(Greenfield, Iowa) – Officials with the Adair/Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency has issued an update with regard to the relief and recovery process, following the May 21st tornado that caused a substantial damage and four deaths. The EMA reports:

• There is a burning ban in the City of Greenfield until further notice.
• A curfew remains in-place from 10-p.m. until 7-a.m. daily, until further notice.
• Physical donations of supplies & clothing are not being accepted. Monetary donations, however are very much welcome, and can be dropped off at all branches of Union State Bank and First National Bank. You can also make an online donation through the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation’s website at https://www.greenfieldiafoundation.org/ and add a note indicating your donation is for Tornado Recovery.
• A Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will open Sunday and Monday to provide recovery resources for people affected by the tornado in Greenfield and surrounding communities. Trained English and Spanish-speaking caseworkers will be available at the MARC to help people create personal recovery plans, navigate paperwork, and locate assistance for their specific disaster-caused needs, such as mental health support, housing and unemployment assistance, animal supplies, assistance for groceries, rent, medicine and other items or services. The MARC, which will be located at the Nodaway Valley Elementary School is open:
  o Sunday, June 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  o Monday, June 3 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  Please use the building’s southeast entrance.
• There is a paid contractor license fee of $100. All paid contractors must complete an application, pay the fee, submit certificates of insurance, and complete a background check at city hall prior to approaching residents. More info: https://www.adaircounty.iowa.gov/tornado/resources/
• The Adair County website is updated with the most current information, including the free meal schedule through Monday. Local restaurants are also open and ready for your business!

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say no injuries were reported following a collision Thursday morning at the intersection of Prairie and Sumner Streets. The accident happened at around 9:45-a.m.  Authorities say 84-year-old Marilyn Larimore, of Creston, was driving a 2014 Buick SUV northbound on Sumner and had attempted to turn left onto Prairie Street. She turned too sharply, and struck a 2012 VW Jetta that was stopped at the stop sign, facing east on Prairie Street, and driven by 31-year-old Corina Buchanan, of Creston.

Larimore told Police she didn’t see the VW sitting at the stop sign. Police say damage from the collision amounted to $11,000 altogether. No citations were issued, but the report said Marilyn Larimore over-steered, and failed to keep in the proper lane.

ALGONA, Iowa [KCCI] — The man accused of murdering an Algona police officer will now have his trial in a different county than where the crime was committed. Kyle Ricke, 43, was arrested after an hours-long manhunt that spanned two states on Sept. 13, 2023. He is accused of shooting and killing Algona police Officer Kevin Cram, 33, who was attempting to serve an arrest warrant for Ricke.

Ricke’s first-degree murder trial was originally scheduled for June 25 in Kossuth County, but in April, he made a motion to move the trial to another county, arguing that he wouldn’t get a fair trial with an impartial jury in Kossuth County.

Recently filed court documents show the trial has now been moved to Dickinson County, which is along the Iowa-Minnesota border west of Kossuth County. Attorneys for Ricke also previously motioned for a competency evaluation to determine Ricke’s fitness to stand trial, but the motion was withdrawn a short while later.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has launched a disaster recovery website to help Iowans after severe storms. The website was created in response to the recent severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that hit Iowa in April and May and, according to a release, aims to help Iowans easily access resources and information after these sorts of situations.

“During times of crisis, it’s important for communities to come together, support one another, and have access to much-needed resources,” said the Director of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management John Benson. “The launch of this disaster recovery website is another step to providing assistance and resources to those affected by the recent severe weather in Iowa.”

The website will provide information such as assistance for those affected by severe weather with information on state and federal programs that are available to residents, businesses, and farms. It will also include answers to questions regarding insurance, how you should clean up after a storm, and any mental health resources.

The website will also offer resources for those who wish to volunteer or donate after a severe storm.

(Radio Iowa) – We’re now in what are considered the one-hundred deadliest days of the year for teen drivers, the roughly three months between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Brian Ortner, a spokesman for Triple-A Iowa, says the dangers of a teen dying or being critically hurt in a crash rise exponentially during this season. “The risk is higher during the summer for teen drivers and everyone else they share the road with,” Ortner says, “because school is either out or out very soon and these young — and unfortunately inexperienced — drivers will spend more time on the road with their friends.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says nearly half of teen driver-related deaths occur during these 100 days. In 2022, more than 700 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers, a ten-percent increase over pre-pandemic 2019.  “Distracted driving plays a role in nearly six out of ten of those teen crashes,” Ortner says. “Cell phones, in-vehicle entertainment systems are considered the second biggest distraction for teen drivers. The biggest distractions are other teen passengers. Other passengers in the car contribute to peer pressure, and the impulse to engage in dangerous driving habits, like speeding.”

Parents should lead by example when they’re behind the wheel, Ortner says. That includes minimizing risky behavior when driving, don’t drive aggressively, avoid distractions, and always wear your seatbelt. “The most important thing parents can do to help their teens become safe drivers is to be involved in the learning-to-drive process,” Ortner says. “Spend time coaching your teen when they’re behind the wheel, and have that serious discussion about safety. It’s also good to maybe seek out professional training courses.”

Studies show crashes are the leading cause of death for teens between the ages of 16 and 19. For every mile driven, new teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.