Gowrie News
The
March 15, 2017
GOWRIE, WEBSTER COUNTY, IOWA
VOL. 127 NO. 10
Gowrie and the surrounding towns report hail, deluge of rain and even tornadoes By Shari Everhart Severe storms lashed this area on Monday, March 6. Temperatures reached a high in the lower 70's with much of the day seeing windy conditions that are usually associated with the month. By late afternoon, dark clouds rolled in bringing thunder, lightning, hail, a deluge of rain and even tornadoes. Gowrie and the surrounding area reported pea- to quarter-sized hail, heavy enough to cover the ground making grassy areas and roadways taking on a much more winter-like look of being snow covered. There were also reports of larger ping pong ball sized hail in several local communities.The fast-moving storm spawned at least two reported tornadoes in southern Webster County. Luckily, there were no injuries. The twisters were part of the same cell. Both tornadoes, both brief in nature, were rated an EF0 with estimated wind speeds of 70 miles per hour. The National Weather Service said the first tornado was at 6:20 p.m. and located about a mile south of Harcourt. It was on the ground for about two miles. Scott Forbes, Webster County emergency management coordinator, reported damage occurred south of 350th Street between Oak Avenue and Nelson Avenue. "We had a debris path that went northeast and it crossed the road on Oak Avenue between 350th Street and 360th Street and continued into the field northeast, but did not go across Paragon Avenue," Forbes said. Approximately four power lines were taken out along 350th Street. A hog confinement building west of Dayton at 3459 Oak Avenue was destroyed by a tornado.Debris from the building was all over the field near the facility and
a downed power pole blocked 350th Street. Patrol cars were dispatched to 350th Street and Nelson Avenue and 350th Street and Oak Avenue, blocking off the road there. March storms continue on page 5...
Farnhamville's former restaurant undergoes a makeover Volunteers and contractors generously assisting......
Hail storm... Hail pounded most of webster and area counties last week.
By Shari Everhart Anyone driving on Garfield Avenue, Farnhamville’s main thoroughfare, has no doubt noticed there’s been a hive of activity these past several months at the yellow building on the west side of the street that formerly housed Tony’s Steak House and Restaurant. The interior of the building is undergoing a makeover. Tony and Pam McFarland were the last owners operating a business at the site and in the spring of 2017, they closed down and liquidated most of the equipment in the building. January 2016, Farnhamville Betterment, Inc., not to be confused with the Farnhamville Betterment Farnhamville restaurant continued on page 3...
Room to grow in Gowrie; grants available for new construction with plenty of perks Free membership to golf course, swimming pool and much more... By Shari Everhart There’s plenty of room to grow in Gowrie. Empty lots are sitting about town waiting for someone to bring their family, build a home and make the community their own. Kevin Black sees this capable of happening with potential becoming a reality on the corner of Webster Street and Riddle Street in Gowrie. The three empty lots are waiting there, platted and ready for builders to construct the town’s next new housing. Affordable lots at less than $10,000 per lot are ready for building to begin. Additionally, two to three lots for housing are available
on Walnut Street and there’s the possibility of expanding the Wiley Addition in the east part of the town. Grants are available throughout the town of Gowrie to encourage growth. The city is currently offering grants of up to $40,000 for new construction, with help from the Gowrie Development Commission and through the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. Black, who is the president and chief executive officer of Heartland Bank and who also serves on the Gowrie Development Commission, says, “We want to bring families in. We want to bring taxpayers in, we want to fill the schools with kids.” Mayor Gayle Redman stated, “There hasn’t been a lot of new housing construction in Gowrie in the last several years. We’re always on the lookout to attract new people to town.” Gowrie has offered tax abatement programs for new home construction for some time according to Black. At present, new builders can choose instead to get funds at the beginning, instead of tax relief over 10 years. Gowrie New Construction grant continued on page 9...
This is the newly renovated bar area at the Former Tony's Steak House in Farnhamville.
The Gowire Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting its annual Pancake Brunch on Sunday, March 19 from 10:30 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.. The brunch will include Pancake, eggs, sausage, jucie, coffee and hashbrowns. All proceeds will go towards finishing the new fire station and Thrivent will be matching funds. Come out and help them so they can help you!
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