A Mahaska County resident has died from coronavirus.  A statement from Mahaska County Public Health says the person was aged between 41 and 60 and was hospitalized outside Mahaska County.  This is the first Mahaska County resident to die from coronavirus.

This death from Mahaska County is one of four new deaths from coronavirus reported Monday, bringing Iowa’s total to 79 deaths.

Statewide, another 257 COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed as of Monday, for a total of 3159 through the pandemic.  Six new cases have been found in Jasper County, three in Poweshiek County and one in Marion County.

Governor Kim Reynolds also reported Monday that another 1013 Iowans have tested negative for coronavirus, for a total of 22,661.  And 1235 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19.

The school year in Iowa is over.

“As we look at what the data is telling us now, I can’t tell you with certainty based on the Department of Public Health’s data that they’re providing to the office, that early May will be the right time for students, teachers and staff to gather again in their classrooms.  So therefore, I regret to say that Iowa schools will not re-open for this school year.”

Governor Kim Reynolds made the announcement Friday morning (4/17).  This means the graduating class of 2020 will miss out on many things normally associated with one’s senior year of high school.  Ann Lebo, head of the Iowa Department of Education, says it was a tough decision to end the school year.

“But we also know this decision is necessary to ensure the health and safety of those we serve.  This also includes the cancellations of spring sports seasons, adding to the many school activities which have already been lost.”

Those activities include proms, plays and senior days.  Lebo says a decision on whether to have summer sports—baseball and softball—will be made by June 1.

A man from Eldon is in custody facing theft, burglary and drug charges.  Just before 7am Wednesday (4/15), the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office got a call about one person chasing another in a field south of Pekin. It was learned that a farmer had found a stranger in one of his farm buildings.  The suspect took a four-wheeler and took off, with the farmer trying to follow him.  Several neighbors helped the farmer follow the suspect until Sheriff’s Deputies arrived and took the suspect into custody.  32-year-old Travis Lennox of Eldon is charged with two counts of third degree burglary and one count each of first degree theft, second degree theft, third degree burglary of a motor vehicle, possession of meth and marijuana, unlawful possession of a prescription drug, eluding, third degree attempted burglary and reckless use of a firearm.  Lennox is also charged with possessing stolen property; that property was taken in a burglary in Mount Pleasant this past Monday (4/13).  Lennox is being held in the Wapello County Jail on $20,000 bond.

Winter is supposed to be over, but it’s going to make another appearance in the No Coast Network listening area.  A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Wapello, Monroe, Keokuk and Washington Counties until 7am Friday (4/17).  6 to 9 inches of snow are expected in this warning area with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches an hour possible this afternoon and evening.  That snow is expected to be heavy and wet.  There’s also a Winter Weather Advisory for Mahaska, Poweshiek, Jasper and Marion Counties until 7am Friday.  One to 4 inches of new snow is forecast for the Advisory area.  Travel could be hazardous and there is a chance that accumulated wet snow could take down power lines.  Keep tuned to the No Coast Network for the latest weather updates.