News

Manchester to Pay 4.25 Million in Lawsuit

The city of Manchester has been ordered to pay $4.25 million to the family of a man who died during a high-speed chase with a city police officer. A Delaware County jury on Friday ordered the payment Friday after a trial held this week at the county courthouse. Former officer James Wessels, who retired in 2022, is responsible for an additional $10,000 to be paid in punitive damages. Thirty-one-year-old Augustin “Gus” Mormann of Coleburg crashed his motorcycle on December 10th, 2020, while attempting to flee from a traffic stop along highway 20 near Manchester. Mormann died on January. 15th, 2021, as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Mormann’s parents, Sandra and Daniel Mormann, later filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city and Wessels. Police Chief Jim Hauschild was also initially listed as a defendant but later was dismissed from the case. The Mormanns alleged in their suit that Wessels used “intentional, excessive and/or reckless force” during the chase, ultimately leading to their son’s death. Court documents state that at 3:37 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2020, Iowa State Patrol trooper Eric Payne observed a motorcycle operated by Augustin Mormann “accelerating from 99 to 107 mph” while traveling west on Highway 20 near the interchange with Highway 13 in Delaware County. Mormann fled the trooper, turning around on the top of an off-ramp before heading south on Highway 13 and eventually back east on U.S. 20. By this time, a Delaware County Sheriff’s Department deputy and Wessels had joined the pursuit. The lawsuit states that Payne and the deputy both ended their pursuit of Mormann’s motorcycle as it entered Manchester and encountered heavier traffic and that Wessels should have done the same. Instead, the suit states, Wessels continued the chase “contrary to any legitimate law enforcement reason” through Manchester before exiting the city north on Iowa 13 and that his vehicle twice made contact with Mormann’s motorcycle. Mormann lost control of his motorcycle, entered a ditch and was thrown from the vehicle. The lawsuit alleges that Payne “initiated the pursuit of Mormann for driving while barred,” which is a serious misdemeanor in Iowa law, and that “any legitimate law enforcement reason to continue the high-speed chase was outweighed” by the fact that Mormann was not “otherwise threatening the life or safety of anyone.”

Modernfold Ribbon Cutting

Modernfold recently cut the ribbon on a new steel production line for their custom movable walls. The line was designed by their own maintenance crew to custom build & layout for efficiency. A third building opened Friday to allow the expanded factory footprint to increase production capacity of popular lines by 30%.

Dubuque County Home Total Loss after Fire

A Dubuque County Home is a total loss after a fire Monday. According to a press release, at approximately 6:40 PM, the  Dubuque County Sheriff's Office responded with the Holy Cross, Farley, Sherrill, Guttenberg and New Vienna Fire Departments to 28159 Thunder Rd for a reported structure fire. All residents had evacuated upon arrival, but the back half of the house was on fire. The fire appears to have been caused by a gas grill outside the residence and is not suspicious. The house and contents appear to be a total loss, estimated at $500,000. No injuries to occupants or fire fighters were reported.

Guttenberg Breaks Ground on Community Center

The Guttenberg Economic & Industrial Development Committee is breaking ground today to build a new community resource center. The $4 million project calls for a three story facility in the 500 block of 1st Street. That facility is projected to function as a service hub for the area while addressing some of the communal needs that are seen in the area. It will also include a wide range of services, such as: A food pantry, Backpack snack programs for school-aged children, Clothing center, Counseling, Domestic/violence advocacy, Elderly care and more. The project was made possible by a $2.7 million grant from the state of Iowa to the committee to help build the facility. Efforts are now underway to raise the remaining $1.3 million needed for the project. City leaders will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 4 p.m. followed by a short presentation at the Guttenberg Brewing Company.

Woman Seriously Injured after Falling from Truck Tailgate

A woman riding on the tailgate of a truck was seriously injured when she fell and struck her head in Dubuque. The Telegraph Herald reports 23-year-old Emily Koziol of Darien, Illinois, was riding on the tailgate of a vehicle driven by 23-year-old Mason Jackson of Bellevue. Jackson’s vehicle was turning from Kirkwood Street into a parking lot in the 800 block of Kirkwood at about 5:40 p.m. Saturday when Koziol fell. Koziol was transported by ambulance to UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital, then airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, according to Dubuque police. Jackson told police he was leaving a house party on Alta Vista Street at the time of the incident. Jackson showed signs of intoxication and admitted to consuming alcohol that afternoon. Jackson was arrested on a charge of operating while intoxicated.

Cascade Chamber Holds Annual Dinner

The Cascade Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual dinner Thursday evening at the American Legion in Cascade. The Chamber honored three businesses, including Rise Counseling with the Pioneer Award, Webber Construction Inc with the Legacy Award and The Business of the Year was awarded to Cascade Customs by JKP. A full dinner was served, followed by trivia and the chamber awards.

Highway 20 Entrance Ramp from Highway 136 Closed Soon for Repair to Bridge

If you drive on westbound Highway 20 from Highway 136 leaving Dyersville, you need to be aware of an upcoming ramp closure that could impact your trip. The Iowa DOT Manchester construction office says the westbound entrance ramp for U.S. 20 will be closed on Tuesday, April 2, until late May, weather permitting, so repairs can be made to the U.S. 20 bridge over Iowa 136. The work will include patching and overlays for the bridge deck. To travel around the work zone you will be directed east on U.S. 20 to Farley and then turn around at the Farley interchange before returning on westbound U.S. 20. Thru traffic on westbound U.S. 20 will be maintained in the left lane.

Sports

Sports 3/26/24
Local Sports:

Tuesday:
CR Jefferson 2 Western Dubuque 0 Girls soccer
North Fayette Valley 14 West Delaware 0 Boys
North Fayette Valley 10 West Delaware 0

NIT:
Women Tuesday:
Minnesota 77 Pacific 62
Women Friday:
Minnesota vs North Dakota State
Men Tuesday:
Ohio State 77 Georgia 79

Men NCAA Tournament:
Thursday:
2 Iowa State vs 3 Illinois
Friday:
1 Purdue vs 5 Gonzaga

NCAA Women Tournament:
Friday:
1 South Carolina vs 4 Indiana
Saturday:
1 Iowa vs 5 Colorado