Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold a meeting via YouTube 9-a.m. Monday, to take action on a handful of items, including the second and final reading of the COVID-19 revised school policy.

Last Wednesday, the Board passed the first reading by a vote of 3-to 2.  As previously mentioned, one section of the Policy states “Non-medical grade face masks are encouraged to be worn by all individuals on school grounds, including students, employees, and volunteers. Masks will be provided to individuals who request them. Reusable masks should be washed regularly by individuals wearing them.” The Policy does NOT mandate the use of masks.

The Atlantic School Board will also consider once again, a written agreement between parents of students and the district, who wish to transport their children to extracurricular actives. The agreement stipulates in-part, parents or guardians may to drive their student event participants to various competitions, with the understanding that the parent or guardian “Hold harmless and defend and indemnify the Atlantic Community School District from any and all damages and/or claims that may arise out of the transportation of [the child’s] participation…” in those activities. Rural families planning on driving their children to school rather than ride the school bus, should contact the bus garage to let them know of those plans, in advance.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on the resignation of Steve Andersen as Route Bus Driver, and Contract Recommendations for: Jennifer Rumery – Food Service; Abby Becker – Volunteer Cross Country Coach; and Richard “Dick” Casady – Car driver. Their final order of business, is approval of a pay application in the amount of $23,238.78, for work completed to date on the Middle School sidewalks. The amount is 95% of the accepted bid price. Funds for the payment will be derived from the PPEL/SAVE accounts.

A man from Linwood, Kansas was arrested at around 11:30-p.m. Saturday, in Red Oak. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reports Devon Triebel was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop on Highway 34, at Eastern Avenue. Authorities say Triebel’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was .104, or slightly more than the legal limit. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

(Update 5-a.m., 8/16) The latest information from the Iowa Coronavirus dashboard shows there was one more confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cass County since our report Saturday, for a total now of 94. Statewide, 388 more Iowans tested positive for the virus, for a total of 52,065. Iowa’s reported positivity rate is 9.3%.

Two more deaths have been reported statewide since 10-a.m. Saturday, for a total of 975, with 543 of those taking place at a Long-Term Care facility. As mentioned Saturday, there was a second death reported in Cass County as well, since the outbreak began. The State’s website said 686 of the state’s deaths involved Iowans with preexisting conditions. The IDPH says 40,491 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19, 5,490 tested negative Saturday, for a total of 497,534. Altogether, 557,346 Iowans have been tested for the virus.

The IDPH data show the following new, confirmed COVID-19 cases in these area counties: Guthrie County, 2 (146 total); Montgomery County,1 (a total of 64); Pottawattamie County, 14 (1,416 total); & Shelby County has 2 new cases, for a total of 194.

Statewide hospitalization data show: 271 are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms (compared to 261 Saturday); 80 are in an ICU (there were 82 yesterday); 43 were admitted to a hospital as compared to 33 on Saturday, and one less person was on a ventilator, for a total of 34.

Southwest/western Iowa hospitals report, over the past 24-hours: 10 people were in a hospital with COVID-19 (1 less than Saturday); 3 people are in an ICU (down 1 from Saturday); 2 people admitted were admitted to an area hospital since Saturday, and there remains no one on a ventilator. Long-Term Care (LTC) data today, show: 29 Outbreaks; 910 patients/staff have tested positive; and 543 have recovered.

Here are the latest positive case numbers for southwest/western Iowa since 10-a.m. Friday (County; Positive Case #’s; number of persons who have (recovered); {deaths since the outbreak began}. Counties with changes have highlighted numbers over the previous 24-hours:

• Cass County: 94 cases (58); 2 deaths
• Adair County: 38 cases (20)
• Adams County: 17 cases (16)
• Audubon County: 30 cases (21); 1 death
• Guthrie County: 146 cases (108); 5 deaths
• Montgomery County: 64 cases (47); 4 deaths
• Pottawattamie County: 1,416 cases (1,054); 29 deaths
• Shelby County: 194 cases (176); 1 death.

The Iowa DPH website now features an analysis for public school districts with data on average county positivity rates over the past 14 days. That information can be found here.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The derecho that caused massive damage in Iowa this past week could offer lessons for forecasters and the public. The unusual storm packed the power of a category 3 hurricane but lacked the days of warning a typical hurricane offers. At least three people in Iowa and one in Indiana were killed. Forecasters had predicted thunderstorms and in some communities tornado sirens sounded before the winds began. But many people were caught off guard. The National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working on tools that would assist forecasters in making predictions that consider a range of possibilities.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State officials say 75 more students who were moving back to campus have tested positive for COVID-19. The university announced Friday that it tested 3,472 students between Aug. 7 and Thursday. The 75 students who had the virus represents a 2.2% positivity rate. That’s the same positivity rate the school announced last week when 66 positive cases were found among the 3,037 students tested. Students began moving back to campus July 31 and will continue to return through Sunday, with classes beginning Monday. The university has reserved two halls for students to quarantine, or they can quarantine at home if possible.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is reporting 832 new coronavirus cases for its second-largest single-day increase. KRCG reports that the new cases brought the state’s total number of infections to 51,640 as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The state also added nine more deaths to bring the total to 973, according to health officials. The number of infections is believed to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and experts believe people can have the virus without feeling sick. The only other day with more new cases was July 17, when there were 879. Both days had large numbers of tests processed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people have been arrested in Des Moines after fleeing from police in a stolen car and taking refuge in a house with one of their children inside. Des Moines Police Department spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said the car was reported stolen 9 a.m. Saturday. The owner later spotted the vehicle, leading to a chase on Interstate 235, The Des Moines Register reports. Police called off the pursuit due to reckless driving. But Parizek said someone spotted the vehicle coming back into the city and followed it until it was abandoned. The two suspects then ran into a nearby home, where the 13-year-old child of one of the suspects wasn’t allowed to leave for about an hour. The two suspects were taken into custody around 12:30 p.m.

Sheriff’s officials in northwest Iowa, Friday night, arrested a man on a felony charge of Murder in the 1st Degree, in connection with the death of a southeast Iowa man. Authorities Saturday night (8/15) said Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted by officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), arrested  29-year old Allan Michael Dean Schwidder, of Emmetsburg. He was taken into custody at a location in Lake Park, Iowa, and transported to the Palo Alto County Jail, without incident. Schwidder’s cash-only bond was set at $1-million dollars. He remains in the jail while awaiting his initial court appearance.

His arrest stems from an investigation into a report made 1:16-p.m.  July 22nd by a passer-by,  of a possible body found in Virgin Lake, south of Ruthven. When authorities arrived, the body was seen 25-feet off shore. The Iowa DCI was called-in, and the body transported to the State Medical Examiner’s (ME’s) Office, in Ankeny. The person was later identified as 27-year old Rollin J. Bontrager, of Washington, Iowa.

On July 31st, search warrants were executed at two residences in Emmetsburg. Three vehicles were also searched. Numerous items were seized and will be analyzed. Agencies that assisted in the investigation include: The Iowa DCI; Iowa DNR; Palo Alto County Coroner; Palo Alto County Conservation; The Iowa ME’s Office; Emmett and Clay County Sheriffs’ Offices; Emmetsburg and Spencer Police Departments, and the Iowa DCI Crime Scene Unit.

Anyone with information concerning the incident is encouraged to contact the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office at 712-852-3535.