Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds visited the Woodward Resource Center (WRC) Monday afternoon as part of her daylong tour of central Iowa derecho damage.
Some 200 trees were toppled or damaged on the 1,000-acre WRC campus, and the city of Woodward was similarly slammed.
The governor was welcomed to the WRC by Iowa Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Disability Services-Facilities Administrator and Cherokee Mental Health Institute Superintendent Cory Turner and Woodward Resource Center Superintendent and Glenwood Resource Center Interim Superintendent Marsha Edgington.
A number of area farmers and local officeholders were also on hand to greet the governor, including Woodward-area farmers Jim Frantum and Robin Anderson Frantum, Keith Tingwald and Karl Harris, who is also captain of the Bouton Volunteer Fire Department.
Elected and appointed officeholders included Boone County Supervisor Bill Zinnel, Boone County Auditor Phillipe Meier, Dallas County Supervisor Mark Hanson, Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard, Dallas County Emergency Management Coordinator A. J. Seely, Woodward Mayor Todd Folkerts, Woodward City Council members Jim Gough, Kelly Kirts and Ashvin Patel and Woodward Police Department Chief Joseph Cox.
The attendees shared with the governor both personal anecdotes of the storm and wide-angled summaries of the extensive damage to private and public property.
The Woodward contingent gave high praise to the Iowa Department of Transportation for their prompt and sustained help in restoring the town to safety and order following the derecho.
Also on hand from the WRC were Assistant Superintendent of Habilitation Services Diane Stout, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Clint Reynolds and WRC Maintenance Director Rodney Carr.
Joining the governor on her “whirlwind” tour were Iowa Lieutenant Gov. Adam Gregg and Senior Policy Advisor Liz Matney.
