(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man from Cass County (IA) was arrested Saturday, on an Assault charge. 39-year-old Michael Scott Stafford, of Griswold, was arrested just before 7-p.m., at 3rd and Elm Streets, in Red Oak. Stafford was charged with Domestic Assault/2nd Offense-causing bodily injury – an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Stafford was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.
Today: Sunny, with a high near 67. E/SE winds 5-10.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Partly sunny & windy, w/a 40% chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High near 73. S/SE winds 15-30 mph.
Monday Night: A 90% chance of showers & thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 52. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tuesday: Thunderstorms ending in the morning; Becoming mostly sunny & breezy. High near 73. W/SW winds 10-25 mph.
Wednesday: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, otherwise mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Saturday’s High temperature in Atlantic was 62. The Low was 37. Last year on this date, the High was 62 and the Low was 56. The Record High set on May 5th in Atlantic was 96 in 1909. The Record Low was 28 in 2021. Sunrise: 6:12. Sunset: 8:22.
(Des Moines, Iowa) – A letter to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from more the five-dozen Iowans from 18 counties, are asking state agencies for a formal investigation of an “unprecedented” fertilizer spill that in March killed 750,000 fish in a Southwest Iowa river. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reports 63 people signed onto the letter asking for the DNR to pursue “penalties and civil actions,” including referring enforcement to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, which can pursue bigger fines. Signers of the letter include people from Cass, Clayton, Crawford, Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Johnson, Linn, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscatine, Page, Polk, Pottawattamie, Story, Warren, Wayne and Winneshiek counties.
(View a copy of the letter HERE)
Around March 9, someone at the NEW Cooperative in Red Oak left open a hose valve that leaked about 265,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer into a drainage ditch that went to the East Nishnabotna River. An employee noticed the spill March 11 and alerted the Iowa DNR.
The Gazette reports Neil Hamilton, a Drake University emeritus professor of agricultural law, wrote in the letter dated Spril 29th, “The extent of this pollution event is unprecedented and requires the attention of all Iowans. The devastation of life in over 50 miles of the river, including the death of 750,000 fish as reported by your dedicated staff, is difficult to even comprehend.”
New Cooperative spill (File photo from the Iowa DNR)
In addition to seeking higher penalties for offenders, the letter asks the Iowa DNR to work with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to review rules about agricultural chemical storage to see if they are adequate to protect waterways.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa – Assessments on damage across Pottawattamie County continue, following the severe weather events of April 26th. Assessments are a continual process but are beginning to validate the full scope of the tornado damage.
Current estimates (as of May 4th, 2024) include some level of damage experienced by owners of 302 homes and businesses in the county. Early projections estimate the destruction as totaling approximately $20,916,438 worth of damage, with an estimated $12,213,237 worth of property damage in Minden, including some estimates to county or municipal infrastructure.
Property damage by the numbers, excluding public infrastructure (As of 5/4/24):
Pottawattamie County, Iowa – Assessments on damage across Pottawattamie County continue, following the severe weather events of April 26th. Assessments are a continual process but are beginning to validate the full scope of the tornado damage.
Current estimates include some level of damage experienced by owners of 302 homes and businesses in the county. Early projections estimate the destruction as totaling approximately $20,916,438 worth of damage, with an estimated $12,213,237 worth of property damage in Minden, including some estimates to county or municipal infrastructure.
Property damage by the numbers, excluding public infrastructure (As of 5/4/24):
Multi-Agency Resource Center Brings Service Providers Together for Disaster Survivors
Over twenty human service agencies came together in Minden on Saturday, May 4th, for the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC). The MARC operates as a one-stop shop assistance center for disaster information and service delivery. Assistance is available for a variety of needs including health and mental services, temporary housing, legal services, and more.
The MARC is open to all Pottawattamie County residents impacted by the tornado outbreak, and will operate again on Sunday, May 5th.
Efforts to establish future MARCs are being coordinated, with possible locations in Crecent, Treynor, and Council Bluffs.
Infrastructure Stabilization Continues in Minden
Power has been restored to all homes and businesses capable of receiving in Minden. The State of Iowa partnered with the City of Minden to obtain contract services for a temporary water treatment plant and a debris removal contract that will expedite recovery.
Installation of the temporary water treatment plant began Friday, May 3rd. Officials are hopeful the plant is fully operational in the coming days. State contracted work for debris removal in Minden will begin Monday, May 6th.
Other Resources Available to County Residents
Free tree debris drop-off site. Only vegetative debris will be accepted. Loads including scrap metal, lumber, and other material will be denied.
Currently, all communities in the county have received sufficient donations of household items. Disaster survivors can access these resources from multiple locations.
How Can I Help?
Officials continue to express gratitude for the incredible support received since the disaster. Volunteer groups have offered an incredible resource over the last week. To place volunteers where they’re most needed, officials are asking individuals interested in assisting to use the volunteer portal at sharegoodiowa.org. Agency partners will connect with volunteers and orchestrate efforts.
Needs for individuals and families vary greatly as they navigate the process to recovery. Monetary donations allow flexibility in meeting these needs. The Community Foundation for Western Iowa has established a Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund to support areas impacted throughout the region. A separate fund has been established for the community of Minden. Avenues to give to these funds are available at GiveWesternIowa.org.
Report Damage
With the governor’s request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration, Pottawattamie County officials are emphasizing the importance of residential and business property owners submitting their damages to the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management website. The reports provide vital information that support the request for federal assistance to homeowners and business owners. The damage reporting portal can be accessed at pcema-ia.org. survivors can access these resources from multiple locations.
DONALD WINTER, 93, of Fontanelle, died Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Perry Lutheran Home in Perry, Iowa. Funeral services for DONALD WINTER are pending at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle.
Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.
(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a collision between a motorcycle and an SUV Friday evening. Authorities say a 2006 Jeep Liberty SUV driven by 66-year-old Debra Jean Hunderaker, of Creston, had pulled into a parking lot off of Sumner Street, then began to exit. Hunderaker said the sun was in her eyes, and she didn’t see a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 67-year-old Rickie Allen Klos, of Afton.
The SUV then turned back into the driveway, and as it was pulling in, was struck on the driver’s side door, by the motorcycle. The accident happened at around 6:50-p.m., Friday.
Klos told Creston Police he saw the SUV pull out, then thought it was stopping on the side of the road. When he attempted to pass the SUV, the vehicle turned in front of him towards the driveway.
Damage to the SUV was estimated at $1,000. The motorcycle sustained $5,000 damage. No citations were issued.
Girls
Westwood Invite
1.Woodbine, (100.33)
3. Boyer Valley, (78)
9. Missouri Valley, (22)
10.West Harrison, (8.33)
Ogden Relays
6.Coon Rapids-Bayard (25)
7.Glidden-Ralston (14)
9.Paton-Churdan (6)
Boys
Westwood Invite
3.Woodbine (84)
6.Missouri Valley (49)
Ogden CO-ED
2.Coon Rapids-Bayard (74)
8.Glidden-Ralston (30)
10.Paton-Churdan (8)
AHSTW 192, Tri-Center 230
Medalist: Drew Lee, AHSTW (45)
Runner up: Nate Jorgensen, AHSTW (49)
Treynor 159, Missouri Valley 166
Medalist: Ethan Konz, Treynor (34)
Mount Ayr 158, Melcher-Dallas, 227, Hamburg, NTS
Charger Invite
4th. East Union (359)
6th. Lenox (409)
One person died and another was injured during a crash that occurred late Friday night, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 34 between mile markers 1 and 2, at the same time a 2019 KIA SUV was traveling eastbound. The motorcycle and SUV collided head-on at around 11:10-p.m., resulting in the death of the motorcycle operator, 39-year-old Jacob Otto Saxer, of Bellevue, NE.
The driver of the SUV was identified as 25-year-old Leeva Unique Kitchens, of Sidney (IA). Kitchen was transported by Glenwood Rescue to the Bellevue Hospital.
The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office and Nebraska State Patrol.
Girls
Hawkeye Ten Conference Tournament (@ Denison)
Final Standings
1.Kuemper Catholic, 25
2.Clarinda, 25
3. Red Oak, 20
4.Shenandoah, 16
5. Denison-Schleswig, 15
6. St. Albert, 14
7.Lewis Central, 13
8.Creston, 8
9. Harlan Community, 5
10.Glenwood, 3
11.Atlantic, 0
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 9, Abraham Lincoln 0
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 8, Thomas Jefferson 1
Boys
Harlan Community 9, Clarinda 0
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