Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging say there are in need of Secret Santa’s for their Secret Santa for Seniors program.  When the program was started last year, the goal was to reach socially isolated seniors that may not receive any holiday gifts. Little did they know how great the need would be in 2020.   This year is especially difficult for older friends and neighbors as the pandemic continues, and older adults try to avoid the coronavirus.  Social distancing and safety measures may limit contact with friends and family during the holidays, leaving many lonely and socially isolated. Connections officials say they need Secret Santa’s to help bring some holiday joy and make the 2020 Secret Santa for Seniors Program a success.

To keep our seniors and staff safe during the current pandemic, they are requesting gift cards (specified by each senior) to be purchased this year and dropped off or mailed to one of the Connections office locations by December 4th.  Additional gift cards are requested due to the number of requests that have been made to the program. To be matched with a local senior, please call or email Tasha Jones at: 800-432-9209 or tjones@connectionsaaa.org.

For more information about the Secret Santa for Seniors  program, please contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 800.432.9209 or at www.connectionsaaa.org.

Connections Area Agency is one of six Area Agencies on Aging in Iowa, and part of a nationwide network. With a mission of enhancing the quality of life for elders in 20 counties through education, planning and coordination of services, Connections Area Agency on Aging is the premier agency for assisting elders, caregivers, and their families to access the information and services needed for independence and life transitions. Offices are located in Council Bluffs, Creston and Sioux City. For more information, contact Connections AAA at 800-432-9209 or at www.connectionsaaa.org

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (Today), received an annual report and funding request from West Central Community Action (WCCA) Executive Director Wendy Mueller. She told the Board their funding request this year is the same as last year: $4,000. The request was taken under advisement and will be acted on during the Board’s Budget Sessions.

The report, which covers the time frame of Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020, shows funds are used to further support WCCA’s Federal Programs, and funding for programs that provide financial assistance to their clients, but does not provide for program delivery or administrative costs. The goal, according to Mueller, is to maintain a reserve fund for operating capital. The reserve, she says, allows them to cash flow their operations until their Federal and State funding partnerts reimburse WCCA for the work completed on their grants and contracts.

WCCA served 566 households and 1,189 individuals in Cass County during FY 2020. More than $929,265 in direct client services were provided to the County. Administrative and delivery costs incurred by WCCA for Cass County, amounted to $292,636, and over $1.22-million dollars in services were provided by WCCA for Cass County.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has surpassed 2,000 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus, as the number of residents succumbing to the virus continues to rapidly increase. Iowa marked 1,000 deaths from the virus on Aug. 19, five months into the pandemic. But it took less than three months for the state to reach 2,000 deaths, and 3,000 will be reached far quicker under current trends. Data from Johns Hopkins University shows that the state has been averaging more than 20 deaths per day over the last week. That’s triple the rate from just two months ago.

The Griswold School Board met Monday evening, and took time out to view the Governor’s address to Iowans with regard to COVID-19. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News the Board was already set to discuss the Mask Mandate within the school and/or athletic events. The end results was essentially the status quo.

Henrichs said as far as High School athletics are concerned, those will continue as usual.

Until January 10th, however, all Junior High Youth Sports are postponed or suspended. Henrichs said also, Wrestling Cheerleading is cancelled for the year.

In other business, the Griswold School Board elected Rob Peterson to succeed Aaron Houser as President, while Don Smith continues as Vice President. And, the Board accepted two early retirement applications from long-time instructors. One of them is Kevin Blair, Agricultural/FFA Advisor.

(The other is Kim Wood, MS/HS Special Education instructor. Blair has served as a teacher for 33-years, 15 of those in the Griswold District. Kim Wood also has 33-years of experience. Their resignations are effective at the end of the current school year.)

Officials with the City of Atlantic report effective IMMEDIATELY, the lobby for City Hall & the Police Department, is CLOSED until further notice due to rising numbers of COVID-19. If you need assistance, call the following numbers: Atlantic Police Department (Non-Emergency): 243-3512;   Atlantic City Hall: 243-4810.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A man from Council Bluffs was arrested a little after 4-a.m. Tuesday (Today), on U-S Marshal’s Office warrant for Probation Violation on an original Possession of Weapons, charge. 37-year old Trevor Wayne Steadman was arrested in the 100 block of W. Nuckols Street. Numerous agencies were involved in his arrest, including Deputies with the Montgomery, Mills and Fremont County Sheriff’s Offices, the Fremont County K-9 Unit, Iowa State Patrol, and Montgomery County Communications Center. Steadman was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

Police in Creston report 40-year old Aaron Riepe, of Creston, was arrested at around 11:45-p.m. Monday, on a Union County warrant. The warrant was for Failure to Appear on the original charge of (2 counts) Theft in the 2nd Degree. Riepe was additionally charged with Violation of a Protection Order. He was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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