The Pottawattamie County Public Health Department, Saturday night, put out a statement related intended to address rumors related to COVID-19 testing criteria. Officials said “Testing criteria is based on guidance from the Iowa Hygienic Lab or private lab guidelines. Pottawattamie County Public Health does not have a role in deciding who does and does not get tested.”

Iowans are encouraged to go to www.testIowa.com and complete the assessment. TestIowa is a new initiative designed to dramatically increase the rate of COVID-19 testing so Iowans can have better access to testing and help stem the spread of COVID-19 to get us back to normal as quickly as possible.

On May 2nd, Pottawattamie County remained at a total of 45 COVID-19 cases. Twenty-three individuals have recovered, 19 are self-isolating at home, one is hospitalized, and there have been two deaths. As a reminder, health officials said “We have community spread of COVID-19 in Pottawattamie County. Individuals should be taking precautions to protect themselves. Stay home as much as possible, limit travel and shopping. If you must leave home, practice social distancing, and stay at least six feet away from others. Implement excellent hygiene and disinfectant practices. Wash hands and disinfect frequently touched surfaces multiple times per day. And if you are sick, self-isolate at home.”

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or develop symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), contact your healthcare provider before going to the doctor’s office or an emergency room.

The Atlantic Fire Department responded to two fire Saturday night. Fire Chief Tom Cappel says the first was a brush fire that got out of control near the Cass County Landfill. The fire spread to a nearby building, but was quickly extinguished. As soon as that fire was under control, Atlantic Fire was called to America’s Best Value Inn on east 7th Street, at around 9:58-p.m., for a report of visibly smoke and flames from one of the rooms on the west side of the complex.

Atlantic Fire Dept. responds to America’s Best Value Inn (5/2/20 – Ric Hanson photo)

Cappel says Room 305 had food in the microwave. The occupant fell asleep and left the meal was left in the microwave for too long. The result was a section on the west side of the motel filling with smoke. Cappel says the only damage was to the microwave and some possible damage to the top of a refrigerator. The fire was already out by the time firefighters arrived. The area was ventilated and crews were on the scene until around 10:35-p.m.

Audubon County Public Health Administrator Bob Nelson, today (Saturday), said the County has been notified by the Iowa Department of Public Health of a fifth confirmed case of COVID-19. The person is an older adult aged 61-80 and is self-isolating at home.

Aud. Co. Public Health Admin. /Public Information Officer Bob Nelson announces on Facebook, another COVID-19 case.

Audubon County Public Health is conducting a contact tracing investigation for this case to identify close contacts who should monitor their health symptoms and self-isolate. All known individuals who have had close contact with this confirmed case will be notified to self-isolate per Iowa Department of Public Health protocol.

Council Bluffs Police are working in conjunction with the Iowa DCI, as part of an investigation into an Officer-involved shooting incident that took place at around 8-a.m., Saturday. Authorities say the unidentified Officer arrived at the Bucky’s Gas station located at 3434 Nebraska Avenue, and was approaching the entrance of the business, he was informed by a Bucky’s employee that a male had just stolen a gas can from the business. The item was valued around $14.

Jimmy J. Carr

When the officer confronted the suspect, 34-year old Jimmy J. Carr, of Omaha, at the front of the business, Carr allegedly reached into his pocket, displayed and then fired a gun. The officer was able to return fire, striking Carr, who was arrested a short time later, without further incident.

Carr suffered a gunshot to the left hip area and was taken to UNMC for treatment of a non-life threatening injury.  No other persons were injured in the incident.  The officer’s names will be released at a later time.

DES MOINES – Today (Saturday), the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 757 additional positive cases for a total of 8,641 positive cases. There have been an additional 3,377 negative tests for a total of 41,085 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs. 87 percent of new positive cases today are in the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place. 493 of the new 757 positive cases are from Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk and Woodbury counties.

As Governor Reynolds mentioned in yesterday’s press conference, the state of Iowa will report large case counts this weekend as SHL completes reporting from a high volume of tests processed this week. According to IDPH, an additional 5 deaths were also reported, 353 are currently hospitalized, and 3,156 Iowans have recovered. At this time, 1 in 63 Iowans have already been tested.

According to IDPH the additional 5 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Linn County, 2 older adults (61-80 years)
• Polk County , 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Tama County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Woodbury County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (KCCI-TV) — Police in Marshalltown are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for a fatal shooting in March. KCCI-TV reports that 22-year-old Johnqwez Deanthony Lewis was killed March 25. A second man also was shot but survived. Police Capt. Christopher Jones called the the crime “a senseless act of violence.”

WASHINGTON, Iowa (KCRG-TV) — An investigation is underway in a fire that killed two people at a home in eastern Iowa. KCRG-TV reports that the fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. Saturday near the town of Washington in Washington County. Authorities identified the victims as 58-year-old Sherry Lynn Bertsch and 66-year-old Michael Lee Shannan. No other details about the fire have been released.

WHITING, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa couple who have been married for nearly 70 years are back home after they both recovered from bouts of COVID-19. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 88-year-old Bert McCandless and his 89-year-old wife, Ardis, contracted the disease caused by the coronavirus in March. Both were hospitalized at Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, where Bert nearly didn’t make it.

Ardis spent three days in the hospital in late March, but as she started to get better, Bert’s condition worsened. He was placed on a ventilator for two weeks and doctors estimated he had no better than a 20% chance of surviving.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (WOWT-TV) — A man suspected of shooting at a Council Bluffs police officer is hospitalized after being shot by the officer. WOWT-TV reports that the shooting happened Saturday. The officer was unhurt. Police say the man went into a gas station and tried to steal a gas can. An officer had just pulled into the parking lot. The clerk told the officer that the man was stealing the gas can, and the officer told him to return it.

Police say the man grabbed a gun and fired one shot at the officer, who returned fire. The suspect’s injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

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

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