(Update 5-a.m., 8/16) The latest information from the Iowa Coronavirus dashboard shows there was one more confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cass County since our report Saturday, for a total now of 94. Statewide, 388 more Iowans tested positive for the virus, for a total of 52,065. Iowa’s reported positivity rate is 9.3%.

Two more deaths have been reported statewide since 10-a.m. Saturday, for a total of 975, with 543 of those taking place at a Long-Term Care facility. As mentioned Saturday, there was a second death reported in Cass County as well, since the outbreak began. The State’s website said 686 of the state’s deaths involved Iowans with preexisting conditions. The IDPH says 40,491 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19, 5,490 tested negative Saturday, for a total of 497,534. Altogether, 557,346 Iowans have been tested for the virus.

The IDPH data show the following new, confirmed COVID-19 cases in these area counties: Guthrie County, 2 (146 total); Montgomery County,1 (a total of 64); Pottawattamie County, 14 (1,416 total); & Shelby County has 2 new cases, for a total of 194.

Statewide hospitalization data show: 271 are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms (compared to 261 Saturday); 80 are in an ICU (there were 82 yesterday); 43 were admitted to a hospital as compared to 33 on Saturday, and one less person was on a ventilator, for a total of 34.

Southwest/western Iowa hospitals report, over the past 24-hours: 10 people were in a hospital with COVID-19 (1 less than Saturday); 3 people are in an ICU (down 1 from Saturday); 2 people admitted were admitted to an area hospital since Saturday, and there remains no one on a ventilator. Long-Term Care (LTC) data today, show: 29 Outbreaks; 910 patients/staff have tested positive; and 543 have recovered.

Here are the latest positive case numbers for southwest/western Iowa since 10-a.m. Friday (County; Positive Case #’s; number of persons who have (recovered); {deaths since the outbreak began}. Counties with changes have highlighted numbers over the previous 24-hours:

• Cass County: 94 cases (58); 2 deaths
• Adair County: 38 cases (20)
• Adams County: 17 cases (16)
• Audubon County: 30 cases (21); 1 death
• Guthrie County: 146 cases (108); 5 deaths
• Montgomery County: 64 cases (47); 4 deaths
• Pottawattamie County: 1,416 cases (1,054); 29 deaths
• Shelby County: 194 cases (176); 1 death.

The Iowa DPH website now features an analysis for public school districts with data on average county positivity rates over the past 14 days. That information can be found here.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Dept. Board of Directors will receive an update during their meeting at 5:15-p.m. Monday evening, with regard to park restroom vandalism.

Sunnyside restroom vandalism photos from the Atlantic Parks & Rec Facebook page.

In a social media post Saturday, Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen said “Due to multiple incidents…over the last couple weeks, we have decided to close the Sunnyside bathrooms for the year. If other bathrooms continue to be treated [in the same manner], we will be forced to close them all. Please don’t do this, you ruin a simple bathroom that someone may really need.”  Rasmussen posted pictures of the damage on the Parks and Rec Facebook page, showing extensive damage to the facilities.

In other business, the Parks Board will hear updates with regard to: The Schildberg Recreation Area; Schildberg signage; the Mollett Trail; Bull Creek; Nishna Park, and the Park mascot campaign. Bryant Rasmussen is also expected to discuss potential grants, storm cleanup, the pool painting is completed, and more about the Walkability maps.

The meeting takes place in the City Council’s Chambers, at the Atlantic City Hall.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The derecho that caused massive damage in Iowa this past week could offer lessons for forecasters and the public. The unusual storm packed the power of a category 3 hurricane but lacked the days of warning a typical hurricane offers. At least three people in Iowa and one in Indiana were killed. Forecasters had predicted thunderstorms and in some communities tornado sirens sounded before the winds began. But many people were caught off guard. The National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working on tools that would assist forecasters in making predictions that consider a range of possibilities.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State officials say 75 more students who were moving back to campus have tested positive for COVID-19. The university announced Friday that it tested 3,472 students between Aug. 7 and Thursday. The 75 students who had the virus represents a 2.2% positivity rate. That’s the same positivity rate the school announced last week when 66 positive cases were found among the 3,037 students tested. Students began moving back to campus July 31 and will continue to return through Sunday, with classes beginning Monday. The university has reserved two halls for students to quarantine, or they can quarantine at home if possible.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is reporting 832 new coronavirus cases for its second-largest single-day increase. KRCG reports that the new cases brought the state’s total number of infections to 51,640 as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The state also added nine more deaths to bring the total to 973, according to health officials. The number of infections is believed to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and experts believe people can have the virus without feeling sick. The only other day with more new cases was July 17, when there were 879. Both days had large numbers of tests processed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people have been arrested in Des Moines after fleeing from police in a stolen car and taking refuge in a house with one of their children inside. Des Moines Police Department spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said the car was reported stolen 9 a.m. Saturday. The owner later spotted the vehicle, leading to a chase on Interstate 235, The Des Moines Register reports. Police called off the pursuit due to reckless driving. But Parizek said someone spotted the vehicle coming back into the city and followed it until it was abandoned. The two suspects then ran into a nearby home, where the 13-year-old child of one of the suspects wasn’t allowed to leave for about an hour. The two suspects were taken into custody around 12:30 p.m.

Sheriff’s officials in northwest Iowa, Friday night, arrested a man on a felony charge of Murder in the 1st Degree, in connection with the death of a southeast Iowa man. Authorities Saturday night (8/15) said Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted by officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), arrested  29-year old Allan Michael Dean Schwidder, of Emmetsburg. He was taken into custody at a location in Lake Park, Iowa, and transported to the Palo Alto County Jail, without incident. Schwidder’s cash-only bond was set at $1-million dollars. He remains in the jail while awaiting his initial court appearance.

His arrest stems from an investigation into a report made 1:16-p.m.  July 22nd by a passer-by,  of a possible body found in Virgin Lake, south of Ruthven. When authorities arrived, the body was seen 25-feet off shore. The Iowa DCI was called-in, and the body transported to the State Medical Examiner’s (ME’s) Office, in Ankeny. The person was later identified as 27-year old Rollin J. Bontrager, of Washington, Iowa.

On July 31st, search warrants were executed at two residences in Emmetsburg. Three vehicles were also searched. Numerous items were seized and will be analyzed. Agencies that assisted in the investigation include: The Iowa DCI; Iowa DNR; Palo Alto County Coroner; Palo Alto County Conservation; The Iowa ME’s Office; Emmett and Clay County Sheriffs’ Offices; Emmetsburg and Spencer Police Departments, and the Iowa DCI Crime Scene Unit.

Anyone with information concerning the incident is encouraged to contact the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office at 712-852-3535.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people have been arrested in Des Moines after fleeing from police in a stolen car and taking refuge in a house with one of their children inside. Des Moines Police Department spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said the car was reported stolen 9 a.m. Saturday. The owner later spotted the vehicle, leading to a chase on Interstate 235, The Des Moines Register reports.

Police called off the pursuit due to reckless driving. But Parizek said someone spotted the vehicle coming back into the city and followed it until it was abandoned. The two suspects then ran into a nearby home, where the 13-year-old child of one of the suspects wasn’t allowed to leave for about an hour. The two suspects were taken into custody around 12:30 p.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The derecho that caused massive damage in Iowa this past week could offer lessons for forecasters and the public. The unusual storm packed the power of a category 3 hurricane but lacked the days of warning a typical hurricane offers. At least three people in Iowa and one in Indiana were killed. Forecasters had predicted thunderstorms and in some communities tornado sirens sounded before the winds began. But many people were caught off guard.

The National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working on tools that would assist forecasters in making predictions that consider a range of possibilities.

w/ Chris Parks

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Two sheriff’s deputies were injured during a pursuit Thursday night. The Iowa State Patrol reports 22-year old Mills County Deputy Jacob Spunagle was actively pursuing a suspect vehicle northbound on 357th Street at around 9:17-p.m. As he approached the curve for Epperson Avenue, due to heavy gravel dust, the 2019 Dodge Charger Spunagle was driving left the road to the left and came to rest in a farm field. Deputy Spunagle was transported by Silver City Rescue to the UNMC in Omaha.

At about the same time and location, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy, 25-year old Andrew Askey, crashed the 2018 Dodge Charge he was driving, at the same location, also due to heavy gravel dust obscuring his vision. The Deputy was transported by Red Oak Rescue to the UNMC, also.

Both Deputies were wearing their seat belts.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she’ll be submitting the paperwork Monday for a FEDERAL disaster declaration for areas of the state that have been devastated by last Monday’s derecho. “There’s criteria that you have to make, so we’ve got people doing surveillance,” Reynolds says. “…Realistically, by the time we collect the information, that’s just how long it’s going to take.”

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Joyce Flinn says civil air patrol planes were in the air Friday afternoon, helping to chart the damage.  “They’re flying several of the county areas to do GIS mapping of debris piles because one of things we have to do is give the federal government an idea of the magnitude of the disaster,” Flinn says. “We have estimates from utility companies. We’re verifying those and there is detailed information that has to go into that process.”

Governor Reynolds has declared 27 of Iowa’s 99 counties disaster areas, but neither Reynolds nor Flinn indicated how many of those counties might be included in Monday’s application.  “The governor did ask if I could get this done today. It’s the only time I’ve told her: ‘No.’ We could not get it done this quickly,” Flinn says, “but we’re working on it and we will have a letter prepared for her signature so she can submit that declaration on Monday.”

Flinn and Reynolds spoke early Friday afternoon, at a news conference at the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. Reynolds told reporters she has talked with President Trump earlier this week and with Vice President Pence yesterday (Thursday) to lay the groundwork for a quick response, once the request is formally presented.