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Iowa records 13 tornadoes, extreme high/low temperatures in May

News, Weather

June 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The month of May in Iowa was marked by severe storms and drastic swings in the temperature. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says 13 tornadoes touched down last month across Iowa. “Which is actually average for us this time of year,” Hillaker said. Eight tornadoes hit parts of western Iowa on May 11th.

The town of Lenox sustained the most damage, but no one was killed or seriously injured. Five more tornadoes ripped through rural areas of northeast and east-central Iowa on May 22. Iowa’s already recorded 37 tornadoes in 2011. “That already exceeds the total for last year and (2009),” Hillaker said. “The normal annual total is 48, so we’re not quite to that point.”

In 2008, Iowa recorded 120 tornadoes that killed 13 people – primarily in Parkersburg and New Hartford and at a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa’s Harrison County. Hillaker says Iowans should remain on alert for severe weather in the weeks to come. “June, on average, is our busiest month of the year for tornadoes in Iowa,” Hillaker said.

The statewide average temperature in May turned out to be “normal,” according to Hillaker, but the month included extreme heat and cold. The hot spot was Jefferson – which hit 100-degrees on May 10. Just one week earlier, on May 3, the coldest temperature of 20-degrees was recorded in both Spencer and Sibley. Hillaker says the statewide average rainfall was 5.2 inches. Normal rainfall for May is 4.25 inches.

Here in Atlantic, we received 4.17-inches of rain in May, which is three-tenths of an inch above normal. Our average High was 72-degrees, which is 10-degrees cooler than normal. The hottest day was on May 10th, when we hit 97-degrees. The average low was 48, which is about average for the month.

(Sources: Radio Iowa, NWS, KJAN weather records)

Economist: Exports aiding Midwest economic growth

News

June 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A survey in nine Midwestern and Plains states suggests that exports are helping fuel regional economic growth.  A report released Wednesday says the Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region rose in May, to 60.2 from 57.7 in April. Creighton University economist Ernie Gross oversees the survey.

He says that although higher commodity prices have hampered the regional economy, exports are making “a significant contribution to growth.” The survey of supply managers and executives and the report use a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth in the next three to six months, while a score below 50 suggests a contracting economy.

States in the survey are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Odor complaint leads to drug arrest

News

June 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak say one person was arrested Tuesday after officers investigated a reported odor complaint. 24-year old Tyce Samual Watts, of Elliott, was arrested after authorities went to 1660 east Summit Street in Red Oak, at around 1:30-p.m.

A search of the premises resulted in the recovery of a small amount of what authorities say was suspected to be marijuana, as well as drug paraphernalia.

Watts was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Red Oak woman faces drug charges

News

June 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak Police say a woman arrested in late May faces additional charges stemming from an on-going investigation. 18-year-old Andrea Marie Elarton was originally charged with possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, in connection with an arrest in the 900 block of East Reed Street in the late-evening hours of May 23rd.

Elarton was subsequently charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and a felony violation of the state’s drug tax stamp law She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on $5,000 bond.

PATRICIA RAE UNREIN (6-3-2011)

Obituaries

June 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

PATRICIA RAE UNREIN, 66, of Exira (formerly of Adair), died Mon., May 30th, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital. Memorial services for PATRICIA UNREIN will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., June 3rd, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Adair. Hockenberry Famly Care Funeral Home in Adair has the arrangements.

There is no visitation.   Burial will be in the Dalmanutha Cemetery, near Casey.

PATRICIA UNREIN is survived by:

Her son – Mike (Jackie) Unrein, of Delano, MN.

Her sister – Karla (Keith) Caltrider, of Casey.

4 grandchildren

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY DECLARES A DISASTER DECLARATION

News

May 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Following a number of days of increasing responses to the current Missouri River flooding, Lynn Grobe, Chairman of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday signed a local disaster declaration for Pottawattamie County including the Cities of Carter Lake and Council Bluffs. This allows for those two cities, as well as Pottawattamie County, to request  additional assistance if needed from outside resources and entities as the flood crisis continues.

Flooding continues on the low level areas near the river and City and County crews are monitoring closed areas and the levee system. Officials anticipate an increasing rise in the level of the Missouri River and are making efforts to anticipate any needs that may be required.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management continues to facilitate calls between the State of Iowa Department of Homeland Security, the Army Corp of Engineers, and many citizens
and business partners that may be affected by this event. Planning sessions continued over the Memorial Day weekend and operations meetings with key responders will continue on a
daily basis.

Girls State Golf Day 1 Results

Sports

May 31st, 2011 by Jim Field

In Class 3-A, Atlantic is in eighth place after a first round 404.  Charles City has an 18 stroke edge with a 350 total.  Jessie Sindlinger of Charles City smoked the River Valley course with a four-under-par 68.  For Atlantic, Brooke Fletcher shot 95, Kristin Schuler shot 97, Sierra Worth shot 104, Kaitlynn Walter 108, Bailey Walter 113 and Pammy Fixmer 121.

Class 3-A Individual Scores

Class 3-A Team Scores

In Class 2-A, Jennifer Geer of Clarinda is three strokes back in third place after an opening 83.  Pleasantville leads Clarinda by one stroke after day 1.

Class 2-A Individual Scores

Class 2-A Team Scores

In Class 1-A, Taylor Hill of Treynor is five strokes back in third place after shooting a first round 82. Treynor shot 390 as a team and is in 5th place.  Bishop Garrigan leads with a 344.

Class 1-A Individual Scores

Class 1-A Team Scores

Car vs. child accident

News

May 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A Nebraska girl suffered minor injuries in Griswold Sunday afternoon, after she was struck by a car. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says Ellie Howard, of LaVista, NE, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, after she was hit as she was trying to cross the street at around 4-p.m., Sunday.
The accident happened at the intersection of Whitney and Park Streets in Griswold. Officials say 21-year old Eve Alexandria Kwiatkowski, of Griswold, was traveling westbound on Whitney Street when her 2008 Chevy Impala made contact with the girl, who is believed to be under the age of 10.
No citations were issued.

Cass County arrests

News

May 31st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Three people were arrested on separate charges over the past week, here in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Department says 46-year old Tracy Joe Lane, of Griswold, was arrested May 24th on charges of OWI/3rd offense, Child Endangerment, and Driving While Revoked. Lane was brought to the Cass County Jail and released May 28th, on $10,000 bond.
Last Sunday, sheriff’s deputies arrested 34-year old Shawn Michael Egging, of Omaha, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Egging was released later that day on $1,000 bond.
And, on Friday, 36-year old Thomas Jordan Fredrickson, of Atlantic,  turned himself in to the Cass County Jail on a Cass County Sheriff’s warrant for OWI 2nd Offense. Fredericksen was released later that day on his own recognizance.

Web-Only Sportscasts This Week

Sports

May 31st, 2011 by Jim Field

With our new website come some new features.  One of them will be the addition of web-only broadcasts of local sports. We will be testing this option on Wednesday and Thursday nights.  Wednesday, June 1 , join us for the CAM @ Atlantic girls softball game.  The broadcast begins at 7:20 pm.  Thursday, June 2, we’ll air the Glenwood at Atlantic boys baseball game beginning at 7:35 pm.  To listen to these games, just click on the “Listen Live” button in the top right corner of the page.  That will take you to our “Listen Live” page where you will simply click the play button on the streaming player.  Remember, these are web-only broadcasts so there will not be any sound until the broadcast start times.  Hope you get a chance to listen in and tell us what you think!  The streaming schedule is listed on the “Listen Live” page so keep coming back to check for future broadcasts.