The Page County Sheriff’s Office says no one was injured early Friday morning, when a semi struck a cow on Highway 71. The collision happened at around 12:38-a.m., about five-miles north of Clarinda. Authorities says a 2020 Volvo semi driven by 50-year-old Steven Alan Telkamp, of Slayton, MN was traveling north on Highway 7, when the rig struck a black cow on the road that was valued at $2,500. The animal belongs to McCoy Farms.

After the semi hit the cow, the animal landed in the southbound lane, where it was struck by a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The driver of that vehicle was identified as 36-year-old Kurtis Hollon, of Clarinda.

The semi sustained an estimated $10,000 damage, but it was still driven from the scene. Hollon’s vehicle sustained about $1,500 damage, and had to be towed from the scene. There were no charges or citations resulting from the incident.

Officials with Mills County Public Health say “As we prepare to celebrate holidays and other large gatherings such as local and state athletic events…” they want to remind all, that “COVID-19 is still widely circulating in our county and state.” They encourage all students and adults to continue to take precautions to protect the health of themselves and their families. Remember that the more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected and accelerating the spread of COVID-19.

MCPH asks you to ‘lease keep the following key points in mind:
• Carefully consider whether certain social or recreational activities are worth putting yourself and others at risk.
• Stay home if you are sick or feeling unwell.
• Wear a face mask and maintain social distance when in public. This includes when you are in a vehicle with others that do not live with you.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizers frequently.
• If you are positive or a close contact of a positive, take it seriously. Isolate yourself and stay home for the full quarantine period.

Officials say “These proven public health mitigation strategies will contain the spread of COVID-19. We want to protect our health and keep our positivity rate well below the 15% threshold. Kids need to be in school as long as safely possible. Please put this guidance into practice and encourage those around you to do the same.”

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the Iowa Coronavirus webpage at https://coronavirus.iowa.gov

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their end-of-the-month meeting Friday (today), in Atlantic, during which they received an Annual Report and FY 2022 Funding Request from the Cass County Library Association. The representative noted that with the advent of the pandemic, all the of libraries have to adjust how books and materials are made available. They also had to make accommodations for extra cleaning by the directors and staff at those libraries that don’t have a dedicated cleaning person. Their request of $13,000 matches the same request they made last year, and includes: $5,000 for the Atlantic Public Library; $2,500 each for the Anita and Griswold Public Libraries, and $1,000 each for the Massena and Cumberland Public Libraries. Their request will be taken under consideration during the Budget deliberations.

The Supervisors also received a report on maintenance and activities from County Engineer Trent Wolken. He mentioned Henningsen Construction is handling patch- and overlay-work on Glendale Road (County Road G-27/the Canby Road). Wolken presented to the a Board a contract with the Iowa DOT for County Bridge Federal Aid SWAP Funding, for a 3-ton box culvert instead of a bridge on Indian Creek Road, .4 of a mile north of White Pole Road. The approximate cost is $600,000.

The Board passed a Resolution authorizing Board Chair Steve Baier to sign the agreement. The Supervisors also passed a Resolution pertaining to the awarding of a contract for a joint bridge bundle project with Guthrie County.

Cass County’s project is a bridge on Boston Road. The low bid for both projects was $1.43-million. Cass County’s share is $647,329, which will come out of the County’s Bridge Fund. The engineer’s estimated was around $600,000. The project is paid for through 55% federal funds and 45% from the Highway Bridge Program.

In other business, the Board voted to establish of a speed limit of 40-mph on Memphis Road (620th to Highway 71). The speed limit on 620th has been set at 40-mph. They also adopted a Resolution setting the Posted/Embargoed Weight limits on County Bridges, as recommended by the County Engineer.

And with regard to the proposed closing of 570th Street at the Interstate 80 underpass, Trent Wolken his request for further information from the DOT has not yet been addressed by the State. No decision will be made on the road closing until the Board has additional information they have requested.

(Radio Iowa) – Just over 885-thousand Iowans have already voted in Iowa. That’s about 56 percent of the total turnout in Iowa for the last presidential election in 2016, so Iowa has obviously set a record for early voting. There are about 100-thousand outstanding absentee ballots that have been requested, but not cast. Both political parties are encouraging those voters to either deliver their ballots in person at a drop box or to the County Auditor’s office by Monday at noon OR show up at a polling site on Election Day with that ballot.

Iowa voters can turn over their absentee ballot and get a new one to vote in person on Election Day. If an Iowan asked for an absentee ballot, but cannot find it, they may cast what’s called a provisional ballot on Election Day.

Atlantic Rising, in partnership with Hy-Vee, will continue to lead the Christmas Box Program this holiday season despite the challenges 2020 has brought. On December 17th, members of Atlantic Rising will help fill and deliver boxes of food items families and individuals can use to cook Christmas dinner to those who have been nominated. To nominate a family or individual, or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Atlantic Rising at 712.243.3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “The program was started by the Atlantic Jaycees over 20 years ago and helps families and individuals in need of a Christmas dinner.” Kelsey Beschorner, Program Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “Atlantic Rising, along with volunteers, delivered boxes to 86 individuals and families last year. With the challenges of COVID-19, we are expecting to see a significant increase in nominations this year.”

Kelsey said also, “Trivia Night was continued this year as the organization’s main fundraising event and saw another packed venue in February. With the expected increase in families served, we will be reaching out to businesses and community members asking for donations and volunteers to help serve as many families as possible. Our community needs us more than ever and we are ready to put in the work.”

Beschorner says “Atlantic Rising is proud carry on this tradition of the Christmas Box program, and we are thankful that we are able to partner with HyVee and give back to the community in such a great way.”