National Weather Service Assessing Possible Tornado Damage in Cedar Rapids
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — The National Weather Service will be in Cedar Rapids today (Thursday) trying to determine whether a tornado touched down Wednesday night. Cedar Rapids fighters responded to a partial roof collapse in a mobile home park around 9:15 p-m. The initial report said the roof had blown off and struck a manufactured home. The caller reported their daughter was injured by glass and was treated for a laceration. Crews found at least two homes in the park with wind damage. Other homes had damaged skirting, siding and gutters. A thunderstorm warning had been issued for the area.
Iowa Corn Growers Hopeful Biofuels Bill Will Pass This Session
(Johnston, IA) — Leaders of the Iowa Corn Growers Association are optimistic their main priority bill before the state legislature will pass and be sent on to the governor after clearing a recent “funnel” deadline. Government relations director Mindy Larsen Poldberg says the biofuels bill promises a big boost for ethanol and biodiesel producers and retailers. She says it will reduce the amount of E-0 sales that will be sold in the state of Iowa, replacing that with E-10. It will also substantially increase funding that’s put into infrastructure for E-15 to E-85 and also biodiesel. Larsen Poldberg says an important component of the bill would offer grants to retailers to upgrade their pumps, though it wouldn’t go into effect for several years.
Dyersville Woman Accused Of Neglect, Stabbing Stepdaughter With Scissors
(Dyersville, IA) — A northeast Iowa woman is accused of neglecting her stepdaughter and stabbing the girl with scissors. Thirty-one-year-old Jacey Meyer was arrested Tuesday and charged with child endangerment, willful injury and false imprisonment. Officers were called March 30th for a report of a girl being kicked out of her home following an altercation. Court records show an 11-year-old girl had red markings around her neck, on her lip and bruising near her left eye. The alleged victim told investigators that Meyer cut her arm, stabbed her in the stomach and choked her. She also said Meyer locked her in a bedroom.
Northwest Iowa Man Convicted of Deadly Sioux County Shooting
(Orange City, IA) — A man from Spirit Lake is going prison for a May 2020 shooting death in Sioux County. Prosecutors say Greg Winterfeld was found guilty Wednesday in the second-degree murder of 58-year-old Grant Wilson of Ireton. Deputies found Wilson dead in his home after a day of drinking whiskey and an argument with Winterfeld. He claimed the Wilson had a knife during the altercation. His sentencing date hasn’t been scheduled.
Plymouth County Among Highest COVID Positivity Rates
(LeMars, IA) — Two counties in northwest Iowa are reporting the highest positive rates for COVID-19 in the state. Dickinson County has the dubious distinction of leading all 99 counties, but the other county is none other than right here with Plymouth County. Plymouth and Dickinson counties are two of the four Iowa counties that are reporting double-digit positivity
rates over the last week. The positivity rate in Dickinson County is 14- percent, with fully half of the new cases coming from the 18-to-29 and 80- plus age groups. The positivity rate in Plymouth County was at 10 percent. Public health officials report more than one-fourth of Iowa’s positive cases
last week were confirmed in the 18-to-29 age group. Tara Geddes is the Plymouth County Community Health Director and says the rate has begun to drop.
Kwik Star Holds Grand Opening With Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
(Le Mars) — A grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held
this morning for the new Kwik Star mega convenience store that
recently opened in Le Mars. KLEM news visited with Kwik Star manager, Kristina Schott who tells us there has been a lot interest in the new store.
