The Iowa Department of Public Safety says the last few months have brought incredible challenges for our communities. As our nation begins to reopen, many Americans will be eager to celebrate the Fourth of July with family and friends. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) want to remind drivers to not let the celebration turn dangerous by driving impaired.

Nationally, during the 2018 July 4th holiday period (the most recent statistics available) 193 people died in motor vehicle crashes and 78 of these fatalities occurred in an alcohol-impaired crash. On the fourth of July in 2018, one person lost their life in Iowa due to an alcohol related crash. On July 4, 2019, Iowa experienced 112 crashes which involved 2 fatalities and 9 serious injuries. These fatalities and injuries are certainly nothing to celebrate.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 71 percent of those who died in alcohol related crashes were in vehicles involving a driver with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .15 or higher, almost two times the legal limit of .08. Law enforcement agencies across Iowa will be participating in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign from July 3 to July 7, 2020.

In an effort to combat impaired driving, officers will be exhibiting zero tolerance for impaired drivers. Impaired driving is not only dangerous but illegal, and it puts everyone on the road in jeopardy. There is also a financial aspect of driving impaired. An OWI arrest can cost up to $10,000. You could lose your license, your car, and your job. Before you set out to celebrate this holiday weekend, make a plan – have a designated driver, call an Uber, or other rideshare service.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau reminds you that it is never okay to drink and drive!

The City Council in Walnut is set to hold a meeting at the Walnut Community Center and online at GoToMeeting (You can also dial in at 1-(669)-224-3412 & use access code 491-221-661). Their session begins at 5-p.m. Among the items on their agenda, is:

• Discussion & possible action on the 1st reading of Ordinance 167, amending the Code with regard to provisions pertaining to water service discontinued and customer deposits.
• Discussion of the Walnut Community & Fitness Center, & Family, Inc. lease renewal.
• The appointment of the City of Walnut Zoning Administrator.
• A Housing Rehabilitation Grant
• Discussion of Property Maintenance.
• Discussion of the City of Walnut Sesquicentennial Celebration.
• And, information with regard to Quarterly Inspection of City Property.

The Iowa Department of Public Health today (Thursday), say (as of 6-a.m.),  no new deaths resulting from the virus were reported, Wednesday. The toll remains 717. However, 411 people tested positive for COVID-19, for a total of 29,701. Negative test results amount to 283,012 (4,065 more than yesterday).  Those who have recovered from the virus number 742.

In Regional Medical Center Coordination (RMCC) data: 145 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized (compared to 149 yesterday); 36 are in an ICU (37 yesterday); 18 were admitted to a hospital (compared to 29 in Wednesday’s report), and 18 are on a ventilator. That’s 3 less than reported earlier. There was no change in the RMCC Region 4 (western/southwest IA) data.

Long-Term Care (LTC) facility outbreaks remain at 20. At those facilities, 558 persons (Staff & patients) have tested positive,. Recoveries from the virus amount to 430, while COVID-19 deaths at LTC’s amount to 381. There has not been much change in area County COVID-19 data, except to say: Audubon County has one less positive case, Shelby County has two more positive cases, for a total of 108, and two more persons recovered (for a total of 81).

Pottawattamie County’s numbers show 712 positive cases (an increase of 21), 599 recovered (11 more than yesterday).

(Radio Iowa) – A new state law that took effect with the first day of July enhances the penalties for those caught abusing, neglecting or torturing pets. The law makes it easier for prosecutors to pursue these cases. A person convicted of seriously injuring or killing a pet could be sentenced to up to two years in prison. A second offense would be a felony. Representative Mary Wolfe, a Democrat from Clinton, says the penalties in the new law are reasonable.

“And will, in fact, provide law enforcement and judges with a better tool to both rehabilitate people convicted of these crimes and perhaps provide a little bit of deterrence,” she says. The new law defines animal abuse as intentionally or recklessly injuring or poisoning a pet. Senator Brad Zaun, a Republican from Urbandale, led Senate debate of the bill.

“Countless times we hear stories in the media of just disgusting abuse of our companion animals that so many times are members of our families,” Zaun said. Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines, a Democrat, says Iowa’s animal abuse penalties had been classified as the 49th weakest in the country before now. “Iowa has a good animal cruelty bill, not the best, but a good one and I thank all of my colleagues on both sides who have had to compromise,” Bisignano said. “…There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s what makes good legislation.”

Efforts to toughen penalties for animal abuse faltered over the past decade. Farm groups raised concerns that animal rights activists would use an updated law to target farmers. The new law applies to abuse, neglect and torture of “companion animals” and specifically excludes livestock and wild animals.