FORT DODGE – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report, that at around 9:35-a.m. Thursday, a physical altercation began between two groups of inmates at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. The altercation took place in the main yard, in front of one of the living units. When security staff responded, the inmates refused to obey verbal commands to disengage. The responding officers then used oleoresin capsicum (pepper) spray to gain compliance from the groups.

While the officers were gaining compliance and restraining this group of inmates, a second, smaller, physical altercation broke out between between two groups of inmates in front of a different living unit. Security staff were able to respond quickly and use verbal commands to gain compliance from those involved. In total, approximately 14 inmates were involved between the two incidents.

Due to the swift and effective efforts of the responding staff at the facility, there were no staff injured during these events, and no inmates suffered major injuries.  The incident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds refused to say whether she was asked to join with other Midwest governors in coordinating the reopening of their state economies. The governors of seven Midwestern states announced Thursday they had agreed to work together to restart their economies amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Midwest agreement includes Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kentucky.

Five of the governors are Democrats and two are Republicans. Reynolds’ spokesman Pat Garrett says she will continue to have conversations with other governors but didn’t respond when asked if she was asked to join the Midwest group.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (Iowa City Press-Citizen) — An Iowa lawmaker wants to persuade younger people to sign up to be election workers because the retirees who typically staff the polls are more at risk of complications if they contract the conronavirus. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that state Sen. Zach Wahls, a Coralville Democrat, says his “strong preference” is that people vote by mail in the June 2 primary. But he says that “obviously there are people who will want to vote in person.” He says he is signing up to work the polls _ something he is allowed to do because he’s not on the ballot _ and is hoping his peers will, too.

TIFFIN, Iowa (The Gazette) — Authorities have obtained search warrants as they investigate the suspicious death of a 15-year-old boy whose body was found over the weekend in a lake near Iowa City. The Gazette reports that the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is not commenting on what led authorities to look in Coralville Lake for Noah Herring, who was last seen in nearby Tiffin on April 7.

Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Brad Kunkel told The Gazette on Thursday that Herring’s body was found Saturday with assistance from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday) announced in a social media post, “The unexpected passing [on Thursday] of Sergeant Donavon Dontje. Sergeant Dontje started his career with the Sheriff’s Office in 2006 and was a vital member of the office.

Sgt. Donovan Dontje

“He touched many lives throughout his career and will be sorely missed. We ask for privacy for the family at this time and send our sincere condolences to all that had the privilege to know and love him.” Condolences flooded the Shelby County Sheriff’s and City of Audubon’s Facebook pages.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer said “Donovan Dontje is a part time police officer for the Audubon Police Department since 2008 and most importantly, a great friend. Our condolences to his family, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and to everyone that knew him. He will be missed greatly.”

Additional information concerning Sgt. Dontje’s death was not provided.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Unemployment claims continued to surge last week in Iowa as more workers lost their jobs amid efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but the numbers came in lower than the previous week’s record high. The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that 46,356 people in Iowa filed for unemployment benefits in the week that ended April 11. While high, the number is a drop from the record 67,334 people who filed in the first week of April and the 58,000 who filed the week before that. Pandemic-related layoffs in several industries, from health care to manufacturing and food services, were driving factors behind Iowa’s claims.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of bankers in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states shows the vast majority expect the coronavirus outbreak to push their local areas into recession. The overall index for the region plummeted to 12.1 in April from March’s already anemic 35.5. It was the lowest index recorded since the survey began in January 2006. Any score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said more than nine in 10 bankers surveyed expect the measures being taken to fight the coronavirus to lead to a recession. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

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.