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Get ‘tornado smart’ and be prepared during Severe Weather Awareness Week

News, Weather

March 22nd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – In the past few weeks, Iowa’s seen a long run of subzero temperatures and snowfall as well as the first Tornado Watch of the year. Today, the first Monday of spring, marks the start of Severe Weather Awareness Week. Meteorologist Chad Hahn, at the National Weather Service in Johnston, says some Iowans could use a refresher course on the dangers that likely lay ahead. Each day will have a different theme. “We talk about the severe thunderstorm criteria, what we use for a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, what we base that on, and that’s either one-inch or larger in diameter hail or 58 mile per hour winds, or greater,” Hahn says.

FILE PHOTO – Hope Gettler submitted this photo to the KJAN Facebook page. She said “We watched the rotation that formed a rope like tornado. It bounced up and down for 10 minutes while it was moving northwest towards Guthrie. This was taken 5 miles north of Adair at 320th St and Elm St.”

Tomorrow’s (Tuesday) focus will be on how Iowans get their weather information and the importance of having multiple sources, like weather radios and apps on your phone, in case severe storms knock out your usual source.  “On Wednesday, we start to talk about tornadoes and the threat that those pose,” Hahn says, “and the plans that folks should have in their place of business or their home of where they’re going to shelter and have that thought through and that muscle memory in place.”

The annual statewide tornado drill is also planned for Wednesday, but with a small change this year. “We will not be issuing an official National Weather Service tornado warning product,” Hahn says. “Despite that, we still want folks to practice their procedures when it comes to where they’ll go in the event of a tornado. We want folks to drill. That is still an incredibly important part of the Wednesday of Severe Weather Awareness Week.”

Learn more about the week at weather.gov/dmx. There were 28 tornadoes in Iowa last year, and 54 twisters in 2019. Severe weather spotter classes are being offered this Wednesday, as well as March 31st, April 6th and April 19th.

Red Oak woman arrested for Probation Violation

News

March 22nd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Sunday night, arrested a woman on a Felony Probation Violation warrant. 30-year old Kirstin Lynn Wilwerding, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 8:53-p.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where her bond was set at $10,000.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: 3/21/21

Weather

March 22nd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Today: Cloudy w/rain. High around 56. NE wind @ 10 mph.
Tonight: Rain. Low 42. E @ 10-15.
Tomorrow: Showers & thundershowers. High near 60. W/SE @ 5-10.
Wednesday: Mo. Cldy w/light rain in the morning. High near 50.
Thursday: Mo. Cldy w/light rain. High again near 50.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 68. Our Low this morning, 43. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 39 and Low 34. The Record High on this date was 86 in 1910. The Record Low was -6, in 1912.

New grants considered for meat lockers, more training for butchers

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 22nd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that has cleared initial review in the Iowa House has the goals of expanding custom meat processing in Iowa AND training more people how to properly butcher beef, pork and other meats. Republican Representative Chad Ingels, a farmer from Randalia, says he got the idea last spring when local meat lockers were jammed. “Now we’re extended out into 2022, 2023 as far as getting livestock processing at small lockers out across the state,” Ingels says. “A lot of interest from farmers wanting to get livestock into lockers or consumers or people who wanted to buy local meat kept getting put off.”

Ingels says the problem is two-fold. There aren’t enough local custom meat lockers and there aren’t enough butchers with the chops to break down carcasses to meet consumer demand. “The skills to work in a small locker are different, I think, than working in a meat processing plant on a line where you’re making the same cut on every carcas,” Ingels says. The bill Ingels is working on calls for a task force to study whether it makes sense to expand Iowa State University’s already existing meat science program or set up an “artisanal butchery” program at a community college. Ingels and other legislators are hoping to extend state grants to new or expanding custom meat lockers.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture distributed four MILLION dollars in federal pandemic relief grants to Iowa meat lockers last year. “But through that process they found there was at least an additional at least $3 million in need,” Ingels says, “and so we’re trying to find a way to fill some of that need and I’m sure there’s probably even more out there.” Nebraska lawmakers are considering grants for meat lockers with 25 or fewer employees. Wyoming has a law that lets ranchers butcher their own animals and deliver the meat directly to consumers who’ve purchased shares in their livestock.

Midwest Sports Headlines: 3/22/21

Sports

March 22nd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — Several freshmen showed no jitters on the opening day of the women’s NCAA Tournament. In fact, they embraced the bright lights of the Big Dance. It came as no surprise that Iowa’s Caitlin Clark began a run of impressive performances in the first game of the tournament. She was the nation’s leading scorer during the regular season. There were others. Anaya Boyd averaged only eight minutes a game for Georgia Tech. She made major contributions down the stretch to help the Yellow Jackets avoid being upset in the first round.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Freshman Caitlin Clark, the nation’s leading scorer, had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Monika Czinano also scored 23 points, and No. 5 seed Iowa beat 12th-seeded Central Michigan 87-72 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Clark was held to two points in the third quarter but teammate McKenna Warnock, who was scoreless in the first half, scored 11 straight Iowa points — capped by a 3-pointer to give the Hawkeyes a 63-52 lead. Clark scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to start Iowa’s 8-3 run to build an 18-point lead. Micaela Kelly finished with 23 points in 27 minutes for Central Michigan.

UNDATED (AP) — The Oregon Ducks moved on to the next round in a way they didn’t wish for, want or expect when positive COVID-19 tests bounced VCU from the NCAA Tournament before the teams’ first-round game in the West Region. Now it’s on to face No. 2 seed Iowa. By the time No. 7 seed Oregon takes the floor for the second round, it will have been 10 days since the Ducks played a game. The Ducks straddle a fine line between rested and rusty. The Hawkeyes are now tournament-tested after an 86-74 win over Grand Canyon. Elsewhere in the West, top-seeded Gonzaga takes on Oklahoma.

UNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have given six-time All-Star catcher Salvador Pérez the richest contract in club history, an $82 million, four-year deal that begins in 2022. The contract includes a club option worth an additional $13.5 million and has a $2 million buyout for 2026. The deal surpasses the four-year, $72 million contract the Royals gave to outfielder Alex Gordon in 2016. That deal wound up being a disappointment and Gordon retired after last season. Pérez is coming off a season in which he won his third Silver Slugger. He is also a five-time Gold Glove winner.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Zion Webb threw for a touchdown and ran for another and Jacksonville State handled Southeast Missouri State 21-3. Webb’s 9-yard run finished a nine-play, 75-yard drive to start the game for a 7-0 Gamecocks lead. Webb wrapped it up with a 54-yard scoring pass to Josh Samuel as part of a six-play, 78-yard drive with 1:44 left in the third for the game’s final score. Andrew Bunch threw for 120 yards for the Redhawks. Kenny Doak’s 33-yard field reduced Southeast Missouri State’s deficit to 7-3 with 2:44 left in the first.

Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, March 22, 2021

News

March 22nd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa — Four people were injured when a car crashed during a chase Sunday night, in the Drake neighborhood, of Des Moines. An Iowa State Patrol Trooper initiated a short pursuit of a 2015 Dodge Charger in the Drake neighborhood at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.  The car was traveling eastbound in the 2100 block of Drake Park Avenue, when it went out of control and struck a power pole, a fire hydrant and a tree. The driver, 20-year old Yackhub M. Ali, and his passengers, 20-year old Osman A. Ahmed, 19-year old Ayub Mohammed Ali, and 19-year old Yahye Abdi Shakur Muhammed, all of Des Moines, were injured. Osman Ahmed left the scene. Two of the injured were transported to Iowa Methodist Hospital. Yackhub Ali was transported to Mercy One hospital, in Des Moines.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A man is hospitalized after a shooting in downtown Davenport. The Quad City Times reports that the shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of Main Street. Officers followed a trail of blood and found the victim in an area near a church. His condition report was not immediately available. The victim’s name was not released. Police impounded a car with a bullet hole through the trunk, and a 9mm handgun.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Health Department on Sunday reported two additional deaths from COVID-19, and 317 additional confirmed cases. WHO-TV reports that the latest deaths bring the total since the onset of the pandemic to 5,674. Of those, 2,225 were residents of long-term care facilities. The state has reported a total of 345,676 positive cases. The state health department says 174 people are hospitalized with the virus, an increase of two from Saturday. Of those, 41 are in intensive care and 16 are on ventilators.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A man wanted for killing a woman in Ames last month is now in custody after allegedly attacking a woman in Des Moines. Police in Des Moines arrested 33-year-old Richard Fleck early Sunday. The victim is hospitalized with serious facial injuries but is expected to survive. After Fleck’s capture, Des Moines police learned he had been sought for several weeks following the death of Ranea Bell in Ames. Fleck is charged with first-degree murder in that case. Fleck was booked into the Story County jail. Des Moines police say they will seek charges of attempted murder and willful injury causing serious injury for the attack in Des Moines.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says there was enough evidence for a jury to conclude that a man shot and killed his mother in 2015, rejecting his appeal and leaving in place the jury’s $10 million verdict even though the man was later acquitted of criminal charges.. The court on Friday denied Jason Carter’s appeal of the civil case in which a jury found him responsible for the June 2015 shooting of his mother Shirley Carter at his parents’ farm home near Knoxville. Jason Carter, of Knoxville, and his father Bill Carter have been locked in legal disputes since Shirley Carter’s death. Carter later was charged with first-degree murder but a jury found him not guilty.

Man injured in shooting in downtown Davenport

News

March 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A man is hospitalized after a shooting in downtown Davenport. The Quad City Times reports that the shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of Main Street. Officers followed a trail of blood and found the victim in an area near a church. His condition report was not immediately available. The victim’s name was not released. Police impounded a car with a bullet hole through the trunk, and a 9mm handgun.

 

Red Oak man arrested Sunday afternoon

News

March 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Sunday, arrested 28-year-old Justin Lewis Marsden, of Red Oak. He was taken into custody at around 2:24-p.m., on a warrant for Trespassing. Marsden was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Atlantic SB to act on Head FB Coach recommendation

News

March 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic School Board is set to meet 6-p.m. Wednesday, March 24th, in the Middle School Media Center. During the meeting, which will be streamed live on YouTube, the Board will act on a recommendation to hire Joe Brummer as Head Varsity Football Coach. Brummer was an assistant coach under Mike McDermott, who resigned in January.  Brummer also serves as the Head Varsity Boy’s Baseball Coach.

In other action, the Board will act on approving:

  • the purchase of 1:1 Chromebooks and IPads at a combined cost of $488,950. They would be paid for through the ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) and SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) funds.
  • the 2021-22 Medical Insurance Premium (an estimated $45,000).
  • 2021-22 Non-Union, Principal & School Business Official Contracts (at an estimated total cost of $39,381.75); The non-union contracts (Central Office, Technology, Social Workers & Directors) calls for a 3% increase in wages, which officials say is comparable to the increases provided to both unions.
  • Leave benefits for Non-Union, Hourly 12-month employees.
  • and any resignations to come before them.

The Atlantic School Board is also expected to receive presentations on the IJAG and Construction Trades programs, the latter of which has received a check in the amount of $30,000 from the Atlantic Trades Education Foundation (ATEF), in support of the district’s “Efforts to provide comprehensive hands on education opportunities” for Atlantic School District students.

There are two Industrial Certified Instructors for the programs, and an educational brochure the Trades Foundation developed with the help of the instructors and Brigham Hoegh. The $30,000 investment (the first presented from ATEF) was made possible by significant contributions from Duane and Shirley Acker, Keith Harlan and A.M. Cohron, Bob & Judy Camblin, and Camblin Mechanical, Inc.

A publishing error had a Public Hearing set to take place on the FY2021-22 Certified ACSD Budget, but that was rescheduled for March 31st at 5-p.m., in the High School Media Center.

Clark shines in her NCAA Tournament debut, Iowa eases by CMU

Sports

March 21st, 2021 by Ric Hanson

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Freshman Caitlin Clark, the nation’s leading scorer, had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Monika Czinano also scored 23 points, and No. 5 seed Iowa beat 12th-seeded Central Michigan 87-72 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, right, shoots over Central Michigan guard Molly Davis (14) during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the women’s NCAA tournament at the Alamodome, Sunday, March 21, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Clark was held to two points in the third quarter but teammate McKenna Warnock, who was scoreless in the first half, scored 11 straight Iowa points — capped by a 3-pointer to give the Hawkeyes a 63-52 lead. Clark scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to start Iowa’s 8-3 run to build an 18-point lead. Micaela Kelly finished with 23 points in 27 minutes for Central Michigan.