BELLE PLAINE, Iowa (KCRG) – Big Boy is coming to town.

For those not in the know, that’s the world’s largest steam train.

Big Boy Number No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in 1941. It was retired in 1961 and returned to service in 2019. It made a trip through Iowa that year, and now it’s rolling through once again.

A Marion man and train enthusiast watched the train’s journey five years ago. He said he plans to witness the wonder all over again.

“The engineer saw us, blew the the whistle, which is—makes your heart beat like crazy,” said Mark Weiser of the last time he saw the train.

“It is a bygone era. Even though I’m old, steam engines were gone by the time I was born in ‘48. There were just a few around. You don’t see much of them today, so it’s unique. It’s historical.”

Wesier is far from the only person who has this fascination.

Stephen Beck, City Administrator for Belle Plaine, said there were around 1,000 people watching Big Boy when it paid a visit in 2019.

City officials expect a similar crowd this time around.

“We’re going to try to over prepare,” he said. “We have some extra law enforcement. The railroad has special agents and security detail that follow the train.”

Beck said he hoped, with Big Boy fans coming to town, nearby businesses would get a boost. He didn’t have any specific projections about what he hoped the financial impact would be. Overall, he said he just wanted people to enjoy the train while being safe.

“Remember the safety precautions that the railroad has put out to stay at least 25 feet away from the tracks.”

Weiser said he was planning to keep those safety precautions in mind while getting to see a piece of history go by.

“If you can share it or experience it, it’s going to be something you’re not going to forget,” said Wesier.

Big Boy travels from Boone to Cedar Rapids on Sept. 5. In the middle of that trip, the train will stop in Belle Plaine around 12:15 p.m. Big Boy will leave Cedar Rapids at 9:00 a.m. Friday.

You can see Big Boy’s full schedule here.

Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.

(Photo illustration via Getty Images)

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has announced its intent to award a contract to Iowa Total Care, a subsidiary of the Medicaid managed-care company Centene.

The state department this week announced its intent to award a Managed Care Organization (MCO) contract to Iowa Total Care that will begin July 1, 2025, with no change in operations. The new contract is set for four years, with a possible two-year extension.

The current contract with the organization is set to expire in 2025, after having began July 1, 2019. According to a Centene news release, Iowa Total Care plans to continue to provide care for 218,600 Medicaid, Iowa Health and Wellness Plan and Hawki members across the state’s 99 counties, with a focus on expanding home and community-based services.

“Since 2019, Iowa Total Care has provided Iowans with local and personalized care,” Sarah London, CEO of Centene said in a Wednesday statement. “We look forward to expanding our partnership with HHS as Iowa Total Care puts the health of Iowans at the center of all it does – investing in programs and partnerships that reduce barriers to care and improve health and well-being.”

Centene paid Iowa $44.4 million in 2022 to settle claims that it defrauded the state’s Medicaid system by Iowa Total Care overbilling taxpayers for prescription drugs through transactions handled by Envolve, which is also owned by Centene.

Iowa Total Care is one of three health insurance companies companies to contract with the state to provide managed care services for the state’s $7 billion program. In 2022, Amerigroup Iowa and Molina Healthcare of Iowa were awarded MCO contracts that began July 1, 2023, taking over after AmeriHealth Caritas withdrew from its Iowa contract in 2017 and UnitedHealthcare in 2019. The companies cited major financial losses due to their MCO contracts with Iowa, while program members said they saw cuts to medical services following the 2016 move to a privatized Medicaid system.

Department officials said in a news release that Medicaid members will not see any changes to their benefits under their current plan due to the contract award. Iowa HHS director Kelly Garcia said  the state remains committed to “providing access to quality health care” through the program, and  that Iowa Total Care has shown it has advanced in its provision and standards for care during its time serving as an MCO provider for the state.

“Iowa Total Care has demonstrated a commitment to continuous quality improvement and innovation — making them a valued partner for Iowa Medicaid,” Garcia said in a statement. “We are pleased to award Iowa Total Care with this contract as they continue to meet the needs of Iowans and deliver essential medical services.”

If you want to stay on top of all the fun things to do in Des Moines, sign up for Off Hours, your free weekly newsletter from the Des Moines Register that showcases all things fun you can do in central Iowa. Recently, we’ve written about karaoke bars, where to go thrifting, where to buy crafts, vegan restaurants, gluten-free options, the Amana Colonies and where to buy plants. If you sign up for our newsletter, you get a whole list of fun places to go, things to do, what to eat, and more early Thursday morning in your inbox.

Shawntelle Madison

Thursday evening: Meet a Des Moines author during this free event at the Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave., Des Moines. Shawntelle Madison kicks off the library’s 2024 Fall Author Series. Her new novel, “The Fallen Fruit,” covers “a family saga that follows a Black family that for two centuries has been cursed with the gift of time travel.” Madison also writes science fiction, romance, and fantasy books, include her urban fantasy series, “Coveted.” She’ll talk about her work starting at 5 p.m.

Ruth Harkin

Thursday evening: Former Sen. Tom Harkin’s wife, Ruth Harkin, releases her new book, “When My Husband Ran for President and Other Short Stories,” and launches it with a book signing at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center on the Drake University campus, 2800 University Ave., Des Moines. The free event from 5 to 7 p.m. includes remarks from Ruth and former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Marsha Ternus. Ruth and Sen. Tom Harkin will be available for a brief question-and-answer session, followed by a book signing by Ruth in the atrium. The book will be available for purchase at the event, and all author proceeds from the book will be donated to The Harkin Institute endowment fund.

More: Ruth Harkin memoir shows wit, retrospection of pathbreaking Iowan who’s made a difference

Savannah Bananas

Friday night: Zany baseball antics courtesy of the Savannah Bananas take over Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, Des Moines, through Sunday. Tickets have been sold out for some time now, but if you got lucky, expect Banana Ball shenanigans against the Party Animals. On-field antics like choreographed dances, crazy rules (if a fan catches a foul bout, it counts as an out), crowd participation skits, and fun props are all part of the fun starting at 7 p.m.

More: The Savannah Bananas are headed back to Des Moines this week. Here’s what you need to know

‘It’s Only A Play’

Friday night: Step out for a meta night of theater when the Tallgrass Theatre Co., 2019 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, presents “It’s Only A Play.” The play takes place on opening night of “The Golden Egg” on Broadway, and Julia Budder, the wealthy producer, hosts a party at her home. Everyone awaits the reviews in her bedroom as celebrities enter downstairs. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show start at $33. The production runs on Fridays through Sundays through Sept. 22.

More: How to spend the perfect day in Valley Junction with restaurants, bars and shopping

First Friday

Friday night: Drop by Mainframe Studios, 900 Keosaqua Way, Des Moines, for First Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening includes featured fashion artists who specialize in jewelry, design, and fiber. Find a henna artist, interactive photo displays, and craft activities during the free event that spans all five floors. From 7 to 8 p.m., see a fashion show in the Big Room.

Luenell

Friday night: The “Original Bad Girl of Comedy” Luenell takes the stage at Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines for an 8 p.m. show. See the star of the Netflix comedy special “Town Business” with tickets starting at $29.50.

Renaissance Faire 

Saturday afternoon: Fetch ye olde turkey leg and a cup of meade and prepare to wander the nine stages and more than 50 vendors at the Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow. The event returns with jousting, birds of prey, fire breathers and jugglers, minstrels, jesters, and belly dancers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, 1408 Arthur Ave., Des Moines. Tickets start at $23 for those age 13 and older, free for kids. Buy tickets online. Continues next weekend as well.

Touchdown Tailgate

Saturday morning: Can’t make it to Iowa City to watch Iowa State take on Iowa? Head to Cowles Commons at 221 Walnut St., Des Moines, for Touchdown Tailgate. The event from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. includes free admission for the Cy-Hawk game, shown on two Jumbotron TVs. Find food trucks Farmboys BBQ, Roadside Tacos, Big Red Food Truck and Sweet Swirls as well as a private bar selling alcohol. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. Bring your own chair, too.

DSM Gamer Jazz

Saturday afternoon: Hear jazz band renditions from legendary video games such as “Super Mario,” “Street Fighter” and “Plants vs. Zombies” when the Des Moines Gamer Symphony Orchestra plays at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater, 4100 Millis Civic Parkway, West Des Moines. The free concert runs from 2 to 3 p.m.

Concours d’Elegance

Sunday afternoon: See vintage, classic, and exotic automobiles from around the world during the 2024 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance. The free event at the John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Western Gateway Park, 1330 Grand Ave., Des Moines, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

PorchFest

Sunday afternoon: See 24 bands play on Union Park porches for PorchFest from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rolling music festival takes place on the front porches of the residents of Union Park in Des Moines, with music from a variety of genres. Festival attendees can migrate from one performance to the next to listen to the 45-minute sets of live music. See the map of homes at porchfestdsm.org.

Justin Willman

Sunday night: Magician Justin Willman brings his Illusionati Tour to Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines, at 7 p.m. Willman’s show includes an interactive evening of magic, comedy and mind-control. Tickets start at $42.50 to see the star of the Netflix series “Magic For Humans” and “The Magic Prank Show with Justin Willman.”

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.