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Severe storms with hail pound southwest Iowa

News, Weather

June 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Several areas of Cass County received hail Friday night into early Saturday morning. The hail ranged in size from dimes to larger than golf balls. In Atlantic, hail fell at the KJAN Studios at around 11:30-p.m. Power was lost in the Massena area and south for a brief time. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said Deputies noticed utility crews out and about during and after the storm.

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency posted pictures of the hail on their Facebook page. The National Weather Service in Des Moines began posting Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for parts of Union and Madison Counties at around 10-p.m.

Crop damage in Montgomery County (Via the Montgomery EMA’s Facebook page)

The storm cells began to back fill and pop-up to the west, into Cass, Adams, Mills, Montgomery and Pottawattamie Counties, and then pushed eastward at speeds of 30-to 40-mph.

Montgomery County EMA photo

The National Weather Service in Des Moines and Valley Nebraska, shared social media images of three-inch diameter hail that fell in Lorimor in Union County at around 10:40-p.m., Friday. Irregular hail up to four-inches in diameter fell in and around Bridgewater. Golf-ball size hail was reported near Orient in Adair County, at around 10:05-p.m.

NWS social media shared post of hail near Lorimor

Other reports include:

  • At around 11:35-p.m., hail as large as tennis balls (2.5″ diameter) fell near Carson, in Pottawattamie County.
  • Ping-pong to golf ball sized hail was reported 4 miles west of Grant, in Montgomery County, with some hail stones larger than golf balls.
  • 1 3/4″ hail fell in Oakland.
  • Thunderstorm wind damage in Templeton (Carroll County), where  a large tree fell on a house and garage, several power lines fell, and a flag pole was knocked over. Some of the fallen trees had limbs ranging from two-to-six inches in diameter.
  • Near Manilla, a tree fell and blocked Highway 141 for a time, east of Highway 59.

    Hail that fell near Oakland and Carson (NWS/Omaha photo)

  • In Sac County, numerous 3-to-6 inch diameter trees fell down across Schaller, and a 12-inch diameter tree was snapped off and just missed a home. Dime to quarter-size hail was also reported.
  • 60 mph winds were recorded at a personal weather station six-miles southwest of Gray, in Audubon County.
  • 62 mph winds were noted by a person with a personal weather station2-miles south of Willey, in Carroll County.

HAROLD GUSTAV SCHULTE, 89, of Westphalia (Svcs. 6/22/21)

Obituaries

June 18th, 2021 by admin

HAROLD GUSTAV SCHULTE, 89, of Westphalia, died Thursday, June 17 at home. Mass of Christian Burial for HAROLD GUSTAV SCHULTE will be held Tuesday, June 22 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia. Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is handling the arrangements.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 21 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia.

Burial in the St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia.

HAROLD GUSTAV SCHULTE is survived by:

His Wife — Pearl Schulte, of Westphalia.

His Sister — Mary Ellen Keating, of Charter Oak.

His Sons — Mike (Laura) Schulte, of Charlotte, NC. Dan (Susie) Schulte, of Portsmouth. Gary (JoAnn) Schulte, of Westphalia. Curt (Pam) Schulte, of Glenwood.

His Daughters — Connie (John) Chamberlain of Elkhorn, NE. Lori (Ernie) Buttry of Omaha, NE. Julie (Randy) Bruck, of Portsmouth. Jill (Jeff) Govier, of Elkhorn, NE.

23 Grandchildren and 17 Great-Grandchildren.

Atlantic Police report, 6/18/21

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Police, Friday afternoon, released a report detailing numerous arrests that have taken place since May 31st. In order from newest to oldest arrest dates:

  • 06/17/2021 – 21-year old Kyle Confere, of Atlantic, was arrested for Extortion and Violation of a No Contact Order.
  • 06/13/2021 – 23-year-old Levi Reining, of Remsen, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts.
  • 06/10/21 – 21-year-old Gaven Fell-Nichols, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Reckless Driving.; And, 27-year-old Benser Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
  • 06/07/21 – 52-year-old Edward Davenport, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Theft 1st.
  • 06/02/21 – 26-year-old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.
  • May 31st – 35-year-old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.

All seven subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail. As of Friday afternoon, Confere remained in the jail, while the rest were released after appearing before a magistrate.

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 6/18/21: Multiple Injury accident; 3 arrests

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests and a multiple injury accident. Authorities say the accident happened at around 2:30-p.m. Tuesday, June 15th. An investigation determined a 2020 Chevrolet driven by 53-year-old Amy Miller, of Shenandoah, was traveling east on Highway 34, when a 2007 GMC driven by 81-year-old Eduardo Mujica, of Omaha, pulled away from a stop sign on Levi Road. Authorities say he saw the approaching Chevy, but misjudged the distance.

The Chevy struck the driver’s side of the GMC, causing both driver’s side doors to be pushed into the cabin area. Following the collision, the Chevy came to rest in the median. The GMC continued across the east and westbound lanes before coming to rest in the north ditch of the westbound lanes. Mujica and a juvenile in the GMC were transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital. Two passengers in the Chevy, 79-year-old Kenneth and 80-year-old Lois Debaere, of Shenandoah, were also transported to Mercy by Glenwood Rescue.

Separately, those arrested over the past few days, include:

  • On Thursday, June 17th, Samson Aregawi Alem – of Issaquah, WA – was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 at around 4:50-a.m., for Carrying a Weapon and Theft in the 4th Degree – Bond: $3,000.
  • On Friday, June 18th, at around 12:13-a.m., two people were arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 in Mills County: 37-year-old Gwen Marie Vanderhoof, of Clarinda, and 32-year-old Stuart Duane Haley, of Villisca, were both arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance. Their bonds were set at $1,000 each.

Lane closures on Iowa 44 between Iowa 4 and Iowa 25 in Guthrie County begin June 23

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa – June 18, 2021 – A bridge deck overlay project on Iowa 44 between Iowa 4 in Panora and Iowa 25 in Guthrie Center will require lane closures beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, until Thursday, Sept. 30, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

Crews working on a bridge deck overlay project.

During this project, traffic will be controlled with temporary traffic lights. A 15-foot height limit and 15-foot width limit will also be in place.

2 men arrested in Page County, Thursday

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Two men were arrested Thursday on separate charges, in Page County. The Sheriff’s Office reports Matthew Sherman Olson was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the Fifth Degree. The charge stems from an incident that happened in the Page County Jail. And, Page County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Damion James Sadler on an active Page County Warrant. Sadler was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. His cash/surety bond was set at $5,000.

Sadler

Olson

Guthrie County Extension & SBDC partner to distribute “Photo-in-a-box” kits

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

ISU Extension and Outreach in Guthrie County is partnering with the Small Business Development Center to distribute nine “photo-in-a-box” kits within the county. The kits is a portable photo studio with a digital marketing guide, to assist small business owners with marketing their products. Business owners can check these boxes out, pop them up in their store, put products in the box, and snap a few pictures. This will create a clean look for the products.

Businesses can check these out at the following locations:

  • Bagley – Bagley Public Library, 641.427.5214
  • Bayard – Bayard Public Library, 712.651.2238
  • Casey – Casey City Hall, 641.746.3315
  • Guthrie Center – Main Street Guthrie Center, 641.332.2674
  • Jamaica/Yale – Jamaica Public Library, 641.429.3362
  • Menlo – Menlo Public Library, 641.524.2401
  • Panora – Panora Public Library, 641.757.2529
  • Stuart – Stuart Public Library, 515.523.2152
  • Guthrie County – Guthrie County Extension, 641.747.2276

Iowa Retail Initiative and Shop Iowa are two websites for business owners to use. Many businesses have been hit hard with the pandemic shutdown; this is a free and easy way to expand their marketing outreach. For questions or more details please contact the Guthrie County Extension office at 641.747.2276.

Supreme Court throws out potential for water quality lawsuit

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has thrown out a district court ruling that allowed environmental groups to sue the state over water quality. The Supreme Court ruling says it is speculative that a favorable court decision would lead to a more aesthetically pleasing Raccoon River, better swimming, kayaking, and lower water rates in the Des Moines metropolitan area. The ruling says the groups are simply seeking broad, abstract declarations that do not provide any assurance of concrete results.

The 4-3 decision says the remedy sought by the groups is quite general and the environmental groups admit it can only be done through legislation. The ruling says that opens the question of what would the legislation look like as “there is no free lunch” — because reducing the amount of fertilizer farmers use would not reach the goal set for nitrates and could cause economic harm to farmers.

$200,000 annual sales tax break for Iowa food banks

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The tax bill Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law this week includes a sales tax break for the state’s Food Banks. The state sales tax isn’t charged on food, but Iowa food banks pay an estimated 200-thousand dollars every year in sales taxes on other supplies and equipment. Linda Gorkow, executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association, says that savings will translate into an additional one million meals. “It provides us an opportunity for us to save funds that have been donated graciously by donors, community members,” she says, “and really put those funds towards feeding hungry people across the state of Iowa.”

Advocates have been lobbying legislators for this move for about a decade. Gorkow says food bank warehouses spend a lot of money on things like fork lifts, trucks, cleaning supplies and refrigeration units — all of which were subject to the state sales tax until this change. While food banks used to focus primarily on shelf-stable food that did not require refrigeration, Gorkow says freezers and coolers are essential to operations now. “Food banks have gone to really serving our Iowans with healthy food — produce, other perishable items,” Gorkow says. “Our freezers and coolers are very important. We freeze our meat and proteins as soon as we receive them.”

The Iowa Food Bank Association represents the six food banks that serve all 99 Iowa counties. Officials say for a variety of reasons, an estimated 400-thousand Iowans are struggling to afford a reliable supply of food and they rely on local food pantries and food banks for meals.

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors Visit with United Church of Christ

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited the United Church of Christ on Thursday, June 17th, 2021. The Ambassadors visited with the church’s new pastor Heather Santi-Brown. The Ambassadors learned about her new role in the church and moving to small town Iowa.

Heather and her family moved to Atlantic from Texas in April, and shortly after that Heather began her work for the church. Heather has enjoyed the small town feel after living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for most of her life. Heather’s favorite part of the community is how welcoming it is to everyone, especially with her children. Heather and her husband also enjoy being a part of the community and attended Art in the Park and Produce in the Park, among other community activities.

Patti Mass, Krysta Hanson, Kathie Hockenberry, Jim Kickland, Scott Bennett, Dolly Bergmann, Marcus Daugherty, Anne Quist, Chris Bennett, Heather Santi-Brown, Dawn Marnin, Donnie Drennan, Dr. Keith Leonard, Jennifer McEntaffer, Carole Schuler and Heidi Roland-Hinman

The church is operated by a small staff including Heather and office assistant Chris Bennett. The United Church of Christ welcomes all people so feel free to visit them for a service or listen on 96.5 KSOM Sunday’s at 8:30 AM. The bell that is pictured below, was the first bell rang in Atlantic encouraging people to worship.

For more information about United Church of Christ visit their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/UCCAtlantic