(Radio Iowa) – More than a quarter million Iowans are still without power, three days after a major wind storm blasted across the state. Alliant Energy spokeswoman Cindy Tomlinson says the situation remains too complex for an accurate estimate of a restoration time. “We don’t want to over-promise and then under-deliver,” Tomlinson says. “We want to make sure when we provide an estimated time that we can meet that window. It’s just going to take a little more time to estimate when services will be restored.”

Reports show 257-thousand Iowa homes remain without electricity, though at the peak after the Monday severe weather, nearly 500-thousand customers were in the dark. Tomlinson says when Alliant’s senior vice president Terry Kouba toured the damage in Marshalltown and Cedar Rapids, he was amazed. “The storm has created damage beyond what we’ve ever seen before and he’s been with our company several decades,” she says. “It’s definitely an experience beyond what he’s ever seen before.”

Tomlinson reminds folks who are using generators to be sure and shut down the main disconnect to the house. If that is still on, it could result in electricity feeding back down the line and could potentially injure a utility worker who’s trying to get your power back on. Tomlinson reminds everyone to continue to avoid downed power lines, because you never know if maybe a generator may be feeding back into those lines, or when the power DOES come back on.

A Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department K9 unit was used to track a man who allegedly committed an act of serious assault in Elliott, Wednesday night. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says Deputies responded to an incident of serious assault in the 200 block of 2nd Street in Elliott, at around 11:30-p.m.  Upon their arrival, Deputies determined 23-year old Kyle Andrew Nicholson, of Surprise, AZ., assaulted a person several times in the head, causing severe lacerations above the person’s eye and head. Nicholson is also alleged to have stolen the victim’s cell phone during the assault.

The K9 tracked Nicholson to the area of 4th and Linden Streets, in Elliott. He was taken into custody without injury and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was charged with Serious Assault and Theft in the 5th Degree. His cash bond was set at $1,000.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers across much of Iowa are dealing with the heartbreaking aftermath of a rare wind storm that turned what was looking like a record corn crop into deep losses. The storm slammed the Midwest with straight line winds of up to 100 miles per hour on Monday, gaining strength as it plowed through Iowa farm fields, flattening corn and bursting grain bins still filled with tens of millions of bushels of last year’s harvest. Similar damage was reported in Indiana and Illinois. Before the storm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had forecast a record national corn crop this year, of which Iowa was expected to provide about 18%.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The impact of a powerful wind storm that tore through the Midwest on Monday is continuing to grow, as hundreds of thousands of people are experiencing power outages for a third straight day. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, residents emptied their refrigerators and freezers as their food spoiled, waited at gas stations for an hour or longer to fill up their cars and gas cans, and worked to clean up fallen trees that were everywhere. Many roads remained impassable and businesses closed. City council member Dale Todd says “it feels like we got kicked in the teeth pretty good,” and that recovery will be slow.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party’s signature annual fundraiser will see a major change next month in the wake of a global coronavirus pandemic. For the first time since it began in 1972, the party’s Steak Fry event will be held as a drive-in. The Steak Fry will be held at the Airplane Field at Des Moines Water Works Park. Attendees will be able to watch the program on a large screen and listen in through the radio. Steak, chicken, and vegan dinners will be delivered directly to attendees’ cars. Social distancing rules will be enforced and face masks will be required when attendees are outside of their vehicles. The event drew more than 12,000 people last year.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 14-year-old boy has died in a personal watercraft collision on Clear Lake in north-central Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the collision of the two recreational watercraft happened around noon Tuesday. Officials did not give details on how the crash occurred, but say the teen killed was operating one of the watercraft involved. His name has not yet been released. Investigators say a 12-year-old child operating the second watercraft sustained minor injuries, and a passenger on the second watercraft was not injured.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber kicked-off Wednesday evening’s YouTube school board meeting by reading six comments sent-in prior to the meeting deadline. Among the email’s Board Secretary Sarah Sheeder received for dissemination to the Administration, was one pertaining to the Atlantic All-Staff back-to-school meeting, and other large-group meetings, prior to the start of school.

For right now, those meetings are set to be held in the High School Commons, Auditorium, or Media Center, which raised concerns about whether that does enough to meet the needs of social distancing. The district staffer asked if those meetings could take place via ZOOM.

The Board also heard from Kathleen Johnson, R.N., who expressed her concern that the Board was not mandating the use of masks. Allison Berryhill was also supportive of masks, saying at a minimum, they should be used indoors when distancing is not possible.

Tammy DeBord, parent and PTO Secretary and SIAC Committee member, expressed her concerns about the 9-percent positivity rate for COVID-19 in the County and how well the school is prepared to deal with an outbreak. She brought up the fact the school has already had an outbreak of the virus after some students attended a party and then volleyball and other activities. Ann McCurdy requested the Board mandate masks for this school year.

The Board later passed by a vote of 3-to 2,  the first reading of a Policy related to COVID-19, which does not require the use of a mask, but strongly encourages its use, especially when social distancing is impractical. A non-surgical (Non N-95) mask will be provided to any student or staff member who wishes to wear one during the school day.

In the Superintendent’s Report, Steve Barber brought in Cass County Public Health Director Beth Olsen, who said (as we reported Wednesday), there were 79 positive test results for COVID-19 in Cass County, with 47 recovered. Olsen said she expected that by Thursday morning, there would be nine more positive results added to the State’s Coronavirus dashboard. Olsen also explained the timeline for those who may have been exposed to the virus and when they can return to normal activities.

She acknowledged COVID-19 cases in Cass County are rising and will continue to rise, but as long as the positivity rate is 15-percent or below, the District wouldn’t need to implement it’s Hybrid Plan. Superintendent Barber said as of Wednesday, he knew of about 80 students who will be taking classes by remote learning. Also, about 5-to 10 students are attending online through Iowa Connections Academy, there are some Home School Assistance participants, and those who opted for Home Schooling.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the Summer 2021 Coaching Contracts, other contracts, and resignations.