Derrick Demon Penelton (Iowa DOC photo)

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 26-year old Derrick Demon Penelton, who was convicted of Willful Injury and other crimes in Polk County, left the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility without permission Sunday night, and has not returned. Penelton is a black male, 5-feet 9-inches tall. He weighs about 176 pounds. Penelton was admitted to the work release facility on October 1, 2020. Persons with information on Penelton’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Education Association says schools should be allowed to go online until coronavirus infections subside, without seeking approval from state officials. More than 40 school districts are currently operating all or some grades under temporary virtual learning waivers from the Iowa Department of Education. Many are struggling to staff classrooms and bus routes because of the number of employees in quarantine. Mike Beranek, president of the state teachers union, says it shows that schools are not immune to the pandemic. “While there may be less of an opportunity for students to be symptomatic, they are still fully capable of spreading that virus,” he says. “When they go out into the communities they interact with other individuals who may not be following the protocols which are necessary.”

Beranek says the state’s two-week waivers don’t fit the public health guidelines for quarantine and isolation, because not everyone in a school gets exposed at exactly the same time. “If that requires students to be home for a longer period of time than five days or two weeks, then districts should be able to make those decisions without having to go through the waiver process,” he says.

Last week, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a partial mask mandate for some indoor gatherings of more than 25 people, but it does not apply to schools. Beranek says it should. According to a survey by the ISEA, 40 percent of Iowa school districts do not require students and teachers to wear masks.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Grant Gerlock)

(Atlantic) – The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony will be held this Thursday, November 19th at 5:30 PM in Downtown Atlantic. Attendees must park along Chestnut Street and remain in their vehicles at all times. Gathering on the street and sidewalk will not be allowed. Santa will ride up Chestnut Street on his Fire Truck following the lighting and be in his Cabin from 6 – 7:30 PM. The lighting will also be live streamed on the Chamber’s Facebook page for those who wish to enjoy from home.

Santa’s Cabin will also be a little different this year. All attendees over the age of two must wear a mask when entering the Cabin. Children will have a seating area where they can sit and tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Children will not be allowed to sit on Santa’s lap this year. A socially distance photo may be taken before exiting the Cabin. Social distancing will be mandated while waiting in line. Santa will be in his Cabin every Saturday from 1:30 – 3:30 PM beginning November 28th and ending December 19th. He will be in his Cabin every Thursday from 5:30 – 7 PM beginning December 3rd and ending December 17th.

Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, “like” the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Twitter, to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017.

The Atlantic Boy Scouts will forgo their normal door-to-door food drive this season due to COVID-19. Instead, they will have a Drive-thru Food Drive this Thursday night, Nov. 19th, from 5-until 8-p.m. Simply drive through the alley behind Meyer & Gross Real Estate (7th and Poplar) on Thursday the 19th, roll down your window or open your hatch, and a Scout will collect your food or cash donations. Again that’s from 5-until 8-p.m Thursday, November 19th.