(Radio Iowa) — Drug maker Pfizer says early results of its COVID-19 vaccine trial show it’s more than 90-percent effective, but University of Iowa experts say it could be awhile before it’s widely distributed. Carver College of Medicine executive dean Pat Winokur says the F-D-A likely won’t approve the vaccine for emergency use until at least December. “It’s really important to continue with the face masks and social distancing and hand washing,” Winokur says. “It’s because it’s going to take us a while to get as many people vaccinated as we need to start controlling the spread of this disease.”

The ongoing national trial consists of 44-thousand participants, including 270 people enrolled through the U-I. Winokur, who oversees the Iowa City trial, says while the early results are promising, it will likely be several weeks before we’re rolling up our sleeves, as Pfizer still needs to submit its final safety data to the F-D-A. “They have to see the data for safety, when at least half the people have gotten their second dose and have been followed for two months,” she says.

The Iowa Department of Public Health along with local public health departments are working on vaccine distribution plans. Winokur says health officials need to determine who gets priority for the vaccine as it will take awhile for the company to ramp up production.

(By Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

An accident at around 3:40-a.m. Tuesday (Today) in southern Iowa’s Decatur County had claimed the life of a 35-year old male. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2002 Ford SUV driven by 32-year old Ashley Jean Rice-Tetley, of Des Moines, was traveling south on Highway 169, just north of County Road J-14, when she struck Cornelius Andrew Zolicoffer, of Des Moines, who was  in the middle of the southbound roadway.

The man was pronounced dead at the Decatur County Hospital. The incident remains under investigation.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four people were arrested and four underage individuals were cited over the past week. On Saturday, Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile party in Griswold. Upon investigation, 20-year old Gavin Brett Fell-Nichols, of Griswold, was arrested on a charge of Contributing to the Delinquency of Minors. Fell-Nichols was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. Officials say 18-year old Collin Jacob Clarken, of Atlantic, along with two 17-year-old males, a 16-year-old female, and a 16-year-old male were cited into Juvenile Court, for Possession of Alcohol.

Yesterday (Monday, Nov. 9), Cass County Deputies arrested 38-year old Brian Harold Eilts, of Massena, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Department warrant charging him with Willful Injury (A Class-D Felony) and Domestic Abuse Assault. Eilts remains held at the Cass County Jail on no bond. Also arrested Monday, was 39-year old Steven Robert Pedersen, of Council Bluffs. Pedersen was arrested on a Department of Corrections warrant for Parole Violation. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held for pick-up on no bond.

On November 5th, Deputies arrested 41-year old Charles Theodore Shroyer, of Atlantic, on a charge of Driving While Barred. Shroyer was taken to the Cass County Jail and transferred the following day to Guthrie County on their warrant.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met at 9-a.m. Tuesday, to serve as Board of Canvassers and to proceed with the official canvass of the November 3, 2020 General Election.  After examination of the tally books submitted by the precinct election officials, the total votes received by all candidates were ascertained. County Auditor Dale Sunderman was directed to draw up the abstracts of the election to be submitted to the Secretary of State and to be filed in the office of County Auditor and to notify all local candidates who were declared elected in the General Election. The Certified canvass was prepared and placed on file in the office of the Cass County Auditor.

SUMMARY OF LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS (Declared Elected):

COUNTY OFFICIALS                             Votes:

Bd. of Supr. (1st)    Stephen S. Green  (R)  1,028

Bd. of Supr. (4th)    Steve Baier           (R)  1,261

Bd. of Supr. (5th)    Bernard Pettinger (R)  1,000

County Auditor        Dale Sunderman (R)  6,187

County Sheriff        Darby McLaren     (R)  6,266

County Attorney TFVac Vanessa Strazdas  (R)  5,421

Hospital Trustee      Linda L. Pelzer        4,210

Hospital Trustee      Leanne Pellett        4,376

Hospital Trustee      Ned Brown             3,890

SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS:

Chase Wheatley      (Massena Twp)        3,919

Ray Wilson          (Noble Twp)                3,750

Curt Behrends       (Franklin Twp)           4,420

AG. EXTENSION COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Darrin Petty                                           3,847

Marcy Jo Dorsey                                   3,220

Curt Rush                                              2,854

Jody Steffen                                          3,386

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE                             Votes

Edna                   Dan Schrier                     53

Union                  Delmar South               102

The Creston Police Department reports two arrests took place, Monday. 35-year old Nicholas Colburn, of Creston, was arrested at around 9:30-a.m. on a Union County Felony warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation. Colburn was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing. And, at around 6:30-p.m., Monday, 42-year old Jessica Lens, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a charge of OWI/1st offense. She was later released on a $1,000 bond.