(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowa hospital patients who’ve tested positive for COVID has dropped 20 percent since last Friday (Jan. 28th). State health officials report 741 patients in an Iowa hospital today (Feb. 4th) have COVID — 55 percent of them were admitted specifically for treatment of the virus. Governor Kim Reynolds says the coronavirus is similar to the flu and other infectious illnesses and state agencies will start managing COVID-19 as part of normal daily business.

The Public Health Disaster Proclamation the governor first issued in March of 2020 will end on February 15th and the Iowa Department of Public Health will take down its online vaccine finder and no longer publish the number of Iowa nursing homes with COVID outbreaks. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat from Windsor Heights, says this is an interesting time to make this move.

“I want the pandemic to be over,” Konfrst says. “We all want the pandemic to over, but shouldn’t we have access to tools that help us keep our families safe? And so my frustration isn’t necessarily with the ending of the pandemic Emergency Proclamation, it’s with what goes away. It’s with access to vaccination information. It makes it harder to know where outbreaks are.” Konfrst says statewide data about the pandemic helps Iowans make good decisions.

“Yes, we’ve been in this for a while, but we still have thousands of cases,” Konfrst says. “We still have people getting sick, so I think the important thing here is to remember that more information, accurate information is the most important thing we need.” Konfrst made her comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

Kelly Garcia, the interim director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, says similar agencies in more than half of states are making similar changes to manage COVID as they do other contagious viruses.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens of a phone scam that makes it appear the caller is the County Sheriff. Officials say on Friday (Feb. 4th), “The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a SCAM phone call involving the name of Sheriff Darby McLaren. This scam call, allegedly from Sheriff McLaren, is asking residents to provide personal information over the phone and/or to present themselves in person at the Sheriff’s Office for “good news and/or bad news”.

Authorities stress that “This phone call is a SCAM and is not coming from Sheriff McLaren. Furthermore, Sheriff McLaren encourages people to NOT give personal information out over the phone. If you have any questions regarding this scam, please call our office during business hours at 712-243-2206.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen, Friday (today), reports the City of Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department is accepting applications for the Sunnyside Pool Manager. The Pool Manger will which ensure efficient and effective operation of pool facilities including personnel management and training. Duties involve all swimming pool operations, including first aid, rotations, scheduling for staff, public relations, janitorial duties, limited pool maintenance including daily chemical analysis/testing, pool cleaning, cleaning of bathrooms and concessions stand area, and all other duties necessary or required.

Successful candidates must have experience and demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, lead/supervise multiple staff and volunteers. Applicants must be 18 years old, a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Applicants must also have or obtain a CPO and CPR certifications.

The City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 2nd, approved a wage of $14/hour for the position. For a full job description go to contact the Parks and Rec Office at (712) 243-3542. Complete an application and return to either City Hall, 23 E 4th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022 or complete the online form at atlanticia.seamlessdocs.com/f/poolmanagerapplication.

Applications are due by February 18th at 5:00 pm.

(Johnston, Iowa) – Approximately 250 Soldiers from two Iowa Army National Guard companies based in Mason City and Iowa City are preparing to mobilize to Poland in 2022 as these units come into their “mission year” as part of the U.S. Army’s current force generation cycle. The 1133rd Transportation Company, headquartered in Mason City, and the 209th Medical Company Area Support, headquartered in Iowa City, were selected to support federal mobilization missions by the Department of Defense and the National Guard Bureau. These units will support Operation Atlantic Resolve and NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission which enables the U.S. to provide deterrence to adversaries while supporting our NATO partners.

The 1133rd Transportation Company will transport equipment and supplies, while the 209th Medical Company will provide field hospital health service support. Maj. Gen. Ben Corell, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, made the initial announcement during the annual Condition of the Guard address in January. In 2020, personnel from the 1133rd Transportation Company and the 209th Medical Company aided in COVID-19 response efforts throughout Iowa. These Soldiers assisted with the transportation of personal protective equipment, COVID-19 testing site operations, and contact tracing.

The 1133rd Transportation Company was last activated into federal service in 2008 to support Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and the global war on terrorism.  The 209th Medical Company deployed to Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Then in 2005, the 209th Medical Company was activated in response to Hurricane Katrina.

The Iowa National Guard is working on scheduling send-off ceremonies, which will be announced at a later date.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, joined fellow member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), in leading an effort to honor Gold Star Families. The bipartisan bill, the Gold Star Families Day Act, would dedicate the last Monday in September as a federal holiday in observance and recognition of the sacrifice that all Gold Star Family members make when a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter or other loved one dies in service to the nation.

“For the countless American families spanning generations who have given and sacrificed so much to defend our nation and protect our freedoms and way of life, our country is eternally grateful to you. As a combat veteran, I’m honored to join with my colleague Senator Warren in leading the Senate on this measure to recognize the sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters of the fallen who solemnly and proudly display the Gold Star,” said Senator Ernst.

“Gold Star Families make incredible sacrifices for our country, and that’s why I’m introducing Gold Star Families Day Act with Senator Ernst – to honor and respect the painful sacrifice that continually lives with the families of our fallen heroes,” said Senator Warren.

(Radio Iowa) – A longtime venue for live theater performances in eastern Iowa has shut its doors for good. After more than 50 years of staging shows, a letter posted on the Old Creamery Theatre website says the facility in Amana has permanently closed. The letter blames “financial pressures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”

What was billed as Iowa’s Premiere Professional Theatre Company shut down temporarily in March of 2020 and reopened for roadshows in the fall and winter of 2021. While there was some federal funding injected, it wasn’t enough to keep the theater afloat. The venue opened in 1971 in Garrison before moving to Amana.