DES MOINES – A living legend from Osceola, a nonprofit group from Postville and the City of Malvern were honored with the 2020 Governor’s Arts Award during the virtual 2020 Iowa Arts Summit on Friday. The Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, presented the awards on behalf of Gov. Kim Reynolds to Mary Ellen Kimball of Osceola; Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development, in partnership with the Byways of Iowa Foundation; and the City of Malvern. The awards recognize and honor individuals, organizations and communities that have had a significant impact on the vitality of the arts in Iowa.

2020 Governor’s Arts Award – Community Award
Recipient: City of Malvern
Over the last few years, Malvern has evolved into a rural arts and cultural destination in southwest Iowa where tourists can experience Zack Jones’ ever-evolving Project Art Church; creative businesses, including an art gallery and paintings and pottery studio; and a new mural and outdoor art. The community also attracts tourists who gather on Saturday nights for live music at the Malvern Concert Series and Market.  According to the Malvern Area Betterment Association, “with three fun places to eat, including art in each location, visitors feel connected to Malvern and its people.”

The awards were presented during the virtual 2020 Iowa Arts Summit Friday, when more than 250 state and national arts professionals, community leaders and advocates gathered online to network, learn and celebrate the arts in Iowa. The summit was presented by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

(Radio Iowa) – Sixteen counties are now being declared disaster areas by Governor Kim Reynolds and she expects more will be added to the list soon as damage estimates are finalized from Monday’s massive storm. Some corn fields were leveled by the powerful straight-line winds of the rare derecho storm system, some reports had gusts at 111 miles an hour. Combined, MidAmerican and Alliant Energy report well over 400-thousand customers still without power, while multiple smaller utilities report tens of thousands more remain without electricity.

The Montgomery County Board of Health today, issued a statement addressing the health concerns of Montgomery County citizens. Montgomery County Public Health Administrator Samantha Beeson says “Based on known evidence of how COVID-19 spreads among mass gatherings of people, the Board believes that the harmful health impact on Montgomery County residents attending large events and gatherings could be substantial.” Beeson said the Board’s position on large gatherings is as follows:

• Large events and mass gatherings in Montgomery County are discouraged until the threat of COVID-19 spread has diminished;
• Events where a large portion of attendees travel from outside the local area are also discouraged;
• Large events and mass gatherings with primary attendance being largely from the local area should adequately provide protective measures to reduce the COVID-19 spread.

The Board of Health and Montgomery County Public Health say they are willing to work with any entity to plan a safe event. Following CDC guidance, the following is a minimum list of protective measures recommended to promote healthy behaviors and prevent spread:

• Encouraging ill persons to stay home;
• Have adequate space for social distancing/modified layouts;
• Incorporate Hygienic practices recommended by the CDC for large events;
• Encourage face mask use when social distancing is not possible;
• Adequate cleaning and sanitizing of frequently touched surfaces; and
• Increased messages/signage/announcements reminding people to utilize healthy practices to prevent spread

The Montgomery County Board of Health says it “is greatly concerned about how mass gatherings will affect the citizens, businesses and schools of Montgomery County should an outbreak occur related to an event.” Still, their recommendation is to decrease the size of mass gatherings and events, to decrease the health impact on the community.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session this (Tuesday) morning, both in-person and electronically. Board Chair Supervisor Steve Baier reports he was told by the County Attorney, that jury trials will likely begin in the Courthouse on October 13th. The original date was expected to have been September 13th. There is still some question as to where the jury selection process will take place, who pays for the facilities and the preparation.

Baier says they’ll “Cross that bridge when we get there,” but at least with other Counties getting started before Cass County, it gives Cass County time to prepare. In other business, the Board reviewed and approved the renewal of a partnership agreement between the County Ag Extension District, CCMH, the Nishna Valley YMCA and Cass County, for employment of a Wellness Coordinator for fiscal year 2020-21.

Supervisor Steve Green said Brigham Hoegh has done an excellent job in the position over the past year.

It remains to be seen if the other entities will be all-in with the contract this year, due to budget constraints or other issues. Cass County is a funding partner in the arrangement. In March 2019 the position of a Cass County Wellness Coordinator (person to be a connector and bridge builder in Cass County between various working groups around community health initiatives) was created for FY2020. for the purpose of creating, funding and overseeing a Wellness Coordinator position to serve the residents of Cass County.

The Board also approved a 2020-21 School Year School Resource Officers’ (SRO) Program Agreement. The current SRO is Cass County Deputy Corey Larsen.

DES MOINES–Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation in response to a severe weather system that moved across Iowa and caused widespread damage August 10. The proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather in Boone, Clinton, Dallas, Johnson, Marshall, and Story counties. The proclamation also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for Dallas, Johnson, Marshall, and Story counties.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $43,440 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

Disaster Case Management is a program to address serious needs to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse condition. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.

In addition, the proclamation temporarily suspends regulatory provisions pertaining to weight limits and hours of service for disaster repair crews and drivers delivering goods and services and the movement of loads related to responding to the severe storm system throughout the state of Iowa. Proclamations may be issued for additional counties.

Iowa residents of counties impacted by the recent severe weather are asked to report damage to help local and state officials better understand the damage sustained. Damage to property, roads, utilities and other storm-related information may be reported. This information will be collected by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and shared with local emergency management agencies.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — One of eastern Iowa’s largest employers has revealed it plans to lay off 72 workers at its Cedar Rapids plant. The company, which manufactures aviation and military equipment, had announced on July 30 that it would lay off workers, but declined to say how many. The Gazette reported Monday that it revealed the number in a recent notice to Iowa Workforce Development. The cuts come amid declining sales numbers during the global coronavirus outbreak.

Collins Aerospace President Stephen Timm says the cuts primarily affect Collins Aerospace’s commercial business functions.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report numerous arrests over the past week. Late Monday morning, 37-year old Amanda Sue Franks turned herself-in to the Pott. County Jail. Franks was wanted on a warrant for OWI/1st offense. She was booked into the jail, and later released. A man registered as a sex offender in the State of Iowa, was arrested Monday morning as well, on a warrant for Violation of Parole. 44-year old Donald R.L. Liddick, of Council Bluffs, was booked into the jail in Pott. County.

At around 12:30-a.m. Sunday, two 17-year old females and a 16-year old female were cited in Neola, for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. At around 2:45-a.m. Sunday, 25-year old Alejandra M. Rios was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following an accident on Interstate 80 at mile-marker 14 (Council Bluffs). Deputies found a Jeep with significant damage at that location, and the driver – identified as Rios – was outside. She was slurring her speech and had trouble with her balance, according to the Sheriff’s report. The woman was not injured.  And, at around 6:40-a.m. Sunday, 27-year old Joseph Alan Sullivan was arrested in Council Bluffs, for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. He was taken into custody after being pulled over for having no lights on his motorcycle while driving on Highway 92 at Harry Langdon Blvd.

Saturday morning, 48-year old Joel C. Lary was arrested in Carson, for OWI/1st offense, following a report of a vehicle “brake-checking” another driver on Highway 92.  Late Saturday night, 41-year old Calvin Leroy Preston, of Omaha, was arrested following a traffic stop, for being a Fugitive from Justice. And, on Aug. 4th, 57-year old Milton Milligan, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of Parole, after he turned himself-in to the Pottawattamie County Jail.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 35-year old Karmyn Kay Watson, of Creston, was arrested Friday night in Adams County, on two Union County warrants: one for assault and one for failure to serve jail sentence. Watson was released from the Adams County Jail on a promise to appear.

And a man from Oklahoma reported Saturday evening, that someone had put something in his 2017 GMC Sierra’s fuel tank while it was parked on Virginia Lane, in Creston. His vehicle sustained an estimated $1,000 worth of damage, as a result.

[COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA, August 11, 2020] – The severe thunderstorms that rolled across the Midwest on Monday left a large path of damage across Iowa. Damages appear to more
significant as you move east of Pottawattamie County through Iowa. Local emergency management agencies and the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management are evaluating damages on a statewide basis to grasp the totality of the impacts to asses any potential need to request recovery assistance for the private and public sectors.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management is requesting any property owners that sustained any damages from yesterday’s storms to report them on the emergency management website at pcema-ia.org. The information will be used to inform local officials of any significant impacts that have yet to be reported as well as aid in the statewide impact assessment.

There are now four candidates for four seats on the Cass County Ag Extension Council. The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports Alice C. Williams has filed her papers for nomination. Previously, Jody Steffen from Griswold, Marcy Jo Dorsey and Darrin Petty were announced as having filed their papers for one of the four open seats on the Council. Candidates still have until August 26th to file for the position on the General Election Ballot.