The city parks and recreation department announced today it has purchased a series of educational rides for children to use in local parks.

The total cost to buy and install these rides will be $11,000.

Among the rides being installed is the Hanging Gate, an iron pole embedded in the ground with a gate hanging from it. Children push themselves in a circle.

Another is the SuperSlide, which allows young children the thrill of sliding without having to climb a high ladder.

The money to purchase these rides was made available by Robert T. F. Ho, a local man who owned Quick Stop Laundry. His gift was made anonymous until today. Ho passed away two days ago, and the department, with approval from his widow, revealed his gift publicly.

Mrs. Ho said, “Robert always enjoyed watching the kids play in the park across the street. He felt sorry for the kids who had to wait to use the equipment, especially the little ones.”

A group of citizens is planning a protest over the teaching of evolution in a Backwater University biology class.

The group is being led by Wilbur Straking, the pastor of Ever-Faithful Church of the Living Water. When asked about his plans, Straking said, “I plan to lead a group of 25 dedicated Christians to the state capital next Monday to speak with legislators about this problem. We believe the teaching of evolution is against the principles of this Christian country, and we want to put a stop to it.”

The class in question is taught by Laura Cliff, associate professor of biology. She would not comment on the group’s charges. The university president would not comment on the matter, either.

Local man Moyer Quick was the lone fatality in a two-car collision east of Sioux City yesterday.

At 11 a.m., the vehicle Quick was driving collided with a truck driven by 17-year-old Randy Radin on Hwy. 28. Quick was 65 at the time of the incident.

Three survivors of the crash were transported by ambulance to the Sioux City General Hospital. The injured included two passengers from the vehicle Quick was driving. Those who were injured included his wife, Dorothy, and one other individual, Maxine Steuerwald, whose relationship to Quick is not yet known. Maxine is in “fair” condition and Dorothy is in “good” condition. Radin is currently in “critical” condition, with fractured skull injuries.

South Iowa Highway Patrolman Patric Stewart said both vehicles were proceeding in a westerly direction on a two-lane highway. Quick passed the Radin vehicle but his rear-end struck Radin as he completed the pass. The impact sent both vehicles into the ditch on the north side of the road. Quick’s vehicle rolled once. The accident, which is still under investigation, occurred under cloudy skies with rain in the forecast. The road was clear and dry.

The East Dakota Highway Patrol ordered a ban of hand-held radar guns in Sioux City yesterday over concerns that troopers could develop cancer from long-term exposure to the radiation waves emitted by the devices.

The ban was ordered as a precaution while studies are conducted into the possible links between cancer and the use of such guns. Spokesman Adam Smith said, “The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue. The whole situation is under review.”

The move is considered to be the first of its kind by a state police agency. It comes two months after three municipal officers in Central City filed workman’s compensation claims. The officers are claiming they had developed cancer from using the handheld units.

The ban affects 70 radar guns that will be withdrawn from service. State troopers will continue to use radar units with transmitters mounted on the outside of their cruisers.

Samantha Fister was born and raised in Lytton, Iowa. She is a marketing major and sophomore at Morningside University, where she is currently a cheerleader. The youngest of three siblings, Fister has two older brothers, both in their thirties. Her mom currently works at a countertop company and her dad works on farm equipment.

Fister’s idol is Emma Chamberlain. When asked, she said this is because Chamberlain “is so young and so successful. Throughout all of her fame, she has stayed true to herself.” Fister does not follow sports as they do not interest her. She used to be a waitress, which has been her only job to date.

Fister decided to come to Morningside because she “liked the small school atmosphere” and it was “close enough to home but also far enough away to still enjoy myself.” She also said her favorite class taken so far was Women in Literature, which she enjoyed because “the books were very interesting and we read a variety of different books from different eras that all had a general theme of gender roles in literature.”