(Radio Iowa) – Preliminary information from the National Weather Service has confirmed eight tornadoes were part of Tuesday night’s storms. The weather service rated two of those tornadoes as EF-2s on the scale which classifies zero as the weakest and five as the strongest. Those were east of Bradgate and the other ran from Palmer to Gilmore City. There was an EF-1 southwest of Rutland, and one in Mason City.

There was an EF-0 in Kanawha. Mitchell and Howard County saw three tornadoes — with two rated EF-1s and the other an EF-0. Many buildings, houses, and trees were damaged — but there were no deaths or injuries reported following Tuesday’s outbreak.

Gilmore City tornado. (photo from NWS)

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Public Health is asking Iowans to make healthy and safe choices when it comes to alcohol. The IDPH says between 2008 and 2019, the number of alcohol-related deaths in the state increased by more than 73%. Alcohol use in the past 30 days is higher for Iowans compared to the rest of the country, IDPH reports.

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. The Health Department asks Iowans to be mindful of how much they drink to alleviate stress or cope with other problems, and to find help if they realize there is a problem.

In the 2018 Iowa Youth Survey, 10% of Iowa youth reported that they had at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days. Also, 3% of 6th graders, 7% of 8th graders, and 20% of 11th graders reported having at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days.

The Iowa Department of Public Health encourages Iowans to be aware of excessive drinking to alleviate stress or to cope with isolation or concerns. Keep these tips in mind for alcohol awareness:

• Know what a standard “drink” is: 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content); 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content); 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor (40% alcohol content).
• Know the alcohol consumption guidelines for healthy adults: one drink a day for women of all ages and up to two drinks a day for men under age 65.
• Don’t binge drink. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in a single occasion.
• How the brain and body are impacted by alcohol depends on the amount and frequency of the use, more information can be found here: https://yourlifeiowa.org/alcohol/about-alcohol

Iowans who think they or a loved one may have a problem with alcohol use, should reach out to Your Life Iowa for free, confidential support: https://yourlifeiowa.org/alcohol.

(Radio Iowa) – The health clinic at the Rock Island Arsenal has been named in honor of a black medic who’s credited with saving dozens of soldiers on D-Day. Army Staff Sergeant Waverly Woodson, Junior, was a member of the only African American unit to storm Omaha Beach on June 6th, 1944. Woodson was seriously wounded, but the recently retired commander of the Rock Island Arsenal says what Woodson did next was heroic.

Woodson is also credited with saving four soldiers who were drowning, pulling them to shore and administering C-P-R.

That’s Lieutenant Colonel Thomas James, Junior, the former commander of the Rock Island Arsenal who spoke at a dedication ceremony yesterday (Thursday). James says Woodson had a long career in health care and retired in 1980 after working at the National Institutes of Health for 38 years.

Woodson’s official US Army portrait, taken while he held the rank of sergeant.

The Health Clinic in the Quad Cities that now bears Waverly Woodson’s name serves hundreds of active duty soldiers and their families in the region, as well as the hundreds of civilians who work at the Arsenal. The author of a recently-published book about Woodson’s World War II unit found a note from a general saying Woodson had earned the Medal of Honor.

Woodson died in 2005. His family has asked the Army to award Woodson the Medal of Honor posthumously.

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican National Committee has unanimously voted to have the Iowa REPUBLICAN Party’s Caucuses be the first voting event in the next presidential election.

That’s Governor Kim Reynolds. She joined Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann to discuss the decision national party leaders made Thursday. Kaufmann was chairman of a panel that made the recommendation that Iowa, followed by New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina retain their positions at the front of the G-O-P’s presidential selection process.

This G-O-P decision comes as the DEMOCRATIC National Committee launched a plan to have five states with racially diverse populations that may be toss ups states in the 2024 presidential election go first. Kaufmann says Iowa Democrats have a chance to make the case that their party’s Caucuses should remain in the lead-off position,

And Kaufmann argues Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada represent geographic and racial diversity and feature face-to-face, retail campaigning rather than just a barrage of ads.

Governor Reynolds says the Iowa Caucus campaign isn’t about big party donors or influencers on the east or west coast.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a potential 2024 candidate, was in Council Bluffs yesterday. And President Biden — the presumptive nominee for Democrats in 2024 — was in Iowa this past Tuesday.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who are advocates for victims of sexual assault say they’re pleased the re-authorized Violence Against Women Act includes money for prevention efforts as well as services for victims. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst hosted an event today (Thursday) to hear from Iowans who work with sexual assault survivors.

“We have actually increased the authorization that will be going to these specific programs that address prevention,” Ernst says. The updated Violence Against Women Act provides new housing protections for victims as well as new investment in culturally-specific programs. Tiahni Carrasco a sexual assault prevention specialist with Amani Community Services, working with black middle school students in Waterloo.

Senator Ernst during the discussion. (photo from Ernst’s office.)

“It’s important for survivors, but it’s also important that we stop it before it’s happening,” she says. “That middle school age is a primary target for sexual assaults happening.” Mira Yusef is executive director of Monsoon, an origination with offices in Des Moines and Iowa City that works to end human trafficking and violence against Asians and Pacific Islanders.

“Prevention is so crucial,” she says. “Man and boys who mostly are the perpetrators, the harm-doers of sexual violence…How do we prevent that?…How can we then extend that to the elementary school age, to the middle school, to have the discussion about healthy relationships?”

Kellie Markey is the founder of Dorothy’s House, a residential home for victims of human trafficking. She says pornography is distorting what young people, in particular, view as a healthy behavior. “It literally changes the way people, and children especially, view what sexual relationships are supposed to look like and what’s o.k. to do in those environments,” she says. “Every child in our community is presented and pushed porn by the time they’re in fifth grade, at the latest, and it’s starting create trends that we see in the normalization of these behaviors against people that are going to be a bigger and bigger problem.”

Markey was among more than a dozen people Senator Ernst invited to a round-table discussion of the Violence Against Women Act. A month ago, President Biden approved a bipartisan plan to reauthorize the law for five more years.

An investigation into illegal drug activity in Page County, resulted in the arrest at around 1:13-a.m. Thursday, of a Shenandoah man. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies arrested 29-year-old Cory Daniel Archer near the 800 block of South Avenue, in Shenandoah.

Archer was arrested on charges of Prohibited Acts – Drug trafficking more than 5 grams – Methamphetamine (Class B Felony), Prohibited Acts – Drug trafficking less than 5 grams – Methamphetamine (Class C Felony), two (2) counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or subsequent offense – Methamphetamine (Class C Felony), Gatherings where controlled substances unlawfully used (Class D Felony), Drug tax stamp violation (Class D Felony), Conspiracy (Class D Felony), and Possession of Drug paraphernalia (Simple Misdemeanor).

Cory Daniel Archer

Archer was transported to the Page County Jail where he is being held on $100,000.00 cash only bond after an initial appearance before a Magistrate.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Thursday (April 14, 2022), of 46-year-old Michael Lee Rose, from Hepburn. Rose was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Failure to Appear – at a Revocation hearing for Violation of probation. The hearing was with regard to a sentencing charge of Possession of a Firearm or Offensive Weapon by a DA Offender.

Rose was arrested at the Page County Courthouse. He was transported to the jail where he is being held on $5,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

DES MOINES – More than 10,000 students across Iowa made their voices heard about the upcoming election by participating in Secretary of State Paul Pate’s Iowa Youth Straw Poll, Tuesday week. Students in K-12 schools were invited to vote for their preferred candidates in Iowa’s congressional and gubernatorial races. In the final update of results, Pate says Republican Chuck Grassley led all candidates in the U.S. Senate race with 40% of the vote. Republican Jim Carlin finished second with 23%. Democrat Abby Finkenauer garnered 19%.

Incumbent Governor Kim Reynolds easily won the gubernatorial race, with 65% of the vote.

Iowa’s four U.S. Congressional races were also polled, with Republicans leading in three of the four districts. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks defeated Christina Bohannan in the First District, 64-36%.  Ashley Hinson picked up 69% of the vote in the Second Congressional District, with Liz Mathis garnering 31%.

Democrat Cindy Axne edged Republican Nicole Hasso by 17 votes in the Third District, 29-28%. Combined, Republicans Hasso, Gary Leffler and Zach Nunn picked up 1,535 votes, compared to Axne’s 625.

Republican Randy Feenstra led in the Fourth District with 66%.

Traditionally, the Iowa Youth Straw Poll has served as a strong indicator of how the actual elections will shape up. “It’s important to engage our young people in civics at an early age and this is a fun, hands-on way to do that,” Secretary Pate said. “Voting is not only a civic duty, but also the best way to make your voice heard. My thanks to all the students who participated, and to the teachers that helped organize events at their schools.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlas Crane Service, Inc., today (Thursday) announced its expansion to a new 15,000 square foot shop/storage building and 10 acres of outdoor storage in Atlantic, according to information provided by the company. According to Cory Dauner, Branch Manager, in January, Atlas (headquartered in Aurora, Illinois), purchased the spec building and land on Glacier Road just north of Atlantic, from Atlantic Community Development, LLC, .

Founded by Zach Prentis in 2009, Atlas is completing its 13th year in business providing a wide variety of crane services. It has a fleet of approximately 70 cranes for hire. This includes all-terrain, rough terrain, crawler, truck, carry-deck and mini cranes. “Whatever size and type of lifts a customer needs, we have the right crane for the job,” said Prentis, the current President of the Company.

Cory Dauner says Atlas’ recently opened branch in Atlantic has enhanced the company’s reach and responsiveness to customers in the Plains States. “The location, halfway between Des Moines and Omaha fits the company’s strategy to better serve its growing number of customers in the Upper Midwest,” he said. President Prentis says “We serve a rapidly growing group of customers in this region. Establishing a branch here lets us be more responsive.” The Iowa location is Atlas’ third location with facilities in Aurora and Peru, Illinois.

At a meeting of Atlantic Community Development, Dauner shared that the hope of the company is to have 65-70 cranes on hand at any one time and draw skilled labor from approximately 30 to 60 mile radius. Within 18 to 24 months the goal of the company is to have 20-25 employees based out of Atlantic, all positions well-compensated.

(Background on Atlantic Community Development: Atlantic Community Development, LLC, was formed in 2003 by a group of 9 local individuals and businesses to bring new, good-paying jobs to the community and strengthen Atlantic’s tax base, according to Dave Chase, Secretary of the LLC. He said the group developed a capital base of around $600,000 from its members to acquire land and construct spec buildings to lure new business. Its first project was Business Park Addition, the current home of Ziegler Caterpillar and other businesses. From the sale of the land and buildings in that development the group reinvested the proceeds in the project where the the new Atlas Crane expansion is located. According to Chase, these investments have increased the tax base by approximately $3 million and produced 60-70 current and prospective good-paying jobs. He went on to say the LLC’s membership has increased to 31 members and is looking for its next project. “The mission is solely the improvement of the economy of the community,” he said.

DES MOINES – The City of Atlantic was recently honored with the 2021 Tree City USA Award at the 31st Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Ankeny. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources April 12th at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. State forester Jeff Goerndt says “The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees. The City of Atlantic,” he says, “has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations.”

Atlantic was one of 74 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.

Jeff Goerndt, State Forester and Dolly Bergmann, Atlantic Trees Forever (photo submitted)