IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City’s mayor is ordering people to wear masks in public to stop the spread of the coronavirus, defying Gov. Kim Reynolds’ claim that cities cannot mandate face coverings. Iowa has been one of the only states that does not have any enforceable local or state mask mandates.

The Republican governor has said that she believes cities and counties can require masks only if she grants that authority, which she’s refused to do. But Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague on Tuesday cited authority granted to cities in the state constitution and a law that gives mayors the power to govern by proclamation when an “emergency or public danger exists.”

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors met Monday evening and heard from Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen, who told them the final stages of the City of Atlantic’s “Walkability” maps are being finalized. Rasmussen said the maps will show the locations of various forms of entertainment, shopping areas, as well as restaurants and other points of interest.

Walkability Map for the City of Atlantic.

He mentioned too, that they are looking to place a larger map outside of the Parks and Rec Building at Sunnyside Park; another large map at Schildberg Recreation Area (along with some brochures), and other map locations at City Park and at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rasmussen told the Board also, that the big dock at the Schildberg Recreation Area is ready to be placed back in the water soon, and that the dock will be extended out about another 12 feet. You may recall, that flooding in March of 2019 ripped the cement mooring posts for the dock that held it place. Following the flood event, the dock was found on the shoreline.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests. On Sunday, 34-year old Jordyn Dell Lavola Swanson, of Exira, was arrested on charges of Public Intoxication, and Disorderly Conduct. Swanson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance. And, 43-year old Jason Richard Tasto, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Tasto was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

Last Friday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 33-year old  Justin Allen Knutsen, of Atlantic, on a charge of Interference with Official Acts. Knutsen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released the following day.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the amount of money that would be in another coronavirus stimulus bill is one issue being debated — but she says liability protection is the biggest sticking point for her. “Bottom line, if we do expect our schools to open, our colleges and universities to resume, our churches to protect them, our businesses — all of that — we know that we do have to have liability protections in place,” Ernst says.

Democrats are looking at a package of some three TRILLION dollars, while Republicans are talking about a one TRILLION dollar package. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says they need to look at what has happened with the funds they’ve previously approved.  “We’ve already spent three trillion dollars through the CARES ACT, or we’ve allocated it. What we’ve found is that there is a trillion dollars designated for certain programs through the CARES ACT. And so, we really do need to take that into account as we move forward, and not just pile more money into these programs,” according to Ernst.

She says they want the money to go where it will do the most good. “We are trying to gauge that and make sure that we are very laser focused on supporting COVID-19 recovery efforts,” Ernst says, “You know, this is not a grand give away. We won’t support that.” Ernst says she is introducing a bill that would help essential workers by giving them a tax break. “Under my proposal, federal income taxes would be suspended for essential workers up to an annual income cap set at the highest level of pay for an enlisted person in the United States armed forces,” Ernst says. “Additionally, the bill would provide a suspension of federal payroll taxes for essential workers who earn up to 50-thousand dollars annually.”

Ernst says the essential workers are putting the interests of their fellow Americans ahead of their own and they should be rewarded for their selfless service.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recently confirmed that zebra mussels are in Lake Manawa. A homeowner on Lake Manawa reported finding zebra mussels on rip-rap along his shoreline. Investigation by DNR staff discovered low numbers of zebra mussels around the lake. DNR staff will conduct additional surveys at Lake Manawa this fall and next summer to monitor the abundance and distribution of zebra mussels. The documentation of zebra mussels in another lake highlights the spread of aquatic invasive species in Iowa waters.

Kim Bogenschutz, DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Program coordinator, says “The zebra mussels in Lake Manawa probably arrived on or in a boat that had picked up the mussels from an infested water body, like the nearby Missouri River.” Zebra mussels look like small, D-shaped clams that have alternating light and dark bands. Most are less than one inch long. They are filter feeders that can form dense clusters as they attach to hard underwater surfaces.  Large infestations may interfere with aquatic food chains, kill native mussels, clog water intakes, increase algae blooms, and cover beaches with dead shells.  Currently there is no effective treatment to control zebra mussels once they have infested a lake.

Young zebra mussels are microscopic and can be unintentionally transported with water in live wells, bilges, ballast or bait buckets.  Adult zebra mussels can attach to boats, trailers and aquatic vegetation. It is illegal to possess or transport prohibited aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels, in Iowa. Boaters must also drain all water from boats and equipment before they leave a water access and must keep drain plugs removed or opened during transport.

Bogenschutz says “Boaters and anglers can unintentionally spread zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species if they do not take the proper precautions to clean, drain, and dry after each time out on the water.”

• CLEAN any plants, animals or mud from boat and equipment before you leave a water body.
• DRAIN water from all equipment (motor, live well, bilge, transom well, bait bucket) before you leave a water body.
• DRY anything that comes into contact with water (boats, trailers, equipment, boots, clothing, dogs). Before you move to another waterbody either:
• Spray your boat and trailer with hot, high-pressure water; or
• Dry your boat and equipment for at least 5 days.
• Never release plants, fish or animals into a water body unless they came out of that water body and empty unwanted bait in the trash.

“Draining all water is a critical step in preventing the spread of zebra mussels,” reminds Bogenschutz. Find more information about aquatic invasive species and a list of infested waters in the 2020 Iowa Fishing Regulations booklet or on the DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/ais

One person died and another was injured during a crash Sunday night, in Fremont County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 50-year old David Allen Terry, of Shenandoah, was traveling east on Highway 2, west of Waubonsie Avenue, when for reasons unknown, the cycle crossed the center line into the westbound lane. 57-year old Ezeuiel Paul Soriano, of Sidney, was driving an eastbound 2018 Hyundai Elantra and swerved to miss the motorcycle, but both vehicles collided on the center line. The accident happened at around 9:20-p.m.

Terry died at the scene of the crash.

Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office report one person was seriously injured during a single-vehicle accident on 1600th Street, Monday evening. 45-year old Aaron James Nelson, of Harlan, suffered suspected serious/incapacitating injuries and was flown by helicopter to Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Omaha. Authorities say Nelson was driving a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup westbound on 1600th Street, about one-quarter of a mile west of Highway 59, when the pickup went out of control and entered the north ditch. The vehicle rolled at least once. Nelson – who was not wearing a seat belt – was ejected from the pickup as it rolled over. The accident happened at around 6:15-p.m.

Accident scene photo submitted to KJAN

Nelson was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The pickup was totaled in the crash, with the loss estimated AT $20,000.

(Radio Iowa) – As Iowans continue grappling with the effects of the pandemic, many are taking advantage of free remote counseling made available through the state. Teresa Zilk is a media specialist for the COVID Recovery grant. She says counselors can help Iowans build coping skills as coronavirus-related disruptions continue. “There’s just a lot of anxiety about what’s gonna happen next,” Zilk says. “So many people have been impacted in terms of no longer having employment. Even farmers are having difficulties. You have parents who are home with children more than they were before.”

Zilk says they want to reach Iowans from all walks of life — those who lost their jobs, are now constantly home with their families, people with disabilities, and Iowans struggling with anxiety surrounding the uncertainty. “It’s requiring a different set of coping skills for everybody,” she says. “So we’re there to give them different types of coping skills and strategies to help reduce the sense of loss and stress that they’ve experienced.”

Spanish language services are available and counselors can also refer people to other services. Any Iowan can seek free confidential counseling at the website: Covid Recovery Iowa-dot-org, or by calling 844-775-WARM.

(By Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A teenager in Waterloo has died after showing up at a hospital with a gunshot wound Police were called to a neighborhood Monday night where residents reported hearing gunshots and seeing someone on the ground in an alley. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that officers didn’t find anyone but a short time later a 15-year-old showed up at a Waterloo hospital. The teen later died. Police found numerous spent shell casings in the alley and say at least one home was hit by a bullet.

The Iowa State Patrol reports six people were injured during a multi-vehicle collision late Sunday evening, in northern Dallas County. Authorities say a stolen 2002 GMC pickup driven by 31-year old Samantha N. Whitney, of Joplin, MO., was traveling west on Highway 44 near Sportsman Club Road at around 7:40-p.m., when the vehicle crossed the center line of the road and struck a 2006 Dodge pickup driven by 45-year old Trevor Cozad, of Yale, and a trailer being pulled by his pickup. The trailer became disconnected and struck a 2013 Hyundai Elantra driven by 42-year old Erika N. Cozad, of Yale.

Whitney was transported to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines by air ambulance. Several passengers in the vehicles were injured including: 58-year-old Rhonda Gragg of Perry, who was flown to MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines by air ambulance; Trevor and Erika Cozad, and two 16-year old’s, Natalie and Jessica Watson, both of Yale, were transported to Methodist Medical Center by Dallas County Emergency Medical Services. Whitney and Gragg suffered serious-to life-threatening injuries. Trevor and Erika Cozad along with the two teens, suffered minor to serious injuries. All of the injured were wearing a seat belt.

An initial investigation indicated alcohol may have played a role in the crash.  The State Patrol was assisted by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Dallas County EMS.