Iowa

Greenfield hospital reopens six months after deadly Iowa tornado

Published

1 year ago

December 4, 2024

Greenfield hospital reopens six months after deadly Iowa tornado

GREENFIELD, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Adair County’s only hospital officially cut the ribbon to mark the reopening after the tornado this spring.

The May EF-04 tornado killed four people and damaged hundreds of homes and businesses.

The hospital sits just feet from the tornado’s path. Hospital CEO Catherine Hillestad said, “I don’t think that there was a part of this hospital that wasn’t touched by the tornado in some aspect.”

Hillestad says the entire roof had to be replaced and the wind blew out most of their windows.

“The debris and the glass was embedded in our drywall so essentially we had to take everything down to the studs and then put it back up,” she said.

They had to move their clinic to the elementary school in the aftermath.

Hillestead says the community is eager for the hospital to reopen, because the next closest hospital is 20 miles away.

“This hospital is extremely important to the community and the patients it serves. You know, without this hospital, it would be really hard for people to access healthcare just because of the distance from other hospitals,” she said.

While the hospital is now accepting patients, State Rep. Bubba Sorensen (R-Greenfield) is putting finishing touches on a mural inside.

“Have the medical symbol right here and it’s kind of, it’s a little bit of an artsy take on it. So, instead of snake heads, I used eagle heads,” he said.

Sorensen says Greenfield is making remarkable progress in its recovery. “Greenfield’s never going to be the same. We’re always going to have kind of that scar through town but I think it’s we’re coming back stronger than ever,” she said.

Sorensen says the fact that a rural community like Greenfield has a rural hospital makes it crucial for the small town’s success.

“Not every rural community has an amazing hospital like this and they offer so many services here. Like I said, a great anchor point, you know. Everybody looks towards schools, hospitals, and things like that to have in a community if you want to move into a community,” he said.

Construction is mostly finished. All they need now is a garage to house their ambulance.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

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Iowa

Semi-truck crash causes Iowa power outage impacting hundreds

Published

9 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Semi-truck crash causes Iowa power outage impacting hundreds

TAMA COUNTY, Iowa — A pair of power outages left more than 700 people without power in Tama County Friday afternoon.

Alliant Energy says the larger outage, just north of Garwin, was caused by a semi-truck striking one of their power poles. That outages impacted 690 customers as of 5 p.m. Friday.

The smaller outage impacted roughly 36 people in Tama. The outage was caused by equipment needing repairs.

Alliant says crews are on site and working to fix both outages.

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Iowa

Iowa Great Lakes businessman Butch Parks dies at 81

Published

12 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Iowa Great Lakes businessman Butch Parks dies at 81

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) – The Iowa Great Lakes community is remembering Leo “Butch” Parks, a longtime lakes-area businessman and founder of Parks Marina.

He died Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the age of 81.

Parks established the marina on East Lake Okoboji in 1983, growing it from a small fishing boat operation into a business with marinas, sales, service, rentals, storage, and popular destinations like the Barefoot Bar.

Parks and his wife, Debbie, also owned Okoboji Boat Works for 23 years.

Funeral services are set for Friday, Jan. 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. It will be followed by a celebration of life at Snapper’s restaurant in Okoboji that evening.

Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.

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Iowa

Iowa woman accused of pandering for prostitution and harassment after incidents at Casey’s and a daycare

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

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Iowa woman accused of pandering for prostitution and harassment after incidents at Casey’s and a daycare

AURELIA, Iowa (KTIV) – A Northwest Iowa woman is facing charges of harassment and pandering for prostitution after two incidents took place in December 2025.

Forty-seven-year-old Kristal Miller of Odebolt was taken into custody on an arrest warrant and faces three charges: one count of pandering for prostitution and two counts of first-degree harassment, according to court documents.

Kristal Miller(Cherokee County Jail)

The charges stem from two separate incidents that took place on Thursday, Dec. 18. 2025.

According to court documents, at 6:15 a.m., Miller reportedly went to the Casey’s General Store, located at 100 Pearl St. in Aurelia. Documents state Miller approached an employee and customers, requesting money from them.

Authorities state Miller claimed she was wanted by the FBI and told people, if anyone called the police, “she would kill them.”

During this encounter, she also allegedly asked an employee to remove the string from her hooded sweatshirt. Documents state when the employee refused this request, she threatened to strangle them.

That same day at 7 a.m., Miller reportedly approached a female employee outside an Aurelia daycare and asked them for money.

Court documents stated Miller suggested the unnamed employee leave her boyfriend. Miller reportedly told the employee, if she did, then she and Miller would both be paid.

Authorities say when she was told no by the employee, Miller became upset and started yelling at them.

Miller also allegedly threatened to “steal her car” and ”take her away to her guys to start a new life.”

She was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on a cash-only bond of $5,000. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Cherokee for Friday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m.

Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.

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