(Radio Iowa) – Thousands of cyclists on the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa stopped in Greenfield yesterday (Tuesday), just two months after tornado ripped through the community, killing four people and destroying homes. Greenfield resident Mackenzie Meisenheimer says right after the tornado, it wasn’t clear if the town would still be able to host RAGBRAI. “It’s a good thing we had RAGBRAI though because it gave us a reason to clean up. It gave us a reason to get ourselves together a little bit and something to look forward to, having people here looking at what’s left of our awesome town,” Meisenheimer said. “I mean, we have so much left that’s still here and beautiful.”

RAGBRAI rider Dana Kramer of Urbandale says the bike route took her past part of town that was in the tornado’s path.  “I thought I would see a little bit more of the devastation from the storm, but they’ve gotten pretty much everything torn down and they’ve started the rebuilding processes,” she says. “Some houses are still boarded up, but I think it shows the strength of the city in wanting to get things back to normal and continue to host RAGBRAI.”

Kramer and other riders say they stopped in Greenfield to help boost the local economy. The town square in Greenfield was not hit by the tornado and that’s where vendors selling food, t-shirts and other items were set up. Vendors also had plastic containers to accept cash donations and a Q-R code was printed on fliers for digital contributions to Greenfield’s tornado recovery fund.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report an Adams County man was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on a felony charge of Theft in the 1st Degree (an amount greater than $10,000).  42-year-old Adam Lewis Schrodt, of Corning, was taken into custody at around 4-p.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $10,000. Red Oak Police were assisted in conducting the investigation and arrest, by deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities say additional charges may be filed by Adams County and the Des Moines Police Department.

Additional details were not immediately available.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – In response to this year’s severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding experienced across Iowa, the State of Iowa has launched the Disaster Recovery Temporary Housing Program for Pottawattamie County.

This program is available to survivors whose homes were majorly damaged, destroyed, or deemed not habitable in counties currently under a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Individual and Public Assistance. The program will provide temporary sheltering in travel trailers or recreational vehicles to survivors who are unable to locate rental homes or apartments and agree to the terms and conditions of the program.

Iowans whose primary residence is Pottawattamie County must first apply for FEMA disaster assistance to be eligible for the housing program. The State of Iowa will determine if the home is majorly damaged, destroyed, or not habitable, and that it was the owner or renter’s pre-disaster primary residence.

You can register for FEMA Individual Assistance in the following ways:

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)
• Download and use the FEMA app
• Visit any Disaster Recovery Center to apply or get application assistance

Homeowners must also have filed a claim with their insurance company and have received final approval or denial of their claim. Applicable FEMA and insurance documentation is requested as part of the application process, including, but not limited to their FEMA Individual Assistance case number.

To apply for the Disaster Recovery Temporary Housing Program:

• Application Portal: Disaster Recovery Temporary Housing Program (also at disasterrecovery.iowa.gov)

• Call Center Info: Phone Number: +1 608 480 8808
  • Toll-Free Number: 833 307 6030
  • Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM -8:00 PM; 7 days a week
  • TTY and Translation services available

Iowans seeking more information can visit  disasterrecovery.iowa.gov.

AMES, Iowa [KCCI-TV]  — Mosquitoes found in traps at an Ames park have tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

The city of Ames says the traps were at Emma McCarthy Lee Park, and the park is sprayed or fogged for mosquitoes every Wednesday evening, weather pending. No humans are reported to have tested positive for the virus.

The virus doesn’t cause any symptoms in most people but has been linked to other deadly conditions.

(Iowa News Service) – Iowa is one of 13 states not participating in a federal summer food program for children. The Iowa Hunger Coalition has launched a petition drive to convince the state to take part in next summer’s program and the first deadline for signatures is approaching.

The Sun Bucks program was established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2020 to make sure kids have enough food in the summer, when schools are not in session. Iowa did not take part in the program this year, as Gov. Kim Reynolds cited administrative costs.

Anne Discher, executive director of the group Common Good Iowa, part of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, said the Sun Bucks program can help families stretch their budget.

“It really helps increase consumption of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, without increasing consumption of, say, sugar-sweetened drinks,” Discher pointed out. “Not only is it really a huge help for families who are struggling to make ends meet, but it really has health benefits, as well.”

The coalition is halfway to its goal of 2,500 signatures and the first deadline to get the petition to the next step is Aug. 2.

Beyond making sure children have enough to eat in the summer months, Discher noted the Sun Bucks program increases healthy food options for economically disadvantaged Iowa kids. The $29 million available to be allocated to Iowa as part of the Sun Bucks program is federal money, so even considering the small state administrative costs, Discher argued the reasons for Iowa opting out do not make sense.

“For us, it seems something that, again, is pretty close to a no-brainer,” Discher contended. “It’s, you know, really good for Iowa. And of course, you know, those are dollars that families turn around quickly into their local economies, right? They use them at the grocery store.”

The Sun Bucks program would make food available to about 125,000 Iowa kids in the summer months.