United Group Insurance

Flash flooding, hail, a tornado & gusty winds all part of the latest storm

News, Weather

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Flash flooding, a tornado, funnel clouds, large hail and damaging winds were all a part of the most recent storm to pass through western and west central Iowa Wednesday evening into early this (Thursday) morning. The National Weather Service says Adel in Dallas County had 7.1-inches of rain with the recent storm from 5:30-a.m. Wednesday to 4:30-a.m. today (Thursday). Three-miles northeast of Yale, in Guthrie County, a Weather Service employee reported 6.08-inches of rain since 7-a.m., Wednesday, with the total rainfall expected to be much higher.

Extensive flooding was reported this (Thursday) morning throughout Greene County, flash flooding taking place at around 2-a.m. six-miles north-northwest of Jamaica and along Highway 25 south of Scranton. Elsewhere across the area Wednesday evening, hail the size of hen eggs (2-inches in diameter) was reported three-miles south of Brayton at around 7:30-p.m., while other locations, such as Guthrie Center, Menlo, and Winterset experienced golf ball-size hail (1 3/4″ diameter). Half-dollar (1 1/4″) was reported in Redfield, and quarter-sized hail (1″ diameter) was reported at many other locations.

Thunderstorm wind damage was reported to have occurred in Guthrie Center, Menlo, and Earlham, with winds gusting anywhere from 50-to 80-miles per hour. Flash flooding was reported Wednesday evening as well, near Guthrie Center.

A tornado was reported at around 7-p.m. Wednesday six-miles south/southwest of Panora, in Guthrie County, while funnel clouds were observed near Linden, Redfield, Casey, Menlo, and elsewhere. No injuries have been reported.

Posted in News, Weather |

Ernst concerned about President allowing families to negotiate with terrorists

News

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

U-S Senator Joni Ernst says she is “deeply, deeply concerned” about the direction the president is going in allowing U-S families to offer private ransom payments for relatives kidnapped overseas.  “I do not believe families should be negotiating with terrorists,” Ernst says.

Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says the president is sending a mix message. The federal government will continue its policy of not making ransom payments, but president signed an executive order creating a new office to deal with hostage families, including the facilitation of communications with terrorist groups that could theoretically be used to organize ransom payments.

“I don’t agree with what the president is doing, and I think he puts a number of these families at great peril by encouraging them to do so,” according to Ernst. “It is our responsibility to ensure that we are getting those hostages back as a federal government.” Ernst says the president’s plan raises the risk for everyone.

“I think that puts not only any hostages at increased risk — but also those families. We shouldn’t put them in that position,” she says. “It is our responsibility as a federal government to ensure that we are protecting our citizens. And when they are in hostage situations, we should be the ones who are getting those hostages back.”

Ernst says the president’s plan doesn’t help the issue. “We do not negotiate with terrorists, we don’t want to fund those organizations and we don’t want to encourage them either. I think there is a better way to do this. I do believe that the Department of Defense should really spearhead these hostage situations,” Ernst says.

Under the new directive from President Obama, families will not be prosecuted if they attempt to pay ransoms to get their relatives released.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Wednesday Softball/Baseball Results

Sports

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Wednesday Softball
Atlantic 14-4 Red Oak 4-0
Tri-Center 17-7, Audubon 2-8
Charter Oak-Ute 10, Exira/EHK 0
Murray 12, Essex 3
Boyer Valley 4, Adair-Casey 3

Wednesday Baseball
CAM 13, Woodbine 0
Harlan 7, Sioux City East 6
Murray 14, Essex 0
St. Albert 5, Bishop Heelan Catholic 3
Treynor 4, Nodaway Valley 2
Tri-Center 12-11, Audubon 9-1

Western Iowa Conference Tournament Semifinals
Missouri Valley 18, Logan-Magnolia 6
IKM-Manning 8, A-H-S-T-W 2

Posted in Sports |

FLASH FLOOD WATCH cancelled for parts of the area (6/25)

Weather

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES: CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-ADAIR-MADISON-CLARKE-

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED…

FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE AREA THOUGH HEAVY RAINFALL HAS ENDED.

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA…SOUTH
CENTRAL IOWA…SOUTHWEST IOWA AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA HAS BEEN
CANCELLED.

Posted in Weather |

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the area, 6/25/15

Weather

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 81. North northeast wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.

Posted in Weather |

Iowa farm equipment maker Kinze lays off 215 workers

Ag/Outdoor

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

WILLIAMSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farm equipment maker Kinze Manufacturing says it must lay off 215 workers as business has slowed because of the impact of low grain prices on farmer purchases. The privately held company based in the eastern Iowa near Williamsburg makes planters and grain carts.

The company released a statement that says it had earlier this year implemented a 30-hour work week in an effort to avoid permanent cuts, but current demand for its products does not support full staffing. Office and factory workers are affected. Remaining workers will return to a 40-hour work week.

Deere and Co., another major farm equipment maker laid off 910 workers in its Iowa factories and 500 in Illinois in January.

 

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., June 25th 2015

News

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

FLOOD WATCHES & WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT (please see the KJAN Weather page for details)

WILLIAMSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farm equipment maker Kinze Manufacturing says it must lay off 215 workers as business has slowed because of the impact of low grain prices on farmer purchases. The privately held company based in the eastern Iowa near Williamsburg makes planters and grain carts. Deere and Company another major farm equipment maker laid off 910 workers in its Iowa factories and 500 in Illinois in January.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — Two construction workers were hospitalized after a building site collapsed in eastern Iowa. Evansdale emergency officials say the two were being treated for non-life threatening injuries after the collapse at a planned Kwik Star convenience store on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities are investigating the cause.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Fort Dodge officials are moving ahead with plans to move a creek and shore up a bank to reduce erosion and improve water quality. The Messenger reports the $2.1 million project at Soldier Creek is being done by Fort Dodge and Webster County. Workers also will reduce pollution by adding basins to another part of the creek.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City man has received a 50-year prison sentence for beating a 20-month-old boy to death in 2012. The Press-Citizen reports that 23-year-old Jorge Perez accepted a plea agreement Wednesday afternoon. Perez was charged in the death of Marcus Balderas, the 20-month-old son of Perez’s then-girlfriend, Mireya Balderas. He entered an Alford plea in May.

Posted in News |

FLASH FLOOD UPDATE for parts of western/central IA

Weather

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: CRAWFORD-CARROLL–AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS–ADAIR- MADISON…A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS EXTENDED THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… WESTERN DALLAS COUNTY .. NORTHEASTERN GUTHRIE COUNTY.. SOUTH CENTRAL GREENE COUNTY … UNTIL 715 AM CDT

* AT 345 AM CDT…EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE WARNED AREA INCLUDING AREAS SUCH AS JAMAICA…BAGLEY…AND BAYARD.

FIVE PLUS INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN IN LOCATIONS ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. FLASH FLOODING IS ALREADY OCCURRING.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… GUTHRIE CENTER…DALLAS CENTER…PANORA…LAKE PANORAMA… REDFIELD…BAYARD…BAGLEY…YALE…JAMAICA…LINDEN…DAWSON… LAKIN SLOUGH GAME MANAGEMENT AREA…SPRINGBROOK STATE PARK AND PERRY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODING. TURN AROUND…DONT DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

Posted in Weather |

Flash Flood Watch: Fremont & Page Counties 7p.m. Thursday – 7am Friday

Weather

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

FREMONT-PAGE COUNTIES IN IA

340 AM CDT THU JUN 25 2015

FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7-p.m. TODAY (THURSDAY) THROUGH 7-a.m. FRIDAY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST IOWA AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN TONIGHT WILL BRING THE RISK OF FLASH FLOODING. AREA STREAMS…CREEKS AND SMALLER RIVERS MAY REACH OR EXCEED BANKFULL. FLOODING MAY OCCUR IN LOW LYING AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

Posted in Weather |

Flash Flood Warning: SE Guthrie/Dallas/NE Madison Counties

Weather

June 25th, 2015 by Ric Hanson 

1259 AM CDT THU JUN 25 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES  HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  WARREN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  SOUTHERN BOONE COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...
  SOUTHWESTERN MARION COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  DALLAS COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...
  NORTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  SOUTHEASTERN GUTHRIE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA...
  POLK COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 700 AM CDT THURSDAY

* AT 1255 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS
  WITH HEAVY RAIN MOVING INTO THE WARNED AREA. AN ADDITIONAL TWO OR
  MORE INCHES IS POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WARNED AREA...ON
  TOP OF THE HEAVY RAINFALL THAT FELL EARLIER. FLASH FLOODING IS
  EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  DES MOINES...WEST DES MOINES...ANKENY...URBANDALE...JOHNSTON...
  CLIVE...INDIANOLA...ALTOONA...WAUKEE...NORWALK...PLEASANT HILL...
  GRIMES...PERRY...KNOXVILLE...WINTERSET...ADEL...WINDSOR HEIGHTS...
  CARLISLE...BONDURANT AND POLK CITY.

FLOODING IS POSSIBLE ALONG NUMEROUS CREEKS AND SMALL STREAMS IN THE
WARNED AREA. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS WALNUT CREEK ON THE WEST SIDE
OF THE DES MOINES METRO AREA...WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GO ABOVE FLOOD
STAGE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

Posted in Weather |