(Radio Iowa) – Inmates in Iowa prisons who’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to have in-person visitors, starting next month. Iowa Department of Corrections director Beth Skinner describes it as a slow opening. “Our visitation rooms will probably be cut in half in terms of the number of people that will be able to visit,” Skinner says. “…Video visitation will continue. We also believe that’s a great tool for people who can’t drive to the prisons and want to have connections with their loved ones.”

Inmates who are allowed to have visitors, but who have not agreed to get a Covid shot, will be able to continue using the video system for visitations according to Cord Overton, a spokesman for the agency.  “Those video visits are free of charge to the inmates right now,” Overton says. Prison officials plan to set up a scheduling system. “So that folks that are going to come visit a particular inmate can know that time that a visit is going to take place and it caps the visits at a certain length,” Overton says, “so that we can make sure those that want to have visits can get them done in a given week on visiting day.”

State officials say nearly 59 percent of the inmates in Iowa prisons are fully vaccinated. “Once the word is kind of spread around the prisons about the visiting restriction that you need to be vaccinated in order to have visitors at that time, that I would expect to see additional inmates that do decide to get vaccinated if they’ve been kind of on the fence about that,” Overton says. Prison visitors will not be required to show they’ve gotten a Covid shot. Studies have found family visits reduced depression among female and juvenile inmates. In-person visits also were found to reduce rule-breaking within the prison AND reduced recidivism once an inmate was paroled.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports just one arrest took place over the past week. At around 9:18-a.m. Tuesday (June 1st), Greenfield Police arrested 29-year-old Veronica Lee Elwood, of Greenfield, in connection with incidents that took place in the Greenfield Fareway Store parking lot. She faced charges that include Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree (for allegedly causing damage in the range of $300-$700), and Trespassing w/damage amounting to over $300.

Authorities allege Elwood knowingly and intentionally used a baseball bat to hit and break out the window of a truck and entered the property without justification, after being notified in writing she was not allowed on the property, and caused damage to a vehicle.

Elwood was being held in the Adair County Jail, Sunday, on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Police in Red Oak report 48-year-old Paul Edward Robinson, of Minnesota, was arrested at around 12:15-p.m. Sunday, on a valid Red Oak Police warrant charging him with two counts of Violating a Protection Order. Robinson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $600 bond.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports two additional deaths attributed COVID-19 (including one in Union County), and 109 additional positive cases. The total number of positive cases in the state as of 10-a.m. Sunday, and since the beginning of the pandemic, is 402,511, and there a total of 6,068 deaths. Deaths at Iowa’s Long-Term Care facilities are at 2,367.

There remain four LTC outbreaks in Iowa, with 25 positive cases among patients and staff, and one person recovered.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is holding steady at 2.0%, while the 7-day positivity rate remains 1.8%. State health officials say 80 people are hospitalized with COVID-19; 16 patients are in an ICU; 10 COVID patients were admitted to a hospital, and eight patients are on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western & southwest Iowa), there are two people hospitalized with COVID-19. One is in an ICU, one person was admitted over the previous 24-hours, at no one was on a ventilator.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County (since the beginning of the pandemic) and the total number of deaths (Since the beginning of the pandemic) in each county to date:
Cass, 1,476 cases; 54 deaths
Adair, 993; 32
Adams, 353; 4
Audubon, 542; 10
Guthrie, 1,311; 32
Harrison County, 1,936; 73
Madison County, 1,787; 19
Mills County, 1,796; 24
Montgomery, 1,117; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,331;173
Shelby County, 1,369; 37
Union County, 1,377; 35

(Atlantic) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly in-person and electronic meeting in Atlantic, beginning at 9-a.m. Tuesday, June 8th, in their Boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse. On their agenda is action on approving:

• Cigarette, tobacco, alternative nicotine or vapor product sales at: Hansen Valley Oil; 21st Century Coop C-Store & Dollar General).
• Abatement of Taxes on a parcel owned by the Iowa DOT (.14 acres right-of-way, Massena).
• Abatement of Taxes on a parcel owned by the USDA Rural Housing Service (parcel B SE 1/4 SW 1/4 6-76-36).
• Abatement of Taxes on a parcel owned by the City of Massena (104 Spruce Street).
• Abatement of Taxes on a parcel owned by the City of Wiota (68693 Hamburg Road; NE corner Allen & Prospect crossing; & 205 Whitney).

The Supervisors will also discuss and possibly act on the repair of a garage building located on the southwest corner of the courthouse parking lot, in addition to receiving regular department head reports, as available.

GREENFIELD – On Wednesday, June 9^th, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) will host ‘Connect With Your Congresswoman’ town halls in Greenfield and Corning as part of her 16-county tour of Iowa’s Third Congressional District. The first of two town halls will be held at The Corner Coffee Shop, Antiques, and Gifts at 284 Public Square, Greenfield, IA 50849 at 9:15 a.m.

The second town hall will be held at the Corning Center for the Fine Arts, 706 Davis Ave., Corning IA 50841 at 3:15 p.m.

Rep. Axne will provide attendees an update on her legislative work in Congress and hear concerns directly from  her constituents.

Cindy Axne

Wednesday, June 9 Schedule:

Adair County Connect With Your Congresswoman

WHAT: Rep. Axne will meet with Adair County constituents at town hall

WHERE: The Corner Coffee Shop, Antiques, and Gifts, 284 Public Square, Greenfield, IA 50849

WHEN: 9:15 AM – 10:00 AM

Adams County Connect With Your Congresswoman

WHAT: Rep. Axne will meet with Adams County constituents at town hall

WHERE: Corning Center for the Fine Arts, 706 Davis Ave., Corning, IA 50841

WHEN: 3:15 PM – 4 PM

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoege reports the Cass County Local Food Policy Council will host a mobile food pantry at the Cass County Community Center, this Wednesday, June 9th, from 4-until 6-p.m., or as supplies are available. The pantry is in partnership with the Food Bank for the Heartland.  Anyone in need is welcome to visit the mobile pantry, and no documentation is needed. People from surrounding towns and communities are also welcome.

Food Bank for the Heartland Mobile Food Pantry – details:
When: Wednesday, June 9 (4:00-6:00 PM, or until supplies run out).
Where: Cass County Community Center (805 West 10th St. Atlantic IA 50022). Traffic will be
directed by volunteers.
What: A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in
need for a one-day distribution. The mobile pantry is available free of charge. Visitors are
asked stay in their vehicles with the trunk open.
Who: Anyone in need is welcome. No documentation needed.

For more information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

The 8:05-a.m. Newscast with Ric Hanson.

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The 7:05-a.m. newscast with News Director Ric Hanson.

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