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COVID outbreak at Red Oak Rehab and Care Center

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

RED OAK, Iowa – Red Oak Rehab and Care Center is currently experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 among facility residents and employees. The Montgomery County Public Health Department says the Red Oak team has been preparing for the eventuality of potential outbreaks due to exploding community spread, which is happening, unstoppably, around the world. Having that moment become a reality is very difficult for those who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to prevent it since we locked everything down in March.

County Public Health Administrator Samantha Beeson says Montgomery County has been teetering between the Red and Yellow Zones regarding test positivity for months. That status means nursing homes are required to test staff, contractors and vendors multiple time per week – once while in the Yellow Zone and twice while in Red. As soon as Red Oak Rehab and Care Center learned of the potential outbreak, they began resident testing as well so they could get ahead of the outbreak, even though it is not a requirement in Iowa.

The facility also immediately implemented a COVID unit for residents who become positive and have asked the residents who are negative on testing to quarantine, wear masks and sanitize their hands regularly. Caregivers have replaced procedure masks with N-95 masks and gowns in addition to the face shields and gloves Iowa has required during the Pandemic. A Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization System has been installed in the air handling system to dismantle the virus. Electrostatic disinfection has been implemented to enhance the increased cleaning and sanitation of the facility.

Leadership of the building is in close communication with local and state health officials to ensure all the appropriate measures are taken under current circumstances. We are also following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19.

Officials say they appreciate the local physicians and medical community who are diligently working with the building to help meet the residents’ needs. Red Oak CC has been updating local hospital officials in case there is a need for inpatient care. In addition, the facility is working closely with the Montgomery County Health Department and the Iowa Department of Public Health, Licensure and Survey and Certification.

General updates about increases or decreases in positivity of COVID-19 can be found on the  website: www.redoakcc.com. Family members can interact with their loved ones by using video chat, calling, texting or checking in on social media. Red CC teams have worked very hard, officials say, and now are working harder to get the residents through this as safely as possible. Due to federal privacy laws, Red Oak Care Center will not share any specific information about the medical status of our residents or employees.

Push for Absentee Voting in Montgomery County

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Absentee voting has started in Montgomery County, for the December 15, 2020 Special Election to elect a Board of Supervisor in District One to fill a vacancy. The Auditor’s office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for in-person voting. The last day to request and vote an absentee ballot in-person at the Auditor’s office is Monday, December 14, 2020. You must provide proof of identification before voting.

Eligible Electors must live in District One. District #1 map can be viewed at www.montgomerycountyia.gov or at the Auditor’s office. Only those voters living in District One can cast a vote in this election.

Absentee Request Forms are available on the County Website at montgomerycountyia.gov or at the Auditor’s office. Request forms will have to be completed prior to receiving an absentee ballot. The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you is Friday, December 4, 2020.

If anyone has questions about voter registration, absentee ballots, or voting, call the Auditor’s office (712)-623-5127.

Iowa Finance Authority Awards more than $7 million to Local Housing Trust Funds to Advance Housing Priorities

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors Wednesday (today), announced the award of a total of more than $7 million in grants to 27 Local Housing Trust Funds to support local housing initiatives. The grant awards are made available through the Local Housing Trust Fund program and are expected to assist more than 2,100 families. Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Debi Durham says “The Local Housing Trust Fund program is a highly successful funding mechanism that serves all 99 counties,  ensures local leaders can make critical housing projects a reality and leverages millions in other contributions. Thousands of Iowa families will soon have access to a home in which they can prosper as a result of the outstanding work of Iowa’s 27 Local Housing Trust Funds.”

In the immediate KJAN listening area, the following Trust Funds were awarded grants from the Iowa Finance Authority:

  • Council of Governments (Serving Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie & Sac Counties: $235,872 grant.
  • Pottawattmie County Housing Trust Fund (Serving Pottawattamie County): $212,132 grant.
  • Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG) (Serving Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor & Union Counties): $229,482 grant.
  • Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund, Inc. (Serving Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby Counties): $253,756 grant.

The grant funds will be used for initiatives such as preserving aging housing stock, subsidizing local rental and down payment assistance programs, providing low-interest loans or grants to assist Iowans with home rehabilitation, financing construction of new single-family housing for low-income Iowans and supporting housing for persons with disabilities and homeless assistance programs.

The State Housing Trust Fund was created by the Iowa Legislature in 2003. The awards announced today will leverage an additional $2.6 million in other financing or $.38 for every dollar of Local Housing Trust Fund program funding. Since its inception, the program has provided $84 million in affordable housing assistance to benefit nearly 29,000 Iowa families. The State Housing Trust Fund helps ensure decent, safe and affordable housing for Iowans through two programs. The Local Housing Trust Fund Program receives at least 60 percent of the State Housing Trust Fund allocation to provide grants for organizations certified by the Iowa Finance Authority as a Local Housing Trust Fund.

The remaining funding goes to the Project-Based Housing Program, which aids in the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing. The Iowa Finance Authority administers both programs and provides technical assistance to housing-related organizations.

Iowa Democrat to challenge 6-vote loss in appeal in US House

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic congressional candidate in Iowa who trailed by six votes after a recount says she will forgo further legal challenges in the state and appeal directly to the U.S. House of Representatives for further review. Rita Hart’s campaign had until Wednesday to contest the election under Iowa law following Monday’s certification of results in which Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks was declared the winner of the closest House race in decades.

Hart’s campaign said the quick timeline for a contest in Iowa would not allow enough time to review the ballots, including thousands of unexamined undervotes and overvotes. Instead, the campaign says Hart will file a challenge with the House under the Federal Contested Elections Act in coming weeks.

 

ROSIE AND ALLAN HANSEN, of Atlantic (Private graveside services; Visitation 12/4/20)

Obituaries

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

ROSIE HANSEN, 81, of Atlantic, died Nov. 21st at Select Specialty Hospital, in Omaha. ALLAN HANSEN, 80, also of Atlantic, died Tue., Dec. 1st, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. A Private family graveside service for ROSIE and ALLAN HANSEN will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery. Hockenberry Family Care of Atlantic has the arrangements.

State law mandates allow on 15 people in a public setting at any given time, social distancing must be followed, and masks are mandatory.

Public Viewing and visitation for Allan and Rosie (without the family present) will be held from 9-a.m. until 5-p.m. Friday, Dec. 4th, at the funeral home.

ALLAN and ROSIE HANSEN are survived by:

Their children: Bruce (LeeAnn) Hansen, and Sonya (Tom) Gaines, all of Atlantic.

Rosie’s brothers – Frank (Linda) Altiemier, of Reasonor, IA, and Larry (Barb) Altiemier, of Omaha.

Allan’s sister – Lynette Hansen, of Des Moines.

8 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Adair County man arrested on Union County Theft warrant

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Adair County was arrested a little before 2-a.m. today (Wednesday). 38-year old Timothy John Davis, of Greenfield, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 2nd degree. Davis was being held in the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.

At around 4:45-p.m. Tuesday, a man from rural Afton reported to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, that sometime in the last few months, someone entered his residence and took several tools and fishing items. Also, his 1999 red Chevrolet Suburban license plate HJ442 was taken from the residence. The stolen items are valued at $8,650.

Pott. County Sheriff’s report (12/2/20)

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was arrested, early Tuesday north of Avoca. 50-year old Michele Renee McKern was taken into custody for OWI/2nd offense, after a Deputy responded at around 1:30-a.m. to Wings America, to meet with Shelby County Deputies, in connection with a wanted person.

Atlantic’s Johnson commits to play football at Northwestern College

Sports

December 2nd, 2020 by admin

Atlantic senior Bodie Johnson announced on social media Wednesday morning that he plans to continue his academic and football career at Northwestern College in Orange City.

As a fullback on offense Johnson carried the ball 85 times for 567 yards and 9 touchdowns this season for Atlantic. Johnson was also a stalwart on defense for the Trojans at Linebacker, finishing second on the team with 44.5 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Johnson also had three interceptions in his senior season and took two of those back for scores.

Johnson had visited a number of small schools in Iowa before committing to Northwestern. The Raiders went 8-1 this fall, winning their final 8 after opening with a loss at powerhouse Morningside.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 12/2/20

News, Podcasts

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Guthrie County K9 retires from service

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday, announced the retirement of K-9 “Rage.” Rage, whose handler was shot in the line of service last fall, has served the citizens of Guthrie County for almost 8 years. The Belgian Shepherd has developed age-related hip problems, and will enjoy life on the farm with her former handler. The Sheriff’s Office says Rage put in many hours fighting the war on drugs. She was a valuable asset in the fight against illegal drug usage for Guthrie County. Over the years Rage also did several building searches and engaged in tracking criminals. Rage will be missed by all of us at the Sheriffs Office.

Guthrie County K9 “Rage”

With her retirement, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office is in the process of obtaining two, new, dual-purpose K-9’s, in continuance and enhancement of the fight against drugs and crime. The new K-9’s will be used for a variety of patrol duties, will engage in criminal tracking and apprehension, premises searches, finding lost persons, and assisting neighboring law enforcement departments as needed. They will also be used for education and outreach.

Sheriff Marty Arganbright says the Sheriff’s Office is looking for monetary donations to sponsor the K9 program. Any funds received will be used directly for the purchase of the new K9’s, handler training, and any future expenses the program may incur. If you would like to support the program, make your tax-deductible donations directly to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, either in-person or by mail. Checks may be made payable to the:

Guthrie County K-9 Fund, C/O Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office

200 N. 5th Street

Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115