Dr. Robert Wettach, 92, longtime family physician in Mt. Pleasant, passed away Sunday, April 26, 2020, at Savannah Heights.
Funeral service arrangements are pending at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel.
Linda Kay Hardin Ohnoutka
Linda Kay Hardin Ohnoutka, 72, of Elkridge, Maryland, formerly of Donnellson, Iowa, passed away at 2:40 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at her home in Maryland.
She was born on February 20, 1948, the daughter of Floyd Richard “Dick” and Barbara Jean (Bengston) Hardin.
Survivors include one daughter: Elke (Ben) Darling of Elkridge, Maryland; two brothers: James (Cindy) Hardin of West Point, Iowa and Ronnie (Gina) Hardin of Denmark, Iowa; five nephews: Austin (Shauna Zanolli) Hardin of Providence, Rhode Island; Andy (Ashley) Hardin (sons: Coby and Parker) of West Point, Iowa; Adam Hardin (son Isaiah) of West Point, Iowa; Archie Hardin of North Liberty, Iowa and Willie James; three nieces: Renae (Brandon) Wellborn (son Jax) of Denmark, Iowa, Maria (Joshua Weeks) Hardin of Wever, Iowa and Jessica (Mike) Behne of Montrose, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother: Russell Lee Hardin.
Linda was a 1966 graduate of Central Lee High School in Donnellson, Iowa and a 1970 graduate of John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo, Nebraska. She worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigations from 1972 to 2009 and the University of Maryland from 2009 to 2014. Linda enjoyed working in her garden in her free time.
Her body has been entrusted to Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.
A Private Farmily Graveside Service will be held Friday, May 1, 2020, at Zion Mennonite Cemetery, rural Donnellson, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in her memory to the Central Lee Foundation for a track and field scholarship in Linda’s name and can be mailed to the family at: Schmitz Funeral Home, P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, Iowa 52625.
Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmitzlfuneralhomes.com .
James Cordes
Additional COVID-19 cases in Iowa, additional deaths confirmed
DES MOINES – Sunday, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 384 additional positive cases for a total of 5,476 positive cases. There have been an additional 1,356 negative tests for a total of 30,614 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs. The number of positive cases will continue to grow as Test Iowa sites open and additional surveillance testing of large businesses and nursing home staff continues.
According to IDPH, an additional 6 deaths were also reported, 286 are currently hospitalized, and 1,900 Iowans have recovered. At this time, 1 in 87 Iowans have already been tested.
According to IDPH the additional 6 deaths were reported in the following counties:
- Black Hawk County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Clinton County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Des Moines County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Johnson County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Linn County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
The state of Iowa has released an updated dashboard on coronavirus.iowa.gov that will be updated daily to include comprehensive tracking of COVID-19 in Iowa. The new dashboard includes cases, deaths, and tests conducted in each county. The state is now providing demographic information that was not previously provided as well as Iowa’s epidemiological curve.
From Senator Rich Taylor
HOW DO WE RE-OPEN IOWA?
Iowans are ready for the COVID-19 public health crisis to end.
We want to get back to work in safe, healthy environments. We want our lives to return to some semblance of normalcy. And we want to get our finances back on track.
At the same time, many are concerned that the country will move too fast to loosen the restrictions aimed at slowing the outbreak.
The Coronavirus Task Force recently released guidelines for opening up America again. It’s a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts.
Based on the guidelines, Iowa will need to meet benchmarks that include a downward trajectory in COVID-19 cases. We also must be able to dramatically expand testing to quickly identify new cases, break chains of transmission, and protect first responders and health care workers from infection.
Unfortunately, Iowa is still on an upward trajectory that isn’t expected to peak until next month, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
We are way behind states that have been more proactive. For example, Minnesota’s stay-at-home order has resulted in far fewer cases of COVID-19, even though that state has a much larger population than Iowa.
We’re now seeing a rapid rise in cases where Iowans work or live in close quarters. Meatpacking plants have come under fire as COVID-19 cases skyrocket among employees. Health care workers who are at risk of exposure and often lack adequate protective equipment are getting sick. Residents in our long-term care facilities have been hard hit. And there are growing concerns that correctional facilities will soon see a spike.
It’s time to start envisioning the world we want to live in when this virus passes—and we’ll get there sooner if everything possible is done to protect the health and safety of all Iowans.
Additional information
This is a legislative update from State Senator Rich Taylor, representing Henry and Lee counties and portions of Washington and Jefferson counties. For bio, photos and further information, go to senate.iowa.gov/senator/taylor.
To contact Senator Rich Taylor when the Legislature is in session, call the Senate Switchboard at 515-281-3371. Otherwise he can be reached at 319-931-1568. E-mail him at rich.taylor@legis.iowa.gov.
Senator Rich Taylor is an Assistant Leader. He serves on the following committees:
- Agriculture
- Judiciary
- Labor and Business Relations
- Veterans Affairs (Ranking Member)
- Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee
As of Saturday
Additional COVID-19 cases in Iowa, additional deaths confirmed
DES MOINES – Today, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 648 additional positive cases for a total of 5,092 positive cases. There have been an additional 1,730 negative tests for a total of 29,258 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs. The number of positive cases will continue to grow as Test Iowa sites open and additional surveillance testing of large businesses and nursing home staff continues.
According to IDPH, an additional 5 deaths were also reported, 293 are currently hospitalized, and 1,723 Iowans have recovered. At this time, 1 in 91 Iowans have already been tested.
According to IDPH the additional 5 deaths were reported in the following counties:
- Black Hawk County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Johnson County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Polk County, 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Scott County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Note: A previously identified case in Clinton County upon further investigation is a resident of Illinois.
The state of Iowa has released an updated dashboard on coronavirus.iowa.gov that will be updated daily to include comprehensive tracking of COVID-19 in Iowa. The new dashboard includes cases, deaths, and tests conducted in each county. The state is now providing demographic information that was not previously provided as well as Iowa’s epidemiological curve.
Ronald L. Westerbeck
Ronald L. Westerbeck, 70, of Wayland, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, April 24, 2020 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He was born September 24, 1949 in Mt. Pleasant to Marlyn “Tink” and Ruth Kinney Westerbeck. He married Cynthia Sue Swan in Winfield; they later divorced.
Ron worked as a mechanic for a short time and did carpentry work on the side
however, due to declining health, he was forced to retire.
He was a 1968 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School and was of the Methodist faith and was being ministered to by Cottonwood Methodist Church.
He was an avid reader, enjoyed carpentry and woodworking, being outdoors,
and was an excellent chess player.
Survivors include his son Christopher L. (Sarah) Westerbeck of Katy, Texas; four grandchildren, Rachel, Alexander, Emily and Emma; brother Randolph of Hudson, Florida; and sister Linda Kay Bolick of New Port Richey, Florida. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Stanley.
According to his wishes, his body has been cremated and a private family service will be held at Elliott Chapel, New London in keeping with the Governor’s executive order during the COVID-19 health crisis. Inurnment will be at Burge Cemetery.
Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Russell W. Galbraith
Russell W. Galbraith, 82, of West Point, IA, passed away Saturday, April 25, 2020, at Henry County Health Center. A private, family graveside service, with interment, at Denmark Cemetery, will be held with Reverend Paul Connolly officiating. Gifts of love and friendship may be given to a charity of the donor’s choice. A complete obituary and on-line condolences may be found at www.olsonpowell.com.