Cass County Wellness Program Coordinator Brigham Hoegh said Friday, that “Due to concerns for spread of disease and accessibility, the Cass County Farmers Market Pre-Season Vendor Workshop will be held March 16th via phone conference, from 12:30 to 3:30 PM. All materials will be supplied electronically.”

The Cass County Local Food Policy Council and Cass County ISU Extension encourage those considering vending at Cass County farmers markets in 2020 to attend the free workshop. Those interested in attending the workshop are asked to RSVP by March 15th to Hoegh at 712-249-5870, or by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu. Registrants will receive the phone conference number and electronic materials. While all presenters will join the conference by phone, attendees needing assistance participating in the phone conference may join the call at the Cass County Community Center. Those planning to join the phone conference at the community center are asked to RSVP to ISU Extension at 712-243-1132.

The pre-season workshop has been designed to cover topics of interest to both experienced vendors and those just starting to consider participating in farmers markets. Experts in the areas of food safety and market licensing requirements, farmers market insurance, and resources from the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship will present at the workshop. During the last 30 minutes of the workshop (3:00-3:30), vendor information will be provided for Cass County Farmers Markets, including the Anita Farmers Market, the Atlantic Farmers Market, and Produce in the Park.

DES MOINES – Iowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith said Friday, that the IDC will postpone County Conventions (Including the March 21st Cass County Convention) to a future date to be determined.

Smith says “After extensive consultation with County Chairs, the State Central Committee, party leaders, and public health officials, we have come to the determination that the spreading coronavirus poses a risk that outweighs a temporary delay in moving the caucus-to-convention process forward. This is not an easy decision, but we believe it is the right decision,” he said.

As of this time, District and State Convention planning will proceed as scheduled. For more information on COVID-19 in Iowa, please visit the Iowa Department of Public Health website for the latest updates and safety precautions.

Officials with non-profit West Central Community Action (WCCA), in Atlantic, report the decision has been made to close all of their emergency clothing rooms from now (March 13th) through March 27th, due to growing concerns over the COVID-19 virus. The organization will also not be accepting donations during the aforementioned time frame. WCCA Food Pantries will however remain open, where available (The Atlantic WCCA office does not have a food pantry).

WCCA says it will continue to monitor the situation and continue to develop and implement plans, based on CDC recommendations.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Johnson County said today (Friday), they have no indication that the coronavirus has spread beyond 14 residents who tested positive after a cruise to Egypt. Johnson County Public Health Director Dave Koch told reporters that he has seen no indication of “community spread” in the Iowa City area. At the same time, he acknowledged that not all of those on the cruise or a second to Egypt that was cut short have been tested for the virus.

Both cruises were sponsored by a Johnson County bank rewards club for members age 50 and older.

A fire in the engine compartment of an International semi tractor-trailer this (Friday) morning, was apparently caused by an electrical/wiring malfunction. Griswold Firefighter Andy Steffen told KJAN News the fire happened at around 8:20-a.m., on the property of Ray Wilson at 60253 Wichita Road, south of Griswold. Wilson said the truck had been sitting for three or four days, so the engine would not have been hot. When he looked out the window this morning, he saw smoke coming out from under the hood/engine cowling.

Wilson rushed outside and used a hose to extinguish most of the fire before firefighters arrived. He told fire crews it sounded like the truck was trying to start when he approached it. Steffen said that sometimes happens with an electrical fire. Wilson’s quick action, Steffen said, prevented the flames from spreading to shed that housed vehicles and equipment. The shed was about three-or four-feet away from the truck.

There were no injuries. The truck sustained an estimated $15-to $20,000 damage. Griswold Fire was on the scene for about 20-minutes.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met this past Wednesday. According to the minutes provided by County Auditor/Board Secretary Dale Sunderman, the Board considered bids for lawn care, snow removal and trash pick-up. Two bids were received for Calendar Year 2020 (CY2020). The low bid from Erickson W.S.S was approved by unanimous vote. Two bids were also received for FY2021 snow removal, but because they were not detailed in the same manner, the board postponed action until after more information is obtained. And, the Supervisors approved the lone bid from Cook Sanitation Service for FY 2021 sanitation services/trash removal. Their bid was less than current service fees.

A motion made to re-appoint Brenda Nelson as commissioner of Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority failed by a roll-call vote for lack of a majority (Supervisor Mark O’Brien was absent). The appointment will be reconsidered when the full board is present at their next regular meeting. In other business, new account manager Group Benefit Partners representatives reviewed renewal information for the County’s ISAC Group Health Program, and the voluntary group dental program, for FY2021.  The County also has a mini-self-funded health insurance program and flex benefits program and contracts with a third party administrator for those by calendar year.  Options for reducing third party administration costs were discussed.  The discounted renewal rates for the health program are nearly the same as current rates (increase of $1 per month for a ‘single plan’ and a decrease of $2 per month for a ‘family plan’.

Sunderman says also, the Board asked Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon about steps he was taking to protect the ‘courthouse’ from the COVID-19 virus.  At his invitation, Cass County Health Systems Public Health Nurse Linda Edelman and Nurse Darci Young, were invited to Wednesday’s meeting to discuss COVID-19. Information discussed included what the County should do to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Edelman said persons should not panic; and said the public is more at risk of catching the flu than COVID-19.  It was recommended, that like any business, the County should have plans in place for any illness that may take a considerable number of people out of the workplace.  Precautions to be taken should be those everyone should have been taking all of their lives as far as keeping the facilities clean, good hygiene practices and the things you would do in any flu season.  If a person has a virus, that person should call medical personnel prior to going to the clinic or hospital so proper precautions may be taken as they arrive.

A good source of information on COVID-19 is the Iowa Department of Public Health website (idph.iowa.gov)

Red Oak Police, this (Friday) morning, arrested 35-year old Devon Michael Wheat, of Omaha, on a Red Oak P-D warrant charging him with five counts of 1st Degree Harassment. Wheat was picked-up at the Pottawattamie County Jail and transported back to Montgomery County, where he was being held on a $2,000 cash-only bond.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (Quad-City Times) — The National Weather Service says in its latest spring flood outlook that Mississippi River flood chances remain high in eastern Iowa’s Quad-Cities area but have dropped significantly in the past two weeks. The report released Thursday showed a 59% chance of major flooding _ down from 95% reported on Feb. 27. The report says the drop was due to a prolonged period of dry weather across much of the Mississippi River Valley and a favorable snowmelt.

The Quad-City Times reports the outlook says the risk of major flooding is above normal from Dubuque through Gregory Landing, Missouri.

A Pottawattamie County man was sentenced Thursday in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to seven-years in prison for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. 31-year old Jordan James Collier, of Council Bluffs, was also ordered to serve three-years of supervised release.

His sentence was the result of an investigation which began with a call from the American Inn in Council Bluffs regarding a firearm located in a patron’s room. Upon arrival, officers entered the room and located a black and silver, .32 caliber revolver on the bed along with drugs and drug paraphernalia. Collier was contacted as he returned to the hotel room and it was determined he had previously been convicted and sentenced in the Southern District of Iowa for the crime of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, making his possession of firearms or ammunition illegal.

The case against him was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Members of the Audubon School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday evening and, following a Public Hearing, approved the Fiscal Year 2020-21 School Calendar. Superintendent Eric Trager said the calendar is a little different than the current school year calendar. He says school will begin on the FY21 Calendar August 24, 2020. He said barring any snow days, the 2020-21 school year will conclude May 18, 2021.

In other business, the Audubon School Board approved a canvass of the March 3^rd School Bond Vote for facilities improvements. Trager said they’re moving forward with the projects, including having recently met with Piper-Sandler [formerly Piper-Jaffrey] to discuss when the bonds would be sold. They’ve also held discussions with the Construction Manager with regard to HVAC work on the north end of the building, and getting the engineering and bid documents ready to go.

The Audubon School Board approved a Sanitation Services bid from Carroll Refuse for garbage collection, and set April 6^th at 7-p.m., as the date and time for a Budget Hearing. The Board also approved a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Audubon Education Association. The District and Teachersa settled on a 3.25% total package increase. Trager said increased enrollment, a little better SSA [Student Supplemental Aid] from the State, made for a “Good time to put a little money on the salary schedule.”

Trager said the Audubon School Board approved contracts for Teacher Leadership (TLC) positions: Molly Lange was hired as a new Secondary Instructional Coach. She will take over for Sue Hawkins, who is retiring at the end of the year. And, 5^th Grade teacher Megan Kjergaard is taking a new, half-time Interventionist position. She will also serve as a half-time Title 1 teacher.

Trager said looking ahead, there are two things the District is looking forward to: Spring Break, which begins April 10^th, and a slowing-down of the COVID-19 so the district can “get back to some sort of normal.” The State, he says, continues to recommend school students and staff maintain good hygiene and take preventative measures aimed at keeping the virus at bay.