(Radio Iowa) — The president of the Iowa Bankers Association says it is a good time to look at your outstanding debt and see if you can lower it. I-B-A president John Sorensen says interest rates continue at historic lows. “Most Iowans are aware that this is a very good time to take out a mortgage loan for example — or refinance your mortgage loan,” Sorensen says. “We are seeing those rates have dropped significantly. So, it’s certainly something for Iowans to look at if they are looking to reduce their cost of debt service on a whole range of credit that they may have whether its an individual or a business.”

He says it could be worth it for you to review your situation. “I would certainly contact your lender and see what your options are — but obviously if had a mortgage loan for a period of time — it’s certainly good to compare the rate you are currently paying to what the rates are today. And if you can refinance and lower your monthly payments –that’s always a good thing,” Sorensen says. The Fed recently lowered the interest rate in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Sorensen says the drop in rates has an impact on lenders. “Obviously when it’s a significant drop in rates like we’re seeing — it can challenge the financial institutions — because the margins between deposits and lending tend to tighten in this kind of environment,” he says.

But Sorensen says it should not be a burden they can’t handle. “Iowa banks are in a very sound position to be able to manage through this period of time,” Sorensen says.  He says you can contact your financial institution only or via phone to set up a review of your situation.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their first electronically shared meeting since the COVID-19 outbreak forced a change in the way meetings are conducted in Iowa, and across the country. Supervisor Steve Baier said the meeting via “Zoom” is the “new norm,” for the foreseeable future, as social distancing rules aim to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. That includes ironing-out the technical issues, such as audio drop-out. Baier assured residents of Cass County, that no services are being affected…they’re just being handled in a slightly different manner.

Some statewide services, as previously mentioned, have been suspended, but essential county services are still available. Most county services can be accomplished online, but if there is something that needs a signature or seal, or special document, please call the appropriate County office to make arrangements. In fact, a drop box for documents will be installed at the Courthouse, opposite the outside mailbox, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday). Place your document(s) in an envelope and make a note for which office it is intended for before placing in the secure drop box.

In other news, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved the proposed FY 2021 County Budget, following a public hearing. A copy of the budget (as published) is available here: https://www.atlanticiowa.com/county/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/FY2021-Cass-Co-Budget-Hearing-Notice.pdf

They also approved the County Compensation Board’s recommendations for elected officers’ FY 2021 compensation. The Compensation Board recommend 2.9% increases for Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff, Treasurer and Supervisors, but the Supervisors reduced that to 2.1% across the board.

The FY2021 Secondary Roads and Cass County Budgets were then formally adopted, before Board Chair Steve Baier opened bids on the Cold Springs State Park road paving project. The low bid for the project, was $104,415.50, from Black Top Services, out of Humboldt. Two other bids, from Omni Engineering, of Omaha, and Western Engineering, of Council Bluffs, came in at $123,699.50, and $124, 846, respectively. A bid from Henningsen Construction in Atlantic, was the highest, at $162,518.25.

In other news from the Supervisor’s meeting, the Board tabled action on a resolution to appoint a Cass County Representative/Commissioner to SIRHA (The Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority).

(Radio Iowa) – A north-central Iowa woman spent six days in the hospital being treated for COVID-19 and she’s urging Iowans to heed the warnings and stay home, if possible. The 38-year-old from Kossuth County spoke with the media after her release under the condition of anonymity. She says she doesn’t know how or where she contracted coronavirus. “For the first week, I really had no idea this is what it could be,” she says. “I checked every box for just having the flu.”

She describes when the sickness reached its peak. “At its worst, I was on a ventilator, not being able to breathe on my own and just the fear of it all weighed on me a lot,” she says. “It was pretty tough.” She admits, through tears, there were times she feared she’d die from COVID-19. “I did have those moments and I never thought at 38 years old that I would.”

She pleads with everyone to take this virus seriously and to take the necessary precautions.  “It’s uncharted territory that we’re in. This is something that we’re experiencing that we’ve never experienced before, but please, everyone, just stay home,” she says. “Spend time with your families. Do what the CDC and your local health department is asking you to do because this is not a joke.” At this hour, state health officials say 105 cases are confirmed statewide in 26 counties, with seven people currently hospitalized.

(Rob Jones, Alpha Media Fort Dodge, via Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says a Nebraska man was arrested Monday afternoon, at the Pottawattamie County Jail. 34-year old Kenneth Ray Jewell, of Omaha, was wanted on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear on an OWI/1st offense charge. His bond was set at $2,500.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A woman from Chicago has been sentenced to 50 years in prison on charges stemming from the beating death of her 5-year-old son in Iowa. Jacqueline Rambert was sentenced Friday in Davenport. She’d pleaded guilty to two child endangerment charges. Her co-defendant, Tre Henderson, was convicted of murder and is scheduled to be sentenced April 1 to life in prison.

Prosecutors say Ja’Shawn Bussell had 17 broken ribs and bruises from the top of his head to his ankles after Henderson beat him in April 2018. Henderson and Rambert are from Chicago and were living in a Davenport apartment when the boy was beaten.