Although it may not look or feel like it outside, spring is officially here, and in Iowa that means severe weather. Citizens from all over Jasper County took part in the National Weather Service 2013 Spotter training session on Thursday.

The session was held at the Jasper County Community Center and was proctored by Kevin Skow a meteorologist with the NWS in Des Moines. Chuck Wagoner, president of the Newton Amateur Radio Association and Jasper County Emergency Management Coordinator Jim Sparks were also in attendance. NARA were the sponsors for the event.

“Hopefully you’ll get a chance to use your skills, unlike last year we had a really quiet year thankfully,” Skow said. “But 2013 could be very different, you never know.”