Iowa
Iowa tornado: SW Iowa Emergency Relief Fund collecting thousands for victims
POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, Iowa (WOWT) – The Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund was started by Pottawattamie county a few years ago.
It started with $50,000 reaching to nearly $900,000 during the pandemic before being given out for COVID relief.
“We’re back to the original investment that was made by Pottawattamie County Emergency Management and now we’re adding back to that fund,” said Donna Dostal, President and CEO of Community Foundation for Western Iowa.
TORNADO RECOVERY
How to help — and find help
Here are ways you can assist those in Nebraska and Iowa who are recovering from tornadoes that hit on Friday, April 26.

Now, there’s nearly $100,000 for tornado victims and more is on the way.
“The gifts keep coming in. Right now we’re probably at about $75,000 to $85,000 of new money.”
Money from the fund goes directly to organizations on the ground bringing relief to places like Council Bluffs, Crescent and Minden.
“It can help close gaps and make sure lives are whole cities are rebuilt and better than they were when it started,” said Dostal.
Donations for the Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund are being accepted online.
Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Ben Kueter earns top-10 in return to Iowa men’s wrestling lineup
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Iowa
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.
Iowa
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.
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Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.
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