United Group Insurance

MONTGOMERY CO. EMERGENCY MGMT. ASKS FOR STORM DAMAGE INFO.

News

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman is asking residents of the County who may have damage resulting from Saturday’s storm, to call his office so that the damage can be documented. Hamman said Sunday afternoon that at that time, he was only aware of a few rural Montgomery County residences that sustained damage to barns, out buildings, trees, and homes. If your property has sustained damage in Montgomery County, call Brian Hamman at712-623-3749, and leave a message.

Cardinals whip Cubs 10-3, take series

Sports

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jake Westbrook allowed one earned run in seven strong innings and rookie Matt Carpenter homered, tripled and drove in five runs in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 10-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Cubs starter Paul Maholm (0-2) surrendered six runs in four innings. The left-hander is 0-7 with a 7.03 ERA in nine starts since his last win on July 10, 2011 against the Cubs when he was with Pittsburgh. Carpenter has been getting regular duty while Lance Berkman recovers from a strained left calf and is batting .409 with 10 RBIs in 22 at-bats. He singled his first two trips with an RBI, belted a two-run shot to straightaway center off Lendy Castillo in the fifth for his first career homer and added a two-run triple off Rodrigo Lopez in the seventh.

Iowa police chief says tornado sirens didn’t sound

News

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) — The Creston police chief says tornado sirens didn’t sound before a strong storm swept into town, damaging a hospital and community college. Paul Ver Meer says there was no warning before an apparent tornado hit Saturday evening, and the first he knew that the city was at risk came from a call from Greater Regional Medical Center. The hospital sustained roof damage and had its windows blown out by storm. Southwest Community College also suffered damage but the extent wasn’t known.  The school’s website says classes won’t be held there Monday or Tuesday. Ver Meer says Creston was “very lucky” that no one was injured.

Suspect charged in death of man found on Iowa road

News

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DEXTER, Iowa (AP) — A Menlo man has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and several other charges in the death of a man found on a gravel road in Dexter.

Mike Beeler, of Menlo (Booking photo courtesy Guthrie Co. Sheriff's Dept.)

 The Iowa Department of Public Safety says 21-year-old Mike Beeler was intoxicated when he drove a tractor that ran down 23-year-old Justin Westfall, of Menlo, during a house party in Dexter. Westfall’s body was found about 4:45 a.m. Saturday. Authorities say Beeler is being held Sunday in the Guthrie County jail on $25,000 bond. In addition to vehicular homicide, Beeler is charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, criminal mischief and operating while intoxicated.

Residents of Thurman say early warnings saved lives

News

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

THURMAN, Iowa (AP) — One resident says it looks “like World War III” in Thurman following a tornado that damaged at least 75 percent of the homes in the small town. But people are giving thanks because no one died. The only injuries reported are cuts and bruises. Thurman Mayor Rod Umphreys says city officials sounded the tornado sirens six or seven minutes before the twister with 135 mile-per-hour winds swept into town Saturday evening. Residents also received warnings through Code RED, an emergency system used by Fremont County that sends alerts to subscriber cellphones. Umphreys says the combined warnings likely saved lives, as the tornado was shrouded in rain. Larry Hill, who barricaded himself in a closet as the roof was torn from his home, says he’d been paying close attention to weather warnings for days and was as ready as he could be for the storm.

The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Thurman Saturday night was an EF-2 on the Fujita Scale of winds and destruction. The twister touched down about 2-miles north of Percival and tracked for 10-miles before dissipating about a mile south of Tabor.Officials say the tornado was one-half mile wide.  

NWS to conduct Preliminary Storm Survey today (Sunday)

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A STORM SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN DES MOINES IN CRESTON AND NEAR OSCEOLA, TODAY(APRIL 15, 2012) IN RELATION TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVED THROUGH THE AREA ON
APRIL 14, 2012. THE SURVEYS WILL BE CONDUCTED THIS MORNING AND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

THE RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE SURVEY WILL BE COMPLETED AND TRANSMITTED VIA A PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ALSO POSTED TO THE WEATHER SERVICES’ WEBSITE [WEATHER.GOV/DMX] LATER TODAY.

Audubon Wins Dale Erickson Boys Golf Tourney

Sports

April 15th, 2012 by Jim Field

Dale Erickson Memorial Golf Tournament at Anita (Saturday, April 14, 2012)

  1. Audubon  323
  2. Panorama  335
  3. East Mills  359
  4. Adair-Casey  359
  5. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton  385
  6. West Central Valley 394
  7. Glidden-Ralston  424
  8. Villisca  435

CAM and Ankeny Christian Academy had individuals compete for medals but didn’t have 4 golfers for the team competition.

Individual honors (medals):

  1. Hunter Grunsted (Panorama)  77
  2. Andrew Irlmeier (Audubon)  78
  3. Austin Moore (Panorama) 78
  4. Michael Bylund (Audubon)  80
  5. Evan Baldwin (Villisca) 80

Audubon players claimed five of the top eight individual scores (46 in the entire field.)  Andrew Irlmeier (78) was second, Michael Bylund (80) was fourth, Nick Fett (82) was sixth, and Drew Keller (83) and Andy Hoffmann (83) tied for seventh.  Cameron Mennenoh shot 89.

Audubon Coach Gary Keller’s comments: Players teed off into heavy fog about 8:30 a.m. and putted on dewy greens, but there was very little wind and temps were pleasant.  The tournament ended at 2:00 p.m. just ahead of the thunderstorms.  Audubon’s guys played very steady, consistent golf, with only 2 individual hole scores (out of 108) higher than a 6.      The 4-man total of the 2nd 9 was our lowest of the year:  155.     Michael (41-39), Andrew (38-40), and Nick (41-41) played the front and back nines pretty evenly, while Drew (44-39) and Andy (46-37) made big comebacks.  Andrew had an eagle on #5, the long par-5 hole than runs along the edge of the State Park.  Panorama had never lost in all the years that tournament has been held.   Mostly the same Audubon players placed 2nd at this tournament two years ago.

Compilation Storm Report from the Nat’l. Weather Service in Des Moines

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
938 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0300 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 N CORNING             41.07N 94.74W
04/14/2012                   ADAMS              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FARM OUTBUILDING DESTROYED BY EITHER WIND OR TORANDO. THE
            EVENT WAS NOT OBSERVED.

0305 PM     HAIL             7 NNW CARBON            41.14N 94.87W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       ADAMS              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS QUARTER SIZED HAIL HAS BEEN
            FALLING FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

0327 PM     HAIL             1 NE MASSENA            41.26N 94.76W
04/14/2012  E0.88 INCH       CASS               IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0351 PM     TORNADO          9 NW CRESTON            41.15N 94.49W
04/14/2012                   ADAMS              IA   AMATEUR RADIO

            RAIN-WRAPPED TORNADO. RETRANSMISSION OF REPORT FROM
            352PM.

0355 PM     TSTM WND DMG     9 N CORNING             41.12N 94.76W
04/14/2012                   ADAMS              IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LARGE BRANCHES DOWN

0415 PM     HEAVY RAIN       8 ENE GREENFIELD        41.34N 94.32W
04/14/2012  E1.40 INCH       ADAIR              IA   AMATEUR RADIO

            TOTAL RAINFALL FROM THE FIRST STORM.

0424 PM     HAIL             8 W WINTERSET           41.33N 94.18W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       MADISON            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            AT HIGHWAY 92 AND PITZER ROAD

0430 PM     HAIL             1 WSW WINTERSET         41.33N 94.03W
04/14/2012  M1.00 INCH       MADISON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0431 PM     HAIL             3 W WINTERSET           41.34N 94.08W
04/14/2012  M1.00 INCH       MADISON            IA   AMATEUR RADIO

0441 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WINTERSET               41.34N 94.02W
04/14/2012                   MADISON            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WIND BLOWING OVER ROAD SIGNS.

0456 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 W WINTERSET           41.34N 94.08W
04/14/2012  M1.50 INCH       MADISON            IA   AMATEUR RADIO

            1.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN 30 MINUTES

0508 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 WNW ORIENT            41.21N 94.47W
04/14/2012  M4.00 INCH       ADAIR              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ONE AND A HALF INCHES BEFORE 500 PM. AN ADDITIONAL TWO
            AND A HALF INCHES FROM 500 PM TO 700 PM. RAINFALL TOTAL 4
            INCHES

0514 PM     HAIL             4 SSW DES MOINES INT AI 41.48N 93.69W
04/14/2012  E0.88 INCH       WARREN             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0519 PM     HAIL             2 S DES MOINES          41.55N 93.62W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT FROM DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HAIL FELL
            FROM 519 PM UNTIL 537 PM. LARGEST HAIL WAS 1 INCH.

0521 PM     HAIL             3 SSW DES MOINES INT AI 41.49N 93.68W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       WARREN             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0525 PM     HAIL             S DES MOINES            41.58N 93.62W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0527 PM     HAIL             1 SE DES MOINES INT AIR 41.52N 93.65W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOCATED AT ARMY POST RD AND SE 5TH ST.

0530 PM     HAIL             DES MOINES              41.58N 93.62W
04/14/2012  E0.88 INCH       POLK               IA   PUBLIC

            PEA TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL NEAR THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN
            DOWNTOWN DES MOINES

0644 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ATLANTIC                41.40N 95.01W
04/14/2012                   CASS               IA   PUBLIC

            SHINGLES BLOWN OFF HOME. SMALL BRANCHES BROKEN OFF.

0647 PM     HAIL             1 W CRESTON             41.06N 94.38W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       UNION              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0647 PM     HAIL             MURRAY                  41.04N 93.95W
04/14/2012  E0.88 INCH       CLARKE             IA   PUBLIC

            MAINLY PEA TO DIME SIZE. A FEW NICKEL SIZE HAIL STONES

0647 PM     HAIL             5 NW OSCEOLA            41.08N 93.84W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       CLARKE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0650 PM     HAIL             5 SW NEW VIRGINIA       41.13N 93.80W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       CLARKE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0653 PM     FLASH FLOOD      ATLANTIC                41.40N 95.01W
04/14/2012                   CASS               IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLASH FLOODING REPORTED IN ATLANTIC. WATER AT LEAST 18
            INCHES DEEP COVERING ROADS.

0654 PM     HAIL             1 W NEW VIRGINIA        41.18N 93.75W
04/14/2012  E1.25 INCH       WARREN             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0655 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N LENOX               40.90N 94.56W
04/14/2012                   TAYLOR             IA   911 CALL CENTER

            LARGE TREE KNOCKED DOWN OVER THE ROAD NEAR THE
            INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 49 AND HIGHWAY 34.

0657 PM     HAIL             5 SW CRESTON            41.01N 94.43W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       UNION              IA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 PM     HAIL             NEW VIRGINIA            41.18N 93.73W
04/14/2012  M1.25 INCH       WARREN             IA   PUBLIC

            MEASURED 1.2 INCHES AFTER MELTING FOR A FEW MINUTES.

0700 PM     HAIL             5 S MARTENSDALE         41.30N 93.74W
04/14/2012  E0.88 INCH       WARREN             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0706 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 W DIAGONAL            40.81N 94.38W
04/14/2012  E50.00 MPH       RINGGOLD           IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            50 MPH WINDS REPORTED

0709 PM     HAIL             CRESTON                 41.06N 94.36W
04/14/2012  E0.75 INCH       UNION              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WITH HAIL.

0720 PM     HAIL             5 SW LORIMOR            41.08N 94.12W
04/14/2012  E1.75 INCH       UNION              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0724 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CRESTON                 41.06N 94.36W
04/14/2012                   UNION              IA   AMATEUR RADIO

            20 INCH TREES DOWN. STRUCTURAL AND ROOF DAMAGE TO
            HOSPITAL. LARGE TREES UPROOTED.

0729 PM     HAIL             MURRAY                  41.04N 93.95W
04/14/2012  E2.75 INCH       CLARKE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0730 PM     HAIL             2 WSW OSCEOLA           41.02N 93.82W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       CLARKE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL. 1.67 INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR
            AND TWENTY MINUTES ALSO.

0730 PM     TSTM WND GST     WINTERSET               41.34N 94.02W
04/14/2012  E60.00 MPH       MADISON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 60 MPH GUST AT INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAYS 169 AND
            92 ON WEST SIDE OF WINTERSET.

0737 PM     TORNADO          2 NW OSCEOLA            41.05N 93.80W
04/14/2012                   CLARKE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND. LOOKING NORTHWEST FROM LAKESIDE
            CASINO NEAR OSCEOLA.

0737 PM     HAIL             4 NNW OSCEOLA           41.09N 93.80W
04/14/2012  E0.88 INCH       CLARKE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0739 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 S DALLAS CENTER       41.63N 93.98W
04/14/2012  E70.00 MPH       DALLAS             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0744 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 W WEST DES MOINES     41.57N 93.79W
04/14/2012  E60.00 MPH       DALLAS             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTED NORTH OF THE JORDAN CREEK MALL.

0745 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 S DALLAS CENTER       41.63N 93.98W
04/14/2012                   DALLAS             IA   AMATEUR RADIO

            12-13 TREE SNAPPED AT BASE.

0746 PM     HAIL             2 NNE OSCEOLA           41.06N 93.76W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       CLARKE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            AND ... 50 TO 60 MPH FROM THE SOUTHWEST.

0748 PM     HAIL             2 WNW NEWTON AIRPORT    41.69N 93.06W
04/14/2012  E0.50 INCH       JASPER             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MARBLE-SIZED HAIL

0750 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DES MOINES              41.58N 93.62W
04/14/2012                   POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POWER LINES DOWN...POWER OUTAGES...4-5 INCHES RUNNING
            WATER IN STREETS DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL.

0751 PM     TSTM WND GST     DES MOINES              41.58N 93.62W
04/14/2012  M65.00 MPH       POLK               IA   MESONET

            SOUTH WIND AT 65 MPH AT BLANK PARK ZOO IN SOUTH DES
            MOINES.

0753 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N DES MOINES          41.62N 93.61W
04/14/2012                   POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            10 INCH DIAMETER LIMBS DOWN ALONG EAST 18TH STREET.

0755 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NNW ANKENY AIRPORT    41.72N 93.58W
04/14/2012  E65.00 MPH       POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            60 TO 65 MPH WINDS...NO DAMAGE REPORTS YET. WIND LASTED
            ABOUT 10 MPH.

0759 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 ESE JOHNSTON          41.68N 93.69W
04/14/2012                   POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SMALL BRANCHES BROKEN OFF. MINOR STREET FLOODING.

0807 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WINTERSET               41.34N 94.02W
04/14/2012                   MADISON            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING IN MADISON COUNTY. SOME ROADS

            UNDER WATER ESPCIALY WEST...SOUTH AND NORTH OF WINTERSET.

0815 PM     HEAVY RAIN       5 SW SAYLORVILLE LAKE   41.69N 93.80W
04/14/2012  M2.75 INCH       POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AT 2.75 INCHES AS OF 815 PM. 1.9
            INCHES FELL WITHIN 45 MINUTES.

0820 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 NW ANKENY AIRPORT     41.74N 93.64W
04/14/2012                   POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STREET FLOODING...1 TO 2 FEET IN ANKENY NEAR HY VEE AND
            HIGH SCHOOL BY 1ST STREET.

0821 PM     HAIL             5 W CHARITON AIRPORT    41.03N 93.46W
04/14/2012  E1.75 INCH       LUCAS              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0829 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KNOXVILLE               41.32N 93.10W
04/14/2012                   MARION             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN AND DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED.

0829 PM     HAIL             2 E CHARITON AIRPORT    41.02N 93.32W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       LUCAS              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            QUARTER SIZED HAIL ALONG WITH ESTIMATED 60 MPH WIND
            GUSTS.

0831 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST RINGSTED                43.30N 94.51W
04/14/2012  E55.00 MPH       EMMET              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0831 PM     HAIL             2 NNE MONTEZUMA         41.61N 92.50W
04/14/2012  E0.50 INCH       POWESHIEK          IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0845 PM     HAIL             PELLA                   41.41N 92.92W
04/14/2012  E0.75 INCH       MARION             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            0.25 TO 0.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED ALONG WITH MINOR STREET
            FLOODING

0845 PM     HAIL             N LOVILIA               41.14N 92.91W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       MONROE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL... PARTIALLY COVERING THE GROUND

0900 PM     HAIL             4 SW EDDYVILLE          41.12N 92.68W
04/14/2012  E2.50 INCH       MONROE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0907 PM     HAIL             1 NW EDDYVILLE          41.16N 92.64W
04/14/2012  E1.75 INCH       MAHASKA            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL

0907 PM     HAIL             2 NW OSKALOOSA          41.31N 92.67W
04/14/2012  E1.00 INCH       MAHASKA            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND EST. 60 TO 70 MPH WIND GUSTS.

0910 PM     HAIL             1 WNW OSKALOOSA         41.30N 92.66W
04/14/2012  E0.75 INCH       MAHASKA            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STRONG WINDS REPORTED...NO ESTIMATE ON SPEED.

FLOOD WARNING: NISHNABOTNA RIVER NEAR HAMBURG

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

612 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING FOR THE NISHNABOTNA RIVER NEAR HAMBURG AFFECTING FREMONT COUNTY, FROM TODAY UNTIL MONDAY AFTERNOON…OR UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED.
                   * AT 6:00 AM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 21.4 FEET.
                   * FLOOD STAGE IS 23.0 FEET.
                   * MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
                   * FORECAST…RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE TODAY AND CONTINUE TO RISE TO
                   NEAR 26.5 FEET BY MONDAY MORNING. THE RIVER SHOULD FALL BELOW
                   FLOOD STAGE BY TOMORROW EVENING.
                   * IMPACT…AT 27.0 FEET…STATE HIGHWAY 275 SOUTH OF THE GAGE MAY BE
                   THREATENED IN SEVERAL SPOTS.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Sun., April 15 2012

Podcasts, Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the National Weather Service Forecast for  Cass and area Counties in southwest Iowa.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 65. Our Low through 6-a.m. today was 57. From 7-am Saturday through 6-a.m. Sunday, we received 2.35″ of rain, in Atantic, at the KJAN studios (your official National Weather Service reporting site for Atlantic.)

Play