Atlantic, IA — Following the Emergency Use Authorization of both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is partnering with county public health departments to begin vaccinating Iowans. Both vaccines are currently being administered in Iowa to the Phase 1A priority populations of health care personnel and long-term care residents and staff.

Cass County Public Health Director Beth Olsen says “It’s exciting to see that residents and staff of local long-term care facilities have already received their first doses of the vaccinations. Of the 500 doses that we received for healthcare personnel, we’ve already given about 70%. We still have a quite a few within the Phase 1A group that are going to be vaccinated later this week, so we anticipate that by Friday we’ll have used 85 to 90% of this first allocation.”

As more vaccines become available, Iowa’s Infectious Disease Advisory Council (IDAC), will review guidance issued by the CDC’s advisory group the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to further prioritize populations to receive the vaccine in Iowa. IDAC is currently reviewing ACIP recommendations for Phase 1B and 1C priority populations.

According to Olsen, “What this means is that we expect to hear in the next few weeks about who will be eligible next. We think it could include groups like law enforcement, adults over 75, and essential workers; however, we simply don’t know yet. While certain groups will be prioritized in the coming weeks and months, the national media has stated that it will likely be mid-2021 before the vaccine is available to anyone who wants it.”

While waiting on information from the state about who will be eligible for the next allocation of vaccines, Cass County Public Health has been working on their mass vaccination plans. “We’ve been working on all of the logistics of our vaccination plan so we can act quickly when it’s time. Until we have the state’s guidance and the vaccines in hand, we are in a holding patten. We will continue to provide updates to the community as we know more. It’s also important for people to know that there is no waiting list for the vaccine. I know people are anxious, and I hope to have it here soon, but there is no special waiting list or anything else that the public needs to do at this time,” said Olsen.

A clinic will be held later this week for those in the Phase 1A priority group. This includes, but is not limited to, people working in:
• Critical care
• Emergency Department
• Infectious Disease
• Hospitalists
• Primary Care
• Anesthesia
• Respiratory Therapy
• Emergency Medical Services
• Phlebotomy
• Pharmacy
• Radiology
• Federally Qualified Health Center
• COVID-19 Vaccinators of Essential Populations
• COVID-19 Specimen collectors
• Staff/physicians of urgent care centers
• Acute care clinic
• Clinical laboratory
• Hospice
• Home health
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation

“If there are Cass County residents who work in these areas, and they want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, they should complete the survey on casshealth.org/covid-19 now so that we can administer their first dose as soon as possible,” said Olsen. Once Cass County Public Health has completed vaccinating all Phase 1A individuals in the county, any remaining vaccine would go to another county who needs it to finish their phase 1A.

Until vaccine is widely available to all, which as stated above may be sometime around mid-2021, it is crucial that Iowans continue to practice the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• Wearing a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick
For information and updates related to COVID-19, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Vaccine and follow IDPH on Facebook (@IowaDepartmentofPublicHealth) and Twitter (@IAPublicHealth).

The Atlantic City Council has a busy agenda for their first meeting of the new year, Wednesday. First-up, the Council will hold a Public Hearing on the status of the City’s Facade Improvement Project. City Administrator John Lund notes a municipality “Cannot accept $411,110 in money from the Federal Government and not expect red tape to be a part of the bargain.” The hearing will satisfy the CDBG (Grant) requirements. Afterward, the Council will receive a presentation from CADCO Executive Director Jenn McEntaffer and Atlantic Area Executive Chamber Director Bailey Smith, with regard to a marketing video commissioned for the City, entitled “What you see is what you get.”

A report will also be received from Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen, highlighting some of the key department accomplishments over the past year, and goals for 2021. The Council will then act on approving/renewing Mutual Aid agreements for fire protection services with the Cities of Marne and Lewis. The specific agreement is renewed every five years, and ensures that if either department is in need, the other department will aid with the equipment and personnel.

In other business, the Council is expected to:

• Act on passing a Resolution approving the transfer of funds for the second quarter of the Fiscal year 2020-2021. The City routinely transfers money between its 67 separate funds, as a budget component. It reconciles accurate cost-accounting with the desire to create transparency on what is being spent in each of the fund line items.
• The Atlantic City Council is also expected to act on approving an order making First Whitney Bank as the City’s official Bank, and act on the approval of designating the Atlantic News Telegraph as the legal publication for 2021.

The meeting in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, begins 5:30 p.m., Wednesday.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 19-year-old Sioux City man has been charged in a shooting that killed one woman and injured three other people at a New Year’s party. Sioux City police said Tuesday that Christopher Morales was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and going armed with intent. Police say Morales forced a person to go into the home where the party was being held. He and others then fired several shots into the house.

Eighteen-year-old Mia Kristis was killed and three juveniles were wounded. Police say Morales could face additional charges after forensic examinations are concluded on evidence found at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – The amount of taxes paid to the State of Iowa continued to grow over the past six months, fueled in part from state sales taxes on electronic commerce — like online shopping and streaming services like Netflix. Jeff Robinson, senior fiscal analyst for the Legislative Services Agency, says net tax payments to the state last month were up more than five percent over the previous December.  “A $27 million increase in corporate income tax deposits and a $19 million decrease in overall tax refunds issued provided much of the month’s net revenue boost,” Robinson says.

Over the past six months, total state tax revenue increased 117 million dollars — and 44 percent of that was due to an increase in sales tax collections. The rest of the increase came mainly from an increase in corporate income taxes.  “Growth in net individual income tax revenue for the fiscal year has been just $16 million or 0.9%,” Robinson says.

The State of Iowa began taxing internet purchases on January 1st of 2019. Federal reports indicate online sales accounted for 14 percent of all retail activity in the third quarter and early estimates indicate online shopping skyrocketed during November and December.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — The former city clerk in Westfield has been sentenced to five years of probation in the theft of more than $70,000 in city funds. Fifty-one-year-old Angela Sorensen, of Akron, was sentenced Monday after entering an Alford plea to first-degree theft. She was city clerk in the small northwest town of Westfield from May 2013 to August 2017.

An audit found more than $74,000 in undeposited utility collections and improper payments. Sorensen was ordered to pay restitution of $7,781 — the amount not covered by the city’s insurance carrier. A presentence investigation recommended probation for Sorensen because she has ongoing mental and physical health problems.

Mills County Public Health Director Julie Lynes reports “Mills County Health is working with facilities in our county to allocate vaccine doses to the Phase 1A priority populations. Mills County will continue to provide updates for other priority populations as we receive additional allocations of vaccine. While right now, the vaccine is being made available to the priority populations, it is anticipated that by mid-2021, there should be enough vaccine for anyone who wants to receive it.”

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has partnered with county public health departments to begin vaccinating Iowans. Both vaccines are currently being administered in Iowa to the Phase 1A priority populations of health care personnel and long-term care residents and staff. As more vaccines become available, Iowa’s Infectious Disease Advisory Council (IDAC), will review guidance issued by the CDC’s advisory group after the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) further prioritizes populations to receive the vaccine in Iowa. IDAC is currently reviewing ACIP recommendations for Phase 1B and 1C priority populations.

Until vaccine is widely available to all, it is critical that Iowans continue to practice the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• Wearing a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, last Thursday, arrested 45-year-old Michael Lee Rose, of Hepburn. He was taken into custody at his residence, in Hepburn, on a valid Page County Warrant for Failure to pay child support. Rose was transported to the Page County Jail and held without bond, pending further court appearances. And, on Friday, Page County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in Coin.

During the investigation 33-year-old Rachell Lynn Shaw, of Coin, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was transported to the Page County Jail and held without bond, pending appearance in front of a Magistrate. The male party involved in the altercation left the scene prior to deputies’ arrival. A warrant was issued for the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Wesley Allen Stubbs, of Coin. Stubbs was arrested Monday (Jan. 4) at the Page County Jail, on a Page County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. His bond was set at $300.