United Group Insurance

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Mills/Pottawattamie Co. until 1:15-a.m.

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

1241 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA…MILLS COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA…POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA…SARPY COUNTY IN EASTERN NEBRASKA…UNTIL 115 AM CDT

* AT 1236 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES SOUTH OF OMAHA TO OFFUTT AFB…OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF LINCOLN TO 70 MILES NORTH OF FALLS CITY…AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY THE DAMAGING WINDS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…COUNCIL BLUFFS…BELLEVUE…OFFUTT AFB…GLENWOOD…OAKLAND…TREYNOR…UNDERWOOD…CARSON…EMERSON… MACEDONIA…CARTER LAKE…SILVER CITY…HASTINGS…HENDERSON AND MCCLELLAND.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS…

HIGHWAY 59 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 41 AND 52.

INTERSTATE 29 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 35 AND 56.

INTERSTATE 80 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 20.

INTERSTATE 80 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 450 AND 454.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH…DESTRUCTIVE HAIL…DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR PROTECTION…MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM CDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN IOWA AND EASTERN NEBRASKA.

Fremont County town severely damaged by possible tornado

News

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

THURMAN, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a small western Iowa community has been severely damaged by a possible tornado. Fremont County Emergency Management Director Mike Crecelius told The Associated Press on Saturday that about 75 percent of the town of Thurman was destroyed. He said there were no injuries and no deaths in the town of about 250 people.

Crecelius said the town was on lockdown Saturday night and wasn’t letting anyone in. He said town officials and residents expect to start cleaning up on Sunday. Crecelius said some residents had taken refuge in City Hall, which was the only building in town with power. Others were staying in a shelter, at motels or with relatives. The American Red Cross also set up a shelter at the Fremont-Mills High School, in Tabor, for displaced residents of Thurman.

Just before the storm hit Thurman, five semi tractor-trailers were blown over on Interstate 29. The wreckage slowed traffic on I-29 for several hours. The State Patrol said one trucker was injured, when a rig was blown over in Mills County, as well. It’s not clear how many truckers in all, were injured.

Flood Watch in effect until 10-a.m Sunday

Weather

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1025 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

…ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT…

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN OVERNIGHT. A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTHWARD ACROSS SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF IOWA OVERNIGHT…HELPING TO PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. MORE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WEST OF IOWA

COUNTIES: AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT SUNDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA…SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA…SOUTHWEST IOWA AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA…UNTIL 10 AM CDT SUNDAY

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN ARE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT. THE GROUND IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE HEAVY RAINFALL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ANY ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL MAY PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING. THE THE AREAS WHICH RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ARE OF MOST CONCERN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

Lynn looks sharp for Cardinals in win over Cubs

Sports

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lance Lynn pitched effectively into the sixth inning and Yadier Molina had two hits and two RBIs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The Cardinals snapped a two-game skid with their fourth win in six games. Chicago, which lost five of its first six, had won two in a row. Lynn (2-0) gave up four hits and one run in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out five, walked two and lowered his ERA to 1.50. Lynn, the 39th overall pick in the 2008 draft, allowed one run over 6 2-3 innings in his first start, a 9-3 win at Milwaukee on Sunday. He began the season with a 1-1 career mark. Jon Jay hit his second home run of the season in the seventh off Shawn Camp.

Hawkeyes forced to turn to unproven running backs

Sports

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has long been known for its punishing running attack. But the Hawkeyes will wrap up spring ball next week with serious questions to answer about their running back situation. Iowa is down to a pair of unproven sophomores, Damon Bullock and De’Andre Johnson, after Marcus Coker’s departure and Jordan Canzeri’s knee injury. True freshmen Greg Garmon and Barkley Hill join the team in August. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says Bullock and Johnson have made consistent improvement this spring. He also says they’ve told Garmon and Hill to do everything they can to be ready to play by the end of the summer.

Iowa State QB race still even

Sports

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Nothing has changed in the competition for the starting quarterback job at Iowa State after the Cyclones’ spring game. Jared Barnett and Steele Jantz were even throughout spring practice after both started games last season, and both had good moments in Saturday game, though coach Paul Rhoads was disappointed in their interceptions. Barnett, who started six games in 2011, completed 11 of 21 passes for 67 yards and added 54 yards rushing. He was intercepted twice. Jantz, who started the other seven games last fall, was 20 of 32 for 161 yards, including a nicely thrown ball on a 56-yard completion to Josh Lentz. He threw one interception. Rhoads says he doesn’t have a timetable for naming a starter in the fall.

(Update) Creston Hospital hit by storm – no injuries reported

News

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) — Emergency officials say an Iowa hospital has been damaged as a band of severe weather bears down on the region. Union County Emergency Management Director Jo Anne Duckworth confirmed the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston had been hit, but did not comment further. Creston Mayor Warren Woods says a storm swept through the town of about 7,800 residents between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, damaging the northwest corner of the community. Woods wasn’t aware of any injuries, but he also hadn’t yet been briefed on the situation at the hospital. A woman who answered the phone at the hospital said no one was hurt and the staff was working to move patients. It’s not clear where they were being taken. Police and fire officials would not immediately comment.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for western Iowa

Weather

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1010 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 173 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT

FOR THE FOLLOWING  IOWA COUNTIES:: FREMONT HARRISON MILLS MONONA MONTGOMERY PAGE POTTAWATTAMIE SHELBY WOODBURY.

HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 50 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES WEST OF NORFOLK NEBRASKA TO 40 MILES EAST OF OMAHA NEBRASKA. F

REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

IN ADDITION, TORNADO WATCH #169 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 12-AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA: ADAIR- ADAMS-AUDUBON-CASS-GUTHRIE-MADISON-RINGGOLD-TAYLOR-UNION.

Audubon 2nd in North Polk Tennis Tourney

Sports

April 14th, 2012 by Jim Field

North Polk Tourney – in Urbandale (Sat. 4/14/12)
  1. South Tama
  2. Audubon
  3. North Polk
  4. Saydel
  5. East (Des Moines)
Singles for Audubon:
Christensen, M vs. Oldbear (South Tama) – lost 5-8
Christensen, M. vs. Aves (North Polk) – won 8-6
Christensen, M. vs Muhr, A. (Audubon) – lost 5-8 = 6th Place finish
Muhr, A vs. Backhma (East) – lost 3-8
Muhr, A vs. Oldbear (South Tama) – won 8-6
Muhr, A. vs. Christensen, M (Audubon) -won 8-5 = 5th Place finish
Doubles for Audubon:
Nielsen-Krauel vs. Simenez-Vizcarrra (East) – won 8-0
Nielsen-Krauel vs. Gambrel-Smith (Saydel) – won 8-1
Nielsen-Krauel vs. Bradley-Baack (South Tama) – won 8-2 = 1st place finish
Polson-Jones vs. Hastie-Carter (Saydel) – lost 7-9
Polson-Jones vs. Boldt-Weineman (East) – won 8-2
Polson-Jones vs. Holt-McFate (South Tama) – lost in tie breaker 6-10
Polson-Jones vs. Hastie-Carter (Saydel) – lost 4-8 = 8th place finish

Creston Hospital hit by tornado Saturday night

News

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa – A tornado damaged a hospital in Creston on Saturday night. KCCI TV reports authorities with the Creston Police Department said the tornado hit the Greater Regional Medical Center about 7:30 p.m. The extent of the damage is not yet known.