Three July Events in Jones County Cause Security Challenges

RAGBRAI has some competition in the state-wide bike ride game this summer, and the addition is causing a few security hassles for both.

Iowa's Ride takes place the week of July 12 with RAGBRAI running the following week. Tens of thousands of people will be flocking to Jones County, and it's there, in particular, that security challenges are arising. Did I mention the Great Jones County Fair takes place at around the same time?

Iowa's Ride will be in the Jones County town of Monticello on July 13th.  RAGBRAI stops in Anamosa on July 23rd. Sandwiched in between and overlapping for a few days will be the Fair from July 22-26.

All this action and traffic in a span of a couple of weeks in the same small county will add up to about 30,000 people in a concentrated area featuring a department of only 12 sheriff deputies. But they're ready. Jones County Sheriff Greg Graver has had to call in reinforcements. He told KCRG:

It’s pretty typical that we bring in 12 to 14 outside agencies, that provides about 20 to 25 different law enforcement officers, and there is two private security companies that assist at the fair

They are keeping in touch with any and all EMS, fire departments and other agencies that can help. He assures riders and the public that they will round up enough security assistance to make it a fun, safe and smooth two weeks.