Montgomery County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Stephanie Burke is encouraging those wishing to vote in the June 2 Primary Election to vote absentee by mail due to the recent concerns with coronavirus and COVID-19.

“Iowa’s June 2 Primary Election will go forward as planned, but I am encouraging citizens to vote by mail. It is our continued effort to keep our Montgomery County community safe and healthy. One way we are doing that, is by mailing every registered voter in Montgomery County an absentee ballot request form.” Auditor Burke said. “The Auditor’s office is currently working on the mailing and registered voters in Montgomery County should be receiving them in the near future if they haven’t received them already.”

After the Auditor’s office receives the completed absentee request form, a ballot will be mailed when they are ready. “Once you receive your ballot, vote it, sign the postage paid return envelope, and stick it in the mail – you’re done. It really is that simple.” Burke explained. Voters are reminded that for the Primary Election, they must choose a political party on the request form in order to receive the correct ballot.

The Iowa Secretary of State recently announced that their office will also be mailing absentee request forms at the end of April. “Our office already made the decision to do a mass mailing and started the process before the Secretary of State made the announcement, so we are going to continue with the mailing as planned. Those of you that already returned a request form to the Auditor’s office for the Primary Election, you do not need to submit another.” Burke said. Absentee requests to vote by mail must be received in the Auditor’s Office by 5 p.m. on May 22.

“We want to bring the polls to you, please vote from the comfort of your own home. Be heard, but be safe.” For more information about the 2020 Primary Election or absentee voting, please call the Auditor’s office at 623-5127. You can also follow Montgomery County Auditor & Elections Facebook page and at www.montgomerycountyiowa.com.

There is a national shortage of commercially-produced PPE including gowns. Public and private officials are working to address national and global supply challenges. Due to the current limitations on supplies of disposable and cloth gowns, there may come a time during this response when commercially manufactured gowns are no longer readily available. Iowans who would like to support healthcare providers can use this guidance document to construct homemade washable cloth gowns that can be worn by Iowa healthcare providers during patient care.  Homemade washable cloth gowns are typically made of polyester or polyester-cotton fabrics. Gowns made of these fabrics can be safely laundered using routine procedures and reused.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says residents who would like to donate homemade gowns need to call Cass County Public Health at 243-7552 or Cass County EMA at 243-1500. You will be provided guidance on where to drop off donations. There are many different patterns available on the internet, please choose one that meets the specifications from the links below.

Sample patterns can be found at:  https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/sites/default/files/isolation-gown.pdf           https://www.fashiongirlsforhumanity.org/products/gown-pattern-package

(12-p.m. News) The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two incidents of theft. At around 9:30-a.m. today (Wednesday), a man from Lorimor reported that sometime after 10-p.m. Monday, someone took a car trailer, new axle, winch, and tool box owned by Scott McKibbin, of Peru, while it was parked in Lorimor. The items were valued at $5,000 altogether.

And, a Creston man reported Tuesday evening, that his credit card statement had a charge he didn’t make, amounting to $505.95.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds provided a status report today (Wednesday) on the number of COVID-19 cases to date, in Iowa. As of today, there were 97 new, positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa from the past 24-hours, for a total of 1,145. Worth County was added to the list of Counties with positive COVID-19 cases, for a total of 79 out of Iowa’s 99 counties. Reynolds said also, the IDPH reported 1,151 negative COVID-19 test results, for a total of 12,821. The State Hygienic Lab has the capability of testing 1,329 individuals. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is 122. Those who are recovering at home number 431, or 38% of those who have tested positive. One person over the age of 81 from Linn County, has died from the virus.

Reynolds said “Currently, we’re leveraging State and Federal assistance to provide much needed relief to Iowa workers and businesses now, and to help get them through this challenging time til we are fully open for business again.” “Two weeks ago,” she said we announced a small business relief program. A one-stop shop for Iowa businesses to seek assistance to tax deferral, including sales and withholding taxes and grants to assist with short-term cash flow needs. Since then, the Iowa Dept. of Revenue has received 5,700 tax deferral applications, and expects to approve another 2,300 this week while continuing to review the rest. All applicants in good standing with the Iowa Dept. of Revenue will be approved and notified by mail.”

Reynolds said when a deferral is granted, taxpayers will have 60 days from the original due date to pay their balance due. Penalties and interest will be waived for those 60 days. The application process remains open through April.  Reynolds announced also, she is expanding the original $4-million for the Iowa Small Business Program, to 24-million, which will be provided through the State Economic Emergency Fund from the Iowa Economic Development Authority [IEDA]. The first round of funding will assist more than 500 restaurants, bars, breweries that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, because they were among the first to close their normal operations.

According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 97 individuals include:

• Allamakee County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Benton County, 1 child (0-17 years)
• Black Hawk County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 3 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
• Cedar County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Clinton County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
• Crawford County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Harrison County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Henry County, 2 adults (18-40 years)
• Johnson County, 10 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adult (61-80 years)
• Linn County, 1 child (0-17 years), 4 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years), 2 elderly adults (81+)
• Louisa County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 5 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Marshall County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Muscatine County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 5 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Polk County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 4 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Pottawattamie County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Scott County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 7 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Tama County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
• Warren County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Washington County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Webster County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Woodbury County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
• Worth County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)

Here is the video link for Governor Kim Reynolds’ daily press briefing on COVID-19. We will have live audio on KJAN as well at about 11:00 a.m.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa has a brochure (pictured below) to help you protect yourself against COVID-19 scams.

(Radio Iowa) — The Waterloo man who spent two years lobbying to be able to cut hair in a mobile barbershop is hoping to expand his operation. First, though, William Burt has to wait alongside every other barbershop in the state for the COVID-19 closure to be lifted. “It’s another hurdle I’ve got to get over,” Burt says.  Burt, a first-time father at the age of 14 who became a barber after being released from prison, is the subject a short film produced and just released by Americans for Prosperity. The group lobbied alongside Burt to get the state law changed this spring so Burt’s mobile barbershop business could take off. Drew Klein is Americans for Prosperity Iowa state director. “It’s not every day that you get a story that is, from start to finish, this compelling,” Klein says.

The short film is mainly about Burt and his “Kut Kings” mobile barber shop business. However, it briefly focuses on Burt, who lost his right to vote because of his felony conviction, successfully applying to have his voting rights restored. “I’ve got a film crew standing here recording me with tears in my eyes,” Burt said near the end of the film. Burt told reporters last (Tuesday) night that he’s had one inquiry about franchising his business. He’s hoping to open more mobile barbershops to serve major Iowa metros like Davenport and Des Moines.