(Radio Iowa) – A Rockwell City man was airlifted to a Sioux City hospital after authorities say swallowed about an ounce of methamphetamine during a traffic stop. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office reports a deputy pulled over the vehicle at approximately 12:53 a.m. on Saturday morning south of Sac City. The deputy had noticed an equipment violation and received consent to search the car. As the deputy approached the passenger side, 46-year-old Cristian Lee Garrett was asked to step out of the car.

Garrett was acting irrationally and talking about dying. He then began to scream, saying he was going to die because he had eaten the large amount of methamphetamine. He was transported to Loring Hospital in Sac City by Sac County Emergency Medical Services and later airlifted out. The driver, 31-year-old Matt Olson of Breda, was charged with fraudulent use of a registration.

Atlantic High School Principal Heather McKay and Superintendent Steve Barber, Monday (today), issued a statement with regard to 17-year old Steele McLaren, a student who was involved in a serious accident Sunday afternoon. The letter, to the “AHS Family,” said “Please know that we have supports in place for any who may need it. School counselors Alyssa Dovenspike and Sarah Rose are joined by Green Hills AEA school psychologists Brooke Lamp and Lauren Bennewitz. Students and faculty may utilize their resources at any time.”

Additional resources that are available and are free for all:

• SAP (Student Assistance Program) Informational Video for Atlantic Schools
• Information about Student Assistance Program
• SAP Flyer
• GHAEA Social Workers Information

McKay says “Please be sure you also take care of yourself. We are here to support our students and their families. Please do not hesitate to call or email at any time.

In this together,

Heather McKay, principal

Steven Barber, superintendent”

DES MOINES– Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Monday (today) announced the launch of the new Iowa County Fairs Relief Program. The program will provide short-term relief to eligible county and district fairs for the purpose of continuing or resuming operations in the context of the public health emergency.  Gov. Reynolds says “Every single year, Iowans who attend their local county fair get to see, taste, and experience the positive impact Iowa agriculture has on our communities. The economic and social impact is immeasurable and it’s critical they have our support to continue operations in preparation for next year.”

The state has allocated up to $6 million of federal CARES Act funds for the Iowa County Fairs Relief Program. The statewide program, an extension of the Small Business Relief Grant program, is offered through the IEDA in collaboration with the Association of Iowa Fairs (AIF). There are three funding levels: $25,000, $50,000, and $75,000. Award amounts will be determined based on demonstrated revenue loss for the period of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 as compared with the corresponding period for the previous year.

To be eligible for a grant, the applicant must demonstrate that it:

• Is a “Fair” as defined at Iowa Code section 174.1.
• Has continuously held membership in the AIF since at least March 17, 2020.
• Conducted a “fair event” as defined at Iowa Code section 174.1 (“Fair Event”) in Iowa in Calendar Year 2019.
• Held a Fair Event after March 17, 2020 but was subject to limitations or restrictions described in a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued by Governor Reynolds on or after March 9, 2020 or it canceled a Fair Event scheduled to be held in Iowa between March 17, 2020 and the submission date of the application for assistance through the Fund.
• Experienced a revenue loss for the period of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 as compared with the corresponding period for the previous year.

For a full list of eligibility requirements, additional information and to apply, visit iowabusinessrecovery.com. Applications are currently being accepted via email or mail until 5 p.m. on November 16, 2020. Application questions can be directed to the AIF by emailing tsb@iowafairs.com or calling 563-547-4996.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Joni Ernst says she and other senators will follow public health guidelines and keep their distance from Vice President Pence if he enters the Senate for tonight’s (Monday’s) Supreme Court confirmation vote. Five aides to the vice president, including Pence’s chief of staff, have tested positive for Covid. “There are ways that we can safely move people around in the Senate,” Ernst says. “Chuck Grassley through the last couple of days has actually been sitting at the back so that he is distanced from a lot of folks.”

Pence, as vice president, is able to serve as the senate’s presiding officer and cast a tie-breaking vote. “I hope we just have enough votes that having the vice president wouldn’t be necessary,” Ernst says.

Republicans do have enough votes to confirm Amy Coney Barrett, but Pence says he doesn’t want to miss being present for the historic vote. Ernst says everyone on the Senate floor is wearing a mask. “That’s one of our senate rules right now, so it’s important that we are following the CDC guidelines. We will continue to do that,” Ernst says. “I am certain the vice president will be monitored that whole time and then I would anticipate we would all need to keep our distance, as required.”

Senators debated Barrett’s nomination on the Senate floor over the weekend. Senator Chuck Grassley says it’s pointless to speculate about how Barrett might rule on the Affordable Care Act. Grassley says Barrett’s essay that criticized a previous Supreme Court opinion is about a section of the law that’s no longer in effect. “This all then is just a Democrat election year scare tactic and they’re using it almost totally as the reason to vote against Judge Barrett,” Grassley says.

Grassley also responded to the Democrats’ argument that the Republican-led Senate should have confirmed President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee before the 2016 election. “Let’s not forget the same Senate Democrats just four years ago declared: ‘The court needs nine to function properly,'” Grassley said. “Judge Barrett is that nine, only four years later, they don’t seem to think so.” Democrats during this weekend’s debate called Barrett a skillful judge who will undermine abortion rights and predicted she will join conservatives on the court to overturn same-sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act.

The Glenwood Police Department reports one arrest. 40-year-old Marie Burkhart, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday, for OWI/1st offense. She later posted a $1,000 cash/surety bond, and was released.

The Atlantic Rotary Club will hold its annual “Military Appreciation Lunch,”  Tuesday, November 10th. The featured speaker is U-S Air Force Major, Michael Gruber. Major Gruber has served in the Air Force for 13 years, and is a graduate of the Air Force Academy in Colorado. He will speak about the things that influenced his decision to join the military, and much more.

All those who have served in the military past and present are welcome to attend. The luncheon takes place at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic. Veterans are asked to RSVP by November 7th to Dolly Bergmann, program organizer at 712-249-9275 or by email at bsktcola@gmail.com. It is important to RSVP so the Community Center can be set up for social/physical distancing.

Those attending are encouraged to arrive by 11:45 AM so they can get seated and the meal be served. Major Gruber will speak after that, with the program expected to conclude about 1:00 PM.

A reminder from the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce: Downtown Trick-or-Treating in Atlantic will be from 2:00-4:00 PM on Saturday, October 31st, and will be a “Candy Cruise” in place of typical trick-or-treating. The Chamber encourages business owners/staff to dress up and park/sit in parking stalls down Chestnut Street to hand out candy to kids as they drive by. If your business does not have a Downtown location, and you would like to pass out candy, you’re welcome to set up in the parking stalls on Chestnut Street and pass out candy to the kids as they drive by. Everyone handing out and receiving candy is asked to to wear masks.

Regular trick-or-treating hours for around the community, are set for 4:30-6:00 pm., Saturday. Please keep your family/children in a group, and do not mix/mingle with other children/families. Maintain a 6-foot distance, if you are waiting to approach a house.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a former Creston resident was arrested Sunday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Authorities say 30-year-ol TLee Jo Jones, of Des Moines, was arrested on a Union County warrant for failure to appear on child support matters. Jones was being held for Union County in the Adams County Jail on $2,000 bond. And, 28-year-old Casey Ray Welcher, of Afton, was arrested Sunday night in Afton, for public intoxication. Welcher was being held in the Union County Jail awaiting appearance before a Judge.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting this Friday, at 9-a.m. The meeting will be held both in-person in their courthouse boardroom, and electronically (Meeting ID: 138 870 131 Password: 012064 ). On their agenda is the following:

• A regular report from Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas (if available)
• An annual report from the Cass County Library Association, & FY 2022 funding request (To be taken under consideration)
• A regular, Secondary Roads Dept. report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken, and: action on approving a contract with the Iowa DOT for County Bridge Federal Aid SWAP funding for a bridge on Indian Creek Road from White Pole Road, north .4 mile.
• Action on passing a Resolution establishing a speed limit on Memphis Road (620th to Highway 71).
• Action on passing a Resolution for Posted Weight Limits on County Bridges.
• Discussion and action on the closing of a County roadway (570th Street/the I-80 underpass).
• Approval of an Abatement of Taxes on parcels owned by the City of Lewis (405 Minnesota St., and a separate parcel)
• Approval of an Abatement of Taxes for a parcel owned by the City of Atlantic (Lot 2, Block 2, Oaks Addition).
• Action on passing a Resolution to abate taxes on mobile home.
• A Review and update of a County policy with regard to reimbursement for use of personal cell phones.
• And, if available, a regular report from the Cass County Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator Deb Schuler.

(Radio Iowa) – A local health official is scolding University of Iowa football fans for packing into downtown Iowa City bars on Saturday to watch the first game of the season. At times, the lines at some establishments stretched out the door. The crowded, indoor social gatherings during the pandemic are a concern for Sam Jarvis, the community health manager for Johnson County Public Health.

Elsewhere in town, students held large house parties, or pulled TVs outside to watch the Hawks in small groups. Jarvis says it’s incredibly important for Iowans to continue to take precautions to slow the spread of coronavirus.

COVID-19 cases in Johnson County declined dramatically after Governor Kim Reynolds closed bars earlier this fall. Now that those restrictions are lifted, a resurgence in cases is a constant worry. Statewide, hospitals are seeing a surge in patients as cases and deaths increase. According to the New York Times, Iowa’s death rate is twice that of the nation as a whole.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)