(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds said Wednesday, she is not yet ready to recommend Iowa’s K-through-12 school closures be extended due to coronavirus concerns. “Initially, we recommended schools closing for four week (and) said we would reassess it, too,” Reynolds says “So we continue to, every day, evaluate where we’re at as a state and what or if additional steps need to be taken.”

Reynolds last week signed legislation that ensures schools are not required to make up any missed days through April 10th. Governors in other states have ordered schools to be closed for a longer period. Wisconsin’s schools, for example, are closed through at least April 24th. Iowa’s governor says it’s just too soon to say whether Iowa students may be returning to class on April 13th.

“I am not at a place that I can say we hope, at this point, we’ll be able to do something different,” Reynolds says, “because, you know, it is fluid.” Reynolds says her education director has assembled a task force to examine how online learning could be implemented statewide and ensure every child has access, but the group has not made any recommendations.

“We continue to every day evaluate where we’re at as a state and what or if additional steps need to be taken,” Reynolds says. The governor of Minnesota has just issued a “Stay at Home” order and the mayor of Cedar Rapids has sent a letter to Iowa’s governor, urging her to do the same. Reynolds addressed the issued during her daily news conference.

“Many of the steps that we have already taken are equivalent to the ‘stay at home’ orders that we are seeing in several of these states,” she says, “like closing schools and some businesses, implementing work-from-home and distant learning and reducing gatherings to 10 people.” Reynolds says those steps reduce the risk that COVID-19 patients will overwhelm the state’s hospitals.  “It’s important, also, that we keep Iowa open for business in a responsible way that protects the health of our people and our economy,” Reynolds says.

On Tuesday night, there were 23 patients being treated for COVID-19 in an Iowa hospital. The governor’s spokesman says there are currently 280 ventilators available in the state that are NOT in use and Iowa hospitals are using federal guidelines to convert anesthesia machines into ventilators.

The Atlantic Fire Department, Wednesday evening, joined their fellow firefighters from around the State and Country, in showing a sign of strength and support for all who work daily in EMS, Fire and Law enforcement, as well as for those working around the clock to provide care, those who strive to find the right medicine to help, those in the food/grocery industry to feed us and those trucking daily to keep us going.

Fire Chief Tom Cappel explained the Iowa Fireman’s Association encouraged all Iowa Fire Departments to open their doors and turn on the lights on their trucks, as a sign of strength and hope for all. “Hope for all who work daily in EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement to be ready to strengthen those they’re working for around the clock and provide the care to those who need it.”

Ric Hanson/photo

Chief Cappel said also that the COVIDE-19 virus is making for a trying time for all of us. “With people’s uncertainty of knowing what’s going on, and what’s going to happen….we just want everybody to know that your law enforcement, your EMS and your health care are all their, and ready to go work when anything happens.” They’re a brotherhood and sisterhood of people who support each other and their communities.

Atlantic Fire & Rescue Facebook page photo

Atlantic Fire & Rescue Facebook page photo

Among the vehicles and personnel on-hand for Wednesday evening’s event, in addition to Atlantic Fire Fighters, were those from Medivac Ambulance, the Atlantic Police Department, Cass County EMA Director Mike Kennon, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Attorney General’s Office says those who operated an alleged national puppy-laundering ring masquerading as pet rescues have agreed to dissolve and pay the state $60,000 as part of a settlement. Attorney General Tom Miller last year sued two nonprofit rescue groups — Hobo K9 Rescue of Britt and Rescue Pets Iowa Corp. of Ottumwa — and others.

The lawsuit accused them of working together to illegally transfer thousands of designer puppies through the sham rescue groups to out-of-state pet stores from September 2016 to September 2019. The defendants denied the allegations but agreed to the consent judgment.

The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office, Wednesday evening released an updated list of candidates who have filed nomination papers for the June 2nd Primary Election. The list includes:

Auditor: Stephanie Burke – Republican, Incumbent
Sheriff: Jon Spunaugle – Republican
Supervisor District #3:

• Bryant Amos – Republican, Incumbent
• Randy Cooper – Republican

Supervisor District #5:

• Donna Robinson – Republican, Incumbent

*Winners of the Primary Election will move on to the November 3, 2020 General Election ballot representing their parties.

The Executive Director of the Nishna Valley YMCA in Atlantic, Wednesday, put out a statement with regard to operations at the YMCA and Ann W. Wickman Childcare Center in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan Haynes said “Currently the YMCA building is closed as mandated by state and local officials. However, as requested by the Governor and local officials, our TLC (School-age Childcare operations) is still in full operation within the YMCA building as is the Wickman Childcare Center.

“Increased precautions are being taken as recommended by the Department of Human Services and local health department. Drop-off and pickup procedures, class sizes, and social distancing, have been implemented in both locations per health department guidelines.
Your YMCA has had a long history of meeting citizen’s needs in Cass County and the Nishna Valley.”

In and effort to maintain YMCA membership and funds, Haynes said the “Nishna Valley YMCA Board of Directors is asking YOU to stick with YOUR YMCA even as the building is closed temporarily due to no fault of our own. We are asking you to:
1. If you are a current bank draft member or annual paying member of the YMCA……stick with us and keep your membership running as normal.
2. If you are not currently a YMCA Member……do something crazy!!!!! Consider joining now to make the greatest impact and support the work your YMCA does in the community. We will even waive the $40 joiner fee during this time.
3. While we are closed down we do have virtual fitness options you can use in your home. Visit our website or our facebook page and find great classes while we are closed.
4. YMCA volunteers are in the middle of our Annual Campaign to raise $125,000 for all the work that gets done such as childcare, free swim training, program and membership scholarship and so much more. If you haven’t given yet please consider doing so.
5. We understand that some families have been hurt by reduced incomes due to the current situation. If none of the above are options for you,” Haynes said “I would ask you to call me personally at 712-243-3934 so I can help you in your specific situation.”

He said also, “We will update you as we get any news on opening, keeping in mind our first priority is to keep staff and members safe.”

(Radio Iowa) — Sending 12-hundred dollar checks to most every American is part of the stimulus package congress has devised and Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says those checks will help the overall economy.  “It’s a good idea in the sense of stimulating demand and that’s what we’re talking about here,” Goss says. “…Ultimately, it we will get a spring back in the economy and that would be part of it.”

Goss does have concerns about the ballooning federal deficit, but he is predicting the U.S. economy will bounce back once the COVID-caused closures are lifted. Iowa State University economist Peter Orazem says given economic conditions, policymakers should have been reducing the deficit over the past few years.

“But once you get to this particular state where a bunch of firms and a lot of people do not have savings to withstand that problem, I think doing some sort of government transfer payment program to try to help out the population is a very good idea,” Orazem says. According to Orazem, about 22 percent of the jobs in Iowa are in the service sector — in restaurants, bars and other hospitality industry businesses.

“A lot of firms that are mom-and-pop establishments,” Orazem says. “It’s hard for them to get by with one or two months of no revenue.” He says other sectors of the economy can easily shift to a work-from-home format and keep people employed. Goss, from Creighton, regularly surveys rural bank managers in the Midwest. He compared the most recent results with surveys taken during the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009.

“This is a far bigger hit, but I expect the duration to be shorter,” Goss says. “But I expect the duration to be shorter. We are, in my judgement, likely to see a rebound — perhaps rebound is too strong a word, but see things improve in the third quarter of this year.” Goss says the current economic disruption will have some positive, long-term consequences.

“For example, universities are going to begin offering more and more online,” Goss says. “We’ll become cost-effective, which we need to do” And Goss says a shift to online instruction is likely to help rural K-through-12 school districts that are financially-strapped and sparsely-populated.

The two economists made their comments on the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S.

Officials with the Page County Public Health Department report the County has its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The affected individual is self-isolating at home. No other details were provided.

They did however reiterate the need for you to:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 second.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or the inside of your elbow/upper arm.
• and Stay Home if you are ill!

The Iowa National Guard  has delivered some very much needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders and health care providers in Montgomery County. EMA Director Brian Hamman said “This PPE is very much needed and will be put to use immediately.”

Photos from the Montgomery County EMA Facebook page

The Guard delivered mission essential equipment to distribution sites in Black Hawk, Johnson, Polk, Pottawattamie and Tama counties, as well, with additional distributions taking place at select sites across the State today (Wednesday) and tomorrow.

The Atlantic Fire Department will join their fellow firefighters from around the State and Country, in showing a sign of strength and support for all who work daily in EMS, Fire and Law enforcement, as well as for those working around the clock to provide care, those who strive to find the right medicine to help, those in the food/grocery industry to feed us and those trucking daily to keep us going.

At 7-p.m., the AFD and ALL IOWA FIRE DEPARTMENTS are encouraged to open their doors and turn on the lights on their trucks and other vehicles, as a sign of strength and hope for all.

The Cass County Health System’s Incident Command team today (Wednesday), issued a clarification regarding current COVID-19 test results. “To date,” officials said, “CCHS has tested more than 25 individuals. All test results we have received so far have been negative.

There are still pending test results and those patients will be personally notified when the results are received, whether positive or negative.”