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Storms pound eastern Nebraska, western Iowa

News, Weather

August 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Powerful thunderstorms that ripped through eastern Nebraska and western Iowa damaged homes, vehicles and businesses and has left thousands of people without power. Omaha Public Power District reported that more than 8,100 customers didn’t have power as of 4:30 a.m. Friday, down from a peak of more than 40,000 customers at 11 p.m. Thursday. MidAmerican Energy says power still hasn’t been restored to more than 5,000 customers in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha.No storm-related deaths have been reported.

Hail from the rain-laden storms shattered windows, roofs and siding at homes around the region. Omaha’s Eppley Airfield was closed for a time and more than a dozen flights were canceled. Damage to seven aircraft was reported. Winds gusted at more than 60 mph.

PATRICIA ANN KLINDT, 74, of Carroll (svcs 8-20-11)

Obituaries

August 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

PATRICIA ANN KLINDT, 74, of Carroll, died Wed. Aug. 17th, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services for PATRICIA KLINDT will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., Aug. 20th, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll. Dahn & Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 5-p.m. Friday (8/19), where there will be a Prayer service at 7-p.m..   Visitation will take place as well on Saturday, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, from 8:30-a.m. until the time of service.

Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery.

PATRICIA ANN KLINDT is survived by:

Her daughters – Cynthia Klindt, of Carroll, & Shirley (Neil) Pudenz, of Carroll.

Her brother – Lloyd (Norma) Summers, of Atlantic.

4 grandchildren, & 5 great grandchildren. Other relatives, and friends.

ISABELLE BENGFORD, 92, of Manning (svcs 8-20-11)

Obituaries

August 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

ISABELLE BENGFORD, 92, of Manning, died Thu., Aug, 18th, at the Manning Plaza Nursing Home. A Mass of Christian Burial service for ISABELLE BENGFORD will take place on Sat., Aug. 20th, at 10-a.m., in the Sacred Heart Church at Manning. Ohde Funeral Home in Manning has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4-p.m. Fri., Aug. 19th. , where a Prayer service will be followed by a Catholic Daughters Rosary, at 6-p.m.

Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.

ISABELLE BENGFORD is survived by:

Her sister – Betty Volz, of Flushing, MT.

Her good friends – Imelda & EImer Langel, of Manning.

Severe Storms bring large hail & damaging winds to western IA (updated 10:50-a.m. 8/19)

News, Weather

August 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Storms across the Midwest last night, brought heavy rain and large hail to portions of South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. The National Weather Service says a storm near Omaha produced softball-size hail and winds of more than 65 miles per hour.

Winds gusting up to 65-miles per hour were reported one-mile west of Harlan at around 4-p.m. Emergency management officials said a farm was damaged five-miles northwest of Harlan at around that same time, where grain bins and outbuildings were destroyed, and a 1,000-gallon propane tank was moved 10-feet.

Winds of more than 70 miles per hour were reported north of Villisca just after 6-pm, Thursday, along with quarter-sized hail. In Griswold, winds gusted up to 55 miles per hour and heavy rain was reported at 5:15-p.m. A KJAN listener who lives near Interstate 80 and the Olive Street exit in Cass County, said hail estimated to be about the size of ping-pong balls fell for about 5-minutes, just after 7-p.m., Thursday. KJAN News Director Ric Hanson observed pea to nickel-sized hail falling just before 7:30-p.m., in the same area.

Baseball-sized hail was reported to have fallen four-miles south of Stanton, other reports of golfball-sized hail came from Council Bluffs, and areas near Tennant, Nodaway, Farragut, Gravity, and Randolph. Charles Ambrose, Emergency Management Director in the Taylor County town of Gravity, told the media at least one downtown building had its windows broke, and hail completely covered the ground.

Quarter-sized hail was reported at many other locations, including Hancock, Underwood, Glenwood, and Clarinda. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in all three states

late Thursday afternoon, with a tornado warning in north central Nebraska.

ELAINE MEINERS, 81, of Manilla (svcs 8-22-11)

Obituaries

August 18th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

ELAINE MEINERS, 81, of Manilla, died Thu., Aug. 18th, at the Manilla Manor Nursing Home. A Mass of Christian Burial service for ELAINE MEINERS will be held 10:30-a.m. Mon., Aug. 22nd, at the Sacred Heart Church in Manilla. Ohde Funeral Home in Manilla has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4-p.m. Sun., Aug. 21st. A Prayer service will be held at the funeral home followed by a Rosary, at 6-p.m. Sunday.

Burial will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery near Manilla.

ELAINE MEINERS is survived by:

Her son – Randy Meiners, of Pleasant Hill.

Her brother – Howard Foxhoven, of Sioux City.

Her sisters – Helen Knott, of Omaha, & Leona Leslie, of Council Bluffs.

4 grandchildren & 6 great-grandchildren.

Infant found unresponsive at Council Bluffs daycare dies

News

August 18th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Pottawattamie County authorities are investigating the death of a 5-month-old boy who was found unresponsive after taking a nap at a daycare provider in Council Bluffs.

The sheriff’s office say the child, who was identified as Lane Thomas, was found unresponsive late Wednesday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The sheriff’s office says the daycare provider told investigators she had put Thomas down for a nap at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was found unresponsive at 4 p.m. and was taken to a hospital by a rescue squad.

An autopsy was planned for Thursday. The investigation is continuing.

Storms bring rain, hail to Midwest

News, Weather

August 18th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Storms are erupting across the Midwest, bringing heavy rain, large hail and the threat of tornadoes to portions of South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in all three states late Thursday afternoon, with a tornado warning in north central Nebraska.

The National Weather Service says a storm near Omaha, Neb, produced softball-size hail and winds of more than 65 mph. In Dixon County in northeast Nebraska, strong winds and hail broke out some windows in buildings in Waterbury.

Winds of more than 55 mph and heavy rain were reported in western Iowa in Griswold.

Forecasters say widespread thunderstorms are expected into Thursday night in southeast South Dakota, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa as a cold front moves across the region.

Branstad and Reynolds resume “Jobs for Iowa” Tour

News

August 18th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds are expected to resume their “Jobs for Iowa” tour next week. The 12-City tour will take them several counties, including Shelby, Crawford, and Sac.

The tour begins Tuesday, August 23rd, with a stop at the Petersen Family Wellness Center in Harlan, at 10-a.m.. At 11:45, the pair will be at the Denison Public Library, before moving on to Odebolt, Ida Grove, and Kingsley.

On August 24th, Branstad and Reynolds will hold “Jobs for Iowa” meetings in Rock Rapids, Sibley, and Primghar. Thursday’s trip brings them to Cherokee, Storm Lake, Pocahontas, and finally, Rockwell City.

Each of the events are free, and open to the public. Branstad and Reynolds will discuss at each location, the progress that’s been made in the last legislative session, and the — quote “Plans we have to continue moving Iowa forward toward economic prosperity.”

Royals Sign OF Francoeur to 2-Year Deal

Sports

August 18th, 2011 by Jim Field

     KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Royals have signed outfielder Jeff Francoeur for another two years.  The club announced Thursday that Francoeur had signed a two-year contract extension through 2013. He’s hitting .277 in his first year with the Royals, with 15 home runs, 66 RBIs and a career-high 19 stolen bases. The affable veteran has also been a clubhouse leader and mentor for the Royals, who are the youngest team in the major leagues. He’s also third in the majors with 12 outfield
assists.      Francoeur signed a one-year contract with the Royals last Dec. 15.

Hawkeye Recruit Malloy Charged in Nebraska

Sports

August 18th, 2011 by Jim Field

     SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City prep football star who has committed to playing football next year for the University of Iowa faces a drug infraction and three misdemeanors in Nebraska.  The Sioux City Journal reports that 18-year-old Michael Malloy has pleaded not guilty to the charges: obstructing a peace officer, trespassing, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without headlights.  Court records say Malloy was arrested on a Nebraska warrant issued after an incident early on July 31 in South Sioux City, Neb.  A police officer says in an affidavit that Malloy ran from a vehicle that the officer had pulled over.  Malloy is a running back beginning his senior season at Bishop Heelan High School.