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IA COVID-19 update for Wed., 8/12/20 – 5 more cases in Cass County; 14 more deaths statewide

News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Health officials today (Wednesday) reports there were 14 more deaths in the State attributed to COVID-19 since 10-a.m. Tuesday, for a total of 949, and, 520 new, confirmed cases of the virus, for a total of 49,702. Long-Term Care facility deaths account for 508 of the State’s death toll.

Here in Cass County, there was a jump in the number of positive cases, from 74 Tuesday, to 79 today. Of those, 47 have recovered from the virus. The data continues to show most of those who have tested positive in Cass County are in the 18-to 40 age bracket (46%), with the 0-17 and 41-60 age groups each having 20% of the cases. Those 61 & older make up 11% of the cases, and those over the age of 80 make up just 3% of the positive cases.

The IDPH says 530,419 Iowans have been tested, 3,361 tested negative since 10-a.m. Tuesday, for a total of 477,555 to-date. And, 38,548 Iowans have recovered from the virus. Hospitalization data show: 243 are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms; 72 are in an ICU; 53 were admitted to a hospital since Tuesday, and 25 people were on a ventilator.

Southwest/western Iowa hospitals report: 12 people are in a hospital with COVID-19; Five people are in an ICU; There were 0 persons admitted and no one on a ventilator. Long-Term Care (LTC) data today, show: 28 Outbreaks (3 more than Tue.); 839 patients/staff have tested positive; and 471 have recovered.

Here are the latest positive case numbers for southwest/western Iowa since 10-a.m. Tuesday (County; Positive Case #’s; number of persons who have (recovered); {deaths since the outbreak began}. Counties with changes since Monday, have highlighted numbers:

  • Cass County: 79 cases [up 5 from Tue.] (47); 1 death
  • Adair County: 30 cases (20)
  • Adams County: 16 cases (13)
  • Audubon County: 29 cases (18); 1 death
  • Guthrie County: 136 cases (106); 5 deaths
  • Montgomery County: 60 cases (40); 4 deaths
  • Pottawattamie County: 1,340 cases (999); 28 deaths [2 more than Tuesday]
  • Shelby County: 187 cases [2 more than Tues.] (160); 1 death.

Millions of bushels of grain in storage damaged or destroyed in Monday’s storm

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State Ag Secretary Mike Naig says some of the corn that was flattened by Monday’s storm will bounce back, but it’s anybody’s guess as to what percentage of damaged Iowa crops may be harvested. Grain bins, silos and elevators were damaged as well, so losses extend to the 2019 crop. “Tens of millions of bushels of commercial grain storage and millions of on-farm grain storage was impacted, destroyed or severely damaged,” he says.

Naig warns there will be storage issues for the 2020 crop, so farmers may have to truck their corn and soybeans further or resort to on-the-ground outdoor storage. “Certainly there’ll be a lot of effort to repair whatever storage can be repaired and brought back online before fall,” Naig says, “but it’s hard to imagine that any significant amount of the storage that’s been damaged will be able to be rebuilt before harvest this year.”

The state climatologist says Monday’s derecho passed through about a third of the state. Naig says localized crop losses in central and east central Iowa fields that were flattened by Monday’s storm will be severe, but it’s too soon to estimate the value of crop losses in those high damage areas. Naig says some livestock barns were damaged, too, but there have not yet been reports that hogs, cattle or poultry were killed in the storm.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., 8/12/20

News

August 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:15 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of thousands across the Midwest remained without electricity after a powerful storm packing 100 mph winds battered the region. Monday’s storms caused widespread property and crop damage, and the deaths of at least two people in Indiana and Iowa. The storm known as a derecho tore from eastern Nebraska across Iowa and parts of Wisconsin and Illinois. In Iowa, three mobile coronavirus testing sites were temporarily closed after suffering storm damage. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said early estimates indicate 10 million acres have been damaged in the nation’s top corn producing state.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a woman killed after the bicycle she was riding was hit by a car in Waterloo earlier this week. The Courier reports that 18-year-old Nicole Kulaszewski, of Waterloo, died Sunday at an Iowa City hospital, hours after the crash. Investigators say Kulaszewski was heading home on the bike from a friend’s house around 2 a.m. Sunday. Police say she was traveling against traffic in the eastbound lanes of Broadway Street when a car driven by a 26-year-old Waterloo woman hit her. The driver pulled over and called 911. She told police she didn’t see Kulaszewski before she hit her.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an off-duty Iowa sheriff’s deputy has died in an accidental shooting. The Ottumwa Police Department said in a news release that officers responded Tuesday morning and found that 35-year-old Brian Rainey had sustained a gunshot wound to his torso. WHO-TV reports that the deputy with the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office died from his injuries. Police say the firearm was discharged accidentally.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — One of eastern Iowa’s largest employers has revealed it plans to lay off 72 workers at its Cedar Rapids plant. The company, which manufactures aviation and military equipment, had announced on July 30 that it would lay off workers, but declined to say how many. The Gazette reported Monday that it revealed the number in a recent notice to Iowa Workforce Development. The cuts come amid declining sales numbers during the global coronavirus outbreak. Collins Aerospace President Stephen Timm says the cuts primarily affect Collins Aerospace’s commercial business functions.

Weekend fatal motorcycle accident in Adams County

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol today (Tuesday), released information about a fatal motorcycle accident that took place late Saturday morning, in Adams County. Authorities say at around 11:50-a.m., a 2018 Honda CBR100 operated by 33-year old Michael Dean Boles, of Creston, was traveling north on Corning Carl Road, about one-half mile south of 150th Street, when for reasons unknown, the machine went off the road to the right, and entered the east ditch.

The cycle came to rest in a field. Boles died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

Iowa sheriff’s deputy dies in accidental off-duty shooting

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an off-duty Iowa sheriff’s deputy has died in an accidental shooting. The Ottumwa Police Department said in a news release that officers responded Tuesday morning and found that 35-year-old Brian Rainey had sustained a gunshot wound to his torso. WHO-TV reports that the deputy with the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office died from his injuries. Police say the firearm was discharged accidentally.

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $8.4 Million to Improve Flood Control Infrastructure Near Opportunity Zone in Council Bluffs, Iowa

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON –  U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $8.4 million grant to the city of Council Bluffs, to make flood control infrastructure improvements needed to protect businesses and make the region resilient to future natural disasters. The EDA grant, which will be located near a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone, will be matched with more than $2 million in local investment and is expected to create 95 jobs.

Dana Gartske, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, says “This investment will provide improvements to the city of Council Bluffs’ levee system to include the addition of robust seepage and stability beams. The upgrades to the flood risk reduction system will ensure prior and future economic investments in the city will remain effective and contribute to overall economic growth in the nearby region and Opportunity Zone.”

The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs. The funding will catalyze private investment in a nearby Opportunity Zone.

Opportunity Zones are spurring economic development in economically-distressed communities nationwide. The project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019.

Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All Continues to Offer Services

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh, today (Tuesday) said “As cases of COVID-19 rise locally, Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All continues to offer food delivery to Cass County residents in need of the service during COVID-19. Those who register for the program will receive a week’s worth of food delivered to their home weekly. The program is designed to
help area residents who may not be able to afford food while quarantining.”

Once registered for food, households will receive a weekly food delivery until participants notify the program that they are no longer in need of the assistance, or grant funding runs out. The
weekly service is available to people in Cass County in need of food delivery during COVID-19. To register for the program, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or call Cass County Public Health at 712-243-7443.

While the program continues, the Cass County Local Food Policy Council is recruiting volunteers to assist with food packaging and delivery. Volunteers are needed Monday from 10:30-noon
and 1:30 – 4:30. Volunteers must be able to lift grocery bags repeatedly and climb on and off a bus multiple times an hour. Volunteers must be committed to adhering to safety practices recommended by Public Health including maintaining a six-foot distance from others, wearing a mask at all times, and frequently washing hands or using hand sanitizer. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870.

For more information, follow @CassCountyLocalFood on Facebook or contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at 712-249-5870 or by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu.

Precautionary Boil Water Advisory Issued for Adel

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa DNR reports a Precautionary Boil Advisory has been issued for the City of Adel. The advisory is due to a power loss at the water treatment plant that resulted in use of the emergency connection with Xenia Rural Water and a subsequent water main break on a four inch line close to the elevated storage tower. Once the repair is made, the system will flush and samples will be collected for bacterial samples. The duration of the advisory is unknown at this time.

Residents in those areas should boil water as a precaution. Bring all water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food to a boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using. Or, use bottled water. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Tap water can be used for bathing and similar purposes.

Page County woman arrested twice in two weeks

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

A woman arrested August 3rd in Page County on a warrant for Failure to Appear, was arrested again yesterday (Aug. 10th), on another warrant for the same offense. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year old Destiny Estalin Louise Graham was arrested at her residence, in Coin. Graham was transported to the Page County Jail on a $300 bond pending further court appearances.

Police ID bicyclist fatally hit by car in Waterloo

News

August 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a woman killed after the bicycle she was riding was hit by a car in Waterloo earlier this week. The Courier reports that 18-year-old Nicole Kulaszewski, of Waterloo, died Sunday at an Iowa City hospital, hours after the crash. Investigators say Kulaszewski was heading home on the bike from a friend’s house around 2 a.m. Sunday. Police say she was traveling against traffic in the eastbound lanes of Broadway Street when a car driven by a 26-year-old Waterloo woman hit her.

The driver pulled over and called 911. She told police she didn’t see Kulaszewski before she hit her.