(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the pandemic is putting law officers, paramedics and other first responders at even greater risk as their routine interactions with the public could leave them with a potentially deadly case of COVID-19. Grassley is introducing a bill that would guarantee federal survivor and disability benefits for first responders who are felled by the coronavirus. “It’s nearly impossible to prove that an officer contracted the virus while at work,” Grassley says, “so this bill clarifies that families of officers who die of COVID-19 will be eligible for benefits if the officer was diagnosed within 45 days of his last shift.”

The measure is called the Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act. Grassley says it could go to a vote in the Senate yet this week — which is National Police Week.  “The bill’s a very important bill to help these police officers and first responders just like if they were killed in the line of duty by gunfire, as an example,” he says.

Grassley, a Republican, says the bill recognizes the sacrifice of first responders and provides a measure of certainty when they report to work during the pandemic.

The Guthrie County Department of Public Health today (Tuesday), announced the first death associated with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county. The individual was an elderly adult (81+) and a resident of Guthrie County.  “We want to extend our deepest condolences to the individual’s family,” stated Guthrie County Public Health Director, Jotham Arber. “We are all in this fight together. Guthrie County Public Health and all of our partners continue to work to limit the spread and impact of COVID-19 in our communities.”

All residents should: ▪ Consider the use of cloth face coverings (when practical) if staying at least 6 feet away from others is not possible. ▪ Stay home when even mildly ill (the kind of illness that normally wouldn’t prevent you from your everyday activities). Anyone who is high risk for more severe COVID-19 illness should continue to stay home. ▪ Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm. ▪ Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the county webpage at www.adairguthriecountycovid.org.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held an electronically conducted meeting this (Tuesday) morning, during which they passed an amended Resolution to appoint Phyllis Stakey, of Massena, as Cass County Representative or Commissioner to SIRHA (The Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority). Her three-year term retroactive to April 9, 2020.

The Board also passed a Resolution to change the Federal Functional Classification System on Cass County Roadways (Those near the airport and ethanol plant). It essentially changes the wording on how roads are classified, and affects how funds are used for maintenance of those “Major Collector” roads.There are three main functional classes as defined by the United States Federal Highway Administration: arterial, collector, and local.

The Supervisors then discussed at length and voted 3-2 to adopt a Resolution calling for restricted access to the Cass County Courthouse. The Resolution makes the courthouse accessible to Cass County residents only, and those persons who are court ordered to appear. The resolution is in effect until further notice, as part of the Governor’s State of Emergency pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supervisor’s Baier and Waters voted against the measure.

The Board did agree to strongly encourage persons who come to the courthouse to call ahead for an appointment…to wear a mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19…use e-mail, mail and phone calls for as much county business as possible, and to check the County’s website for for information.

DES MOINES, Iowa (The Des Moines Register) — A well-known Des Moines real estate developer has pleaded guilty to fraud charges involving the drastic underreporting of the amount he paid for several cars to save himself in registration fees. The Des Moines Register reports that 57-year-old Jeff Young entered written guilty pleas on Friday to five counts of third-degree fraud, an aggravated misdemeanor, and has agreed to pay more than $32,000 in restitution and fees.

The Iowa Department of Transportation says Young underreported the value of five vehicles he bought by a combined $309,400 between May 2017 and September 2019, saving himself $15,500 in registration fees.

MERRILL, Iowa (Sioux City Journal) — Sheriff’s investigators say a man has been found shot to death in a northwestern Iowa home. The Sioux City Journal reports that the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was called to Merrill home late Monday morning for a report of a domestic dispute. Arriving deputies found the man dead inside the home with a gunshot wound. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity. Officials say another man at the home, who also was not named, was arrested.

The suspect is being held at the Plymouth County Jail on suspicion of aggravated domestic abuse assault. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny will perform an autopsy.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 539 more Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19, and 18 more have died. The IDPH says that out 81,288 tests administered, 12,912 are positive for COVID-19 (1 out of every 242 per capita), an increase of 1.4%.  289 people have died, to date. No new, LTC facility outbreaks were reported over the past 24-hours.

The RMCC database shows: 394 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19; 143 are in an ICU; 28 were admitted over the past 24-hours, and 5,618 are recovering. Contrary to her statement Monday about announcing changes in restrictions on Iowans’ businesses and activities, Governor Kim Reynolds said today she would delay that announcement until Wednesday, instead.

(She says her team, the administration and IDPH are still reviewing information, and that her decision will be made by carefully, and driven by data.)

Reynolds said the restrictions reduced for some businesses as well as churches, are cautiously being followed by those businesses and churches.

She said “Many are taking extra time to make sure that they are ready to safely serve their customers and communities.”

(She said “lifting restrictions is not a mandate, that businesses must re-open, but for those that are ready, it’s an opportunity to get back to business, bring employees back to work, and get Iowa’s economy moving ahead.”)

Three people were arrested Sunday afternoon, in Thurman. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 42-year old Matthew Demorest, 38-year old Pamela Demorest, and 22-year old Dakota Moss, all of Thurman, were taken into custody following a call at around 2:40-p.m., about a large disturbance at Main and Filmore, in Thurman. Authorities say a large group of people had gathered in the street and a physical confrontation broke out.

Dakota Moss

Pamela Demorest

Matthew Demorest

An onlooker videoed the altercation and three arrests for Disorderly Conduct Fighting in Public, were made at the scene. The incident remains under investigation with more arrests possible. All three bonded out after posting the three-hundred-dollar cash bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Sunday, of 33-year old Jana Lynn Gray, from Sidney. Gray was arrested following a disturbance in the 1000 block of Cass Street in Sidney.

Jana Gray

Her arrest stemmed from a call at around 3:30-p.m., about a female that was being belligerent. During the investigation Gray was arrested of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Assault of a Law Enforcement Officers with no Injuries.

She was taken to the Fremont County Jail and bonded out after post the one-thousand-dollar cash or surety bond.

(Update!) Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Tuesday press conference on COVID-19. We will provide live audio of the presser on KJAN as well. The press conference is set to begin at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold a session via YouTube, Wednesday evening. At 6-p.m., the Board will enter into an Exempt session to discuss strategy matters relating to the employment conditions of employees not covered by the collective bargaining law, under Iowa Code. The exempt session will not be open to the public, and therefore not viewable on YouTube, but the regular meeting to follow WILL be available immediately following the conclusion of the exempt session. School officials say if you are planning to view the meeting on YouTube (https://youtu.be/pZ21qb9sEc4), please stand by for the regular meeting to begin after the exempt session.

During the Board’s regular meeting, they are expected to take action on the resignations of: Alex Bales – HS Teacher/Speech Coach/Fall Play Director; Emily Krummel – MS Teacher; Hillary Zimmerline – MS Teacher/MS Volleyball Coach; Derek Hall – Freshman Football Coach, and Macie Harringa – MS Cross Country Coach. They will also act on contract recommendations for: Mary McBride – Special Education Teacher (Link Center), and, Sarah Rose – MS/HS Guidance Counselor.

The Atlantic School Board is also expected to discuss: a Facility Project Update; a report on the 2018-19 Audit, and, Return To Learn/Return to Open. Action items include (But are not limited to the following):

• Approval of the 2018-19 Audit report
• A June 2021 Out-of-State trip by Middle School Students, to Washington, D.C., under the guidance of Mr. Paul McKay. The trip is taken every other year, and includes several points of interest, a tour of Capital Hill, and more, with the idea of reinforcing things they have studied in history.
• The Board will act on 2020-21 Student Fees. No changes will be made except to the Adult Lunch Prices, which are regulated by the Federal Government, and requires the price to be increased 10 cents, from $3.75 to $3.85.
• The Board will act to approve a 2020-21 AEA Purchasing Agreement, which allows the district continued participation in the AEA cooperative purchasing program for school food service and other purchasing opportunities.
• Other action items include: An agreement with Children’s Square/Heartland Family Service Consortium for 2020-21; An 80/20 Transportation Director Sharing Agreement with the Griswold School District; Approval of 2020-21 Sponsors/Contracts & Winter Sports Coaching Contracts; Milk, Bread and Waste Management bids.

Following their regular meeting, the Atlantic School Board will enter into a closed session for the Superintendent’s Annual Evaluation.