The Newton Rotary Club learned about weather forecasting on January 21 when local meteorologist Eric Schmidt (right) spoke about his business, EJS Weather Service. He studied weather science in college, then worked for United Airlines and also did worldwide forecasts for offshore oil rigs. In 2007, he and his dad, Rein Schmidt, started a daily forecasting service in their home that has grown and they do the weather maps for many newspapers, and publish articles in energy and agriculture magazines. Schmidt says his interest in weather really began at age 11, when their family home was smashed by the F4 tornado that passed through Newton in 1990. He also works as a bus driver, tennis coach and soccer official. Rotarian Brett Lessley (left) was the chairperson for the day.
