Atlantic, IA— Cass County Health System officials, Friday evening, issued an update about the status of the local hospital in regards to its operating capacity and current operations. CCHS CEO Brett Altman said “We’ve been running between 50 to 75 percent inpatient bed capacity for the past several weeks now. COVID inpatient numbers have fluctuated greatly. At the most, we’ve had up to slightly more than 50% of our inpatients here due to COVID. At this point in time, we are able to staff to our full capacity of 25 beds. Our entire team has been amazing throughout this year, and everyone has pitched in extra to make sure we are ready to serve our patients.”

All CCHS clinics and services are currently open with the exception of cardiac rehab, which was suspended to keep high-risk patients safe and to redeploy nurses to inpatient care. Depending on daily inpatient census and case mix, CCHS is also evaluating each non-emergent, elective surgery that would require hospitalization afterward on a case-by-case basis.

Chief Clinic Administrator Tammy Bireline added “We have to be as nimble as possible during this pandemic, so that our entire health system can swiftly respond to the staffing needs in our hardest hit departments. Cross-training and redeploying staff is one of the most important aspects of our surge plan.”

Bireline said also, “All patients with respiratory illness symptoms will continue to be seen in the respiratory care clinic. Those patients will now enter at the Emergency Department entrance on the south side of the hospital and check in at the Emergency Department admissions office.”

CCHS officials continue to work through other components of their surge plan to prepare for the future. This includes frequently communicating with other hospitals in the region and across the state. Brett Altman said “We talk daily with Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Des Moines hospitals. It’s often because they want to transfer patients to us. We’ve accepted some of those patients, and we’ll continue to accept appropriate cases so long as we are able to provide care for our own service area.”  He noted that all hospitals are under a considerable amount of strain, saying “Every hospital is stretched – large and small. That’s why we ask everyone to do their part and follow the recommendations from the Iowa Department of Public Health to slow the spread and prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed.”

IDPH recommendations include:

• Wash your hands often, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay at least six feet from others at all times.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.
• Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.

Current data about COVID-19 in Cass County and Iowa can be found online at coronavirus.iowa.gov.

Officials with the Iowa Restaurant Association based in West Des Moines, report that on Monday, November 16^th the Association will present its annual state hospitality awards at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines.  New this year is a Rural Operator of the Year Award which was created to recognize the role and importance of restaurants and taverns in Iowa communities with fewer than 1,000 people. The inaugural recipient of this award is Mike Muller of Grace on Main in Elk Horn (population 610).

Jessica Dunker President and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, says “This event is a much needed celebration of one of Iowa’s most resilient and important industries. After the challenges we’ve faced this year, we’re ready to honor hospitality professionals who exemplify innovation and business acumen, as well as shine a light on the significant contributions they’ve made to their communities and Iowa’s hospitality culture.”

2020 Award Winners include:

• Operator of the Year– Matt Johnson, Barley’s Bar, Council Bluffs
• Chef of the Year– Chef Jeremy Moskowitz, Duck City Bistro, Davenport
• Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year – Katy Nelson, Scenic Route Bakery, Des Moines
• Hospitality Employee of the Year– David Basinger, Rodina, Cedar Rapids
• American Dream Award– Suman Hoque, HoQ, Des Moines
• Faces of Diversity Award– Lorena Bryan, Delicias by Lorena, Des Moines
• Purveyor Partner of the Year– Justin Woodard, Sysco Iowa, Ankeny
• Industry Champion– Ryan Achterhoff, Pizza Ranch, Orange City
• ProStart Educator of Excellence – LaRae Arment, Alburnett High School, Alburnett
• Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropy Award– Nick Kuhn, The Hall DSM, West Des Moines
• Legislator of the Year– Senator Craig Johnson, Senate District 32, Independence

In addition to the Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony which will feature the honorees, the Association will host its Annual Tasting Gala featuring food and beverage from its statewide Culinary and Mixology Competitions.   Attendees will be able to sample the competition dishes from Iowa chefs as well as cocktail creations from the state’s top mixologists.

Attendees will be able to cast a vote for their favorite dish and cocktail. Wine pairings and spirits will also be available to sample. The tasting event begins at 4:00 pm followed by the awards program at 5:30 pm.   The event is open to the public, Tickets are $25 and available at www.restaurantiowa.com

The Carroll County Board of Supervisors has enacted a county wide mask mandate. The mandate calls for masks or face shields need to be worn when people are in public, and cannot keep 6-feet of distance from others, or are inside a building other than their home. This includes all businesses. Officials say if you are eating or drinking while seated or are exercising, you may temporarily remove your mask. The mandate remains in effect until January 15, 2021.

The Board of Supervisors in neighboring Greene County have also unanimously approved a face covering mandate. Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says the recent spike in cases is partly because people have become complacent. Wolf says the county had a two-week infection rate below 6% a couple weeks ago, but today it’s above 24%.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge says an Iowa man is guilty of second-degree murder for killing his former girlfriend in a Sioux City hotel room and setting it aflame. But the Sioux City Journal reports District Judge Steven Andreasen on Friday ruled Jordan Henry’s drug-addled brain and underlying psychosis prevented him from forming the specific intent to kill her.

Andreasen’s ruling spares Henry from a life in prison without parole that’s mandatory for first-degree homicide. The 30 year old from Sioux City instead faces 50 years in prison for second-degree murder and 25 years for first-degree arson. His sentencing hasn’t been scheduled yet.

(Updated) – Members of the IKM-MANNING School Board, Friday afternoon during a special electronic session via Zoom, voted to require facial coverings, as part of the District’s revised Return to Learn Plan.

Beginning Monday, November 16th, face masks or approved neck gaiters are required for all staff, students, and permitted visitors in all IKM-Manning school buildings during the school day, in school vehicles including buses, and at all activities. This is a necessary step for us to take if we want to keep students in school. We wanted to have this meeting on Friday to allow families to plan for Monday. There will be masks available for those who do not have a mask.

IKM-MANNING Superintendent Trevor Miller said “These are not easy decisions and we know that not everyone will agree with this decision. In the end, this is about putting everything we can in place to allow students and staff to safely be in school. The school board will readdress the mandate on Thursday, January 21st school board meeting.

In making the decision, the Board noted the 14-day Positivity rate has continued to climb in the counties served by the District. Carroll County’s rate as of Friday afternoon was 27.3%, Shelby County 25.3%, Crawford 22.9 and Audubon was at 14.9%.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office Friday (Nov. 13), reported the arrest on Nov. 6th of 22-year-old Trevor Hubbard, of Urbandale. Hubbard was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation, on the original charge of Arson in the 2nd Degree. He appeared before the magistrate and was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $10,000 bond.

And, 45-year-old Jesse Archibald, of Exira, was arrested November 7th, Operating While Intoxicated-3rd offense. He was released on his own recognizance and will appear before the magistrate at a later date.

(Radio Iowa) – The leader of the community college based in Fort Dodge has been picked to take over at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. Dr. DANIEL Kinney is the son of long-time Iowa Western president DAN Kinney, who is retiring after leading Iowa Western Community College for the past 26 years. The younger Kinney says his dad has been a remarkable mentor.

Dr. Daniel Kinney

“Good things I’ve learned from him, but also when you have a mentor there’s things that you learn that maybe you want to do a lot different,” Daniel Kinney said. “…I think our communications styles are probably quite a bit different. I’m a big collaborator, let’s get some evidence, let’s talk — approachable — things like that.” Kinney is moving from a community college with at 53-hundred students to Iowa Western, where about 65-hundred are enrolled.

“Getting organizations, getting people on campus I think is the most important thing (with) athletics,” Kinney says. “I think you guys see a lot of what I do. You are in a lot larger metropolitan area than I am in Fort Dodge, but our music…performances bring a lot of people on campus and I think that’s important because we are the community.”

Kinney has been Iowa Central’s president since 2009 and will officially become Iowa Western’s president in early 2021. In addition to his experience in higher education, Kinney served 17 years in the Kansas National Guard. He commanded an engineering company in Iraq in 2005 and is the recipient of the Bronze Star.

(A-P) – Eight Iowa labor and civil rights groups filed a federal complaint Friday alleging the state has failed to protect workers in meatpacking, dairy, construction, transportation, health care facilities and other industries. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and others filed the complaint Friday with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Kansas City.

They’re seeking a full investigation and corrective action by the federal government. The complaint cites several examples of alleged failure of Iowa OSHA to do on-site inspections or investigate unsafe conditions related to the coronavirus pandemic. But the groups also say safety issues go beyond coronavirus problems.