United Group Insurance

DEAN & PAM WIGGINS, of Greenfield (tornado victims) – Svcs. 5/31/24

Obituaries

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DEAN WIGGINS, 78, & PAM WIGGINS, 77, both of Greenfield, died Tuesday, May 21, 2024, as result of a tornado that passed through Greenfield.  Funeral services for DEAN and PAM WIGGINS will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday, May 31st, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greenfield. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Open Visitation:  Will be held at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greenfield on Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m; The family will greet friends at the church on Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery.  A luncheon will be held at the church following the services.   

Memorials:  May be directed to the family to be established at a later date.

DEAN and PAM WIGGINS are survived by:

Their sons – Todd (Nancy) Wiggins, of Urbandale, and Jeffrey (Tania) Wiggins, of Greenfield.

Their siblings – Gary (Nonie) Wiggins, and Diane (Bob) Edwards.

5 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; in-laws, other relatives and dear friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Grassley Town Hall meeting next week in in Cass, Mills, & Adams Counties

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will hold public town meetings in Atlantic and Glenwood on May 28, Corning on May 29 and Dakota City on May 30 as part of his annual 99 county meetings across Iowa.

Grassley says “Representative government requires continued dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent. I look forward to hearing directly from Iowans in Cass, Mills, Adams and Humboldt counties. Their insights will inform my work in Washington.”

Sen. Grassley (Radio Iowa photo)

This is Grassley’s 44th consecutive year holding at least one meeting in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. During the meetings, Grassley takes questions or comments on any subject. Iowans set the agenda.

Town meetings are open to the public. Details:

Tuesday, May 28

Cass County Town Meeting: 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.

Iowa Western Community College Cass County Center, 705 Walnut Street, Atlantic

Mills County Town Meeting: 2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Bloom Senior Center, 25 North Vine Street, Glenwood
Wednesday, May 29
Adams County Town Meeting: 2 – 3 p.m., Adams County Courthouse, 500 Ninth Street, Corning

NWS confirms 3 tornadoes occurred in Montgomery County May 21st

News, Weather

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Tornado
Rating: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 107 mph
Path Length /statute/: 2.95 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 70 yards
Start Date: 05/21/2024
Start Time: 02:35 PM CDT
End Date: 05/21/2024
End Time: 02:40 PM CDT

Red Oak Tornado path looking southwest from E Nishnabotna River

Survey Summary:
A tornado developed near Evergreen Avenue and tracked over open fields toward the northeast. Emergency management drone imagery shows the exact track of the tornado through the field, including where it turned toward the east for a bit. The tornado crossed the Nishnabotna River while turning slightly to the northeast again, causing substantial tree damage near the river. It then badly damaged a building at the city water facility, knocking out all doors and a wall. It continued to cause tree damage, but weakened quickly as it moved northeast, dissipating just prior to reaching Broadway Street in Red Oak.
Northwest Adams Tornado (Southeast Montgomery County)
Rating: EF3
Estimated Peak Wind: 140-150 mph
Path Length /statute/: 32.01 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 1300 yards
Start Date: 05/21/2024
Start Time: 02:43 PM CDT
End Date: 05/21/2024
End Time: 03:19 PM CDT
End Location: 7 SSE Massena / Adams County / IA
Survey Summary:
A tornado developed near 130th and J Avenue in Page County Iowa, producing damage to outbuildings and trees as it tracked toward the east and northeast. Large sheds were destroyed, and some homes began to sustain damage near the Page Montgomery county line and O Avenue intersection. The tornado continued to intensify as it moved northeast and became quite wide as it moved northwest and north of Villisca.
A large communications tower was toppled west of Villisca, and multiple farms were badly damaged northwest of Villisca. EF-2 damage was observed at a farmhouse near 240th Street and T Avenue, and also at a home near Highway 71 and 235th Street. A campground was hit at Hacklebarney Woods, as well as multiple homes along V Avenue and Vine Avenue. Campers were tossed and significant tree damage occurred in this area, but most permanent structures remained standing.
The tornado neared its maximum width at this location, and the damage pattern was evident in having a broad area of EF-1 type damage with embedded areas of more intense damage to trees and buildings, likely indicating a multiple vortex tornado. The tornado crossed into Adams County north of 210th Street.
Coburg Tornado
Rating: EF0
Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph
Path Length /statute/: 0.69 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 40 yards
Start Date: 05/21/2024
Start Time: 07:10 AM CDT
End Date: 05/21/2024
End Time: 07:11 AM CDT

Coburg Tornado path

Survey Summary: Emergency management drone imagery showed evidence of a short-lived tornado track through fields in this area, damaging trees along a fence line and near a home.

UPDATE: NWS confirms Tornado in Adams & Adair Counties upgrade from EF-3 to EF-4!

News, Weather

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
358 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

…NWS Damage Survey for 05/21/2024 Tornado Event Update #2…

.Update…

After completing damage assessments across Adams and Adair Counties, including Greenfield, survey teams have identified damage consistent with EF4 tornado damage, with peak wind speeds of 175-185 mph. EF4 damage was located within the community of Greenfield and across rural portions of southern Adair County. Additional analysis of data will occur through the coming days and weeks, so further refinement of the tornado statistics are possible.

.Greenfield Tornado…

Rating: EF4
Estimated Peak Wind: 175-185 mph
Path Length /statute/: 43.98 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 1000 yards
Fatalities: 5
Injuries: 35

Start Date: 05/21/2024
Start Time: 02:57 PM CDT
Start Location: 3 SSE Villisca / Page County / IA
Start Lat/Lon: 40.8866 / -94.9571

End Date: 05/21/2024
End Time: 03:43 PM CDT
End Location: 4 ENE Greenfield / Adair County / IA
End Lat/Lon: 41.337 / -94.3825

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0…..65 to 85 mph
EF1…..86 to 110 mph
EF2…..111 to 135 mph
EF3…..136 to 165 mph
EF4…..166 to 200 mph
EF5…..>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

Iowa’s new grads need to use caution during the job hunt

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Many thousands of young Iowans graduated from high school or college in recent days, and they’re now prime targets for crooks who prey on job-seekers. If you’re hunting for employment, be wary for scams, as consumer protection expert Michelle Reinen says criminals will post fake job offers that really are too good to be true.

Reinen says a new scam offers to set up a home office for you, using a legitimate-looking check the scammers send through the mail. She says absolutely do your research before accepting an offer that just pops up in your inbox, promising easy money. Also, Reinen suggests using Google Maps to make sure the address to whatever company you’re considering actually exists.

Governor says 153 homes in Greenfield were destroyed by Tuesday’s tornado

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says more than 200 Iowa homes were destroyed by Tuesday’s tornadoes, including more than 150 in Greenfield.

Reynolds and the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency toured Greenfield this morning. “We can give them all the data, we can show them the destruction,” Reynolds said, “but to really be on the ground and see firsthand and to listen to the stories is really beneficial.”

Reynolds submitted a request to the White House this morning for federal disaster assistance for four counties, including Adair County, where Greenfield is located. “In Adair County alone we had 153 major destroyed homes,” Reynolds said. “Montgomery had eight, Polk County 26, Story County 15 — for a total of 202.”

That’s a tally of flattened homes. Reynolds told reporters there’s no count yet on damaged businesses. FEMA director Deanne Criswell, who joined Reynolds for a news conference in Greenfield, said the agency will process the governor’s request for federal disaster aid as quickly as possible.

“As much as I’ve been watching the videos and seeing the pictures of the tornado damage, it just does not do it justice when you’re here on the ground and you can see the homes gone,” Criswell said, “or you can talk to a member who lost their home and they share their story about how they just barely escaped death.”

Criswell thanked first responders for their life-saving actions on Tuesday and offered advice to storm victims.

“The best thing you can do right now is to take a lot of photos and document the damages to your home,” she said. “We want to be able to have that information both for your insurance company and if and when a disaster is declared here, we’ll have to have that information to process any other types of assistance that are out there.”

Power had been restored to about half of Greenfield by midday today, according to the governor.

“I was on the ground yesterday and I can’t even tell you the amount of debris that has been collected and hauled off,” Reynolds said. “In some of those streets, it looked like a different place.”

Reynolds said there are a few people using the emergency shelter in Greenfield’s high school, but most storm victims are staying with family or friends.

Miller-Meeks criticizes NIH advisor’s ‘skirt’ remark about CDC director

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport says email obtained by a U-S House subcommittee shows the senior scientific advisor in the National Institutes of Health has made vile comments about women in medicine.

Miller-Meeks questioned Dr. David Morens during a congressional hearing about his email about the female director of the C-D-C, saying she wore a skirt and was considered the cat’s pajamas by another man.

Morens admits it was a misogynistic, snarky comment and he started to apologize during the hearing, but Miller-Meeks interrupted, saying it indicates how Morens views women.

State Auditor of releases agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Casey

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa)-  Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand today released an agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Casey, Iowa, for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The agreed-upon procedures engagement was performed pursuant to Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa.

Sand reported five findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds. They are found on pages 9 and 10 of the report. The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, journal entries not reviewed and approved and the lack of written policies related to the City’s credit card and gas card.

Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the findings. The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the City’s operations and financial transactions. Oversight is typically defined as the “watchful and responsible care” a governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity.

A copy of the agreed-upon procedures report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s website at Audit Reports – Auditor of State.

Girl’s state wrestling tourney going to 2 classes

Sports

May 23rd, 2024 by admin

The Iowa Girls’ State Wrestling meet is expanding to two classes. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union added girls wrestling as a sanctioned sport two years ago and the first two state tournaments were held with no classes. The largest 64 wrestling schools will now be in Class 2-A and the remaining schools in Class 1-A for this year’s meet. Wrestlers will compete in regional meets with the top 16 qualifiers by weight in each class advancing to the state tournament February 6th-7th in Coralville. Girls Union executive director Erin Gerlich said in a statement that the rapid rise in number of girls participating in wrestling has exceeded thier expectations and they hope the addition of classes will encourage more schools to add programs. There are 204 schools sponsoring a girls’ wrestling program in 2024, with 61 other schools in cooperative sharing agreements for teams.

Sunnyside Pool Announces 2024 Season Opening and New Manager

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Nishna Valley Family YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes, today (Thursday) report Sunnyside Pool in Atlantic will hold its grand opening for the 2024 summer season, on May 31st! The pool will be open daily from 1-until 7-p.m., offering the community a perfect place to cool off and enjoy the summer days. Sunnyside will be operated under the direction of the Nishna Valley YMCA this year with partnership of the Atlantic Parks and Rec department. The YMCA will be handling all day to day patron and staffing operations and the Park and Rec will be taking care of the maintenance and water.

Haynes said “The YMCA is happy to reengage and partner with the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department to bring the community the very best aquatics activities we can offer and maximize the talent and facilities we currently have. I’d like to thank Chelsie Rush and Chelsie Huddleson for their work in helping us get to this point as well as Jeff and Kirk from the City side to prepare the pool”

He added, “We are excited to introduce Vanessa Proehl as our new manager this year. Vanessa plans to continue building on last year’s successes by introducing new events and options for our patrons to enjoy. With her leadership, we anticipate a season filled with fun, community, and growth.”

Season Pass Information

Sunnyside Pool offers a variety of season passes to fit everyone’s needs:

  • Group Pass: $130 (passholder + four additional members)
  • Individual Pass: $90 (single member)
  • Punch Pass: $35 (ten entries)

Passes can be conveniently purchased online through a form link available on the Sunnyside Pool Facebook page, or simply scan the QR code on the flyer, this form will collect a payment from a card when submitted. Memberships will also be available for purchase at the pool, payment methods accepted at the pool this year will be cash, check or card. Checks should be made out to the Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

Upcoming Enhancements

While the city was unable to install a slide this year due to regulatory constraints, we are pleased to announce that a new pump system will be installed mid-season, improving the pool’s overall efficiency and water quality.

Parks and Rec Coordinator Jeff Christensen says “We understand that a new pump is not all that exciting but it is necessary to keep Sunnyside Pool up and running.”

Stay tuned to the Sunnyside Pool Facebook page for updates on the pump installation dates, exciting new evening events, weather closures, special promotions, and more.