The Iowa Department of Public health (IDPH) and Audubon County Public Health, Saturday, identified one additional COVID-19 case in the County, bringing the total Audubon County positive cases to ten.
The new positive case is an adult (19-40 years).

Audubon County Public Health is conducting a contact tracing investigation on this case to identify close contacts who should monitor their health symptoms and self-isolate.

The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment is slated to meet 7:30-a.m. Monday, May 11th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda, is a Public Hearing during which the Board will consider a Conditional Use Permit Application by Zion Recovery Services, Inc., for the property at 2307 Olive Street, that would allow for the operation of a health and medical institution in an R-4 (Multiple Family Residential) District, as allowed by the City’s Zoning Ordinance.

Zoning Administrator John Lund says neighbors in the area have called City Hall to voice their objections to the application. Cass County Supervisor John Hartkopf has called with strong support from the Supervisors for Zion Recovery Services, and the City had received 77 letters of support for Zion’s application, as of May 6th. The letters came from several community leaders, business and economic development officials.

Zion’s Director says “Overall within a 12 month timespan, ZION Recovery Services and Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center (SWIM-HC) will provide vital mental health services and substance use disorder treatment to approximately 6,500 individuals which include adults, young children, adolescents, and elderly in Atlantic and surrounding counties. The number is projects to increase in 2020 as we all are experiencing a “New normal’ of social distancing and self-isolation due to COVID-19 Pandemic.” ZION and SWIM-HC in Atlantic combined, employ 30 qualified staff, with an annual wage totaling more than $1.2-million dollars. Out of the 30 staff, 19 are highly specialized in the field of mental health or substance use disorder.

Background:

• On March 2nd, Zion Recovery Services purchased the building at 2307 Olive Street from Crossroads of Western Iowa.
• Zion is a provider of behavioral and mental health services for persons with behavioral health conditions, serious mental illness and emotional disorders, substance abuse disorders and gambling. Their prevention services encompasses 12 counties in the surrounding area.
• Section 7.30 (2) of the Zoning Ordinance states “Health and medical institutions, including convalescent, nursing and rest homes and hospitals,” are conditional uses in the R-4 Zone.
• The property previously served as a group home for Lutheran Family Services, and an apartment addition to the building was granted in 2004.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Council Bluffs man following a traffic stop early Saturday.

At approximately 1:23 a.m. Deputies executed a traffic stop on a 2013 Dodge Avenger for driving on the shoulder on 370th Avenue, north of Farragut. Fremont County K9 Roby was deployed, and a subsequent search uncovered marijuana concealed on the driver’s person.

The driver, 36-year-old Matthew Magers of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana 3rd Offense, Driving Under Suspsension, Driving on the Shoulder, and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine under 5 grams.)

Magers was booked into the Fremont County Jail and held without bail pending an initial appearance with a Fremont County Magistrate.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on Friday night following an incident in the 2300 block of 190th Street. Deputies arrested 38-year-old Robert Surrell of Red Oak at approximately 6:15 p.m. for Domestic Abuse Assault (Impeding Airflow) and Interference with Official Acts. Surrell was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond.

A crash Friday evening west of Orient in Adair County, has claimed the life of a Guthrie County man. The Iowa State Patrol reports 39-year old Jeremy Lane Trichel, of Menlo, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. 40-year old Elijah Daniel Davis, of Orient, was injured in the crash, and transported to the hospital in Creston by Orient EMS.

Authorities say a 2000 Ford Astro Van driven by Elijah Davis was traveling east on Highway 25 east of Orange Avenue at around 5:06-p.m., as Trichel was traveling westbound, driving a 1946 Ford F-100. The van crossed the center line of the highway and struck the pickup head-on. Both vehicles came to rest on the north ditch.

Trichel was ejected from his vehicle. Davis, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered serious injuries in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office and Orient EMS assisted at the scene.