WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (The Des Moines Register) — Officials say high winds hampered firefighters’ efforts to extinguish a fire in a huge assisted living complex under construction in West Des Moines, Monday. The Des Moines Register reports that the four-alarm fire was reported around 6 p.m. Fire officials say about a dozen construction workers were in the 200,000-square-foot at the time of the fire, but all were able to escape safely.

The facility, west of Jordan Creek Town Center, had been set to open in the fall. City Fire Marshal Mike Whitsell says winds gusting up to 45 mph, Monday, drove the fire and put neighboring buildings in the area at risk.

(Radio Iowa) — Sioux City’s police chief has confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus. Police Chief Rex Mueller says he is one of the members of his department who has tested positive. The chief says he is in self-quarantine at home and his symptoms are very mild and he is doing well. It was revealed last week that several members of the Sioux City Police Department had tested positive for COVID-19. The chief is the only one to publicly come forward to say that he has tested positive.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A top public health official says a plan to create a model to forecast the coronavirus pandemic in Iowa could take weeks to complete and even then may not guide the state’s decision-making. Iowa Department of Public Health deputy director Sarah Reisetter said her agency hasn’t shared its patient data with the University of Iowa College of Public Health but plans to do so soon. A contract calls for the college to create a model within two weeks of receiving that data, or on another mutually agreed upon schedule. The contract wasn’t finalized until April 7, a month after the state’s first cases were confirmed.

TAMA, Iowa (AP) — A beef processing plant in one of Iowa’s coronavirus hot spots has suspended production after several workers have become infected. National Beef announced that its Iowa Premium plant in Tama will be idled until April 20. The company said numerous employees had contracted COVID-19 and that others were exhibiting flu-like symptoms. It’s at least the second meat processing plant in Iowa to suspend operations after workers have become infected. Tyson Foods last week idled its Columbus Junction pork plant. Tama County has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus in Iowa, with 86 confirmed cases and two deaths

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Officials have named the Iowa police officer who fatally shot a man during a car chase. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation on Monday announced officer Ryan Livesay is on paid administrative leave for the shooting. Livesay shot and killed 38-year-old Clinton resident Jacob Matthew Dau. Police say Livesay tried to pull Dau over last week but he fled. Livesay chased him into nearby Camanche and back to Clinton before shooting him. Dau later died at a hospital. The Clinton County Attorney’s Office will decide whether to charge Livesay.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport nursing home said Monday that two employees and one resident have tested positive for the coronavirus.The Kahl Home said in a statement that additional employees and residents have reported symptoms but none have so far tested positive. The home said 10 residents have tested negative for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. The Iowa Department of Public Health is seeking to prevent outbreaks at nursing homes, which have caused more than 10 percent of Iowa’s COVID-19 cases and a majority of the state’s 43 related deaths.

The CAM School Board hold a public hearing Monday evening on the School Calendar, but tabled until April 27th, hearings on the Certified Budget and two Resolutions, due to a publishing issue. Following the hearing on the Calendar, the Board later moved to approve the schedule as presented, and previously mentioned on KJAN. (The proposed 2020-21 School Calendar calls for school to begin August 24, 2020, and end May 26, 2021.)

The Board tabled votes on the Certified Budget and/ Flex Resolution until their April 27th meeting. They approved, however, a Resolution to transfer funds from the CAM Community School District General Fund to the Activity Fund, to pay for the reconditioning of football helmets. The process will cost $3,466.84.

The CAM School Board also approved an Operational Sharing Agreement with the Nodaway Valley School District. Shared Superintendent Paul Croghan explained one the agreements was for a Human Resources position, one for Maintenance, the other for the Superintendent.

The agreements are very similar to last year other than changing the dates, Croghan said. They also adjust salaries and insurance. Both Nodaway Valley and CAM saw an 11.25% increase in the cost of insurance, so that will be passed on in the contract as well. The districts will split 50/50, the cost of fuel and oil changes for transportation.

The CAM Board also approved an AEA Purchasing Agreement for 2020-21. Croghan said the agreement was also similar to the one approved last year. It’s needed mostly for the nutrition program, purchasing food, wear – wash and small wears, for the school food service. And, the Board approved a list of graduates from the CAM High School and Connections Academy. They also discussed Facilities Updates. Superintendent Croghan said “It’s pretty obvious that we’re going to suspend our community meetings [with regard to facilities improvements] until social distancing will allow.”

Meanwhile, the District will continue to work on the Revenue Purpose Statement in preparation for a vote soon, and work with PFM Financial Advisors, to get them financial information so their reports are ready to go. One of the Board members mentioned one of the things that came out of a previous community meeting, was a call he took from the owners of the Car Quest building in Massena, who said they are willing to discuss using part of that facility as a bus barn. That’s one option that could be further discussed when the community meetings resume.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports a man was arrested on assault charges last week. 21-year old Billy Ray Herbert, of Mexico, Missouri, faces charges that include Domestic Abuse Assault with Bodily Injury/1st offense, and Assault causing bodily injury. Herbert was taken into custody at the Greenfield Casey’s Store at around 7:30-p.m. April 8th, after he fled the scene of an incident Nodaway Lake campground near Greenfield.

Authorities say at around 7-p.m., Greenfield Police responded to the scene for a report of subjects fighting near a car. Information passed along indicated Herbert allegedly assault his pregnant, ex-girlfriend. Witnesses said the woman was punched in her chest and stomach, causing her fall to her knees, and almost pass out. When an adult male stepped-in to protect the woman, Herbert allegedly grabbed the man by his neck and pushed him to the ground, causing injuries to the man’s forearm.

When an adult female stepped-in and tried to push Herbert off of the male, she was also pushed to the ground and suffered cuts to her fingers. Herbert then ran off and flagged down a motorist who transported him to the Greenfield Caseys. Herbert was arrested and transported to the Adair County Jail. He was  cited and released the next day on his Own Recognizance/Signature Bond.

And, Police in Adair arrested 51-year old Kristina Lois Sherman, of Adair, Thursday afternoon, for OWI/1st offense. Due to COVID-19 jail policies, Sherman was transported to her residence, cited and released.

MANSON, Iowa (The Des Moines Register) — An Iowa sheriff charged with assault and domestic abuse also faces allegations that he harassed female employees. The Des Moines Register reports Calhoun County Sheriff Scott Anderson was arrested Sunday in the central Iowa city of Manson. A complaint released Monday says he dragged and choked his wife, then headbutted an officer while being arrested.

He applied for a court-appointed attorney. Meanwhile, a former county dispatcher in December filed a civil-rights complaint alleging Anderson harassed her and retaliated when she complained. Anderson is up for re-election.