Police in Red Oak report two arrests. At around 3:23-a.m. today (Wednesday), Officers arrested 75-year old Mary Katherine Pierce, of Red Oak, on a warrant out of Page County, for Failure to Appear on a Theft in the 5th Degree, charge. Pierce was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. And, at around 10:40-p.m. Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 59-year old Ronald Dean Kammerer, JR., of Red Oak. He was taken into custody on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Contempt – Failure to Pay Child Support. Kammerer, JR., was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, while awaiting extradition to Pott. County.

(Radio Iowa) – Two “Test Iowa” locations are opening in Orange City and Sioux Center to expand Covid-19 testing capacity in the northwest corner of the state. Governor Kim Reynolds says coronavirus cases have been elevated in Sioux County for the past three weeks.

“Sioux County currently has the highest 14-day average positivity rate in the state at nearly 28%,” Reynolds says. “Neighboring Lyon and Osceola Counties are both above 20% and some other counties in the surrounding area top 15%.” The governor says new Covid cases in northwest Iowa are evenly distributed across age groups rather than being among young adults.

“The case investigation process tells us that increased cases in these areas…aren’t really tied to a specific event or activity,” Reynolds says. “…The virus is simply spreading from person-to-person during the course of normal daily activities.” In Sioux County, for example, half of recent Covid cases were among adults between the ages of 41 and 80 and another 12 percent were among children under the age of 18. Reynolds says the virus seems to move around the country and is currently hitting the Midwest and the tri-state region of northwest Iowa and neighboring counties in Nebraska and South Dakota.

“We’re bringing in additional tests so that we can identify, so I think we’re going to see, kind of, hopefully what we saw in other areas where we see that spike,” and then, hopefully, we’ll see that come back down.” Since August, the testing sites in Orange City and Sioux Center have been screening students and staff from Northwestern and Dordt University. Now, those sites will offer Covid tests to others who register online at Test-Iowa-dot-com.

The number of Iowans hospitalized for treatment of Covid-19 has increased 20 percent in the past week. Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the state medical director, says the best advice for curbing community spread of the virus is what it’s been since the start of the pandemic: stay at least six feet away from others, wear a mask and wash your hands. The number of Iowans hospitalized for treatment of Covid-19 has increased 20 percent in the past week.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:25 a.m. CDT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 21-year-old Davenport man charged with killing a woman as she was leaving a civil rights protest will remain in jail. A district court judge on Tuesday denied Parker Belz’s request to be released on bond. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Italia Marie Kelly. She had joined a protest on May 31 over the death of George Floyd but was leaving because the gathering was becoming unruly. She was shot in the back. Belz has pleaded not guilty. He has been held without bond since his arrest in June.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced a policy change to make it easier for students, teachers and business workers exposed to an infected person to avoid a two-week quarantine, despite a surge in cases throughout the state. Under new state guidance, children in daycares and schools and workers do not have to quarantine as long as they and the infected person with whom they were in contact were consistently and correctly wearing face coverings. Only the infected person must go into isolation, while the close contacts should monitor their health. The change breaks with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, which recommends a 14-day quarantine for anyone who is in close contact with someone who has tested positive regardless of mask use.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says she has been “very consistent” in her views on Supreme Court nominees despite supporting a vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee while working with other Republicans to block a nomination by President Barack Obama. Ernst was asked about her seemingly contradictory stands during a televised debate with Democrat Theresa Greenfield that touched on topics ranging from the Supreme Court and Trump’s tax returns to health care and racial justice. Ernst says this nomination is different than in 2016 because Republicans control both the Senate and presidency. Greenfield argued the GOP-majority Senate shouldn’t act on Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett fewer than 40 days before the presidential election.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Is Iowa regaining swing state status? President Donald Trump has spent millions trying to secure the state’s six electoral votes, but several recent polls show a surprisingly close race with Democrat Joe Biden. Voters in the state where Trump won by 9.4 percentage points in 2016 have soured on Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and the overall direction of the country. A competitive presidential race in Iowa, where polls show the candidates running about even, suggests a tightening in other states he won by similar margins, such as Ohio, and potential peril in those he won by smaller margins, such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh reminds area residents, that “As September ends, “Grow Another Row, Cass County!” is wrapping up, but Cass County pantries continue to welcome donations.”

“Grow Another Row, Cass County,” a Healthy Cass County campaign by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more food in 2020, saw success this summer. Many people helped Grow Another Row have a good year. The planning committee thanks everyone who contributed. While gardens are winding down with the cooler weather, Cass County food pantries continue to welcome donations.

Local pantries continue to see increasing numbers, and appreciate both food and monetary donations. See below for specific information on how to support Cass County food pantries this fall. Cass County Food Pantry Information:

Anita Food Pantry: Phone: (712) 762-3645 Address: 208 Chestnut St, Anita, IA 50020 Hours: 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9:00am – 11:00am Produce donations: Tracey Lett (712)249-4996 Monetary donations: mail checks to “Anita Food Pantry” (PO Box 96, Anita, IA 50020)

Atlantic Food Pantry: Address: 19 W. 4th St., Atlantic, IA 50022 Hours: Thurs., drive-through 1:00pm – 2:00pm (closes at 3:00 PM) Produce Donations: Pre-bagged produce requested. Contact: (712)243-1820 Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Atlantic Food Pantry” (19 W 4th Street. Atlantic, IA 50022)

Cumberland Care & Share Pantry: Phone: (712) 774-5818 Address: 317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843 Hours: 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 4:00pm- 5:30pm Produce Donations: contact (712) 774-5818 Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Cumberland Care & Share” (317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843)

Lord’s Cupboard of Griswold: Phone: (712) 778-4178 Address: 100 Cass St., Griswold, IA 51535 Hours: 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 11:00am – 2:00pm Produce Donations: contact (712) 778-4178 Monetary Donations: mail checks to “The Lord’s Cupboard” (55546 Wichita Rd. Griswold, IA 51535)

Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All: Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All will continue to accept produce donations through October. Donations can be dropped at the back of Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022) Mondays between 10:00am – 11:00am.; Produce Donations: contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh (712)249-5870 or hoeghb2@iastate.edu.

For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets, and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood.

The Atlantic Police Department reports two arrests in the past three days. On Saturday Atlantic Police arrested 53-year-old Rex McDermott of Atlantic for Public Intoxication. He was booked into the Cass County Jail and held. This was McDermott’s second arrest on the same charge in two days.

On Monday, September 28th Atlantic Police arrested 30-year-old Joshua Beedle of Atlantic for Operating While Intoxicated. He was taken into custody, booked in to the Cass County Jail and held.

Police in Glenwood report two arrests. Last Friday, 20-year old Nathaniel Bolte, of Minden, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He later posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond, and was released.

On Sunday, 41-year old Bobby Burr, of Omaha, was arrested for driving while barred, and on a Page County Warrant for failure to appear on a driving while barred charge. Bond set for the warrant is $5,000 cash only, and the charge of driving while barred bond was set at $2,000.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports 45-year old Todd Ryan Guisinger, of Stuart, was arrested at around 4-a.m. Saturday (Sept 26),on charges that include Interference with Official Acts, Disorderly Conduct, Harassment 2nd and Public Intoxication.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred outside the residence of Stuart Police Officer Martinson and his family. According to the report, Guisinger was behind the residence, screaming and allegedly threatening to harm the officer for an incident that took place earlier between the Officer and Guisinger, that caused him to become upset.

Once he was restrained an taken into custody, with the help of two other law enforcement officers, Guisinger refused a breath analyzer test. The report said he has two previous convictions for Public Intoxication. Guisinger was transported to Guthrie Co Jail, and later transported to Dallas County Jail under the authority of a Dallas County warrant.

During an initial appearance before a Magistrate, bond was set at $ 1,000 cash or surety.  Guisinger posted bond and was released.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials are making a change to the guidelines for quarantining students and staff in schools who’ve been exposed to someone who’s tested positive for Covid-19. State medical director Dr. Caitlin Pedati says if the person with Covid AND those who were around them have consistently worn a face mask, only those with symptoms or who’ve tested positive will have to quarantine for two weeks.

(as said) “Now the (Centers for Disease Control) does currently still recommend that individuals who’ve been in close contact should quarantine even if they’re wearing face coverings,” she says. “However…we’ve gotten some information from here in Iowa as well as from some of our neighboring states that help us to adjust our current recommendation.”

Pedati says she reviewed Covid case counts in four school districts in northwest Iowa’s Sioux County. The three districts where face coverings were NOT required had between 30 to 130 percent more Covid cases among students and staff. Governor Kim Reynolds says the change is being made after superintendents from across the state expressed frustration about how many students and staff have had to be quarantined.

(as said) “In some situations, they’re having to quarantine a disproportionately high number of students when just a few positive cases have been identified,” Reynolds says.

The governor says public health officials in Nebraska and Wyoming are also changing quarantine guidelines for schools in those states.

The Harlan Police Department reports a woman from Atlantic was arrested Sept. 24th on drug & other charges. 22-year old Chelsea Leeann Adams was arrested following a traffic stop. Adams was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding.

And, on Sept. 27th, Harlan Police arrested 61-year old Jeffery Lane Clark, of Harlan, following a traffic stop. Clark was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while revoked and speeding.

(Radio Iowa) – With e-cigarette use in Iowa high schools considered at epidemic levels, the American Lung Association is launching a new effort designed to reduce vaping by teens — and even younger. Alyssa DePhillips, health promotions manager for the Lung Association in Iowa, says protecting lung health is vital. “We’re excited about this public awareness campaign called ‘Get Your Head Out of the Cloud!’” DePhillips says. “It’s really designed to give parents the facts about e-cigarettes and support conversations before the kids are starting to vape, or before they’re offered vapes from their friends.”

The campaign is focused on kids between the ages of 10 and 14. “We think that’s pretty young, parents might think that’s pretty young, but I think parents would be surprised that youth are being offered these devices at younger ages,” DePhillips says. “Sometimes parents don’t really know what to look for with these devices or they don’t know what signs to look for if a youth is using.”

The Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2019 found that 20-percent of Iowa high school students used e-cigarettes. The goal is to reduce youth vaping levels by 10% by 2025. While many Iowa students attended classes virtually earlier this year — and many are still learning online — DePhillips says the coronavirus pandemic is bringing a mixed bag of news about the popularity of vaping.

“Less youths may be experimentally trying the products but the youth that are addicted are still very much addicted to these products,” she says, “and they may be using them more frequently because they have more free time and more time on their hands.” The campaign includes free educational resources and guides, conversation starters, and facts about e-cigarettes at TalkAboutVaping.org.