| Iowa’s 2023 daily traffic fatality count is over 20% higher than the 5-year average: an alarming trend. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is teaming up with law enforcement to keep drivers and passengers safe by raising awareness about the dangers of speeding and urging drivers to obey speed limits.
On July 26, Iowa will join Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas for a Speed Awareness Campaign. Law enforcement in your community will be on heightened alert for speeding vehicles and motorcycles. Much like impaired driving, speeding is a selfish choice with deadly consequences for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. Even the safest cars with the newest technologies are limited in how much they can help reduce the odds of a crash. Tragically, Iowa experienced a dramatic 25% increase in speeding-related fatalities from 2020-2021. In 2021, speeding-related crashes killed 84 people on our roads, accounting for almost one-quarter of all crash fatalities. “We are asking drivers to please slow down,” said GTSB Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes. “Our goal is to save lives, and we’re putting all drivers on alert — the posted speed limit is the law. No excuses. On July 26 drivers will notice extra law enforcement on Iowa’s roads. If drivers choose to exceed the posted limit, they can expect a citation.” The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce deaths and injuries on Iowa’s roadways using federally funded grants. Find graphics to support NHTSA’s messaging here. Source: NHTSA, FARS, IDOT ABOUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the largest law enforcement agency in the state. It includes six divisions and several bureaus, all working together with local, state and federal government agencies and the private sector, to keep Iowa a safe place by following our core values: leadership, integrity, professionalism, courtesy, service and protection. Divisions within the Iowa DPS: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, and Administrative Services Division. The Department of Public Safety is led by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor. |
Robert Carleton
Dr. Robert Ingalls (Bob, “Doc”) Carleton went to be with his Savior July 20, 2023. He passed at the Morning Sun Care Center in his hometown after a long illness stemming from a serious stroke in 2012 and most recently, convalescence due to a broken ankle in late 2022. He was born on January 10, 1940, in Rockford, IL, to Robey I. and Helen C. (Brogunier) Carleton. He grew up on a small family dairy farm west of Rockton, IL, where he realized that if he wanted something fixed, he would need to do it himself. He was a member of 4-H and FFA raising sheep on the farm. Due to shifting districts, he went to five different grade schools (two of them one room) and never moved. He was a member of the Hononegah H.S. class of 1958 and married his high school sweetheart who became a nurse, Gayle Ruth McDaniel, in 1963. His Mom suffered from back pain for many years and chiropractors were unable to help her. When she was greatly helped by an osteopath after only one or two treatments, Bob had found his calling. He did his pre-med work at Rockford College (now Rockford University) and earned his medical degree from the Kirksville College of Osteopathy in Kirksville, MO. Upon graduation and after finishing his residences, Bob set up a family clinic in the town of Morning Sun in southeast Iowa. Anytime you went somewhere with him, someone was bound to come up and say that he had helped them or delivered a relative. When the clinics in southeast Iowa were bought out by the hospitals, he spent the rest of his career practicing emergency medicine in various ER rooms in the greater southeast Iowa area. He was a master restorer of many Ford Motor Company vehicles from Model T’s to Edsel’s and during Ford’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2002, the company sought him out and asked him to display his restored 1949 coupe in Dearborn, MI, to represent that model year. He was a member of several antique auto clubs and also restored John Deere tractors. He enjoyed participating in related events such as the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, IA. As a child his father instilled in him a love of trains and he enjoyed various train excursions; his home office was ringed with shelves of his childhood Lionel trains and model cars. As a youth he was involved in Youth for Christ and his faith was always foremost in his life wherever he was located. That faith continues on in his family with his oldest son being a pastor; his children and grandchildren are involved in ministry as well.
He is survived by his wife, Gayle, brother Dr. John C. (Sandy) Carleton, children; Rebecca (Dean) Bell, Robert F (Lora) Carleton, Amy (Aric) Sharp, and Daniel (Crystal) Carleton, fourteen grandchildren; Stephanie (Justin), Jessica (Nathan), Amanda (Mike), McKaylla (Micah), Alyssa (Adam), Cameron, Lauren (Wyatt), Seth (Sarah), Robey, Anna, Olivia, Isabel, Ellie and Sam; eight great-grandchildren; Titus, Sterling, Ayden, Esme, Iyla, Reuben, Eden and Everly; and one nephew Jeff.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, July 25th at The Way Church, Morning Sun, Iowa. His son, Pastor Rob Carleton will officiate. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 until the time of the service. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford, IL at the Carleton Family plot on Wednesday, July 26th.
A memorial has been established, in lieu of flowers, to The Way Church. Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
State Baseball and Softball Scores (Thursday, July 20th)
Baseball
Class 2A
Underwood 3, Cascade 1
Beckman Catholic 11, West Lyon 2
Class 4A
Johnston 9, Dowling Catholic 4
Ames 4, Cedar Falls 3
Softball
-Class 5A
State Championship
Ankeny Centennial 11, Pleasant Valley 0
3rd Place Game
Muscatine 5, Southeast Polk 0
–Class 4A
State Championship
Winterset 5, North Scott 3
3rd Place Game
Norwalk 5, Fort Dodge 0
Weekly Fuel Report
| Weekly Fuel Report
DES MOINES, Iowa (Jul. 20, 2023) – The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 4 cents, averaging $3.37 across Iowa according to AAA.
Crude Oil Summary · The price of global crude oil rose this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $.39 per barrel and is currently priced at $75.70. · Brent crude oil fell $.17 and is currently priced at $79.60. · One year ago, WTI crude sold for $102.26 and Brent crude was priced at $115.86. Motor Fuels · As of Thursday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.37 across Iowa according to AAA. o Prices rose 4 cents from last week’s price and are $.87 lower than one year ago. o The national average on Thursday was $3.58, up 4 cents from last week’s price. · Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 1 cent this week with a statewide average of $3.60. o One year ago, diesel prices averaged $5.16 in Iowa. o The current Iowa diesel price is 27 cents less than the national average of $3.87. · Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16. · The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.49 for U87-E10, $2.84 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.67 for ULSD#2, $3.18 for ULSD#1, and $2.60 per gallon for E-70 prices. Heating Fuels · Natural gas prices rose 13 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.76/MMbtu. · We will continue reporting retail heating oil and propane prices in Iowa in September.
Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov. |
Local Volunteers to be Awarded Governor’s Volunteer Award
SHIIP/SMP Counselors with Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center will receive a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held on July 21, 2023, in Ottumwa, Iowa.
George Gruenther, West Burlington and Mike Price, Keokuk, will both be honored with a 10year service award and Chuck Holmes, Fort Madison will be honored with a 5-year service award by Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). These counselors provide guidance to individuals, families and caregivers on how to navigate their Medicare and identify plans and resources that work for them. Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center will also be recognized for 30 years of being a certified SHIIP site.
“Iowans take great pride in their deep and rich commitment for serving others—it’s in our DNA,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Iowa nice is the foundation of our state–you see it everywhere you turn– Iowans volunteering their time to help others and improve their communities and our state. It truly is an honor to be able to recognize these individuals for their meaningful acts of generosity through the Governor’s Volunteer Awards and inspire others to do the same.”
Dr. Michael McCoy, President & CEO of Great River Health, also shared their congratulations – stating, “We are very proud to be able to offer this service in our communities. George, Mike and Chuck have dedicated countless hours to helping people understand their Medicare options. We are fortunate to have them as part of our team.”
More than 500 awards are being presented this year during five ceremonies across Iowa. It is estimated that more than 150 communities in Iowa were served by this year’s honorees.
Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governor’s Volunteer Award program—now in its 39th year—provides an easy way for Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level award. A complete list of award recipients and an electronic copy of this news release are available at volunteeriowa.org.
Iowa Unemployment Rate Unchanged in June
Iowa’s Labor Force Participation Rises Once Again in June, Unemployment Rate Unchanged
Iowa’s labor force participation rate increased once again in June to 68.7 percent, up from 68.5 percent in May. This was the fourth consecutive monthly increase as 4,900 new workers joined the state’s labor force.
At the same time, Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 2.7 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 3.6 percent in June. The number of total unemployed Iowans remained level from May to June.
The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,693,300 in June. This figure is 4,800 higher than May and 18,100 higher than one year ago.
“For the fourth straight month we’ve seen an increase in the Labor Force Participation rate, which is exactly what we want to see. Nearly all Iowans who entered the labor force in June did so by finding a job – that’s encouraging news for job seekers and the health of the state economy as a whole,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “It remains a great time to return to the workforce and find that next great job. Iowa Workforce Development has lots of tools, resources, and connections to help and a great place to start is IowaWORKS.gov.”
Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment
Iowa establishments gained 400 jobs in June, lifting total nonfarm employment to 1,595,700 jobs. This is the fourth increase in 2023 and follows a loss of 1,300 jobs in May. Job gains in leisure and hospitality as well as education and health care more than offset a cooling with the construction industry, which after a long period of strong growth has shed jobs for the second consecutive month. Goods producing sectors combined have shed 3,600 jobs since April, but private services have countered with 2,500 jobs added. Government added 100 jobs since May and is now up 3,700 jobs versus last year while total nonfarm employment has advanced by 26,100.
Arts, entertainment, and recreation industries added the most jobs in June, gaining 3,200 jobs. This is the fourth consecutive increase for this industry which was partially fueled by hiring at amusement, gambling, and recreation establishments. Education and health care establishments added 1,000 jobs and were generally driven by health care and social assistance firms hiring. This is now the fourth consecutive gain for this supersector, which is up 3,800 jobs since February. On the other hand, construction shed the most jobs in June (-1,700) and has reflected some weakness this year with 3,800 jobs pared since January. Professional and business services lost 1,400 jobs and was led by losses in administrative support and waste management. Financial activities posted the only other major loss (-500). This sector has trended down over the past three months with 1,100 jobs shed since March.
Annually, education and health care has added the most jobs (+12,000), with just over half of the jobs added being in health care and social assistance. Leisure and hospitality is now up 9,400 jobs, following a large increase in recreational industries in June. While most sectors have advanced, there are a few sectors paring jobs over the past twelve months and were led by administrative support and waste management (-4,900) and transportation and warehousing (-3,300).
| Employment and Unemployment in Iowa, Seasonally Adjusted Data | |||||
| Change from | |||||
| June | May | June | May | June | |
| 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Civilian labor force | 1,739,600 | 1,734,700 | 1,719,300 | 4,900 | 20,300 |
| Unemployment | 46,300 | 46,300 | 44,100 | 0 | 2,200 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.6% | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Employment | 1,693,300 | 1,688,500 | 1,675,200 | 4,800 | 18,100 |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 68.7% | 68.5% | 68.3% | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| U.S. unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.6% | -0.1 | 0.0 |
| Nonfarm Employment in Iowa, Seasonally Adjusted Data | |||||
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 1,595,700 | 1,595,300 | 1,569,600 | 400 | 26,100 |
| Mining | 2,300 | 2,300 | 2,200 | 0 | 100 |
| Construction | 82,100 | 83,800 | 80,400 | -1,700 | 1,700 |
| Manufacturing | 227,600 | 227,400 | 224,600 | 200 | 3,000 |
| Trade, transportation and utilities | 313,400 | 313,600 | 312,800 | -200 | 600 |
| Information | 19,300 | 19,400 | 19,100 | -100 | 200 |
| Financial activities | 107,900 | 108,400 | 108,400 | -500 | -500 |
| Professional and business services | 142,000 | 143,400 | 146,700 | -1,400 | -4,700 |
| Education and health services | 238,000 | 237,000 | 226,000 | 1,000 | 12,000 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 145,500 | 142,300 | 136,100 | 3,200 | 9,400 |
| Other services | 55,900 | 56,100 | 55,300 | -200 | 600 |
| Government | 261,700 | 261,600 | 258,000 | 100 | 3,700 |
| (above data subject to revision) | |||||
| Unemployment Insurance Claims for Iowa | |||||
| % Change from | |||||
| June | May | June | May | June | |
| 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Initial claims | 8,250 | 7,293 | 6,420 | 13.1% | 28.5% |
| Continued claims | |||||
| Benefit recipients | 10,101 | 8,898 | 8,889 | 13.5% | 13.6% |
| Weeks paid | 31,490 | 24,108 | 29,043 | 30.6% | 8.4% |
| Amount paid | $14,062,226 | $11,330,789 | $12,478,779 | 24.1% | 12.7% |
Visit www.iowalmi.gov for more information about current and historical data, labor force data, nonfarm employment, hours and earnings, and jobless benefits by county.
New Sentencing Date for Fairfield Teenager Accused of Murder
There have been new developments over the sentencing of one of the Fairfield teenagers involved in the murder of Fairfield Spanish teacher Nohema Graber in the fall of 2021. The sentencing hearing is now scheduled for November 14th and 15th, for Jeremy Goodale, now 18.
Goodale pled guilty to first degree murder in April and the sentencing was planned for August. However, a psychiatrist who is set to testify, was not available that month, so they had to move the date further away.
Nohema’s widower, Paul, wanted to make a victim impact statement at the hearing. Due to his health condition, the state filed a motion against the delay. Paul passed away in June and the state rescinded their motion to prevent the delay in July.
The trial will now continue November 14th and 15th for Jeremy Goodale.
Sports, July 20th
High School Postseason Baseball
In Class 1A, Lisbon continued their Cinderella story as they took down Kingsley-Pierson 5-3 after scoring two runs in the top of the 7th inning. The Lions will face off against Remsen St. Mary’s in the championship game tomorrow, July 21st, at noon after the Hawks defeated Lynnville-Sully 1-0 in a pitchers duel.
In Class 3A, Western Dubuque found themselves down 3 to 0, but outscored Wahlert Catholic 7 to 1 in the last five innings to win 7-4. North Polk cruised past Carlisle 8-0. The Bobcats and Comets will compete for the championship tomorrow at 5 pm.
West Lyon and Beckman Catholic will square off in the semifinal round tonight for Class 2A with Underwood taking on Cascade in the bottom half of the bracket.
In Class 4A, Johnston will face off against Dowling Catholic and Ames will take on Cedar Falls today with the winners advancing to the championship game.
High School Postseason Softball
In the consolation bracket for Class 1A, Remsen St. Mary’s rattled off five runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to walk off St. Edmond 10-9. Sigourney shut out Southeast Warren 2-0.
In the winners bracket, Martensdale-St. Marys handled Wayne yesterday 9-0 and North Linn’s two run first inning was enough to sneak past Clarksville 2-1. The Blue Devils and Lynx will square off for the championship tomorrow, July 21st, with Wayne and Clarksville facing off for 3rd place.
In Class 2A, Regina Catholic took down Interstate 35, 13-1, and Van Meter halted Central Spring’s comeback attempt to win 10-9. The Regals will take on the Bulldogs tomorrow for the championship. Interstate 35 and Central Springs will compete for 3rd place.
In the consolation bracket, Lisbon defeated Northeast 6-4, while Missouri Valley won 13-6 over West Monona.
In the Class 3A consolation bracket, Benton’s two run 6th inning was enough to defeat Saydel 3-2.
In the winners bracket, Williamsburg shutdown Estherville Lincoln Central 8-0 and Assumption allowed Wahlert Catholic to get close but still managed to win 7-5. The Raiders and Knights will battle for the championship tomorrow. Estherville Lincoln Central and Wahlert Catholic will compete for 3rd place.
In the consolation bracket for Class 4A, Carlisle took down ADM 7-5 and North Polk defeated Western Dubuque 8-2.
Despite starting as the lowest seeds for Class 4A, Winterset and North Scott advanced to the championship game with the Huskies taking down Fort Dodge 6-4 and the Lady Lancers defeating Norwalk 6-4. The championship will take place tonight with Fort Dodge and Norwalk playing for 3rd place.
In Class 5A, Ankeny Centennial rallied past Southeast Polk to win 11-1 and Pleasant Valley handled Muscatine 7-1. The Jaguars and Spartans will compete tonight for the championship. Southeast Polk will take on Muscatine for 3rd place.
Mt. Pleasant Basketball
The Panther Hoopla basketball camp has been moved from Mt. Pleasant High School to the Middle School today due to the air condition project at the high school.
Use the entrance on the northeast side of the middle school.
Mt. Pleasant Cross Country
On Mondays and Wednesdays, runs will begin at the Old Threshers Museum Theatre at 6:30 am.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, runs will start at 7 pm at Saunders Park by the swimming pool.
The runs will continue throughout the summer until the middle of August. If you have any questions, reach out to Coach Murray at 319-850-0867.
Prospect League
The Burlington Bees will compete in a rematch against the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp tonight on the road.
The Clinton LumberKings have now lost three straight games as they fell to the Quincy Gems last night 5-2. Will Maclean smacked a double and tallied two RBIs in the losing effort. The LumberKings will look to end the streak tonight in a rematch against the Gems at home.
This Day in Sports History
1944 – Browns Nelson Potter is first pitcher suspended for throwing spitballs.
1976 – Hank Aaron hits 755th and last home run off Angels Dick Drago.
2000 – The leaders of Salt Lake City’s bid to win the 2002 Winter Olympics are indicted by a federal grand jury for bribery, fraud, and racketeering.