(Radio Iowa) – The experts at the National Weather Service are still studying information they gathered from the outbreak of tornadoes across Iowa on July 14th. Meteorologist Alex Krull says they’re now lowering their original estimate of 26 tornadoes. “When we went back and looked at some satellite data after the event, we realized that there were a few tornadoes that we had considered two separate tornadoes had actually been just one track,” Krull says. “We were able to look at some of the crop damage via satellite to realize the tornado had stayed on the ground a little bit longer than what the surface damage survey we had conducted the day after the tornado had indicated.”

Their current thinking is there were between 20 and 22 tornadoes that struck that day, not 26, but the final report is still being compiled. Krull says improved technology with better satellites help with storm surveys. “When the tornado knocks down the corn, it’s going to reflect that sunlight back up to the satellite a little bit differently,” Krull says. “In some cases, you can even see the swirl marks from the tornado as it moves through. Rural parts of Iowa, this helps us to get a good idea of the track, especially if it doesn’t do any damage to trees or structures.”

The Lake City tornado was the most powerful that day. It was designated as an EF-3 and had estimated wind speeds as high as 145 miles per hour.

With Ric Hanson.

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With Ric Hanson.

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Today’s (Monday’s) Schedule:

8:00 A.M………………………………………Beef Show
**1 hour after conclusion of morning beef show will be a Beef Fitting Contest
8:00 A.M………………………………………4–H/FFA Exhibits Open
9:00 A.M………………………………………Best of Iowa
11:00 A.M……………………………………..Rotary Watermelon Feed
1:00 P.M……………………………………….Cass County Cattlemen’s Kids Cattle Clinic
2:00 P.M……………………………………….Dairy Cattle Show
4:00 P.M……………………………………….Building Awards
5:45 P.M……………………………………….Parade of Champions
Bucket of Junk/Fundraising Auction
6:30 P.M…………………………………………………..Grand Champion Beef Selection
7:45 P.M……………………………………………… Livestock Released

TUESDAY, August 3
8:00 A.M……………………………………….Livestock Sale
8:00 A.M.–10:00 A.M…………………………Static Exhibits Released

(Shenandoah) — A call Saturday night about the smell of marijuana emitting from a shed in Shenandoah resulted in the arrest of three people on drug charges. Shenandoah Police responded to the 900 block of 6th Avenue at around 7:45-p.m.  During an investigation, officers arrested 39-year-old Joshua Edward Wynn, of Shenandoah and 21-year-old Tyler Eugene Brazeal, of Red Oak, for possession of marijuana and gathering where controlled substance are unlawfully used. Police also arrested 18-year-old Phoebe Rachelle Faye Johnson, of Shenandoah, for gathering where controlled substances are unlawfully used.

Wynn and Brazeal were both taken to the Page County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.  Johnson was released after posting a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A regulatory change touted as a less expensive way for retailers to switch to selling gas with a 15 percent blend of ethanol is a key part of the debate over the governor’s proposed ethanol mandate. Early this year, Governor Kim Reynolds called for a state law requiring all Iowa gas stations to sell gas with a 15 percent ethanol blend by 2026. The proposal stalled this spring, but supporters hope to revive it. Monte Shaw is executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Shaw says his group does NOT support a mandate that would force retailers to crack into concrete and replace the underground fuel tank that leads to pumps above. “But there’s a waiver provision in this legislation that would say if you just have to make some minor modifications above ground, we have a state grant program that helps you with that,” Shaw says.

“A lot of times, these are $8,000-$10,000.” And Shaw says already existing regulations from the state fire marshal allow pumps dispensing gas with 10 percent ethanol to switch to E-15. Mark Cobb of Brighton owns nine gas stations in eastern Iowa and is installing new pumps to offer E-15 to his customers at all locations. He says it costs far more than the 10-thousand dollars Shaw mentioned. “I’d have been thrilled if I could have brought E15 into my stations for that kind of money,” Cobb says. “…I have to have insurance on my system…They require that I have a dispenser that is UL listed for E15, which requires a replacement.”

Cobb, who is an investor in a biodiesel plant, too, says he’s not opposed to efforts to promote the sale o “However, I’m not a big fan of a mandate or being forced to sell something that maybe consumers aren’t ready to accept yet,” Cobb says. And Cobb says premium gasoline that has NO ethanol in it must be used in some vehicles on the road today in order to maintain the warranty. Iowa Corn Promotion Board vice president Kelly Niewenhaus, a farmer from Primghar, says he’s optimistic the two sides can find common ground in 2022.  “I’m not a fan of mandates either,” Niewenhaus says, “but we need to grow this industry and since Iowa is the largest corn producing state in the United States, the largest ethanol and biodiesel producing state in the United States, we need to send a message to the rest of the country that we support our industries and what we do for our economy in the state of Iowa.”

The three men made their comments on this weekend’s “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S. Three months ago, Governor Reynolds said she’d ask representatives of ag groups and gasoline retailers to meet this summer and fall, to try to come up with a compromise Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard. There’s been no public announcement that a working group has been formed or is meeting.

Two men who said they were hired to break into the Dallas County Courthouse are now suing the Dallas County Sheriff. According to KCCI, Gary DeMercurio and Justin Wynn filed the lawsuit against Sheriff Chad Leonard. The men worked for Coalfire Labs, a cybersecurity firm hired by the Iowa Judicial Branch to test the security of court facilities.

The men said their agreement with the state protected them from arrest. But when they broke into the Dallas County Courthouse in 2019 they said Leonard refused to honor that agreement. DeMercurio and Wynn were jailed and criminally charged. Those charges were eventually dropped.

The two are suing Leonard for negligence, false arrest and defamation among other claims.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety reported Sunday evening, that the Ottumwa Police Department has found the body of a missing woman. Authorities had said earlier Sunday afternoon, Helen Elizabeth Showalter’s family reported her missing on Saturday. She was last seen walking away from a vehicle near the Garrison Rock Park in Wapello County.

At about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, police received reports that a body was found in the Des Moines River in Wapello County. The remains have been identified as 60-year-old Showalter. Police are investigating it as a suspicious death. The State Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy.

In a press release, Lt. Jason Bell with the Ottumwa Police Dept. said, “At this time we do not feel that there is any danger to the public with the information that we have.” Anyone with information about this case should call the Ottumwa Police Department at 641-683-0661.

The Atlantic City Council is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4th, at City Hall. During their session, the Council is expected to act on passing a Resolution “adopting Job Descriptions for the Acting Deputy City Clerk and Temporary Administrative Assistant.” The action is necessary because the current Deputy City Clerk is on an indefinite medical leave.

The City crafted a job description for a temporary, Acting Deputy Clerk and is looking for an Administrative Assistant to ensure Finance and Administration maintains a 3.5 FTE (Full-Time Employee) staffing level that has been the practice since Aug. 31, 2015. City Administrator John Lund says budgeting related to the position will be completed with the FY2022 Revised Estimate. He says it will not affect the City’s insurance levy, as no new health plans are being made available to existing or new employees.

The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee met last week to review the job descriptions, wages and benefit issues pertaining to the proposal. They subsequently approved those matters and made paid time-off (PTO) a pro-rated benefit based on the actual hours worked by the employee. The Council will act on adopting compensation for the Acting Deputy Clerk and Temp. Administrative positions, following action on the previous resolution (mentioned above). They will also act on the related matter of Paid Time-Off for permanent part-time positions.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on orders to appoint the following persons:

• Dick Casady, Frazer Werts, Connie Boose, Dave Jones and Christina Bateman, to the Housing Committee.
• Jeff Gude to fill a vacancy on the Community Promotion Committee, as recommended by Mayor Dave Jones.

The Council will recognize Hannah Richter for her service to City Hall over the Summer. And, they will receive a presentation by “Retail Coach” Project Director Austin Farmer. The City was identified by Retail Coach as a potential client. If the company’s services are approved, it would cost $40,000, with the City paying $35,000 as part of the primary contract cost, possibly through LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) Revenue. The Chamber and CADCO have agreed to split the remaining $5,000 in travel and reimbursement costs of the contract ($2,500 each).

And, the Atlantic City Council is expected to receive a monthly report from Kris Erickson on Animal Shelter and Code Enforcement matters.