DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said today (Friday), there are 56 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 235 positive cases. There have been a total of 3,740 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.  The IDPH said also, two Iowans with COVID-19 passed away Thursday night, one elderly adult (81+ years) from Poweshiek County and one older adult (61-80 years) from Allamakee County. This brings the total COVID-19 deaths in Iowa to three.

According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 56 individuals include:

Benton County,  1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Black Hawk County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
Butler County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Cedar County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Cerro Gordo County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Clinton County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Dallas County,  1 adult (18-40 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
Dickinson County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Dubuque County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
Hardin County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Harrison County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years)
Henry County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Iowa County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Johnson County, 2 adults (18-40 years),  5 middle-age (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
Linn County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 7 older adults (61-80 years)
Mahaska County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Monona County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Marshall County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Montgomery County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Muscatine County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Page County, 1 older (61-80 years)
Polk County,  1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
Tama County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Washington County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
Webster County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Winneshiek County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Woodbury County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Wright County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)

A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in Iowa is provided by IDPH and can be found here. In addition, a public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431. The state of Iowa has started sharing the number of negative tests conducted at outside labs, and is providing additional information on the conditions of those infected with COVID-19.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — District conventions for the Iowa Republican Party won’t be convening as usual, but voting will be conducted by mail as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The party said Friday that the State Central Committee has decided to mail paper ballots to all district delegates. A party spokesman says the paper ballots will allow the party to conduct conventions and proceed with important party business, including electing delegates to the state and national convention.

District standing committees are meeting via Zoom on Saturday to outline how the paper ballot process will work. Iowans can can go online for updates.

A traffic stop Thursday evening in Walnut, resulted in a pursuit and the arrest of two people. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputy Jeremy Harker tried to stop a 2008 Dodge Charger with Arizona license plates, at around 5:40-p.m. in the 46000 block of Highway 83. The vehicle refused to stop. It was later located parked behind the Embers Cafe in Avoca. The driver, 27-year old Patrick Allen Eggerling, of Council Bluffs, was located and arrested for Eluding and Reckless Driving. He was subsequently charged with Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. His bond was set at $2,000. A passenger in the car, 23-year old Sarina Marie Duvall, of Phoenix, AZ., was arrested for Fraud in the 1st Degree, after she was found to be in Possession of several counterfeit $100 bills. Bond for Duvall was set at $5,000.

And, 32-year old Jeffrey Lee Wiebold, of Council Bluffs, an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was presented with a warrant Thursday, for Violation of Probation. Wiebold was returned to the custody of Corrections staff.

(Radio Iowa) — Volunteers across Iowa are making face shields with 3-D printers to restock health care providers and first responders who are short on personal protective equipment. Earlier this week, Eric Engelmann of Cedar Rapids used social media to ask for help making the plastic shields and the response was immediate. Engelmann says hundreds of Iowans donated supplies and used dozens of 3-D printers to make parts. In a Facebook video, Engelmann shows off models already being delivered to first responders for feedback.

“This one is the one we’ve had most of the people printing,” Engelmann says. “This one’s pretty straightforward. It’s really just a visor with some foam in there to make it a little more comfortable with an elastic strap. And then it just sort of pops on.”  The team is gearing up to make thousands of face shields for the COVID-19 response. More information on how to help is available at: https://newbo.co/PPE/

(Reporting by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

(FFA reporter submission) — The Atlantic chapter of the FFA sent 10 of its members to the District Career Development events on March 7th, with one advancing to the State FFA Convention in Ames. Southwest State Vice President Tyler Comes lead the District Business session. Atlantic FFA member Corri Pelzer retired as the District Sentinel position. Aspen Niklasen and Malena Woodward were the chapter delegates for Atlantic FFA at Convention.

Pictures
SW State VP Tyler Comes District Sentinel Corri Pelzer

FFA member Carli Henderson competed in the Extemporaneous Speaking category placing 1st earning a Gold and advancing to State. Craig Alan Becker competed in Ag Sales earning a Gold placing 3rd and will be the alternate to State. Andrew Engler completed in Ag Broadcasting placing 4th earning a Silver. Gunner Kirchhoff competed in Ag Welding placing 4th earning a Silver. Finally Tate DenBetse, Dylan Comes and Wyatt Redinbaugh competed in the Chapter Website CDE placing 4th earning a Gold rating.

In the Farm Business Management Test Atlantic FFA had 4 members compete this year. Drey Newell earned a Gold and placed 2nd, Hannah Carlson earned a Gold and placed 17th, Caroline Pellett earned a Gold and placed 23rd and Garrett Reynolds earned a Silver and placed 34th out of 87 individuals.

Extemp Speaker Carli Henderson

In the FFA Freshman Greenhand Quiz, Atlantic FFA had 4 members participate all earning Silver ratings. Sofia Mendez placed 55th, Dylan Comes placed 59th, Dan Freund placed 81st and Jackson McLaren placed 84th. (Photos submitted)

(Story by an Atlantic FFA reporter) – Each year the Iowa FFA Degree awards a select group of members with the Iowa FFA Degree. This year the Atlantic FFA Chapter has 3 members that have earned this prestigious award, Adrania Mendez, Corri Pelzer and Tate Den Beste.

Picture Left to Right
Adriana Mendez, Tate Den Beste, Corri Pelzer (photo submitted)

The Iowa FFA Degree is the highest degree that can be bestowed upon an FFA member by the Iowa FFA Association each year. Only 5% of the FFA members in Iowa receive the degree each year. The degree is normally presented at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa but this year things will be different. With the COVID19 virus shutting down all large gatherings, the Iowa FFA Association has had to adapt as well.

To receive the Iowa FFA Degree, FFA members must meet the following standards: 1) Have been an active FFA member for at least 24 months; 2) Have completed at least two years of systematic instruction in agricultural education; 3) Have earned and productively invested at least $1,500 or worked at least 375 hours in a supervised agricultural experience program; 4) Have a satisfactory scholastic record; 5) Have demonstrated leadership abilities from a specific list of activities; 6) Have completed 25 hours of community service; and 7) Have participated in at least five different FFA activities above the local level. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “I am extremely proud of these three individuals. The Iowa FFA Degree is a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication to the Iowa FFA Association and the Atlantic FFA Chapter.”

FFA member Tate Den Beste said, “To get my Iowa Degree has pushed me to be more active in FFA in the classroom as well as the agriculture industry. It means a lot to me to be able to achieve this award.” Adriana Mendez said, “I’m so glad I had the chance to be in FFA. It helped me grow as a person and has given me so many opportunities and I will be forever grateful for FFA. My Iowa degree means alot to me. I will be the first in my family to receive an Iowa degree, and I knew from the first time I saw the Atlantic FFA Wall of Fame in the Ag room I knew I was going to put my name on there.” Corri Pelzer said, “Through FFA I have learned a lot of leadership skills that will serve me well in college and beyond. I have also made a lot of new friends through various FFA activities. Lastly I have made tons of memories that I would never have had the opportunity to make if I hadn’t stepped outside my comfort zone.”

Each Iowa FFA Degree recipient receives a certificate and the golden State FFA Degree Charm pin, which is made possible with support from Pioneer through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in special session Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st, both days at 5:00 p.m., for the purpose of conducting interviews for the position of Middle School/High School Principal. Following Public Input and discussion about the interview process, the Board will consider entering into closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)i, for the purpose of evaluating the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring,performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.

A separate closed session will be used for each candidate.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A suspect in the Iowa slaying of a 27-year-old man has been captured in Illinois. Authorities say Todd Jenkins was spotted at a hotel in Aurora, Illinois, and arrested Thursday as he tried to flee. He faces charges of first-degree murder and going armed with intent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  A criminal complaint says he drove Oct. 30 from Davenport to Cedar Rapids and, outside his former girlfriend’s apartment, confronted Reginald Ward Jr. Ward was fatally shot later at a convenience store. Ward lived in Moline, Illinois.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says the targeted proclamations she’s issued over the past couple of weeks are equivalent and, in some cases, may be more stringent than the “stay at home” orders 22 other governors have issued.  “Even in Minnesota’s order that was put in place, 78% of the jobs in their economy are exempted from the Minnesota governor’s ‘shelter in place’ (order),” Reynolds says.

On Thursday, Reynolds ordered more retail businesses to close, including those that sell clothes, shoes, furniture and flowers. More than half the NATION’S population is living in a state where a governor has made some sort of “shelter in place” or “stay at home” directive. Last week, Reynolds asked Iowans not to gather in groups of more than 10 — to limit the spread of COVID by people who have the virus, but do not show symptoms.  “We are Iowans. I shouldn’t have to issue an order that says you need to stay home and be responsible if you’re not sick,” Reynolds says.

President Trump has asked governors to classify the counties within each state, based on whether the risk level for the coronavirus is high, medium or low. The ratings could be used to loosen restrictions or reopen some regions within states.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrested at around 2:30-p.m. Wednesday, of 34-year old Joshua John Weeks, of Lorimor. Weeks was charged with OWI 3^rd, possession of a dangerous weapon while under the influence, and felon in possession of a firearm. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $11,000 bond.