(Radio Iowa) – The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports most state employees will pay slightly higher monthly premiums next year if they get their health insurance through the State of Iowa. Officials expect 54-thousand state employees and their eligible dependents to be covered by one of two plans offered by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Under one option, called Iowa Choice, an employee will start paying seven percent of the premium costs for an individual plan next year and 10 percent of the premium for a family plan. Under the National Choice plan, a state employee will start paying 15 percent of the premium on an individual policy. The cost for a family plan under the National Choice option will remain the same, with an employee paying 17 percent of the monthly premium.

The Gazette reports the state Executive Council approved the higher premium costs on a two-to-one vote. State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald voted no. He objected to having employees pay more for their health care benefits in a year when families are trying to navigate the pandemic.

Atlantic Fire responded to a house fire in Atlantic at about 1:20 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The fire was being battled at 311 Cedar Street. No further details are known at this time.

Photos Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday) discussed at length the matter of speed limits to and from the new Schildberg rock quarry located south/southwest of Atlantic (including a portion of 620th Street).  Two of the three county residents who attended last week’s Supervisor’s meeting, were present to learn what the county intends to do to try to mitigate the roadway safety issues associated with increased truck traffic to and from the quarry south of Atlantic. After considerable discussion, including a report from County Engineer Trent Wolken, who suggested a 45-mph speed limit on certain roads near the quarry, the Board’s consensus was to take action and establish a lower speed limit on the roadway designated as hauling routes (40 mph) and to place additional signage.  A resolution will be considered at next session.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports the State allocation for Cass County from the CARES Fund was a maximum of $162,734.90 for COVID-19 related expenses.  On September 8th, the board adopted resolution to request reimbursement, subject to establishing the amount to be requested.  In a webinar on Sept. 9th, it was learned that the State is permitting the full allocation to be requested with the submission of the first claim.  The Board passed a resolution by Cass County to request reimbursement for eligible costs related to the COVID-19 public health emergency from the Iowa COVID-19 Government Relief Fund.

Sunderman also presented an Urban Renewal report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.  Local governments are required to complete and submit an annual report showing all TIF activity within each of their urban renewal areas during the preceding fiscal year..  Cass County had one active area: the 2017 Cass County Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area.  Sunderman reports $2.848-million of the original debt (bonds and loans) was outstanding as of July 1st, 2019.  The only interest was paid was in FY2020.  Collection of TIF revenues begin in FY21.  July 31, 2020 ending URA/TIF fund balances were a combined total of slightly less than $30,080.

Atlantic, IA — Atlantic Medical Center, RHC is offering flu shots through a by-appointment drive-thru service this fall. CCHS Chief Clinic Administrator Tammy Bireline says “We’re trying hard to keep our patients and staff healthy by practicing social distancing whenever possible” Bireline adds, “We know that the waiting area by our Immunization Room can become congested during the fall when we have lots of patients here for their annual flu vaccine, which is why we’re encouraging people to take advantage of appointments at our drive-thru clinic instead.”

Appointments are available on the following dates:

• Wednesday, September 16 from 2 to 6 pm
• Friday, September 18 from 8 am to noon
• Monday, September 21 from 8 am to noon
• Wednesday, September 23 from 2 to 6 pm
• Friday, September 25 from 8 am to noon
• Monday, October 12 from 8 am to noon
• Wednesday, October 14 from 2 to 6 pm
• Friday, October 16 from 8 am to noon

Appointments for drive-thru flu shots can be made by calling 712-243-2850. Patients will be registered and give a verbal consent over the phone prior to their appointment. The flu shot drive-thru is behind the 1500 East 10th building, where the current Test Iowa drive-thru is located.

The CAM School Board met Monday evening, and heard from shared Superintendent Paul Croghan, with regard to an extension of the Summer Lunch Program. Late last month, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will extend several flexibilities through as late as December 31, 2020. The flexibilities allow summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children into the fall months. The unprecedented move will help ensure – no matter what the situation is on-the-ground – children have access to nutritious food as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Croghan said the move helps parents and the District, alike.

In other business, the CAM School Board approved the Homecoming Highway Relay.

Croghan says the Cross County students participating in the event will be safe thanks to the efforts of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

The CAM School Board approved the 2018-19 Audit report, Monday, and contracts for a few individuals, including a couple Bus Drivers and a fill-in Guidance Counselor.

Police in Stuart today (Tuesday), arrested 43-year old Shane Edwin Davis, of Stuart, on numerous charges. At around 12:30-a.m., Stuart Police Officer Shane Martinson saw a vehicle on East Front Street with a taillight out or very dim. When a traffic stop was attempted, Davis made a U-turn and drove past the officer in the opposite direction. A second U-turn was made and the vehicle headed the opposite direction, again.

A pursuit ensued, with speeds of up to 100-mph. During the chase Davis turned off his lights and drove on the wrong side of the road. When the pursuit ended in Redfield, Davis got out of the vehicle and began to walk away. At that point, Officer Martinson drew his service weapon and ordered Davis to get on the ground. Davis complied and was taken into custody. He told the Officer that he ran because he did not have a driver’s license. Further investigation recovered a broken glass pipe on Davis’ person, and an orange smoking device in his car, along with a pack of cigarettes that contained another glass pipe.

Davis was transported to the Guthrie County Jail and charged with Eluding, Driving while Barred, Reckless Driving, Possession Drug Paraphernalia, and with four traffic citations.  He was being held at the Guthrie County Jail while awaiting his initial appearance.

A tip to the Worth County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department has resulted in the discovery woman’s body. Melissa Chapman, from Grant City, went missing on or about August 23rd.  Her vehicle was found in Mount Ayr, with her cell phone found inside the vehicle. The Creston (Iowa) Police Department has said Chapman was a long-term Creston resident. The Worth County Prosecutor’s Office reports her body was found Monday outside of Grant City, MO., in Worth County, after the tip was received at around 5-p.m., Monday. Authorities say a suspect is in custody, and homicide investigation underway at this time. Chapman had been set to testify against a man who allegedly beat and threatened to kill her.

Chapman was scheduled to testify in a criminal case against Jeremiah Searles, in Harrison County, Missouri. Records show Searles is charged with domestic assault and kidnapping from an incident in March. A Criminal Complaint alleges Searles had grabbed Chapman by the throat during the incident, and threatened to kill her. He also allegedly threw her nine-year old son down and held him down, when the child attempted to get Searles to stop hitting Chapman. Searles is alleged to have held her captive for about three-hours, refusing to give the woman her car keys or phone. He was also said to have blocked the door, preventing her from leaving.

Reports says Searles was released by the court in June, after posting a $1,000 bond. His trial was set for November. Searles…who has at least four convictions on various charges…faces a sex offender registry charge. Searles reportedly led authorities to the woman’s body, He was being held in the Harrison County, MO., Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest Iowa Association of Business and Industry survey shows a positive outlook for the fourth quarter while concerns about the pandemic still linger. A-B-I president, Mike Ralston, says he was surprised by the continued optimism. “Most A-B-I members expect to have their sales expand or at the very worst stay the same in the fourth quarter. That’s about 90 percent answer that way — almost 50 percent of them expect to see increased sales — so that’s pretty good news,” Ralston says.

He says 53 percent expect the number of employees in their business to stay the same and 37 percent expect that number to grow. Ralston says the confidence comes with the experience they’ve gained in already dealing with the pandemic.  “If we dig deeper into some of these results — people are saying they’ve identified new supply chains, new partners — that’s led to increased markets and they’ve been able to adapt and grow,” according to Ralston. “They didn’t necessarily think that would be the case, but that’s exactly what has happened.”

He says there have been some new issues that come up regarding concern for employees. Ralston says they survey comments say they are worried about their employees in a couple of ways, with the first being the employee health related to the COVID pandemic. A second concern was the stress as employees tried to take care of their families. “Keeping their family healthy. What about their kids in school, how does that work? Childcare issues are something that we continue to see,” Ralston explains.

He says the closing of schools and childcare’s because of the pandemic puts a lot of pressure on workers. “Parents want to make sure their kids are safe and that they are learning — especially if it’s a single-parent home — they really have to decide do I go to work today or do I stay home with my kids. So, it’s a real issue,” Ralston says. He says finding employees to fill jobs continues to be an issue. Another thing Ralston says surprised him in the survey is the lack of mention of the November elections as an issue. “Not a single person raised the election as an issue,” Ralston says. “I think that if you talk to most Iowa business people, they’re concerned with running their business, they’re concerned with keeping production going and getting the product to the customer. So, while they are interested in the election, it’s not their day-to-day focus.”

A-B-I has 15-hundred member companies in all 99 counties and those companies have more than 330-thousand employees.

Atlantic, IA – SHIFT ATL, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, will host their second annual Turkey Trot in Atlantic on Thursday, November 26th, beginning at 8:00 a.m. This year’s event will have both an
in-person and virtual option to participate.

The in-person event will include a 5K route and 1-mile route option, both leaving the The Depot, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Attendees can grab some warm eats and drinks from inside the Chamber meeting room post-race.  Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place for both male and female runners for the 5K. Additionally, each adult participant and each child participant will be placed into a drawing to win a free pair of shoes from Brown Shoe Fit in Atlantic.

The virtual event will be held Wednesday, November 25 – Saturday, November 28, 2020. Participants can go run a 5K route of their choice, and then submit their time results to SHIFT
ATL via their Facebook page (facebook.com/shiftatl) or through the results form on their website at shiftatl.org/turkeytrot.

Cost to register is $15, with the option to add on various race-day gear including a t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, sweatshirt and/or stocking hat. Orders including any of these items need to be
submitted by Friday, October 30th. Registration for just the race will continue until the day of the event. SHIFT ATL hopes to have a few shirts and hats left over for purchase the day of, but no
guarantees. To get registered, visit getmeregistered.com/AtlanticTurkeyTrot or shiftatl.org/turkeytrot to view full event details.

Funds raised during the event will be directed towards SHIFT ATL’s overall goal of community and economic development for the Atlantic area.