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Montgomery County Tornado rated EF-1

News, Weather

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reports a tornado that began Tuesday afternoon near Red Oak, was rated as an EF-1, which typically packs winds of 86-to 110-miles per hour. Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman says the brief tornado was confirmed by video, emergency management and a National Weather Service survey team in the southwest sections of Red Oak.
The 75-yard wide tornado began at around 2:37-p.m. south of the railroad tracks about one-quarter of a mile east of G Avenue, damaging trees, before moving into the industrial area south of Coolbaugh Avenue, where the twister damaged a commercial garage. The tornado continued northeast, damaging trees before ending just north of the intersection of West 2nd Street and West Reed Street (just under one-mile from where it started). The survey team continues to collect information from multiple sources, and results are subject to change.

JUDITH HANSEN, 79, of Walnut (Memorial Svcs. 5/31/24)

Obituaries

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JUDITH HANSEN, 79, of Walnut, died May 19th, 2024, at the Community Care Center in Stuart. Memorial services for JUDITH HANSEN will be held at the Peace United Church of Christ in Walnut, beginning at 10-a.m. on Friday, May 31st. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Thursday, May 30th, from 5-until 7-p.m.

Burial is in the Layton Township Cemetery in Walnut.

JUDITH HANSEN is survived by:

Her husband – Charles Hansen, of Stuart.

Her sons – Jeff Hansen, of Walnut; and Cory (Kristi) Hansen, of Stuart.

Her daughter – Tami Edge, of Humboldt.

11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Alliant Energy re-establishing natural gas services in Greenfield

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Officials with Alliant Energy report Alliant’s crews are beginning to reestablish natural gas services in Greenfield. The process will begin in the north half of town. Crews will go door-to-door requesting access to each home or businesses to safely relight natural gas appliances. An adult (18 years or older) must be present for technicians to enter your home. If you are not home when they come to relight, they will leave a message on your front door or garage door to call Alliant Energy at 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) for an appointment. Please note, all Alliant Energy employees carry badges with photo identification.  

   

ALLIANT ENERGY INFORMATION OFFICE: 

Alliant Energy has set up a temporary information office at the Warren Cultural Center (154 Public Square) in Greenfield for customers seeking gas service information or other inquiries.  

 

Alliant Energy customer service is also available at 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268).  

 

CHARGING STATION AVAILABLE: 

Alliant Energy has a mobile charging station available at the Warren Cultural Center (154 Public Square) in Greenfield. Electronic devices can be charged for free.   

Girls Wrestling Moves to Two Classes For 2024-2025 Season

Sports

May 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

At its May meeting, the Board of Directors of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union approved the move to two classes for the 2024-25 girls’ wrestling season.

The move will place the 64 largest wrestling schools into Class 2A, with the remaining schools competing in Class 1A.

Wrestlers will compete to qualify for the state tournament at regional meets across the state on Friday January 31, 2025. There will be eight regional state qualifying sites hosted by schools for both Class 1A and 2A.

The top 16 qualifiers from each weight class will qualify for the 2025 Girls State Wrestling Tournament, which will be held February 6-7 in Xtream Arena in Coralville. The Girls State Wrestling Tournament will remain a two-day tournament, with separate sessions for each class on February 6 and combined sessions for the championship sessions on Friday, February 7.

“The rapid rise of participants in girls wrestling has exceeded even our expectations,” said IGHSAU Executive Director Erin Gerlich. “Adding a second class is the next building block in our efforts to continue to help the sport grow. The hope is that the addition of a second class will encourage more schools to add girls’ wrestling programs.”

The IGHSAU sanctioned girls’ wrestling in 2022 and has been a one-class tournament since beginning competition in 2023. In 2024, 204 schools sponsored a girls’ wrestling program, while 61 other schools were listed in cooperative sharing agreements.

Storm damage and flooding impact some Iowa state parks for Memorial Day weekend

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports several Iowa state parks have been impacted by recent heavy rains and storms, causing closures in some areas. Visitors are urged to plan in advance heading into the holiday weekend in case a park activity or location is affected.

Impacted parks include:

Backbone State Park (Delaware County) – The north gate entrance is currently closed. Mud and sand are on the road in the flats area. Debris and logs are along the trout stream road. Staff will reopen the north entrance once roadway cleanup is complete.

Big Creek State Park (Polk County) – Flash flooding has caused high water at Big Creek Lake, which should recede by the weekend. Damage from flooding will be assessed once water levels go down, but is expected to be minor. Access to docks at the marina may be impacted.

Dolliver Memorial State Park (Webster County) – The road in the central part of the park is currently closed due to flooding. The campground, cabins, and center lodge will be closed through the Memorial Day weekend. The north shelter and south lodge will be accessible.

George Wyth State Park (Black Hawk County) – The park is closed through Memorial Day weekend and possibly longer due to flooding and the potential for more rain. The park is closed to all traffic including driving, walking and biking.

Ledges State Park (Boone County) – The canyon drive is currently closed to vehicle traffic due to flash flooding. Visitors can hike into the canyon from the Oak Woods picnic area (near the Canyon entrance gates) but are advised not to enter the rapid, rising streams. As the Des Moines River crests Friday, the county road (Oriole Road) on the west side of the park is expected to be flooded.

Rock Creek State Park (Jasper County) – the west road to the beach, in addition to the beach, beach boat ramp, west shelter and trail access are all closed due to flash flooding. Some campsites will be closed due to debris and flooding. Visitors should avoid any dock that is in a bind or not in its normal location. The south end boat ramp and shelter also are closed due to excessive debris and damage. The lake contains a significant amount of new debris and trees from recent rains.

Walnut Woods State Park (Polk County) – The Purple Martin Water Resource Area has experienced flooding. The area will remain open, but part of the loop trail is inaccessible.

Wapsipinicon State Park (Jones County) – The Wapsipinicon River is expected to flood parts of the park. Staff plan to close some roads starting Friday, May 24, which will make the lodge and playground shelter inaccessible.

Additionally, several trails are closed to equestrian and bike use at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, Elk Rock State Park, Stephens State Forest and Volga River State Recreation Area due to wet conditions.

Visitors are encouraged to avoid driving through high water and to use extra safety precautions for water recreation activities due to swift currents and debris in many lakes and rivers. Additionally, be aware of potential tree debris within parks in mowed areas and on trails; staff are cleaning as they are able. A full listing of alerts and closures can be found at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Alerts-and-Closures

Audubon School Board approves budget amendment and Bus Garage bid/plans & specs

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon School Board met earlier this week, and acted on several matters. Superintendent Eric Trager tells KJAN News, following a Public Hearing, the Board approved the Bus Garage low bids and will get started on the project this Summer.

The Board also approved a Budget Amendment, following a Public Hearing.

In other business, the Audubon School Board, Monday, approved a 2024-25 Cross Country Sharing Agreement with Exira-EHK, where E-EHK is the host. The took no action, however, on a 2024-25 Junior High Football Sharing Agreement with Exira-EHK.

Eric Trager is retiring on June 18th. He says he’s not given a whole lot of thought to what he’ll do following that last day.

The next meeting of the Audubon School Board takes place in their High School Board Room on June 17th, beginning at 7-p.m.


				

STEPHEN WILLIAMS, 71, of Creston [formerly of Grant] (Svcs. Pending)

Obituaries

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

STEPHEN WILLIAMS, 71, of Creston [& formerly of Grant], died Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. Services for STEPHEN WILLIAMS are pending with Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Red Cross recovery efforts extend well beyond Greenfield

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – There’s still no official tally on how many houses were damaged or destroyed in Greenfield by Tuesday’s massive tornado — easily dozens — and the community shelter set up in the town’s Nodaway Valley High School remains a very busy place. Emily Holley, spokeswoman for the Iowa chapter of the American Red Cross, says the agency is planning to keep that shelter open at least for several more days.  “A lot of times when things like this happen, folks will stay in their homes for maybe a little bit longer, thinking, ‘Okay, I can make this work,’ and then, after a few days, they realize that maybe that’s not great,” Holley says. “That’s why we’re leaving the shelter open. That’s why we are available for folks who need a place to stay, or even just a place to kind of regroup.”

While Greenfield saw the worst damage, that was one of at least six tornadoes in Iowa on Tuesday, while there are reports of hail, high winds or flash flooding in at least another 40 counties. Holley says the Red Cross is working with storm survivors all over the state. “We also have teams going out in the emergency response vehicles, delivering relief supplies, gloves and tarps,” Holley says, “and it’s also a good opportunity for us to speak with folks who have been impacted, to get a handle on what they need and the services that we can provide.” Another important element in the disaster recovery process is being handled by what Holley calls spiritual care and mental health support.

A tornado-ravaged home in Greenfield. (Photo by Melissa Ehrman Johnson of Atlantic)

“Our hearts are with the folks of Greenfield and everyone who has been impacted. There has been loss of life and we want to make sure that people are taking care of their minds and their spirits through this time as well,” Holley says. “That is another service that we are offering and we have available for folks who need it.”

Those who need help can contact the agency at 1-800-RED CROSS, while Iowans who’d like to donate to the relief effort should visit: redcross.org/donate.

Gov. Reynolds requests expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration for severe storms and widespread flooding

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds has requested an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms and widespread flooding that occurred on May 21, 2024.

The letter requests activation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans for the following four (4) counties: Adair, Polk, Story, and Montgomery. In addition, the letter requests the activation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program for Adair County. Additional counties may be added once the request is approved.

Funding under the FEMA Individual Assistance Program provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses access to programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program provides homeowners, renters, businesses, and most nonprofit organizations in the affected counties whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, the ability to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA.

The FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides funds that can be used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during, and debris removal after, severe weather.

In addition, the governor requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state.

The letter can be read in its entirety here.

Williams Presented with Spirit of Volunteerism Award at Cass Health

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic have announced Registered Nurse Michele Williams, is the newest recipient of the Cass Health Spirit of Volunteerism Award. Williams began working at Cass Health in July 1997, and many patients know her for her work in obstetrics and the emergency department.

Williams was nominated specifically for her volunteer work for the Massena ambulance. Her nominator wrote: “Michele Williams volunteers for her hometown emergency ambulance services in Massena and even though she is a registered nurse, she is also a registered advanced emergency medical technician. She has been doing this for about 7 years. She took over managing the ambulance, making sure the ambulance service adheres to regulations for the emergency services which includes having the medications they need when responding to emergencies and complying with those rules. EMS volunteers have to be ready to go at any time and are often called on at nights, weekends, during family get-togethers, and holidays. We don’t appreciate them enough and only think about them if and when we need them. I feel privileged to know that if I need to call 911 for help, that Michele may be in that ambulance that comes to help me or my family.”

Photos courtesy CCHS

With her own family in attendance, Williams was surprised at work with this award. “My husband kept a huge secret! I was very surprised when I won this award! I was also honored. It is nice to be recognized. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes things that people don’t see, and it makes me feel good to know that it matters,” said Williams.

Williams commented that she does it because she likes to help people. “I know the people in Massena and Cumberland and want to make sure if they are sick or hurt someone will be there to help them,” she said. As part of the Spirit of Volunteerism Award, the winner receives a $250 check to donate to the non-profit organization of their choosing. “I chose the Cass County Fair because there are a lot of young people in the surrounding communities that participate. I know things are getting expensive and we need to help keep our fair free so everyone can come out and enjoy it,” Williams said.