(Radio Iowa) – The head of the Iowa Restaurant Association says the industry is cautiously optimistic heading into March. Iowa’s bars and restaurants were shut down last March 17th for on-site service, with a number of restrictions in place until the governor lifted those in early last month. Association president and C-E-O Jessica Dunker says despite the lifting of those restrictions, most establishments continue to have safety measures in place.

“Most restaurants and bars, if you have been into them, are still practicing things that they feel make sense for their business and their customers,” Dunker says. “Here in the Des Moines area, we see a lot of the restaurants continue to have their staff wear masks. They haven’t put all the tables back, they’ve put some of them back. We are seeing a continued emphasis on patio service when the weather cooperates.” Dunker says the industry nationwide finished the one year mark with revenue down about 33%, or about $1.45 billion, but she says restaurants and bars are seeing more customers return.

“Our operators are reporting in Iowa that they’re only down 28%, so we are seeing that increase,” Dunker says. “St. Patrick’s Day is coming, Cinco de Mayo is coming, we were given back Valentine’s Day, we were given back the Super Bowl, and so we really live for those events, and we are feeling better than we were.” Several restaurants and bars expanded outdoor seating areas as a way to spread out the number of people in their establishments. Dunker says many of those businesses will likely continue to offer those options in 2021.

“It’s going to be a long time before the restaurant industry looks the same, and it may never actually before the restaurant industry looks the same,” she says. Iowans have responded to restaurants that offer outdoor dining, even when it’s still a little chilly. “As people expanded those outdoor dining spaces and made those investments, as communities saw ways that they could create if we make that possible, we think that will stay in place potentially from now on because people really enjoy the experience when they go to a restaurant or a bar,” Dunker says. “When you can put that beautiful outdoors as part of that experience, people like that and it brings them back.”

Dunker says the best way Iowans can help the industry is by patronizing their favorite establishments as often as possible.  “We really need some recovery time here, and recovery means cash, and cash comes in the form of paying customers who are enjoying our food and drink in whatever service model they are comfortable with,” she says. “Keep doing carryout. If there’s drive-thru, keep doing drive-thru, and come and sit in the chairs that are available.” Over the next six months, she urges people who are typical restaurant customers two times a week, to make themselves a typical restaurant customer -three- times a week instead. She says, “That will help us get to the other side.”

Dunker says the Iowa Restaurant Association is promoting that people order carryout instead of using a third-party delivery service like Doordash or Uber Eats, as that’s not a profitable model for the vast majority of Iowa restaurants.

ATKINS, Iowa (AP) — Sheriffs officials in eastern Iowa have identified a driver killed in a crash after reached speeds over 100 mph while fleeing a traffic stop. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release Thursday that 38-year-old Matthew Earl Cox, of Cedar Rapids, died in the early Wednesday crash. Investigators say the chase began when a Linn County deputy tried to pull over a car in Atkins that Cox was driving.

Investigators say Cox’s speeding car drove off a Benton County road and crashed into a culvert. Officials say a woman also in the car and later identified as 33-year-old Mary Jeanette Ridenour, of Cedar Rapids, was seriously injured and flown to an Iowa City hospital.

Three people were arrested earlier this week on separate drug charges, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials say late Monday night, 49-year old Donald Dwayne Perry, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on three counts of Possession of Controlled Substances, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at a little more than $3,800.

Tuesday morning, 36-year old Crystal Dawn Edison, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, and on a warrant for Harassment in the 2nd Degree. Her bond was set at $2,300. 19-year old Madison Joeann Haynes, of Omaha, was arrested Tuesday night for Possession of Controlled Substances, with bond set at $1,000.

Also arrested Tuesday, was 23-year old Dakota Lynn Girouex, of Red Oak, on warrants for Violation of Probation and Eluding, as well as Theft in the 2nd, and Driving While barred. Bond was set at $19,000.

LONG GROVE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified two people killed in an eastern Iowa crash that also injured three others earlier this week. The crash happened Tuesday morning north of Davenport on Highway 61 near Long Grove, killing 47-year-old Gary Warren and 45-yearold David Muller, both of Maquoketa. Investigators say Warren was driving and Muller was a passenger in a car that was hit when an oncoming van crossed the median. Another passenger in the car, a 19-year-old man, remains hospitalized in Iowa City in critical condition.

Police say the 18-year-old driver of the van was taken to a Davenport hospital with serious injuries and faces charges. The van also hit a pickup truck, and the truck’s 59-year-old driver suffered minor injuries.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police have made an arrest in the shooting death last year of a Waterloo man. The Courier reports that police arrested 28-year-old Stephen Devon Phillips on suspicion of first-degree murder in the May 15 death of 30-year-old Terrell Bernard Flowers. Investigators have said the shooting followed an argument between the two men earlier in the day during a gathering at a Waterloo home.

Police say Phillips was told to leave the house and that he told people on his way out that he would return and “shoot up the place.” Police say Phillips later returned to the house and again argued with Flowers before pulling a gun and firing.