Residents of southwest Iowa saw everything from heavy rain and hail that covered the roadways, to straightline winds and tornadoes that damaged property, but resulted in no injuries that we’re aware of.

In their storm report issued Wednesday night, the National Weather Service says the Stanton Fire Chief saw a tornado four-miles east of Stanton at around 3:15-p.m., that damaged buildings and vehicles at a rural home. Four-miles south of Riverton, in Fremont County, a funnel cloud was seen at around 2:54-p.m.

Stanton Tornado damage 4-27-16 (Photo by Stanton Fire Chief)

A weak, rope-style funnel cloud was reported near Highway 25, 5-miles southeast of Bedford (In Taylor County), at around 5-p.m.  About 15-minutes later, damage to a barn was reported to have occurred 2-miles north/northwest of Clearfield.

Large tree branch falls during Wednesday’s storm about 2-miles west of the Hwy 92/71 intersection in Cass County. (Ric Hanson/photo)

At around 5:43-p.m., a tornado was observed 3 miles south/southwest of Creston, near the airport, heading toward Creston. By 5:47-p.m, the twister had become rain-wrapped as it was only about one-mile southwest of town. A few minutes later, law enforcement reported another tornado 3 miles north/northeast of Creston.

Five-miles north of Stanton, flooding was taking place at around 6-p.m., with creeks rising out of their banks. An estimated 4.5-inches had fallen during the day as of 7:45-p.m. Wednesday, with a two-day total of 7-inches of rain.

Heavy rain was also observed in the Griswold area Wednesday afternoon, by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson, who also saw dime-sized hail covering a two-mile stretch of Montgomery County Road H-14, between Highway 48 east to County Road M-63, at around 4:20-p.m. Quarter-size hail was reported 5-miles north of Stanton at around 3:25-p.m.

Quarter-size hail was also reported in Essex at around 3:50-p.m. And, nickel-size hail was observed 5 miles southeast of Bedford, at around 4:35-p.m.

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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police have charged an Iowa City man after they found 62 ducks crowded in an abandoned van. Sixty-nine-year-old Francis Prohaska faces an animal neglect charge after police discovered the ducks in an abandoned U-Haul van parked on the north side of Iowa City. The ducks were in stacked cages and covered in feces. Police say 19 of the ducks were dead and there was no food or water available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has approved a bill that is expected to reduce prison sentences for inmates serving time for certain drug offenses. The bill would cut mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain non-violent drug offenders. It would also give judges more discretion in sentencing for crimes like robbery. It would add a mandatory minimum sentence for intentional child endangerment that results in a child’s death.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An attempt to revive talks on legislation that would expand medical marijuana access in Iowa has failed in the state House. The Republican-majority chamber voted down a motion Wednesday aimed at bringing up a bill that would create a system for manufacturing and distributing cannabis oil. Rep. Bob Kressig, a Cedar Falls Democrat, made the motion and says he was trying to keep the issue alive. He acknowledged legislative options for a comprehensive bill are dwindling amid possible adjournment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Legislature has passed an infrastructure bill that doesn’t include designated funding for three state buildings with serious maintenance issues. The Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House passed a budget bill Wednesday that would spend nearly $100 million in the next budget year on a range of infrastructure projects around the state. Democrats and Republicans involved in crafting the bill say the Legislature needs to prioritize building maintenance in future spending.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County responded to a report of a single-vehicle, rollover accident just before 6-p.m., Wednesday, at 190th Street and E Avenue, or about 4-miles east of Shenandoah. Their investigation into the accident determined 34-year old Brandon James Stevens, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2013 Ford Focus eastbound on 190th, when he attempted to turn north on E Avenue.

The car slid into the northeast ditch before rolling onto its top. Stevens was out of the vehicle and was sitting on the shoulder of the road, when witness’s found him. He was taken to the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital by the Shenandoah Ambulance service, for treatment of unknown injuries.

Stevens was then transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center by the Shenandoah Ambulance service. Charges are pending. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Shenandoah Fire Department and the Shenandoah Ambulance service.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County arrested a man Wednesday evening after they investigated a vehicle in a pasture that was there without permission. During the investigation, Deputies arrested Michael Wayne England II, for Trespass and Interference with official acts.

Michael England II

England was taken to the Page County Jail where he was unable to post $300.00 bond and is currently being held pending future court appearances.

A Stanton man was arrested Wednesday after an investigation into possible child abuse.  The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Iowa Department of Human Services to assist in an investigation of possible child abuse on April 1st.

As a result of the investigation Deputies arrested 24-year-old Casey J. Elwood of Stanton on Thursday. Elwood was charged with Child Endangerment Causing Injury (a Class D Felony).  Elwood was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An attempt to keep alive a bill that would allow the sale of fireworks in Iowa has fizzled out and is considered dead this session. The Senate Ways and Means Committee agreed Wednesday to hold off any further discussion on legislation that would have allowed the retail sale and use of consumer fireworks such as firecrackers and roman candles. Current law allows sales of novelties like sparklers.

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Monday, of 39-year old Earl Edds, of Glenwood. Edds was arrested for OWI 3rd  Offense, and Failure to post SR22. His bond was set at $5000.

And, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests: 22-year old Ozzy Ray Hunter, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Criminal Trespass; 39-year old Earl Fletcher Edds, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Violation of Probation; 63-year old Teresa Ann Dillard, of Pacific Junction, was arrested on a warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and a Possession of Contraband, charge; and, 28-year old Rodney Paul Kephart, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Interference with Official Acts.

Hunter’s bond was set at $300. Edds’ bond was set at $5,000. Dillard’s bond was set at $6,000, and Kephart, Jr.’s bond was set at $300.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office says a missing 15-year old girl from Bedford and a 17-year old male from Missouri have been found. An Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officer made contact with Emma Lee Lucas, of Bedford and Matthew Petersen of Sheridan, Missouri, on Interstate 80, near Avoca.

The teens were are listed as missing earlier today (Wednesday), and were thought to have been in a white 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup.  The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office thanks the public for its help.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former Sioux City band teacher has pleaded guilty in a student sex case and likely will serve 30 days in jail under a plea agreement with prosecutors. The Sioux City Journal reports 34-year-old Lucas Sursely pleaded guilty Tuesday to an aggravated misdemeanor charge of sexual exploitation by a school employee. The charge was reduced from a felony.

The plea and sentencing needs a judge’s approval. The agreement says Sursely must also serve two years of probation and register as a sex offender. He was arrested in December after authorities say he texted a 15-year-old student about having sex with her and sent the girl a picture of himself in his underwear.

Sursely has resigned from his position as Sioux City North High School band director.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Iowa State Patrol (ISP) has completed an extensive investigation surrounding the circumstances into the four person vehicle fatality crash that occurred on I-80 near the Waukee exit in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 26, 2016. The driver of the Ford Taurus, Benjamin E. Beary, 25, Knoxville was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-80 when his vehicle collided head-on with a Des Moines Police Department transport SUV at approximately 12:32 a.m.

Based on the investigation of the scene and an examination of the vehicles, the investigators made the following findings about the crash.

– The Ford Taurus, driven by Mr. Beary was traveling at a speed of approximately 102 mph at the time of impact.

– The Des Moines Police unit was traveling at a speed of approximately 79 mph at the time of impact.

– Speed zone for this particular area of the interstate is 70 mph.

– Iowa State Patrol Technical Investigators determined that at the time of the crash, there was no braking by either vehicle.  The crash occurred just beyond the crest of a small incline and is the investigators’ conclusion that the Des Moines officers could not see the Ford Taurus until just before impact.

– The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner concluded that the 3 occupants in the Des Moines Police unit died from multiple blunt force injuries. Des Moines officers Susan Farrell and Carlos Puente-Morales, who had been on the job less than six months, were killed in the crash, along with 32-year-old Tosha Nicole Hyatt of Des Moines.  The cause of death for Mr. Beary was determined to be from multiple blunt force injuries, thermal injuries, and smoke inhalation.

– Toxicology reports indicated that Mr. Beary’s blood alcohol concentration at the time of the crash was 0.223% (nearly 3x the legal limit).    This report also showed recent use of marijuana by Mr. Beary.

– Toxicology reports for the Des Moines officers were negative for alcohol and common illicit or prescription drugs.

– Based upon the investigation, the Iowa State Patrol’s Technical Investigator(s) concluded that Mr. Beary merged onto I-80 at the Grand Prairie Parkway interchange driving westbound into the eastbound lanes of travel.  This interchange is marked appropriately with signage and markings. The investigators concluded that Mr. Beary’s high level of impairment resulted in him driving the wrong way on the interstate.