Officials in Mills County report that in their regular meeting on Thursday, June 4th,the Mills County Board of Supervisors adopted procedures for a phased reopening of County offices beginning June 8, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. In making their decision, officials noted the safety of County employees and residents is their overriding priority.

As the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues to have substantial community spread, the Mills County Board of Supervisors are monitoring the situation closely and will periodically update guidance based on current recommendations from Mills County Emergency Management, Mills County Public Health department, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control.

To reduce the potential risk of exposure to the workforce and visitors, the Board has instituted new screening procedures, with the goal of returning to business as usual in the coming months. The information below identifies procedures which are subject to change at any time.

During the initial phase of reopening:
1. County offices will remain open by appointment only.
2. Visitors must first fill out a screening questionnaire found on our website at https://www.cognitoforms.com/MillsCounty1/MillsCountyCoronavirusCOVID19VisitorQuestionnaire (paper copies are also available at the north entrance of the courthouse).
3. Call upon arrival to let the office know you are in the parking lot. You will be contacted when it is your turn to come in.
4. Temperatures will be taken prior to entry into county buildings.
5. Visitors must wear masks at all times after entering.
6. Sanitizer will be offered upon entry.
7. Visitors will be escorted directly to the office with which they are doing business and escorted out when business is completed.
8. County employees will wear masks while serving the public.

Any person with COVID-19 symptoms should refrain from entering a public building. At this time, self-monitoring is required by the public and employees. Stay home if you are ill. Social distancing measures such as increasing the space between workers and the public and decreasing social contacts in the workplace are still in place. Hand shaking is prohibited. Everyone should wash hands thoroughly before entering county facilities and throughout the day. Hand sanitizers will be available at the entrance of the courthouse and in all offices. Office/workspace areas will be cleaned at least daily. Individuals should consider contacting county offices/departments or conducting business online if possible before visiting any facility.

The Mills County Board of Supervisors will revisit these procedures and will provide guidance for the next phase of reopening county offices as the circumstances permit. These procedures do not affect the emergency protocol put in place by State Court Administration. Any court related questions should be directed to the Mills County Clerk of Court at (712) 527-4880.

Visit www.millscoia.us for updated information and specific duties of offices/department. Officials said also that you are “ADVISED THAT THESE PRECAUTIONS ARE IN PLACE TO HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND MEANT TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. HOWEVER, THESE MEASURES MAY NOT ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTRACTING OR SPREADING THE VIRUS. ENTERING ANY PUBLIC PLACE MAY STILL POSE A RISK TO YOUR HEALTH AND YOU SHOULD ACT ACCORDINGLY.

A crash in Fremont County involving a motorcycle, Thursday morning, has claimed the life of a Nebraska man. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2012 Volvo semi driven by 38-year old Margie Carola Castro, of Houston, TX., was eastbound on Highway 2 in the left lane, and preparing to turn left onto the northbound I-29 on-ramp, when Castro failed to yield to a westbound 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

The cycle, operated by 38-year old Andrew Charles Boardman, of Nehawka, NE., ran into the right side of the semi within the intersection of Highway 2 and the I-29 northbound on-ramp. The accident happened at around 6:50-a.m.  Boardman died at the scene.

Adair County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Mandy Berg reports that on Tuesday, June 9th, the Adair County ASVP Board will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Adair County Courthouse in Greenfield, to conduct the post-election audit of the voting system used in the June 2, 2020 Primary Election.

The audit is required under the Code of Iowa, and is open to the public.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Democrats and black leaders are calling for urgent action by state lawmakers to end racial injustice and have proposed several bills during the shortened legislative session. One bill would make it illegal for police in Iowa to use a chokehold or neck restraint unless a person poses an imminent threat.

Another would make it illegal for Iowa police departments to hire officers who were fired or resigned while being investigated for serious misconduct or excessive force. Gov. Kim Reynolds and House Speaker Pat Grassley, both Republicans, wouldn’t commit to the ideas but said they’re willing to talk.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Polk County officials have rescinded a curfew after experiencing several nights of peaceful protests in the Des Moines area. The Polk County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Thursday to end the curfew, which took effect Sunday. The 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew was imposed at the request of Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie and Gov. Kim Reynolds after earlier protests in Des Moines started peacefully but then resulted in vandalism after nightfall.

The protests began after the May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis. He died after being arrested by police, including a white officer who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo hospital is seeing a baby boom. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital reported delivering 142 babies in May, smashing the hospital’s old record of 121 babies set in September 2017. The record is especially surprising because the spring isn’t usually a busy times for babies at the hospital. Last year, 86 births were recorded in May. The births came as the hospital already was dealing with coronavirus cases and precautions that put extra stress on staff.

“Grow Another Row, Cass County!” is a campaign to encourage residents to grow more food to share in 2020. The campaign is launching to address food challenges created by COVID-19, as
more people are finding themselves needing a little extra help keeping food on the table.

Denise O’Brien of Rolling Acres Farm with her tomatoes in 2019.

Most Wanted Produce: According to ISU Extension, the 13 best produce donations are:
tomatoes, winter squash, zucchini, potatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beans.

Now is a great time to plant green beans.

Pole beans need a trellis to climb on but save some strain on the back at harvest time! A bean trellis can be as simple as planting along the garden
fence.

Can you grow another row of tomatoes?

Denise O’Brien of Rolling Acres Farm is focused on producing greenhouse raised plants to help people start their own gardens. This year she’s
giving away free tomato plants to people growing another row. Learn more about Rolling Acres Farm and contact Denise through her website www.rollingacres76.com, or find Rolling Acres
Farm on Facebook @RollingAcresAtlanticIowa. Thank you to Rolling Acres Farm for the support!!

How do your tomatoes grow??
Do your tomatoes often get overgrown and hard to pick? Trellising or caging gets those plants (and tomatoes) up off the ground, making them easier to pick and preventing rot. Additionally,
pruning excess foliage from indeterminate varieties will increase fruit set and speed up ripening. Indeterminate varieties produce leaves and flowers continuously through the growing
season. To prune effectively, pick one main growing stem and remove all other leaves and ‘suckers.’ Suckers are the little shoots that form in the axil where the leaf stem attaches to the
main growing stem.

For more information, please contact:
Brigham Hoegh, Wellness Coordinator
Cass County ISU Extension
712-249-5870

For more gardening tips and to sign up to participate in Grow Another Row visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/content/grow-another-row-cass-county.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health and Audubon County Public Health today (Thursday), identified an additional case of COVID-19 in the county. The individual is an older middle-aged 41-60. This additional case brings Audubon County’s total to 13 positive confirmed cases of COVID-19, this number includes 12 that have recovered, and one death.

Please keep in mind that when a new positive case is announced the Iowa Department of Public Health is only allowing the age range of the individual to be released. Due to confidentiality and HIPPA regulations any additional information including the person’s race, ethnicity, gender, city or employer is considered confidential information and cannot be given out.