The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 46-year old Brimer Presley Buliche, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday, for OWI/1st offense. Buliche was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on his own recognizance. And, as we reported Wednesday, at around 7:50-p.m. Tuesday, a Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted a traffic stop near 585th Street and Highland Road. The subjects fled and pursuit ensued. The chase ended near 585th Street and Lansing Road, and involved numerous juvenile subjects. The incident remains under investigation.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds today (Thursday), updated the latest COVID-19 data from across the State.

The northeast region of the State (RMCC Region 6) is being ordered to follow more stringent  guidelines for social distancing, due to the number of COVID-19 cases, which have reached a predetermined threshold for action.

(She said the region was elevated to Level 10 in large part due to the Long Term Care Facility (LTC) outbreaks, the severity of the illness, and the rate of hospitalization.”)

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds updates the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak during a news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, pool)

It also takes into account the increase in virus activity in that area of the State. RMCC Region 6 includes Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, Jones, Linn, and Winneshiek counties.

Reynolds said effective tonight at midnight (11:59-p.m. Thursday), all counties in Region 6 must cease through April 30th, all gatherings for social, community, recreational, leisure or sporting activities.

All Iowan’s she said, should continue to practice social distancing and follow the previously recommended spread prevention strategies.  The Governor reports also, there are:

• 146 NEW, positive COVID-19 cases, for a total of 2,141.
• Zero new counties added to the list of counties with COVID-19, for a total of 82.
• There were 660 COVID-19 Negative cases, for a total of 18,543.*(Corrected ‘total’ figure from earlier)
• The State Hygienic Lab has 2,588 tests available.
• 987 people have recovered, for a recovery rate of 46%.
• Seven people have died since the last press conference on Wednesday, for a total of 60.

  (Updated) The additional 7 deaths were reported in the following counties:

  • Allamakee County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
  • Linn County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
  • Polk County, 1 adult, 1 older adult, 1 elderly adult (81+)
  • Louisa County, 1 middle-age (41-60 years)
  • Tama County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• 49% of those deaths in Iowa were connected to Long Term Care Facilities.
• There were two new LTC outbreaks: Linn Manor Care Center in Linn County, and Lutheran Senior Campus in Muscatine County. That brings the total number of LTC outbreaks to nine.

Across all of the RMCC Regions, Wednesday, there 175 COVID-19 patients hospitalized; 24 were admitted over the past 24 hours; 84 were being treated in ICU’s; 48 patients are on ventilators. Governor Reynolds also spoke about a new program being launched a few days, called “Test Iowa.”

The state of Iowa has released an updated dashboard on coronavirus.iowa.gov that will be updated daily to include comprehensive tracking of COVID-19 in Iowa.

Hours at the Atlantic Medical Center have changed slightly during the COVID-19 pandemic response. Tammy Bireline, Chief Clinic Officer at Cass County Health System said “We have adjusted our provider locations and clinic hours to best meet the needs of our patients while also utilizing our staff effectively.” Those changes have included dedicating Atlantic Medical Center Suite C, which has a private entrance, for COVID-19 screening and care.

Atlantic Medical Center is open Monday – Thursday, 7 am – 7 pm; Friday 8 am – 5 pm; and Saturdays 8 am – noon. Patients who are seeking care for COVID-19 symptoms or questions should call 712-243-2850or 712-243-3250 for directions on what to do. As always, care is available in the CCHS Emergency Department, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

(Radio Iowa) — We’re almost four weeks into spring but Iowa’s southern half is quickly looking more like mid-winter. Up to a foot of snow is in the forecast for some areas of Iowa today (Thursday) and a Winter Storm Warning is posted for two-dozen counties. Meteorologist Kenny Podrazik, at the National Weather Service, says snowplows are already out, working to keep the roads clear. “The heaviest snow is going to fall across far southern Iowa, the southern two tiers of rows towards the Missouri border,” Podrazik says. “There’s already been a couple of reports down there of two-to-five inches near Lamoni and there’s additional snow that’ll be falling throughout much of the day and into the afternoon.”

Just a few days ago, on Easter Sunday, parts of northern Iowa were walloped by record-setting snowfall, with the Emmet County town of Ringsted reporting 11-inches of snow. Podrazik says today’s snowfall could bring multiple new records, too, especially if the region sees a full foot of flakes fall.”Anywhere from Creston to Chariton, down to Lamoni, all the way to Ottumwa, even as far east as Burlington, they could definitely see eight to ten or even up to that 12-inch range,” Podrazik says. “It’s going to be that wet, sticky, sloppy snow. There’s definitely the potential it could stick to a lot of trees and power lines and maybe cause some issues with that.”

If you just don’t feel like shoveling that snow or maybe you’ve already drained the gas from your snowblower, never fear, as those deep drifts won’t last long. “We’ll have one more cold day tomorrow when we’ll be stuck in the 40s for much of the state and then we’ll be back up into the mid- to upper-50s around 60 on Saturday and Sunday,” Podrazik says, “and then even warmer on Monday and then Tuesday, we’re talking possibly mid-70s across central and southern Iowa.” Forecasters say the majority of northern Iowa should get missed by this snowstorm. The latest prediction calls for at least some snow to fall as far north as Carroll, Ames, Waterloo and Dubuque, while the worst of it should stay generally south of Interstate 80.

A collision in Union County Wednesday evening caused about $2,500 damage altogether, but there were no reports of injuries. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a 1986 Mercedes 190 driven by 16-year old Dominic J. Maples, of Winterset, came upon the intersection of Warbler and 140th Street at around 5:55-p.m., when his brakes didn’t work properly. Maples tried to swing wide to turn the car around, when he pulled into the path of a 2001 Chevy pickup driven by 16-year old Megan E. Keller, of Murray.

The accident happened as Keller was traveling westbound and did not have a stop sign. The pickup struck the car on the driver’s side. Following the collision, the Mercedes entered the ditch on the southwest corner of the intersection. The pickup remained on the road. Authorities say Maples was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign and Yield the Right of Way.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, a Creston man reported Wednesday evening, that someone had damaged the door to his property near Afton. The damage was estimated at $200.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Thursday press briefing on COVID-19. We plan on providing live audio of the presser as well on KJAN. The briefing is set to begin at about 11:00 a.m.

Adams County Auditor Becky Bissell has joined Secretary of State Paul Pate and auditors across Iowa, in encouraging voters to cast absentee ballots by mail in the upcoming June 2 primary. During the COVID-19 pandemic, voting by mail is the safest option. Secretary Pate is sending absentee ballot request forms to every active registered voter in the state. The forms should arrive in your mailbox next week and will include pre-paid postage for returning them to the auditor’s office.

Bissell says “We encourage all of Adams County voters to take advantage of the opportunity to vote absentee by mail in the June primary election. We are making this push for the safety of our voters and polling location workers.” Once voters receive their absentee ballot request form in the mail, they should fill out and mail it promptly. Iowans can also download the request form directly from the Iowa Secretary of State website, VoterReady.Iowa.gov. Requests must be received by your county auditor’s office by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22.

Secretary Pate says “We want all eligible citizens to participate in our elections and casting a ballot by mail is the best method during this pandemic. Absentee voting has security measures in place to ensure the integrity of the ballot.” Primary elections are intended for members of the Republican and Democratic parties only. No Party voters who choose to request a party’s ballot will have their voter registration officially changed to that political party.

For more information about the June 2 primary, visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov or the Adams County website at adamscountyia.com.

(Radio Iowa) — The wife of Calhoun County Sheriff Scott Anderson has posted an online video in which she says the allegations he attacked her were blown out of proportion. In the video, she says the allegations Anderson assaulted her and a police officer and the petition for his removal from office are a “witch hunt.” Anderson was arrested this past weekend on charges of domestic abuse assault and assault on persons in certain occupations. Anderson’s wife refuted the allegations that he choked her as stated in the criminal complaint. In the video, she says of the weekend incident, Anderson did become intoxicated and obnoxious.

She also said Anderson did not deliberately head butt a police officer but that he was in handcuffs and was trying to take a drink of water. On Tuesday, Anderson was suspended from his position after a judge granted a petition filed by the Calhoun County sheriff’s office. A hearing is scheduled for later this month regarding his removal. Anderson’s wife says in the video these allegations stem from people who do not want him re-elected. She went on to say she did not want Anderson arrested and that one of her children reported the incident.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department reports 45-year old Harry Richard Kanouff, Jr., of Pacific Junction, was arrested Wednesday evening in Underwood, after he allegedly assaulted his son and wife. Kanouff, Jr., was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, causing bodily injury. Authorities say the man was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Three men being held in the Pott. County Jail were served with warrants, Tuesday evening: 54-year old Jeffrey Alan Bauer, of Houston, MO., was presented with a warrant for Assault with a dangerous weapon, on persons in certain occupations; 31-year old Christopher Lamont Warrior, of El Reno, OK., and 22-year old Angok Bol Wal, of Dallas, TX., were both served with separate warrants for Violation of Probation.  Wal was also wanted on a warrant for misdemeanor, Escape from Custody.

And, 39-year old Nicholas W. Chambers, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail, after he turned himself-in Tuesday morning, on a warrant for Failure to appear on a citation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Residents in Nebraska and Iowa are bracing for a spring snow storm that could drop three-quarters of a foot of snow in some places. Snow began falling overnight in western Nebraska, and is expected to continue throughout Thursday as the storm moves east across the state into Iowa. The National Weather Service has issued weather advisories for most of Nebraska until 7 p.m., and for the southern half of Iowa until 7 a.m. Friday. The service says a swath from Scottsbluff to Omaha could see up to 6 inches of snow, while Lincoln could get up to 8 inches. In Iowa, the service says some parts of southern Iowa could get up to 9 inches.