A pursuit involving a semitruck ended Wednesday morning, near Walnut. KETV in Omaha reports the Interstate 80 chase ended around 8:30 a.m. near Prairie Rose State Park. Iowa State Patrol said speeds during the chase reached 90 mph before troopers deployed stop sticks, and all of the semitruck’s tires went flat. The vehicle was driven on its rims until it stopped. The suspect was the only person in the vehicle and no injuries were reported.

Troopers said the suspect is a man with a Minnesota driver’s license who had multiple warrants from four different states. Iowa State Patrol troopers took him into custody.

Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging say, in tough times, communities find strength in people—and people find strength in their communities. In the past year, we’ve seen this time and again throughout Iowa as friends, neighbors, and businesses have found new ways to support each other. In Connections’ 20-county service area, older adults are a key source of this strength. Through their experiences, successes, and difficulties, they have built resilience that helps them to face new challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too.

Each May, Connections Area Agency on Aging and the Administration for Community Living, leads the celebration of Older Americans Month (OAM). This year’s theme is Communities of Strength, recognizing the important role older adults play in fostering the connection and engagement that build strong, resilient communities. Kelly Butts, CEO at Connections Area Agency on Aging, says “This past year, our Older Iowans have had to pull from their reservoirs for strength. While isolated, many depended upon their communities of friends, family, and neighbors. They, like so many of us, have learned new ways to adapt by utilizing technology for medical appointments, to shop, and stay connected with loved ones – developing strong communities of their choosing within their towns and cities.”

Strength is built and shown not only by bold acts, but also small ones of day-to-day life—a conversation shared with a friend, working in the garden, trying a new recipe, or taking time for a cup of tea on a busy day. And when we share these activities with others—even virtually or by telling about the experience later—we help them build resilience too. This year, Connections Area Agency on Aging will celebrate OAM by encouraging community members to share their experiences. Together, we can find strength—and create a stronger future.

Here are some ways to share and connect:

• Watch the Connections Facebook and Instagram pages for Strengthening Wisdom from Seniors: daily posts will share their wisdom and wit to get us through life and even hard times. Add your own tidbits of wisdom from an older person by commenting.
• Join us in Sioux City for Connections’ May Shredtastic and in Council Bluffs’ Parking Lot Health Fair: This event helps seniors and their caregivers safely discard personal papers, helping to prevent identity theft. Safety precautions will be in place. For more details, call 1-800-432-9209.
• Join agency officials for Virtual Events: Watch their social media for announcements of topics, dates and time.
• Look for joy in the everyday: Celebrate small moments and ordinary pleasures by taking time to recognize them. Start a gratitude journal and share it with others via social media, or call a friend or family member to share a happy moment or to say thank you.
• Reach out to neighbors: Even if you can’t get together in person right now, you can still connect with your neighbors. Leave a small gift on their doorstep, offer to help with outdoor chores, or deliver a homecooked meal.
• Build new skills: Learning something new allows us to practice overcoming challenges. Take an art course online or try a socially distanced outdoor movement class to enjoy learning with others in your community. Have a skill to share? Find an opportunity to teach someone, even casually.
• Share your story: There’s a reason storytelling is a time-honored activity. Hearing how others experience the world helps us grow. Interviewing family, friends, and neighbors can open up new conversations and strengthen our connections.

When people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and talents share experiences—through action, story, or service—we help build strong communities. And that’s something to celebrate! Please join Connections Area Agency on Aging in strengthening our community.

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Connections Area Agency is one of six Area Agencies on Aging in Iowa, and part of a nationwide network. With a mission of enhancing the quality of life for elders in 20 counties through education, planning and coordination of services, Connections Area Agency on Aging is the premier agency for assisting elders, caregivers, and their families to access the information and services needed for independence and life transitions. Offices are located in Council Bluffs, Creston and Sioux City. For more information, contact Connections AAA at 800-432-9209 or at www.connectionsaaa.org

Members of the Atlantic Rotary Club hosted their annual High School Senior Recognition Luncheon, on April 21st.  The event was attended by the Atlantic High School Seniors in vocal music, band, drama/debate and the top 10 academic students. Rotarians and the students were entertained by a piccolo solo, vocal duet and a contest winning speech. The top 10 academic students were introduced to the group.

Dolly Bergmann, Rotarian introduced the 2021 Atlantic Rotary Club Scholarship recipients. Individuals receiving $1,000 scholarships attending a Community College, Vocational or Technical College were Taylor McCreedy and Dazia Sorensen. The four-year University or College Scholarships were awarded to Molly McFadden and Craig Alan Becker. Each will receive $1,000. The Rex Moorman Memorial Scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to Shayla Luke.

Pictures from left to right are Shayla Luke, Dazia Sorensen, Molly McFadden and Rotarian Dolly Bergmann. Taylor McCreedy and Craig Alan Becker were unable to attend the luncheon. (Photo courtesy Dolly Bergmann)

The Iowa Department of Public health Wednesday, reported 172 new COVID-19 positive tests, and one additional death. The death was reported in Pottawattamie County, and brings the pandemic total in the County, to 166. It brings the statewide death toll during the pandemic, to 5,960. The health department reports 395,910 total positive tests since the start of the pandemic.

Iowa reports 2.4-million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered and 1.11-million total vaccine series completed. The state’s 14-day positivity rate is 4.0%. The seven-day rate is 4.2%. Both are unchanged since Monday.

Hospitalizations across the state have declined slightly, from 195 Tuesday to 192 on Wednesday. Iowa reports also: there are 47 patients in ICU; 36 people with symptoms of COVID were admitted to a hospital, and, 20 patients are on ventilators.

In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), there are 12 COVID patients hospitalized; five remain in an ICU; three people were admitted, and two people remain on a ventilator.

There remains also, one long-term care facility outbreak. The Urbandale Care Center has 19 positive cases and 17 recoveries. The state reports 2,321 care facility deaths since the pandemic began, that’s unchanged from Monday.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

Cass, 1,458 cases; {+0}; 54 deaths
Adair, 980; {+1}; 32
Adams, 349 {+0}; 4
Audubon, 520 {+1}; 9
Guthrie, 1,288 {+3}; 29
Harrison County, 1,921; {+0}; 73
Madison County, 1,737; {+1; 19
Mills County, 1,781; {+0}; 21
Montgomery, 1,102;{+0}; 37
Pottawattamie County, 12,116; {+6}; 165
Shelby County, 1,363 {+1}; 37
Union County, 1,354; {+0}; 32