At least three area school district Boards of Education are set to meet during separate, regular meetings, Monday evening. First up, at 5:30-p.m., is the Griswold School Board. During their meeting in the Conference Room, Old Business includes: The Second Readings of 400-series Board Policies, and a COVID-19 update. New Business for the Griswold Board includes (but is not limited to:

• The possible approval of video streaming compensation.
• A request for Allowable Growth & Supplemental Aid for 2019-20, re: Special Education Deficit.
• Information with regard to the 2020-21 Certified Enrollment.
• Consider Activation Status of Early Retirement Policy
• Discussion on Camera/Security upgrades
• Consideration of Allocating funds for a Rolling Flag purchase.

The Exira-Elk  Horn-Kimballton School Board meeting takes place 6-p.m. Monday, in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. On their agenda, under “Recognition and Communication,” is:  1) the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and 2) the Matt Schmitz Family.  New Business includes: Certified County numbers; Administration Set Up for the rest of 20-21 and 21-22; the Certified Annual Report (CAR); Mask Options; Approval of a “Chain of Command” document; and Personnel matters, to include the resignations of: Susan Greving, Stephanie Kraus and Megan Petersen – Para educators, and Route Bus Driver Dave Anderson. New Hires will include: Tonia Lozano – Bus Driver, and Sam Muhr – Para educator.

And, the Audubon School Board will meet 7-p.m. Monday, in the High School Board Room. Action items on their agenda include (but are not limited to): Applications to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) for a Special Education Deficit (SPED), and Hazardous Material Mitigation. The Board will also act on approving: Virtual Snow Days; a change in the District Attorney; Mid-Year graduates; SAVE Bond refinancing (To include approval of a Bond Counsel agreement with Ahlers Cooney, approval of the Bond Sale amount, and a Resolution fixing the date for a hearing on the proposed issuance of approximately $4.2-million in School Infrastructure Sales, Services, Use Tax Revenue and Refunding Bonds).

The Board will also act on approving a Resolution setting the date for  Public Hearing and Special Board meeting, to review and approve the plans, specifications and form of contract for, and estimate the total cost of, the Middle School/High School HVAC Systems, Electrical Systems, and other architectural improvements throughout the facility, and authorize the fixing of a date, time and location for receiving and publicly opening bids for the project.  In other news, the Audubon School Board is expected to receive the district’s final enrollment numbers, and audit update, and regular reports from the Administration.

(Updated) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two sisters died and three other people were injured Sunday when two vehicles collided in Des Moines. The crash happened around 5 a.m. Sunday after a northbound Toyota car crossed into the southbound lanes and collided with a Jeep SUV, Des Moines Police spokesman Paul Parizek said. About one inch of snow fell in the area overnight, and Parizek said the weather appears to have contributed to the crash. In addition to the two women who died in the crash, three other people were taken to hospitals for treatment. One is in critical condition, and the other two people have minor injuries.

The women killed were identified as 22-year-old Jazmin Alondra Avila-Arreola, and her sister, 18-year-old Daizy Sofia Arreola, both of Des Moines.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa reported nearly 1,000 more coronavirus cases Sunday, and the state’s rate of positive cases remains high. The state reported 915 new cases of COVID-19 and 2 new deaths as of Sunday mid-morning, to give Iowa 107,062 cases and 1,528 deaths since the pandemic began, according to Iowa’s online virus tracker. There were 19 new Positive cases in Cass County since Saturday (updated through 4:15-p.m. Sunday), for a total of 301. And, there was one more death being reported in Harrison County, where the total is 8 since the start of the pandemic. Other new, Positive COVID-19 cases in our area, include: 40 in Pottawattamie County; 14 in Harrison County; 11 in Mills County; five each in Guthrie and Shelby Counties; 4 more cases in Adams County; three in Adair and Union Counties, two in Madison County, and one in Audubon County.

The IDPH says there are: 34 people are in hospital across western/southwest Iowa, compared to 28 yesterday; eight people are being treated for COVID-19 in an ICU, compared to nine previously; five people have been admitted to a hospital (Compared to three Saturday), and one person remains on a ventilator.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases in each county, along with the 24-hour change in case numbers {+#}; the number of persons recovered, and the total number of [deaths] (if any), since the pandemic began,

• Cass, 301 cases {+19}; 222 recovered; 2 deaths
• Adair, 123 {+3}; 64; 1
• Adams, 67 {+4}; 35; 0
• Audubon, 128 {+1}; 59; 1
• Guthrie, 363 {+5); 223; 14
• Harrison County, 561 {+14}; 192; 8
• Madison County, 337 {+2}; 206; 2
• Mills County, 334 {+11}; 173; 1
• Montgomery, 152 {+2}; 125; 5
• Pottawattamie County, 2,940 {+40}; 2,144; 44
• Shelby County, 340 {+5}; 298; 1
• Union County,  208 {+3}; 175; 3

(Atlantic) – Cass County just got a treat for Halloween. On Saturday October 31, USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes will be given away at the Cass County Community Center from 11:00 AM– 2:00 PM, or as supplies last. Anyone in need is welcome to visit the drive-through food box pick-up, and no documentation is required. Boxes containing 20-pounds of food in the form of: 10 lbs. produce; 5 lbs. of pre-cooked meat; 5 lbs. of dairy products, and a gallon of milk, will be given away at no cost.

People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Those picking up food boxes at the Community Center are asked to follow signage and volunteer directions to help the event run smoothly. Please don’t begin lining up before 10 AM.  For more information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass
County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

***********

If you have any questions, please contact Questions: Contact Brigham Hoegh, Cass County Wellness Coordinator, (712)249-5870, bhoegh@iastate.edu.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa reported nearly 1,000 more coronavirus cases Sunday, and the state’s rate of positive cases remains high. The state reported 910 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 new deaths as of Sunday morning to give Iowa 107,057 cases and 1,538 deaths since the pandemic began, according to Iowa’s online virus tracker. An Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University showed that the state’s rate of new cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks registered at 456.16 and ranked eighth-highest among all the states on Saturday. The seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Iowa rose to 25.65% on Saturday.