Iowa

Dowling Catholic’s Frye, Mauro win Class 2A state tennis doubles championship

Published

1 month ago

May 25, 2024

Dowling Catholic’s Frye, Mauro win Class 2A state tennis doubles championship

Iowa’s best tennis players from Class 2A and 1A showcased their talents at the Iowa high school girls tennis tournament on Friday and Saturday.

The Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City was the site for 1A finals, while Johnston High School in Johnston played host to the 2A finals.

Here is a recap of the 2A and 1A finals.

Dowling Catholic’s Grace Frye, Juju Mauro take home 2A doubles title

Dowling Catholic’s Grace Frye and Juju Mauro toppled Allie Christensen and Lauren Hendrickson of Johnston to win the state doubles title in Class 2A.

After dropping their first set, 2-6, the Dowling duo bounced back with a 6-3 win in the second set. In a winner-take-all set, Frye and Mauro pulled out a 6-3 win to clinch a state title.

Their state tournament run included wins in straight sets over teams from West Des Moines Valley, Marshalltown and Waukee Northwest to earn a spot in the finals.

Katelynn Kock earns 2A singles title for Cedar Rapids Washington

Cedar Rapids Washington senior Katelyn Kock entered this year’s 2A state tournament as a doubles champion from 2022. She added a singles title to her resume with a win over Lily Holland of Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Kock earned a 6-1 advantage over Holland in the first set, then earned a 6-0 win in the second set to claim her first singles titles.

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Gabi Fleming claims 1A singles crown

Gabi Fleming of Cedar Rapids Xavier is just a freshman, but she’s already made her mark in school history. Fleming defeated Kate Holton of Waterloo’s Columbus Catholic in straight sets (7-6, 6-1) to become the second singles titleholder in program history.

“It’s everything, it’s awesome you know? It’s great,” Fleming said.

Fleming was the top-seed heading into the state tournament. In her finals match against Holton, Fleming admitted she started off slow in the first set but picked up the pace in the second. She won all of her four matches by straight sets on her way to her first state title.

“In the first set, I was letting her dictate. I wasn’t really hitting my shots but in the second set, I was like,’ You know what, I’m just going to go for it and make things happen’,” Fleming said.

Central DeWitt’s Brooke Bloom, Isabelle Pierce win 1A doubles title

Despite entering the state tournament as an unseeded team, Brooke Bloom and Isabelle Pierce left no doubt that they were the best tandem in the 1A field. The duo from Central DeWitt defeated the top-seeded Kendall Olson and Kaitlyn Olson from Osage (4-6, 7-6, 6-3) to clinch their first state title.

“Everyone we played was so competitive, so good and every single match was a battle, every single point was a battle,” Bloom said. “We didn’t really get handed anything so I think that this is crazy and I’m really grateful to be here with Isabelle.”

After dropping the first set, Bloom and Pierce battled back. It wasn’t the first time that the duo faced adversity, having dropped their first set in the semifinal round. They said they used that experience to push them to win their last two state-winning sets.

“Every year we’ve had to prove ourselves that we were a program, that we were good enough to compete against big schools and every year we’ve came out and surprised people,” Pierce said. “I feel like we proved ourselves here and we proved that our program is an amazing program.”

Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com, and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.

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Iowa

Iowa DOT shuts down stretches of I-680, I-29 ahead of anticipated flooding

Published

3 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Iowa DOT shuts down stretches of I-680, I-29 ahead of anticipated flooding

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA. (WOWT) – After more than a day of anticipation, officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation confirmed to 6 on Your Side late Tuesday Night that it would be shutting down portions of Interstates 680 and 29 effective at midnight Wednesday.

The closures are due to to rising water on the Missouri River.

The affected stretch of I-29 is from the 25th Street interchange on the north edge of Council Bluffs to the I-29/I-880 interchange.

The I-680 stretch is from the Nebraska border to the I-29/I-680 interchange near Crescent.

A detour was set to be posted near Loveland to take traffic from the I-29/I-880 interchange east to the I-80/I-880 interchange, then southwest on I-80 into Council Bluffs.

Monday night, Iowa DOT’s Austin Yates told 6 News that there was anticipation that the interstate would reopen sometime during the weekend.

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Iowa

New testing required for dairy cattle participating in Iowa fairs

Published

11 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

New testing required for dairy cattle participating in Iowa fairs

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – On Tuesday, the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture announced new testing requirements for dairy cattle participating in Iowa fairs and exhibitions.

Secretary Mike Naig announced the new requirements as a way to minimize the potential spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). HPAI (also known as Bird Flu) has hit numerous dairy cattle in the state. The Secretary says the state should expect to see new positive cases announced as the increased testing takes place.

“The Department is issuing a statewide order effective July 1 that will require additional tests for HPAI prior to dairy cattle participating at our state’s many fairs and exhibitions,” said Secretary Naig. “We want to strike a balance between allowing our 4-H, FFA, and dairy exhibitors the opportunity to show their animals, while also requiring additional testing to protect our livestock and minimize the potential spread of the virus,” said Secretary Naig.

To date, the state has reported 11 positive cases of HPAI within dairy herds in Iowa. 9 of those cases have been detected in Sioux County. Iowa has had three poultry cases thus far in 2024, including one case in a commercial chicken layer in Sioux County and two cases in commercial turkey flocks.

“Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza isn’t just a poultry issue or a dairy issue, it’s an issue for all of agriculture. Our approach is reflective of our significant livestock industry, and I want to thank our farmers who have stepped up to help contribute to the broader understanding, visibility and knowledge of this virus,” said Secretary Naig. “We should expect additional challenges ahead and as the situation continues to evolve, we will also continue to evaluate our response. We continue to support our farmers through the joint state and federal response team who are navigating this evolving and unpredictable situation.”

Suspected signs of HPAI in poultry include:

Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs
Lethargy and/or lack of energy and appetite
Decrease in egg production
Soft, thin-shelled and/or misshapen eggs
Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
Difficulty breathing
Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose)
Stumbling and/or falling down
Diarrhea

Suspected signs of HPAI in dairy cows include:

Decrease in food consumption with a simultaneous decrease in rumination
Clear nasal discharge
Drop in milk production
Tacky or loose feces
Lethargy
Dehydration
Fever
Thicker, concentrated, colostrum-like milk

Officials say that it is safe to enjoy poultry products. Consumers should utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.

There is no concern about the safety of pasteurized milk or dairy products. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.

If dairy producers suspect cases of HPAI, they should contact their herd veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

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Iowa

2024 Eastern Iowa fireworks displays

Published

18 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Cities across Iowa are preparing to host annual Independence Day fireworks displays!

Here is a list of displays you can see in eastern Iowa this year:

Bettendorf

Parade at 10 a.m. on July 4 in downtown Bettendorf
4th of July Festival from noon to 10 p.m. on Spruce Hills Drive in front of Cumberland Square
Fireworks at Middle Park at dusk
More info

Cedar Falls

Fireworks Over the Dome at 9:40 p.m. on June 27

Cedar Rapids

Ellis Fireworks on the River at 9 p.m. on July 3 – more info
Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival – Celebration of Freedom Fireworks
Fireworks start at dark on July 4 in downtown Cedar Rapids
More info

Charles City

Fourth of July Celebration from July 3-6
Fourth of July Parade begins at 11 a.m. on July 4, then fireworks by the Cedar River in the evening
Main Street Charles City’s Party in the Park on July 5
July 6 – magician show, cornhole tournament
More info

Coralville

Coralville’s annual 4thFest parade at 10 a.m. on July 4, starting and ending at the corner of 9th Street and 22nd Avenue
Fireworks display in S.T. Morrison Park at dark, around 9:45 p.m.

Garnavillo