The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests over the weekend. On Sunday, 55-year old Timothy Jay Blank was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Criminal Mischief 4th Degree.

Timothy Blank

Blank was arrested in Coin following a short foot pursuit. He was transported to the Page County Sheriff’s Office and held on $1,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

Wesley Stogdill

On Saturday, Page County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle in the ditch on Highway 59, about one-mile north of Shenandoah. When deputies arrived, a Shenandoah Police Officer was already on the scene, where a 2017 Ford Edge was located in the east ditch. An investigation determined the vehicle didn’t appear to have hit anything. It was just stuck in the snow. As a result of the investigation, 39-year old Wesley Joe Stogdill was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense. Stogdill was transported to the Page County Sheriff’s Office and held on $2,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

The Iowa Department of Public Heath, Monday, at 10-a.m., reported 204 new, positive COVID-19 test results were returned from the labs, for a pandemic total of 359,588. There were 38 additional deaths reported, for a total of 5,374. Health officials say Underlying Causes (diseases or injury that initiated the events resulting in death), amount to 4,833. The IDPH says 541 deaths listed COVID as a contributing factor. A pre-existing condition accounted for 4,948 deaths, while Long-Term Care (LTC) facility deaths accounted for 2,144 of the total number of deaths.

Locally, Harrison County reports one additional death, for a total of 69. Shelby County also reports one more COVID-related death, for a total of 33. Long-Term Care facility COVID-Outbreaks are unchanged from Sunday, at 21. Positive cases at LTC’s account for 602 of the total number of positive results, while 404 patients/staff at those facilities have recovered from COVID.

Hospitalizations are down again, from 229 on Sunday to 222 Monday. COVID patients in an ICU declined from 58 Sunday to 54 on Monday. There were 22 COVID patients admitted to hospitals across the State in Monday’s report, compared to 38 the previous 24-hour report. And, two fewer patients were on a ventilator, at 25. Hospitals in Western & Southwest Iowa report: 15 people still hospitalized; five COVID patients are in an ICU (2 less than Sunday), one person was admitted, and two people remain on a ventilator.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate as of Monday was 4.3%, down slightly from Sunday, but the 7-day average was up slightly, to 4.1%.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,312 cases; {+2}; 48 deaths
• Adair, 908; {+1}; 26
• Adams, 326 {+1}; 3
• Audubon, 482 {+2}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,155 {+1}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,782; {+6}; 69
• Madison County, 1,516; {+0}; 17
• Mills County, 1,613; {+1}; 20
• Montgomery, 1,037; {+2}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 10,650; {+5}; 140
• Shelby County, 1,192; {+2}; 33
• Union County,  1,254; {+0}; 31

The Waukee Community School District, Friday, announced an Atlantic native, former head football coach and teacher, was selected for the Associate Principal’s position at the Waukee Northwest High School. Nick Ross will take over the position, pending approval today (Monday), of the Waukee School Board. On the District’s Website, it was noted Nick Ross has been with Waukee Community School District for nine years altogether, with the last four as an Assistant Principal at Waukee High School.

Ross graduated from Drake University and began his career in education with Waukee teaching social studies and physical education. He also taught in Atlantic, Iowa for three years before returning to Waukee High School as a teacher, and eventually Assistant Principal. In his statement, Ross said “I am passionate about helping people achieve their best and assisting students and families through difficult times,” he said, “I am excited to help build a culture of excellence and inclusion that will support the students, families, and community at Northwest High School.”

Nick Ross resides in Waukee with his wife, Natalie, and their three children. His wife teaches Business/Computers, and will also be joining Northwest High School in the fall.