The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (Today), reports four people were arrested Sunday on theft, burglary and other charges:

• 23-year old Ra Say, of Omaha, was arrested at around 1:40-a.m. in the area of 310th Street, for Theft in the 2nd Degree, Ongoing Criminal Conduct, four counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Felon in Control of a Firearm, and on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County for Failure to Appear. Bond was set at $43,000.
• 27-year old Per Kaw, of Omaha, was arrested at around 1:40-a.m. Sunday, for Theft in the 2nd, Felon in Control of a Firearm, Ongoing Criminal Conduct, and four counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Bond was set at $41,000.
• And, 38-year old Eh Sher Ku, of Des Moines, was arrested at around the same time and place, on the same charges (Theft in the 2nd, Felon in Control of a Firearm, Ongoing Criminal Conduct, and four counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree). Bond for Ku was also set at $41,000.
• 21-year old Kpor Kue, of Omaha, was arrested at around 11:40-a.m. Sunday for Theft in the 2nd Degree, Ongoing Criminal Conduct, and four counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Bond was set at $38,000.

That same day, four individuals, one from Bennington, NE., the others from Malvern, reported incidents of Burglary. The latter three took place in the vicinity of Prospect Avenue, and were reported between 4:15-and 4:20-a.m., Sunday

The Guthrie County Public Health Department has issued a request of Superintendents and School Board in the County, with regard to Thanksgiving and a return to classes. In his statement, Guthrie County Public Health Director Jotham Arber says “In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our county and help reduce the strain that a high positivity rate puts on our community’s resources, the Guthrie County Public Health Department is asking that our school districts consider lengthening the time that students are away from school over the week of the Thanksgiving break.

Arber said “We recommend that all schools include Monday, November 23rd and Tuesday November 24th to the days that students are not in person on campus. This would allow students and staff to remain at home with their families and away from others for 9-to 10-days before and throughout the holidays.” He said the thinking is that the move would provide a decrease in the daily positive cases and overall positivity rate.

Officials with the Panorama CSD will follow the recommendation from the Guthrie County Public Health Department and conduct virtual remote learning on Monday the 23rd and Tuesday the 24th of November. District meals will not be provided to students on November 23rd or 24th. Office hours in both buildings will be from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The secondary library and elementary cafeteria will be available for WiFi on both dates. Panorama students in grades Pre-k through 8th grade will need to be accompanied by an adult if utilizing the library or cafeteria. Face masks will be required of any adults utilizing the secondary library and elementary cafeteria during these time periods.

Derrick Demon Penelton (Iowa DOC photo)

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 26-year old Derrick Demon Penelton, who was convicted of Willful Injury and other crimes in Polk County, left the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility without permission Sunday night, and has not returned. Penelton is a black male, 5-feet 9-inches tall. He weighs about 176 pounds. Penelton was admitted to the work release facility on October 1, 2020. Persons with information on Penelton’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Education Association says schools should be allowed to go online until coronavirus infections subside, without seeking approval from state officials. More than 40 school districts are currently operating all or some grades under temporary virtual learning waivers from the Iowa Department of Education. Many are struggling to staff classrooms and bus routes because of the number of employees in quarantine. Mike Beranek, president of the state teachers union, says it shows that schools are not immune to the pandemic. “While there may be less of an opportunity for students to be symptomatic, they are still fully capable of spreading that virus,” he says. “When they go out into the communities they interact with other individuals who may not be following the protocols which are necessary.”

Beranek says the state’s two-week waivers don’t fit the public health guidelines for quarantine and isolation, because not everyone in a school gets exposed at exactly the same time. “If that requires students to be home for a longer period of time than five days or two weeks, then districts should be able to make those decisions without having to go through the waiver process,” he says.

Last week, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a partial mask mandate for some indoor gatherings of more than 25 people, but it does not apply to schools. Beranek says it should. According to a survey by the ISEA, 40 percent of Iowa school districts do not require students and teachers to wear masks.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Grant Gerlock)

(Atlantic) – The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony will be held this Thursday, November 19th at 5:30 PM in Downtown Atlantic. Attendees must park along Chestnut Street and remain in their vehicles at all times. Gathering on the street and sidewalk will not be allowed. Santa will ride up Chestnut Street on his Fire Truck following the lighting and be in his Cabin from 6 – 7:30 PM. The lighting will also be live streamed on the Chamber’s Facebook page for those who wish to enjoy from home.

Santa’s Cabin will also be a little different this year. All attendees over the age of two must wear a mask when entering the Cabin. Children will have a seating area where they can sit and tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Children will not be allowed to sit on Santa’s lap this year. A socially distance photo may be taken before exiting the Cabin. Social distancing will be mandated while waiting in line. Santa will be in his Cabin every Saturday from 1:30 – 3:30 PM beginning November 28th and ending December 19th. He will be in his Cabin every Thursday from 5:30 – 7 PM beginning December 3rd and ending December 17th.

Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, “like” the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Twitter, to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Atlantic Boy Scouts will forgo their normal door-to-door food drive this season due to COVID-19. Instead, they will have a Drive-thru Food Drive this Thursday night, Nov. 19th, from 5-until 8-p.m. Simply drive through the alley behind Meyer & Gross Real Estate (7th and Poplar) on Thursday the 19th, roll down your window or open your hatch, and a Scout will collect your food or cash donations. Again that’s from 5-until 8-p.m Thursday, November 19th.

Police in Creston report two weekend arrests. Saturday afternoon, 25-year-old Brianne Schaffer, of Creston, was arrested at the Dollar General Store, on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Schaffer was cited and released from the scene, on a Summons to Appear in court. And, Sunday afternoon, 21-year-old Noah Young, of Creston, was arrested at his residence on charge of Theft in the 5th Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Offense. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,600 bond.

Creston Police said also, late Friday morning, a woman residing in the 600 block of New York Avenue, reported that someone had kicked her door to her residence in and taken multiple items including: a box of spray paint; a Harley Davidson Jacket; an Acer Laptop; a Dyson Vacuum; Miscellaneous Jewelry; Bat Wingz Fairing Trim; a Lockbox; a Milwaukee Sander and Dremel Tool, as well as several pairs of jeans. The loss was estimated at $2,810.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Members of the Atlantic City Council are set to receive a presentation Wednesday, with regard to Child Care in the community and in Cass County. On November 5^th, Officials with Childcare Resource & Referral of Southwest Iowa (CCR&R) reported multiple childcare programs in Atlantic had closed their doors over the previous two-weeks, for a variety of reasons. That left almost 100 children without childcare, and prompted CCR&R to host a “Child Care Ready ” series, an online recruitment event, with hopes to recruit, retain, train and support quality childcare and early education providers.

CCR&R officials said that have partnered with the Iowa Women’s Foundation to provide a small $250 incentive grant to each participant who completes the series. Funding will be primarily used to pay for costs associated with the start-up of becoming a childcare home provider opening a Child Development Home business.

During Wednesday’s 5:30-p.m. Council meeting, officials with the Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO), Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and CCR&R will appear before the Council to discuss the program and other, childcare-related matters. Due to new COVID restrictions, the meeting will be held via Zoom.