Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers across much of Iowa are dealing with the heartbreaking aftermath of a rare wind storm that turned what was looking like a record corn crop into deep losses. The storm slammed the Midwest with straight line winds of up to 100 miles per hour on Monday, gaining strength as it plowed through Iowa farm fields, flattening corn and bursting grain bins still filled with tens of millions of bushels of last year’s harvest. Similar damage was reported in Indiana and Illinois. Before the storm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had forecast a record national corn crop this year, of which Iowa was expected to provide about 18%.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The impact of a powerful wind storm that tore through the Midwest on Monday is continuing to grow, as hundreds of thousands of people are experiencing power outages for a third straight day. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, residents emptied their refrigerators and freezers as their food spoiled, waited at gas stations for an hour or longer to fill up their cars and gas cans, and worked to clean up fallen trees that were everywhere. Many roads remained impassable and businesses closed. City council member Dale Todd says “it feels like we got kicked in the teeth pretty good,” and that recovery will be slow.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party’s signature annual fundraiser will see a major change next month in the wake of a global coronavirus pandemic. For the first time since it began in 1972, the party’s Steak Fry event will be held as a drive-in. The Steak Fry will be held at the Airplane Field at Des Moines Water Works Park. Attendees will be able to watch the program on a large screen and listen in through the radio. Steak, chicken, and vegan dinners will be delivered directly to attendees’ cars. Social distancing rules will be enforced and face masks will be required when attendees are outside of their vehicles. The event drew more than 12,000 people last year.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 14-year-old boy has died in a personal watercraft collision on Clear Lake in north-central Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the collision of the two recreational watercraft happened around noon Tuesday. Officials did not give details on how the crash occurred, but say the teen killed was operating one of the watercraft involved. His name has not yet been released. Investigators say a 12-year-old child operating the second watercraft sustained minor injuries, and a passenger on the second watercraft was not injured.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber kicked-off Wednesday evening’s YouTube school board meeting by reading six comments sent-in prior to the meeting deadline. Among the email’s Board Secretary Sarah Sheeder received for dissemination to the Administration, was one pertaining to the Atlantic All-Staff back-to-school meeting, and other large-group meetings, prior to the start of school.

For right now, those meetings are set to be held in the High School Commons, Auditorium, or Media Center, which raised concerns about whether that does enough to meet the needs of social distancing. The district staffer asked if those meetings could take place via ZOOM.

The Board also heard from Kathleen Johnson, R.N., who expressed her concern that the Board was not mandating the use of masks. Allison Berryhill was also supportive of masks, saying at a minimum, they should be used indoors when distancing is not possible.

Tammy DeBord, parent and PTO Secretary and SIAC Committee member, expressed her concerns about the 9-percent positivity rate for COVID-19 in the County and how well the school is prepared to deal with an outbreak. She brought up the fact the school has already had an outbreak of the virus after some students attended a party and then volleyball and other activities. Ann McCurdy requested the Board mandate masks for this school year.

The Board later passed by a vote of 3-to 2,  the first reading of a Policy related to COVID-19, which does not require the use of a mask, but strongly encourages its use, especially when social distancing is impractical. A non-surgical (Non N-95) mask will be provided to any student or staff member who wishes to wear one during the school day.

In the Superintendent’s Report, Steve Barber brought in Cass County Public Health Director Beth Olsen, who said (as we reported Wednesday), there were 79 positive test results for COVID-19 in Cass County, with 47 recovered. Olsen said she expected that by Thursday morning, there would be nine more positive results added to the State’s Coronavirus dashboard. Olsen also explained the timeline for those who may have been exposed to the virus and when they can return to normal activities.

She acknowledged COVID-19 cases in Cass County are rising and will continue to rise, but as long as the positivity rate is 15-percent or below, the District wouldn’t need to implement it’s Hybrid Plan. Superintendent Barber said as of Wednesday, he knew of about 80 students who will be taking classes by remote learning. Also, about 5-to 10 students are attending online through Iowa Connections Academy, there are some Home School Assistance participants, and those who opted for Home Schooling.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the Summer 2021 Coaching Contracts, other contracts, and resignations.

Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies, Tuesday, attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation near the 7 mile marker of Interstate 29 southbound. Authorities say the vehicle failed to yield to law enforcement and the vehicle continued southbound stopping at 1-mile marker. Deputies discovered two loaded firearms in the vehicle, as well as marijuana and ecstasy.

Hill

The driver, 20-year old Deangelo Hill, of Omaha, was arrested for Carrying weapons, felony eluding, Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Offense, no insurance, speeding, and No Valid Driver’s License.

A passenger, 21-year old Adonis Williams, JR., of Omaha, was arrested for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Controlled Substance and Open Container. Another passenger, 21-year old Elexus Bennette, of Omaha, was arrested for Carrying Weapons, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Open Container.

Bennett

Williams

The Fremont County K9 Unit, Iowa State Patrol, Mills County Sheriff’s Office and Hamburg Fire and Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports Deputies were advised by the Cass County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Office, that 49-year old Scott James McCart, of Thurman, was arrested Tuesday (Aug.11), on an active Fremont County warrant.

McCart

McCart was previously arrested in connection with a domestic dispute that occurred at his residence in Thurman on Feb. 29th, 2020. At that time, McCart was arrested for Domestic Abuse while displaying a weapon, Obstructing 911 Communications, and Child Endangerment. McCart was released March 2nd, after posting $5,000 cash/surety bond.

Upon further investigation McCart was subsequently charged with Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, Child Endangerment with Bodily Injury and Assault while Displaying a Dangerous Weapon. A warrant was issued for McCart’s arrest in early March of 2020, but he was not located by law enforcement until August of 2020.

It is alleged that during a domestic dispute, McCart struck a child with his fist, causing injury and then pointed a firearm at the child. McCart is currently being held on $17,000 cash/surety bond.

Police in Council Bluffs report officers were called to Highway 92 and Valley View Drive for a single vehicle, Semi Tractor-Trailer rollover accident, Wednesday afternoon. The Semi truck was traveling westbound on Highway 92 at around 3:15-p.m., and attempted to turn northbound on Valley View Drive.

Authorities say it appears he took the turn traveling too fast and it flipped on its side, losing its load of grain. The driver suffered minor, unknown injuries, and was transported to the hospital for treatment. The section of Valley View Drive between Longview Loop and Highway 92 will be closed due to the clean-up of the accident.

Officials with the U-S Census Bureau report census takers are now working across all areas of Iowa to visit households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census from now through September 30.  NOTE:  The Census Bureau will follow up with some households by phone.

How to identify census takers?

• Census takers wear a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge
• Census takers will also have official U.S. Census Bureau phones
• To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public in Iowa may contact the Chicago Region Census Center:  312-579-1500

Why is it important to respond to the 2020 Census?

A complete and accurate count of each community ensures that community receives its fair share of representation in Congress and the state legislature and its fair share of billions in federal funds distributed each year to state and local communities for many programs, such as emergency response services, hospitals and clinics, schools, job training, roads, highways and more. Census data is important for decisions by businesses, nonprofits and all levels of government.

Who will census takers be visiting?  

Households that have not yet responded.

2020 Census response rates are updated daily on this interactive map: 2020Census.gov/response-rates

The majority of households have already responded. In Iowa, 69% have responded – which is about one million households. That means almost one in three households will need census taker visits.

Can you still respond in your own to the 2020 Census?  

Yes – Those that respond on their own will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.

Online – visit 2020Census.gov
Phone – call 844-330-2020 – phone lines are open 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Central – seven days a week
If a census taker visits your home or calls you, please answer their questions.
The Census Bureau is also sending emails to low-responding blocks. The email is sent from 2020Census@subscription.census.gov. Please respond.

For non-English language support: 2020Census.gov/languages.

More info on census takers:  2020Census.gov/census-takers

What can households expect when a census taker visits?  

In most cases, census workers will make up to six attempts at each housing unit address to count possible residents. This includes leaving notification of the attempted visit on the door. The notification will include reminder information on how to respond online, by paper or by phone. In addition, census workers may try to reach the household by phone to conduct the interview.

Census takers will go to great lengths to ensure that no one is missed in the census. After exhausting their efforts to do an in-person interview with a resident of an occupied housing unit, they will seek out proxy sources — a neighbor, a rental agent, a building manager or some other knowledgeable person familiar with the housing unit — to obtain as much basic information about the occupants as they can.

Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.

Following local public health guidelines: Census takers have completed training on social distancing and safety protocols, will follow local public health guidelines, and will be required to wear a face mask when conducting follow-up visits.  They will also maintaining social distance of 6 ft. or more, they must practice hand hygiene. And, Census workers should avoid entering homes, and conduct interviews outside as much as possible or practical.

Census Takers Contacting Some Households By Phone  

In order to minimize the need to send census takers to households in person, the Census Bureau is training census takers to follow up with households by phone. Using information provided to the Census Bureau and third-party purchased data, the Census Bureau has a strong contact list for both landlines and cellphones assigned to houses on the Census Bureau’s address list. These phone calls will enable the Census Bureau to have maximum flexibility for conducting field operations, and is one more method that census takers can use to reach non-responding households. Phone calls will be used on an as-needed basis and when in-person contact attempts have not resulted in an interview. If a voicemail is available, the census taker will leave a message asking the household to call one of the Census Bureau’s call centers.

About the 2020 Census – The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day).