(Radio Iowa) – With Thanksgiving next week, many Iowans will be facing more stress because they won’t be able to spend time with their families due to the pandemic. Emily Kroska, a clinical psychology professor at the University of Iowa, says many of us are struggling with difficult decisions and that uncertainty is bringing a range of emotions. “There isn’t a right answer. There isn’t a perfect solution here,” Kroska says. “In order to keep our families and our communities safe, we need to do less of the indoor private gatherings, if any at all. Shifting outside or shifting online is the safest option and that can be really painful.”

Image via aarp.org

Don’t brush aside or try to bury those feelings of sadness if you can’t be with family during the holiday. “We can’t ignore that because it’s signaling that this is something that’s really important to us and we’re craving that connection,” Kroska says. “Finding other ways to connect with the people that we care about is really the best way forward here.” Using a computer video chat program like Skype or Zoom is absolutely an inferior option, she says, but it’s one way we can see and hear our distant loved ones during a time when we’d all rather be together in the same room. “What we need to be prioritizing is safety, so when we think about having a Zoom opening of presents with our families over the holidays or eating turkey in two different homes but being connected by computer, it’s not going to be the same,” Kroska says, “and if we have all of our loved ones there next Christmas, it’ll be well worth it.”

Zoom is lifting its 40-minute limit for all meetings globally from midnight ET on Nov. 26 through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27, to help make those virtual gatherings last longer.

People who take stock of their emotions and address them with mindful action will fare better than those who don’t, she says. “Focusing on the ways that we can connect and being willing to feel some of this pain and sadness that comes up,” Kroska says, “understanding that this is a signal and that our connections are important to us and seeking out that connection in whatever way feels safe during this time.” She says it comes down to flexibility and our ability to adapt, adding, “Can you do what matters even when it’s challenging?”

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa-based non-profit organization dedicated to planting and protecting trees plans to launch a massive campaign in the spring to restore thousands of trees that were destroyed by the August 10th derecho. John Bright, spokesman for Marion-based Trees Forever, says the effort is being called Project Hope and it’ll focus on purchasing and planting trees in areas that were devastated by the powerful storm. “There are some very hard hit areas in Cedar Rapids and Marion and the surrounding area,” Bright says. “It was really a massive disaster that covered 750-plus miles from Iowa to Illinois and that covers pretty much the exact Trees Forever service area.”

Towns including Hiawatha, Marshalltown and rural areas of Iowa will also be the focus of the project. The tree canopy in Cedar Rapids was ravaged by the storm and some estimate more than six in every ten trees were destroyed by wind gusts there that reached 140-miles an hour. “If you haven’t seen it in person, it’s hard to comprehend,” Bright says. “Sixty-five percent is the number that people are using but that’s just the initial look. It’s hard to tell when you’re going through the city. The arborists can’t figure out for sure which trees will make it though and which trees won’t.”

A tree-planting effort this fall saw more than 12-hundred saplings given away just in Cedar Rapids, and Bright says they’re planning for many thousands more trees to be planted next spring. A training program called Treekeepers is available online now for those who want to get involved. “It’s a webinar series where we train people to become Treekeepers,” Bright says. “You learn everything from tree identification to tree care, planting, everything you need to become an effective and helpful volunteer for Trees Forever. Those Treekeepers really are the main force behind our volunteer efforts.”

The derecho recovery process will take decades and Bright says the organization is asking citizens to give the gift of trees to the next generation of Iowans.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in October, continuing a steady decline since it soared last spring because of lob losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The October rate was down from 4.8% in September and a high of 11% in April, when many businesses halted operations as COVID-19 first swept through the country. The unemployment rate has fallen even as coronavirus infection rates and deaths reach new highs in Iowa.

Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend on Friday called the declining rate “a ray of sunshine.” Iowa’s unemployment rate is tied with South Dakota for third-lowest in the nation, behind Nebraska and Vermont. The national unemployment rate for October was 6.9%

Riverside Community School District Superintendent Dr. Tim Mitchell, Friday (today) issued a statement with regard to COVID-19. Mitchell says “Due to high numbers of student and staff absenteeism, Riverside will be moving to Full Required Remote Learning next Monday, November 23, 2020 and Tuesday, November 24. 2020. We currently have approximately 25% of the students at approximately 15% of the staff out due to testing positive for COVID-19 or being determined a primary contact and having the need to be in quarantine.  We plan to return to our traditional model on Monday November 30, 2020.”

Riverside Childcare, he said, will be open for the normal hours of operation. Teachers will discuss expectations with their students in their classes today. They will also make sure they take technology home.  If you need help with accessing the Internet please contact your school. Dr. Mitchell said also, “We will have meals available at each building. The student/parent/caregiver has to pick up at the building their student attends. If they have one in each building they will pick it up for that student at the  building they attend.  We are a closed site, providing for only enrolled students, and the eligible number for reimbursement is based on our enrollment number. Distribution 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Monday November 23, 2020.  Each meal packet will include food for two breakfasts and two lunches.”

According to the Superintendent, “Schools can immediately transition to remote learning for up to 48 hours. Because the 50-percent in-person instruction requirement is based on a two-week period, schools typically providing full-time in-person instruction can also move to remote learning for up to five days without needing approval for the Iowa Department of Education. Schools can make these local decisions based on local conditions.  The county positivity rate is just one factor that school districts and nonpublic schools should take into account, and it may not be indicative of the positivity rate among their students and staff. If a district or school chooses to use primarily remote instruction they are required to temporarily cease in-person extracurricular activities for the duration of the period.”

As of Friday (today), Pottawattamie County is 22.4% positive- for the14 day average.

You can access this information at:  % Positive Analysis-Public School District Summary

HAMBURG, IA – Iowa 3rd District Democrat Representative Cindy Axne has announced a new, nearly $4.9-million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to repair and restore seven buildings in Hamburg that were damaged by last year’s flooding along the Missouri River. The new grant, which was awarded to the Hamburg Low Rent Housing Agency, will allow the town to restore buildings to pre-disaster condition and improve resiliency of the structures by using flood-resistant building materials and making other changes to internal systems.

Axne says “I’m pleased to see this robust investment coming back to Hamburg to keep reconstruction and resiliency efforts moving forward. After securing billions to help with Midwest flood relief, it is great to see another $4.8 million delivered to Iowa to continue repairs in our hardest-hit areas. The people of Hamburg have been tenacious in their work to heal and strengthen their community after last year’s flood – and over a year and a half later that Iowa work ethic has continued to deliver for them.”

Last month, Rep. Axne announced a $7.9-million grant for Hamburg from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to fund critical infrastructure improvements aimed at protecting businesses and neighborhoods. Earlier this year, FEMA awarded multiple grants to Fremont County to fund buyouts of flood-damaged properties totaling over $4 million.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report a Glenwood man, 37-year-old Christopher Patrick Schoening, was arrested Thursday afternoon at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken into custody for Violation of Probation, with bond set at $10,000.

Atlantic Community School District Superintendent Steve Barber Friday (today) updated information with regard to COVID-19. In his statement, Barber said “On Monday the Governor made some proclamations for the State of Iowa that outlines situations where a mask is required to be worn.

ACSD Superintendent Steve Barber

On Wednesday, the Atlantic School Board extended our mask mandate to reflect the Governor’s guidelines and will reevaluate on December 9, 2020 at the regular Board meeting, the day prior to when the Governor’s proclamation expires.  The Board expressed concern at the amount of time our kids and staff in the Washington building are required to wear masks due to the inability to social distance.” Mr. Barber said he would be working with Mrs. Hornung and her staff at Washington, to explore ways to reduce this requirement.

Barber says “Although our County and State’s positivity rate continues to be high our school system to date has not experienced any breakouts in our buildings.  As of this morning five of our six buildings do not have any positive cases.  Our student attendance, outside of those who are affected by COVID-19, continues to be high and I get the chance to see the excitement our students bring to school each day.”

The following chart outlines our data taken at the same time each week to help in analyzing and making decisions that will best fight the pandemic and keep students safe and in school.

“Obviously,” Mr. Barber said, “some of the new guidelines have affected some of the opportunities for our students and spectators.  These guidelines are in effect until December 10, 2020 at which time I hope that the spread of COVID-19 is under control and those opportunities can once again be offered. Next week, [he said], we do not have school on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving break.  I would encourage each family to celebrate in a safe manner and take steps to ensure that their family traditions do not spread COVID.”

He concluded his update by saying “Happy Thanksgiving to all!”