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Iowa COVID-19 update for 12/2/20: 22 additional deaths (1 in Cass Co.); hospitalizations fall again; 2,961+ new cases

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Iowa’s Coronavirus dashboard today (10-a.m., Wednesday), indicates there are 2,964 new, Positive cases of COVID-19, and 22 additional deaths. The total number of Positive cases since the beginning of the pandemic, amount to 233,866. Deaths total 2,449. The IDPH says one more death was reported in Cass County, for a total of 24, and in Pottawattamie County, where the total number of deaths stands at 71. Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities report 1,075 deaths, and deaths attributed in-part to preexisting conditions number 1,337.

After increasing for a day, hospitalizations fell from 1,172 Tuesday to 1,162, today. Health officials say 226 COVID patients are in an ICU (Compared to 235 Tuesday), 181 were admitted (Compared to 129 Tuesday), and 131 patients are on a ventilator. Hospitals in southwest/western Iowa (RMCC Region 4) report: 62 hospitalized;  20 are in an ICU; four were admitted, and eight COVID patients are on a ventilator.

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks are up to a record, 163. The IDPH says 5,105 patients/staff have tested positive; 2,265 have tested negative. Area LTC data show: 214 positive cases and 132 recoveries at the three facilities in Cass County; 113 positive and 23 recovered in Shelby County (2 facilities); 139 positive and 120 recovered in Harrison County (1 facility); and 235 positive cases along with 89 recoveries at three LTC’s in Pottawattamie County.

Iowans who have recovered from the virus number 142,249, while 1,222,572 have been tested, to-date. There were 5,593 lab results returned yesterday, with 4,377 negative results and 1,154 positive. The individual positivity rate is 19.1%, and the 14-day rolling average is down from 17.1 to 16.9%. Cass County’s positivity rate is down from 18.4 to 16.8%. A total of 986, 510 negative results have been returned since the pandemic began.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases in each county, along with the 24-hour change in case numbers {+#}; the number of persons recovered, and the total number of [deaths] (if any), since the pandemic began,

  • Cass, 825 cases {+5}; 527 recovered; 24 deaths
  • Adair, 445 {+3}; 253; 8
  • Adams, 177 {+6}; 93; 2
  • Audubon, 302 {+2}; 214; 2
  • Guthrie, 768 {+4); 473; 15
  • Harrison County, 1,106 {+19}; 757; 30
  • Madison County, 713 {+18}; 425; 4
  • Mills County, 1,078 {+14}; 556; 7
  • Montgomery, 491 {+8}; 238; 11
  • Pottawattamie County, 6,573 {+128]; 3,804; 71
  • Shelby County, 784 {+11}; 471; 11
  • Union County,  808 {+26}; 317; 6

Posted in News |

MARGARET A. ANDERSEN, 81, of Brayton (Graveside Svcs. 12/4/20)

Obituaries

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

MARGARET A. ANDERSEN, 81, of Brayton, died Monday, Nov. 30th, at the Exira Care Center. Graveside funeral services for MARGARET ANDERSEN will be held 1:30-p.m. Friday, Dec. 4th, at St. John’s Cemetery, west of Exira. Kessler Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

Viewing will be available at the funeral home from Noon until 8-p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3rd, with a Prayer service at 6-p.m. Masks will be required for the viewing and graveside service, and social distancing will be observed.

MARGARET ANDERSEN is survived by:

Her daughters – Julie Paulsen, Tammy Paulsen-Clark & husband Bill, and Sally Smith, all of Exira.

Her sons – Rex Andersen, of Brayton; Jim (Bobbi) Andersen, of Exira; and Richard D. Andersen, of IN.

Her sisters – Nancy (Tom) Wills, of Council Bluffs; Donna Cline, of Iowa City, and Cathy Zimmerman, of Columbus, NE.

Numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her in-laws, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

DOLORES “Dee” AAGAARD, 93, of Coralville & formerly of Audubon (Private family Svcs.)

Obituaries

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DOLORES “Dee” AAGAARD, 93, of Coralville (& formerly of Audubon), died Sunday, Nov. 29th, at Lantern Park Specialty Care, in Coralville. Private family funeral services will be held for DEE AAGAARD, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements. (Dee’s service will not be livestreamed; however, there will be a recording taken, and it will be posted on the funeral home’s Facebook page within 24 hours of the service being held.)

A viewing will be available from 9-a.m. until 4-p.m. Friday, Dec. 4th, at the funeral home. The family will not be present at the viewing, but masks will be required for entering.

Burial is in the Maple Grover Cemetery in Audubon.

The family suggests memorials to Lantern Park Specialty Care, (2200 Oakdale Road, Coralville, Iowa 52241), Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, (326 Leroy Street, Audubon, Iowa 50025) or University of Minnesota Foundation, Alzheimer’s Research Fund (13414), (200 Oak Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455).

DOLORES “Dee” AAGAARD is survived by:

Her sons – Jeff (Cathy) Aagaard, of West Des Moines; Jon (Faith) Aagaard, of Wheaton, Illinois, and Jim (Pam) Aagaard, of Edina, Minnesota.

Her daughter – Julie (Jim) Holte, of Coralville.

15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; as well as many cousins and nieces.

Posted in Obituaries |

2 from Villisca arrested on drug charges early Wed. morning

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop at around 1:50-a.m. today (Wednesday), in Red Oak, resulted in two people being arrested on drug charges. Red Oak Police stopped a vehicle near Summit and Boundary Streets, and after an investigation, arrested 53-year old Charles Samuel Williams, of Villisca, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 55-year old Stephanie Lee Hightshoe, also of Villisca, was arrested on three counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs and possession of paraphernalia. Both were being held in the Montgomery County Jail, with bonds set at $300 and $1,000, respectively.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in the arrests.

Posted in News |

November temperatures were 5 degrees above normal in Iow

News, Weather

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa/KJAN) – State Climatologist Justin Glisan says preliminary data shows a statewide average of two inches of precipitation fell in Iowa last month. While that’s exactly what’s average for November, Glisan says precipitation amounts were far below average in northwest Iowa. “We saw precipitation departures of anywhere from one to two inches,” Glisan says. That means some areas of northwest Iowa, where there are drought conditions, recorded little, if any precipitation last month. On the flip side, south central and south east Iowa were much wetter.

“We kind of had the storm track locked on that part of the state,” he says. “That’s where we saw the largest positive departures, anywhere from 1.5 to 2 inches.” That means some pockets of southern Iowa had twice as much rain as average. Glisan says due to a lack of precipitation over the past three to six months, a few counties in northwest iowa are in extreme drought.

“You can kind of cut Iowa in half, typically right down I-35. Anywhere east of that we’re above average precipitation wise and anywhere west of that we’re below average and that’s where we see…abnormally dry conditions all the way to the extreme drought conditions up in that northwest corner.”

Weather during the month of November here in Atlantic, was warmer and drier than normal. Data compiled at the KJAN studios (The OFFICIAL National Weather Service reporting/record keeping site for Atlantic), show the Average High for the month was 56 (55.8), which was a full 10-degrees above normal. The Average Low was 27.3, which is nearly one-tenth of a degree above normal. Rain and melted snowfall for the month amounted to 1.76 inches, which is nearly one-tenth of an inch below average.  Snowfall amounted to just one-half of an inch.

During the month of December, in Atlantic, the Average High is 32.9-degrees, the Average Low is 14.4, and rain/melted snow typically amounts to 1.11-inches. Check the Weather Page Jan. 1st, to see how our stats this month compare to the records.

Based on astronomy, winter starts on December 21st, but based on climatology and meteorology, December 1st is the first day of winter. Glison says that means the drought conditions are likely to persist. “Drier soils will freeze faster and they’ll freeze deeper,” Glisan says. “If we get into a cold period in which we dip below freezing for a good amount of time and the soils freeze, any precipitation in the form of rain or snowfall getting into a melt period will not infiltrate into that soil very deep, if at all.” The other factor is subsoil moisture is depleted, especially in western Iowa. Temperatures in Iowa averaged five degrees above normal for the month of November.

“Typically when we do see warmer temperatures along with these windy days that we’ve had, especially in November, that produces atmospheric demand for water vapor,” Glisan says. And that exacerbated evaporation of what moisture there had been in the soil. Glisan says the short term outlook is for warmer and drier than normal conditions in December for the western three quarters of the United States.

Posted in News, Weather |

State officials updating list of impaired lakes, ponds, rivers and streams

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A draft list from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources indicates 750 segments of lakes, rivers and streams in Iowa are impaired due to pollution and are not suitable for at least one of its intended uses, like swimming or as a source of drinking water. Ken Krier, a D-N-R environmental specialist, describes Iowa’s water quality as stable.

“I don’t know if we can really point to one direction or the other,” he says. “You know, last cycle from 2016-2018, there was a 2% increase and we’re at a 2% decrease this cycle.” The state is required by federal law to update the list of impaired waters every two years. This is the first time in more than two decades there’s been a decrease in the total number of bodies of water classified as impaired.

Alicia Vasto of the Iowa Environmental Council says with hundreds of bodies of water still on the impaired list, state officials must establish regulations that limit pollution. “We believe that the voluntary approach that the state is taking to water quality is not sufficient,” she says. The list is a draft and Iowans may submit written comments to the D-N-R about the list this month, before it’s submitted to federal officials.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Midwest Sports Headlines: 12/2/20

Sports

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette says he knew he messed up when police pulled him over after clocking him driving 74 mph in a 30-mph zone on Nov. 1. He thought his football career was probably over. He was arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated. His career was not over. He’s gotten support from his family, teammates and coaches. He has worked to rebuild their trust. He was suspended one game. For the season, Smith-Marsette has 14 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown for the Hawkeyes.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Christian Bishop scored 18 points to lead six Creighton players in double figures and the ninth-ranked Bluejays routed Omaha 94-67. The Bluejays came out much sharper than in their opener against North Dakota State on Sunday. They shot 61% while bolting to a 50-26 halftime lead. Big East preseason player of the year Marcus Zegarowski made back-to-back 3-pointers near the end of a 27-3 run that broke open the game early. Denzel Mahoney, who sat out the opener because of COVID-19 issues, hit a 3 for Creighton’s first basket and finished with 17 points. Marlon Ruffin scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half to lead the Mavericks.

UNDATED (AP) — The DePaul and Creighton women’s basketball teams have been wearing masks while they are on the court playing this season. DePaul coach Doug Bruno says he took the advice of the school’s medical staff. His 20th-ranked team has played its first two games wearing masks. Masks are not required for college basketball players on the court. Experts say they do not make breathing more difficult. Susan Hopkins, a professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego, says it can take getting used to.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jalen Wilson scored 21 of his career-high 23 points in the second half and posted his first double-double to help No. 7 Kansas get past No. 20 Kentucky 65-62 in the Champions Classic. Wilson grabbed 10 rebounds as the Jayhawks won their second straight since losing to top-ranked Gonzaga in their opener. Ochai Agbaji had 17 points for Kansas. Kentucky was led by Brandon Boston Jr. and Davion Mintz, who each scored 12. Mintz had a chance to tie it with five seconds to go but his 3-pointer was off the mark and Kansas grabbed the rebound.

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Rocket Watts scored 20 points and Julius Marble had a career-high 12 to help No. 8 Michigan State beat No. 6 Duke 75-69 Tuesday night in the Champions Classic. The Spartans trailed by 10 early in the game but closed the first half with a 13-4 surge to take a 37-33 lead at halftime. The Blue Devils rallied late and pulled within five in the final minute.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Left-hander Mike Minor and the Kansas City Royals have finalized an $18 million, two-year deal, reuniting the 32-year-old starter with the club that helped him revive his career. Kansas City is bringing in the 2019 All-Star to boost a rotation that leaned largely on unproven youngsters in 2020. The contract includes a club option for 2023 for $13 million with a $1 million buyout.T he 32-year-old Minor split 2020 between the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics, going 1-6 with a 5.56 ERA and diminished velocity after posting the best numbers of his career a year earlier.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: 12/2/20

News

December 2nd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says there are no plans to use millions of dollars of unused state surplus money to help businesses and families experiencing financial stress due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some other states have approved state funding aid or are considering it. Reynolds said Tuesday there isn’t enough state money. She placed the burden on Congress to reach an agreement. Pubic health data in Iowa shows signs that the coronavirus infection rate is slowing, but the number of people hospitalized and dying with the coronavirus remains high. Iowa reported 24 deaths and 1,906 new confirmed cases Tuesday. Hospitals reported 1,172 patients with the virus.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City police say they are investigating a death inside an apartment used by transients as a homicide. The victim’s body was found Tuesday. Police did not release the gender of the victim, who appeared to have signs of blunt force trauma. The person appeared to have been deceased for a week. A medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death. The apartment is part of a complex where 33-year-old Solomon Blackbird was shot on Nov. 1. He later died. Police say the two deaths do not appear to be related.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man inside a Cedar Rapids home, and a person of interest was being questioned. Police say the shooting happened Monday morning, when officers were called to the home for a report of a shooting. KWWL reports that arriving officers found the body of 24-year-old Charles James Griffin. Police have not released other details of what may have led to the shooting and have not announced any arrests, although a person of interest was questioned.

ODEBOLT, Iowa (AP) — A Texas company has announced it will build a $15 million plant in northwest Iowa that will make environmentally-friendly shipping pallets from corn plant waste, such as stalks, husks and leaves. The Des Moines Register reports that Corn Board Manufacturing will build the 50,000-square-foot plant on 40 acres west of Odebolt in Sac County. The company makes a wood alternative, named CornBoard, from corn stover, the plant debris that’s typically left in the field after a crop is harvested. The company already uses CornBoard to make ski, snow and skateboard equipment under the Stalk It brand name, as well as indoor and outdoor furniture. Company CEO Lane Segerstrom says construction will begin in the spring and the plant will employ up to 30 people.

Posted in News |

Atlantic boys off to quick start with runaway win over Creston

Sports

December 1st, 2020 by admin

The Atlantic boys basketball team didn’t take long to get in a groove for the 2020-21 season. The Trojans jumped on top of Creston 17-4 by the end of the first quarter and never looked back in a 62-36 opening road win. The Trojans led by 14 at halftime and pushed that lead to 25 by the end of the third.

The Trojans shared the ball well and three players finished in double figures, 16 for Skyler Handlos, 14 from Dayton Templeton, and 10 from Garrett Reynolds. The Trojans also did a great job on the boards and limited the Panthers to single shot possessions most of the night.

Creston falls to 0-2 on the season and will next travel to St. Albert next Tuesday.

Atlantic starts of 1-0 and will welcome in Glenwood Friday. We’ll have that game on KJAN and KJANTV.

Watch the full replay of the game HERE.

Posted in Sports |

Atlantic girls fight hard but fall just short against Creston

Sports

December 1st, 2020 by admin

The Atlantic girls basketball team put together a solid outing in their opener and came up two points shy of a rated Creston team 67-65. Atlantic trailed by 9 at the end of the third but rallied back to momentarily take a lead late in the game. Creston got a big late transition bucket from Sam Dunphy to give them the edge. A last second drive and close range shot from Haley Rasmussen was blocked and the Panthers grabbed the rebound as time ran out.

Creston was led by 25 points from Dunphy and 22 from Kelsey Fields. The Panther improved to 2-1 on the young season and will next host Grand View Christian on the 7th.

Haley Rasmussen dropped in 29 to lead the Trojans and Jada Jensen finished with 10. The Trojans will host 3A #1 Glenwood on Friday. We’ll have that game on KJAN and KJANTV.

Watch the replay of the game HERE.

Posted in Sports |