The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests. On Sunday, 34-year old Jordyn Dell Lavola Swanson, of Exira, was arrested on charges of Public Intoxication, and Disorderly Conduct. Swanson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance. And, 43-year old Jason Richard Tasto, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Tasto was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

Last Friday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 33-year old  Justin Allen Knutsen, of Atlantic, on a charge of Interference with Official Acts. Knutsen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released the following day.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the amount of money that would be in another coronavirus stimulus bill is one issue being debated — but she says liability protection is the biggest sticking point for her. “Bottom line, if we do expect our schools to open, our colleges and universities to resume, our churches to protect them, our businesses — all of that — we know that we do have to have liability protections in place,” Ernst says.

Democrats are looking at a package of some three TRILLION dollars, while Republicans are talking about a one TRILLION dollar package. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says they need to look at what has happened with the funds they’ve previously approved.  “We’ve already spent three trillion dollars through the CARES ACT, or we’ve allocated it. What we’ve found is that there is a trillion dollars designated for certain programs through the CARES ACT. And so, we really do need to take that into account as we move forward, and not just pile more money into these programs,” according to Ernst.

She says they want the money to go where it will do the most good. “We are trying to gauge that and make sure that we are very laser focused on supporting COVID-19 recovery efforts,” Ernst says, “You know, this is not a grand give away. We won’t support that.” Ernst says she is introducing a bill that would help essential workers by giving them a tax break. “Under my proposal, federal income taxes would be suspended for essential workers up to an annual income cap set at the highest level of pay for an enlisted person in the United States armed forces,” Ernst says. “Additionally, the bill would provide a suspension of federal payroll taxes for essential workers who earn up to 50-thousand dollars annually.”

Ernst says the essential workers are putting the interests of their fellow Americans ahead of their own and they should be rewarded for their selfless service.

One person died and another was injured during a crash Sunday night, in Fremont County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 50-year old David Allen Terry, of Shenandoah, was traveling east on Highway 2, west of Waubonsie Avenue, when for reasons unknown, the cycle crossed the center line into the westbound lane. 57-year old Ezeuiel Paul Soriano, of Sidney, was driving an eastbound 2018 Hyundai Elantra and swerved to miss the motorcycle, but both vehicles collided on the center line. The accident happened at around 9:20-p.m.

Terry died at the scene of the crash.

Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office report one person was seriously injured during a single-vehicle accident on 1600th Street, Monday evening. 45-year old Aaron James Nelson, of Harlan, suffered suspected serious/incapacitating injuries and was flown by helicopter to Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Omaha. Authorities say Nelson was driving a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup westbound on 1600th Street, about one-quarter of a mile west of Highway 59, when the pickup went out of control and entered the north ditch. The vehicle rolled at least once. Nelson – who was not wearing a seat belt – was ejected from the pickup as it rolled over. The accident happened at around 6:15-p.m.

Accident scene photo submitted to KJAN

Nelson was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The pickup was totaled in the crash, with the loss estimated AT $20,000.

(Radio Iowa) – As Iowans continue grappling with the effects of the pandemic, many are taking advantage of free remote counseling made available through the state. Teresa Zilk is a media specialist for the COVID Recovery grant. She says counselors can help Iowans build coping skills as coronavirus-related disruptions continue. “There’s just a lot of anxiety about what’s gonna happen next,” Zilk says. “So many people have been impacted in terms of no longer having employment. Even farmers are having difficulties. You have parents who are home with children more than they were before.”

Zilk says they want to reach Iowans from all walks of life — those who lost their jobs, are now constantly home with their families, people with disabilities, and Iowans struggling with anxiety surrounding the uncertainty. “It’s requiring a different set of coping skills for everybody,” she says. “So we’re there to give them different types of coping skills and strategies to help reduce the sense of loss and stress that they’ve experienced.”

Spanish language services are available and counselors can also refer people to other services. Any Iowan can seek free confidential counseling at the website: Covid Recovery Iowa-dot-org, or by calling 844-775-WARM.

(By Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)