The Cass County Community Foundation (CCCF) has announced grants totaling $121, 110 were awarded to 28 nonprofit organizations and community projects, as part of the Spring 2020 grant cycle. The following organizations received their grants from the CCCF Advisory Board:

Organization Project Award

• 309 Club: New Carpet – $1,000
• Anita Child Care Center: Safety Compliance and Toy Updates – $500
• Anita Health and Wellness: Center Cardio Equipment – $6,000
• Anita Volunteer Fire Association: Bunker Gear – $5,000
• Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center: Building Improvements and Renovations,  $8,000.
• Atlantic Parks and Recreation: Mollett Park Improvement $7,410
• Atlantic Public Library: Window Shades $3,000
• Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE): Replace Depot Windows $10,000
• Atlantic Youth Sports Organization: Athletic Complex Fence Improvements $5,000
• Cass County Historical Museum: Preservation of Fashion Design Drawings $3,000
• City of Anita: Project Playground $6,000
• City of Griswold: Community Building ADA Compliant Door $2,000
• Crossroads of Western Iowa: Cass County Family and Friends Outreach $1,500
• Cumberland Public Library: Automatic Doors and New Windows $2,000
• Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department: Fire Tool Acquisition $4,000
• Cumberland Youth Fitness Program: Fitness Center Upgrades $2,000
• Friends of the Griswold Public Library: Technology Updates $2,500
• Griswold Rescue: Patient Reporting Software and Tablets $3,500
• Griswold Volunteer Fire Department: AED and Particulate Hoods $2,700
• Griswold Youth Sports: Sports Complex Improvements $4,000
• Hitchcock House Advisory Board: Foundation Wall Repairs $4,000
• Lewis Public Library: Equipment for Movies and Programs $1,000
• Little Lambs Preschool/Kids Come First: Room Expansion and Security Upgrades $4,000
• Marne Firefighter and Rescue Association: Replacing Aging PPE $4,000
• Massena Historical Society: Barbershop Roof and Window Replacement $4,000
• Massena Public Library: Upgraded Book Displays and Technology Equipment $2,000
• Nishna Valley Family YMCA: Racquetball Court Conversion Project $20,000
• SHIFT ATL: SHIFT Building Rehabilitation $3,000

All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible to apply.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.

Atlantic, IA — The Incident Command team at Cass County Health System has been flooded with questions and offers from local residents about sewing masks to help protect the caregivers coming into contact with patients who may have COVID-19.

CCHS Chief Nursing Officer Amanda Bireline says “We have been overwhelmed with the response from our community wanting to do anything they can to help us. We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and the generosity of our neighbors.”

CCHS is currently monitoring the inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE), which would include things like gloves, masks, N95 respirators, face shields, and gowns. CCHS Materials Management Director Derick Hogberg says “At this time, CCHS is well stocked and well prepared, and everyone is being very mindful of the PPE that they are using now. We continue ordering supplies from multiple sources so that we keep ahead of the need.

“Meanwhile, we have to be smart and start making contingency plans – what if we have a surge of cases? Or what if we can’t order any more of these things? We’re being creative and doing everything we can to prepare.”

Just like other healthcare professionals around the country, CCHS is developing creative processes to prepare for the weeks and months ahead. One way that many volunteers have offered to help is by sewing masks. While these cloth masks aren’t comparable to the protection provided by an N95 respirator or maybe even a regular surgical mask, they may be helpful if shortages occur in the future.

There are two styles of masks that are needed. One is the standard rectangular shape, and the other is a more triangular mask that is shaped to cover N95 respirators. Instructions for both styles can be found at casshealth.org/covid-19. If you need the instructions emailed or mailed to you, please call CCHS Foundation Director Dawn Marnin 712-243-7409. Finished masks can be dropped off in a designated tote Monday-Friday from 8 to 4:30 outside of the CCHS loading dock.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Public Employment Relations Board has overturned the firing of a workplace safety inspector, finding that he unfairly faced retribution after reporting a hostile work environment inside the agency. The board found that managers at the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration acted with “express bias” when they opened a disciplinary investigation into Travis Stein for missing a meeting in November 2018. The decision found that the agency had never before punished a worker for missing a meeting and that the investigation of Stein was unfair and incomplete. Stein says the ruling backs his claim that his January 2019 firing was motivated by retaliation and built on false statements.

A traffic stop in Pottawattamie County, late Monday morning, escalated into a pursuit, and the eventual arrest of a man from Council Bluffs. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy on patrol in the area of East Pierce and Grace Streets in Council Bluffs, attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by 24-year old Austin Michael Goodman. Five Deputies were involved in the pursuit. Goodman was charged with Felony Eluding and Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was additionally charged with: Speeding; Reckless Driving and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Goodman was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $10,300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) — A licensed mental health counselor from northwest Iowa has some suggestions for Iowans who’re experiencing anxiety in the midst of a global pandemic. Shawn Scholten works at the Creative Living Center in Rock Valley. “It’s important to separate what is in your control from what is not,” she says. “Focus on those factors that you can control like social distancing, appropriate handwashing and sneezing and coughing, take vitamins, stay hydrated, good nutrition.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, OCCASIONAL anxiety is an expected part of normal life, but for a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. “Anxiety is rooted in the future and anxiety then tends to make us more fear- and anxiety-based and we become very self-focused,” Scholten says, “whereas it’s really a time to be other-focused, to reach out to others and staying community-minded — being more interconnected, but in a safe way.”

Iowans have been seeing empty store shelves, with shortages of hand sanitizer and toilet paper well documented.Scholten urges Iowans to respond rather than react. “I think some of the hoarding is very much a reaction,” Scholten says. “Just take a step and be reasonable, take some deep breaths and respond appropriately.” Scholten’s advice is to acknowledge your emotions and, for example, get creative with modern technology, using smart phones and laptops to videochat with others.

“You know a lot of people today are feeling a lot of similar emotions, some to different degrees than others, and it just validates your feelings when you hear them from somebody else. It affirms: ‘Oh, yes. They’re feeling that way, too,'” Scholten says. “So that, in itself, reduces some of that sense of isolation and loneliness because you can identify with somebody else having the same feelings that you do.” She recommends going outdoors, if possible, to exercise or get fresh air and sunshine — while maintaining proper social distancing from others. She says spiritual resources like devotions, prayer and meditation can help reduce anxiety as well.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man on an attempted murder charge this (Tuesday) morning, after officers were called to the Sherwood Apartments at 2009 Sherwood Court, for a report of shots fired. The call went out a little after 7:30-a.m. Officers arrived in the area and found the suspect, 26-year old Michael Kuder, of Council Bluffs, laying in a creek bed near that location. He was taken into custody without further incident. The handgun he allegedly fired, was recovered at the scene.

Michael Kuder

During the preliminary investigation it was found that Kuder allegedly fired several rounds at an occupied vehicle, hitting it once. He then allegedly threatened to shoot another victim before that person left the area in their vehicle. The two victims in the incident were approached by Kuder by random, they did not know him personally.

Kuder was transported to a Council Bluffs hospital for an evaluation and placed on a Police Hold. Upon his release he will be transported to Pottawattamie Corrections and charged with Attempted Murder and Harassment 1st. The case is still under investigation.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said today (Tuesday) it has been notified of 19 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 124 positive cases. There have been a total of 2,315 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 19 individuals include:

Black Hawk, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Buchanan County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Cedar County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Dallas County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Jasper County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Johnson County, 1 middle-aged adult, 1 older adult
Muscatine County, 2 older adults (61-80)
Polk County, 3 adults, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Poweshiek County 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Story County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Tama County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Warren County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Washington County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)

A public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431.

The Harlan Police Department reports two recent arrests. 54-year old Mark Nile Brower, of Harlan, was arrested March 12th on a charge of Public Intoxication. And, 53-year old Timothy Nathan Turner, of Harlan, was arrested Sunday (3/22) for Domestic Abuse Assault, and Violation of a No Contact Order. The H-PD says also, 20-year old Alexis Danielle Larsen, of Harlan, was cited during a traffic stop on March 14th, for Possession of Alcohol under the legal age.

(Radio Iowa) — The president of the Iowa Bankers Association says it is a good time to look at your outstanding debt and see if you can lower it. I-B-A president John Sorensen says interest rates continue at historic lows. “Most Iowans are aware that this is a very good time to take out a mortgage loan for example — or refinance your mortgage loan,” Sorensen says. “We are seeing those rates have dropped significantly. So, it’s certainly something for Iowans to look at if they are looking to reduce their cost of debt service on a whole range of credit that they may have whether its an individual or a business.”

He says it could be worth it for you to review your situation. “I would certainly contact your lender and see what your options are — but obviously if had a mortgage loan for a period of time — it’s certainly good to compare the rate you are currently paying to what the rates are today. And if you can refinance and lower your monthly payments –that’s always a good thing,” Sorensen says. The Fed recently lowered the interest rate in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Sorensen says the drop in rates has an impact on lenders. “Obviously when it’s a significant drop in rates like we’re seeing — it can challenge the financial institutions — because the margins between deposits and lending tend to tighten in this kind of environment,” he says.

But Sorensen says it should not be a burden they can’t handle. “Iowa banks are in a very sound position to be able to manage through this period of time,” Sorensen says.  He says you can contact your financial institution only or via phone to set up a review of your situation.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their first electronically shared meeting since the COVID-19 outbreak forced a change in the way meetings are conducted in Iowa, and across the country. Supervisor Steve Baier said the meeting via “Zoom” is the “new norm,” for the foreseeable future, as social distancing rules aim to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. That includes ironing-out the technical issues, such as audio drop-out. Baier assured residents of Cass County, that no services are being affected…they’re just being handled in a slightly different manner.

Some statewide services, as previously mentioned, have been suspended, but essential county services are still available. Most county services can be accomplished online, but if there is something that needs a signature or seal, or special document, please call the appropriate County office to make arrangements. In fact, a drop box for documents will be installed at the Courthouse, opposite the outside mailbox, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday). Place your document(s) in an envelope and make a note for which office it is intended for before placing in the secure drop box.

In other news, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved the proposed FY 2021 County Budget, following a public hearing. A copy of the budget (as published) is available here: https://www.atlanticiowa.com/county/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/FY2021-Cass-Co-Budget-Hearing-Notice.pdf

They also approved the County Compensation Board’s recommendations for elected officers’ FY 2021 compensation. The Compensation Board recommend 2.9% increases for Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff, Treasurer and Supervisors, but the Supervisors reduced that to 2.1% across the board.

The FY2021 Secondary Roads and Cass County Budgets were then formally adopted, before Board Chair Steve Baier opened bids on the Cold Springs State Park road paving project. The low bid for the project, was $104,415.50, from Black Top Services, out of Humboldt. Two other bids, from Omni Engineering, of Omaha, and Western Engineering, of Council Bluffs, came in at $123,699.50, and $124, 846, respectively. A bid from Henningsen Construction in Atlantic, was the highest, at $162,518.25.

In other news from the Supervisor’s meeting, the Board tabled action on a resolution to appoint a Cass County Representative/Commissioner to SIRHA (The Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority).