JOHNSTON, Iowa – The Iowa State Fire Marshal Division and Fire Service Training Bureau are proud to announce the completion of a state-of-the-art training tower after a grand opening ceremony this morning. Located at Camp Dodge, this new facility is set to become a vital resource for firefighter training across the state.

“As the Iowa State Fire Marshal, firefighter training and safety are very important to me,” says Iowa State Fire Marshal Dan Wood. “This FAST Center will give Iowa’s Fire Service a place to train and learn for years to come.”

The construction was overseen by the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau with a $2.1 million appropriation from Iowa legislators in FY23. The tower stands as a testament to cutting-edge design and functionality in firefighter training.

The Iowa Army National Guard provided the land for this project, contributing to a collaborative effort that promises to enhance public safety services statewide. The training tower itself is a four-story structure, featuring a two-story residential/commercial unit and a one-story annex. It boasts a parapet roof system complete with four rappelling anchors and an interior staircase spanning all four levels, in addition to a ladder leading to a roof hatch.

Firefighters will have access to two live fire burn rooms equipped with ceramic heat-resistant tiles located in the residential/commercial section. These rooms are strategically placed on the first and second floors, allowing for realistic and safe training scenarios.

The structure also includes a roof ventilation training prop on the second story’s pitched roof, along with comprehensive temperature monitoring throughout the building to ensure the safety and effectiveness of training exercises.

The new facility measures approximately 72 feet by 22 feet, offering ample space for a variety of training exercises that are crucial for preparing Iowa’s firefighters for real-world situations.

This new addition underscores the commitment of the Iowa State Fire Marshal Division to provide top-tier resources and training opportunities for first responders.

(Radio Iowa) – While tornadoes can strike in any season, any day of the year, today marks the last day of what’s considered the peak season for twisters in Iowa. Meteorologist Jim Lee, at the National Weather Service, says Iowa has seen very few tornadoes so far in 2025, especially when compared to last year’s multiple outbreaks that brought the annual tally to a stunning 125 tornadoes.

“We did have the most recorded tornadoes in Iowa history, although that comes with a big asterisk, but this year it’s been very quiet,” Lee says. “There’s been, I believe, fewer than 10 so far, confirmed in Iowa this year. The numbers are still preliminary.” That compares to more than 100 tornadoes by this date a year ago. Lee says there are several reasons for the smaller number of tornadoes this year statewide.

“Last year, we just had a very long and a very active tornado season. Obviously, it was well above normal and this year being well below normal. Part of that is just how the storm tracks set up, where the jet stream is for a lot of the spring in particular. We had somewhat cooler than normal weather, so that kind of cuts down on instability,” Lee says. “This summer, we’ve had plenty of heat so far, but we haven’t had a lot of wind shear in a lot of these events, so that cuts down on the tornado threat.”

While the main season for tornadoes in Iowa — April through June — is now coming to an end, Lee stresses that Iowans should not let down their guard, as twisters can form anytime, as they did on December 15th of 2021 when we saw 63 twisters in one day.

“Absolutely, which was a really extreme event. That was actually the most tornadoes in one day in Iowa history, and it was in December, so go figure,” Lee says. “They can happen at any time of year, and the peak historically has been particularly May and June, but it’s not a rapid drop off after that. It just slowly tapers off through the summer.”

During last year’s record-setter, 98 of Iowa’s 125 tornadoes struck during either April or May.

FORT MADISON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, Monday (today), said an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Ft. Madison, has died. 63-year-old Randy Leroy Cue was pronounced dead at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Cue had been serving a maximum term for crimes from Pottawattamie County. His sentence began on Oct. 5, 2010.

ATLANTIC, IOWA — The Atlantic Community School District will gather additional feedback from residents as part of its efforts to address facility needs identified in its Facilities Master Plan. According to Jerry Gallagher, with the Donovan Group, a new survey is the next step in the district’s planning process, which has spanned more than a year. The survey will provide community members with an opportunity to give input as the Board of Education and administration consider a general obligation bond referendum this November. District Superintendent, Dr. Beth Johnsen, said in a news release, “The district has invested a significant amount of time and effort toward studying the facility challenges our students and staff face every day. We encourage all district residents to provide feedback that will help guide us as we look to reshape our schools and ensure students have the resources they need well into the future.”

Last summer, Atlantic CSD partnered with Estes Construction to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the district’s facilities. Architects and engineers evaluated the existing conditions of buildings, identified necessary maintenance and repairs, and provided recommendations and cost estimates. In December 2024, the district engaged SVPA Architects to expand its facility planning, including the creation of a 10-year master plan for future improvements. This process included additional collaboration with Estes Construction.

Atlantic High School

In June, the Board of Education received a report outlining approximately $40 million of improvements and new construction that will allow Atlantic CSD to meet its goals of fostering educational environments conducive to 21st century learning and ensuring all students have the resources necessary to fulfill their potential. The scope of work would affect all of Atlantic CSD’s attendance centers and include classroom renovations and additions, safety and security enhancements, and a new fieldhouse at Atlantic High School, among other efforts. Dr. Johnsen says “These projects would position our school district to better serve the students of today and future generations of Trojans. We believe these projects will also play a role in attracting new families and improving the community.”

A voter-approved general obligation bond referendum of up to $27 million in November will be necessary for these projects to become reality. The remaining $13 million would be funded through district funds and state sales tax revenue. Bond measures require a minimum of 60% support to pass. The district will make an official announcement on its website, via email, and on its social media accounts when the survey is available.

(Radio Iowa) – The woman who has been the main spokesperson for the Iowa Lottery is retiring. Mary Neubauer started at the Lottery in October of 1999 as everyone was preparing for the potential computer shutdowns of Y-2-K. “Obviously so much of the lottery is run by a central gaming system and we feared that come January 1st of 2000, where we going to be able to have lottery drawings, we’re going to be able to pay prices,” she says. “It all went completely smoothly. But oh, my gosh, the amount of planning that went into something that basically didn’t happen.” Neubauer eventually moved into the position of talking to and introducing those who won the big prizes. She says the size of those prizes and the advancement of social media are two of the big changes in her 25 years.

“Who would have predicted back when I started and the speed with which information gets out there and that with which we have to be ready to respond. That’s that’s been probably the biggest change within my job,” Neubauer says. Neubauer says they used to sometimes wait to release information on a big Saturday jackpot drawing until Monday. Now everyone is talking about it and speculation on social median and the Lottery responds much quicker. “When when a jackpot hits, you have to be ready to go within just an hour or less because information is just going to travel so quickly these days,” she says.

Mary Neubauer (Radio Iowa file photo)

Neubauer is retiring early from the Lottery and says the death of her son by suicide eight years ago is one of the reasons. She and her husband spokes out publicly about what happened as they sought to help others facing a similar situation. “We started a conversation here in Iowa about how we as a state are or are not caring for those who are struggling and the stress and strain of that, I don’t think even I realized until recently just how. exhausted, I am and I think I just need to step away and just be me. And so I’m looking forward to that,” she says.

Neubauer says she will miss the Iowa Lottery and meeting people and hearing from the people who win. She is retired as of today (Monday)

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that took place over the past week. Most recently:

• Sunday evening (June 29), 51-year-old Eric Ronald Bunce, of Camden, TN, was arrested on I-29 near Pacific Junction, for OWI/2nd offense. (Bond $2,000)
• Two people were arrested at around 11:30-p.m. Saturday on Deacon Road, in Pacific Junction: 25-year-old Freddy Kraberg, Jr., and 51-year-old Dora Aileen Holley, both of Council Bluffs, were arrested for OWI/1st offense. (Bonds $1,000 each).
• Friday night, 21-year-old Austin Dakota Brown, of Omaha, was arrested in Malvern, on Highway 34, for Interference with Official Acts. (Bond $300).
• Last Wednesday (June 25th), three people were arrested on separate charges in Mills County:
  • 50-year-old Craig Raymond Janssen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood, for Violation of Probation. ($10,000 bond).
  • 49-year-old Willard Edward Frazier, SR., of Council Bluffs, was arrested by Mills County Deputies in Omaha, for Violation of Probation. (Bond $2,000).
  • and, 27-year-old Cristyan Gonzalez-Cardon, of Glenwood, was arrested Wednesday for Harassment in the 1st Degree [Sexting]. (Bond $2,000).
• On June 24th, Mills County Deputies arrested 52-year-old Adam Michael Blackman, of Malvern. He was arrested in Glenwood on an out-of-county/state warrant. (Held without bond).
• And, on June 23rd, 27-year-old Cristyan Gonzalez-Cardon, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood for Domestic Assault – Bodily Injury/1st offense, and Escape from Custody. (Total Bond, $2,000).

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisor’s held their regular weekly meeting today (Monday), instead of on Wednesday, and tackled some items before the close of the current Fiscal Year. During their session, the Board approved a Liquor License Application for Greenfield Chamber of Commerce Main-street. They also approved FY2026 wages, and they passed a Resolution to pay Utilities and Postage.

In other, administrative business prior to the end of the fiscal year, the Adair County Supervisors passed and FY 26 Appropriations Resolution. Auditor Mandy Berg…

And, they passed a FY26 Transfer Resolution, along with an FY26 Resolution to destroy outdated records, following completion of the audit. Mandy Berg spoke with regard to the Transfer Resolution.

In other business, the Board approved a reappointment the County Veteran’s Affairs Commission.

Sue McMoran with the Greenfield Business Women’s Organization, spoke with regard to Memorial Benches in the Adair County Courthouse Courtyard.

The Board approved the proposal as presented. Jeremy Rounds with the Southern Iowa Council Of Governments (SICOG) was back before the Supervisors to continue discussion with regard to the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Afterward, Supervisor Hoadley made, and the Board passed a motion to proceed with SICOG’s development of the plan. The meeting concluded with a closed session.