SEYMOUR, Iowa (KCCI-TV) — Officials in southern Iowa say hundreds of people have gathered in Wayne County for a horse auction being held on private property, despite a state order limiting gatherings to fewer than 10 people. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the Midwest Trotting Horse Sale was held Thursday near Seymour on the property of Ura Gingerich, after having first been postponed earlier in the month.

The Wayne County Health Department set up checkpoints on the property to screen people before they could enter. Department officials say at least one carload of people was sent away after being questioned as part of the screening. The department says it counted nearly 500 people attending the auction.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced schools in the state will be closed through April 30th. Originally, the plan released on March 15th, had been for classes to resume April 13th. During her Thursday afternoon daily press conference, Reynolds said “Keeping Iowa’s students out of classrooms is a very difficult decision, but it remains necessary for now. We anticipate the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa to continue to grow.

“Keeping schools closed for an extended amount of time will help protect the safety of our students, teachers and school staff, reduce the burden, flatten the curve on our health care system and work force, and of course reduce the risk to our most vulnerable Iowans, and ultimately save lives.”

Reynolds said at this time, she is NOT ordering schools to remain closed until the end of the school year. She said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo “has been working proactively with the Education Task Force to develop a plan that defines options for continuous learning programs., including non-credit and for-credit options. School Districts will be required to select the best option for the students and families they serve, and inform the State of their decision by April 10th.

“School Districts that choose not to provide continuous learning will be required to make up the instructional time lost beyond what has been waived by the Iowa Legislature.” Reynolds said “I also want to let school districts know, while we extended closures through April 30th, and we continue to evaluate information, I know that it’s also extremely important to you when you’re making your decisions, to give you at least a two-week’s notice and we will plan to do that as we move through this process.”

Director Lebo said “The recommendation to close schools through April 30th was not made lightly, and we know the challenges that puts on our schools and families.” Lebo said the two previously announced continuous learning options will remain in place. “Those options  which were based on recommendations from the Continuous Learning Task Force and take into account student needs and district resources include both a Voluntary Option and a Required Option.

“Under the Voluntary Option, schools can encourage students to participate but cannot require them to do so. Under the Required Option, students are required to participate, attendance is taken, work is graded and credit granted.” Lebo said also, “Under new guidance, all public districts and accredited non-public schools, are now required to indicate which method of continuous learning they will use, from April 13 through April 30th. They will have until April 10th to submit their decision.”

An expedited application process has been developed for any school that wants to implement a Required Continuous Learning Program. Lebo said “We encourage schools to work as quickly as possible on their plan, which may include the delivery of content through online learning, paper packets of assignment, or both. Accredited Non-Public Schools may decide to provide Required Educational services without applying to the Department for authority, but we ask that they indicate the decision to do so by the April 10th deadline.”

The applications will be available, soon. Educational resources for both families and educators is available on the Iowa Dept. of Education’s website, and include interactive games, virtual field trip, coding activities and E-Books.

Due to the extension of state and federal mandates of social distancing the Atlantic Rising Group as decided to cancel their 7th Annual Awards Luncheon and Dessert Gala scheduled for April 24th, 2020.

Stay up to date with Atlantic Rising on their Facebook page for future Min-N-Mingles, events, and volunteer opportunities.

Atlantic Rising is sponsored by Cass County Health System.

Atlantic, IA — Cass County Public Health is busy planning and preparing for any potential outbreak of COVID-19 in the Cass County area. Beth Olsen, Cass County Public Health Director, said “While there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Cass County at this time, we are prepared for the likely event of some COVID cases appearing in the next few weeks.” She explained that while Public Health does not do any testing of patients, they are responsible for disease investigation should a resident test positive.

As of 7:30 am on April 2, CCHS had tested 43 people for COVID-19, with 38 of those tests coming back negative and 5 still pending results. Those numbers only reflect people who sought care and testing at CCHS, not those who may have been tested in other medical facilities. Regardless of where they are tested, if a Cass County resident tests positive for COVID-19, then Public Health will be notified by the Iowa Department of Public Health. If a resident tests positive, Public Health staff will follow the same process as with any community infectious disease exposure.

The Cass County Board of Health contracts with Cass County Health System to manage Public Health services for Cass County. This arrangement makes it very efficient for Olsen to coordinate with both the county emergency management services and CCHS. She said “We are fortunate to be in a situation where our county emergency management team and the health system work very closely together every day. That makes us well prepared to work together effectively and efficiently in times of crisis.”

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) — A former Missouri state patrol trooper who was driving a boat when an Iowa man fell out and drowned has received the last payment of a financial settlement he reached with the state. In February, Anthony Piercy accepted a $201,000 settlement of lawsuits he filed as he tried get his job back. He lost his law enforcement license after he pleaded guilty in 2017 to a misdemeanor boat violation in the 2014 death of 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson, of Clive, Iowa who drowned at the Lake of the Ozarks.

In return for the settlement, Piercy agreed to not be reinstated as an officer.

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen reports (tongue-in-cheek) that Sunnyside Park has been “Egged!”  On April 11th, he says, the Atlantic Parks & Rec Dept. will hold an egg display/egg find, from 9-a.m. until Noon.  You will stay in your vehicle and travel through the roads in Sunnyside Park to look for large, decorated eggs along the road. The route begins at the 14th Street entrance to the park.

Along the way, take note of your favorite egg, which will be voted on. Also, there are smaller eggs hidden along the route. If you find the golden egg(s), remember what is on it/them, because there could be something special at the end.

Rasmussen and the Parks Department hope you will come out April 11th from 9-a.m. until Noon, and see all the beautiful eggs. But remember to follow the CDC rules with regard to social distancing and respecting everyone else, by staying in your vehicle during the entire trip through the park.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Pressure from medical experts and politicians on the federal and state level is building for a mandatory shelter-in-place order from Gov. Kim Reynolds who rejects such a move as unnecessary. The state is reporting 66 new cases for a total of 614 and two additional deaths, meaning 11 have died. Eli Percenevich, an epidemiologist physician overseeing infection prevention research at the University of Iowa, says the metrics Reynolds uses to decide her response isn’t staying ahead of the growth of infections and deaths. He joins Iowa Democratic legislative and congressional leaders in calling on Reynolds to issue a stay at home order.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department said Thursday (Today), that  they have canceled their summer activities, including: the zoo trip; camp out; golf tournament, and Family Night Out. In one way or another, officials said, the backbone of those programs is donations and sponsorships from many great local businesses. With businesses doing whatever they can to stay afloat, and the uncertainty of when this pandemic will be over,” the unfortunate decision was made, to put those programs on hold for this summer.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was notified today (Thursday) of 66 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 614 positive cases. According to IDPH, two additional deaths were reported: 2 older adults (age 61-80) from Linn County. There have been a total of 8,054 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.

According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 66 individuals include:

Allamakee County, 1 child (0-17 years), 2 adults (18-40 years), 4 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80) years
Black Hawk County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Boone County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Bremer County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Buchanan County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Cedar County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Cerro Gordo County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
Clay County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Clinton County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Dallas County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 3 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
Delaware County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Jefferson County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Johnson County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 3 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
Jones County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Linn County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 4 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
Mahaska County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Marshall County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Muscatine County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Polk County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years)
Poweshiek County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Scott County, 3 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Tama County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Van Buren County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Warren County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Washington County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Winneshiek County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Woodbury County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)

The Iowa Secretary of State (State Commissioner of Elections) has stated that Centers for Disease Control (CDC) encourages social distancing, so voters in Iowa are being asked to consider voting absentee by mail.  On Tuesday, March 31st, the Secretary of State announced he had decided to commit to a statewide mailing of absentee ballot request forms for the June 2, 2020 Primary Election.  “The mailing will go to each active registered voter in Iowa, and the forms will be postage paid for return mailing to County Auditors.”

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman recommends that the voters of Cass County take advantage of the right to vote early by mail.  You may apply for an absentee ballot now, but ballots will not be mailed until on or after April 23rd.  Absentee ballot request forms are available on the website of the Iowa Secretary of State  (https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinfo.html) or you may contact the Cass County Auditor and have a form mailed or emailed to you.  Phone: 712-243-4570.

The CDC also believes that people aged 65 years and older may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID- 19 and should stay home and avoid close contact. A majority of Iowa’s Precinct Election Officials (PEOs) are older than 65, and several PEOs, statewide, are declining to serve as PEOs for this primary election.  In response, the State has temporarily waived some of the restrictions in regard to the combining of voting precincts.  For this and other reasons, the majority of County Auditors in Iowa are combining precincts for the 2020 Primary.

The Cass County Auditor (Local Commissioner of Elections) has decided to combine the regular 13 Cass County voting precincts into 5 combined precincts and chosen voting locations which he believes will best serve the voters of Cass County.  Those combined precincts and voting locations are (twp=Township):

• COMBINED PRECINCT 1: Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th); for voters in Atlantic 1st Ward & the Brighton, Grove, Pymosa, Washington Twp/Marne.
• COMBINED PRECINCT 2: Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th); for voters in Atlantic Wards 2,3, 4 & 5.
• COMBINED PRECINCT 3: Griswold Community Bldg. (601 2nd St); for voters in the Bear Grove, Cass Twp/Lewis; Edna, Victoria Twp & Noble, Pleasant Twp/Griswold
• COMBINED PRECINCT 4: Anita Community Center (805 Main St); for voter in the Benton, Franklin Twp/Wiota & Grant, Lincoln Twp /Anita.
• COMBINED PRECINCT 5: Cumberland Community Bldg. (200 W 2nd); for voters in the Massena Twp/City of Massena & Union Twp/City of Cumberland.