(Radio Iowa) — The Bishop of the Des Moines Catholic Diocese is allowing in-person masses to return in 15 counties beginning Thursday. Bishop William Joensen says the decision comes after looking at information surrounding the coronavirus pandemic for the past month. “We just thought that a kind of gradual coming back looking at much of the same medical data that our health care officials and some of our state officials have been doing,” Joensen says.

Joensen says they will be allowed to hold morning masses Monday through Saturday. “We were seeing numbers that were giving us comfort that if we gathered in a daily mass situation what we could both respond to our heartfelt need of the people to come for mass to receive the Eucharist — but not overwhelm ourselves — so that we can observe social distancing and the cleansing process,” according to Joensen. “We felt very comfortable then with what we call phase one.”

Phase one includes Wayne, Lucas, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Union, Ringgold, Adair, Adams, Taylor, Cass, Montgomery, Page, Fremont, and Harrison Counties. Mills County will be permitted to regather for daily mass beginning on Monday. Joensen says this is not a mandate and local priests will be able to determine if they can take the steps to safely hold the masses. “If this were only a matter of hey I’m willing to take on this individual risk of contagion in order to celebrate the sacraments and to worship — but it’s not — we are mindful of each other….the fact that so many are asymptomatic and how contagious the virus is,” Joensen says. “So, I think that’s where we have to have the common good at stake.”

Joensen says they will take several steps to continue social distancing. “We’re not going to eliminate all risk, but within a reasonable degree, making adjustments, wearing a face mask, not being close to others, reducing greatly if not entirely the music that is so much the part of the mass and other prayer experiences,” he says. Joensen says they are asking parishioners to wear face masks during the masses and there will be masks on hand.

“That would be the expectation, and so people would keep their masks on, keep the spacing. The priests and all the other associated ministers are also obliged to wear masks as they distribute communion,” Joensen says. “We ask people to receive on the hand — not on the tongue. So, as they come forward they receive the host say ‘amen’ and then step to the side and loosen one side of the mask, consume the host and then go back to their place.” Joensen says the shut down of daily masses has given everyone something to reflect on.

“Making possible, gracefully aware of what he is calling us to, not only to center our lives ever more on the things that matter,” Joensen says, “the relationships with God and people and others may be outside our immediate circle. How are we mindful and present to them. I think the devotional practices, the emphasis on God’s word and scripture. The sense that we need to take the initiative on our own lives as disciples at home and with our families.”

The other counties in the Des Moines Diocese are still prohibited from celebrating daily masses with more than ten persons present. Those counties are Polk, Warren, Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon, Shelby, and Pottawattamie Counties. Joensen says when parishes in these counties reach the point where risk has appropriately abated, he will let them know when they can enter phase one. The Catholic Diocese in Davenport, Dubuque and Sioux City have not indicated they are ready to resume masses. The governor lifted the limit of holding public gatherings to 10 people on May 1st to allow churches to resume worship services.

PELLA, Iowa – The Pella Police Department and the DCI have identified the victim and arrested a suspect in Monday evening’s homicide. After responding to a report of an argument at 101 Glenwood Street, #4, Pella police officers found 46-year-old Tracy Mondabough of Ottumwa injured inside a vehicle. Officers performed lifesaving measures on the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Monday night, Pella resident, 55-year-old Michelle Boat, was arrested and charged with a Violation of No-Contact Order. Ms. Boat was transported to the Marion County Jail. Today, the charges against  Boat were amended to include one count of Murder in the First Degree (Class A Felony). Ms. Boat remains in the Marion County Jail on a $2 million bond.

The Pella Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Attorney’s Office and the DCI are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pella Police Department at 641.628.4921.

An autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death will be conducted by the Office of the State Medical Examiner. The facts of this case have been referred to the Marion County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for prosecution.

The Harlan Police Department today (Tuesday) released information on arrests and citations dating back to April 28th. Last Saturday, 18-year old Jordan Alexis Holley, of Scranton, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Holley was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession drug paraphernalia.

On Friday, 36-year old Troy Dakota Weelborg, and 32-year old Tamara Leigh Dryer, both of Harlan, were arrested following a domestic disturbance.  Weelborg was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault and violation of a no contact order.  Dryer was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with violation of a no contact order.

And, 54-year old Michael Mario Morelli, of Harlan, was arrested Friday on an active Shelby County warrant.  Morelli was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was also charged with assault on a peace officer and interference with official acts.

On May 9th, 51-year old John Anthony Wyatt, of Harlan, was cited following a traffic stop, for: driving while suspended, operating a non-registered vehicle, and open container. And, on  April 28th, 21-year old Austin Lee Thomas Dusenberry, of Harlan, was cited for driving while suspended, also following a traffic stop.

Officials with the Clarinda Regional Health Center, today (Tuesday) said they were saddened to learn LifeNet 2-3 based in Clarinda, has decided to close their base at the CRHC. In a social media post, CRHC says “The staff at LifeNet have been a wonderful addition to our team and they will be dearly missed.”

CRHC Facebook page photo

LifeNet is not closed. The AirMethods company still has other bases that will continue to serve the Southwest Iowa Region. Hospital officials said “Rest assured that LifeNet services will still be available at CRHC when the patient need arises and we will continue to work with Lifenet and utilize their air ambulance services.” Company officials have said the decision to leave Clarinda was made “after a thorough review and analysis of its operations.”  More specifically, the company cited current reimbursement models for Medicare, which they say are not sustainable for continued operations at CRHC. Medicare reimbursement for services, according to the company, has not kept up with costs.

LifeNet 2-3 first came to CHRC in 2012 under an agreement with LifeNet/Air Methods. The air ambulance primarily serves an area within a 40-mile radius of Clarinda, with the ability to stretch greater distances for emergencies.

On May 19, Pottawattamie County Public Health (PCPH) reported 11 new COVID-19 cases. One of the cases is a child (0-17), four of the cases are 18-40 years old, five are 41-60 years old, and one is 61-80 years old. These individuals were tested between May 9 and May 18. Thus far, 2,121 Pottawattamie County residents have been tested for COVID-19, and a total of 182 have tested positive.

An additional 12 people have recovered bringing the total of recoveries to 86. Currently, four individuals are hospitalized, 88 individuals are self-isolating. Based on PCPH contact tracing investigations, a total of 57 Pottawattamie County COVID-19 cases are the result of community spread.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is considering whether to allow additional activities to resume as her current proclamation prohibiting large gatherings and operation of some businesses expires next Wednesday. Reynolds recently allowed restaurants, fitness centers, malls and hair salons to reopen with limits but she continued the closure for many other businesses. They include bars, casinos, movie theaters and amusement parks.

Reynolds said Tuesday she’ll make some announcements on Wednesday and more next week. State data shows more than 300 new positive coronavirus cases and 12 additional deaths bringing the state totals to 15,296 known positive cases and 367 deaths.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is distributing a half a million dollars in federal grant money to county auditors, to help with the expense of safety measures for the June 2nd Primary. Pate, who is chairman of the National Association of Secretaries of State, says all states were offered this kind of federal financial support for primaries.

Pate has redirected money in his office budget to come up with the state “matching” funds needed to qualify for the federal grants. Last week, Iowa National Guard soldiers delivered masks, gloves and hand sanitizer for use at polling places on June 2. Pate’s office has also sent social distancing markers and face shields to all 99 counties for use at the polls. Pate has encouraged Iowans to vote early, with an absentee ballot, but those who wish may still vote at a polling place on June 2nd.

Pate cautions, though, that with fewer Primary Day polling places and all the public health precautions of the pandemic — like fewer voting booths at each location — it will take longer than five minutes to vote. Pate made his comments on the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S.

Montgomery County has added serology testing to its options as part the county’s effort to continue to prevent, detect and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. According to Montgomery County Public Health Administrator, Samantha Beeson, “There’s an increasing number of test types being on-boarded in Iowa including in Montgomery County. “There are two main categories of testing, PCR testing and serology testing. A positive PCR test indicates a current COVID-19 infection, while a positive serology test indicates a past or recent COVID-19 infection. Both types of testing help us understand the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”

Serology tests look for a antibodies, which are specific proteins made in response to infections. Antibodies can be found in the blood of people who are tested after infection and show that people have had an immune response to the infection. Antibody test results are especially important for detecting previous infections with few or no symptoms. Find more information on serology testing here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/serologytesting.html

To date, Montgomery County has had five (5) positive PCR COVID-19 tests, and one (1) positive serology test as this new type of testing comes online. Both types of testing results are displayed at the state’s coronavirus website, www.coronavirus.iowa.gov. The state’s medical director, Dr. Caitlin Pedati, also spoke about serology testing today during the Governor’s news conference. “Serology testing will be another tool in helping us fight COVID-19 and contain the spread of this disease,” said Beeson.