(Radio Iowa) — A few Iowa counties are now seeing gasoline prices averaging a dollar-10 a gallon, the lowest prices we’ve seen in many years. Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says prices have been falling during the coronavirus pandemic on a state and national level, with the country’s average gas price now at a dollar-77. “But in Iowa, it’s 30-cents lower at $1.47, in fact, it’s down about 36-cents in Iowa just during the past month alone,” White says. “If we compare it to a year ago, it’s down $1.27, meaning, every time a motorist fills their tank, they’re saving about $19.”

Last week, crude oil trading was actually in negative numbers, though it’s rebounded some since then. “Crude is currently trading at about $12.89 a barrel, but that is still very far below profit levels,” White says, “and so we are hearing about the shutdown of some operations.”  Some refineries are also shutting down because there’s no place left to store the fuel they’d be making. While some businesses in 77 Iowa counties are reopening on Friday, White predicts gas prices will remain low for a while. “We’re actually anticipating further erosion of prices at the pumps,” White says. “We’re expecting the national average to fall to probably about $1.65 before they start rebounding any because of the production cuts.”

Gas prices in Iowa’s metro areas range from the cheapest, at a dollar-25 in Davenport, to the most expensive, a dollar-68 in Council Bluffs. Iowa’s gas prices are among the ten cheapest in the U-S.

Carroll County Public Health today (Wednesday), announced the County’s second positive case of COVID-19. The virus was found following test results for a resident living in Carroll County. The case will not be on the IDPH map today, but should be there by tomorrow (Thursday). Officials say contact tracing is occurring at this time regarding the affected patient, who is 41-to 60 years of age.

Carroll County Public Health Director Nicole Schwering said “We continue to remind residents to take preventive measures to slow the spread of this virus. It is important for everyone to stay home as much as possible and to practice social distancing – this simply means to stay away from groups of people, keep a six-foot distance from other individuals, and wear a mask while in public settings.”

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Telegraph Herald) — Iowa-based furniture maker Flexsteel Industries has announced it will permanently close its Dubuque manufacturing facility. The Telegraph Herald reports that the company announced the closure this (Wednesday) morning, minutes before a conference call to discuss its latest quarterly earnings. The Dubuque plant employs about 150 people. The company announced its facility in Starkville, Mississippi, also will close, and blamed a drop in demand of some products that has been exacerbated by the new coronavirus pandemic.

The closure follows the company’s two-week shutdown of the Dubuque plant last month and its announcement that it would lay off about 100 in Dubuque, including about 40 people at its corporate headquarters.

The Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic has been closed since Governor Kim Reynolds issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency on March 17th, ordering all fitness centers, gyms and health spas to close. Those restrictions are being slowly lifted, effective this Friday, May 1st. Dan Haynes, Executive Director of the Nishna Valley YMCA, says a Re-Opening Task Force was assembled last week, to determine the course of action necessary to re-open certain business safely and within IDHP guidelines.

One of the guidelines requires YMCA visitors to maintain a six-foot separation, which can be a challenge, given the number of workout machines and stations available at the Nishna Valley Y.

(He says they’ve moved some equipment to one of their two gymnasiums, and then taking the mantra of “A Machine in between.)

That means there must be a six-foot separation between users of machines or pieces of equipment. They also expect members and the public to use common sense in sanitizing the machines and equipment.

(He wants you to clean the machinery before and after use. Sanitizing stations will also be available to help you protect yourself and fellow patrons of the YMCA.)

Misting machines are already in use for sanitizing large areas, and will continue to be used by the YMCA staff. The Y itself won’t be open until May 4th. Their pool won’t be open until at least May 18th. The locker rooms will remain closed as well until the order is lifted, but the bathrooms will still be available. YMCA programs will slowly be brought back as conditions warrant. Child Watch and Youth programs will not be available until the Governor approves them.

(He said the 1st week or 2, the building will open for persons 18 or older, only.)

Haynes says they will be closed May 9th and 10th, in order to reevaluate the previous days’ operations and what needs to change or improve. He said they are working closely with health officials to remain in compliance with the guidelines and rules for re-opening Friday, and will continue to do so until restrictions are eased fully.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Wednesday press conference on COVID-19. We plan on having live audio of the presser on KJAN as well. The press conference is set to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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“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. Did you get some plants in the ground last week? Need a little help getting started? We hear you.
Need seeds? The Griswold Library will donate seeds to area gardeners this year. Just call the Griswold Library at (712) 778-4130, and talk to Lisa about what she has available. Lisa will then set the seeds out for you to pick up on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. This is open to any grower in Cass County.

Caring for plants in the spring: Although, this IS the time to plant cool season crops, it can also be a difficult time with cool nights dipping into the low 30’s and small animals looking for a treat. What can we do to keep those young crops ‘safe’? Here are some ideas.

1. Milk jugs with the bottom cut out can be placed over fresh transplants to help keep the chill off on cold nights and give a nice greenhouse effect during the day. As an added bonus, the jugs also protect the transplants from rabbits and small rodents looking for a snack. Pro tip: instead of cutting the bottom completely off the jug, cut just 3 sides and bend the flap that you have created to the side – place a rock or clod of dirt on the flap to keep milk jug from blowing away.

2. Baby powder or cornstarch is a great way to deter bugs, rabbits, and other small creatures from devouring your tiny seedlings. Just sprinkle some on at planting and remember to reapply after each rain. Be careful to not ‘poof’ the baby powder or cornstarch into your face. Can we call that a pro tip?
For more information, please contact: Brigham Hoegh, Wellness Coordinator Cass County ISU Extension 712-249-5870

3. Mulch. Weeds are not only a nuisance but can hurt garden yields. One fast, easy remedy is to mulch your plants. Mulch between rows and around plants. Whole sheets of newspapers may be used. Most are printed with organic ink. Layer 2 or 3 sheets, water them down so they stick together and to the soil surface, then weigh them down with a little soil to prevent them from blowing away in the wind. The extra work now saves time and energy later.

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.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — Churches are reacting to decision by Governor Kim Reynolds to lift the coronavirus limit of holding public gatherings to 10 or fewer people to allow churches to hold worship services. The governor has limited the opening of businesses to 77 counties that have lower cases of COVID-19 and she was asked Tuesday why she is allowing churches in all 99 counties to hold services.”I think it comes down to constitutional liberties and the First Amendment. So, we are going to continue to work with our churches across the state,” Reynolds said. “We would continue to encourage them to offer online services — especially for our most vulnerable Iowans.”

Reynolds said she is confident the church leaders will do the right thing in deciding whether to restart worship services in their buildings. “We are also encouraging them — and they will — to practice social distancing. To think about different measures that they can put in place. The Department of Public Health has put together guidelines that they should follow — but they’ll make sure that they are practicing safe worship,” Reynolds said. She says worshipers also have a responsibility. “Iowans also need to be responsible — so if you are sick you need to stay home — continue to utilize the online services. We also know that social distancing works, so we should incorporate that into opening up the services,” Reynolds says.

The four Catholic bishops of Iowa announced that public Masses will continue to be suspended for now in light of the expectation that positive cases of COVID-19 will peak in Iowa in the next few weeks. A group of denominational leaders issued a statement of recommendation urging all religions to refrain from in-person religious gatherings. Reverend Ian McMullen of the Presbyterian Church signed on to the statement, and says they also feel it is not yet time to bring people together for services. “Our first call is to love our neighbor. And most of our congregations are made up of people who are in a high-risk group — 65 and older, underlying conditions — so that is why we have put forth this recommendation,” he says.

McMullen hopes all religious leaders will feel the same way. “I appreciate that the governor has left it up to us. I know that she has the best intentions when she gave us the freedom to do that and I appreciate that,” according to McMullen. “So, with that freedom, we have made the decision to love our neighbors by physically staying apart.” McMullen says the coronavirus pandemic has brought a powerful urgency to the religious community. “We had this glorious moment when our world was upended and we were scrambling to share the gospel news with the world around us — as opposed to living in our regular rut of weekly worship,” McMullen says. ” We were scrambling for our Facebook passwords and figuring out how to work webcams, and caring for those people who could not leave their home or had become sick. It was, and is, a time of great transition in the church.”

McMullen says the pandemic impacts everyone and no denomination is left out. “We’ve been in conversation with folks in mosques and synagogues and churches and meeting house all over the country. And they all say the same thing — this has heightened their awareness of what is really important in our faith,” McMullen says.  He says they’ve learned again it is not about the building where you gather — it is about the message.  “Love your neighbor, feed the hungry. Those are all things that are much more important than stained glass windows and brick and mortar,” McMullen says.

More than 20 leaders of various denominations signed onto the recommendation.

Red Oak Police were called at around 10-p.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of E. Elm Street, for a reported altercation. Upon further investigation, officers arrested 22-year old Skylar Lee Bingham, of Red Oak, on charges of Simple Assault and Breach of Peace/Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $300. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, along with Red Oak Fire and Rescue.