City of Waterloo offices are closed today, a legal holiday marking Independence Day…and that means no garbage routes will be run today. Monday and Tuesday garbage routes will both be picked up tomorrow, Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday garbage routes this week are not affected by the holiday. There is no yard waste curbside pickup during this holiday week. The Waterloo sanitation department reminds you to have garbage containers out by 6 a.m.
Some may still have some fireworks left over…various state agencies remind you that if you suffer from asthma or respiratory difficulties, you should stay upwind, a safe distance from fireworks smoke. Officials say the elderly and children are especially vulnerable to high levels of smoke, especially when the air is stagnant. Fireworks also cause serious burns and eye injuries. Officials say there were seven inpatient hospitalizations, and 15 hospital admissions for emergency room treatment, related to fireworks last year alone. The drought can also adversely affect fireworks fun. You’re advised to check for county-wide burn bans, and always have a bucket of water or a hose handy. And they say to be sure to properly dispose of any unused fireworks. Last year, fine particle levels exceeding national standards were recorded in Davenport, Muscatine, and Des Moines on July 4th, with the standard being exceeded by Des Moines on the 5th as well.
From the Associated Press
Four people were hospitalized after an raft overturned on a ride at Adventureland Park. Six people were on a raft on the Raging River when the accident happened around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Three were transported in critical condition, and one was hospitalized. Adventureland officials said in a Facebook post that the ride had been inspected on Friday and was found to be in sound working order. It will remain closed for a thorough inspection. The ride sends riders through rapids on large circular rafts.
A Minnesota woman was killed and three other people injured at an Independence Day parade in Iowa. Iowa State Police say a vehicle was parked on the street after Saturday’s parade when pedestrians were in the road. A 75-year-old woman backed out and struck several people. Four people were dragged under the vehicle. 59-year-old Mary Nienow of Alberta Lea, Minnesota, was killed. A 67-year-old woman, a 30-year-old woman and a 6-year-old child were also injured. Each year, 5,000-6,000 people come to the town of about 1,500 residents for its Independence Day festivities.
Two people have been found dead inside a vehicle at the Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area. The Department of Natural Resources said in a news release that a park ranger noticed a parked car at around 10:45 p.m. Friday in the first lot on the north side of the dam. That area closes nightly at 10:30 p.m. The ranger discovered one male and one female dead inside the vehicle after he approached it. The department did not immediately release their names or other details. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating.
The road running between a marsh wildlife area and Clear Lake in Ventura is dangerous for turtles, even with a turtle crossing sign. So five boys aged 8 to 10 have spent some time this summer helping the turtles cross. On one recent summer day, they spent several hours assisting turtles, saving 20 to 30 from being flattened by motorists, and they reckon they’ve saved close to 200 overall. The five friends in on the turtle rescuing are Keygan Hoover, Blake Meyer, Cole Meyer, Zacaious Moe and Casen Wenzel.
Officials in Dubuque are proposing a pilot program to help low- to moderate-income residents install solar panels on their homes. The City Council plans to discuss the idea Tuesday. The city has budgeted nearly $41,000 for the project, which would install panels on 10 homes. The cost of installing the panels would be about $10,000, but with tax credits, grants and the sale of energy credits, homeowners would pay about $2,600, according to council documents. Households would save from $800 to $1,000 annually in energy costs. The city would pay the homeowners so that it could claim renewable energy credits.
