(Radio Iowa) — One of the state’s leading advocates for open government says citizens in places like Perry have a right to know when there’s a public health concern at large local employers. Iowa Freedom of Information Council executive director Randy Evans says “The fundamental concern I have is the public ought to be informed so that they now what is going on in their community.”

On Tuesday, state officials announced 730 employees at Tyson Fresh Meats in Perry had tested positive for COVID-19. That’s 58 percent of all the workers who were tested. The company had been refusing to reveal how many workers had COVID-19, citing privacy concerns. Evans applauds the Iowa Department of Public Health Department’s decision to start announcing outbreaks at facilities like meat packing plants.  “The public needs to know more rather than knowing less,” Evans says.

But Evans questions the department’s standard for what constitutes an outbreak. State officials will announce there’s a COVID-19 outbreak when at least 10 percent of the employees at a food production plant or other large manufacturing facility are absent or test positive for the virus.  “A business that employs 2000 people, 10 percent who are infected, is a large number of people circulating in the community, potentially,” Evans says.

State Auditor Rob Sand says no corporation or public official should ever claim the federal law on individual health care records justifies withholding the big picture from the public. In late April, Sand had called for packing plant outbreak numbers to be made public.

Crossroads of Western Iowa is hosting a virtual hiring event from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th.  They are seeking applicants for Residential Coaches in all locations—Atlantic, Battle Creek, Cherokee, Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, Onawa, and Sioux City.  Residential Coaches are vital to Crossroads’s mission of empowering individuals with disabilities, as they serve Crossroads clients directly and ensure their health and safety in the organization’s Supported Community Living homes. Coaches work cooperatively with the persons receiving services to support them and help them achieve greater independence.

Both day and night shifts are available, as are full-time and part-time opportunities. A high school diploma or GED is required, along with a valid Chauffer’s License, which can be obtained after hiring. Crossroads offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including a sign-on bonus. Those interested in joining Crossroads can register for the virtual hiring event on the Crossroads website. The registration form asks for your name, email, phone number, and the city in which you’d like to work. Please access the form at: Crossroads of Western Iowa to host virtual hiring event http://Crossroads of Western Iowa to host virtual hiring event

After the form is submitted, their HR team will reach out to schedule an interview during the 1-4 p.m. time slot.

Audubon County Public Health Administrator Bob Nelson, today (Wednesday), provided an update on the status of COVID-19 in his county. In his online message, Nelson reminded residents not to lower their guard and become desensitized to the information that continues to flow from this pandemic.

(Bob Nelson said as of Wednesday, Audubon County had a total of eight positive COVID-19 cases. He said everyone can help prevent the spread of the virus and should watch for the  symptoms. Nelson said if you think you need to be tested, call your physician, or go to www.testiowa.com.)

According to the CDC, COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Infected people have had a wide range of symptoms reported – from mild symptoms to severe illness.

DES MOINES – Today (Wednesday), the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said it has been notified of 293 additional positive COVID-19 cases, for a total of 10,404 positive cases. There have been an additional 2,309 negative tests for a total of 52,767 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.  According to IDPH, an additional 12 deaths were also reported, 414 are currently hospitalized, and 3,803 Iowans have recovered. At this time, 1 in 50 Iowans have already been tested.

According to IDPH the additional 12 deaths were reported in the following counties:

Black Hawk County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Clayton County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Jasper County, 2 elderly adults (81+)
Linn County, 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
Marshall County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Muscatine County, 1 older adult (61-80 years),
Polk County, 3 elderly adults (81+)
Woodbury County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)

The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Iowa now stands at 219. More than 3,800 Iowans have recovered from the virus. Over 63,170 Iowans have been tested. RMCC data from the IDPH shows:

• 34 were admitted within the past 24-hours.
• 151 COVID-19 patients are in an ICU.
• 103 are on ventilators.
• 3,799 In-Patient beds for COVID-19 patients are available.
• 551 ICU beds are available for those patients.
• and, there are 665 ventilators available.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce today (Wednesday), announced the launch of the Atlantic Small Business Relief Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund was kick-started by a substantial donation from a community donor. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says “We’re so thrilled to launch this initiative. We received a call from a community-minded individual who wanted to do something to show support for local small businesses. They kept hearing the phrase, ‘We will get through this together’, and wanted to do their part in living up to those words. They have graciously donated $10,000 to kick start this fund and we are so thankful for their generosity and look forward to helping as many businesses as we can.”

The fund will be used to provide grants to local small businesses currently suffering economic hardship due to COVID-19. These funds are not intended to replace a loss of actual or anticipated revenue, but to provide businesses with funds to keep them viable during this public health crisis. Applications will be available beginning Monday, May 11th at 9 AM on www.atlanticiowa.com and will close Friday, May 15th at 12 PM. Grants will range between $500 – $2,500. To apply, businesses must have a 50022 zip-code. Atlantic Chamber of Commerce membership for participation is not required, though preference will be given to current members and/or businesses that have not received State and/or Federal funds previously. Applications will be reviewed by a committee and awarded pending availability of funds.

Our small business community is facing many unknown effects of COVID-19. The relief fund provides an opportunity for community members and larger businesses to donate with the reassurance their donations will be used to quickly move resources to where they are most needed and to adapt to evolving needs. To help as many businesses as possible, if you are interested in donating to the fund, contact the Chamber at 712-243-3017, email chamber@atlanticiowa.com or mail donations to 102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022.

Officials with the Adair Fire Department said on their social media page this (Wednesday) morning, that after meeting Tuesday night, their members voted, and “Uunfortunately decided we will be cancelling Chuckwagon Days this summer due to COVID-19.”

The Department says “This was not an easy decision for us to make, but thinking of the safety of our supporters in our community along with our members on the Fire Department, we decided it was the best decision we could make during these uncertain times. Stay posted for events we will have later in the year!”

The Creston Police Department reports a woman from Adair County was arrested Tuesday morning at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 21-year old Brianna Lawson, of Greenfield, was arrested on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Violation of a Protection Order. During the course of her arrest, Lawson was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense and Possession of Paraphernalia. She was released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear on all charges.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Atlantic High School Principal Heather McKay, today (Wednesday), outlined the current plans for Prom, Senior Class Night, Senior Cruise Night (in place of traditional Drumline March), and Commencement.

Prom Information:

Prom has been rescheduled for July 11. If restrictions have been lifted AHS will host the event with all of its activities. This is dependent upon guidance from Governor Reynolds, the IDPH, and the CDC. Our final decision will be made on June 30. If we cannot have it on July 11, it will not be rescheduled.

Senior Class Night Information:

Senior Class Night will be shown/live-streamed on www.kjan.com through the KJAN website and will take place Thursday, May 21 at 6 PM. Only designated personnel will be present for the stream. If you miss the live-stream, it will be archived on the district’s website and the district Facebook page. Please join AHS staff remotely that evening as Atlantic students are honored for their hard work and dedication.

• School personnel or scholarship representatives will announce recipients for scholarships, academic awards, and other special recognitions.
• Recipients’ photos will be displayed.

Commencement Information: 

Atlantic Community Schools desires to have a traditional in-person ceremony for the Class of 2020. That ceremony has been rescheduled to Sunday, July 19 at 2 PM in the AHS gymnasium. Commencement rehearsal will be Wednesday, July 15 at 10 AM in the high school gymnasium. This all is dependent upon guidance from Governor Reynolds, the IDPH, and the CDC. Our final decision will be made on July 8.

Sunday, May 24: A commencement ceremony will be conducted as originally scheduled for Sunday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m. and will take place via a digital format provided by Jostens. At 2 PM on Sunday, May 24, you can enter a previously supplied password that will be sent from me and view the ceremony from the convenience of your home or any remote location. The ceremony will be archived on the district Facebook and web page. School officials will be asking for your help to make this experience as authentic as possible. District personnel considered many options for electronic graduation and believe this is the most personable.

1. Here is the process we are using to create the digital media ceremony:

• Seniors and a maximum of four guests will sign up for a 20-minute time slot as outlined below.
• The graduate will cross the auditorium stage wearing his/her cap and gown partnered with nice attire and dress shoes.
• Each graduate will hear his/her name read (this will be videotaped and photographed). Guests are welcome to take all the individual videos and photographs they would like. We will also have a photographer available.
• Graduates, please select who of your parents/guests will hand you the diploma cover. The diploma cover will be placed on a table to be collected for each graduate.

Graduates will be staggered so sanitizing procedures can be implemented between each individual. Graduates and guests will enter through the front entrance auditorium doors. The exit door will be stage right – we will guide you through this process.

2. Please sign up for a time for your walk to https://www.myconferencetime.com/acsd/schedule/405798 If the available timeframes will not work, special times can be arranged. Please email hmckay@atlanticiaschools.org to do so.

Details:

• Each graduate can invite up to four guests to stay in compliance.
• Honors Graduates will be given their medals, stoles, and/or cords prior to their walk.
• If the Sunday, July 19 ceremony is allowed to take place, we ask that each graduate return their diploma cover to us prior to the ceremony so it can be redistributed.

“Drumline March” Cruise Night Information:

A tradition AHS started several years ago was a final march through the schools. This will be modified with a cruise through town.

• At 3:30 PM, Sunday, May 24, we ask that seniors and parents and one additional vehicle of guests, if desired (i.e. grandparents), meet in the high school parking lot.
• Seniors, please wear your caps and tassels as a way to identify you as the graduate to the public and sit in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
• Your car will be given a poster to tape safely to the outside of your vehicle as we do for Homecoming parades.
• It is important that all stay in the vehicles while in the parking lot and the cruise.
• We need to be sure to follow all traffic rules and noise ordinances as we will not have a police escort.
• At 4 PM we will begin a cruise from the high school down to the Depot. We will have a special broadcast aired via KS95.7 during the parade and KJAN will live-stream it.
• The route
  • High school
  • West on 14th St, passed Washington Elementary to Maple St.
  • North on Maple to 10th St.
  • Turn East on 10th to head south on Linn St.
  • Turn on Ed Podolak Drive to pass AMS and Schuler Elementary
  • East to Olive St.
  • North to 10th St.
  • West on 10th St. to Chestnut St.
  • North on Chestnut St. (There will be a platform we ask each car to pause at. An announcer will introduce the graduate, his/her parents/guardians, and plans for after high school)
  • To the Depot
  • After U-turn at the Depot, turn west on 2nd St. to conclude the route
• Please ask anyone who watches the cruise to maintain social distancing.