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Iowa arrest reviewed after handcuffed Black man has seizure

News

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating an eastern Iowa arrest after video posted on social media showed a handcuffed Black man having a seizure and apparently struggling to breathe after officers used pepper spray on him. Dubuque officials say an internal investigation will review the Friday night arrest of Yoosuf Moment. Police say Moment resisted officers before pepper spray was used.

Moment was treated at a local hospital and released after he was ticketed on suspicion of driving without a valid license and interfering with police. City Manager Mike Van Milligen said in a statement that officials are aware of concerns about the incident and a thorough investigation will be conducted.

Police investigate fatal shooting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

News

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids Police say gunshots were reported around 4 a.m. Sunday in southwest Cedar Rapids. Officers found a person with a gunshot wound who later died at the scene. Police did not immediately release the victim’s identity or any other details about the shooting. No arrests were announced Sunday morning.

(UPDATE 7:45-a.m.) – Spontaneous combustion thought to be the cause of Bridgewater fire

News

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

All photos submitted to KJAN News

Spontaneous combustion of 1,000 big bales of hay is believed to be the cause of a fire in building in Bridgewater early this (Sunday) morning. Bridgewater Fire Chief Daryl Christensen told KJAN News the call about a fire at 204 W. 1st Street came in at around 12:30-a.m. The property is owned by Dennis Lundy, of Lundy Farms. Just before daylight, a construction excavator was brought-in to gain better access to, and containment of, the flames, but Christensen said once a fire of that nature starts, there’s not much that can be done.

Bridgewater Fire requested mutual aid from more than a half-dozen area fire departments, including Adair, Anita, Atlantic, Fontanelle, Greenfield, Massena, Orient and Wiota.  Numerous tanker trucks were called-in along with additional manpower. Atlantic’s aerial (or, ladder) truck was requested at 1:24-a.m.

Water was being drawn from a dry hydrant at Mormon Trail Lake, near Bridgewater. The Adair County Ambulance was also on the scene to provide fire fighter rehab. Flames were still shooting through the roof of the building, at around 4:15-a.m. By 5-a.m., most of the fire departments were released from the scene.

Chief Christensen said Bridgewater Fire crews were on the scene until around 7-a.m.

Atlantic P&Z to consider site plans, Tuesday

News

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Planning and Zoning Commission is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During their session, the Commission will consider three site plans for:

  1. Nishna Valley Cycle – for a new industrial storage building at 2500 East 7th Street.
  2. Cass County Health System – their proposed renovation and a small addition, parking layout change, along with landscaping improvements to their hospital at 1501 East 10th Street
  3. and for TFF, Inc., out of Omaha, which holds the deed to 301 Elm Street (the site for the County’s ambulance service). Midwest Air (which replaced Medivac) wants to build a new addition to the structure that includes living quarters for staff as they await calls.

Iowa COVID-19 dashboard data for 7/12/2020

News

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Updated 10:30-a.m.) The Iowa Department of Public Health today (Sunday) reports an additional COVID-19 related death since Saturday, for a total to-date of 749, and, 503 positive test results since yesterday (Saturday), for a total of 35,002. The number of hospitalizations from the Coronavirus decreased by one, to 177. Two people were taken out of an ICU (for a total 54), and seven were admitted to a hospital, for a total of 30. There are 26 people on a ventilator (one more than reported Saturday).

In southwest/western Iowa, RMCC Region 4, there were two more people hospitalized (for a total of 9), two more transferred to an ICU (5 total), and there were two new hospital admissions (compared to 3 in the previous report). And, once again there were no persons placed on a ventilator in this area.

Statewide:

  • 374,817 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19
  • 26,206 have recovered
  • 338,666 have tested negative
  • Long-Term Care facility outbreaks remain at 16; 342 patients/staff at LTC’s have tested positive; 98 have recovered, and 396 persons have died at an LTC in Iowa.

County-by-County COVID-19 cases, and the number of person who have recovered (   ). (Changes from Saturday’s report are highlighted)

  • Cass: 28 (19)
  • Adair: 17 (12)
  • Adams: 8 (8)
  • Audubon: 18 (15)
  • Guthrie: 76 [an increase of 1 case from yesterday] (57)
  • Montgomery: 12 (8)
  • Pottawattamie: 830 [an increase of 9 cases] (667) [also an increase of 6 cases]
  • Shelby: 119 (109) [an increase of 1 case recovered from yesterday]

Cass County Democratic Party annual School Supply Drive set for 7/13-through 8/14

News

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

With the hope that schools will re-open this fall, the Cass County Democratic Party is again sponsoring its annual School Supply Drive, to begin Monday, July 13th and continuing through August 14th. Coupled with the school supply drive will be a Food Drive. County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle says “This is the 9th year that the Party has held the school supply drive. We have always been overwhelmed by the support of Cass County for this important event. We want our children to start the year off right, with new supplies.”

Toelle says “We are also sponsoring a food drive, realizing that there are far more food insecure people this year due to high unemployment and the pandemic. We generally have a food drive at least once a year but, because this is a major election year, I decided to do both drives at the same time since we will be busy during the fall. I do want to stress that both drives are non-partisan events. We don’t care if you are a Democrat, Republican, No Party, or not registered to vote; it is far more important than politics to meet the needs of our local children and families.”

Food pantries and the schools will do the actual distribution of the donated items. Suggested items for the school drive include everything from pencils to spiral notebooks to book bags and also should include non-traditional items such as facial tissues, hand sanitizer, plastic zip-top storage bags, and copy paper. Non-perishable items such as canned and boxed food items are needed; cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, zip-top storage bags or other food storage containers are also welcome.

There will be drop-off sites around the County (See the list below). Toelle says  “We are also looking for a drop-off site in Wiota so if anyone has suggestions, please call [her] at 712-243-4861.”

Drop-off sites include:

  • Anita: City Clerk’s Office; Library; Main Street Market; Rusty Razor; Rolling Hills Bank.
  • Atlantic: Fareway (school supplies only); private home at 10 E. 13th St.; YMCA; Rolling Hills Bank
  • Cumberland: City Hall; Houghton State Bank
  • Griswold: Rolling Hills Bank; City Hall; Telephone Company, Houghton State Bank
  • Lewis: Library
  • Lyman: Lyman Cafe
  • Marne: Library outside Post Office
  • Massena: Library; FNB Bank; Economy Food Mart

Red Oak man arrested Saturday night

News

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Saturday night, arrested 59-year old Tony Joe Christensen. The Red Oak man was taken into custody at around 9:40-p.m. in the 1800 block of N. Broadway Street, for Public Intoxication. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond.

Softball Scores from Saturday, 7/11/20

Sports

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Non-Conference/Regular Season scores:

  • Bishop Heelan Catholic 10 Lewis Central 9
  • East Union 15 Des Moines North 0
  • Des Moines North 11 East Union 10
  • Winterset 11, Clarke 0

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, July 12, 2020

News

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

BRIDGEWATER, Iowa (KJAN) — Firefighters from more than a half-dozen area fire departments are on the scene this morning, of a large structure fire in on W. 1st Street, in Bridgewater. The page went out at around 12:30-a.m. Crews from Bridgewater, Adair, Anita, Atlantic, Fontanelle, Greenfield, Massena, and Orient were called to the scene, with Atlantic sending its ladder truck. As of 4:15-a.m., flames were reported to still be shooting through the roof of the building, four pumper trucks were running lines and at least eight tankers were shuttling water drawn from a dry hydrant at Mormon Trail Lake, near Bridgewater. The structure was apparently being used to store hay. Additional details were not immediately available.

UNDATED (AP) — The number of women having abortions in Iowa climbed last year, a turnaround that critics blame on the state’s controversial decision to withdraw from a federally funded family planning program. After decades of plummeting abortion numbers, the state last year recorded 3,566 abortions. That is 8% more than the previous year. The Des Moines Register reports last year’s increase came after the number of Iowa abortions dropped 56% from 2008 to 2018.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Health officials in Iowa report that six more people have died in the state from COVID-19. As of Saturday afternoon, the toll for coronavirus-related deaths reached 748 in Iowa. The state also reported 34,647 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Officials suspect the actual number of people with COVID-19 is much higher than the state-released statistics indicate because many people with mild or no symptoms do not get tested. The health department reports 178 coronavirus patients were hospitalized on Saturday, up from 169 who were hospitalized a day earlier.

Sports Headlines: 7/12/2020

Sports

July 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (AP) — Scott Dixon earned his third straight victory Saturday with an improbable triumph in the opening race of a weekend doubleheader at Road America, as IndyCar welcomed fans to its races for the first time this season. Dixon has won each of the three IndyCar races to take place thus far during this pandemic-delayed season. He’s the first IndyCar driver to start a season with at least three consecutive victories since Sebastien Bourdais reeled off four straight to start the 2006 campaign.

HOUSTON (AP) —Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing mild symptoms. New York manager Aaron Boone says Chapman “overall is doing well” but “will not be here for the foreseeable future.” Hours after Chapman’s diagnosis, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was scratched from a simulated game with a stiff neck. New York is also without infielder DJ LeMahieu and right-hander Luis Cessa due to the virus. The AL East champion Yankees open the season July 23 at Washington.

UNDATED (PA) — Cleveland Indians outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. worked out with his teammates at training camp for the first time after being sidelined by the COVID-19 virus. DeShields had experienced some “mild symptoms” after testing positive with the virus before the Indians reported to Cleveland for the re-start of training camp last week. DeShields arrived a few days ago, but he was only cleared Saturday after twice testing negative. DeShields is one of 10 outfielders trying to win a spot on the club’s 30-man roster. He batted .249 and stole 24 bases in 118 games for the Rangers last season.

NEW YORK (AP) — Yoenis Céspedes says he’s sure he’ll be ready to start the pandemic-delayed season with the New York Mets. Out of the lineup for almost two years, the 34-year-old slugger said Saturday that he’s finally close to fully recovered from a string of injuries to his feet and legs. The Mets open at home July 24 against Atlanta. And with the designated hitter available in the National League this year, Céspedes is a prime candidate for that role during a shortened schedule of 60 games.

UNDATED (AP) — LeBron James says his thoughts on social justice can’t be contained on the back of a basketball jersey. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar says he won’t wear one of the NBA-approved social justice messages on the back of his jersey when the NBA resumes competition later this month in the Orlando bubble. As part of the NBA’s recognition of the nationwide invigoration of the social justice movement sparked by the death of George Floyd, NBA players are allowed to choose from a lengthy list of possible messages for their jerseys during the league’s restart. James is among just a few who declined to choose one of the messages.

UNDATED (AP) — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, the U.S. men’s basketball coach, says he is watching how Japan is handling the coronavirus. Popovich says he hopes the Tokyo Games, which were delayed until 2021, could still happen — especially if a vaccine or other remedies are developed beforehand. The NBA plans to start next season in December, which could complicate Olympic availability for players. It’s not clear if the playoffs would be finished before the Olympics would begin on July 23, 2021.