The Iowa Department of Public Heath, Friday, at 10-a.m., reported an additional 714 positive COVID-19 test results returned from the labs since Thursday, for a pandemic total of 362,478. There were 25 additional deaths reported, for a total of 5,463. Locally, there were three more deaths in Cass County, for a pandemic total to-date, of 51, and there was one additional death in Adair County, for a total of 27.

Long-Term Care facility COVID-Outbreaks are steady at 18. Hospitalizations have fallen below 200 for the first time since July 14, 2020. The IDPH says there are 196 persons hospitalized with COVID, compared to 233 on Thursday. COVID patients in an ICU declined also, from 55 Thursday to 46 Friday.

There were 27 COVID patients admitted to hospitals across the State over the previous 24-hours, and 27 patients on a ventilator. Hospitals in Western & Southwest Iowa report: 10 people are hospitalized; four COVID patients are in an ICU, there were three people admitted with COVID symptoms, and one person was on a ventilator.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is 4.1%. The 7-day average is also 4.1%.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,328 cases; {+5}; 51 deaths
• Adair, 917; {+1}; 27
• Adams, 325 {+0}; 4
• Audubon, 483 {+0}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,161 {+1}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,789; {+2}; 69
• Madison County, 1,536; {+0}; 18
• Mills County, 1,627; {+4}; 20
• Montgomery, 1,039; {+1}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 10,733; {+19}; 141
• Shelby County, 1,201; {+1}; 33
• Union County,  1,262; {+2}; 31

(Radio Iowa) Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion says truckers need to be moved up in the line for Covid-19 vaccinations.

The U-S Census Bureau estimates that are three-and-a-half million truck drivers in the country. Hinson says they’re critical to maintaining the food supply and to manufacturers who depend upon the prompt delivery of parts.

However, officials in the State of Iowa have indicated that with a limited supply of shots, only employees who cannot socially distance at their job site will be included. Hinson says she’s interested in finding a way to get truckers on the “essential worker” list. Hinson is in Washington, D.C., where the House is expected to vote on the one-point-nine TRILLION dollar pandemic relief package Democrats have developed.

In January, Hinson announced she’d vote against the package if it included increasing the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour.

The minimum wage increase remains in the House version, however it’s unclear if it will stay in the package when Senators vote on it.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, during their meeting Friday morning, held a Public Hearing with regard to the FY2022 Maximum Property Tax Dollars. Following the hearing…during which there were no comments…the Board passed the Resolution which states “The maximum property tax dollars for General County Services and Rural County Services for FY2022 shall not exceed: $4,962,621 for General County Services, and $2,841,013 for Rural County Services. The requested dollars for FY22 represent an increase of 1.55% in General County Services, and 1.95% in Rural County Services from Maximum Property Tax Dollars requested for FY2021. On a related note, the Board set March 16th at 9-a.m. as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the FY2022 Cass County Budget.

In other business, the Supervisors approved the appointment of Preston Harter as Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy, to fill a vacancy.And, they approved an application from Barbara Baier for membership on the Cass County Local Foods Policy Council (CCLFPC). The fact she is the wife of Board Chair Steve Baier, did not go unnoticed.

The Board moved to appoint her to the Council, with her term ending 12/21/24. The Board also approved Property Tax Exemptions for impoundment structures, open prairies, etc., for January, 2021 assessments, as recommended by the Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner and County Assessor, in accordance with the Code of Iowa.

The Creston Police Department reports four recent arrests. On Wednesday, 34-year old Michael Eugene Matherly, of Casey, and 39-year old Robin Lynn Matherly, of Creston, were both arrested for Violation of a Protection Order. Michael Matherly was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted bond. Robin Matherly was transported to the Adams County Jail.

Thursday morning, a homeless man, 24-year old Keegan Wayne Williams, was arrested on an outside agency warrant. He was transported to the Adams County Jail. And, Thursday afternoon, 41-year old Chastity Cari McFarland, of Creston, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was cited, and released on a Summons to Appear in court.

(Radio Iowa) – The Boy Scouts of America isn’t just for boys anymore, and for the first time, two girls in the Mid-Iowa Council have attained the top rank of Eagle Scout. Sixteen-year-old Angelina Hemphill of Ankeny and 15-year-old Hannah Massey of Ottumwa are true trailblazers, according to Matt Hill, the council’s C-E-O. “They have taken it upon themselves to achieve the highest honor that Scouting has,” Hill says. “They have worked extremely hard within their troops and within their communities to achieve the rank of Eagle and we’re just excited to celebrate their success.”

Hannah Massey

Angelina Hemphill

Only about six percent of Scouts attain that highest rank. This year, 145 boys in the region made Eagle, while Hemphill and Massey represent the first-ever females to earn it in the council — which serves about 10-thousand young people in 27 counties. Reaching Eagle is a difficult challenge that requires mastery in subjects ranging from first aid and safety to civics, business and the environment.  “You have to earn a certain number of merit badges where you showcase different skills,” Hill says. “You also have to show leadership both within your unit and in your community, and then at the end of all that, you cap it off with a service project that gives back to your community as a whole.” The rules were changed to allow girls to join the Boy Scouts about two years ago.

The Mid-Iowa Council now has six all-girl troops and about 200 girls in Cub Scout packs, which are co-ed. Hill says the Scouting program teaches valuable lessons for all young people. “It has been a great experience so far,” Hill says. “Oftentimes, it’s a young lady who’s the sister of a current Scout or it’s someone like me, who’s also an Eagle Scout, who has a daughter who’s going to be in Cub Scouts because ‘that’s what Dad did’ and I want her to have that same experience.” The two Iowans join about a thousand young women from across the country in the national organization’s inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts. “Both young women joined Scouting to share the same once-in-a-lifetime adventures that boys have experienced for more than a century,” Hill says. “These two are paving the way for future generations. They’re our council’s first young women to join an elite group of young men.”

For more information on Scouting in Iowa, go to http://www.scoutingiowa.org/.