DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The University of Dubuque has bought 121 acres in northern Dubuque County that it plans to keep in its native state and use for education and research. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that school leaders on Tuesday announced the purchase of Wolter Woods and Prairies, located north of Balltown along the Mississippi River. The acquisition is the culmination of a 10-year relationship between the university and former landowners Mari and Gary Wolter, who sought an owner to continue their efforts to preserve the native landscape. University officials declined to say how much the school paid for the property, but noted an anonymous investor financed the purchase.

(Atlantic) – Members of the Washington G.E.M. 4H Club recently took the time to decorate a tree in the lobby of the Cass County Community Building.  Each member was asked to either make or bring an ornament that describes what 4H means to them.  The club is hoping that this summer they will finally be able to celebrate their 100th year anniversary at the Cass County Fair.  More details will be released as it gets closer.

(Photos courtesy Melanie Petty)

Club spokesperson Melanie Petty said the club also completed their service project for the year.  Club members were asked to donate gently used bags, backpacks, luggage, books, stuffed animals and personal care items to our local DHS office.  These items were gathered and donated to the employees of DHS to use for children in foster care.  “As you can see,” Petty said, “our 4H group really came together and we were able to donate many items.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration is using $10 million in federal pandemic relief funds to pay the salaries of state police officers, who have largely not been directly involved in Iowa’s virus response. The expense is listed in a state report as going toward “State Government COVID staffing” at the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The report claims the money will support payroll expenses for employees “whose services were diverted to a substantially different use as a result of COVID-19.”

Department spokeswoman Debra McClung noted that the spending is allowable under revised Treasury Department guidance that stipulates that payroll expenses for public safety employees are presumed to qualify as pandemic-related. However, she didn’t provide examples of how any duties had changed.

The Atlantic School District Board of Education will hold a special session beginning 6-p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16th, in the High School Media Center (the meeting will be recorded and made available for viewing soon after it concludes). The Board will discuss Employee Absences for COVID-19. Emergency Paid Sick leave (EPSL) is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, but it is scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2020. That means ESPL (Which includes extended FMLA) will no longer be available to employees for leave related to COVID-19.

Employees will be allowed to use their available sick leave for one of four following reasons related to COVID-19, through the end of the 2020-21 school year:

1. They are experiencing symptoms of CV-19 are being tested or are waiting for test results. (a copy of the test results will be required)
2. The employee tests positive for COVID. (a copy of the test results will be required)
3. The employee is identified as a close contact to a person who has tested positive for the coronavirus AND has been required to quarantine by public health officials.
4. The employee is caring for a dependent who is subject to reasons 2 or 3 as mentioned.

The Board will also act to approve the resignations of Chase Roller – Middle School Wrestling Coach, and Matthew Smith – Assistant HS Boys Soccer Coach. They will also discuss and act on Remote Learner Guidelines, which stipulates “Students will be required to watch live instruction/or recorded videos and submit work back to their teacher for grading. Attendance is shown by the necessary work being turned in (even if attending Zoom classes).

And, the Board, as mentioned last week, will discuss/act on District Guidelines for the use of face masks. During their regular meeting on Dec. 9th, the Atlantic School Board extended the 30-day mask mandate through the end of the 2020-21 1st Semester (12/22/20). Face coverings will continue to be required when social distancing is not possible, under the extended policy.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning (Today), approved the establishing of a new deputy sheriff classification. The title of Sergeant for two positions was adopted and included in an addendum to the employee handbook. Supervisor Steve Green said he’s discussed the matter with Sheriff Darby McLaren since last Summer.

The addendum is effective as of January 1st.

In other business, the Supervisors held a public hearing on County Ordinance 37: a re-compiling of county ordinances in accord with the Code of Iowa. There were no written or oral comments. The Board approved the second reading of the ordinance, waived the third reading and adopted the ordinance.

They also approved the abatement of tax for parcels owned by the City of Massena, and, adjusting the temporary shop foreman’s wage in Griswold retroactive to October, as he has been and continues to, fill-in as foreman for the full-time foreman, who is experiencing medical issues. Supervisor Frank Waters abstained from the vote due to a potential conflict of interest.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday (today), said there were two arrests and one accident during the past week. On Thursday, Dec. 10th, Deputies responded at around 1:19-a.m. to a single-vehicle rollover accident at Corning-Carl Road and 200th Street. Deputies arrived to find an overturned truck with the 14-year female driver from Creston trapped inside the vehicle. Once extricated, the teen was transported by Life Net Helicopter to a trauma center. Authorities say the truck had been reported stolen out of Creston. The accident remains under investigation.

On Sunday, Dec. 13th, Adams County Deputies arrested 50-year old Vincent Sanders, of Brayton, at the Casey’s General Store in Corning. Sanders was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and Open Container. He was transported to the Adams County Jail. And, on Dec. 10th, 19-year old Andrew Mills, of Lenox, was arrested in Adams County for driving while suspended and failure to prove security against liability. Mills was also transported to the Adams County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – A coronavirus relief package worth 908-billion dollars was unveiled Monday in Congress, which has until the end of this week to pass it along with a long-term spending plan, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley remains skeptical. Grassley, a Republican, couldn’t say with any confidence that the massive measure would win approval in both chambers before Friday. “It should pass, that’s my opinion,” Grassley says. “People are in need and there’s so much that has bipartisan agreement, but a couple of big things that have no bipartisan agreement might hold it up and maybe we won’t get one before Christmas.”

Oct. 12, 2020 file photo, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP)

Grassley says there’s disagreement over issues like how much federal aid should go to state governments, and whether to squelch lawsuits some consider frivolous which were filed over COVID-19. He says there are many elements on the table that have broad, bipartisan support and they should all focus on those, starting with extending unemployment benefits. “Helping small businesses stay open and keep their employees on the payroll like we did in the spring,” Grassley says. “More (COVID) testing, more money for the distribution of the vaccines, and help for K-through-12 education.”

The measure, in its latest incarnation, does -not- include direct payments to virtually all Americans, as the initial relief package did earlier this year. “That’s right, as far as I can tell,” Grassley says. “There’s a few senators, at least one Republican, one Democrat, thinks it should have something go directly to everybody, whether they’re unemployed or not.”

Speed in passing the measure is critical. It’s estimated as many as 12-million Americans could lose their unemployment benefits on December 26th, while millions more may face eviction as protections for renters are also expiring.