An investigation is underway into a single-vehicle, injury accident that took place a little after 11-p.m. Wednesday, near Massena. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, 43-year old Richard Edward Swain, of Massena, was driving a 2000 Ford F-150 pickup northbound on 740th, when he ran the stop sign with Richland Road. The vehicle entered the east ditch and came to rest on the passenger side. Swain was transported by Massena Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Authorities say the truck sustained $2,500 damage.

The Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School District’s Leadership Team has finalized the District’s Return to Learn Plan. According to information posted on the District’s website, and in a letter sent to parents of students in the District, classes will be held (at least for the first few weeks of the school year), on Mondays,Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays with the expectation (but not a requirement) that all students and staff will utilize facial coverings.

Wednesdays will be used to deep clean the building, support those families choosing remote learning, support students who are not engaging or are struggling with the learning, and provide professional learning for staff. Some students may be asked to attend on Wednesdays, but they would be in one-on-one or very small group situations. All students not required to be in school will be learning remotely on Wednesdays.

A vast majority of Exira-EHK District parents have indicated in a survey, that they intend to send their children to school, but home-schooling or, online learning is an option. And, just like with the Griswold School District, there will be a stipulation that those who choose to home-school, must commit for a quarter or a semester. They cannot change plans or move back and forth between on-site and online learning.

A parent meeting will be held late next week. Details with regard to transportation and the cafeteria, as well as large group gatherings involving P-E, Band and Chorus, are still be worked out.

The State of Iowa’s Coronavirus dashboard (as of just before 6-a.m. today, Thursday), shows six more people have died from the virus since Wednesday, and 417 more Iowans have tested positive. The State’s death toll from the virus stands at 814. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is 40,210. The IDPH says 432,834 Iowans have been tested. Of those, 391,132 have tested negative for COVID-19 (an increase of 4,489). Officials said also, 28,854 persons (nearly 250 more than Wednesday) affected by the virus, have recovered from the virus it.

Hospitalization data show: eight more persons with COVID-19 were hospitalized, for a total of 232; 73 individuals are in an ICU; 33 were admitted, and 32 were on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (southwest/western IA), six people are hospitalized with COVID-19, four are in an ICU, there was one new hospital admission, one person remains on a ventilator.

Long-Term Care (LTC) data show 20 outbreaks, 516 staff/patients have tested positive for the virus, 135 have recovered and 436 have died.

Here is the latest data for confirmed cases and the number of persons recovered from COVID-19, in Cass and surrounding counties, plus any change in the numbers (Highlighted number indicate a change from Wednesday):

• Cass: 30 positive cases, 28 recovered
• Adair: 21 positive cases, 16 recovered
• Adams: 12 cases (recovered data still not available from the IDPH)
• Audubon: 22 cases, (No recovery data available)
• Guthrie: 112 cases, 66 recovered
• Montgomery: 25 cases, 16 recovered
• Pottawattamie: 961 cases, 720 recovered
• Shelby County: 126 cases, 124 recovered