The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Iowa continues to trend lower from the peak on May 6th. IDPH dashboard data this (Wednesday) morning, show two more deaths occurred in the State Tuesday, for a total of 670. The data began to show a plateau the week of June 1st, and a slow but steady decline since then.

The current number of positive cases (as of today) is 24,263 (10.4% of the individuals tested, which is up from 3.9% on Tuesday). Buena Vista (8,061), Crawford (3,631), Louisa (3,178), Woodbury (2,940) and Tama (2,538) Counties are in the top five list of counties in Iowa having the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases.

Persons testing negative amount to 207,920, and the number of those who have recovered amount of 15,118.

RMCC data (Regional Medical Coordination Center) show statewide: 188 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 (down from 193 on Tuesday); seven less people are in an ICU (64); and two more were admitted to a hospital, for a total of 18 in the past 24-hours. The number of patients requiring a ventilator is 47. IN Region 4 (Southwest/western IA), the only change is that two people were admitted to a hospital in Tuesday, and two are on ventilators. Otherwise, the number of hospitalized patients (9) and those in an ICU (5), are unchanged.

Long-Term Care facility (LTC) outbreaks are down to 35 across the State. Nearly 2,200 LTC staff and/or patients have tested positive (1,194), at least 715 have recovered from COVID-19, and there have been 350 deaths reported at those facilities.

(For a County-by-County breakdown of the positive and recovered cases, as well as any COVID-19 related deaths, go to https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/case-counts)

The Adair County Board of Supervisors is set to meet on Wednesday morning for a regular session via an electronic meeting at 9:00 a.m.

It’s a fairly short agenda but they are set to update COVID-19 procedures and discuss a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw down.  They will also hear from County Attorney Melissa Larson and County Treasurer Brenda Wallace about Crestland Cooperative bankruptcy money.

County Engineer Nick Kauffman will address a number of departmental policies and handbook changes. He will also discuss payment for rock contracts with Shildberg Construction Co. and report on maintenance and activities.

The dial in number for the meeting is 605-313-6157 with access code 526272#

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence offered an optimistic view of the nation and heaped praise on President Donald Trump during a speech at recreational vehicle manufacturer Winnebago Industries in Forest City. Pence few to Mason City on Tuesday and lunch with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke at Winnebago. Pence focused most of his speech on efforts to reopen the economy after many businesses ceased operations to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Pence also touched on the death of George Floyd, calling it a “tragedy and a disgrace” but adding “there’s no excuse for the rioting” that followed the black man’s death after a white Minneapolis officer put a knee on his neck for more than eight minutes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds confirmed Tuesday that she plans to sign an executive order that would automatically restore voting rights to convicted felons before the November general election. Reynolds told reporters in Osage that her staff is working on an executive order. Mason City radio station KGLO reports the governor said, “We’re working on that right now.”

Reynolds was in northern Iowa, Tuesday, to meet with Vice President Mike Pence. She met with Black Lives Matter members on Monday to discuss an executive order. Iowa is the only state in the nation that automatically denies felons the right to vote.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine what caused the death of 59-year-old inmate at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility who was found dead Sunday in his cell. The Iowa Department of Corrections said in a news release Tuesday that it has requested the state’s Division of Criminal Investigations to look into the death of Thomas Andrew Daleske.

The state medical examiner is also conducting an autopsy. Daleske had been serving a 45-year sentence for multiple charges related to sexual abuse of a child from Warren County.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met at 9-a.m. Tuesday. According to the agenda minutes, during their session, the Board approved an application from Larry Ellison for a permit to display fireworks on July 3rd, 2020 to Larry Ellison.  They also approved the plans for Bridge #392 on Boston Road, and authorized the board members to sign the title sheet.

In other actions, the Supervisors certified the following annual base salaries for FY2021 to the auditor:

• Sheriff’s First Deputy: John Westering      $69,445.00/year.
• Treasurer’s Deputies:   McDermott, Ashley   $52,939.00/year; Nichols, Bethany    $52,939.00/year; Symonds, Julie A.   $52,939.00/year.
• Recorder’s Deputy:      Wallingford, Marci  $52,317.00/year;
• Auditor’s Deputies:     Karns, Sheri        $52,939.00/year;  Anstey, Mary        $52,939.00/year

And, “Since FY2013 the position of jail administrator has been given to the first deputy sheriff.  Rather than hire a jail administrator, the sheriff and board determined it was more practical for the first deputy sheriff to perform jail administration duties and authorized supplement pay for the first deputy.  The amount was set at $5,000, including social security and IPERS.  The county sheriff has requested that said supplement pay be continued for FY2021.”

The Board then approved, for fiscal year 2021, supplement pay for Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westering, in the amount of $5,000 (including county share of social security and IPERS) for performing jail administration duties. And, they set the FY2021 compensation schedule (Base wages) for extra help and clerks appointed by the principal county officers.

Secondary Roads: (Union scale except as noted) Laborer $19.93/hr; Maintenance $21.55/hr.; Road Equipment Operator 1 $21.85/hr.; Road Equipment Operator 2 $22.22/hr.; Dragline Operator 3 $22.87/hr.; Working Foreman $23.25/hr.; Yardman $22.10/hr.; Mechanic $23.70/hr.; Shop Foreman $24.36/hr.; Rodman $20.74/hr.

Office                     Employee

• Secondary Roads:   Wolken, Trent       110,000.00/year
•                                Hansen, Richard    66,124.00/year
•                                Ray, Alice               52,939.00/year
•                                Vogl, Dennis          25.19/hour
• Zoning:            Hansen, Richard           5,612.40/year
• Courthouse:        Proehl, Daniel           18.90/hour
• Weed Commissioner: Vogl, Dennis      30.00/hour
• Veteran Affairs:   Holmes, Mitch           50,507.00/year
• Attorney:          Groves, Beverly            53,488.00/year; Maureen, Doherty              30,000.00/year (3/4 time); Jensen, Eva  42,424.00/year
• Information Tech.  Goins, Andrea        64,864.00/year
• Treasurer:         Bintner, Abigail           44,924.00/year; Wittrock, Brandi     47,732.00/year
• Gen. Assistance    Schuler, Deb           30,963.00/year
• M H Advocate       Schuler, Deb          30,963.00/year

And, in accordance with union agreement, the Board set the following compensation schedule for base pay rates for FY2021:

• Sheriff’s assistant $22.92/hr.: Joni Knudsen and Billie McLaren;
• Sheriff’s civil processor $23.48/hr.: Stephanie Witzman;
• Jailers $19.64/hr.: Dorothy Cable, Sherri Hansen, Linda Marxen, Susan Meier, Susan Page and Darcy Schwanke; and
• Lead Jailer $21.14/hr.: Stacey Misner.

Pottawattamie County Public Health (PCPH) officials said Tuesday there were eight new cases of COVID-19. One person is from Crescent, the rest are from Council Bluffs. Two cases are epi-linked, while others were tested between June 11th and 14th. All eight are between the ages of 18 and 40.

An additional 41 persons have recovered from COVID-19 in Pott. County, which is the highest number of recoveries reported by PCPH in one day. A person is considered to be “Recovered,” after they’ve completed a 10-day isolation period, have improved symptoms, and have been fever-free for three days. There were 323 recoveries as of Tuesday’s report.

As of Tuesday, 210 persons were self-isolating, and six were in a hospital. Officials say 152 of the positive cases are the result of community spread. Here are the demographics of those who tested positive:

• Males: 290
• Females: 286
• Age 17 & under: 41
• Age 18-40: 261
• Age 41-60: 178
• Age 61-80: 83
• Age 81 or older 13.