Atlantic, IA — Officials with the Cass County Health System have cancelled the Spring Health Fair that was scheduled to take place at the end of April. Low-cost blood draws are offered during the health fair, which CCHS typically offers twice a year (spring and fall). Details about the Fall Health Fair will be released in late summer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Abortion providers with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa are suing Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for suspending abortion procedures as part of her order to halt elective and non-emergency medical procedures. Reynolds, an abortion opponent, says the move was not based on her personal ideology but a broad order to conserve medical equipment like ventilators and surgical masks. The lawsuit filed in state court says abortions will be delayed and in some cases denied, forcing women to carry pregnancies to term, resulting in a deprivation of their fundamental right to determine whether to have a child.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 88 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 424 positive cases. There have been a total of 6,162 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.  According to IDPH, two Iowans with COVID-19 passed away Sunday night, one elderly adult (81+) of Linn County, one elderly adult (81+) of Washington County.

51 Iowans remained hospitalized as of today (Monday), while 23 have been discharged from hospitals. A total of six people have died from the virus. The only counties in southwest Iowa that have not reported any positive cases of COVID-19 (as of 11:30-a.m. today [Monday]), are Cass, Adams, Madison Mills, Fremont, Union and Ringgold.

According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 88 individuals include:

Audubon County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Benton County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
Cedar County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Cerro Gordo County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Clinton County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Crawford County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Dallas County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Dubuque County, 3 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years),
Guthrie County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Iowa County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Jackson County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Jasper County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Johnson County,  2 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years)
Jones County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Linn County, 9 adults (18-40 years), 8 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 6 older adults (61-80 years), 6 elderly adults (81+)
Monona County, 1 child (0-17 years), 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Muscatine County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
Polk County, 2 children (0-17 years), 2 adults (18-40 years), 6 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Scott County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 2 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years)
Shelby County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Tama County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Van Buren County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Washington County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 3 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)

A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in Iowa is provided by IDPH and can be found here. In addition, a public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431. The state of Iowa has started sharing the number of negative tests conducted at outside labs, and is providing additional information on the conditions of those infected with COVID-19.

PLEASANTVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in Pleasantville were still battling hot spots late this (Monday) morning, following a fire that gutted a church in the south-central Iowa town. Crews from several departments were dispatched to the Pleasantville Christian Church in Pleasantville before 6 a.m. today (Monday). They battled to keep flames from reaching nearby homes and had to truck in water because the community supply was too limited.

The intense heat melted siding on some of those houses. By midmorning smoke was still escaping from the building, and bricks were strewn about near the foundation and on a sidewalk. No injuries have been reported. The fire cause will be investigated.

The Guthrie County ISU Extension & Outreach office says they’ve made the decision to close theirdoors to the public due to the current COVID-19 situation. The decision was made under guidance from ISU and discussion with some council members for the best way to protect staff and clients during this time. This means the doors will remain locked during normal business hours Monday-thru Friday, but staff will still be in the office working. They will be available to answer your questions and assist, you by phone and email. You can contact the office at 641-747-2276 or via email at xGuthrie@iastate.edu.

All Guthrie County ISU Extension programs have been canceled or postponed until May 9th, 2020. If anything changes please look to their social media and website for more information. Officials said also, “Over the past few weeks, we have been bombarded with information about preparing for and protecting ourselves from being infected with COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus. If this has caused you to feel overwhelmed, there are resources available to help:

Iowa Concern, offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, provides confidential access to stress counselors and an attorney for legal education, as well as information and referral services for a wide variety of topics. With a toll-free phone number, live chat capabilities and a website, Iowa Concern services are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week at no charge. To reach Iowa Concern, call 800-447-1985; language interpretation services are available. Or, visit the website, https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/, to live chat with a stress counselor one-on-one in a secure environment. Or email an expert regarding legal, finance, stress, or crisis and disaster issues.

211 is a free, comprehensive information and referral line linking Iowa residents to health and human service programs, community services, disaster services and governmental programs. This service is collaborating with the Iowa Department of Public Health to provide confidential assistance, stress counseling, education and referral services related to COVID-19 concerns.

The Disaster Distress Helpline provides crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S. experiencing distress or other behavioral health concerns related to any natural or human-caused crisis. Calls (1-800-985-5990) and texts (text “TalkWithUs” to 66746) are answered by network crisis centers, who provide psychological first aid, crisis assessment and intervention, and referrals to local behavioral health services for follow-up care and support.”

A complaint received at the Page County Sheriff’s Office Friday about a domestic situation in Coin, resulted in an arrest. The Sheriff’s Office says during an investigation, a search warrant was obtained for a building located at the property known as 10 Main Street, in Coin.

Gary L. Runyon, Jr.

47-year old Gary Lynn Runyon, Jr., of Coin, was subsequently arrested on charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Gathering (where drugs are used or present), and Domestic Abuse Assault.

Runyon was transported to the Page County Jail and held without bond until seen by a Magistrate.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Sunday, a theft occurred at the Casey’s General Store, in Sidney. On surveillance video, Deputies observed that between the hours of Noon and 12:10-p.m. Sunday, a man wearing a black baseball cap and gray/black plaid jacket, used a forged check to purchase items from the store. The same man is also wanted in connection to two other similar thefts in the southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska area.

If you know the man pictured in these still-frame images, please contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 712-374-2424.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report the arrest Sunday night, of 32-year old Jeffrey Michael Hoffman, of Creston. Hoffman was taken into custody for Burglary in the 3rd degree, after he was caught allegedly removing items from a storage unit that did not belong to him. Hoffman was being held in the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.

A Creston man reported to the Sheriff’s Office Thursday morning, that sometime in the previous few days, someone took his 2008 Chevy Impala from the Cromwell Cemetery, where it had been parked since March 23rd, due to the fact the vehicle was having issues,and wouldn’t start. The vehicle was recovered in Creston.

And, a man from Thayer, reported Sunday morning, that sometime during the night, four Motorola private band radios were taken from his farm machinery. The radios were valued at $4,000.

A traffic stop on a speeding vehicle Friday night in the Carson area, resulting in multiple traffic and criminal citations for the driver. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 46-year old Michael Iwan Carter was pulled over at around 8:45-p.m., after his vehicle was clocked on radar doing 74 in a 55 mph zone. The vehicle – a 1997 Ford F-250 Supercab pickup – also matched the description of a vehicle broadcast to law enforcement. As the Deputy spoke with Carter, he noticed an odor of marijuana. Carter claimed another person in the pickup had been smoking pot.

Upon a search, several bags of controlled substances along with drug paraphernalia were found, either on Carter or in his vehicle.  Carter was cited for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; and PCS – Methamphetamine/1st offense. He was released from the scene with those and other citations.

And, Friday afternoon, Steven James Hallman turned himself-in the the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office. Hallman was wanted on  warrants for Possession of a controlled substance/marijuana – 1st offense, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and OWI/1st offense. He was booked into the Pott. County Jail and turned over to Corrections staff.

(Radio Iowa) — Some of Iowa’s K-through-12 students may soon be required to participate in online classes during school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa Department of Education will fast-track requests from school districts and non-public schools for what the agency calls “continuous learning” plans. Ann Lebo is director of the Iowa Department of Education. “We all know how important it is for Iowa students to continue to learn during the COVID-19 emergency,” Lebo says. “…Even though schools are not required to offer learning opportunities when they are closed, they are certainly able and encouraged to do so as they consider the needs of the families and the learners they serve.”

The new guidelines allow schools to issue grades for homework and to give students this semesters’ credits for courses completed online. Schools must consider how all students may access online courses.  “The role of the Department of Education is to ensure we maintain a minimum standard of care,” Lebo says, “while allowing the maximum opportunity for growth through flexibility at the local level.” Some Iowa school districts are delivering homework packets to students. Lebo says others are providing one electronic device to each student and finding ways to ensure all students have access to WiFi.  “Innovation at this time of uncertainty is important,” Lebo says.

Governor Kim Reynolds has recommended that schools close through April 12th. However, it’s likely Iowa schools will remain closed for the entire month of April. Last (Sunday) night, President Trump extended federal social distancing guidelines until April 30th.