(Radio Iowa) – Many traditional 4th of July weekend festivals and fireworks displays have been called off this year due to the pandemic, and Iowans who plan gatherings with friends and family are urged to take health precautions. Mask wearing is still very important, according to Shelby Kroona, Hamilton County’s public health director. She fears a sharp uptick in COVID-19 cases if people don’t use common sense. “We want to see our friends and neighbors, but please do it responsibly,” Kroona says. “Wear a mask and keep yourself distanced away from people.”

Maintaining that six-foot space can be irritating, especially after many of us have been isolated for so long. Still, Kroona says it’s crucial. “If you’re feeling ill, please don’t go,” Kroona says. “I know it’s hard to stay home, but we could potentially see a spike here in five to seven days.”  With warm weather in the holiday weekend forecast, Kroona fears thousands of people will be drawn to Iowa’s parks, beaches, lakes and rivers, raising the risk for transmitting the disease.

A man from Carroll was arrested Wednesday morning on a Mills County warrant. 19-year old Michael John William Lyons was arrested at the Carroll County Jail, on a Mills County  warrant for Violation of Probation. Lyons was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

(9-a.m. News)

The Iowa Department of Public Safety says the last few months have brought incredible challenges for our communities. As our nation begins to reopen, many Americans will be eager to celebrate the Fourth of July with family and friends. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) want to remind drivers to not let the celebration turn dangerous by driving impaired.

Nationally, during the 2018 July 4th holiday period (the most recent statistics available) 193 people died in motor vehicle crashes and 78 of these fatalities occurred in an alcohol-impaired crash. On the fourth of July in 2018, one person lost their life in Iowa due to an alcohol related crash. On July 4, 2019, Iowa experienced 112 crashes which involved 2 fatalities and 9 serious injuries. These fatalities and injuries are certainly nothing to celebrate.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 71 percent of those who died in alcohol related crashes were in vehicles involving a driver with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .15 or higher, almost two times the legal limit of .08. Law enforcement agencies across Iowa will be participating in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign from July 3 to July 7, 2020.

In an effort to combat impaired driving, officers will be exhibiting zero tolerance for impaired drivers. Impaired driving is not only dangerous but illegal, and it puts everyone on the road in jeopardy. There is also a financial aspect of driving impaired. An OWI arrest can cost up to $10,000. You could lose your license, your car, and your job. Before you set out to celebrate this holiday weekend, make a plan – have a designated driver, call an Uber, or other rideshare service.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau reminds you that it is never okay to drink and drive!

The City Council in Walnut is set to hold a meeting at the Walnut Community Center and online at GoToMeeting (You can also dial in at 1-(669)-224-3412 & use access code 491-221-661). Their session begins at 5-p.m. Among the items on their agenda, is:

• Discussion & possible action on the 1st reading of Ordinance 167, amending the Code with regard to provisions pertaining to water service discontinued and customer deposits.
• Discussion of the Walnut Community & Fitness Center, & Family, Inc. lease renewal.
• The appointment of the City of Walnut Zoning Administrator.
• A Housing Rehabilitation Grant
• Discussion of Property Maintenance.
• Discussion of the City of Walnut Sesquicentennial Celebration.
• And, information with regard to Quarterly Inspection of City Property.