Karl Chevrolet's KCCI Storm Chasers

Jason Parkin Visits West Elementary in Knoxville

2008-11-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

Jason Parkin visited Knoxville's West Elementary and made some new friends there while doing Schoolnet maintenance.

Bryan Karrick Visits Brubaker

2008-11-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

KCCI meteorologist Bryan Karrick visited Brubaker Elementary in Des Moines this week...

Jason Visits Calvary Lutheran Church for the Deaf

2008-11-19T11:01:00.000-08:00

Jason Parkin took his KCCI Storm Chaser to the Calvary Lutheran Church for the Deaf in Des Moines for a talk about severe weather, safety and information that's available (and what's not) for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Jason to Audubon

2008-11-19T07:50:00.000-08:00

KCCI meteorologist Jason Parkin took his Karl Chevrolet Storm Chaser west to Audubon on October 29th to visit Kim Subbert's science classes. Here are a few pictures of the kids...

Jason Parkin Goes to Altoona

2008-11-19T07:47:00.000-08:00

Meteorologist Jason Parkin from KCCI visited Willowbrook Elementary in Altoona on October 28th. Pictured here are some of the students from the school.

Jason Parkin to Pella Christian

2008-11-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

KCCI meteorologist Jason Parkin took his Karl Chevrolet Storm Chaser to Pella Christian school back on October 27th.

Bryan Visits Crocker Elementary

2008-11-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

KCCI meteorologist Bryan Karrick visited Crocker Elementary in Ankeny on November 18th to talk about severe weather and safety.

Bryan Visits Southeast Elementary in Ankeny

2008-11-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

KCCI's Bryan Karrick took his Karl Chevrolet Storm Chaser to Southeast Elementary in Ankeny this week to talk with the kids about weather and safety.

MORE STORM CHASING

2008-06-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a busy one with meteorologists Bryan Karrick and Kurtis Gertz out chasing storms and monitoring them for us. It's very helpful having trained spotters and chasers out in the field telling us what they're seeing on the ground. These are pics of Bryan's Saturday chase.

BRYAN'S THURSDAY CHASE

2008-06-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

Strong storms rolled out of Nebraska and Kansas Thursday evening and Bryan Karrick was out keeping an eye on things for us. These were pictures taken near Red Oak and, later, near Corning.

LOTS OF CHASING

2008-06-07T22:25:00.000-07:00

Pics above are from the Lorimor area Wednesday night after I saw a brief tornado southeast of Creston and before I saw the end of a large, rain-wrapped tornado near Corning.

MONDAY AND TUESDAY

2008-05-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

May is usually a busy month for school talks and spotter training/corporate training for me. On Monday and Tuesday, I visited Fort Dodge St. Edmond's, Callanan Middle School in Des Moines, and East Greene in Grand Junction.

Jason at Xenia

2008-05-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

Talked with the folks at Xenia Rural Water today about severe weather and safety. Then we played in the back of the truck...

The Academy in Des Moines

2008-05-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

Jason Parkin Storm-Chasered to the Academy off of Polk Boulevard in Des Moines to talk with the 2nd-graders about severe weather and safety.

At Maple Grove Elementary School in Waukee

2008-05-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

Jason Parkin and the third-graders...

Ackley Storm Spotter Training

2008-04-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

After Schoolnet stops in Belmond and Latimer today, I went to Ackely to do some storm spotter training for the fire, police, and abulance folks there. Talk about a nice bunch...

Busy Tuesday

2008-04-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today I visited Walnut Creek Elementary in Urbandale, where we talked about things like Earth Day, trash and, strangely, meteorology. Then I switched gears and spoke with the Rotary Club members in Dallas Center, mostly about climate stuff. Afterwards I visited Perry Elementary and talked with the 5th-graders there about severe weather and safety.

Fixin' and Talkin'

2008-04-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

I made a few stops today, first visiting Jordan Creek Elementary in West Des Moines to calibrate the wind direction on their new anemometer (I lead an exciting life). Then it was off to Berg Middle School in Newton to do some software work. Finally I got to meet the staff and residents at Ramsey Village in Des Moines to talk about severe weather and safety.

Chaser at Blues for Greens

2008-04-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

Jason Parkin and his Storm Chaser voyaged to Blues for Greens on the Walnut Street bridge this morning. The chaser with its E85 capabilities was one of many "green" vehicles showcased at the event, which was conveniently (for me) located near the starting line of the Mayors Ride for Trails.

Jason Parkin at the Downtown School

2008-04-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

Meteorologist Jason Parkin and a wet white Storm Chaser visited the Downtown School today only to be regaled with song.

Bryan Karrick Visits De Soto Middle School!

2008-04-16T08:34:00.001-07:00

Pioneer Lunch-n-Learn and Ankeny Scouts

2008-04-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

Jason Parkin took his Storm Chaser to Pioneer Hi-Bred in Johnston for an employee lunch-and-learn and later to Ankeny to talk to the scouts.

Jason 'Splains the Storm Chaser's Features

2008-04-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

See the video here.

AnkenyDallasCenterAdelAnkenyIowaFallsAlden

2008-04-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Jason Parkin visited Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny on Wednesday to record some material for KCCI's upcoming severe weather special. Then it was off to Dallas Center for a talk at Spurgeon Manor. Then to Schoolnet maintenance stops in Adel, Ankeny (Ankeny Christian Academy) and Rock Run Elementary in Iowa Falls. The day was rounded out with spotter training in Alden. Whew.

To Marshalltown and Baxter

2008-03-24T14:41:00.001-07:00

Jason Parkin took a trip to the Emerson company in Marshalltown and to Baxter Elementary today to talk severe weather and safety as we approach the spring storm season.

A Trip to Madison Elementary

2008-03-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Meteorologist Jason Parkin took at trip to Madison Elementary on Thursday to read to 3rd and 4th-graders there!

Maintenance Day

2008-02-26T16:27:00.001-08:00

Schoolnet stations and webcams are machines, and machines sometimes break. It's my job to head out and try to keep things running smoothly. Today I went to Jordan Creek Elementary in West Des Moines, Polk City and the middle school in Adel to drop off equipment. I also stopped by Saylorville Marina to give the camera there a restart... JP

Jason Parkin at Delaware Elementary

2008-02-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

Jason Parkin visited Delaware Elementary on Des Moines' east side on Monday, February 25 and talked to the 5th-graders there about severe weather and safety. Here's some video from his appearance.

Storm Chaser to Audubon

2008-02-13T12:44:00.000-08:00

On Monday, February 11th, KCCI's Jason Parkin took his Karl Chevrolet Storm Chaser to Audubon to talk with the 4th-graders about severe weather and safety. He also made a visit to the Schoolnet site at the high school. Here are some randomly-chosen quotes from the kids there:

I wish one day I would be a person like you. - Matracea

It felt like a celebrity walked in when you came in. You were one of the nicest guys I have ever met. You were awesome. You should visit every fourth grade class in Iowa. You are a very good meteorologist. You are a very funny guy. - Joseph R.

I can't believe how smart you are. - Matthew Smith Petersen

Old Pic of BK in the State Fair Parade

2008-02-09T15:41:00.000-08:00

Bryan Karrick pilots his Karl Chevrolet Storm Chaser in the State Fair parade, August 2007

Storm Chaser to Knoxville and Pella

2008-01-16T11:31:00.000-08:00

On Monday, January 14, Jason Parkin visited a homeschoolers' group at the Knoxville Public Library, as well as a group of middle-schoolers at Pella Christian. Pics can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80586071@N00/

Classic Storm Chasers

2008-01-08T16:37:00.000-08:00

KCCI's Storm Team is on their second generation of Avalanches thanks to Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny. For pictures of our first fleet, click here

Schoolnet Fixin'

2008-01-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

Jason Parkin made some Schoolnet maintenance stops in Barnum, Humboldt and LuVerne in November. With wires, electronics and bearings involved, our instruments sometimes need some t.l.c...

A Few November Pics

2008-01-08T16:12:00.000-08:00

Meteorologist Jason Parkin made many Schoolnet and school talk stops in November. Some of the sites included were Grimes, Pella Christian, and Ogden Middle School.

Lotsa School Stops

2008-01-08T15:56:00.001-08:00

KCCI meteorologists Bryan Karrick and Jason Parkin made many stops at central Iowa schools during the month of November. Bryan made a trip to Ankeny to talk to youngsters there. Jason went to Kate Mitchell and St. Cecilia schools in Ames and made maintenance stops in Madrid, Boone and Baxter

Norwoodville Visit

2008-01-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

On December 5th, meteorologist Jason Parkin took his Karl Chevrolet Storm Chaser to Des Moines' east side and Norwoodville Elementary. See his pictures here

KCCI's Karl Chevrolet Storm Chasers

2008-01-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

KCCI has partnered with Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny to help our meteorologists better keep track of severe weather moving across Iowa with an entire fleet of Storm Chasers. Information on the trucks can be found here: http://www.kcci.com/weather/3369073/detail.html

In the future, I'll be keeping you up-to-date regarding our storm chases and the visits our trucks make to area schools and community groups.

-Jason Parkin