A Marion teenager injured in an accident on an amusement park ride that killed his younger brother Michael remains on life support as he marked his 16th birthday. David Jaramillo has been in a medically induced coma at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines since Saturday’s accident on the “Raging River” ride at Adventureland Park in Altoona. Family pastor Christian Shields says Jaramillo has some brain function and has woken up a couple of times at the hospital, opening his eyes and asking what happened. Shields, the pastor at Christian Life Church in Cedar Rapids, says it’s a miracle David is alive after being pinned underneath a boat in the water for several minutes. The family was at the amusement park that day to celebrate David’s upcoming birthday.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot multiple times during an armed robbery in Coggon has been released from the hospital. Deputy William Halverson was shot multiple times and hospitalized with serious injuries after the incident on June 20th. Halverson was seen with department members in a tweet the sheriff’s office posted yesterday.
Officials have identified the bodies found at a Linn County recreation area over the weekend as part of an ongoing investigation. Officials said that 31-year-old Cody Michael Rhodes and 27-year-old Courtney Lynne Rhodes were the two people found dead inside a car Saturday evening at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area. Autopsy results are pending from the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny.
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by several residents who sought to stop plans by Des Moines Public Schools to build a new stadium on Drake University’s campus. The lawsuit challenged the school district’s decision not to hold a special election vote on the plan before moving ahead with it. The judge agreed with the district that a petition effort by opposition group “Save Our Schools” failed to gather enough valid signatures to trigger a vote. Last year, the school board approved an agreement with Drake University to build the nearly $20 million, 4,000-seat stadium.
E-commerce giant Amazon will increase its presence in Iowa, with plans to build a 2.9-million-square-foot fulfillment center in Davenport, creating more than 1,000 permanent jobs. Yesterday’s announcement comes as consumers flocked to online retailers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amazon noted a 44 percent increase in the first quarter of this year compared with last, which was primarily before the pandemic. The fulfillment center, to be built immediately north of Interstate 80 and west of the Davenport Municipal Airport, would mark Amazon’s second–and its largest–in the state. The company opened a 640,000 square-foot fulfillment center in Bondurant, outside of Des Moines, in December. Amazon also signed a lease agreement in March to move into an Ankeny warehouse.
After transitioning to a virtual format in 2020, the in-person return of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival this year brought a big economic boost to the downtown area. More than 70 events were held this year during a two week period, including several concerts, the Balloon Glow, a movie night, car show, pancake breakfast, and of course, the annual fireworks show. VenuWorks of Cedar Rapids manages McGrath Amphitheatre and Paramount Theatre, which hosted some Freedom Festival events. VenuWorks estimates the five events held over three days at the two venues brought in nearly $600,000 in consumer spending to the downtown area alone, with more than 10,000 people in attendance just at the five events.
A Solon man faces several charges after an early morning incident in Solon Tuesday. Just before 3:30 a.m., a deputy with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office interrupted 40-year-old Alex Ball while he was apparently burglarizing a storage unit at Solon Storage Rentals. Officials said Ball then left the scene, with the deputy giving chase through part of Solon. He was arrested after a brief chase on foot in a residential area. Ball was charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree attempted burglary, possession of burglars tools, eluding, first-offense operating while intoxicated, and interference with official acts. Deputies believe that he may have burglarized multiple units. Anyone with information about these incidents can call the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
A Cedar Rapids man will serve 5 years in prison after police say he intentionally pointed a gun at an 18-year-old girl, but accidentally fired it. 20-year-old Larenzo Laroy Burnett admitted guilt to Involuntary Manslaughter and Tampering with a Witness in connection with the death of Marisa Doolin in December of last year. Police found Doolin with a gunshot wound to the face. She died at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics four days later. Burnett was charged in January while in custody at the Linn County Jail on unrelated charges. Investigators say Burnett verbally threatened a witness while he was in custody at the jail by telling him not to talk to police. He also will have to pay $150,000 in restitution to Doolin’s estate or family.
