event – Discover Muscatine WPematico Content

MUSCATINE, Iowa – A popular event will return to Muscatine this weekend as the Muscatine Fire Department, Muscatine Police Department, Muscatine Sheriff’s Department, and Muscatine County Joint Communications (MUSCOM) join forces to host the 2022 Public Safety Open House. The event will be held from 12-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, inside and around the Public Safety Building, 312 East 5th Street.

This is a golden opportunity for young and old to visit the Public Safety Building for an enjoyable learning experience that will include demonstrations, discussions, and games. Visitors will be able to meet and interact with Public Safety staff, and learn a little bit more about what they do and the equipment they use.

Visitors will be able explore various fire and emergency apparatus inside the Central Fire Station, and visit a variety of booths to learn more about the Explorers Program and how Hands Only CPR could save a life. A smoke house will be located in the alley behind the fire station that teaches children how to safely exit a house in a smoke-filled atmosphere, and a mini smoke house that will demonstrate how smoke flows.

The Fire Department also plans to have a recruitment booth with video and handouts for fire pits and fire safety, a gear demonstration booth, and a photo booth with Freddie the Fire Truck. Also inside the station will be games for the children including a hose trace where children are blindfolded and have to follow the hose like a firefighter would to exit a building.

A vehicle extrication demonstration will show how the jaws, cutters, spreaders, rams, etc., are used to extricate victims from automobile accidents, a demonstration of the aerial tower truck, and a demonstration on how to use a fire hose to shoot water into a house.

The Muscatine Police Department is planning a variety of static displays of a squad car, armored vehicle, and tactical equipment. Children will not want to miss an opportunity to meet Muscatine’s K-9 officer and learn about the work he does, and parents will not want to miss the opportunity to visit the drug trailer and see some of the warning signs of drug use. You may also want to give the drunk goggles a try.

The Iowa State Police will have a seatbelt impact trailer on hand that is designed to simulate how a seatbelt can save you. The Muscatine Police Tactical Team also plan to demonstrations with the Muscatine Police robot. There will also be games where children can earn prizes.

MUSCOM will have a couple of games set up and some 911 giveaways in the Public Safety Building basement. Anyone interested can also tour MUSCOM as long as they are escorted by a staff member.

The Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department will also have their K-9 officer on hand as well as static displays of squad cars, boats, and other related items in the alley parking lot.

October is fire prevention month and this year’s theme is “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.”

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is marking the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, which will be held October 9-15. The Muscatine Fire Department is planning several events during the week to highlight the theme.

MUSCATINE, Iowa – An unusual event will occur this evening on the Muscatine riverfront but it could be a preview of what is to come as the American Duchess will make a trial port stop in Muscatine. The cruise ship will be stopping for the port trial in front of the Pearl City Station in Riverside Park between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

The exact time will be determined by the traffic on the river and the river itself.

“We encourage everyone to come out and welcome the American Duchess to Muscatine,” Brad Bark, Mayor of Muscatine, said. “This is something that we have worked a long time for and we are confident that the test will be successful and Muscatine will be added to the list of stops for these river cruises.”

The cruise ship will be in Muscatine for about a half-hour before returning to cruising the Mississippi River.

If successful, Muscatine could be added to future stops for the Duchess or one of her sister ships owned by the American Queen Steamboat Company.

On August 14, 2017 the American Duchess was christened with a bottle of bourbon at the waterfront in New Orleans. The Duchess features some of the largest accommodations on the river, with rooms ranging from 150-630 square feet. She holds up to 166 guests.

Before she became the American Duchess, she was originally designed and built for Isle of Capri Casinos and harbored in Bettendorf Iowa. On October 16, 2016, Bettendorf locals gathered on the levee to bid their farewell to the 21-year-old casino boat. They watched her pull off the river bank, free at last! Sailing to follow her dreams.