ALTOONA, Iowa — Prairie Meadows in Altoona announced Friday it is resuming its mask mandate. The casino and race track facility said effective Aug. 1 at 8 a.m., all guests and employees must wear a face mask or covering while on property.“Prairie Meadows will continue to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” the casino said through a news release. Prairie Meadows said 100% of the indoor air is exchanged every 15 minutes through a two-stage filtration process that includes an anti-microbial treatment.

High-grade disinfectants and electrostatic sprayers are used on a rigorous cleaning schedule to sanitize the property daily. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance on Tuesday to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors when in areas with “substantial” and “high” transmission of COVID-19, which includes nearly two-thirds of all U.S. counties.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of a fallen Pearl Harbor sailor being returned home. U.S. Navy Hospital Apprentice First Class John Mulick was killed at Pearl Harbor during World War II. After 80 years, he will return home to Elma to be laid to rest. Reynolds has ordered flags be lowered to half staff today (Saturday), from sunrise to sunset. The graveside service is being held at 11 a.m. today (Saturday) at Calvary Cemetery in Elma.

Firefighters from Cumberland and Massena were paged-out to a residence in Massena early this (Saturday) morning, after the home was struck by lightning. The first page went out at around 2:45-a.m., after the house at 88 E. Cedar Street was hit. The residents reported smoke, but no flames.

Additional information is currently not available.

Severe thunderstorms brought intense wind, rain and in some cases large hail to parts of southwest Iowa, Friday night. According to the National Weather Service in Omaha:

• 8:30-p.m.: Public reports of large trees down and corn flattened 3 miles east of Oakland (Pott. County)
• At around 8:25-pm, a trained storm spotter reported several trees 1-to 2 feet in diameter were down In Hancock (Pottawattamie County), and Emergency Management reported powerlines were down off 380th Street 5 miles w/sw of Hancock.
• At around 8:28-pm, estimated thunderstorms winds of up to 60 mph were reported by a spotter in Hancock, along with Ping-Pong ball size hail (1.5″ in diameter).
• There was a multi-vehicle crash reported on I-80 near Shelby. 511IA reports as of 9:25-p.m., oth east and westbound lanes were blocked. Semi’s were overturned and vehicles were off the road due to high wind and heavy rain. Avoid the area!
• 7:55-pm: Outbuildings damaged and trees down in Persia (Harrison County)

Healthy Cass County is showing up at the Cass County Fair in a big way this year. Healthy Cass County is co-hosting multiple booths in the Commercial Buildings of the Cass County Fair from Friday, July 30th, through Monday, August 2nd. Together with Cass County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and PROSPER, Healthy Cass County is co-hosting a large booth on Mental Wellbeing. Mental Health was identified as the number one health need in Cass County in the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, taken by over 470 people from across the county. The mental wellbeing booth is designed to help people learn about how to take care of their own mental wellbeing and support friends and community members when they face challenges. The booth provides information on resources available to people in Cass County, and offers giveaways designed to help people relax.

Healthy Cass County logo

In addition to the mental wellbeing booth, Healthy Cass County is co-hosting another booth in the commercial building sharing information on resources in Cass County including food programs such as Grow Another Row and Cass County food pantries, as well as West Central Community Action programs including Head Start, childcare resources, and more.
COVID-19 Vaccines Available at Fair On Saturday, July 31, a nurse will be offering free COVID-19 vaccines at the Healthy Cass County booth in the commercial building from 4:00-6:00 PM. No pre-registration is required, and walk-ups are welcome.

The vaccines offered at the fair booth will be Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which require only one shot and are available for people age 18 and over. The Healthy Cass County booth is also providing information on where to find COVID-19 tests and vaccines in Cass County for people age 12 and older. Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network that promotes the health and wellbeing of Cass County residents. Healthy Cass County welcomes participants from across the county. For information on community wellness events or resources, follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty. Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more information.

Atlantic Middle School (AMS) Principal Josh Rasmussen, Friday (today) sent to the local media (including KJAN), pictures of the damage caused by Tuesday’s fire and the copious amount of water used to fight the flames and save the building. Superintendent Steve Barber said the building will not be open for students when classes begin on August 23rd. Administrators are currently working through the process of placing students, but one thing is clear according to Barber: remote learning is not an option being considered.

Officials are weighing where to place the 330 students and 50 staff. Transportation, food service, technology, and maintenance will also be taken into consideration when they decide on where to house the displaced students. Mr. Barber says 80-85-percent of the building has minimal to severe damage, leaving about 15-percent of the building untouched. First Onsite Restoration arrived on scene Thursday morning, and by Monday, two crews of 30 working eight-hour shifts will be working inside the building. Restoration crews will heat the building to 100-degrees, along with de-humidifiers.