JEFFERSON, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Transportation has temporarily closed two maintenance garages after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus after having contact with two dozen colleagues. Spokeswoman Andrea Henry says the garages in Jefferson and Boone were closed Wednesday after all 24 employees who work at them were ordered to self-isolate for 14 days.

Crews in both garages were working together on projects and had exposure to an infected employee. Their work will be picked up by other crews in the area during the closures.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has purchased 1 million face masks through a Republican campaign vendor that will be used by some health care workers despite labels that warn they aren’t intended for medical purposes or hospitals. Iowa’s executive branch last month agreed to buy the reusable cotton masks from Competitive Edge, Inc. for $1.07 apiece. The $1.32 million contract was awarded to bolster the state’s personal protective equipment supplies to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

It was Iowa’s fourth emergency purchase order with the Des Moines company owned by David Greenspon, a GOP donor whose firm has long sold promotional items to Republican campaigns.

Connections Area Agency on Aging C.E.O. Kelly Butts-Elston said today (Friday), that “While Governor Reynolds has given consent for Adult Day Services and Senior Centers to re-open amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, Connections Area Agency on Aging will not be resuming our congregate meal service in our 34 communities at this time. Her proclamation allows for privately owned and independent Senior Centers to resume business, but there are no congregate meal sites managed by Iowa’s six Area Agencies on Aging that will re-open at this time.”

The coronavirus remains in all corners of our service area, and there is so much unknown about this volatile, unpredictable and highly contagious pandemic. Butts-Elston says “The things that we do know are that the virus can produce particularly harsh outcomes for individuals over age 65, and this demographic comprises the vast majority of our congregate meal participants.” Connections officials are working with state and national leaders (from public health to the business sector) to implement safety protocols and processes in anticipation for the time when the Agency thinks it can resume the hot home-delivered and subsequent congregate meal program. UNTIL THEN, THE SAFETY OF [OUR] PARTICIPANTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS REMAINS [THE] KEY FOCUS.

Butts-Elston says “We know that many aging Iowans miss attending their local congregate meal program and are eager to “get out” and see friends. I want you to know that we miss having you there. We look forward to your return but only when we can be assured that our program is not putting older Iowans at risk. Until then, please do not hesitate to phone us if you have any questions, concerns or items of need. There are many ways that we’ve been able to assist aging Iowans and their caregivers during these trying times. Please phone us toll free:  800-432-9209.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have identified a man killed in a central Omaha shooting as a western Iowa resident. Omaha police say 41-year-old John Miles, of Council Bluffs, was found dead Thursday in an apartment complex by officers who were called there just after noon to investigate a report of a shooting.

Police say they are searching for a 31-year-old man suspected of carrying out the shooting, but no arrests had been reported by late this (Friday) morning.

(Radio Iowa) — The president of the Casey’s convenience store chain based in Ankeny says they learned during restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 that customers like to help themselves. Casey’s president, Darren Rebelez, says people like pick out their own slice of pizza or other food items. “When we made the shift to full service — our guests did not like that,” Rebelez says. “Although we had people with masks and gloves on handing them their food — they didn’t like having to wait — they were accustomed to doing it themselves.”

During a conference call to report quarterly earnings, Rebelez says he visited several stores, but didn’t take a poll. “I don’t have any empirical data to share with you in terms of a percentage of like it, or don’t like. All I can tell you is — people were complaining when we made the change. People were happy when we changed it back,” according to Rebelez. Chief financial officer Bill Walljasper says they did see the impact in food sales. “As we moved from a full service to a self-service model –depending on the category that’s a self-service — we see an uptick from ten to 15 percent on a category,” Walljasper says. “So, definitely that seems to be an overwhelming desire to have that self-service. At least in our market area.”

Caseys has 21-hundred and 54 stores in Iowa and seven other states.

Shelby County Treasurer Carolyn Blum reports “The Shelby County Courthouse is tentatively scheduled to begin implementing Phase 2 of the Courthouse Reopening Plan on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. The courthouse will be returning to a “new normal” with semi-regular operations.” Blum says as a reminder, “The Governor’s current proclamation has extended all motor vehicle, driver’s license and property tax deadlines to June 25, 2020.”

She added that, “Throughout this difficult time, we have found that scheduling appointments with our customers has been welcomed and appreciated. Therefore, transactions that require in-person visits, will continue to be processed by appointment only for the Shelby County Treasurer’s Office. This will allow staff to designate a time period for: 1) higher risk individuals to receive courthouse access appointments; 2) prioritize those who have expired transactions; 3) continue increased department cleaning of frequently touched surfaces to prevent and reduce transmission of the virus.”

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa legislature has voted to move the age for buying tobacco products to 21. Representative Rob Bacon, a Republican from Slater, says this puts Iowa law in line with the recent federal change. “Iowa law enforcement officers, local law enforcement officers cannot enforce federal law,” Bacon says. “This will allow our officers to go in and if the retailer is attempting to sell (to someone between the ages of 18 and 21), they could lose their license.”

If the state doesn’t make this change, Bacon says more than three-million dollars in federal funds for state-run substance abuse programs would be withheld. Some lawmakers objected to raising the legal age for buying cigarettes and other products with nicotine from 18 to 21 — arguing 18 year olds are adults and should be able to buy any legal product they wish. Representative Marti Anderson, a Democrat from Des Moines, says she supports the move because of health concerns. “If we can help not have kids smoke or vape from the ages of 18 to 21, we can save some lives,” she said.

Surveys suggest at least five percent of the state’s smokers are between the ages of 18 and 21. An even greater share of those who use electronic cigarettes for “vaping” are in that age group. The bill passed the Iowa Senate in early March. It passed the Iowa House last (Thursday) night and lawmakers expect Governor Reynolds to approve it.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County, Wednesday, arrested 26-year old Jacob William Nielsen. Nielsen was taken into custody at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, on a Page County warrant for Willful Injury.

Jacob William Nielsen (Page County S/O photo)

The charge stems from an incident when Nielsen was an inmate at the Clarinda Correctional Facility. Nielsen was transported to the Page County Jail and was being held on a $10,000 cash-only bond, while awaiting further court proceedings.