(Radio Iowa) — While President Trump says he believes things may turn around sooner than expected in lifting some of the restrictions designed to stem the advance of the coronavirus. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, is cautiously watching how the restrictions work. “I think it’s pretty simple — that we do it for the two or three weeks that people laid out and we do it for that time. And I don’t think I want to be reassessing it in the middle,” Grassley says.

He says he will keep an eye on the numbers to see what they show at the end of the recommended period. “The extent to which it seems to me like we are winning the pandemic — overcoming the pandemic –then that to me would be the decision if you want more interaction among people,” according to Grassley.

Grassley believes the U-S economy can get back up and running once the restriction period ends and people are able to resume normal activities.

Police in Red Oak report 25-year old Nathan Christopher Mulhausen, of Red Oak was arrested Monday on a Montgomery County warrant charging him with a sex offender registration violation — a Class D felony.

Nathan Mulhausen (Red Oak PD photo)

Mulhausen was being held at the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) — Officials in Des Moines (and Atlantic) have made playground equipment in city parks off limits, to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. City bus routes in Cedar Rapids will be suspected on Wednesday. Iowa hospitals are postponing elective surgeries. And Governor Kim Reynolds is asking Iowans to VOLUNTARILY shelter in place.

“If you do not need to leave your house to help your family or other Iowans respond to this disaster, stay home,” Reynolds said. The governor of Illinois issued a “shelter in place” ORDER this weekend and Wisconsin’s governor plans to take that step today (Tuesday), but Reynolds says the data about the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa does not indicate that step is necessary.

“Just overall traffic has seen a 47 percent drop from a year ago, but truck traffic is normal,” Reynolds says. “…People that are providing the essential services are out still there, but Iowans are starting to hear the message and they are staying home.” Reynolds announced Monday that 105 Iowans in 26 counties have tested positive for COVID-19 and seven have been hospitalized.

State officials say those numbers are expected to increase as more testing is done. President Trump cited Iowa’s current data during a Monday evening news conference as he talked about reopening areas of the county and the economy as quickly as possible. Reynolds is asking Iowans to practice social distancing and go solo when they run essential errands at the grocery store or pharmacy.

“We are not at a place where we’re going to order a shelter-in-place or a stay-at-home,” Reyolds says. “…We want to make sure that we’re making these decisions based on data and based on metrics so that we can be consistent in what we’re telling Iowans to make sure that we’re not shutting down a state where we don’t need to.” Reynolds posted a video online last (Monday), with this message: “stay home and help us save a life.”

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports Stuart Police arrested 39-year old Douglas Kelton Reeves, of Stuart, late last Friday morning. Reeves was taken into custody following an incident in Stuart, whereby he was honking his vehicles’ horn outside of a man’s residence, and allegedly threatening to harm the man.

Reeves refused an officer’s orders to cease and desist causing the disturbance. He was arrested for Harassment in the 1st Degree, Disorderly Conduct, and on Adair County warrants for 2-counts Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Theft and Criminal Mischief, 2nd Degrees.

His cash or surety bond was set at $7,000. Reeves remained in the Adair County Jail as of last report.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says more aggressive orders to halt the movement of Iowans are not needed although the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Reynolds says the state now has 105 positive cases across 26 counties. She confirmed for the first time Monday that seven Iowans are hospitalized with the viral illness. Reynolds says positive cases are increasing in large part due to expanding testing ability and the number is likely to continue to grow. She says it’s not yet time to order Iowans to stay home but data is evaluated daily as such decisions are considered.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Broadcast journalist Dean Borg, who kept Iowans informed for decades as the host of the public affairs program “Iowa Press,” has died at age 81. Iowa PBS announced Monday that Borg died due to complications caused by pancreatic cancer. Borg appeared on “Iowa Press,” every Friday evening, from its debut in 1971 until his retirement in January 2017. He kept working as a correspondent for Iowa Public Radio until his death. On “Iowa Press,” Borg was known for questioning state politicians, presidential candidates and other newsmakers. He interviewed every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa-based recreational vehicle and boat manufacturer Winnebago Industries says it is ceasing production to protect workers from coronavirus exposure and adjust production as demand for the company’s products is rapidly changing. The company, which employees about 5,000 people, makes motor homes, travel trailers and boats under the Winnebago, Grand Design, Newmar and Chris-Craft brands. The Forest City, Iowa-based company has production facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Oregon, Minnesota and Florida. The company says remote retail support for dealers, along with technical care, warranty administration and parts fulfillment activities, will continue. Production will stop this week and remain idle through April 12, The company will provide base pay and benefits for two weeks.

CHICAGO (AP) — Across the country, anxious Americans are finding an audience for their questions about the new coronavirus in telephone town halls with their senators and representatives. These are the socially distanced versions of the constituent meetings that have long been held in community centers, libraries and city halls. But these are not the town halls of the past. There’s little ideological warfare or finger-pointing. Instead, the calls can feel like listening in on painful family conversation. The questions are far more personal than political.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is actively and aggressively monitoring the market for any firms marketing products with fraudulent coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnostic, prevention and treatment claims as part of our ongoing efforts to protect public health during this pandemic. As a result of these activities, the agency is beginning to see unauthorized fraudulent test kits that are being marketed to test for COVID-19 in the home.

We want to alert the American public that, at this time, the FDA has not authorized any test that is available to purchase for testing yourself at home for COVID-19. The FDA sees the public health value in expanding the availability of COVID-19 testing through safe and accurate tests that may include home collection, and we are actively working with test developers in this space.

Fraudulent health claims, tests, and products can pose serious health risks. They may keep some patients from seeking care or delay necessary medical treatment. The FDA reminds consumers to follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines and speak to your medical provider if you have symptoms of COVID-19. Your medical provider will advise you about whether you should get tested and the process for being tested with an appropriate test.

The FDA will take appropriate action to protect consumers from bad actors who take advantage of a crisis to deceive the public by marketing tests that pose risks to patient health. This may include issuing warning letters, seizures or injunctions. They have already identified and issued warning letters to companies found selling and promoting fraudulent items, and expect additional such actions will be forthcoming. Additionally, authorities are stepping up enforcement at ports of entry, including International Mail Facilities, to ensure these fraudulent products that originate outside the country do not enter through our borders.

If you are aware of fraudulent test kits for COVID-19, please report them to the FDA (e-mail: FDA-COVID-19-Fraudulent-Products@fda.hhs.gov <FDA-COVID-19-Fraudulent-Products@fda.hhs.gov) They will continue to aggressively pursue those who place the public health at risk and hold bad actors accountable. As a reminder, the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America details simple actions we can take as individuals and families to #SlowTheSpread of coronavirus.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s secretary of state is encouraging Iowans to vote-by-mail in the June 2nd Primary and Paul Pate has extending the absentee voting period to a total of 40 days. Pate released a recorded message late Monday:

“The safety of voters takes precedence and by encouraging Iowans to vote absentee, we can reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19,” Pate said. “We still plan on having our polls open on June 2nd for voters who prefer to cast ballots in person, but this effort will help reduce the risk of infecting others.”

Pate has added 11 days to the vote-by-mail period for the June 2nd primary — so it will now begin on April 23rd. During primary elections earlier this month in Arizona, Florida and Illinois, election officials announced public health precautions like disinfecting voting booths and machines regularly, plus poll workers were given gloves, cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer.

But there were reports of poll workers failing to show up, causing lines and — in some cases — polling sites had to be moved or consolidated.

General Information

Referrals: Referral notes are required except for senior citizens (55yrs) and those on Social Security Disability. They can be obtained from West Central Community Action (712) 243-5421, Cass County General Assistance at the Courthouse  (712) 243-4424, a church, or medical provider. Please call them first for instructions on how to receive the referral.

• Phone: (712)243-5019 (9 – 11 AM Mondays and Thursdays)
• Address: 19 W. 4th St., Atlantic, IA 50022
• Hours: Thursdays, 1:00pm – 2:00 pm (or until line ends – please come to the pantry at 1:00 pm)

Food Distribution

The Atlantic Food Pantry will be taking the following precautions to prevent the possible spread of illness that might affect our clients, their families, or our volunteers:

– The pantry’s usual choice options and individual face-to-face interviews will be discontinued at this time. Food will be distributed in an “express” fashion with sacks pre-prepared inside the pantry to limit wait time and reduce traffic inside the pantry building. Distribution to clients will occur outside the front door of the pantry. Only pantry volunteers will be allowed inside the pantry

– Clients will be given hand sanitizing gel before handling food donation items and be urged to keep separation between themselves in the line.

– All volunteers will use disposable food handling gloves and practice good hygiene behavior including good handwashing and/or use of hand sanitizer.

– Frequently touched surfaces (table tops, doorknobs and rails, handles, desks, phones, toilets, faucets, etc.) will be cleaned and sanitized more frequently – before and after the pantry, and other times as needed.

– Pantry volunteers who exhibit symptoms or who have been exposed to someone with fever, cough, shortness of breath, or difficult breathing will be asked to stay home and contact their health care provider. Clients who present with such symptoms will be asked to return home and seek medical attention.

Donation Suggestions

As always, cash donations are very useful for purchases of staples given out regularly. The pantry is currently giving out certain foods, so we are asking that food donations please focus on the following items:

cream of chicken soup
cream of mushroom soup
tomato soup
chicken noodle soup
ramen noodles (chicken, beef)
hamburger helper
beef ravioli (cans)
instant sides (packages) – “pasta & sauce” or potato
cereal (boxes)
Jiffy corn muffin mix
bread
crackers (saltine)
canned fruit (pears, peaches, cocktail, applesauce)
bar soap
tuna (cans)
macaroni and cheese
canned corn, green beans, peas (12-15 oz. cans)
toilet paper
peanut butter (18 oz. creamy)
“Quick” oats
“complete” pancake & waffle mix
waffle syrup