Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Friday), reported there have been 11 additional deaths related to COVID-19 since Thursday’s report, for a total of 107 deaths.

According to IDPH the additional 11 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Bremer County, 1 elderly adults (81+) 
• Black Hawk County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)  
• Linn County,  2 older adults (61-80 years), 2 elderly adults (81+) 
• Polk County, 2 elderly adults (81+) 
• Scott County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)

There were 521 new, Positive Covid-19 test results returned, for a total of 4,445. The Governor says 31, 973 Iowans have been tested (1 in 98 per capita). The increase in positive cases, she said, are attributable to testing that’s occurring among essential workers. She said 30% of Iowa’s cases are related to manufacturing, while 15% are related to health care workers. There have been an additional 2,190 negative tests for a total of 27,528 negative tests to date

Reynolds said 1,604 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19, for a recovery rate of 36%. The RMMC’s report 278 Iowans are hospitalized, 44 were admitted, 104 are in ICU’s and 60 are on ventilators. There are 3,896 In-patient COVID-19 beds available across the State, 534 ICU beds and 682 ventilators available for patient care. There was one additional long term care facility outbreak at Mitchell Village Care Center, in Polk County, for a total of 13 outbreaks at long-term care facilities.

The Governor said the efforts of Iowan’s to follow the health guidelines and the rate of progress in staving-off the spread of COVID-19, will allow  some changes to take place next week.

She said these past few weeks have forced her to make some of the toughest decisions she’s ever made as governor, “But they were necessary and all made in the best interests of our collective health.”

She said effective Monday, April 27th, Iowa Health Systems/Health Care Providers may begin the process of resuming elective surgeries and procedures through a phased-in approach, based on the discretion of each facility whose administrators feel it is safe to do so. Rescheduling patients and procedures is also at the discretion of those facilities. In addition, her proclamation permits Farmer’s Markets to begin limited operations with appropriate Public Health precautions, and provides additional relief to Iowans affected by the COVID-19 emergency.

(She said additional announcements regarding the first phase of re-opening Iowa will be released, Monday.)

Reynolds also put out a call for nurses to work at nursing home as demand at the centers increase.

Medivac ambulance, Anita Rescue and Wiota Fire were dispatched at around 10:54-a.m. today (Friday), to a collision between a car and a semi. Two people were said to be injured. The accident took place on eastbound Interstate 80 at mile marker 64. LifeNet helicopter was called to the scene. Additional details are not currently available.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports a Celebration of Life parade on behalf of Sgt. Donovan Dontje will be held May 2nd. Parking will be at the Harlan Community High School (2102 Durant St., in Harlan). Visitors are welcome to arrive after 8-a.m. on that date, with the procession set to begin at 10-a.m. Sgt. Dontje died unexpectedly April 16th.  The Celebration of Life parade procession will pass by the family’s house in Shelby. Additional details can be found below.

Sgt. Donovan Dontje

Celebration of life parade details: When: Saturday May 2nd at 10:00-a.m.

Staging: All Law Enforcement, Fire/Ems, and Public will park at the Harlan Community High School 2102 Durant St. Harlan, IA. Parking will be designated, please see attached map. Parking will begin at 0800 hours and will be coordinated by volunteers in reflective vest. Social distancing will be practiced.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says two incidents have been reported. Thursday night, a rural Creston man told authorities that someone driving an older green Chevy pickup backed in to the garage door of his rural rental property. The pickup has a broken tail light. Damage to the garage door was estimated at $400. And, a rural Thayer man reported to the Sheriff’s Department on April 19th, that someone came on his property and took four old telephone poles, and cut some in half. The value of the poles was not determined.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Friday press conference on COVID-19. We plan on having live audio of the presser on KJAN which is set to start at approximately 11:00 a.m.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 29-year old Timothy Fred Leachman, who was convicted of Burglary 1st Degree in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort

Timothy Leachman (IA DOC photo)

Des Moines Residential Facility as required Thursday night. Leachman is a black male, six-feet one-inch tall, and weighs about 233 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on March 4th, 2020.  Persons with information on Leachman’s whereabouts should contact local police.

A Nebraska man was arrested in Pottawattamie County early this (Friday) morning, following a pursuit. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says two Pott. County Deputies were dispatched at around 5:10-a.m. to a vehicle pursuit crossing the I-680 Bridge into Iowa. A short time later, both Deputies arrived in the area and attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, a 2002 Ford F-250 pickup. The driver, 25-year old Jeffrey Michael Hotz, of Omaha, was taken into custody for Theft in the 1st Degree – motor vehicle, and Willful failure to stop for law enforcement. Hotz was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $11,000 bond.

Thursday afternoon, a woman was arrested on drug charges in Pottawattamie County, following an incident at the Hitchcock Nature Center. The woman, 24-year old Stephanie Nicole Riser, was said to have been uncooperative. She was arrested for Interference with officials acts, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and Possession of methamphetamine, 1st offense. And, a Colorado man being held in the Pott. County Jail, was served with a warrant Thursday afternoon, for being a Fugitive from Justice. 41-year old Jacqueay Derrick Roberson, of Colorado Springs, was being held in the jail on $14,141 associated with other charges.