The Iowa Department of Public Health reports as of mid-day today (Wednesday), the number of Iowans who have tested positive for COVID-19 is up 259 from Tuesday, to 26,601. Of that total, 6,803 patients have a pre-existing condition. Authorities said also, two more people died from the virus since Tuesday, for a total of 690. Officials say 486 of the persons who have died also had a pre-existing medical condition.

The number of Iowans who have tested negative is 241,463. Of those who had the virus, 16,727 have recovered. A total of 268,435 tests have been completed, while completed assessments number 775,933.

COVID-19 outbreaks at Long-Term Care facilities (LTC’s) is down to 30. Health officials say 895 staff/residents of those facilities have tested positive for the virus, 558 have recovered and 356 have died.

In southwest/western Iowa RMCC Region 4, seven patients are hospitalized (1 more than Tues), two are in an ICU, there were two new admissions, and one person remains on a ventilator. Statewide the numbers continue to decline, with 140 hospitalized, 43 in an ICU, and 25 on ventilators. Seven people were admitted to a hospital over the past 24-hours, for a total at 21 new admissions.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, the only changes in positive COVID-19 cases and the number of persons who have recovered since Tuesday, are as follows:

• Shelby County: 85 cases (an increase of 2 positive cases from Tuesday) 49 recovered (3 more than yesterday)
• Pottawattamie County: 626 cases w/427 recovered.

Two people were arrested on separate charges Tuesday, in Pottawattamie County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 49-year old Donald Richard Hoschar, JR., was arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree/Possession of Stolen Property. He was taken into custody at around 9:45-a.m., after a Pott. County Deputy on routine patrol, saw two vehicles stopped near each other on the roadway, in the 19,000 block of Mynster Springs Road. The Deputy stopped one of the vehicles, and radioed ahead to have another Deputy stop the second vehicle, an SUV with no front license plate, pulling a small trailer hauling a lawn mower.

The second vehicle was stopped near 16th and Avenue G. During the stop, the other Deputy verified the mower, a John Deere Zero-Turn radius, was reported stolen. The mower was seized into evidence, and Hoschar, JR. was taken into custody. And, at around 8:17-a.m., Tuesday, 28-year old Emory Wayne Hecker, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. His arrest took place after Hecker turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, and the warrant was confirmed. Hecker was transported to the Pott. County Jail and turned over to Corrections Staff.

The Riverside School District’s Board of Education held a special “Virtual School Board Meeting,” 6:30-p.m, Tuesday. Superintendent Dr. Tim Mitchell says during the meeting, the Board:

• Accepted the resignation of Jenna Stulgies – Middle School Volleyball Coach, for the 2020-21 school year.
• Approved Brooke Flathers as Head Volleyball Coach for 2020-21.
• Approved Jacob Weis as Pre-k through 5th grade Guidance Counselor (shared with Griswold) for 2020-21.
• And, Board approved Joni Houser/Educational Advancement, MA to MA+15 for the 2020-21 school year.

In other business, the Riverside School Board acted to approve the following:

• 2020-21 School District Organizational Chart.
• A Resolution appointing a Paying Agent, Bond Registrar and Transfer Agent, along with a Resolution authorizing Agent payment, Bond Registar and Transfer Agent Agreements.
• They also approved a Tax Exemption Certificate, A Resolution authorizing the Terms of Issuance and Providing for and Securing the Payment of: School Infrastructure sales, services and use Tax Revenue Bond.
• And, payments for the Oakland HVAC Project and a sports lighting payment for damage caused by lightening (an insurance claim has been filed).

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Underwood was arrested following a traffic stop at around 12:05-a.m. today (Wednesday), on Interstate 29 at mile marker 35. 20-year old Bryan Vernon Gibson was arrested for OWI/1st offense and transported to the Mills County Jail, where bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio Iowa) – Vandals painted racist graffiti on the restroom building leading to the War Eagle Monument in Sioux City. The graffiti, which was discovered Tuesday, was directed at both the black community and local police. Police Sergeant Jeremy McClure says the area where this happened is more than just a city park. “We’ve been trying to address concerns brought up to us by the Native American community about the sacredness of War Eagle Park,” McClure says. “Not only is it a city park but it’s also held very sacred by a lot of the Native community because it’s also a graveyard for a Native family.”

The vandalized building is on the road that leads to the monument and the grave site of War Eagle and several members of his family. “When people go there and leave trash or deface property, they’re being extremely disrespectful to the memory of that family that had a huge part in the history of Sioux City,” McClure says. “We’re hoping to raise awareness so people will start treating that area with the reverence that it deserves.”

War Eagle was buried on the bluff in 1851, and later, two of his daughters and some of his grandchildren were also laid to rest there.  “We’re planning on trying to increase patrols of that area and try to curtail some of these issues,” he says. “We’re also working with local Native American leaders to increase the understanding of that park and hopefully do more to raise the reverence of that area.”

Anyone with information about the graffiti should contact Sioux City Crimestoppers at 712-258-TIPS.

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

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The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at around 1:40-p.m. Tuesday, of 39-year old Jennifer Beard, from Creston. Beard was taken into custody on a Union County Warrant for Violation of a Protection Order. She was being held in the Adams County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in a city park. Police say officers were called to Prospect Park around 8 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a shooting and found a man critically injured with a gunshot wound. The man was later identified as 31-year-old Paye Blawou of Des Moines. He was taken to an area hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

Police have not released information on what may have led to the shooting, and no arrested had been reported by Wednesday morning. Police say Blawou’s death is the city’s 13th homicide of 2020.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — The American Red Cross is now testing all blood donations from Iowans for COVID-19 antibodies. Red Cross spokesman Joe Zydlo says the tests will let donors know if they have been exposed to coronavirus, plus, it’s another way to encourage people to donate a pint. Zydlo says, “There continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as our hospital partners resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products.” The F-D-A-authorized tests will run until further notice. Donors are expected to learn the results in seven-to-ten days. Zydlo says Red Cross chapters have received several calls from people who reported coronavirus symptoms but never took a test.

“I think this gives people peace of mind, but it’s also a sort of two-way street,” he says. “Number one, they can help by donating blood right now when we have an urgent need. Blood drives continue to be canceled. Hospitals are doing more procedures and surgeries. They’re going to need more blood. More people are on the roads. There could be more of a chance of trauma situations.” Zydlo says the testing will let donors know if they have the antibodies in their bloodstream.

“If they have those in their plasma and they want to come back in and maybe donate some plasma to help COVID-19 patients recover, or they may not have it. But at least it gives them peace of mind,” he says. If you don’t feel well, postpone donating blood. If you think you might have COVID-19, wait until you’re symptom-free for at least 28 days and feeling well before making a donation.

Zydlo says it’s important to note, the Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. Also, a positive antibody test results does -not- confirm infection or immunity, but it does indicate potential exposure to the virus.