An accident involving a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) in southern Iowa’s Davis County, Friday night, left one person dead and three others injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2013 Polaris Ranger driven by 17-year old Isaac Schmucker, of Bloomfield, was traveling west on Jaguar Trail at around 11:30-p.m., when the vehicle left the road and went out of control. The UTV tipped over, ejecting Schmucker,  and his passengers: 19-year old Cora Schmucker; 16-year old Noah Schmucker, and 14-year old Amos Schmucker, all of Bloomfield. None of the occupants wear wearing seat belts.

All were transported to the Davis County Hospital by Davis County EMS.

The National Weather Service has issued a HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING for the entire State of Iowa. Expect a heat index of up to 105 degrees.

* IMPACTS…Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke to occur.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack says he’s “deeply concerned” about a report showing that the first known coronavirus outbreak at an Iowa meatpacking plant was far more severe than the state publicly acknowledged. Loebsack wrote a letter to Gov. Kim Reynolds requesting information about the state’s response to the outbreak at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Columbus Junction. The letter came two days after The Associated Press reported on documents showing Tyson officials told safety inspectors on April 30 that 522 employees were known to be infected. A dozen were hospitalized and two died. But at a May 5 news conference, the Iowa Department of Public Health said that only 221 workers at the plant had tested positive.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation extending an order that bars and restaurants require patrons to remain at least 6 feet apart to limit spread of the coronavirus. The proclamation signed Friday also extends other requirements, including that bars and restaurants patrons each have seats at a table or bar and that operators maintain “increased hygiene practices.” In addition, the governor’s order extends existing rules for fitness centers, casinos, senior citizen centers and other businesses. Reynolds actions came as Iowa’s online virus tracker showed a total of 820 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. It also showed 451 new confirmed cases by 10 a.m. Friday from the day before, bringing the state’s total to nearly 41,000 cases.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — A man has been charged with murder after a woman shot in the head early Thursday in a Des Moines suburb died at a hospital. Pleasant Hill police say 25-year-old Bethany Castro, of Des Moines, died Friday morning after being shot the day before in the suburb just east of Des Moines. Police say 32-year-old Phillip Koromah, of Pleasant Hill, had initially been charged with attempted murder, but that charge was changed to first-degree murder after Castro’s death. Officers arrested Koromah after spotting him speeding in a car near where the shooting occurred. He has been held in the Polk County Jail and is awaiting his first appearance in court.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa juvenile has been charged with two counts of animal torture in the brutal deaths of a dog and a kitten. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says in a news release Friday that the incidents were discovered last week at a Des Moines apartment complex. Animal Services officers called to the complex on July 17 found an adult dog that had been disemboweled but was still alive. The ARL says the dog’s injuries were so horrific that officers immediately euthanized the dog to end its suffering. Later the same day, animal officers were again sent to the complex, where they found an 8-week-old kitten that had suffered a traumatic death.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating four juveniles who ran away Friday night from Children’s Square USA, in Council Bluffs (500 North 7th Street).

Carter Doner

Elizabeth Cuffman, age 17

Luke Schneider

David Jorgensen, age 13

Authorities say 8-year old Carter Donor, 9-year old Luke Schneider, 13-year old David Jorgensen and 17-year old Elizabeth Cuffman were last seen at 6:03-p.m., in the area of 500 North 7th Street.  If you see these juveniles, please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department 712-328-5737 or call 911.

Children’s Square is a private, non-profit organization that cares for children and families in need, and offers among its services, specialized treatment for children with behavioral, emotional and psychiatric needs.

Here are the results from the FFA Floriculture Contest [Trophy Sponsors: Berg Electric; FFA Association; Special Occasions; Mailander Law Office; KJAN; Olsen Fuel Supply; Iowa Gold; Smith Plumbing & Heating and Sandbothe Firestone]

• Champion Container: Mallory Behnken, CAM FFA (Parents Blaine & Kim Behnken)
• Reserve Champion Container: Joann Brahms, CAM FFA (Parents Steve & Diane Brahms)
• Champion Hanging Basket: Shelby Steffen, GRISWOLD FFA (Parents Andy & Jody Steffen)
• Reserve Champion Hanging Basket: Logan Evans, GRISWOLD FFA (Parents Jessie & Ryan Evans)

4-H Rabbit Awards Results [Trophy Sponsors: Natalie & Stephen Ritter; In Memory of Jim Rush*;Oathoudt Farm Supply; In Memory of Ray Zellmer by Rosemary Zellmer**; Cappel’s Ace Hardware; Orscheln Farm & Home; VFW Post #3415; Body Basics Chiropractic; Kurt Roberts; and Retallic’s Rabbits.]

• Champion 6 Class 4-H Production Pen: Stella Beattie, Benton-Franklin Club (Parents Alan & Nellie Beattie)
• Reserve Champion 6 Class 4-H Production Pen: Makayla Atkinson, Pymosa Club (Parents Angela Athkinson & Ryan Atkinson)
• Champion 6 Class 4-H Individual: Stella Beattie
• Reserve Champion  Class 4-H Individual*: Makayla Atkinson.
• Champion 6 Class 4-H Breeding**: Lilly Applegate, Benton-Franklin Club (Parents Alan & Nellie Beattie)
• Reserve Champion 6 Class 4-H Breeding**: Stella Beattie
• Champion 4 Class 4-H Production Pen: Quincy Sorensen, Washington GEM Club; (Parents Kyle & Leann Sorensen)
• Champion 4 Class 4-H Individual: Zander Pieken, Benton-Franklin Club; (Parents Toni Hanson & Randy Pieken)
• Reserve Champion 4 Class 4-H Individual: Kailey Swain, Pleasant-Noble United Club; (Parents Doug & Sara Swain)
• Champion 4 Class 4-H Breeding: Bella Brock, Grove H.O.T Club; (Parents Charles & Kristi Brock)
• Reserve Champion 4 Class 4-H Breeding: Alexis Dofner, Griswold Clubsters; (Parents Jake & Alicia Dofner)
• Grand Champion Best of Show: Bella Brock
• Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show: Alexis Dofner
• Intermediate 4-H Rabbit Showman: Zander Pieken, Benton-Franklin Club; (Toni Pieken)
• Junior 4-H Rabbit Showman: Bella Brock.

The Mills County Emergency Management Agency/Mills County Public Health Department, reports two more positive/confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents of the county. The latest cases are in persons 18-to 40 years of age, who contracted the virus through a known contact and community spread. The additions bring to 64 the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mills County, where 34 persons have recovered, and 2,430 have been tested. The positivity rate is 2.6%.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack says he’s “deeply concerned” about a report showing that the first known coronavirus outbreak at an Iowa meatpacking plant was far more severe than the state publicly acknowledged. Loebsack wrote a letter to Gov. Kim Reynolds requesting information about the state’s response to the outbreak at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Columbus Junction.

The letter came two days after The Associated Press reported on documents showing Tyson officials told safety inspectors on April 30 that 522 employees were known to be infected. A dozen were hospitalized and two died. But at a May 5 news conference, the Iowa Department of Public Health said that only 221 workers at the plant had tested positive.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa juvenile has been charged with two counts of animal torture in the brutal deaths of a dog and a kitten. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says in a news release Friday that the incidents were discovered last week at a Des Moines apartment complex. Animal Services officers called to the complex on July 17 found an adult dog that had been disemboweled but was still alive.

The ARL says the dog’s injuries were so horrific that officers immediately euthanized the dog to end its suffering. Later the same day, animal officers were again sent to the complex, where they found an 8-week-old kitten that had suffered a traumatic death.

ALBERT CITY, Iowa (AP) — State environmental officials says a hog farm manure tank leak was the likely cause of a fish kill in a northwestern Iowa tributary this week. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the leak happened over the weekend near Albert City when an unknown amount of manure was released into the tributary.

On Sunday, the DNR found a some dead fish, manure and elevated ammonia levels throughout four miles of the tributary, which connects to the North Raccoon River. The incident was reported by farm owner Kris Ehlers, who suspected a failed valve on the manure tank. DNR workers concluded the spill did come from Ehlers’ farm, but was likely coming through underground tile lines.

Officials with Fareway Grocery Stores said Friday (today), effective with the expiration of the Iowa Governor’s Emergency Declaration on July 25th, Fareway will not be accepting containers for redemption in its Iowa stores. Health authorities continue to advise that COVID-19 and other viruses are transmitted through respiratory droplets. Reynolds W. Cramer, President & CEO of Fareway, says “Accepting potentially contaminated containers inside our stores presents a great risk of harm to the health and safety of our employees and customers.

“In addition, Iowa law requires grocery stores to meet health and food safety guidelines for all employees and customers.  Allowing used containers to be returned in our stores puts our employees and customers at risk, and runs counterproductive to the many safety and sanitation initiatives we have implemented in order to keep people safe.”

Each store has posted a notice listing nearby redemption centers, where customers may redeem bottles and cans. Fareway encourages local communities to focus their redemption on supporting these businesses and/or area non-profits that provide outside collection bins for donation. Cramer said “At its core, our actions in rejecting container redemption inside our stores is to minimize potential harm to the communities we serve, while offering our customers alternative redemption options.