DES MOINES, Iowa — Two people are in custody following a shooting Saturday evening outside of the Knapp Center in Des Moines. KCCI report Police said officers heard gunfire and recovered one firearm. No one was injured. Several officers with the Des Moines Police Department were already at the Knapp Center due to Roosevelt High School’s graduation ceremony, which was going on inside. Des Moines police said officers heard gunfire around 5:35 p.m. outside of the Knapp Center.

Investigators say a handgun was found on one suspect, while a second one was found in one of their vehicles. Police said they were able to lock down the area quickly, thanks to the police already present. Following the gunshots, Des Moines police said a fight involving more than five individuals broke out inside the arena. Pepper spray was used to break up the fight.

Des Moines Public Schools released the following statement on the incident:

“Late this [Saturday] afternoon, while honoring Roosevelt High School’s graduating class, a number of people ran into Drake University’s Knapp Center and began telling attendees there had been a shooting outside. This caused commotion and a brief disruption to the ceremony while Des Moines Police and Drake Public Safety responded quickly to the scene to ensure everyone inside was safe.

Superintendent Ian Roberts was informed there was no immediate threat to the commencement, shared with the crowd that it was safe inside the arena, and the ceremony resumed so that every graduate present was able to walk across the stage and receive their diploma.

While the incident is not believed to have any direct connection to the Roosevelt commencement ceremony, Principal Steven Schappaugh informed Roosevelt families of changes to [Saturday night’s] Senior Night celebration were made as a precaution and the school district would have additional security in place for two commencement ceremonies on Sunday.”

OMAHA, Neb. [KETV]  — Omaha police early Saturday morning, responded to a crowd call near Carter Lake, Iowa, which later turned into a potential shooting incident. KETV says authorities reported that according to officers, one victim told their parents that she may have been shot. Both victims, identified as females, self-transported to the hospital for treatment.

Police said one victim sustained a gunshot wound to the arm, while the other was shot near the head; she is currently in critical condition. Felony assault charges are pending at this time. As of the latest report, no suspects were in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Officials with the Adair/Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency have released the name of the fourth person who died as the result the May 21st tornado, EF-4 rated tornado, in Greenfield. 70-year-old Lee* Williamson, of Greenfield, lived in the 200 Block of S. 5th Street when the tornado struck. He was transported from residence to Greater Regional Health Center in Creston, where he succumbed to his injuries. (*corrects first name from original news release)

As previously announced, the three other tornado victims in Greenfield were 78-year-old Dean Wiggins and 77-year-old Pamela Wiggins, who lived in the 800 block of E. Iowa Street, and 73-year-old Michael Jensen, who lived on SE Jackson Street.

The tornado claimed its fifth victim in Adams County, where 49-year-old Monica Irma Zamarron, of Shenandoah, was ejected from her vehicle as it traveled on Highway 148, near Corning.

(Washington, D-C) – President Joe Biden, Friday, approved Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ request for a major disaster declaration for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that struck the counties of Adair, Montgomery, Polk and Story May 21.
FEMA funding is now available to homeowners and renters there.

A declaration was announced earlier this month for homeowners and renters in Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby and Union counties for severe storms and tornadoes April 26-27.

Key Messages

• FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) holiday weekend
  hours:
  • – Friday: Shelby & Pottawattamie, Iowa, counties –
    8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    – Douglas County, Neb. – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    – Washington County, Neb. – closed due to power
    outage.
    – Saturday: All DRCs are open.
    – Sunday: Shelby & Pottawattamie, Iowa, counties
    – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    – Memorial Day – All DRCs are closed.
• FEMA can provide money to eligible applicants for help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live,
  home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance.
• Residents are encouraged to apply online and upload documents before visiting a DRC.

DRCs open to assist Iowans
Recovery specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration at the centers will provide information
on available services, explain assistance programs and help survivors complete or check the status of their
applications.

Disaster Recovery Center locations:

• Pottawattamie County DRC
  Minden Fire Department parking lot
  207 Main Street
  Minden, Iowa 51553
• Shelby County DRC
  Shelby County Chamber of Commerce
  1901 Hawkeye Ave. Suite 101
  Harlan, Iowa 51537
  Hours of operation:
  8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
  Closed Monday for Memorial Day

The centers are a one-stop shop where storm survivors can talk face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists to
learn more about state/federal resources and/or to check on the status of a FEMA registration. Iowans may also
visit DRCs in Nebraska at the Douglas or Washington county locations:

Douglas County DRC
Omaha Police Department Community Room C116
20924 Cumberland Dr
Elkhorn, NE 68022
Hours of operation:
8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Closed Monday for Memorial Day
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Tuesday

Washington County DRC
First Lutheran Church
2146 Wright St
Blair, NE 68008
Closed due to power outage Friday, May 24.

Residents can apply online, through the app or by phone
Here’s how to apply for FEMA assistance:

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Download and use the FEMA app
• Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)

Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give
FEMA the number for that service. Click here for an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance.

Daily Fact Sheet – Iowa Tornadoes and Storms – DR-4779-IA
Learn more at FEMA.gov/disaster and Iowa Emergency Management

Have this information ready when you apply with FEMA
Only one registration per household is needed. When you apply, please have the following information available:

• Address with ZIP code
• Condition of your damaged home
• Basic list of your property damage, losses and needs
• Insurance policy information, including the policy number
• Social Security number of one member of the household
• Phone number where you can be contacted
• Address where you can get mail or an email address
• Bank account information for direct deposit of funds

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County (IA) Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee reports, that on May 9th (2024), the Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness hosted a free Mental Wellness Panel at the Griswold Community Center. The event included a mental wellness resource fair and a panel presentation of experts from our community. The free meal for the panel event was sponsored generously by the Healthy Cass County Coalition with funding from the Healthiest State Initiative Grant and Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Resources and community groups that were present at the resource fair were NAMI, Senior Life Solutions, Catholic Charities, Veteran’s Support, Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, Cass County Public Health, Cass County ISU Extension, Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disabilities Services, and Thriving Families Alliance. This aspect of the event was a great way for community members to see how many mental wellness resources they have in their community.

McAfee says panelists for the event included Erika Kirchhoff from Thriving Families Alliance who spoke on resilience. She gave tips and tools on how to become mentally resilient through life’s challenges. Mary-Beth Roskens from Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disabilities Services explained how therapy sessions work and how to find therapy services. Debrenee Grajeda a mental health therapist from Catholic Charities gave different tools to take care of your mental health daily. Melanie Fell and Carolyn Bruck explained how the Atlantic School District provided therapy services in the schools without students missing a lot of class time.

At the end of the panel presentation, the audience had the opportunity to ask questions. The panelists were able to share their expertise on dealing with mental health at the workplace, how to respond when a youth is struggling with their mental health, and how to get students involved in the therapy program at the Atlantic School District.

Grace McAfee says “This was a great event for all members of the community to gain tools to improve their mental health and to see the resources available in Cass County. The Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness is grateful to all those who helped make this event a success. We look forward to bringing more events like this to Cass County to help reduce the stigma of Mental Health”

The Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness is a part of the Healthy Cass County Coalition. You are invited to connect with either group by contacting Grace McAfee, Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator, at 712-250-8170 or mcage@casshealth.org. You can also follow the coalition on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/ for local wellness events and tips during Mental Health Awareness Month and all year round!

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Children’s Theatre Group, Friday, said they are happy to announce they are partnering with Footliters Traveling Playhouse and the Young Footliters Youth Theatre from Coralville, Iowa to bring a week-long theater experience to kids in Atlantic this June. This year’s production will be “The Call of the Matterhorn.” This production is a musical adventure filled with magic, mystery, and true tests of character set in the Swiss Alps. The Call of the Matterhorn is a brand new production with a script by Katie Colletta and original music by Jason Sifford.

Designed for students at all levels of theatre experience, campers will audition, rehearse, and perform a musical alongside three professional teaching artists…in one week! The traveling group also brings the set, costumes, and props. Chris Bennett, President of the Atlantic Children’s Theatre Group, says “Thanks to the generosity and support of The Atlantic Rotary Club, The Atlantic Community School Foundation, and numerous individuals in the community, we’re able to cover the $4,500 worth of expenses and offer this opportunity for free.”

Held June 24-28 at Atlantic High School, students will begin rehearsals on Monday, practice throughout the week, and put on a public performance of the hour-long show on Friday, June 28th at 7 pm. Children who have completed first grade through 8th grade are invited to participate. No experience is needed. Space is limited; registration will be limited to 60 children due to the script and costume availability.

Footliters Traveling Playhouse is committed to “engaging and empowering students through an immersive, inclusive theatre experience.” They say “We put our students first and collaborate with parents and communities to make our theatre a safe and exciting space for all.”

To register, or if you have questions, visit the Atlantic Children’s Theater Group Facebook page.