Severe storms that entered western Iowa Wednesday morning brought hail and wind damage to parts of Shelby County. The National Weather Service in Omaha says thunderstorm wind damage was reported in Portsmouth just before 10-a.m. Wednesday. An estimated 10-to 20-trees were blown onto buildings, roads and cars, in Portsmouth. The Fire Hall in Portsmouth was damaged, three grain bins and a machine shed were destroyed. Winds at the time were estimated at 70-mph. At around the same time, crops were laid flat 2 miles west/southwest of Tennant, along Shelby County road F-58. And, at around 10:15-a.m., 1-inch diameter (quarter-size) hail was observed 5-miles south of Harlan.

In Guthrie County, a thunderstorm wind gust of 50-mph was reported at around 10:50-a.m., along with heavy rain and pea-size hail. There were no immediate reports of damage there, however.

Storm damage in and near Portsmouth (Photos submitted to our sister station KNOD in Harlan)

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa State Fair will have 50 new foods available when the gates open in August. Spokesperson Mindy Williamson says they try to add some new foods each year. “I think our highest number yet has been 42 — so this is the most new foods we’ve ever had and we are super excited. Our concessionaires are getting very creative and they know the benefit of having something new for fair goers,” Williamson says.  She says the new foods will join the favorites like porkchop on a stick. “It gives people the choice if they want to come try something new at the fair — or if they want to stick with their old tried and true favorite,” Williamson says.

They held a contest to judge some of the top new foods. One of the choices is “Georgie’s Roast with the Most Wrap.” She says it is the traditional pot roast with a new twist which is putting it in a wrap to make it more mobile for people to carry. Another top newbie is The Chief, which is a new creation of Navajo barbecue fried bread with slow-smoked beef brisket. “The brisket that’s in there and the special slaw that she has on it are new,” Williamson says, “But also the Indian bread is with a special rub as well. So, it is a special taste.”

Williamson says they are asking people to go in and vote for their favorites from the top 10. Williamson says they have a new app you can get at the App Store for you I-phone, or the android phone will automatically update. You can vote for your favorite. Williamson says you can also use the app at the State Fair to find your favorite new and old foods.  She says they recently had a delivery that signals the countdown to the final days before 2019 opening. “The butter was just delivered last Friday, so the butter cow sculpture will start working some of her magic in the next couple of weeks,” according to Williamson. “And then our companion sculptures this year are Sesame Street.”

The sculpture will make some of those characters in butter to go along with the butter cow. She says the are excited to see the work begin on the butter cow. “Whenever the butter gets delivered it’s official — that the Iowa State Fair is going to start shortly,”Williamson says.  To see a complete list of the new foods, go to www.iowastatefair.org. This year’s fair begins August 8th and runs through the 18th.

Elizabeth Zaiger was selected as the 2019 Audubon County Fair Queen during a ceremony on Wednesday night.  Zaiger, the daughter of Jason and Ann Zaiger, will preside over activities at the fair this week and will represent Audubon County at the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest in Des Moines August 6-10.  She inherits the crown from 2018 Queen Rachel Mosinski.  Erin Irlmeier, daughter of Ken and Sandy Irlmeier was the first runner-up.  McKenna Nielsen, daughter of Randy and Melanie Larsen, was named the second runner-up.  Other contestants included Abby Bruch, Allie Detweiler, Mary Svoboda and Adrian Zach.  Judging was conducted a week ago during interviews with judges Martin and Jo Reynolds.

CLICK HERE to hear an interview with the Queen and the runners-up.

Mary Svoboda, Abby Bruch, Adrian Zach, 2019 Queen Elizabeth Zaiger, Erin Irlmeier, McKenna Nielsen, Allie Detweiler and 2018 Queen Rachel Mosinski.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of stealing more than $6,100 in a credit card scheme has pleaded not guilty. Woodbury County court records say 36-year-old Amy Inniss-Reyes entered the plea Tuesday to a charge of theft. Her trial is scheduled to start Sept. 17.

A criminal complaint says Inniss-Reyes was managing two Exact Eye Care branches in Sioux City between April 19 and May 30 when she used three of her credit cards to obtain fraudulent refunds. The complaint says she also told investigators that she made copies of 20 patients’ personal records, intending to use them to obtain loans. The copies were recovered from her home.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 13-year-old eastern Iowa student has been found guilty on three charges after he pointed a gun at a teacher and pulled the trigger, but the jury declined to convict him of attempted murder. The Quad-City Times reports jurors convicted the boy Wednesday of carrying weapons on school grounds, assault while using or displaying a dangerous weapon, and assault with intent to commit serious injury.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Police say the bodies of two people have been found in a Burlington apartment. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports neighbors called police Wednesday morning after not seeing a man who lived in the apartment for several days. The officers who responded found the two bodies. Police Lt. Adam Schaefer says the bodies had been in the apartment, “for some time.” Schaefer says the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and state crime lab would assist in the investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Charles Grassley is declining to answer whether he thinks President Donald Trump’s comments toward four minority women in the U.S. House were racist. Asked by reporters Wednesday about Trump’s comments, Grassley would only call for civility among elected officials. He says officials should avoid name calling and shouldn’t question others’ patriotism. Trump tweeted that four Democratic women of color should “go back” to their home countries. All are U.S. citizens. Three are U.S. born.

Red Oak Police say a woman was arrested on an assault charge at around 11:35-p.m., Wednesday. 39-year old Rose Amber Eppenbaugh, of Red Oak, was taken into custody in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street, and charged with Domestic Assault. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond, pending a court appearance.

A traffic stop late Wednesday night near Sidney, in Fremont County, resulted in the arrest of 61-year old Terry Shere, of Sidney, on a Class D Felony charge of OWI/3rd offense. Shere was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $5000 bond.

Terry Shere

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, approved the closure of certain city streets along with parking restrictions that will be in effect from 6-a.m. Sunday, July 21st through 2-a.m Monday, July 22nd, for the upcoming RAGBRAI event that will bring thousands of bicyclists and their support vehicles into town. We mentioned the streets that will be affected, earlier this week online and on the air (but the list can be found at the end of this story if you missed it).

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson said additional temporary street closings or parking restrictions would be implemented on an as-needed basis. The Council also approved an Engineering Agreement with Snyder & Associates, for the Atlantic Animal Shelter Building addition. Funds for the addition, which will allow cats to be held in separate quarters from dogs, was made possible through a gift of $135,000 from the estate of Ms. Lorene Eppelsheimer. She specifically requested the new addition be built in accordance with her wishes. The addition will be 18-by 36-feet, or 648-square feet in all. Estimates are that the engineering and project management costs will run $120,350. The balance of the funds will be used for additional cat cages and comforts for the cats.

In other business, following a public hearing, the Council passed a Resolution that allows the final property process to proceed with regard to 411 Walnut Street (The Atlantic Senior Center). During their meeting June 5th, the Council accepted a bid of $55,445 from the Elks Club for the purchase of the facility.

In his report to the Council, Mayor Dave Jones said there were four reported grass clipping notices issued to residents, who allowed their clippings to be tossed on city streets by mowers. Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson said the notices went to four new offenders. If those persons repeat their actions, they will receive a citation.

During the Public/Council Forum, Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson said there were about 40 complaints with regard to fireworks from June 15th through Monday of this week. There was no indication any citations were issued.

Councilman Dana Halder commented that the Massena City Council is looking into having a Splash Pad built near their ball fields. Halder said “We’re putting up more playground equipment on the west side of [The] Schildberg [Recreation Area]. I would really like to see the Parks and Rec Department focus on a Splash Pad. We have playground equipment all over this town. And we have people asking and begging for a Splash Pad. We can draw people from other towns that are going to buy gas when they get here…” and when they are ready to leave, can get something to eat at a local restaurant.

Halder said “We need to re-focus on some things here, and let’s get doing some things people are asking for.” Councilman Chris Jimerson agreed. Mayor Dave Jones said the Parks and Rec is working on it, but it will probably take a bond issue to approve it. Jimerson said his fear is that they will probably try to attach a new pool to any plans. The City Administrator will talk to Interim Parks Director Bryant Rasmussen about bringing the matter up to the Parks Board again (It was brought up in previous discussions this year, but the parks board wanted to focus on other areas).

And Councilman Chris Jimerson addressed concerns by some Atlantic residents that the tornado sirens didn’t go off Tuesday afternoon. He explained that in years past, when the National Weather Service issued a Tornado warning, it was for the entire county. Over the past few years, they changed to a “Polygon” formula, that narrows down the area and direction of a severe storm, so it doesn’t panic the entire county. He said the theory is, if you continually warn somebody to go to the basement, pretty soon people will ignore it.

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Here are the approved Street Closures for RAGBRAI, effective 6-a.m. Sunday thru 2-a.m. Monday:

• Chestnut Street from the Court House Driveway access (in the 700 block) to 2nd Street, to allow set-up of a stage and vendor access).
• 6th Street from Locust to Walnut (The entry point to the entertainment area, bike parking, and vendors)
• Poplar Street from 7th to 5th (for bike parking & portable restrooms)
• 7th Street, from Poplar to Walnut (which will serve as the entertainment area and crowd area, while the bands play).
• 10th St., at the intersection with 7th, for eastbound traffic (only at the peak times for riders getting to, and leaving, Atlantic).
• 14th Street, from Olive to Plum Streets (On Monday, July 22nd, while the riders are leaving town).

The order to temporarily restrict parking those days will affect:

• 10th, from 7th to Olive, on the north side.
• Palm, from 9th to 10th, on the west side.
• E. Mahogany at 9th Street, north & west sides.
• W. Mahogany at 10th St., west side.
• Ed Podolak Drive, from Linn to Olive, north side.
• Linn Street, from 10th to Ed Podolak Drive, east & west sides.
• 14th Street, by the Heritage House, south side.
• Olive Street & Roosevelt Drive, 100-feet north on the east side.
• and, 10th and Olive, one-half block in all directions.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man Wednesday afternoon for Simple Domestic Abuse Assault, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Officers called at around 12:20-p.m. to a residence in the 100 block of E. Prospect Street, arrested 33-year old Salvador Ramos-Zuno, of Red Oak, following an investigation.

Ramos-Zuno was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate. Red Oak Police were assisted during handling of the incident, by Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Two men from Illinois were sentenced Tuesday in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 41-year old Cameron Felder and 37-year old Nathaniel Thomas were sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Felder was sentenced to 70 months in prison and Thomas was sentenced to 150 months imprisonment. They will each serve a term of supervised release of four years when released from prison.

In August 2018, the Iowa State Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Felder and Thomas’ vehicle for speeding on I-29 in Fremont County. As the trooper approached the vehicle, the occupants were uncooperative and required numerous commands to shut the car doors and turn the car off. The trooper immediately detected the odor of burnt marijuana. Thomas handed the trooper a baggie of marijuana out the passenger window. A search was performed on the vehicle and officers located over 200 grams of methamphetamine in pill form.

The case was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.