(Radio Iowa) — Rumors about coronavirus are flying and the medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health is urging Iowans to get the facts before posting anything on social media so they don’t spread disinformation. Doctor Caitlin Pedati says it’s understandable that people are concerned but they also need to use their heads before contributing to the panic. “Sometimes it can be hard to know where to find reliable information,” Pedati says. “I think the biggest thing we’d like to emphasize is that Iowans can use our Facebook page, our social media and our webpage to get accurate and up-to-date information about this virus and a variety of public health issues.”

In recent weeks, two Iowans were put under watch for possible exposure to the deadly virus and both ended up being fine. Now, Pedati confirms, seven more Iowans are under watch by the state health department. All of them are in self-quarantine, meaning, they’re staying in their own homes. “We’re providing monitoring for people who don’t have symptoms but who had a travel risk,” Pedati says. “We check in on them twice a day to see how they’re doing and the idea is to support them if they were to need care and also to limit the spread of any potential illnesses.”

Federal health officials are warning Americans to prepare for the possibility of an aggressive outbreak. Pedati says Iowa families need to prep for this as they would any other emergency, like severe weather. “If we were to see it spread in the United States, which we have not yet, but if we were, we want to make sure people understand the kinds of things you would do to help protect yourself,” Pedati says. “It sounds simple, but those are really important things like covering your cough, washing your hands and truly, staying home from work and school when you’re sick.” Coronavirus is confirmed in more than 30 countries, but federal health officials are not calling it a pandemic.

Radio Iowa asked Pedati why: “This is indeed a new virus, it can spread from person to person, and it does seem to be spreading in some other countries but we’ve not yet seen widespread activity across the globe,” Pedati says. “That’s what people are thinking about when we think about the criteria for an illness that we see around the world.” In China, more than 27-hundred deaths are attributed to coronavirus, with 78-thousand confirmed cases. Hundreds of cases are confirmed elsewhere around the globe.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, received an update on the County Wellness Program.

Brigham Hoege

Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh talked about her position.

She says she meets monthly with “Healthy Cass County,” helping them with priority projects, including a “Youth Mental Health night,” hosted by the Atlantic High School, and open to the entire county.

The event is March 18^th. Hoege said also, she has worked on food access.

(They learned the hospital was throwing away a lot of food each week, so the hospital and Wellness organization worked with the Kiwanis to get the food to Head Start students.)

In addition to being the County Wellness Coordinator, Brigham Hoegh is the secretary for the Cass County Local Foods Policy Council.

(She’s currently working on training for Farmer’s Market vendors, which includes bringing in experts to talk about insurance, producer training, how to accept Family Nutrition Program [FNP] for SNAP eligible participants.)

Hoegh and Cass County Extension Coordinator Kate Olsen have also been working on a nutrition program for Senior Citizens. She also worked as the point of contact for the March 4^th Atlantic Mobile Food Pantry.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — An Oskaloosa landlord and the father of a 7-year-old boy killed in a house fire have pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and other charges. Court records say Ronald Fogle and Kahal Chauhan were indicted for child endangerment and neglect of a dependent person. Chauhan’s trial is set to begin May 19. Fogle’s trial hasn’t been scheduled. David Fogle’s mother was burned trying to rescue him from the Feb. 15, 2019, blaze. The records don’t provide any specifics on what prosecutors say Chauhan and Ronald Fogle did or failed to do that merited the charges.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have approved a contribution/donation and a loan, for the purchase of a building for Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center/Zion Recovery Services. Their action came Tuesday, and amounts to $50,000 altogether ($25,000 donation/$25,000 loan), with the money coming from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) fund. Supervisor John Hartkopf explained Crossroads Mental Health has accepted an offer from Zion to purchase a building, which will further help to serve persons with mental health issues.

Hartkopf says the purchasing a building has a number of benefits.

Hartkopf says they are getting great support for the Heart of Iowa Region, and they’re helping financially.

(Part of the Resolution calls for the County’s backing of the loan for seven-years, until the equity is built-up, which allows the down-payment to be reasonable.)

SWIMHC affects 17 counties. It has 34 employees in the County, about $1.6-million in payroll, excluding taxes and benefits.

Their new facilities will be located in the Crossroads Building (formerly Lutheran Family Service), on the west side of South Olive Street. Closing on the building is set to take place this week.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests.At around 4-p.m. Tuesday, 42-year old Earl Fletcher Edds, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphenalia, Driving Under Suspension and Operating a vehicle without the Interlock Device. Bond was set at $900.

At around 12:15-a.m. Tuesday, 23-year old Alexis Grace Elizabeth Beck, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Her bond was set at $300. On Monday, 34-year old Linze Elaine Camarillo, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Violation of Probation, the bond for which was set at $1,000, and Fugitive from Justice (No Bond). And, 39-year old Penny Marie Griggs, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant fore Failure to Appear. Her bond was set at $300.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Two students have been taken to a hospital for treatment after a welding accident at a community college facility in Davenport. An Eastern Iowa Community Colleges spokesman says one student was injured Tuesday at the Blong Technology Center when a spark flew into her clothing and burned her. The second student was burned when he tried to help her. Their names and the extent of their injuries have not been released.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man who ran a tax return preparation business in north-central Iowa has pleaded guilty to helping file false returns. Prosecutors also say 52-year-old David Miller, of Gilmore City, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government money or property. His sentencing hasn’t been scheduled yet. Miller admits in his plea agreement to preparing fraudulent returns for clients and himself over several years. Prosecutors said Tuesday in a news release that he’s agreed to pay restitution of nearly $157,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Senate has approved legislation designed to address difficult and violent student behavior in Iowa schools. Senator Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, says the problem is more widespread than many imagine. “This bill is truly about creating a safe learning space for all students and all teachers,” Sinclair said. Senator Julian Garrett, a Republican from Indianola, says disruptive students are causing big problems in Iowa schools. “We heard about teachers who were really having problems,” Garrett says, “….some even thinking about quitting….because of the stress of these situations.”

All 50 senators voted for the bill. However, Democrats like Senator Liz Mathis of Cedar Rapids complained more money is needed to address mental health and other needs to students now, before they wind up in the criminal justice system. “The clock is ticking,” Mathis said. “We need to get serious about this.” Senator Jackie Smith, a Democrat from Sioux City, says it’s become clear some of Iowa’s youngest students lack the social and emotional skills necessary to function in a classroom. “The largest percentage of removals for behaviors has occurred in grades K-through-2,” Smith said. “It’s gone up 82 percent.”

Parents have complained teachers trying to calm a disruptive student have had to resort to clearing classrooms of all the OTHER students. The bill makes it clear that is not the option schools should be choosing on a regular basis. The legislation would set up a new state grant program for schools to establish “therapeutic” classrooms for disruptive students. The bill also includes new liability protections for teachers who have to use “reasonable force” to restrain a student.