Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources put out a statement, Saturday, with regard to the COVID-19 outbreak. The DNR says “Iowa state parks are still open. However, please be aware of the following operational changes, effectively immediately, before visiting a state park:

• All bathrooms, including pit latrines, are closed in Iowa state parks through April 15, 2020. Visitors should bring their own hand sanitizer, as no soap or sanitizer will be available in the park.
• Because bathrooms are not available, camping is limited to self-contained (enclosed) campers with their own bathrooms through April 15. Camping through April 15 will be available for walk-ins only on a first-come, first-served basis. More details can be found on the park alerts page.
• Shelters, camping cabins, youth camps and lodges are closed and not available for rentals because of the lack of bathroom facilities available.
• Playgrounds are not advised to be used during this health emergency. Park staff are unable to keep them clean according to CDC guidelines. User discretion is advised.
• Please remember to keep physical distance of at least 6 feet between you and other visitors, and avoid areas in parks where people may congregate such as points of interest, scenic overlooks, buildings and busy trails.”

Officials said also, “We appreciate your patience and assistance during these challenging times. We will also be monitoring the situation and may continue to make changes to park operations as needed. Please visit the DNR’s COVID-19 web page for more information about how COVID-19 is affecting DNR events, facilities and services.”

(FFA reporter submission) — The Atlantic chapter of the FFA sent 10 of its members to the District Career Development events on March 7th, with one advancing to the State FFA Convention in Ames. Southwest State Vice President Tyler Comes lead the District Business session. Atlantic FFA member Corri Pelzer retired as the District Sentinel position. Aspen Niklasen and Malena Woodward were the chapter delegates for Atlantic FFA at Convention.

Pictures
SW State VP Tyler Comes District Sentinel Corri Pelzer

FFA member Carli Henderson competed in the Extemporaneous Speaking category placing 1st earning a Gold and advancing to State. Craig Alan Becker competed in Ag Sales earning a Gold placing 3rd and will be the alternate to State. Andrew Engler completed in Ag Broadcasting placing 4th earning a Silver. Gunner Kirchhoff competed in Ag Welding placing 4th earning a Silver. Finally Tate DenBetse, Dylan Comes and Wyatt Redinbaugh competed in the Chapter Website CDE placing 4th earning a Gold rating.

In the Farm Business Management Test Atlantic FFA had 4 members compete this year. Drey Newell earned a Gold and placed 2nd, Hannah Carlson earned a Gold and placed 17th, Caroline Pellett earned a Gold and placed 23rd and Garrett Reynolds earned a Silver and placed 34th out of 87 individuals.

Extemp Speaker Carli Henderson

In the FFA Freshman Greenhand Quiz, Atlantic FFA had 4 members participate all earning Silver ratings. Sofia Mendez placed 55th, Dylan Comes placed 59th, Dan Freund placed 81st and Jackson McLaren placed 84th. (Photos submitted)

(Story by an Atlantic FFA reporter) – Each year the Iowa FFA Degree awards a select group of members with the Iowa FFA Degree. This year the Atlantic FFA Chapter has 3 members that have earned this prestigious award, Adrania Mendez, Corri Pelzer and Tate Den Beste.

Picture Left to Right
Adriana Mendez, Tate Den Beste, Corri Pelzer (photo submitted)

The Iowa FFA Degree is the highest degree that can be bestowed upon an FFA member by the Iowa FFA Association each year. Only 5% of the FFA members in Iowa receive the degree each year. The degree is normally presented at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa but this year things will be different. With the COVID19 virus shutting down all large gatherings, the Iowa FFA Association has had to adapt as well.

To receive the Iowa FFA Degree, FFA members must meet the following standards: 1) Have been an active FFA member for at least 24 months; 2) Have completed at least two years of systematic instruction in agricultural education; 3) Have earned and productively invested at least $1,500 or worked at least 375 hours in a supervised agricultural experience program; 4) Have a satisfactory scholastic record; 5) Have demonstrated leadership abilities from a specific list of activities; 6) Have completed 25 hours of community service; and 7) Have participated in at least five different FFA activities above the local level. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “I am extremely proud of these three individuals. The Iowa FFA Degree is a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication to the Iowa FFA Association and the Atlantic FFA Chapter.”

FFA member Tate Den Beste said, “To get my Iowa Degree has pushed me to be more active in FFA in the classroom as well as the agriculture industry. It means a lot to me to be able to achieve this award.” Adriana Mendez said, “I’m so glad I had the chance to be in FFA. It helped me grow as a person and has given me so many opportunities and I will be forever grateful for FFA. My Iowa degree means alot to me. I will be the first in my family to receive an Iowa degree, and I knew from the first time I saw the Atlantic FFA Wall of Fame in the Ag room I knew I was going to put my name on there.” Corri Pelzer said, “Through FFA I have learned a lot of leadership skills that will serve me well in college and beyond. I have also made a lot of new friends through various FFA activities. Lastly I have made tons of memories that I would never have had the opportunity to make if I hadn’t stepped outside my comfort zone.”

Each Iowa FFA Degree recipient receives a certificate and the golden State FFA Degree Charm pin, which is made possible with support from Pioneer through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hospitals and nursing homes are desperately searching for hand sanitizer amid the coronavirus outbreak and the ethanol industry is ready to step in to provide the alcohol, a key ingredient. Federal regulators are preventing them from providing millions of gallons of alcohol that could be transformed into the germ-killing mixture.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration insists that the alcohol at ethanol plants meet stringent production standards designed to protect medicine and food quality. In addition the alcohol must be mixed with a bitter additive to make it undrinkable.

The ethanol industry is asking for waivers during the coronavirus emergency.

The Cass County Conservation Board is now taking Pre-orders for its Native Plant Sale. The order form and payment will be DUE April 30th 2020 at 4PM. Forms can be found online http://www.atlanticiowa.com/county/county-departments/conservation-office/

Native Local Eco-type live Plants will be sold. Live plants from nursery will come as small plugs; cells are 5” deep x 2” wide at top or 4.5”deep x 2” Cone. 1 Specie of Native grass, and 11 Native Forbs including many that benefit Pollinators!

All orders must be picked up during designated times at our offices in Lewis unless prior arrangements made. Designated pick up times will be: Thursday May 21st 8 AM-6 PM OR Friday May 22nd 8AM-7PM.

Plants not picked up will be donated with NO REFUND.

Firefighters from Atlantic used foam to extinguish a fire in the Hubbard Feeds Mill, early afternoon.  Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel told KJAN News, fighters were dispatched at 12:01-p.m. to the business located 60260 Marne Road, just northwest of Atlantic.

Images from the Atlantic Fire & Rescue Facebook page.

Cappel said when they arrived they found smoke showing through the top of the building, which turned out to be a staircase to the elevator. The fire was coming from a pellet mill. The pellets come out at around 160-to 180-degrees he said, and drop into a cooler in the basement area of the feed mill until they are dry and at room temperature.

In this case, the pellet mill got too hot. Crews had to extinguish hot spots in both the mill and basement cooler area. They used foam to suffocate the flames and heat. Hubbard employees also helped by shutting down the equipment and evacuating the structure. No injuries were reported.

Atlantic Fire was assisted at the scene by the Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Medivac Ambulance.

(Radio Iowa) — Some Iowans are hesitant to leave their houses and apartments for fear they’ll be exposed to coronavirus, but cooped-up couch potatoes are encouraged to get outside and get some exercise. Mark Wyatt, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, says taking in some sunshine and being out in the fresh air is exactly what many of us are needing.

“This virus is spread from person to person so if you’re within the social distancing parameters, being outside is not a problem,” Wyatt says. “You can go outside and exercise and walk and ride your bike and still be very safe from transmission or receiving the virus.” While several states and metro areas elsewhere have issued “shelter in place” orders, Iowans are under no such edict.

Wyatt says Iowa has hundreds of miles of bike trails, carving through metro areas and veering into the wide countryside. Spring is here and things are starting to turn green, he says, so get out and enjoy the outdoors. “We’re hearing a lot from the bike community that they’re still out and biking, they’re just not going on group rides with their friends. They’re going alone or with their family to get some exercise,” Wyatt says. “I think daily exercise is important. We’ve even seen some of the areas that do have shelter-in-place, do recommend that you still go out and exercise. Just don’t go to places where people congregate.”

Keeping a social distance of six to ten feet is still a good idea outside, Wyatt says. If you’re on a bike trail and another cyclist is nearby, simply slow down or speed up and keep your distance. Also, since so many businesses are struggling in light of the pandemic, Wyatt reminds: shop local. “A lot of the bike retailers are still open for business,” Wyatt says. “A lot of them have scheduled appointments or pick-up and drop-off service, if that’s something you’re interested in. Give your favorite bike retailer a call in the state and see what their current operations are.”

Get some tips on keeping fit — and keeping kids active — from the Healthiest State Initiative at http://www.iowahealthieststate.com/

Officials with the City of Atlantic, Monday, report for the safety of the public, the City is closing the use of City playgrounds, as the surfaces on playground equipment can sustain the COVID-19 virus for an extended period of time, and crews cannot sanitize the surfaces effectively. Green space in the parks will remain open to the public. Shelter reservations will also not be taken at this time to limit group gatherings.

Here is the full statement from Atlantic Parks & Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen:

“Things can change relatively quickly and the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department is taking necessary steps to insure the safety of the public looking to use the parks.  The spread of the virus relies heavily on the availability of new hosts to infect, and is completely at the mercy of finding a new host, because it cannot self-replicate. (Harvard Medical School, Coronavirus Resource Centre, Harvard Health Publishing)  The parks will remain open but the Parks and Recreation Department DOES NOT encourage children to play on the playground equipment.  Think “Park not Playground”.

The Covid-19 (Coronavirus) can remain infectious for hours up to 9 days depending on the material (National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine) and the playground equipment cannot be properly sterilized.  Along with the playgrounds all the restrooms will remain closed to limit the locations where the virus can remain infections and shelter reservations will not be accepted to limit the sizes of groups using the parks.

There is an abundance of green space which can still be utilized while following the regulations set forth by Governor Reynolds and the CDC regarding no more than 10 in a group, social distancing, frequent handwashing, coughing into your sleeve, staying home when you don’t feel well, and everything else.  The Parks and Recreation Department is looking to insure the safety and well-being of all individuals looking to get out and enjoy the parks during this time.

We understand and hope you enjoy the green space which is available, but we strongly encourage you to follow these recommendations and stay off the playgrounds. The City is continuing to evaluate all our operations in order to ensure the safety of the public and our employees. I shall update you if further changes occur.”

GUTTENBERG, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a drowning that happened at around 1:30-p.m. Saturday, near the spillway of Lock and Dam #10 on the Mississippi River.

Officials say two men were fishing in a 14-foot flat boat in a restricted area near the low-head dam of Lock and Dam #10 when their boat was caught in a turbulent area and began taking on water. 54-year old Shaun Oppenheimer, of Quasqueton, was a passenger in the boat who went overboard, and drowned. His body was recovered and taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Neither Oppenheimer nor the operator of the boat were wearing personal flotation devices, although the boat did have them on-board.

The Iowa DNR continues to investigate the incident.

Assisting in handling the scene and investigation, was the Guttenberg Fire and Rescue, Guttenberg Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, Grant County, Wisconsin Fire and Rescue, Glen Haven, Wisconsin Fire and Rescue, and nearby fishermen providing quick access with their boats

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is asking Iowa’s congressional delegation and the U-S ag secretary to provide immediate federal assistance to cattle producers. Matt Deppe, the association’s C-E-O, says the dramatic drop in the cattle futures market in the past week alone has put cattle producers in harm’s way. “In the cattle business, we’re not one that as a producer group that typically goes out and asks for some assistance back,” Deppe says, “but certainly that swing was certainly unpredictable.”

Prices for the boxed beef that meat packing companies sell to retailers are strong, but the contracts farmers are getting for selling live cattle at a future date have fallen to a 10-year low. Deppe says the recent government payments to compensate Iowa farmers for trade losses did NOT include cattle producers and his industry needs federal supports now. “So they can live in fight another day and they can live to supply such a great product and feed the United States and others around the world,” Deppe says.

In addition to the price drop, cattle producers are concerned they may not be able to get enough feed for cattle without some sort of federal assistance. “Our producers are telling us that it’s absolutely needed to maintain their seat in the chair,” Deppe says. There are more than 25-thousand cattle producers in Iowa and on January 1st, there were nearly four MILLION head of cattle in the state.