when it struck a tractor in front of it driven by Diesling. Lazak was a passenger in Lindemann’s vehicle.

Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce wants to Pack the Pantry

The Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the businesses, employees and residents to “Pack the Pantry”. With rising needs in the community, the chamber encourages residents to contribute non-perishable food items and drop them off at designated locations by October 29.

Dyersville drop off locations are: Fidelity Bank & Trust (2nd St), MidWestOne (Hwy 136), DuTrac, Community Savings Bank, Dupaco and Divine Word College in Epworth, making it easier than ever for the community to participate. Businesses are also encouraged to collect internally with their employees. All collections can be dropped off at the Dyersville Rural Community Food Pantry on October 29th from 4:30 to 6pm. The food pantry is seeking a variety of non-perishable food items, including bodywash, toothpaste, dish soap, brownie & cake mixes, pudding mix, jello, Kleenex, paper towels and of course monetary donations are appreciated. For questions, please contact the Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce at 563-875-2311.

Dubuque Woman Faces a Felony Neglect Charge after Driving while Impaired with Child

A Dubuque woman faces a felony neglect charge after driving while impaired with a child in her vehicle. The TH reports that officers responded to an intersection in the area of U.S. 61 and Rockdale Road at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a rollover crash. Upon arrival, they located a car on its top and identified the driver as 26-year-old Nicole Bakey. Bakey was driving the vehicle when she lost control and it overturned. Also in the vehicle was Bakey’s young daughter, who was uninjured and picked up by Bakey’s mother. Bakey completed standardized field sobriety tests and showed signs of impairment and she tested positive for alcoholic beverage consumption on a preliminary breath test. She told officers she had consumed three drinks earlier in the evening prior to driving. Bakey was arrested on charges of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person and operating while intoxicated-first offense.

Dyersville City Council Approves Variety of Property-Related Measures

The Dyersville City Council approved a variety of property-related measures, including the purchase of a parcel needed for a future overpass project. At Monday's meeting, council members voted to approve a future hearing on November 4th to enter into a General Obligation Bridge Improvement Loan Agreement for an amount not to exceed $275,000. The subject is the Greenwood property located at 822 1st Avenue West that council members voted to approve purchasing at their August 19th meeting. The land would be needed in the future for an overpass over the railroad at Beltline Road, which would also include a roundabout to raise and realign the intersection of Seventh Street Southwest, First Avenue West and Beltline Road. That purpose, was why the new resolution was necessary. The city isn’t looking to obtain a loan at the moment but has been advised by bond counsel to hold the hearing to allow the city to utilize debt service funding in the future for a potential project. Also at this week’s meeting, the council held a public hearing for the voluntary annexation of property owned by Daniel, Lynne, James and Mary Kay Lueck at the north end of the city. The annexation passed unanimously, with Council Member Jim Gibbs absent. The council also set a second hearing for the first council meeting in November to amend the city’s Urban Renewal Plan to reset the 20-year Tax Increment Financing area around the industrial park for four projects: the new childcare center, Batch Plant project, the third phase of a Dyersville Economic Development Corporation project and a warehouse for Scale Models — the latter of which is technically outside the industrial park.

Monticello Heritage and Cultural Center Hosting Spark!

The Monticello Heritage and Cultural Center is hosting Spark! Places of Innovation, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program. According to a press release, Spark!n dives into innovation and invention happening in rural America. Spark! Places of Innovation is part of MoMS, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, state humanities councils across the nation, and local host organizations. Spark! features stories from over 30 rural communities across the nation that reveal the dynamic relationship between place and creativity. The Monticello Heritage and Cultural Center will be open normal hours during this exhibit Sundays 1:00pm to 5:00pm and Tuesdays 6:00pm to 8:00pm. It is located at 211 North Sycamore Street, Monticello.

One Injured in Tractor-Trailer Crash near Cascade

An Illinois man was injured in a semi-tractor trailer crash on Friday. According to a crash report from the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department at about 6 p.m. Friday, 71-year-old Leo Moriarity Jr. of Cascade, was attempting to turn his semi right from U.S. 151 onto North Cascade Road when he was rear-ended by a semi driven by 31-year-old Andrei Proca of Carpentersville, Illinois. The semi Moriarity was driving rolled onto its left side, spilling its load of corn. The semi Proca was driving crossed the median into the northbound lanes of U.S. 151 before coming to rest in the ditch. Proca was transported to UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Proca was cited with following too close.

Maquoketa Valley Community School District’s Transportation Department at a Crossroads

Staffing issues and a recent resignation have put Maquoketa Valley Community School District’s transportation department at a crossroads, and school officials are searching for ways to ensure kids can still get to and from school. The TH reports that at the end of its recent school board meeting, interim Superintendent Kim Huckstadt told the Maquoketa Valley School Board how he plans to move forward with filling a key position in the district. With the resignation of Transportation and Grounds Superintendent John Grimm, Huckstadt says the district is in a bit of a transitional period. Grimm also drove a bus for the district. Huckstadt said in the few months he’s been with the district, he believes it’s possible to make some adjustments to the position. Huckstadt credited Transportation Secretary Brandy Whittenbaugh for her work with new transportation software installed in the district. Huckstadt says he will reassess the structure of the district’s transportation staff and asked parents to be patient as that process is underway.

Yelloh, Formerly Schwan's, to Close

More than a half-dozen tri-state workers have been affected by the closure of a national company with a location in Dyersville. Frozen meal delivery service Yelloh, formerly known as Schwan’s, recently announced its intent to permanently close this fall due to “insurmountable” business challenges. The TH reports per a notice filed with Iowa Workforce Development, the closure will result in the layoff of eight Dyersville employees effective November 22nd — one small portion of the 1,100 affected employees nationwide. The company began as Schwan’s Home Delivery in 1952 and soon spread nationwide with deliveries of frozen meals and desserts in their iconic yellow trucks. The company later rebranded to Yelloh in 2022. The company cited multiple reasons for its closure, including economic and market forces and changing consumer lifestyles. The last day products may be purchased via Yelloh trucks will be November 8th.

New Program Helps Area Farmers Seed Cover Crops with Drones

There's a new program helping dozens of farmers seed their cover crops with the use of drones. The Dubuque County Watersheds and the Sand County Foundation are partnering to allow some Dubuque farmers to try the drones out through a new pilot program. It offers free, aerial cover-crop seeding for up to 200 acres per farm, which helps to reduce the entry cost for farmers looking into using cover crops in their fields. This was made possible by a $14 million USDA grant from the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The goal of it is to fund programs that are tackling natural resource challenges on agricultural land, and to push for more conservation and sustainability efforts. One of the big advantages of using drones, compared totraditional drilling and aerial broadcasting using planes, is that drones can apply seeds more precisely and in less time. The program has a waitlist for Dubuque County farmers wanting to participate. If you are interested, you can check out the Dubuque County Watersheds Facebook page.