(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol Tuesday afternoon, released the name of a child who died Monday evening, after being struck by a Red Oak Police Departmment patrol vehicle. Authorities say 12-year-old Vana Marie Redd, of Red Oak, died at the scene of the accident that occurred at around 5:55-p.m. The girl was a student at Inman Elementary School, in Red Oak. She had only lived in Red Oak for a few months. The superintendent of Red Oak schools says grief counselors will be available to support students and staff throughout the week.

A Go-Fund-Me account has been established for the family of Vana Redd. Learn more HERE.

The Patrol reports the accident happened as 22-year-old Red Oak Police Officer Reece Anderson was responding to the Acorn Acres Apartments for a fire. The emergency lights and siren were activated on the 2019 Dodge Durango Anderson was driving. The SUV was traveling north on N. Broadway Street near the intersection with Joy Street, when Redd ran into the roadway and was struck. Anderson has served on the force for two years. He’s now on paid administrative leave. The accident remains under investigation.

Assisting the Patrol with their initial investigation, was officers with the Red Oak P-D, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Red Oak Fire/Rescue personnel and Montgomery County EMA.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County, Tuesday, said no injuries were reported following a vehicle-versus-deer accident. A 2011 Honda driven by 22-year-old Skyler Grace Nagunst, of Red Oak, was traveling south on Highway 59 at around 1:32-a.m., Tuesday, when a deer ran out in front of the vehicle, and was struck. The accident happened near the intersection with Paddock Avenue. The Honda sustained disabling damage.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors spent a considerable amount of time, Tuesday, discussing budgetary considerations, but took no action. Near the end of the conversation, Board Steve Baier said, with regard to compensation for County employees, told Sheriff Darby McLaren and Recorder Mary Ward, “This will be a difficult budget time.”

Supervisor’s Hartkopf and Green addressed a declining county population when considering law enforcement needs and pay.

Green said he knows the Deputies serve the rural, and there may be other areas of funding to pay for some aspects of their salary/benefits. Chair Steve Baier said “Salaries are the issue.”

In other business, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said work on Bridge #280 which is on 700th Street, which includes the replacement of the deck, began Monday.

His crews are also cutting brush and conducting sign maintenance.

Atlantic, Iowa – Due to a national shortage of testing supplies, officials with Cass Health says that are not able to offer rapid COVID-19 testing at this time. Outpatient COVID-19 tests will be sent to a reference laboratory; results are typically available in 48 to 72 hours. Patrick Sampson, Cass Health Laboratory Director says “We’ve had rapid tests on order for more than a month, but due to staffing challenges at the manufacturer, like many other hospitals, we are on emergency allocations at this point. We are hopeful that we will receive a shipment soon, and we are also awaiting a shipment of free at-home kits. We know there is high demand for tests, and we are doing our best to meet those needs.” .

Cass Health officials also encourage anyone who is asymptomatic, or who needs routinely tested, to seek testing supplies through local retailers or through Test Iowa. Free at-home test kits from Test Iowa are available for pick up at Cass County Public Health.

Sampson said also, “We have seen an increase in people coming in for testing multiple times a week, or coming in for a test so that they can show their employers a negative result after having COVID-19. We would discourage the public from these practices. While we are supportive of testing, we have to also be selective in how we use our limited testing resources, which is why we would encourage those populations to use at-home kits instead. This helps us preserve rapid tests for patients who are actively ill and may need more immediate treatments.”

Additional information about COVID-19 testing can be found at casshealth.org/covidtesting.

(Des Moines, Iowa/KCCI) – Drake University officials told students Tuesday that the spring semester will begin with remote learning for the first two weeks. Classes for most students begin on Jan. 24. School officials said COVID-19 cases are expected to peak in the last week of January and the first week of February. “This means the likelihood of extreme disruption to the classroom experience due to students in isolation and quarantine is very high,” the university told students in an email. Residence hall students can move in Jan. 22-23, but are not required to return at that time.

“Students are strongly encouraged to administer a COVID-19 test at home prior to returning to campus. This could alleviate having to move to and from campus multiple times, and most importantly, exposing others,” the university told students. The university said many student activities and events will be postponed or held virtually during the first two weeks of the semester. That does not include sports.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9-a.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 12th), during a regular weekly session in their Board Room at the Courthouse. On their agenda is discussion and possible action, with regard to:

• An inclement Weather & Worksite Closing handbook policy
• US Treasury Final Interim Rule on ARPA Funding (Covid-19 relief)
• FY 23 Budget requests from: The DHS; Conservation Dept.; Veterans Affairs; and County Attorney

The Board will also hold a Public Hearing on a FY 22 Budget Amendment, followed by action on related Amendment, and Appropriations Resolutions. County Engineer Nick Kaufmann will discus TIF and LOST (Tax Increment Financing & Local Option Sales Tax) Budgets. And, Kevin Tanner will discuss matters pertaining to 305th Lane ion Section 15, Washington Township, in Adair County.