CRESTON, Iowa – March 11, 2021 – A project to replace a bridge on U.S. 169 over the middle fork of the Grand River 5.3 miles south of Iowa 2 requires closing the roadway to traffic beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, Apr. 5, weather permitting, until Thursday, July 29, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

During this project, traffic will be detoured around the work zone with a marked detour route using Ringgold County roads J-55, P-46, and Iowa 2. Permitted oversize loads will be prohibited on this detour route.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(Radio Iowa) – There’s still no agreement among Republican lawmakers on how much the state should spend to extend broadband service in Iowa — but it appears they’re edging closer to the amount Governor Kim Reynolds has proposed. Representative Phil Thompson of Jefferson says he and his fellow Republicans haven’t been able to hammer that number down yet. “I want to be really close to that governor’s number and be aggressive with this,” Thompson says.

Republicans on a House subcommittee say newly-approved federal funds to cover other state expenses likely frees up the 450 million Reynolds requested over the next three years. Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake, the third ranking Republican in the House, says the final broadband plan will probably be at or near 450 million. “I think that it is imperative that we have this build out so that Iowa stays and is competitive,” Wills says.

The governor had suggested that all companies getting state grants extend broadband service with speeds of 100 megabits per second, but the bill that cleared a House subcommittee today (Thursday) backed away from that high speed requirement. “It’s never done until it’s done, but we’re having some really constructive conversations,” Reynolds says.

The governor says she’s optimistic she and the legislature will find common ground and a broadband expansion plan will be passed by the House and Senate this year.

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh reminds area residents, that on Saturday, March 13th, the Anita Town and Country will host a USDA Farmers to Families Food Box distribution at the Anita Community Center (805 Main St.), from 12:00 – 1:00 PM, or as supplies last.

Anyone is welcome to visit the drive-through food box pick-up, and no documentation or proof of need is required. Boxes will be given away at no cost or donation. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. The USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes are likely to contain fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and meat.

For more information, contact: Jodi Irlmeier, Anita Town and Country, 712-762-4234.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Mar. 11, 2021 – Council Bluffs residents and interstate travelers will soon notice construction activities beginning near the Interstate 29/I-480/West Broadway System Interchange. According to the Iowa DOT, the I-29/I-480/West Broadway System Interchange project includes the area of I-29 north of the Union Pacific Railroad bridge to a point just west of North 25th Street, along with the I-480 corridor to the Iowa side of the Missouri River crossing.

Officials say the project will improve traffic flow, safety, and the functional design at this location and at the adjacent interchanges at 41st Street, 35th Street, Avenue G and 9th Avenue. Construction activities are currently underway and are expected to continue until late 2024. An overview of construction activities and impacts has been updated on the program website at: www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.iowadot.gov.

(March 11, 2021) – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued revised nursing home visitation guidance Wednesday (March 10), that now also includes consideration of the impact of COVID-19 vaccination.  The guidance (QSO-20-39-NH), includes the following changes:

* All visitors who enter the facility will need to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of the visitor’s vaccination status.
* Facilities can allow indoor visitations for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), except for a few circumstances when visitation should still be limited due to a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, such as:
– For unvaccinated residents if the nursing home’s COVID-19 county positivity rate is greater than 10% and fewer than 70% of residents have been vaccinated.
– For residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated until they have met the CMS criteria to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions.
– For residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.
* Procedures for handling visitations during an outbreak situation, and how to determine if such visits can occur depending on how far the outbreak has spread in the facility.
* Encouraging, but not requiring, visitors to become vaccinated.

Iowa Health Care Association President and CEO Brent Willett said “We are still reviewing [the] guidance, but it appears that it does what we have called for and longed for: an orderly reopening of nursing homes in Iowa and across the nation.”It is almost exactly one year to the day since nursing homes were closed to visitors nationwide and 357 days since the first COVID-19 case was reported in an Iowa nursing home. [Wednesday’s] action by CMS is historic: thousands of Iowa families will soon be able to visit their loved ones once again.”

To read the CMS guidance in its entirety, visit: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-39-nh-revised.pdf

A collision that occurred T-bone style in Red Oak, Wednesday, caused a total of $7,000 damage, and suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries to the driver of a car. Red Oak Police say the collision happened at around 5:40-p.m. at the intersection of Walnut and N. Broadway, when a 2005 Chevy Impala registered to David Fussell and driven by 18-year old Dashon Fussell, of Red Oak, failed to yield the right-of-way, to a 2006 Chevy pickup truck driven by 83-year old Michael Norris, of Red Oak.

Dashon Fussell was checked out by Red Oak Fire and Rescue, but did not require transport to the hospital. He was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop sign and yield the right-of-way.

The Creston Police Department reports one person was arrested Wednesday night. 34-year-old Matthew Rinehart, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a charge of False Report of [an] Indictable Offense to a Public Entity. Rinehart was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.