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Audubon County Atty resigns

News

September 17th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings has resigned from her post. According to reports, Jennings – who has served as the Attorney for Audubon County for three-years – tendered her resignation last week so that she could be closer to her family in the southern U-S.

And, while the Board of Supervisors will review and act on their options to fill the position, officials say surrounding counties have offered to have their attorneys help-out on an interim basis.

Jennings had two years remaining on her term.

Large power outage reported in the area

News

September 17th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Communications reports they have received multiple calls of a large power outage. AMU has been contacted and is working to fix the issue.

IA COVID-19 update for 9/17/20: 1 more dead in Pott. County, 14 more dead statewide

News

September 17th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Coronavirus dashboard today (Thursday, as of 10-a.m.), said there were 918 new (Positive) COVID-19 cases reported since 10-a.m. Wednesday, including four in Cass County, bringing the total to 126. Positive test results statewide to-date, amount to 76,968. Officials said also 14 deaths have taken place, for a total of 1,248 to-date. Another death was reported in Pottawattamie County, for a total of 37. It had been four days since the last death was reported in the area.

Officials say 6,055 lab results have been processed since Wednesday. The data show of those: 5,360 came back Negative and 669 were positive. A total of 719,628 Iowans have been tested for the virus, with recoveries amounting to 55,767 since the pandemic began. For a positivity rate of 10.7%.  The 14-day statewide positivity rate is 8.4%. The data also shows an increasing number of children under age 17 have tested positive for the virus. More than 2,700 educators have tested positive for the virus.

Of those who died, 858 had a pre-existing condition, and 657 of the deaths took place at a Long-Term Care (LTC) facility. In the KJAN listening area: Adair County cases increased by two to 59; Guthrie County has three more cases; Pottawattamie County shows 27 additional positive COVID-19 test results; There are three new cases each in Shelby County and Madison County; Union County cases amount to 111, or six more than on Wednesday.

Across the State, hospitalizations are down by 20 to 271. The number of patients with COVID-19 who are in an ICU is up six, to 85; 34 people were admitted to a hospital with symptoms of the virus, 10 fewer than Wednesday, and 36 patients were on ventilators. In western/southwest Iowa, hospitals report 13 people are hospitalized with COVID-19; 7 are in an ICU; Two people were admitted to an area hospital with symptoms, and one person remains on  ventilator.

There is one more LTC outbreak, at 39, with 925 patients/staff testing positive for COVID-19, and 454 have recovered.

Here are the latest positive case numbers for southwest/western Iowa (County; Positive Case #’s; number of persons who have (recovered); {deaths since the outbreak began}.

  • Cass County: 126 cases; (113); 2 deaths
  • Adair County: 59 cases; (42); 1 death
  • Adams County: 27 cases; (23)
  • Audubon County: 49 cases; (31); 1 death
  • Guthrie County: 208 cases; (155); 5 deaths
  • Montgomery County: 84 cases; (79); 5 deaths
  • Pottawattamie County: 1,888 cases; (1,566); 37 deaths
  • Shelby County: 238 cases; (226); 1 death.
  • Madison County, 191; (150); 2 deaths
  • Harrison County, 164 cases; (151); 2 deaths
  • Union County: 111 cases; (84); 3 deaths.
  • Mills County: 153 cases; (112); 1 death.

DCI Investigating A Jasper County Homicide

News

September 17th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

KELLOGG, Iowa  – The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports authorities are investigating the death of a person found in a Jasper County ditch, Wednesday evening. According to their report, at around 5:32-p.m., the Jasper County Communication Center received a report of a fire in the 8100 block of North 67th Avenue East in rural Kellogg.

Responding emergency personnel found an active fire in the roadside ditch. After extinguishing the fire, a deceased body was located.

At this time, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are treating the death as a homicide. The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released when available.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 641-792-5912.

Governor warns of speedier sanction process for bar, restaurants flouting pandemic rules

News

September 17th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds of bars, taverns, nightclubs and breweries in four Iowa counties reopened last (Wednesday) night after being closed for 20 days. The bar closures and re-openings in Black Hawk, Dallas, Linn and Polk Counties are part of the governor’s pandemic decrees. Governor Reynolds is warning there will be quicker state enforcement of social distancing in all bars and restaurants in the state.

“We have a speedier due process through the Alcoholic Beverages Division for existing bars and restaurants that don’t follow the health declaration requirements,” Reynolds says.

There are fines for first and second offenses. A bar or restaurant will lose their liquor license on a third offense if it continues to let customers skirt the social distancing requirements. Customers must be seated while eating AND drinking in a bar or restaurant in addition to the six-feet of separation standard.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020

News

September 17th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As coronavirus deaths push past 1,200 and cases continue to rise Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds stands firm in her opposition to requiring masks or authorizing local cities and counties to enforce face covering mandates widely viewed by medical professionals and scientists as an effective way to slow COVID-19 spread. Reynolds encourages Iowans to wear masks but says orders are not enforceable. She’s been photographed recently at GOP events hugging and talking closely with others without a mask but claims she does wear one and says photo snapshots aren’t reflective of her practice. Community virus spread continues to be high in some counties which lead to a government recommendation of a statewide mask mandate, but Reynolds has declined to enact one.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says there is nothing inappropriate about her decision to spend nearly $449,000 in federal coronavirus relief money on salaries for aides in her office, including her chief of staff and spokesman. Reynolds responded at a press conference for the first time about a report posted Sunday by the online blog Bleeding Heartland. The report indicated 21 employees on Reynolds’ staff will have more than 60% of their salary paid by the federal emergency funds from March 14 through June 30. Reynolds says federal rules clearly allow salaries to be paid for workers whose job requirements are significantly changed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

KEYSTONE, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says one person died and five juveniles suffered minor injuries when a van hit a school bus in northeast Iowa. The crash happened Wednesday morning on a county road in Benton County. The patrol says a person driving a van veered onto the road’s shoulder then over corrected and hit the school bus. The driver of the van died at the scene. Five students on the bus were injured. The bus driver was not hurt. No names have been released and the investigation is continuing.

Sioux County has 14-day Covid positivity rate of 26.7%, highest in Iowa

News

September 16th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Northwest Iowa’s Sioux County continues to have the highest coronavirus positivity rate in Iowa. At 5 p.m. today (Wednesday), the state’s online dashboard indicated Sioux County’s Covid positivity rate was 27 percent. Reporter Mark Buss has checked with the county’s public health agency, which is called Community Health Partners:

In an email response from Community Health Partners, officials there say they’ve been closely watching the 14-day positivity rate over the last month and are very concerned about it. They say they have been working with the Iowa Department of Public Health to help evaluate what is driving Sioux County’s percentage rates up. They know for sure the county’s experiencing community spread. At this time, however, they do not have any data to support that there has been a specific outbreak, nor do they have any data to suggest the colleges are driving this number. CHP will make a statement when they have those answers.

Two of the counties that are adjacent to Sioux County have the second and third highest Covid positivity rates. Lyon County’s rate is nearly 22 percent. Plymouth County’s is 16 percent.

Atlantic City Council action taken (9/16/20)

News

September 16th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, took action on some matters before them and failed to approve other measures. The Council first-off denied a Tree Trimmer permit for Cook Hauling and Tree Service. City Clerk Barb Barrick said Cook has insurance, but has not provided insurance for his independent contractors. If he provides proof of the required insurance, the Council can reconsider the permit request at a future meeting. Tree Trimmer permits were approved for two other businesses: Steve’s Tree Service, and Hotze Tree Service.

The Council rejected a second reading of Ordinance #998, which would amend the City’s Code of Ordinances with regard to “Sanitary Sewer System” hook-up requirements. City Administrator John Lund said the Personnel and Finance Committee objected to wording in the amendment that was not agreed to by a consensus of the committee, yet still made it into the Ordinance. More specifically: a property with a septic system that is sold, must be hooked-up to the sewer. With no action taken on the Amended Ordinance, it officially died and will have to be re-written entirely before it can be presented before the Council again.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council approved by a vote of six-to-one (with Gerald Brink opposed), a request from the Fireside Lounge, to close the alley behind the business on Sept. 26th, from 11-a.m. until midnight. The owner wishes to use the space for additional motorcycle parking, during a fundraiser for Ryan Ward. Around 100 motorcycles are expected to be arriving for the event. The Mayor noted this was the third alley closure the Fireside owner has requested in the past couple of months. The Council approved requests for separate events during their meetings in July and August.

Mayor Jones said “I think we’re going to ask for a Community Protection meeting next Tuesday night, if we need to address this and maybe put some limits on….basically what happens, if you’ve got a business, we shouldn’t be closing the streets down in front of your business.” Councilman Dick Casady wondered who would monitor six-feet social distancing during the event. Councilman Pat McCurdy assumed the owner would, but Barb Barrick said she presumed it would be the Police Department.

Mayor Jones said the Committee should establish parameters for street/alley closures, and the number of times that is allowed per year. In other news, Councilman Jim Behrends said he spoke with Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel, who informed him the Annual Fireman’s Breakfast on Oct. 4th, has been cancelled. Earlier this month, it was announced the Atlantic Fireman’s Parade had also been cancelled.

Atlantic Mayor designates Halloween Trick or Treating date and rules

News

September 16th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday, officially designated Halloween Trick-or-Treating as October 31st, from 5:30-until 7:30-p.m.  He also set some guidelines for the event, in light of COVID-19. His statement says:

“Mayor Jones requests participation in the following guidelines for 2020 Halloween:
• Keep family/children in a group and do not mix/mingle with other children/families. Maintain a 6-foot distance if waiting to approach a house.
• Candy should be handed out, not presented in a container for everyone to put their hands in and choose from. Alternatively, participating households could set out individualized plastic or brown paper bags for children to take individually.
• Masks/face coverings should be worn when approaching houses to accept candy being handed out and should be worn by those handing out candy, or when within 6 feet of those outside your family/social circle.
• Houses that wish to participate should turn their outdoor lights on.”

Jones said also, the Chamber has looked at some alternatives, such as a virtual Halloween costume contest, street activities in the downtown area for children, and other possible alternatives. Nothing official has been released thus far, with regard to the other options mentioned.

(Update) Education director says Iowa’s largest school district in danger of losing accreditation

News

September 16th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds, Wednesday morning, said Des Moines Public School officials have made unacceptable decisions about starting the school year with online classes for most students.  “The board’s action last night was disappointing,” Reynolds says. “While the board voted 4-3 to prepare to implement a hybrid learning model, there’s no clear sense of how or when that might happen.”

Some members of the Des Moines School Board have said the district should continue online classes for at least the first nine weeks of the school year and in-person classes should only resume when the prevalence of Covid dips to certain levels in Des Moines. Reynolds says those metrics appear to be designed so students don’t come back to the classroom. “So to be clear, Des Moines Public School is no closer to compliance with state law than they were before last night’s vote, which I think is unfortunate for the students,” Reynolds said.

The time students have spent in online classes since the school year started in Des Moines last week may have to be made up later in the year, according to the governor. The district did not get a state waiver for internet-only instruction.  “326 out of 327 school districts have figured it out,” Reynolds says. “A lot of these school districts have been in school for three weeks!”

Ann Lebo

Iowa Department of Education director Ann Lebo says the state’s largest school district is in danger of losing its accreditation. “We were very hopeful to work with the district to find a solution,” Lebo says. “At this point it seems that they were well into a plan that is out of compliance and will continue to do so, so we will initiate that process on our end.”

The State Board of Education ultimately decides when school districts lose “accredited” status and are dissolved. School administrators accused of violating state standards go before a separate panel. The State Board of Educational Examiners can both sanction and revoke educators’ licenses.