It was one year ago today (Monday) that a large tornado hit the town of Mapleton, demolishing about half of the community's homes and businesses.

The twister hit about 7:30 in the evening on a Saturday, April 9th of  2011.  Mayor Roger Krohn says things look a lot different from how they were a year ago:

Mayor Krohn says businesses have done a remarkable job recovering from the storm.

The National Weather Service says the tornado was an EF3, three-quarters of a mile wide, with winds of up to 165 miles-an-hour.

There were no deaths and only minor injuries. Krohn says there were more injuries during the clean-up process than during the actual storm.

Radio Iowa contributed this story.

MAPLETON CITY COUNCILWOMAN DIAN BLEIL  (BL-EYE-L) SAYS IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR OF RECOVERY FROM THE TORNADO THAT STRUCK THE MONONA COUNTY TOWN A YEAR AGO.

SHE SAYS  MAPLETON RESIDENTS WILL GATHER TONIGHT (MONDAY) TO SHARE STORIES AND REMEMBER THE EVENT:

THAT DINNER TAKES PLACE AT THE MAPLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AT 6PM FOR A FREE WILL DONATION. THE DOORS OPEN AT 5:30.

PROCEEDS WILL BE USED FOR VARIOUS TORNADO RECOVERY EFFORTS INCLUDING TWO NEW SIRENS.

New financial disclosures show the candidates in western Iowa's 4th Congressional District are
succeeding in raising lots of campaign cash.

Incumbent 5th District Republican Steve King reports raising $450,000 in
the first quarter of this year. King says he has more than $800,000
of cash in the bank.
 

The new numbers mean King has raised just over $1.2 million for
his campaign
    

Last week Democratic challenger Christie Vilsack said she has raised more
than $400,000 in the first three months of 2012 and has more than
$900,000 of cash on hand.

That's the toughest financial challenge Democrats have been able to
pose for King, who is seeking his sixth term opverall, but first in the new 4th District.

ASSOCIATED PRESS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY

SOUTH SIOUX CITY RESIDENTS MAY START NOTICING THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS LOOKING A LITTLE IN NEED OF A RAZOR IN DAYS TO COME. 

THE CITY IS PREPARING FOR IT'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY AND PART OF THAT INCLUDES A BEARD GROWING CONTEST. FESTIVAL SPOKESPERSON DEANNA BEEKMAN SAYS THE BEARD GROWING HAS JUST BEGUN:

BEEKMAN  SAYS THE ACTUAL CLEBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST:

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CELEBRATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS THE DATE DRAWS CLOSER.