(Radio Iowa) — A new report shows more than 150-thousand Americans died from alcohol, drugs and suicide combined in 2018, though Iowa’s numbers fell slightly that year. John Auerbach, president and C-E-O of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Trust for America’s Health, says efforts in Iowa to cut prescription opioid abuse must be working along with other prevention methods.

Auerbach says, “In Iowa, there was about a five-percent reduction in overall deaths from the combination of alcohol, drugs and suicide during 2018, compared to 2017.” While the number of deaths in Iowa dropped overall, some individual areas saw gradual increases, much like the rest of the country. “There were a few areas of concern in Iowa,” Auerbach says. “Suicides were up two-percent and we also saw an increase of four-percent in deaths from methamphetamines and other psychostimulants.”

The pandemic we’re enduring now has the potential to significantly worsen those trends, as he says major disasters often lead to an increase in mental health and substance use disorders. “With COVID-19, there is the trauma associated with the 92,000 deaths already and deaths continue to increase every day,” Auerbach says, “as well as with the economic and social impact of the pandemic.” Given the increase in social isolation and the unprecedented loss of jobs and income, his organization advocates expanding efforts to address stress, finding more ways to help people cope with crisis and to prevent more despair and deaths.

“We need to work on access to care,” Auerbach says. “We know that if you have health insurance and if your care provider includes ready access to behavioral health services, you’re much less likely to die from one of these causes.” Researchers also expect to see a rise in cases of domestic violence and child abuse during the pandemic. See the full report at the website of Trust for America’s Health at TFAH.org.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports two white females in their 20s-30s were trying to use a KANSAS CITY BENEFIT credit card in Audubon, to purchase goods.  The card was flagged as STOLEN.

Both women are wearing hoodies (one black and one gray) and shorts. One female has black hair with purple highlights. The other has blondish-brown hair with blonde streaks. One of the women weighs about 200 pounds, the other around 160.

They have two small children with them around the ages of 4 or 6. No vehicle information was available as of 2:50-p.m. IF YOU SEE THESE WOMEN, PLEASE CONTACT THE AUDUBON SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT 563-2631

Thank you.

The VFW’s Memorial Day Services at Oaklawn Cemetery have been cancelled. Members of the VFW are still placing flags on grave sites and will be raising the flag at 11:00am on Memorial Day. If you would like to watch the flag go up at the cemetery, please stay in your vehicle to do so.

MONTGOMERY – Montgomery County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Stephanie Burke said today (Thursday), she has set only two polling locations that will be open on June 2 for the 2020 Primary Election. Burke said Montgomery County traditionally has 7 locations available for the Primary Election, but that number has been reduced to only two locations.

Those voters that usually vote at the Elliott Community Building, Red Oak First Christian Church and the Red Oak Fire Station will be voting at the Red Oak Gold Fair Building. Any voters that vote at the Grant Fire Station and the Villisca Community Room will now be voting at the Stanton Fire Station. Burke said the inconvenience is expected to be minor and emphasized this is a temporary move just for this Primary Election due to COVID-19.

Burke added that other precautions besides social distancing will be implemented for the safety of the poll workers.  Auditor Burke also is reminding people to return their absentee ballot. “We still have ballots out there that need to be returned to the Auditor’s office.” A mailed ballot must be postmarked on or before Monday, June 1 or it will not be counted. “Ballots can also be put in the courthouse drop box,” Burke said.

Curbside absentee voting at the courthouse is available. “We are asking voters to park in the courthouse parking lot in the reserved voting spots. They will need to call when they arrive, and we will go to their vehicle.” Ballots may be voted there from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. through Monday, June 1. Voting will be open until 5:00 p.m. on May 29, and also from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.

For more information about the 2020 Primary Election, call 623-5127, follow Montgomery County Auditor & Elections Facebook page or visit www.montgomerycountyiowa.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Fewer people filed for unemployment last week in Iowa compared to the week prior, but remained historically elevated as the country deals with the economic fallout of coronavirus pandemic. A report released Thursday the by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed 13,040 new claims filed between May 10 and May 16. That was drop from the previous week, when 16,735 people filed unemployment claims in Iowa. Officials say more than 187,000 have filed for unemployment since the outbreak began, and nearly $51 million in unemployment insurance benefits has been paid out. Those industries with the most claims last week included manufacturing, which saw nearly 4,700 claims, health care and social assistance, with 1,216 claims and retail, with 827.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced an expansion of the TestIowa.Com COVID-19 testing, to include anyone who wishes to be tested. Previously, the  website focused on testing for the “essential work force” (health care providers, EMS and others in the health or emergency services field.).

In addition, Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebow confirmed school districts and non-public schools may begin offering summer learning activities for students, effective June 1st.

Other activities, including some related to sports, remain on hold for another month.

Lebow said COVID-19 mitigation efforts will still be in effect for those districts that chose to hold summer activites in-person, as opposed to on-line.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of bankers in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states inched upward in May from April’s record low, but still remained profoundly low as efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the rural economy. The overall index for the region rose slightly to 12.5 from April’s record low of 12.1. Any score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says nearly three of every four bankers surveyed reported restructuring farm loans to deal with weak farm income. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education held an electronic meeting today (Thursday),and approved a proposal for retaining wall over-excavation at the Trojan Bowl. According to Tim Veach with FRK Architects, soil tests from Certified Testing Service, Inc., of Storm Lake, showed inadequate capacity at multiple locations. Superintendent Steve Barber said the district knew early on that there was a problem, but they didn’t know the scope of the remediation and cost.

CTS said the foundation area for the retaining wall requires 3,500 pounds per square foot (Psf). Several tests performed resulting in the soil failing to meet the project requirements. CTS had recommended the removal of one foot of material and replacing it with one-inch of crushed gravel compacted to 98% of the optimum daily density per regulations. Central Iowa Dirt Works’ bid of $44,911.77, which includes the use of machinery, a GPS Technician, supplies and trucking to the site. Their bid noted a soil tester must be on-site for the duration of the backfill/compaction process.

Steve Barber said the cost could go up, but there’s hope it will go down, too, especially with after Engineer Dave Sturm said there may be cost-saving options available.

Using a formula whereby 68% of the would be used, the cost savings would amount to a savings of around $20,000. Project Liaison Bob Sweeney acknowledged the project came back more expensive than expected.

Sweeney said he would be disappointed and mad, if the costs came in at $42,000 or more.