DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A broad-scale mesoscale convection vortex (MCV) moved across south central and central Iowa early Sunday morning.  An assessment by the National Weather Service in Des Moines, determined along the track of the MCV, the circulation produced a broad swath of damaging straight line thunderstorm winds from Decatur to Boone County. The winds resulted in the derailment of a Burlington Northern Sante Fe train, with over 80 railcars being blown off the tracks 4.0 miles west of Osceola. Other tree and structural damage occurred to outbuildings in the same area.

Winds across the region were estimated to average 60 to 70 mph with higher embedded Gusts of 70 mph to 80 mph. The large MCV then progressed nearly due north producing other straight line wind damage along a line from west of Truro to west of St. Charles north toward Adel, Bouton, and into Boone County. Several farm structures were damaged and trees uprooted. Winds in the area reached around 70 mph at times in the hardest hit areas.

The storms also dropped roughly 2 inches of rain in Ringgold and Humboldt counties.

Members of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening (May 18th), in the Central Office at the Middle School/High School Building. The session begins at 5:45-p.m.

During the meeting, the Board will act on: Certified Staff Negotiations approval; Nutrition prices; approving bids for a van purchase; approving – Fuel Bid specifications, Technology Support Specs., Registration Fees and various Board Policies.

Members of the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet in a regularly scheduled session, 5:15-p.m. Monday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During the meeting, the Parks Board will discuss and/or act on a proposal from Girl Scout Cadette Troop 40116 for signs in the parks asking people not to smoke around playground equipment and other areas.

Draft of proposed Clean Air/No smoking sign proposed by the local GS Troop

The Board will also receive an update on the Buck Creek Dog Park, including site plan modifications, fencing cost, and a potential timeline for the project. Other updates include those with regard to: The Kiddie Korral site and Camblin Shelter refurbishment project at Sunnyside Park; Little League Complex playground equipment and installation; and a report on Summer Recreation Program registrations.

A text message scam that’s been around in various forms since at least 2011 has hit the Shelby County area. Numerous residents received messages on their cell phones Sunday and earlier in the week, stating that their “Debit/credit card has been blocked.” The message provides a fake link, which, if accessed, requests your account information. A similar scam hit Cass County twice in March. Do not click on the link! Delete the text message. If you have a question about your account, call or stop by your local bank branch. If you have accessed the link and provided information, notify the bank immediately.

A Facebook user reported Sunday this message came across via text on their cell phone.

Wells Fargo’s website has numerous tips to prevent you from becoming a victim of fraud. They also have information about the scam mentioned in the text message: “A phishing attempt sent via SMS (Short Message Service) or text message to a mobile phone or device. This tactic is also referred to as smishing, which is a combination of SMS and phishing. The purpose of text message phishing is the same as traditional email phishing: convince recipients to share their confidential information.

Never take action on a request for your personal or financial information, including account numbers, passwords, Social Security number or birth date. If you receive a text message expressing an urgent need for you to update your information, activate an account, or verify your identity by calling a phone number or submitting information, on a website, do not respond and delete it. These messages may be part of a phishing scam conducted by fraudsters in an attempt to capture your confidential account information and may be used to commit fraud.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Strong storms damaged farm buildings across central Iowa, knocked down trees and toppled dozens of empty railcars. The storms caused damage in Decatur, Clarke, Dallas, Boone and Madison counties as it moved across the state early Sunday morning. The National Weather Service plans to send out teams to survey the damage on Sunday. No major injuries were reported.

Some of the most significant damage was reported west of Osceola where the empty coal cars were knocked over by wind. Several farm outbuildings and grain bins were destroyed, farm roofs were damaged and some trees were uprooted. The storms also dropped roughly 2 inches of rain in Ringgold and Humboldt counties.

Police in Red Oak, Saturday evening, arrested 31-year old Jana Marie Rolofson, of Red Oak. The woman was taken into custody at around 8:35-p.m. in the 400 block of east Coolbaugh Street, and charged with Breach of Peace. Rolofson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

An assistant soccer coach for the University of Nebraska was killed Saturday morning during a crash on Interstate 80 in western Iowa. 31-year old Peter John Underwood, of Lincoln, NE., was reportedly traveling on a recruiting trip, when the eastbound car he was in was struck by a pickup truck traveling in the wrong direction on I-80, near the Marne exit. Underwood died at the scene. The crash happened at around 7-a.m.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, 49-year old Paul William Marshall, of Modale, was  driving the 2009 Dodge pickup that struck the 2009 Pontiac Vibe Underwood was in, head-on. Marshall was transported by Medivac ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, and later flown by helicopter to a hospital in Omaha. The accident remains under investigation.

University officials said Underwood had just completed his fourth season with the Nebraska women’s soccer program, serving the last two as a full-time coach and the previous two as a volunteer assistant. He is survived by his wife, Austin, and their two young children, daughter, Lyla, and son, Jude.

A statement issued by Huskers Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, said “The University of Nebraska Athletics family is deeply saddened by the loss of Peter Underwood and our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to his wife, Austin, their children, Lyla and Jude, and his extended family and friends.” Eichorst said also,”Peter was a beacon of positive light, a wonderfully talented coach, and an even better family man of great character and faith. He will be missed by all of us.”

Underwood helped the Huskers to the Big Ten Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2013, as Nebraska posted a 19-4-1 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A native of London, England, Underwood moved to the United States and played one season of varsity soccer at Concord before the program was dropped.

Services are pending. Condolences can be sent to: Underwood Family, P.O. Box 880120, One Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE 68588-0120.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was arrested Friday afternoon on an assault charge. 19-year old Carol Marlen Schubert, of Villisca, taken into custody at around 3:40-p.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault. Schubert was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

The Iowa State Patrol reports four people were injured in a two-vehicle accident Friday in Monona County. The accident happened at around 3:30 p.m., at the intersection of County Highways E-24 and K-64. Authorities say 63-year-old Michael Brenden, of Whiting, was driving eastbound on Highway E-24 in 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup, when his vehicle collided with a northbound 2010 GMC Yukon, driven by 25-year-old Jessica Tadlock, of Hornick. Following the crash, both vehicles ended up in a farm field northwest of the intersection.

Michael Brenden and his passenger, 36-year-old Christine Brenden were transported by ambulance to Burgess Hospital in Onawa. Nine-year-old Justin Goodvin was airlifted to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City. The patrol says the three were not wearing their seatbelts.

Cael Tadlock, who was riding in a child restraint seat, was also transported to Burgess hospital in Onawa.

(Check back for updates to this story)

An assistant soccer coach for the University of Nebraska was killed Saturday morning during a crash on Interstate 80 in western Iowa. KETV in Omaha reports 31-year old Peter Underwood was traveling on a recruiting trip near Atlantic, when the eastbound car he was in was struck by a pickup truck traveling in the wrong direction on I-80, near the Marne exit. The crash happened at around 7-a.m.  Additional details about the crash had not been released as of 8-p.m. Saturday.

University officials said Underwood had just completed his fourth season with the Nebraska women’s soccer program, serving the last two as a full-time coach and the previous two as a volunteer assistant. He is survived by his wife, Austin, and their two young children, daughter, Lyla, and son, Jude.

A statement issued by Huskers Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, said “The University of Nebraska Athletics family is deeply saddened by the loss of Peter Underwood and our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to his wife, Austin, their children, Lyla and Jude, and his extended family and friends.” Eichorst said also,”Peter was a beacon of positive light, a wonderfully talented coach, and an even better family man of great character and faith. He will be missed by all of us.”

Underwood helped the Huskers to the Big Ten Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2013, as Nebraska posted a 19-4-1 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A native of London, England, Underwood moved to the United States and played one season of varsity soccer at Concord before the program was dropped.

Services are pending. Condolences can be sent to: Underwood Family, P.O. Box 880120, One Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE 68588-0120.