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NWS preliminary data rates most western IA tornadoes as EF-3

News, Weather

April 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Omaha, NE) – The National Weather Service in Omaha has released a preliminary report on the storms that passed through eastern Nebraska and parts of western Iowa on April 26th. Officials broke down the data as follows:

  • A tornado developed to the southeast of the I-29 / U.S. 275 interchange and tracked north-northeast before dissipating at the Pony Creek Park, between 4:52 and 4:57-p.m., Friday. It was rated an EF-1, with winds of up to 100 mph. The twister’s path ran for 2.7-miles, at a maximum width of 80-yards.
  • A tornado that formed at 4:58-p.m. developed at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and moved northeast to just east of Crescent, IA before dissipated 16. 1-miles later, just north of the Harrison-Pottawattamie County line at 5:27-p.m. It was an EF-3, with wind of up to 152-mph, and a width of 516 yards.
  • Tornado  #3 developed at around 5:08-p.m. Friday, in rural southwestern Pottawattamie County and tracked north-northeast before dissipating 13.3-miles later to the northeast of McClelland. It was also rated EF-3, with winds topping out at 145-mph and a width of 800-yards.
  • Tornado #4 formed east of McClelland at around 5:25-p.m., while the previous Treynor/McClelland tornado was in the process of dissipating. The tornado tracked 40.9-miles north-northeast through the eastern part of Minden, to the immediate east of Tennant, the west of Harlan, and the immediate east of Defiance before dissipating at around 6:30-p.m., just south of the Shelby-Crawford County line. It was an EF-3, with top wind speeds estimated at 160-mph, and a width of 1,700-yards (just under a mile wide). It was responsible for three injuries and one death.
  • Tornado #5 in Shelby and Crawford Counties developed at around 6:28-p.m. over the V&W Petersen Wildlife Management Area and moved north to the immediate west of Manilla before dissipating at around 6:44-p.m. in rural Crawford County Iowa, east-southeast of Denison. It was rate an EF-2, with winds of up to 112-mph and a width of 200-yards. It’s path was estimated to be 9.2-miles long.
  • Tornado #6 was an EF-1, with winds of up to 107-mph, a width of 100-yards, and a path of 12.3-miles. It developed to the immediate northeast of Defiance and tracked north-northeast into rural Crawford County east-southeast of Denison.
  • Five other tornadoes have yet to be defined, according to the latest NWS data.

HAWKEYE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT GOLDEN HERKYS

Sports

April 29th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Department of Athletics recognized the academic and athletic accomplishments of its student-athletes at the seventh annual Golden Herkys on Monday evening. The event, organized by members of the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (ISAAC), is an opportunity for student-athletes to recognize their peers while also celebrating the past year with the awards ceremony at Hancher Auditorium.

The event was highlighted by the announcement of senior Real Woods (men’s wrestling) and Caitlin Clark (women’s basketball) as “UI Athletes of the Year.” Seniors Tory Taylor (football) and Kate Martin (women’s basketball) were named “Hawkeyes of the Year,” which encompasses the athletics department core values of WIN, GRADUATE, DO IT RIGHT.

Woods finished the season with a 23-5 record, placing third at the 2024 Big Ten Championships and fourth at the national championships. The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native scored 11 bonus point wins (three majors, seven technical falls and one pin) and scored 40 dual points for Iowa this season. A four-time All-American, Woods finished his wrestling career with an 85-14 record, including a 38-14 record against ranked opponents.

Clark, the 2024 unanimous consensus National Player of the Year from West Des Moines, Iowa, led the Hawkeyes to their second straight National Championship and finished the season leading the nation in assists (8.9 assists per game) and scoring (31.6 points per game). She became the first player to finish No. 1 in both categories in back-to-back seasons. Clark tallied 3,951 career points and she recently became the first Division-I player to record 1,000+ points in back-to-back seasons. She is also the only player in NCAA Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons. She was selected by the Indiana Fever as the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft earlier this month.

Clark also took home the Golden Herky for Record Breaking Performance. During the 2024 season, she became the NCAA’s men’s and women’s all-time leading scorer surpassing, LSU’s Pete Maravich. She set a Big Ten Tournament career record with 112 assists in her 13 tournament games. In the NCAA Tournament, Clark became the second player all-time with 350+ points and 100+ assists and the all-time career field goals made.

Taylor was named a consensus All-American and permanent co-captain following the 2023 season and tabbed as the top punter in the country being the recipient of the Ray Guy Award. The Melbourne, Australia, native, finished the season with 93 punts for a record 4,479 yards, breaking the NCAA punting yardage record – originally set in 1938, in the Citrus Bowl. Taylor had the best career punting average (46.3), single-season punting average (48.2) and most career games averaging 40 or more yards (43) in NCAA history. Taylor set the school record for punt yardage in three consecutive years (80 punts for 3,688 yards in 2021; 82 punts for 3,725 yards in 2022; 93 punts for 4,479 yards in 2023). He finished his career with 295 punts for 13,657 yards — both Iowa career records. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of NFL Draft over the weekend.

Martin, from Edwardsville, Illinois, is the first Iowa women’s basketball player to have amassed 900+ points, 500+ rebounds, 400+ assists, 120+ steals, and 60+ blocks in a career. She is also the third player in school history behind Clark and Sam Logic to net 1,200+ points, 700+ rebounds, and 450+ assists. During the 2023-24 season, Martin scored 10+ points in 30 games, 15+ points in 17 games, while averaging 13.1 points per contest in her senior campaign. She was selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the second round of the WNBA Draft earlier this month.

The Hawkeye women’s basketball team took home an additional four Golden Herkys. Junior Sydney Affolter (Chicago). was named Women’s Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, junior AJ Ediger (Hudsonville, Michigan) won the individual award for Inclusive Excellence, and the team was named Most Outstanding Team and won the award for Best Moment with their NCAA Tournament Elite 8 win over LSU (94-87). During the 2023-24 season, the Hawkeyes achieved back-to-back Final Four and National Championship appearances. All home games at Carver Hawkeye Arena were sold out, and the National Championship in Cleveland was the most-watched women’s basketball game ever with 18.9 million viewers.

Affolter was named to the Big Ten’s All-Tournament Team and Albany 2 Regional Team. She registered three 10+ point performances at the Big Ten Tournament. With starter Molly Davis sidelined due to injury, Affolter raised her level of play in the postseason, averaging 12.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in nine postseason games (8-1 record). Her 12.7 postseason scoring average was +5.6 points better than her regular season average.

12.3 million viewers (second most in NCAA D1 WBB history behind the 2024 championship game between Iowa and South Carolina) witnessed Iowa’s Elite 8, 94-87, win over LSU. In the 2023 championship rematch, all players contributed to the win. There were 13 triples made, and Clark set the 3-point shooting all-time D1 record (men and women). Clark poured in a game-best 41 points, bolstered by sinking nine 3-pointers (six in the second half), and dished out 12 assists. Martin and Affolter contributed 21 points and 16 points, respectively.

The Hawkeye men’s basketball team took home the Golden Herkys for Men’s Breakthrough Athlete (Payton Sandfort) and Men’s Outstanding Newcomer (Owen Freeman). Sandfort, a junior from Waukee, Iowa, averaged 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds while leading the Big Ten with 94 3-point field goals in his first season as a starter. He finished the season with 11 20-point games and was in double figures 27 times. He had a career best game in the NIT win over Kansas State, scoring a career-high 30 points with seven 3-pointers and grabbed 12 rebounds to notch his fifth double-double. In a February win over Penn State, Payton recorded the first triple-double in program history, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It was the first triple-double in the Big Ten this season and one of two in the league in 2023-24.

Freeman, a freshman from Moline, Illinois, became the second Hawkeye in program history (the first in 30 years) to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Throughout the season, he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week nine times — the most in school history and the second-most in Big Ten Conference history. He averaged 10.6 points and a team-best 6.6 rebounds to go along with 61 blocks and a .614 field goal percentage. His 225 rebounds and 61 blocks are Iowa freshman records, and he is second in double-doubles (5) and field goal percentage (.614). His five double-doubles led all Big Ten rookies and ranked in the top seven nationally.

The Golden Herky for Women’s Outstanding Newcomer was shared by senior Marlynne Deede (women’s wrestling) and freshman Dionne van Aalsum (field hockey). Deede came to Iowa from Augsburg University as a reigning national champion at 155 pounds. She completed her final collegiate season with a record of 14-0, posting five technical falls, five pins, and three decisions. The Springville, Utah, native won individual regional and national titles, helping the Hawkeyes to the national team title. She finished 2023-24 as the top-ranked wrestler at 155 and was a finalist for USA Wrestling’s Collegiate Wrestler of the Year. She finishes her career as a two-time national champion and five-time All-American.

 van Aalsum, from Castricum, Netherlands, led the nation with 28 goals, 62 points, 1.47 goals per game, and 3.26 points per game in 2023. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors four times, Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors four times, and was named NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week once. She became the first Hawkeye to record a hat trick since Maddy Murphy in 2019, and the first Hawkeye with four goals in a game since Kim Scraper in 2016. van Aalsum was the only freshman to be named a first-team All-American in 2023.

The men’s track and field team won the Golden Herky for Most Outstanding Men’s Team for their accomplishments during the 2023 season. The Hawkeyes had a combined 18 All-Americans during the indoor and outdoor seasons. During Big Ten competition, the Hawkeyes had back-to-back third-place team finishes and won four event titles.

The women’s track and field and softball teams shared the Golden Herkys for the Inclusive Excellence Team, which serves to honor and recognize the team that has demonstrated an understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through achievements and contributions to social justice. This individual and team has increased our overall awareness and knowledge and has made notable strides towards inclusive excellence.

A new Golden Herky presented for the 2023-24 year is the Community Impact Award. Throughout the year, student-athletes log community service hours with the goal of earning their “Hawkeye 5” (at least five hours of service per student-athlete) each year. The Hawkeye football team logged a total of 1,184 hours between May 1, 2023, and April 25, 2024). The Iowa field hockey team posted the highest number of average hours per team member and the highest impact score (12+ hours each). Junior field hockey player Jacey Wittel (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) logged the most individual hours with 75.

The Hawkeye men’s golf and women’s tennis teams took home the Golden Herkys for top team grade-point average (GPA) for the 2023 spring and fall. The men’s golf team posted a team GPA of 3.42 in the spring, and a 3.34 in the fall. The women’s tennis team posted a team GPA of 3.77 in the spring and 3.83 in the fall.

The annual Staff-lete Golden Herky was awarded to strength and conditioning coach Andre McIntyre. He was nominated by the soccer, women’s golf, and men’s and women’s cross country teams. The award is annually presented to the UI Athletics staff member who displays excellence by making the greatest impact on student-athletes and the department.

Atlantic Boys Tennis comes up short at Hawkeye 10 Conference Tournament

Sports

April 29th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

On Monday afternoon Atlantic High school hosted the Hawkeye Ten Conference Tournament where the Shenandoah Mustangs took first place and the hometown Trojans earned fourth on the day. Atlantic’s Nolan Waters had the highest finish in singles at fourth finished in number two singles and Kinnick Juhl ended in sixth place at number one singles. With the doubles side at number one Atlantic’s Conner Johnson and Reid Woodward carved a sixth place finish. At number two doubles the pair of Nick Bennett and Gradyn O’Hara put up a scrappy performance to finish in fourth.

Looking back on the day, Atlantic Head Coach Mike McDermott was impressed by the grit the doubles teams displayed on the day.

Still, Coach McDermott wants to see the Trojans play and swing with more intensity out on the courts.

Team Results: 

1. Shenandoah 27

2. Kuemper Catholic 26

3. Glenwood 24

4. Atlantic 16

5. Red Oak 13

6. St. Albert 13

7. Lewis Central 11

8. Creston 6

9. Clarinda 5

10. Denison-Schleswig 3

11. Harlan 0

Atlantic’s next match will be at Denison-Schleswig where they will take on the Monarchs Tuesday May 7th.

Second suspect arrested in connection with Traer resident shooting death

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

TRAER, Iowa – On April 29, 2024, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Major Crime Unit and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office arrested Huston Danker, 27, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Danker was arrested for his role in the shooting death of Ryan Cooper on June 18, 2021. Danker was transported to the Tama County Sheriff’s Office and was charged with Murder in the First Degree, a Class A Felony. Danker is being held at the Tama County Jail, bond to be determined.

Huston Danker

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this investigation can contact the Tama County Sheriff’s Office at 641.484.4111, the DCI at 515.725.6010, or by email at dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.

No further information will be released at this time.

Gov. Reynolds Issues Disaster Proclamation for Eight Additional Counties Impacted by Recent Severe Weather

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Today (Monday), Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for eight additional counties in response to severe weather that occurred on April 26. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and Disaster Case Advocacy Program for the following counties: Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Ringgold, Shelby, and Union. A disaster proclamation was previously issued for Pottawattamie County on April 26.  

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website at homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/assistance. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.   

The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case advocates work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referrals to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Advocacy Program, contact your local community action agency or visit iowacommunityaction.org.    

The proclamation also temporarily suspends regulatory provisions of the Iowa Code that pertain to procurement of goods and services, hours of service for disaster repair crews, and various requirements for the transportation of loads related to disaster repairs.  

You can find a copy of the proclamation here 

Atlantic Community School District: Notice of Public Meeting

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Atlantic School District Director of Finance Lisa Jones reports the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Community School District will meet at 2:45-p.m. Tuesday, April 30th, for the purpose of exchanging Collective Bargaining proposals with the Atlantic Education Association, representing the District’s Certified Staff. The meeting takes place in the Atlantic School District Central Office Conference Room located at 1406 SW 7th Street, Atlantic, IA.

The tentative agenda is as follows:
BOARD MEETING AGENDA April 30, 2024
Central Office Conference Room 2:45 pm

Collective Bargaining Proposals will begin at 2:45 pm as described below. The session is open to the public as required in Chapter 20 of the Iowa Code.

  • Certified Staff Collective Bargaining Unit Proposal:
    The Atlantic Education Association will present its initial contract proposal for the 2024-2025 school year between the Education Association and the District’s Negotiation Committee consisting of the Superintendent, Director of Finance and two Board Directors.
  • At 3:00 pm following Certified Staff Collective Bargaining Unit Proposal:
    The Atlantic District’s Negotiation Committee will present its initial contract proposal for the 2024-25 school year between the Education Association and the Board of Education.

Brecht Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week

Sports

April 29th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Junior RHP Brody Brecht has been named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week, it was announced Monday. The honor is the fourth Big Ten weekly honor of his career and third for the Hawkeyes this season.
The Ankeny, Iowa, native threw seven innings against Nebraska and allowed just two hits and three walks. He struck out 11 and allowed just one earned run as the Hawkeyes won, 4-1.
Brecht has a 3.76 ERA and a 2-2 record. He has recorded 95 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. He leads the Big Ten in strikeouts and ranks seventh in the nation, and he is first in the Big Ten and third in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (15.55).
The Hawkeyes return home on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. (CT) against Illinois State.

DOUGLAS MANLEY, 53, of Missouri Valley (pending)

Obituaries

April 29th, 2024 by Jim Field

DOUGLAS MANLEY, 53, of Missouri Valley died April 21, 2024 at his home.  Services for DOUGLAS MANLEY are currently pending with Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.

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DOUGLAS MANLEY is survived by:

Parents:  Fred & Judith Manley, of Omaha.

Wife:  Kaylee Manley, of Oakland.

Daughters:  Kristin Manley of Kansas City, MO., and Rose Manley of Aberdeen, SD.

Son:  Wyatt Manley of Aberdeen, SD.

Step-Sons:  Derek (Kristin) Becker, and Drew (Caitlyn) Becker, all of Avoca

Sisters:  Cindy (Jeff) Sharpe, of Waterloo, NE; & Vicki (Rodney) Workman, of Omaha.

2 Step-Grandchildren

Iowan receives recognition for work with nuclear weapons

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowan is now the holder of the “Order of the Gray Dragon” recognizing the person with the earliest entry date into the U-S Nuclear Weapons Program. Navy veteran Robert Mowry was given the award by the Navy Nuclear Weapons Association after the previous Dragon died. He told K-C-R-G T-V he didn’t know what he was getting into.

“I went into Special Weapons Unit 1233 in January 1953 from boot camp. Had no idea what a special weapons was. Gun that shoots around the corner? What? Had no idea,” he says. Mowry’s job was to inspect the atomic bombs, and he did it for five days a week for two-and-a-half years. He was never able to tell anyone about his service until 1996 with the repeal of the Nuclear Radiation and Secrecy Agreements Act. The president of the Navy Nuclear Weapons Association, Kris Hobbs, tells K-C-R-G T-V that those who worked on nuclear weapons are a dying breed.

“There’s a lot of stuff that’s going on here that they’ve received… radiation exposure and so forth—that the V-A is not recognizing it a lot. So it’s good for us to recognize the oldest one here,” Hobbs says. Mowry watched 17 atomic bombs explode in the Marshall Islands.  “You heard the sound wave come across….watch the mushroom cloud rise and disperse and see if it was going to flow over you,” Mowry says.

Robert Mowry. (KCRG TV)

Mowry is still here, grateful that so many friends and family came to celebrate his service.  “What I did was very unusual. There aren’t many people that did what I did…I’m very proud, very proud of my service,” Mowry says.

Mowry was presented the award this past weekend in Williamsburg,

Pottawattamie County spokesman: monetary donations best way to help Minden recover

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – (as previously reported) Four people were injured and one of them died after an EF-2 tornado tore through a good portion of Pottawattamie County. County Public Relations Manager Craig Carlsen says the town of Minden was the hardest hit.

“The conditions inside Minden are still very unsafe. We’ve got homes that are in the middle of roads, we’ve got, you know, a lot of debris to clean up and so we’re currently limiting access to Minden to residents only for the safety concerns, Carlsen says. Carlsen says they are working toward improving access. “We hope to open it up to more outside volunteers you know as things are cleaned up to a little bit more appropriate you know level,” he says.

Pottawattamie County tornado Friday. (photo courtesy of Terry Torneten)

Carlsen says the early warnings issued by the National Weather Service and the media–including a tornado emergency declared for Minden–prevented more storm casualties. “We really are blessed that it wasn’t worse to be honest with you as far as you know physical injury. To have just four storm related injuries given the amount of physical damage that came through our area and all of southwest Iowa really it’s pretty amazing,” Carlsen says. A curfew remains in effect in Minden from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. until further notice.

Carlsen says one of the biggest challenges facing response and recovery efforts is the influx of resources that haven’t been requested. “There’s no communicated need for food water or emergency housing we’re very grateful for that,” he says. “But as that is the case officials are currently you know asking that any donation currently is in monetary form to help those impacted.” Five communities were hit by the tornado, including western portions of Council Bluffs, northeast of Crescent, east of McClelland, southwest of Treynor and Minden. Approximately 300 homes or businesses in the county were damaged or destroyed, including 48 alone in Minden.

Donations can be made to the Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund at givewesterniowa.org.