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2 from Texas killed in a Polk County (IA) crash

News

July 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Iowa have identified two people from Texas who died in a crash Saturday in Polk County. According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, a Honda SUV traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 near 2nd Avenue (mile marker 134) hit a guard rail before leaving the road and coming to a stop in a creek.

Rose A. Engel, 58, of Cookville, Texas, was pronounced dead on the scene. William L. Engel, 65, of Cookville, Texas, was transported to a Des Moines hospital where he later died.

The crash is still under investigation.

Two police officers shot in Waterloo

News

July 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Two police officers were shot while responding to a report of a man with a gun Sunday just before 8:30 a.m. Officers responded to the 200 block of Manson Street. Officials say the investigation ended with two officers being shot in the 1200 block of E 4th Street, and the suspect dead.

The Waterloo police officers who were shot were taken to a local hospital. There has been no update on their condition. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident.

Spring of 2024 was Iowa’s eighth wettest

News, Weather

July 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the spring of 2024 has been the eighth wettest spring in Iowa since 1872 — the first year weather records were kept for the State of Iowa. Glisan says it’s been a roller-coaster of weather for the past six months.

“You look at the severe weather season we’ve had — 116 tornadoes, when we average about 44 per year…You think of the hail and high wind events, also,” Glisan said. “The set up we’ve been in has been a drought buster, though, with all these thunderstorms. We’ve had a record amount of rainfall, particularly in spring, but also in May — the sixth wettest May on record.”

A warmer than normal winter — and especially January’s blizzard — had a role in setting the stage for a wet spring. “We had that epic amount of snow pack,” Glisan said. “It actually insulated the surface, didn’t allow arctic air to get down deep, so the frost level really wasn’t there.” Glisan says it let the melting snow sink into the soil and early spring rains were able to soak in as well. The combination ended drought conditions throughout the state — after 204 consecutive weeks of drought. Glisan says it’s difficult to forecast severe weather far in advance, but warmer and wetter conditions heading into this past spring did signal there would be thunderstorms.

“If we look at the climate model and getting out several decades in that April, May, June time-frame, we are seeing the ingredients coming together more often to support severe weather, at least in the spring,” Glisan says, “kind of ebbing off into the summertime.” Glisan, though, points to long term forecasts that indicate Iowa is likely to see warm and wet conditions, so more thunderstorms this week. While there have been 116 tornadoes so far this year, only seven of them happened in June, which is typically the month when the most tornadoes strike in Iowa.

Glisan made his comments during a weekend appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Monday, July 1st, 2024

Weather

July 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy & breezy, w/Showers & thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2pm. High near 74. Winds SE @15-30 mph.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some severe storms are possible, with heavy rain, damaging winds & large hail the main threat. Low around 67.
Tomorrow: Showers and thunderstorms. Some may be severe. High near 83. South wind 10-20 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Independence Day: Partly sunny w/a 60% chance showers & thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. High near 83.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy w/a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms through midnight. Low around 60.

Sunday’s High temperature in Atlantic was 78. Our Low this morning, 56. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 77, and the Low was 65. The All-time Record High in Atlantic on July 1st was 104 in 1938. The Record Low was 45, in 1930, 1951 & 1995. Sunrise today: 5:49-a.m. Sunset is at 8:58-p.m.

Carter Jr. Places 8th at U.S. Trials

Sports

June 30th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

EUGENE, Ore. – University of Iowa track and field graduate James Carter Jr. placed eighth at U.S. Olympic Trials with a mark of 16.44 meters (53’ 11.25”) in the men’s triple jump on Sunday at Hayward Field.

Carter Jr. (‘23) was a five-time All-American across the long jump and triple jump events during his Hawkeye career.

James Carter Jr. (Triple Jump)

Finals

  1. 16.44 (53’ 11.25”)

UP NEXT

Track and field events at the 2024 Paris Olympics take place between Thursday, Aug. 1, and Sunday, Aug. 11.

John Deere Classic week set to begin

Sports

June 30th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The PGA Tour returns to the Quad Cities this week with the John Deere Classic. Eight former champions are in the field, including defending champ Sepp Straka, two-time champ and three time major winner Jordan Spieth as well as Cedar Rapids native and two time major winner Zach Johnson. Tournament director Andrew Lehman says the John Deere being two weeks before The Open Championship has helped attract more big names.

The new date means tournament week will regularly include the Fourth of July. Thursday’s opening round is on Independence Day.

Lehman says they are embracing the holiday as part of the tournament.

For the second straight year the tournament will host a concert after Saturday’s third round and Sunday’s final round. Lehman says the concerts help attract non-golf fans to the event.

Monday afternoon at the TPC at Deere Run there is a Pro-Am event.

High School Baseball Scores from Saturday

Sports

June 30th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Hawkeye Ten 

St. Albert 10, Ankeny Christian 7

Pride of Iowa Conference

Twin Cedars 3, Wayne 2

Missouri River

Dowling Catholic 7, Abraham Lincoln 3

Dowling Catholic 8, Abraham Lincoln 7 

 

High School Softball Scores from Saturday

Sports

June 30th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Hawkeye Ten 

Carlisle 5, Creston 0

Western Iowa Conference

Underwood 10, Stanton 5
Underwood 17, Fremont-Mills 5
#14 Treynor 15, Stanton 1

Corner Conference 

Fremont-Mills 7, Stanton 5
#13 Griswold 14, Underwood 2

Raccoon River Conference

#4 Fort Dodge 4, #15 Gilbert 0
Carlisle 4, Des Moines Roosevelt 0

West Central Activities Conference 

Van Meter 5, Webster City 2
#1 Van Meter 8, #7 West Monona 1
Earlham 11, Fremont-Mills 1

 

Enjoy fireworks, but protect sensitive people

News

June 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES –  As much as we love fireworks, drifting smoke can cause breathing problems for some. Brain Hutchins, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Air Quality Supervisor, says whether you are attending a display or celebrating in your backyard, sensitive populations are advised to take precautions. “First, if your family or friends suffer from asthma, respiratory difficulties, or heart disease; it’s important for them to stay upwind, a safe distance from fireworks smoke,” Hutchins says. “The elderly and children are also vulnerable to high levels of smoke.”

Sensitive people are most likely to have trouble breathing when air is stagnant. With no breeze, fine particles can be trapped near the ground and build to unhealthy levels. Smoke contains fine particles and gases, which can be hard on the lungs. Fine particles in fireworks’ smoke come from black powder used to shoot fireworks skyward along with metals that produce brilliant colors.

In 2020, Davenport, Des Moines and Muscatine recorded fine particle levels exceeding national standards on the Fourth. Des Moines exceeded the standard again the following day. Fine particle levels stayed below national standards on days surrounding the Fourth of July in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Learn more about fine particles (PM2.5)  and how fireworks displays can affect sensitive populations.

Those unable to avoid areas of dense smoke should limit outdoor activity and contact their health care provider if experiencing difficulty breathing.

Flood warnings for the Missouri River extended until Wednesday

News

June 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa) – Flood warnings for counties located the Missouri River in Iowa and Nebraska have been extended now, until Wednesday. Minor to moderate flooding is expected to continue. Originally, the Missouri River was expected to have crested late Saturday in the Omaha area. The National Weather Service Sunday, said while all sites are expected to crest by early next week, repeated rounds of rain could lead to river levels remaining elevated for longer than currently forecast.

Emergency management officials say around half a dozen homes in the immediate Honey Creek area have been flooded, and so have around a dozen properties in the Goosehaven area—although most of those are not permanent homes.

At this time, EMA Director Doug Reed said there’s no indication when residents will be able to get back to their homes because the forecast keeps changing for when the river crests. After that, they’ll have to wait for the water to drain out, and then assess the damage to roads.