(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Public Health, today (Wednesday), released new COVID-19 data. The data shows an 64 additional COVID-19 deaths occurred in the last seven days. The statewide total is now 6,401 since the start of the pandemic. Positive tests over the last 7 days are up 2,421, to 11,588. The 14-day positivity rate is up from 8.9% to 9.1%. The largest age group of positive tests over the last 7 days, are those under the age of 18, at 29%. However, only 7% of those hospitalized are in that age range.

The health department reports 578 Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 549 on Monday. Those ages 70-79 account for the most hospitalized, at 23%. State data shows 78.3% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated, while 87.3% of those listed in intensive care are not fully vaccinated. Iowa reports 3,374,538 vaccine doses administered in the state, with 64.8% of those 18 and older fully vaccinated. The state reports 67.4% of those 12 and older have had at least one vaccine dose.

There are now 23 long-term care facilities reporting outbreaks, up from 20 at last report.

The Harlan Police Department reports two arrests. On Sunday, 40-year-old Angela Marie Torkse, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop, and charged with OWI, Driving While Suspended, and for having no proof of insurance. And, on Sept. 9th, Harlan Police arrested 53-year-old Brian Alan Sorensen, of Harlan, on an active Shelby County warrant. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. A little before 4-a.m. today (Wednesday), 36-year-old Mathew Allen Pokorny, of Omaha, was arrested following a traffic stop, after a Deputy noticed a 2014 Hyundai Sonata traveling 93 mph in a 55 mph construction zone on I-29. Following the traffic stop, Pokorny was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 2^nd Offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

Tuesday afternoon, 54-year-old Michael Dwayne Weaver, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Council Bluffs, for being a Fugitive from Justice. And, late Monday morning, 57-year-old Cary Kallhoff was arrested, after Deputies were dispatched to the 13900 block of Wabash Avenue, where two males were involved in a disturbance, and one of the men had struck the other. Kallhoff was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Willow Heights, a 43-bed private, non-profit Residential Care Facility (RCF) on Atlantic’s southwest side, is closing, with officials working to find suitable housing for its residents, who are 18 and older, and unable to live independently because mental illness, intellectual disability, a pattern of substance abuse or other disabling conditions. The nearly 50-year old building, which is leased and run by Partnership for Progress, Inc., is owned by Cass County. It first opened as a County Care Facility in about 1973, and was privately leased to a non-profit agency in the early 1990’s.

Willow Heights RCF (photo via Partnership for Progress)

Cass County Board of Supervisors Chair Steve Baier told KJAN the news did not come as a complete surprise to him.

He says the model for mental health care is changing, and the funding streams for large settings such as Willow Heights, is not what it used to be. The finances are a lot better, he said, if those clients are placed in houses, but it’s not without a certain level of risk.

Baier says he doesn’t know what will become of the facility, what the property might be used for, or even if the County wants to continue to own property of that size. He said it’s a good, solid building, and has received consistent upgrades and a new roof.

Suzanne Watson, CEO & Director of Southwest Iowa Mental Health Disability Services (MH/DS) Region, based in Council Bluffs, told KJAN News SWIMS will be working closely with Willow Heights to find placement for the affected clients in Atlantic and surrounding communities. They hope to make it an easy transition for them as possible.

She said while in most of the cases where RCF’s are closing is simply due to downsizing from larger to smaller settings, the current employment situation in Iowa and across the country is another factor.

She said the main thing she wants people to know, is that Willow Heights residents will not be homeless and left to fend for themselves. KJAN News reached out to Willow Heights Administrator Julie Steffen for additional details on exactly when the RCF will close, but had not heard back as of the time of this post.

(Malvern) — Voters in the East Mills School District, Tuesday, approved a bond issue referendum. Unofficial results from the Mills County Auditor’s Office show the $22 million bond issue passing with 63.68% of the vote, 675 yes to 385 no for Proposition L, and 62.42% of the vote, 666 yes to 401 no for Proposition M. Proceeds from the bond issue will allow an expansion and renovation of the Malvern junior-senior high school into a pre-K-12 facility, which will include an early childhood development center, preschool rooms, daycare, and the remodeling of the junior-senior high, school.

Additional parking and renovation of the district’s athletic facilities, including an all-weather track are also in the plans. The superintendent says the projects would be carried out in phases.
Plans also call for converting the existing Hastings elementary building into a Regional Center for Career Technical Education in cooperation with Iowa Western Community College and the state’s iJAG program.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines woman faces a child endangerment charge and two counts of assault, after witnesses captured video of her abusing her son at a gas station. KCCI say witnesses saw Rejanie Morris yelling at her young son on Sept. 12 at the Quick Trip on Hubbell Avenue. The yelling escalated to the point where the woman allegedly began hitting her. Witness cell phone video captured Morris picking up her 9-year-old son by the arms and throwing him face down on the ground.

When a man and a woman intervened, another video shows Morris punching the woman in the back of the head. Des Moines police took Morris into custody at the Quick Trip Sunday. They say the child, who has autism, is now in the care of the Iowa Department of Human Services.

If you suspect a child is in danger call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-362-2178. It is available 24-7.