The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Thursday, announced Rush CPA & Associates, PLLC has donated $2,000 to the Atlantic Small Business Relief Fund. Chamber Director Bailey Smith said “We’re so thankful for Rush CPA & Associates, PLLC’s generous donation of $2,000 to the relief fund. They informed me that they have been fortunate that their business hasn’t suffered like many others in town and wanted to do their part to show support. It’s encouraging to see businesses coming forward and supporting other businesses in the community.”

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 11^th at 9 AM on www.atlanticiowa.com and will close Friday, May 15^th 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.

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.

The Montgomery County Public Health Department reports a third and fourth case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Montgomery County. The individuals are both adults (18-40 years). In Montgomery County, to date, there have been four (4) confirmed cases, one (1) of which has recovered. A total of 131 have been tested.

Officials stress, “There is still a great need for all residents to stay home as much as possible, stay away from groups of people and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals as there is substantial spread of COVID-19 throughout Iowa.”

The Pottawattamie County Public Health Department today (Thursday), report there are three new, positive cases of COVID-19. Two of the cases are residents of Council Bluffs, one is from Oakland. They include two females and one male between the ages of 18 and 40. One of the persons has pre-existing conditions. All three had contact with an existing case of COVID-19, and all are self-isolating at home.

The County now has 72 cases of COVID-19. Of those, 31 people have recovered, 38 are self-isolating, one is hospitalized, and two have died.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — A day after Iowa’s governor appeared at the White House and took compliments for her management of the coronavirus pandemic, the state reported it has surpassed 11,000 known positive cases and 231 deaths. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday announced a broader reopening of business in Iowa.

Malls and fitness centers in 22 counties with the highest level of infections are allowed to reopen Friday, with some restrictions. Such businesses in Iowa’s 77 other counties have already reopened.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Crews working to finish fixing levees busted in last year’s deluge are getting some help from the weather. John Remus, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said Thursday that it is “much better shape” than a year ago. The flooding last spring along the Missouri River and its tributaries inundated thousands of acres of farmland in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

Among 61 levees approved for repair in an area spanning from Rulo, Nebraska, to the mouth of Mississippi River, 39 have been restored to the height they were before last spring’s deluge. Upstream of Rulo, all but one levee has been repaired.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on Thursday afternoon. At approximately 1:10 p.m. Officers arrested 38-year-old Jesse Donald Trost of Red Oak in the 200 block of West 3rd Street for a violation of his pre-trial release agreement. He faces charges of 3 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, and Attempted Burglary 3rd Degree of a vehicle.

Trost was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $20,000 cash bond.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence has called Iowa’s response to the coronavirus “a success story” but he may find a less rosy reality when he visits Des Moines on Friday. A recent rise in confirmed infections in the city has alarmed the mayor and medical officials. Even the federal coronavirus task force Pence leads has expressed concern about the city’s toll.

Pence is scheduled to encourage faith leaders to responsibly resume in-person church services, even as many say they’ll refrain for now to stop the virus’s spread. Pence will also meet with grocery and agriculture leaders to discuss food supply.

AMES, Iowa – May 7, 2020 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting public input for the proposed reconstruction of Iowa Highway 2, from 0.8 mile west of the Missouri River to the existing Horse Creek bridges, in Fremont County. The project reconstructs the four-lane roadway and constructs new overflow bridges west of Horse Creek. These improvements will reduce the risk of flood-related closures by raising Iowa 2 two to four feet.

Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times throughout the project.

For general information regarding the proposed improvements or public meeting, contact Scott Suhr, transportation planner, Iowa DOT District 4 Office, 2210 E. Seventh Street, Atlantic, Iowa 50022, phone 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368, email: scott.suhr@iowadot.us.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Pottawattamie County man was sentenced Wednesday in U-S District Court, to a little more than 11-years in prison on a drug charge. 37-year old David Walling, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Walling will serve 134 months in prison to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.

On July 13, 2019, law enforcement attempted to stop Walling, who was operating a motorcycle, in a parking garage in Council Bluffs. Walling failed to stop for police and took off at a high rate of speed. Walling was stopped before he could exit the parking garage. At the time of Walling’s arrest, he was found to be in possession of 43.34 grams of actual methamphetamine.

The matter was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.