Carroll Woman in Fair Condition, Charges Still Pending from Tuesday’s Accident
A Carroll woman is recovering at a Des Moines hospital after investigators say she caused a three vehicle accident on Tuesday near Jefferson.
Iowa State Patrol Trooper Kevin Leffler says 58 year-old Patricia Peters was traveling east on US Highway 30, near mile marker 111, when her 2008 Chevrolet Impala crossed the centerline and hit an eastbound 2014 Peterbuilt semi that was driven by 52 year-old William Moffett of Crane, Missouri.
The collision caused a third vehicle that was driven by 27 year-old Paul Daggett of Minburn to swerve behind the Impala and into the north ditch and roll his Chevrolet Tahoe. The Impala came to a rest facing northwest on the north shoulder, while the semi came to a rest in a corn field north of the highway. Everyone was wearing their seatbelts.
Leffler states that everyone was evaluated at the scene, and only Peters sustained injuries. She was taken to Greene County Medical Center and later transported to Mercy Medical Center where hospital officials say as of Thursday, Peters was in fair condition.
Leffler says the investigation is ongoing into what led Peters to cause the accident, but charges are pending since she is at fault.
The Iowa State Patrol, Greene County Sheriff’s office, Greene County Emergency Medical Services and the Jefferson Fire Department were on scene for about five hours and a portion of the highway was closed during that time.
Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.
A Vehicle Fire is Under Investigation by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office
The Greene County Sheriff’s office is currently investigating a vehicle fire incident.
Sheriff Steve Haupert tells Raccoon Valley Radio that a passerby called in a vehicle fire on 110th Street, west of I Avenue just after midnight on Monday. Churdan Fire and Rescue and a deputy responded to the scene.
Haupert states that the vehicle, a 1997 Honda Accord, appeared to be intentionally set on fire. Most of the interior was stripped from the vehicle prior to the fire. A radio, stereo, sub-ruffers along with other items from the vehicle were missing. The fire appeared to be started at the fuel tank.
Haupert adds that the vehicle was found in the ditch and there was no one around when the deputy arrived on scene. He notes that they know who the owner is, but are not revealing the identity as this time.
The investigation is ongoing by the Sheriff’s office with possible charges pending.
Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.
Wild Rose Jefferson Schedules Grand Opening
Officials with Wild Rose Jefferson allowed the media an inside look of the 18,000-square foot casino at the northwest corner of US Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4 on Monday.
Even though the casino is still under construction, General Manager Mike Couch says it’s about 75 percent completed with carpeting on the casino floor and the 525 games are currently being tested. Some of the new slot machine games include Dungeons & Dragons, Herd of Wins, Ellen, Colossal Diamonds and Sphinx 3D. The casino will also have a circular bar called Lucky’s Bar. Once the casino opens, Couch says their hours will be 8am to 2am on weekdays and 24-hours on the weekends.
Marketing Manager Aaron Harn says with their target opening date of August 1st, they have also scheduled a grand opening for August 7th and 8th. During the grand opening, Harn notes that they will have a fireworks display and two Grammy-Award winning musicians playing in the convention center and the Coach’s Corner Restaurant. Harn has been the marketing manager for four weeks and is living in Jefferson above Ace Hardware on the downtown square. He says he likes Jefferson and wants to get more involved in the community.
“Everyone is extremely friendly. I’m an avid cyclist, I’ve been on my bike a few times. People have stopped me from seeing me on facebook and so forth. As soon as we get things settled here at the (Wild Rose) property (and) get out of construction, I plan to get out and meet as many new people as I can, try to get involved in some local functions and identify a church and all that kind of stuff. So I’m looking forward to get out there, outside of work, and being a part of the community.”
Couch points out that they have about 40 percent of the 250 jobs hired so far. Another job fair is scheduled for June 27th from 9am to noon at their temporary offices at 300 Microsoy Drive. During that event will be a dealer school where people can come and learn how to be a dealer and interested individuals can apply for a position.
Final Results and Reactions from the Bell Tower Festival
The 36th Annual Bell Tower Festival brought several hundreds of people out to enjoy the biggest event of the year for Greene County.
Coordinator Angie Pedersen says she’s was overwhelmed by the response that people had to this year’s festival. Some of the results from the festival included over 400 people at the community barbecue meal last Friday evening, 200 pre-sale ticket sheets for rides were sold and 650 people watched PopROCKS on Saturday night. Pedersen points out that even some of the vendors enjoyed success.
“Some of the biggest days they’ve ever recorded over Bell Tower Festival. One of the vendors at the cycle show said they sold more in Jefferson than they did at Sturgis.”
Pedersen states that the weather worked out perfectly to set up such a successful event. She describes what she learned as the coordinator for the festival.
“The first year was overwhelming, but super fun, and the biggest thing I learned through the whole process is that there is so many people around me and around all of us that you really can count on.”
Pedersen would like to thank everyone who helped to put on the festival and all those who attended the activities and events last weekend.
Sewer Services Past Deadline for Wild Rose Jefferson
One project that is now playing catch up is extending sewer services to Wild Rose Jefferson.
Jefferson City Engineer John Milligan says Scharnweber Water Conditioning Incorporated from Toledo, Ohio didn’t make their deadline of June 15th to install a new lift station and the eight-inch sewer pipe to handle the added capacity of the entertainment complex at the northwest intersection of US Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4.
Rain is mostly to blame for the delay. Scharnweber’s bid was for $697,789 to extend sewer services to Wild Rose Jefferson and utilities to some lots along Gallup Road. The bid was approved by the City Council on February 24th.
Construction didn’t actually start until early April, due to the weather. Milligan explains that the contractor is running into issues with the types of soils. There is sugar sand on top of clay and when water runs into it, it’s like a bathtub and collects all the moisture. So Scharnweber has had to wait for the soil to dry out. Milligan notes that Scharweber hired two additional companies to help with the project.
City Administrator Mike Palmer says lift stations are a way for water and sewer to help carry those discharges to the wastewater treatment plant. He notes that the contract does allow for fines to be issued, since the contractor went passed the deadline.
“They get some latitude on weather-related days, that’s something our engineers sort out. At the end, if there actually some liquidated damages we call it, they’re owed the City on a default of contract. (We) want to get this thing done and get it online.”
Milligan adds that he has assured Wild Rose Jefferson officials that they have alternatives to provide sewer services by the time they want to open their facility, which could be earlier than the anticipated August 1st date.