(Radio Iowa) – The pandemic is being particularly difficult on non-profit groups which rely on volunteers to operate, and the American Red Cross is asking Iowans for help in order to help other Iowans in need. Emily Holley, spokeswoman for the agency’s Nebraska-Iowa region, says people who give freely of their time make the charity’s humanitarian mission possible. “One of the things that COVID has affected is that folks are less likely to go to public places and volunteer,” Holley says. “That is harmful to us because we’re an organization where volunteers represent more than 90% of our Red Cross work force.”

Red Cross offices across Iowa where blood is drawn are always looking for blood donor ambassadors. They do things like welcoming visitors and taking their temperatures before entering agency facilities and blood drives. There is also a high-priority need for transportation specialists to help deliver blood from Red Cross facilities to local hospitals. “Another option is disaster response volunteers,” Holley says. “Most of the disasters in the U.S. that the Red Cross responds to — every eight minutes — are home fires. Especially during the wintertime, there are more home fires. We need folks who are willing to respond to those home fires.”

In some cases, disaster response volunteers can connect with families by video or phone to provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover. “We have so many virtual positions available to help folks,” Holley says. “You don’t even have to leave your house. You can sit in a comfy chair and help out folks affected by disasters.”

For Iowans who are still hesitant to get close to others, she says there’s a wide range of other virtual volunteer opportunities.

(On the web at redcross.org/volunteertoday)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Iowa dipped below 500 Sunday, for the first time since October. The Iowa Department of Public Health said 474 people were being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals Sunday, which was down from 505 on Saturday. The last time the number of people hospitalized was below 500, was back on Oct. 18. This (Monday) morning (as of 10-a.m.), the State reported there were 428 new cases, for a total of 305,279, and 266, 454 recovered. IDPH says 1,422,939 persons have been tested in the State. The IDPH says virus numbers reported today and tomorrow may be affected by Friday’s snowstorm and today’s Federal Holiday. The 14-day positivity rate is 12.9%, down slightly from Sunday’s 13%.

The state reports one death over the previous 24-hours, to give Iowa a total of 4,324 deaths since the pandemic began. Of those who died, 3,950 had an underlying cause, while COVID-19 was a contributing factor in 373 deaths. Long-Term Care (LTC) facility deaths stand at 1,761. There are 76 Outbreaks at LTC’s facilities (One less than on Sunday). Patients and staff who have tested positive amount to 1,938, while persons recovered number 1,002.

Hospitalizations have increased from 474 on Sunday, to 483 today. There are: 84 COVID patients in an ICU (down from 93 Sunday); 58 people were admitted to a hospital (compared to 61 previously), and 38 are on a ventilator (down 3 from before). In southwest/western Iowa RMCC Region 4, there are: 36 hospitalized with COVID symptoms; 13 in an ICU; one person was admitted, and seven remain on a ventilator.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,126 cases; {+1}; 41 deaths
• Adair, 686; {+0}; 20
• Adams, 295; {+0}; 3
• Audubon, 412; {+1}; 8
• Guthrie, 1,027 {+2}; 24
• Harrison County, 1,547; {+3}; 62
• Madison County, 1,188; {+2}; 9
• Mills County, 1,360; {+0}; 16
• Montgomery, 840; {+0}; 22
• Pottawattamie County, 8,942; {+7}; 112
• Shelby County, 1013; {+1}; 26
• Union County,  1,081; {+0}; 22

(Radio Iowa) – The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation is again offering grants to schools to replace drinking fountains with stations that have touchless water bottle fillers. Foundation executive director, Suzanne Heckenlaible says there’s a continued need for the modern stations as schools adapt to the pandemic. “Working with the schools, what we’ve found is they’ve shut down the water fountains –but left the water bottle stations open. So the opportunity for us to provide this assistance is even more important,” Heckenlaible says.

They have been working with schools for several years and had restricted the grants to schools that did not have the new water bottle station. She says they are now opening it up to schools that already have one. Heckenlaible says the average cost is 25 to 35-hundred dollars to replace an existing fountain with a new one. But she says it can cost significantly more to retrofit older buildings, and they have committed to work with those schools.

The program is called “Rethink Your Drink,” and Heckenlaible says the goal is to get kids to drink water over other less healthy options. She says having water becomes an activity and a habit — where kids have the water daily. Heckenlaible says they hope once the water-drinking habit is established it will stay with the students all their lives. The foundation is taking grant applications through February 5th.

Schools can apply by visiting: deltadentalia.com/foundation/grants. The program, “Rethink Your Drink” is supported by the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Iowa Public Health Association, Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Healthiest State Initiative and In Depth Marketing.

A public hearing will be held this evening during the Griswold School Board meeting. The hearing is with regard to the 2021-22 School Calendar, following a presentation of the proposed calendar. Later on in their session, the Griswold School Board will consider approving the calendar, as presented. In other business, the Board will consider, and likely approve, entering into a closed session to discuss and possibly act on a personnel matter.

In other business, the Griswold School Board will discuss and act on requiring remote learners to return to onsite learning, as well as approval of the 2021-22 School Calendar. Their final order of business is a closed session for the purpose of discussing and acting on a negotiations strategy with a Certified Bargaining Unit. The meeting takes place in the Griswold Schools Conference Room, beginning at 5:30-p.m.

The Atlantic City Council will hold an in-person session in their Chambers at City Hall, 5:30-p.m., Wednesday (Jan. 20th). On their agenda, is recognition of Kirk Knudsen, for his 35 years of employment with the Atlantic Street Department. The Council will act on a Resolution to set the date for a Public Hearing on the sale of real estate at 403 W. 14th Street. The City, in April 2019, adopted a resolution for the disposition of City-owned properties, that outlines how properties may be disposed of.

In this case, owners of an abutting property have submitted a bid for $10,000 to acquire the property at 403 W. 14th, but a hearing is required before the agreement can be signed-off on. On a related note, the Council will act on a Resolution “Amending the Policy for the Disposition of City Own Properties,” which clarifies that in such matters:

• City Staff should advertise the availability of the lots.
• When multiple parties are interested in a property, sealed bids and a review by the Council or designated Committee are appropriate.
• Additional language is added with regard to securities for buyers interested in building a home on the property. Those persons must place a down-payment to secure their interest and promise to build.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on the Second Reading of an Ordinance with regard to the Collection of Solid Waste, and the First Reading of an Ordinance amending sections of the Code of Ordinances entitled “City Clerk,”and “City Attorney,” that would eliminate the current two-year reappointment schedule, and make the City Clerk and Attorney permanent employees.

And, in his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund will present a Budget Overview, including “Recommended Tax Levy, Proposed Program and Funding Changes.”

Police in Red Oak, Sunday, arrested a Council Bluffs woman for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 20-year old Madison Jane Franzen, was taken into custody at around 9:23-p.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. Her bond was set at $300.