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🌱 West Branch mourns resident killed in Johnson County house fire
West Branch, Iowa Patch AM: a 4 min readHey hey West Branch! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- West Branch mourns resident killed in Johnson County house fire
- What’s changing at West Branch’s Herbert Hoover Presidential Library?
- How a West Branch grad could help reshape Johnson County leadership
Also on today's calendar: Emerging Artist Area and 4 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the carpenter ant say when he walked into the bar? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 84 and low of 59 degrees.
- Thursday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 88, low: 66. 🌶 Hot!
- Friday: A shower and t-storm; breezy, with a high of 82 and low of 67 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Victim in fatal Johnson County house fire identified (cbs2iowa.com) — Authorities have identified 67-year-old West Branch resident William Rung as the victim of a fatal house fire early Friday on Johnson Cedar Road NE in Johnson County. West Branch firefighters were among several area departments responding to the fully engulfed home, and investigators from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal are still determining what happened. 
• Americana in Iowa (grouptravelleader.com) — West Branch residents can look forward to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum reopening in summer 2026 after a major renovation, bringing refreshed exhibits on Hoover’s life and legacy right to town. The piece also highlights several other Iowa museums, but the Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch remains the centerpiece for local history lovers and visitors alike.
• Green, Hemingway to battle for Dist. 2 Johnson Co. supervisor seat (press-citizen.com) — A Johnson County supervisor race this fall will feature Republican Phil Hemingway, a mechanic who graduated from West Branch High School, challenging Democratic incumbent Jon Green for the new District 2 seat. After winning their primaries Tuesday, both now turn to a November election shaped by a new state law that created supervisor districts and could influence projects like a proposed new county jail and sheriff’s office.
📸 Around West Branch
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓
Upcoming Events in
West Branch
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Member Program: Film Screening & Guided Tallgrass... →
Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch
5:00 pm
Thursday June 4
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Emerging Artist Area →
Old Capitol Town Center, 201 S Clinton St, Iowa City
10:00 am -
Art-Making Sunday →
Pedestrian Mall, 210 S Dubuque St, Iowa City
11:00 am -
Iowa City Silver Swing Band at the Iowa Arts... →
Pedestrian Mall, 210 S Dubuque St, Iowa City
11:00 am -
Hudson Varsity Baseball @ West Branch →
West Branch High School, 900 W Main St, West Branch
5:00 pm -
Alburnett Varsity Baseball @ West Branch →
West Branch High School, 900 W Main St, West Branch
5:00 pm -
West Liberty Varsity Baseball @ West Branch →
West Branch High School, 900 W Main St, West Branch
5:00 pm
Saturday June 6
Sunday June 7
Tuesday June 9
Thursday June 11
Monday June 22
📣 West Branch Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
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Baseball: Lone Tree vs West Liberty (Junior Varsity)
West Liberty Comm School District West Liberty High School Baseball Field
5:00 pm -
Lone Tree Varsity Baseball @ West Liberty →
West Liberty High School, 310 W Maxson Ave, West Liberty
5:00 pm -
PK Stay & Play Day: PM Class
Kirkwood Elementary School Iowa City, IA 52245
5:00 pm -
Stitches & Sips | Beginner Needlepoint Class ... →
Big Grove Brewery & Taproom, 1225 S Gilbert St, Iowa City
6:00 pm -
Baseball: Lone Tree vs West Liberty (Varsity)
West Liberty Comm School District West Liberty High School Baseball Field
7:00 pm
Wednesday June 3
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- DSV A/S posted a job opening for Forklift Driver - Weekends Only (12 hour day shift) in West Branch. Apply here.
- Altorfer, Inc. posted a job opening for Shop Technician, AG in West Branch. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near West Branch here.
🗞 Nearby News
Iowa City
- Vue Rooftop in Iowa City, Iowa: Meet the Chef (5reasonstovisit.com)
- How gas prices have changed in Iowa City in the last week (carrollspaper.com)
- Tree trimming to impact traffic on Rocky Shore Drive and Park Road (cbs2iowa.com)
Ok West Branch! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Is the bar tender here? (Thank you W. M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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