More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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WALCOTT, Iowa (AP) — In an update to our reports on Sunday, the Iowa State Patrol has identified the two people who died and a person who was injured during a wrong-way, head-on crash on I-80 eastbound in eastern Iowa. The accident happened late Saturday on Interstate 80 near Walcott. The Iowa State Patrol said a 1999 Chrysler Concorde was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes when it struck an Infiniti QX60. The driver of the Concorde, 30-year-old Amanda Lin Countryman of Compton, Illinois, was killed, along with 28-year-old Connor Reisenbigler of New York City.
The driver of the Infiniti, 27-year-old John Martin Keane of the Bronx, New York, was hospitalized but his condition was not released. The patrol says the accident remains under investigation.
The Creston Police Department reports three weekend arrests. At around 5:40-a.m. Saturday, 36-year-old Alexander King, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond. At around 11:36-p.m. Saturday, 26-year-old Patrick IIams, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County Warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Domestic Abuse Assault – Injury or Mental Illness. He was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana 1st Offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine 1st Offense. IIams was being held in the Union County Jail on $3,000 bond.
And, a little after 2-p.m. Sunday, 20-year-old Kayden Witt, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Arson in the 1st Degree. He is being held in the Union County Jail awaiting bond.
The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.
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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — It has been nearly 10 months since Neil Bennett of Iowa City became Iowa’s first person hospitalized for the coronavirus. The 74-year-old is still dealing with the impact. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Bennett was admitted to a hospital in early March. Though he long ago returned home, Bennett still uses a cane and walker and undergoes physical therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation to build up strength in his body and lungs. Bennett says he sometimes becomes impatient with his progress and craves a sense of normalcy. He urges people to wear a mask, maintain social distancing and wash their hands frequently.
Connections Area Agency on Aging is offering a Powerful Tools for Family Caregivers program, which is an evidence-based class. The classes begin January 12th, 2021 and are designed to 
benefit Family Caregivers, by providing them with the tools and strategies to better handle the unique caregiver challenges they face. You are considered a caregiver if you often help a relative or friend with transportation, housekeeping, grocery shopping, personal care, medications, emotional support, or doctor appointments.
Powerful Tools for Family Caregiver classes meet online (via Zoom/required equipment – computer/laptop with microphone & camera. An optional Zoom practice session will be scheduled if needed) once a week for six weeks starting Tuesday, January 12, 2021 and ending Tuesday, February 16, 2021. You can choose one of two time slots to attend: 1:30-3:00 p.m. or 6:30-8:00 p.m. Each class runs 90 minutes. It is for caregivers of adults with chronic conditions.
Class size is limited, and registration is required by January 4, 2021 to ensure materials will arrive on time or upon filling the class. The Caregiver Helpbook and handouts will be mailed. No cost for the program but will receive an opportunity to donate. For more information, contact Jan Schnack, Family Caregiver Specialist at Connections Area Agency on Aging at 800-432-9209, Ext. 8116 or JSchnack@connectionsaaa.org
The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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The Iowa Department of Public Health today (10-a.m., Monday), report 275,473 confirmed cases statewide since Iowa’s outbreak began, with an additional 540 cases confirmed since 10-a.m. Sunday. There are no new deaths to report. The statewide death toll from the virus stands at 3,745. Of Iowa’s pandemic-related deaths, COVID-19 is reported as the underlying cause for 3,439 deaths. For 306 Iowans, COVID-19 was a contributing factor to their deaths.
The Iowa DPH reports 123 COVID-19 outbreaks among long-term care facilities in the state (2 less than on Sunday), accounting for 5,117 of Iowa’s current positive cases. COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 1,137 of the state’s total deaths. Health officials say 3,225 LTC patients/staff have recovered from the virus.
Iowa DPH reports hospitalizations are on the rise, from 553 Sunday to 586 today. There are: 111 patients in an ICU (down from 109, Sunday); 60 patients on ventilators and 82 were admitted (Compared to 71 Sunday). Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa (RMCC Region 4) report: 33 hospitalized; 11 are in an ICU; 8 people are on a ventilator, and one person was admitted to a hospital in the area.
According to the state’s website, a total of 1,342,810 Iowans received COVID-19 tests. Iowa’s average reported positivity rate is 12.1% over the last 14 days. The health department says 229,624 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19.
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:
WANTED: Looking for a used Acetylene cutting torch. Call 712-769-2387.
WANTED: 2- 28ft. extension ladders. Call 712-243-2860 in Atlantic.
FOR SALE: Yale 1 1/2 ton ratchet hoist – $50. 712-243-4914.
FOR SALE: Restored 1936 John Deere “A” tractor. Has new decals, belt, paint, tires and runs good. $3,500. Call (in Atlantic) 712-210-2259.
FOR SALE: 1 year old Luverne deer guard. The deer grill guard was on a 2019 Colorado Pick Up LT package. The deer grill guard model number is 341513 and mount package is 341510. This deer grill guard will fit 2015-2020 Colorado Pick Ups. Price is $300 and looks like new. We will talk on price. Also I have for sale a nice-looking office chair. Great for a home office. Price to sell for $20. Please contact 712-370-0874 in Red Oak.
FOR SALE: 52” Hunter ceiling fan with remote. Fan is white with reversible blades, tan on one side and white an the other. Asking $75.00 call Andy at 712-782-3444 or 712-782-3179 or 712-579-5109.
FOR SALE: Sears single-stage snow blower, 5 HP, 21″ cut, works great. Asking $150 (reduced!). Calls only to 712-249-6835. SOLD!
FOR SALE: a 22 inch Snapper snow blower. Gas does not need to be mixed with oil. Asking $200 or best offer. Call 712-250-4801 in Atlantic.
LOST: a small Teacup Yorkie (3 lbs.) near the water tower on 22nd Street in Atlantic. He answers to the name “Harley.” If anyone may have seen him or taken him in, please call 712-789-0932.
FOR SALE: Toro snow blower with a 20 snow cut, 5 hp electric start..oil and gas mix. Call 712-243-4132. SOLD!
FOR SALE (PRICE REDUCED to sell!): Turbo charged 2005 Mazda, modified car with open hood, 5 speed, 4 cylinder, running lights in front, won 2nd place at AtlanticFest last year, only selling because no garage to keep it in, currently in a friends garage in Atlantic so has been kept dry. $5000 Firm. 651-376-8696.
LOST: A brand new pair of prescription glasses. They have a mauve or pink frame. Possibly in the area of Cappel’s, Wal-Mart or Hy-Vee, in Atlantic (although the lady has checked with their customer service departments). If you found them and picked them up, please call 250-0434.
FOR SALE: 107 Cub Cadet with front snow blade (no mower deck), tire chains and extra set of rear tires and wheels. Needs a battery. Asking $250. Also, a Pride electric wheel chair, model Jet 2 in good condition. Asking $300. And, Case VAC tractor with new front tires and live hydraulics, asking $500. All items in Kimballton. Call 402-689-4157.
FOR SALE: Black Whirlpool Microwave, 1.6 cubic ft., 1200 watt cooking power. Good condition, everything works. Selling as wife wanted a white one. Delivery possible in towns around Kimballton, including Atlantic. $40.00. 417-876-7108 (No text, please)
WANTED: Small snow blower for sidewalk or patio, single stage, not self propelled. Call or text 712-249-0500.
FREE: Cast iron porcelain kitchen sink, double sink, very heavy. Call 712-778-2488
(Radio Iowa) – Researchers are making progress in trying to combat what’s known as white-nose syndrome, which has killed many thousands of bats in Iowa and millions across the continent. Jeremy Coleman, the national white-nose syndrome coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, says scientists are working to create an aerosol spray to genetically silence the fungus that causes the disease without hurting the bats. “We would use what’s called RNA interference to silence genes within the fungal pathogen and reduce the severity of the disease on bats,” Coleman says. “Any tool that would come from that is pretty far off, at this point. This is just the initial stab at getting a look at that technology.”
Some native bat species are being pushed the brink of extinction by the disease and Coleman says bats are very important to agriculture, as they eat tons of insects that harm crops. He says researchers are also working on a vaccine that would put a halt to white-nose syndrome in bats. “They wouldn’t have to be injected. What we’re looking at is an oral vaccine,” Coleman says. “They could consume the vaccine and share it within a site. The benefit of that is, we don’t have to treat them while they’re in hibernation. We would treat them when they’re still in the maternity colonies and then they would take the vaccine, ingest it and take the benefits of that back into hibernation with them.”
White-nose syndrome, which was first discovered in the U-S in 2007, is killing up to 90-percent of the bats in some colonies. Bats are critical pest controllers and in the U-S alone, Coleman says bats save farmers at least $3.7 billion per year in pest control services, a figure he says is conservative. “They are the primary consumer of night-flying insects and there are a number of crop pests and human pests that bats consume nightly,” Coleman says. “With the disease spreading, that’s resulting in tons of insects that are now not being consumed and that have to be addressed with pesticide.”
Due to the drastic reduction in native bat populations, he says millions of insects are feeding on trees and crops, which can impact forestry, agriculture and human health. White-nose syndrome is caused by a fungus which can look like white fuzz on bats’ muzzles and wings. The fungus thrives in cold, damp places and infects bats during hibernation. It’s confirmed in Iowa and 34 other states as well as seven Canadian provinces.
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