Skip to main content

More than just books

May 6, 2025 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Occasionally, I hear people complaining of the inconvenience of small-town life, but I love living and working in a small town. In case I needed a reason, this week someone drew my attention to a Facebook Post that reminded me of the best part of being in a little town.

Grant Sheeder and Brett Rowley, owners of Guthrie County Quality Meats, saw a need and brainstormed a way to help. In discussing the value of our public libraries and the needs that they have, the pair decided 15% of bratwurst sales sold in store or online will be donated equally to the seven Guthrie County libraries, launching “Bratwursts for Books.” The pair even has an option for people to make a Venmo donation if they don’t like bratwurst.

When Gary Fox, owner of Fox Countertops, saw this, he generously agreed to match the Guthrie County Quality Meat’s donation. Apparently, kindness and generosity are contagious because, according to the Guthrie County Quality Facebook page, they are seeing lots of positive comments on Facebook and receiving a lot of donations via Venmo.

When the folks at Local Liquor in Panora saw this on Facebook, this was their response, “Love what you guys are doing at Guthrie County Quality Meats for the libraries!! We want in on this too and will donate $4 for every case of Busch Light we sell in the month of May!  Cheers to the Guthrie County Libraries.” Wow! Kindness really does create a snowball effect!

On behalf of Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library, I would just like to say thank you. What an amazingly helpful and generous fundraiser by these businesses. A shout out to all of you who are enjoying brats, brews or new countertops to support the libraries in the area.

We are so blessed to have such excellent community support. The MJB Library recognizes how fortunate we are to be in a community that values the library enough to make sure we are well-funded and well-utilized. Our Friends of the Library and Library Board are so generous with their time and resources. We appreciate the supervisors and city council who look out for our financial needs, as well as the many civic organizations who have donated grant money. Truly, without all this support, our library wouldn’t be able to offer nearly as many programs and services.

Please know that when the library director and board are making decisions about how to best allocate the money and resources given to us, they are deliberate and thoughtful about what they are doing. Librarians, it seems, know how to pinch a penny so hard that Mr. Lincoln screams, but in doing so, they are using the money and resources they have to provide the most services to the greatest number of patrons.

We have a summer of great events and programs for patrons of all ages in the works. Watch our Facebook page and this column for details.

As we work on programs for our youth, we are in need of more LEGOs, Hot Wheel cars, and Hot Wheel tracks. As you are spring cleaning, the library would happily accept gently used Hot Wheels or LEGOs.

On Wednesday, May 7, the library is hosting a program by author Ann Hanigan Kotz, author of “Moonshine by Moonlight.” Kotz will  be speaking about her research on Iowa’s history of prohibition and bootlegging. Be sure to join us at 4 p.m. for this interesting glimpse into Iowa History that wasn’t really taught in school.

Between the Covers, the afternoon book club will meet on Tuesday, May 13, at 3 p.m. to discuss “Frozen River.” This gripping historical mystery inspired by the diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system, will have readers on the edge of their seats as this murder mystery unravels.  Be sure to stop by the library to pick up a copy if you haven’t read it yet.

Judi Zimmerline will be facilitating a card making class from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, May 15. The $5 fee covers all supplies and materials required to create unique greeting cards.

Also on Thursday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m., Cookbook Club will meet sample recipes and discuss the cookbook “Super Italian” by Giada DeLaurentiis. Members are encouraged to stop by the library to select a recipe which they will prepare and bring to share with the group.

Pulitzer Prize nominated author Enfys McMurry will be speaking at the library on Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m. Join us as McMurry chronicles the plane crash and its aftermath detailed in her book entitled “Disaster at 39,000 Feet: How Small Town America Came Together at a Time of Crisis.”

Members  of Reads Well With Others evening book club are encouraged to stop by the library to check out a copy of this month’s selection, “My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy” by Clint Hill, who was the Secret Service agent who guarded Jackie Kennedy Onassis during her time in the White House and many years following. Hill describes memories of being Kennedy Onassis’s security detail who traveled extensively with the former first lady. The book club will discuss this book on Tuesday, May 27 at 5 p.m.

Golfers are reminded to sign up for the Friends of the Library annual golf tournament, scheduled for Saturday, June 14, at the Guthrie Center Golf Course. Online registration is open at the library’s web page.

The library has several STEM/STEAM activities on the calendar for May starting with LEGO Mania Day at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. Guthrie STEM Lab takes place on Wednesday, May 14 at 2 p.m., while Creation Corner will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28. Pre-registration is preferred to ensure adequate supplies for activities.

Story Hour is scheduled every Friday morning at 10 a.m. for preschoolers or all ages and their caretakers. This month, youngsters will learn about a variety of topics including Moms on May 10, cars on May 16, princesses on May 23, and dinosaurs on May 30.

Check the MJB Library website to see our calendar of events for our Summer Reading Program, scheduled throughout the month of June. Registration is open to sign up children of all ages who want to participate.  Level Up at Your Library is the theme for this year’s events. We offer diverse activities for all ages to participate. Sign up today.

Barrett loves to build with LEGOs on the library’s big LEGO table.

On April 30, our after school program, Creation Corner, was led by Judi Zimmerline. The youth in attendance made May baskets to take home and share with others.

Creation Corner participants were able to fill completed May baskets with candy and treats.

Following story hour, the STEM table is a popular place for the preschool crowd to hang out and play.

 

Aberson, Brewster, Crawmer, Harre and Koenigsberg all shoot low score of 32

May 6, 2025 | Sports

Special to the Times Vedette

April 29 was the first night of the regular season for Panorama West Tuesday men’s league. A total of 32 golfers participated. Bill Dahl made the longest putt. John Harre was closest to the pin. Five players shot a 32 for a low score. They were Curt Aberson, Paul Brewster, Trent Crawmer, John Harre and Kevin Koenigsberg. Three under par was the winning score for the scramble by Trent Crawmer, Ben Carr, Steve Roe and Barry Tofteland.

Little League results

May 6, 2025 | Sports

Tinsley Hodges pitches in Majors Softball.

Special to the Times Vedette

Following are the results from the South Dallas Little League (SDLL) that Panorama Little League baseball and softball compete in, along with the team standings, according to posted reports on May 5. 

Majors Baseball

Game

Home

Home Score

Away

Away Score

Date

1

VM Dodgers

17

Adel Giants

1

4/15

1

VM Blue Jays

15

Adel Tigers

0

4/15

1

VM Braves

16

Adel Rockies

0

4/15

1

WCV Padres

7

Adel Padres

18

4/15

1

Panorama Yankees

6

Earlham Cardinals

17

4/15

1

Earlham Cubs

9

Panorama Red Sox

7

4/15

2

Adel Padres

6

Adel Giants

5

4/22

2

Adel Rockies

18

Panorama Yankees

13

4/22

2

Panorama Red Sox

Adel Tigers

6/1

2

VM Dodgers

5

Earlham Cubs

4

4/22

2

Earlham Cardinals

3

VM Blue Jays

16

4/22

2

VM Braves

15

WCV Padres

7

4/22

3

Adel Rockies

12

Adel Giants

13

4/29

3

Adel Padres

14

Adel Tigers

11

4/29

3

Panorama Yankees

0

VM Dodgers

19

4/29

3

VM Blue Jays

23

Panorama Red Sox

8

4/29

3

Earlham Cubs

4

VM Braves

6

4/29

3

WCV Padres

4

Earlham Cardinals

13

4/29

4

Adel Giants

12

Adel Tigers

8

5/2

4

Adel Rockies

0

VM Dodgers

14

5/2

4

VM Blue Jays

11

Adel Padres

12

5/2

Current Standings

Win%

1st

VM Dodgers

4-0-0

1.000

2nd

Adel Padres

4-0-0

1.000

3rd

VM Braves

3-0-0

1.000

4th

VM Blue Jays

3-1-0

0.750

5th

Earlham Cardinals

2-1-0

0.667

6th

Adel Giants

2-2-0

0.500

7th

Earlham Cubs

1-2-0

0.333

8th

Adel Rockies

1-3-0

0.250

9th

Adel Tigers

0-3-0

0.000

10th

WCV Padres

0-3-0

0.000

11th

Panorama Yankees

0-3-0

0.000

12th

Panorama Red Sox

0-2-0

0.000

 

Minors Baseball

Game

Home

Home Score

Away

Away Score

Date

1

Adel A’s

13

Adel Phillies

11

4/14

1

Adel Giants

15

Adel Rockies

1

4/14

1

Panorama Yankees

12

Adel Twins

11

4/14

1

VM Dodgers

14

Panorama Red Sox

8

4/14

1

Earlham Cubs

1

VM Blue Jays

2

4/14

1

VM Braves

15

Earlham Cardinals

1

4/14

1

WCV Brewers

9

VM Reds

17

4/14

1

VM Orioles

5

WCV Padres

3

4/14

2

Adel A’s

8

Adel Giants

10

4/21

2

Adel Rockies

8

Panorama Yankees

8

4/21

2

Panorama Red Sox

15

Adel Tigers

7

4/21

2

Adel Twins

12

Earlham Cubs

1

4/21

2

Earlham Cardinals

14

VM Dodgers

17

4/21

2

VM Blue Jays

7

WCV Brewers

12

4/21

2

VM Braves

6

WCV Padres

10

4/21

2

VM Orioles

9

VM Reds

3

4/21

3

Adel Rockies

Adel A’s

4/28

3

Adel Phillies

Adel Tigers

4/28

3

Adel Giants

Adel Twins

4/28

3

Panorama Yankees

VM Blue Jays

4/28

3

VM Braves

Panorama Red Sox

4/28

3

Earlham Cubs

VM Reds

4/28

3

VM Orioles

Earlham Cardinals

4/28

3

WCV Brewers

9

WCV Padres

12

4/28

4

Adel Tigers

9

Adel A’s

11

5/1

4

Adel Twins

10

Adel Rockies

15

5/1

4

VM Dodgers

17

Adel Phillies

3

5/1

4

Adel Giants

VM Blue Jays

5/1

4

VM Reds

8

Panorama Yankees

13

5/1

4

Panorama Red Sox

6

VM Orioles

17

5/1

4

WCV Padres

15

Earlham Cubs

6

5/1

4

Earlham Cardinals

7

WCV Brewers

16

5/1

Current Standings

Win%

1st

VM Dodgers

3-0-0

1.000

2nd

VM Orioles

3-0-0

1.000

3rd

Adel Giants

2-0-0

1.000

4th

Panorama Yankees

2-0-1

0.800

5th

WCV Padres

3-1-0

0.750

6th

Adel A’s

2-1-0

0.667

7th

WCV Brewers

2-2-0

0.500

8th

VM Blue Jays

1-1-0

0.500

9th

VM Braves

1-1-0

0.500

10th

Adel Rockies

1-1-1

0.400

11th

Adel Twins

1-2-0

0.333

12th

VM Reds

1-2-0

0.333

13th

Panorama Red Sox

1-2-0

0.333

14th

Earlham Cardinals

0-3-0

0.000

15th

Earlham Cubs

0-3-0

0.000

16th

Adel Phillies

0-2-0

0.000

17th

Adel Tigers

0-2-0

0.000

 

Majors Softball

Game

Home

Home Score

Away

Away Score

Date

1

Earlham Red

18

Adel

20

4/15

1

Perry Blue

19

Van Meter

4

4/15

1

Panorama

14

WCV

5

4/15

2

Adel

8

Earlham Black

18

4/22

2

Earlham Red

10

Van Meter

17

4/22

2

Perry Blue

16

Panorama

4

4/22

3

Van Meter

Adel

4/29

3

Earlham Black

WCV

4/29

3

Panorama

19

Earlham Red

20

4/29

Current Standings

Win%

1st

Perry Blue

2-0-0

1.000

2nd

Earlham Black

1-0-0

1.000

3rd

Adel

1-1-0

0.500

4th

Van Meter

1-1-0

0.500

5th

Earlham Red

1-2-0

0.333

6th

Panorama

1-2-0

0.333

Minors Softball

Game

Home

Home Score

Away

Away Score

Date

1

Perry White

11

Adel 1

0

4/14

1

WCV

1

Perry Blue

6

4/14

1

Van Meter 1

12

Panorama Silver

0

4/14

1

Panorama Blue

4

Van Meter 2

6

4/14

1

Earlham Black

0

Adel 2

0

4/14

2

Adel 2

2

Adel 1

10

4/21

2

Earlham Red

2

Van Meter 2

10

4/21

2

Van Meter 1

5

Panorama Blue

10

4/21

2

Panorama Silver

2

WCV

3

4/21

2

Perry White

9

Perry Blue

4

4/21

3

Earlham Black

3

Adel 1

15

4/28

3

Adel 2

Earlham Red

4/28

3

Van Meter 2

Panorama Silver

4/28

3

Perry Blue

Van Meter 1

4/28

3

WCV

1

Perry White

0

4/28

4

Adel 1

8

Earlham Red

2

5/1

4

Earlham Black

3

Panorama Blue

4

5/1

4

Adel 2

6

Panorama Silver

5

5/1

4

Perry White

Van Meter 2

5/1

4

Van Meter 1

10

WCV

7

5/1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Standings

Win%

1st

Van Meter 2

2-0-0

1.000

2nd

Adel 1

4-1-0

0.800

3rd

Panorama Blue

2-1-0

0.667

4th

Perry White

2-1-0

0.667

5th

Van Meter 1

2-1-0

0.667

6th

Perry Blue

1-1-0

0.500

7th

WCV

2-3-0

0.400

8th

Adel 2

1-1-1

0.400

9th

Earlham Black

0-2-1

0.000

10th

Panorama Silver

0-3-0

0.000

11th

Earlham Red

0-2-0

0.000

Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Weekly Report — April 28 – May 5, 2025

May 6, 2025 | Guthrie County Sheriff's Report

4-28-25

  • 2:12 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy did a security check in rural Casey
  • 6:27 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a traffic complaint in Panora
  • 9:07 a.m. Panora Ambulance and Guthrie County Deputy responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 9:12 a.m. Panora Ambulance Unit 2 and Panora Police responded to a medical call in Panora
  • 10:11 a.m. Guthrie County Sheriff followed up on an accident investigation
  • 10:59 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in rural Panora
  • 1:02 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in rural Panora
  • 2:45 p.m. Stuart Rescue and Menlo Fire Department responded to a medical call in Menlo
  • 2:55 p.m. Stuart Rescue Unit 2 responded to a medical call in rural Redfield
  • 5:40 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in rural Panora
  • 7:20 p.m. Panora Police, and Guthrie County Sheriff and Deputies responded to a report of an altercation in Panora
  • 7:35 p.m. Stuart Rescue responded to a medical call in Stuart
  • 9:26 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies responded to a report of a hit and run accident in rural Bagley

 

4-29-25

  • 2:35 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a trespass complaint in Casey
  • 7:05 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy checked on a disabled vehicle in rural Bayard
  • 7:45 a.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital to Des Moines
  • 9:05 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a request for assistance 
  • 10 a.m. Panora Ambulance Unit 2 responded to a medical call in Panora
  • 10:55 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in Bagley
  • 12:01 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Panora
  • 12:50 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy performed a welfare check in Guthrie Center
  • 1:10 p.m. Panora Ambulance and Guthrie County Deputy responded to a medical alarm in Panora
  • 2:15 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a theft in progress in rural Yale
  • 3:50 p.m. Stuart Police assisted an individual
  • 5:22 p.m. Panora Police responded to a parking complaint
  • 6:10 p.m. Panora Police assisted a motorist 
  • 7:30 p.m. Panora Police assisted a motorist
  • 8 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve an arrest warrant in Casey
  • 8:15 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a fight
  • 8:30 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a harassment complaint in Guthrie Center
  • 8:40 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy followed up on an investigation in Panora
  • 11:45 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of an assault

 

4-30-25

  • 6:05 a.m. Guthrie County Sheriff and Deputy responded to a car vs. deer accident in rural Panora
  • 6:11 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a property damage accident
  • 11:30 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy followed up on an investigation
  • 11:43 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in rural Panora
  • 1 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in Guthrie Center
  • 1:30 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy checked on a disabled vehicle in rural Guthrie Center
  • 1:55 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve a civil paper in Panora
  • 2 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in rural Dexter
  • 2:45 p.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital back to Lakeside Village
  • 3:02 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to locate a wanted individual in Casey
  • 3:15 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served a civil paper in Panora
  • 3:30 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy followed up on an investigation in rural Coon Rapids
  • 4:15 p.m. Stuart Police followed up on an investigation
  • 4:15 p.m. Panora Police checked on a disabled vehicle
  • 4:45 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy picked up medication for the jail in Guthrie Center
  • 5:35 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served two subpoenas in Panora
  • 6:30 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a harassment complaint and arrested one individual
  • 6:58 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served two civil papers in rural Panora
  • 7:15 p.m. Stuart Police transported one individual to the Guthrie County Jail
  • 9:45 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy performed a welfare check in Guthrie Center
  • 9:50 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve civil papers in Guthrie Center
  • 11:45 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Panora

 

5-1-25

  • 12:43 a.m. Stuart Rescue responded to a medical call in Stuart
  • 10:50 a.m. Panora Ambulance and Guthrie County Deputy responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 1:10 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies did firearms training in Guthrie Center
  • 1:20 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in Menlo
  • 1:20 p.m. Stuart Police followed up on an investigation
  • 2:50 p.m. Stuart Police arrested one individual 
  • 3:30 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies and Menlo Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle striking a power pole
  • 3:30 p.m. Panora Police responded to a complaint
  • 4:15 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in Guthrie Center
  • 7:05 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve a civil paper in Jamaica
  • 8:15 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a theft 
  • 8:20 p.m. Stuart Police transported one individual to the Adair County Jail
  • 8:55 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy and Reserve assisted a motorist in Guthrie Center
  • 9:35 p.m. Guthrie County Reserve checked on a disabled vehicle in rural Jamaica
  • 10:40 p.m. Stuart Police conducted a search warrant
  • 10:58 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy assisted an individual in rural Guthrie Center
  • 11:15 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy and Reserve and Panora Ambulance responded to a medical situation in rural Bayard

 

5-2-25

  • 12:07 a.m. Stuart Police assisted an individual
  • 9:15 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a vehicle stranded on the railroad tracks
  • 10:20 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Panora
  • 12:05 p.m. Panora Police followed up on an investigation
  • 12:15 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served a civil paper in Casey
  • 1:05 p.m. Stuart Police followed up on an investigation
  • 1:55 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy provided court house security
  • 5:01 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in rural Guthrie Center
  • 6:45 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy followed up on an investigation in Menlo
  • 7:30 p.m. Guthrie County Reserve assisted a motorist in Bayard
  • 8:25 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Panora
  • 8:30 p.m. Panora Police responded to a property damage complaint
  • 9:15 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy and Reserve assisted Coon Rapids ambulance with a medical call in rural Coon Rapids

 

5-3-25

  • 12:05 a.m. Panora Police checked on a disabled motorist
  • 2:40 a.m. Stuart Fire and Stuart Rescue provided mutual aid for Dexter Fire
  • 2:40 a.m. Panora Police followed up on the disabled motorist
  • 11:20 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a fraud complaint
  • 2:40 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies responded to a trespass complaint in Casey
  • 5:30 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a suspicious person in Menlo
  • 5:55 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy checked on a disabled vehicle in rural Stuart
  • 9:45 p.m. Panora Police responded to a driving complaint
  • 10:10 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy checked on a disabled vehicle in rural Bagley

 

5-4-25

  • 10:45 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a theft
  • 1:20 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies responded to a complaint in rural Coon Rapids
  • 3 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a theft in Casey
  • 7:35 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in Guthrie Center
  • 9:30 p.m. Stuart Rescue and Stuart Police responded to a medical call in Stuart
  • 11:15 p.m. Panora Ambulance, Panora Police, and Guthrie County Deputy responded to a medical call in Panora

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report — Week of May 5, 2025

May 6, 2025 | Crop Report

From the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Farmers in some parts of the state have been dealing with wet field conditions after a rainy end to April. The first few days of May have been more favorable for farmers to get back into the fields,” Secretary Naig said. “With the next week or two looking generally warmer and drier, conditions should allow for farmers to make significant planting progress.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop report

While some producers were able to get into their fields, precipitation continued to delay planting in many parts of the State, allowing only 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 4, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 9 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 18 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.

Corn planted reached 49 percent, 3 days ahead of last year but 2 days behind the 5-year average. Corn emerged reached 10 percent, 2 days ahead of last year’s pace and 3 days ahead of normal. Thirty-eight percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, one week ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of the 5-year average.  Soybeans emerged reached 5 percent. Oats seeding reached 91 percent complete. Fifty-eight percent of the expected oat acreage has emerged, 4 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of normal. The first oat condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 66 percent good and 13 percent excellent.

Pasture condition rated 60 percent good to excellent. No livestock issues were reported.

Weather summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Scattered severe thunderstorms early in the reporting period gave way to a less active storm track with widespread, though below-average rainfall; portions of northern and eastern Iowa saw the wettest conditions. Temperatures also moderated from the previous week with a statewide average temperature of 54.8 degrees, 0.5 degrees above normal.

Cloudy skies remained through Sunday (27th) afternoon with southeasterly winds and high temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. Winds increased overnight into Monday (28th) with ample moisture transport into the Midwest ahead of a potent low pressure system. Morning temperatures were unseasonably warm with a statewide average low of 50 degrees, eight degrees above normal. With afternoon conditions in the upper 70s and low 80s and abundant atmospheric instability, isolated severe thunderstorms fired along the low’s attendant dry line; this surface feature is a boundary between very moist air to the east and drier air farther west. Additional storms developed later in the evening along the cold front trailing the dry line with some stronger cells moving through southwest Iowa. Luckily, a warm, stable layer in the lower levels of the atmosphere prevented a more widespread severe weather outbreak. Large hail was observed from Sioux City (Woodbury County) to Osage (Mitchell County) with the largest report being egg-sized hail in Lyon County. The strongest wind gusts were 62 to 64 mph from Ames (Story County) and in Sibley (Osceola County). Rain totals at 7:00 am on Tuesday (29th) were highest along the Iowa-Minnesota border with many stations registering at least 0.50 inch; two Worth County locations, Grafton and Northwood, observed 0.52 inch and 0.91 inch, respectively.

Tuesday (29th) was sunny with daytime highs in the upper 50s north to mid 60s south under northwesterly winds. Starry skies persisted into Wednesday (30th) as winds swung around to an easterly direction. Overcast conditions developed through the late morning as scattered showers moved into southern Iowa. A complex of moderate showers developed across eastern Iowa after sunset with isolated pockets of light rain farther west after midnight on Thursday (1st). Morning lows held in the mid 50s with patchy fog and variable, light winds. Twenty eastern Iowa stations reported more than an inch of rainfall, varying from 1.00 inch at Fairfield (Jefferson County) to 1.81 inches in DeWitt (Clinton County). Totals decreased to a few tenths of an inch towards central Iowa with a pocket of higher amounts in west-central Iowa. Daytime temperatures were only a few degrees warmer through the day as cloud cover remained. Brief clearing over western Iowa allowed early morning lows on Friday (2nd) to dip into the 40s with northwest to westerly winds until another disturbance pushed into southwest Iowa. Showers continued across southern Iowa into the afternoon with isolated cells filling in behind the system. High temperatures remained in the 50s with lingering cloud cover and light winds. Rain totals were generally under 0.20- to 0.50-inch-range, though Atlantic (Cass County) collected 0.55 inch and Earlham (Madison County) observed 0.75 inch. Saturday (3rd) dawned clear across western Iowa with stubborn cloud over eastern Iowa for most of the day. Temperatures varied from the mid 60s northwest to mid 50s southeast as clouds gradually broke over eastern Iowa. Morning lows on Sunday (4th) dropped into the upper 30s and low 40s under clear skies.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.05 inch in Iowa Falls (Hardin County) to 1.88 inches in Keokuk (Lee County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.59 inch while the normal is 0.97 inch. Several northwestern stations reported the week’s high temperature of 89 degrees on the 28th, on average 24 degrees above normal. Mason City (Cerro Gordo County) reported the week’s low temperature of 28 degrees on the 1st, 13 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low 50s east to low 60s west as of Sunday.