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Skyscan forecast for Atlantic & the area, 5/27/2020

Weather

May 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy w/areas of fog this morning; w/scattered showers & thunderstorms (mainly this afternoon). High 72. N @ 5-10.

Tonight: P/Cldy to Cldy w/scatt. shwrs & tstorms. Low 58. N @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to Cldy w/scatt. shwrs & tstrms. High 74. N @10-15.

Friday: P/Cldy. High 75.

Saturday: P/Cldy to Cldy w/ scattered showers. High around 73.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 76. Our Low this morning, 64. We received .22″ rain Tuesday. Last year on this date we reached a High of 79 and the Low was 52. The Record High on May 27th in Atlantic was 100 in 2018. The Record Low was 31, in 1907.

RANDY ”Jake” MARCHANT, 63, of Stuart (Visitation 5/30/20; Celebration of Life at a later date)

Obituaries

May 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

RANDY ”Jake” MARCHANT, 63, of Stuart, died Monday, May 25th, at Unity Point – Iowa Methodist Medical Center – in Des Moines. A Visitation for RANDY “JAKE” MARCHANT will be held from 10-a.m. to 1-p.m. Saturday, May 30th at the Twigg Funeral Home in Panora, with a Celebration of Life at a later date.

Cremation will follow the visitation.

RANDY “JAKE” MARCHANT is survived by:

His wife – Sharon, of Stuart.

His son  – Chad (Beth) Marchant, of Lindstrom, MN.

His sisters – Rexanne (Mike) Ketelsen; Twila Jean (Charlie) Hanes; Cynthia (Darrell) Shook; and Jeri (Tim) Gettler,

His brothers – Eric Marchant, Scott Marchant, and Joey (Lyn) Marchant.

2 grandchildren, and other relatives.

Council Bluffs woman arrested in Red Oak on assault warrant

News

May 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

A woman wanted on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, was arrested Tuesday night, in Red Oak. 32-year old Britteny Sue McMartin, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody at around 10:40-p.m. in the area of Broadway and Valley Streets, in Red Oak. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held on $2,000 bond.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., May 27 2020

News

May 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 45-year-old Carroll man is charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Sioux City man. Gary Dains Jr. pleaded not guilty last week in the death of 65-year-old Paul Smith in July. He is scheduled to go to trial Oct. 27. Court documents say Dains had previously stolen from Smith when he returned to Smith’s home in July. A fight broke out when Smith told Dains to leave. Court documents say Dains told police Smith was breathing but not talking when he left the house with about $120 and Smith’s car. Dains reportedly told police he stole the items to sell them to buy methamphetamine.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The daughter of an Iowa nursing home resident who died suddenly in a coronavirus outbreak says the state could have done more to stop the spread and protect vulnerable citizens such as her father.Roger Coe, 86, died Friday at the Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa after the virus quickly spread through the home. The center said Monday that 48 residents and 13 employees have tested positive over roughly the last two weeks.Sherrie Coe of Fort Collins, Colorado, said her father was known for wheeling himself to the nurses’ station every day and playing his harmonica for anyone who would listen. She says his death is sad and tough to take because she believes it could have been prevented with stricter mitigation strategies.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says she will lift a moratorium on evictions and allow gatherings of more than 10 people to resume as she removes more restrictions meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Reynolds also said she would also allow casinos, amusement parks, speedways, arcades and bowling alleys to reopen in the coming days. Large gatherings for social functions and sports competitions will also be allowed to resume. The continued reopening comes as COVID-19 deaths in Iowa have increased to 471. Advocates for low-income tenants have warned that scores of tenants who have lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic could face eviction in coming months.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police in Cedar Rapids have opened a homicide investigation after determining that a man found dead in a home there last week had been shot to death. Police said in a news release Tuesday that the victim has been identified as 69-year-old Daniel James Spangler. His body was found inside his Cedar Rapids home on Friday by an officer who had been sent to check on his welfare. Police initially said Spangler’s death was suspicious, but that more investigation would be needed. On Tuesday, police said an autopsy had determined that he had died of a gunshot wound. No arrests have been reported.

Summary of changes set for June 1st as part of IA COVID-19 recovery

News

May 26th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency has put together a quick summary of the changes coming June 1st to Iowa’s Coronavirus Emergency Proclamation:

16 new COVID-19 cases and 1 death in Pott. County

News

May 26th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Pottawattamie County Public Health, Tuesday, said there were 16 new, positive cases of COVID-19 to report. Ten of the individuals are residents of Council Bluffs, three are from Underwood, two are from Carter Lake, and one is from Walnut. Three of the cases are persons age 17 and under, five are age 18-to 40, five are 41-to 60 years of age, and three are age 61-to 80.

There was also another COVID-19 related death. A Council Bluffs man over the age of 81, with pre-existing conditions has died, marking the seventh death in Pott. County. All of the latest cases were tested between May 16th and 24th.

So far, 2,876 Pott. County residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 243 testing positive. An additional 11 people have recovered, for a total of 137. At of the latest report, six persons were hospitalized with COVID-19, and 88 are self-isolating. 75 of the positive cases of the virus were traced back to community spread.

Man scheduled for trial in death of Sioux City homeowner

News

May 26th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Sioux City Journal) — A 45-year-old Carroll man is charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Sioux City man. Gary Dains Jr. pleaded not guilty last week in the death of 65-year-old Paul Smith in July. He is scheduled to go to trial Oct. 27. Court documents say Dains had previously stolen from Smith when he returned to Smith’s home in July. A fight broke out when Smith told Dains to leave.

Court documents say Dains told police Smith was breathing but not talking when he left the house with about $120 and Smith’s car. Dains reportedly told police he stole the items to sell them to buy methamphetamine.

89 employees at Perdue Farms plants in Sioux City and Sioux Center have had COVID-19

Ag/Outdoor

May 26th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State officials today (Tuesday) confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks at Perdue Farms pork processing facilities in northwest Iowa. A company spokesperson says the testing was conducted on May 4th and 5th. On May 11th, Perdue Farms announced 425 workers had been tested and fewer than 20 percent tested positive. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, 69 workers at the Perdue Farms plant in Sioux CENTER tested positive and tests confirm another 20 workers at the company’s plant in Sioux CITY have had the virus.

Hogs are slaughtered at the facility in Sioux Center and the Sioux City location is the processing plant for ALL the company’s pork products. Jim Perdue, chairman of family-owned Perdue Farms, issued a video statement on May 7th about the pandemic. “We are supplying masks and protective gear to our associates and government inspectors in our plants as well as any essential personnel who enters our facilities,” Perdue said. “…We have increased our already stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols and we are physically altering our production plants and running at reduced speeds to facilitate social distancing.”

Perdue Farms is based in Maryland. The company’s website indicates it owns plants throughout the country that process poultry, pork, lamb and beef.

Property Tax, Driver License and Motor Vehicle Deadlines Extended Again to June 25, 2020

News

May 26th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall reports the deadlines for property taxes, Driver Licenses and motor vehicle registration renewals, vehicle title registration and license plates, have been extended in response to COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation Tuesday, that extends the deadlines to June 25th for March 2020 property tax payments, Driver License, vehicle registration renewals, vehicle title registration and license plates.

Marshall says “While our office is open by appointment only for Cass County Citizens, we are encouraging citizens to use online, mail, email and our drop box if possible.” Online payments can be made at www.iowatreasurers.org. Mail in payments can be mailed: Cass County Treasurer, 5 W 7th St, Atlantic, IA 50022

A drop box can be found at the courthouse main entrance door. Anyone with questions regarding property tax, Driver License or motor vehicle inquiries should contact Cass County Treasurers Office at 712-243-5503 or email cass.treasurer@casscoia.us

Daughter says Iowa failed to protect her dad, 86, from virus

News

May 26th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The daughter of an Iowa nursing home resident who died suddenly in a coronavirus outbreak says the state could have done more to stop the spread and protect vulnerable citizens such as her father. Roger Coe, age 86, died Friday at the Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa after the virus quickly spread through the home. The center said Monday that 48 residents and 13 employees have tested positive over roughly the last two weeks.

Sherrie Coe of Fort Collins, Colorado, said her father was known for wheeling himself to the nurses’ station every day and playing his harmonica for anyone who would listen. She says his death is sad and tough to take because she believes it could have been prevented with stricter mitigation strategies.