Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System is repurposing two of its satellite clinics to provide well-care exclusively to healthy children and expectant mothers. A well-care visit is defined as a visit for preventive care or management of a chronic condition, without acute symptoms.

Starting Monday, March 30, the Griswold Medical Center and Anita Medical Center will become well clinics staffed by Dr. Angela Weppler and Jessica Jackson, ARNP. Both providers have many years of experience in prenatal/OB and pediatric care, as well as general medical care. Dr. Weppler and Jackson will see obstetric patients as well as provide well-child checks by appointment only. Each provider will work two days each at both locations. The Griswold and Anita Medical Centers will be open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 to 4:30. We recognize that this may create inconvenience for patients traveling between communities and we appreciate the public understanding that these steps are necessary to help protect the health of our citizens.

Dr. Weppler and Jackson will also continue to care for healthy patients with chronic illnesses with those appointments done via telehealth services. Those who need to be evaluated in person will be carefully screened prior to coming into any clinic. Patients with acute illnesses will be directed to call Atlantic Medical Center to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Weppler and Jackson will temporarily cease providing care at Atlantic Medical Center. This is part of our effort to keep them away from any potential exposures to COVID-19, providing additional protection for our pregnant and pediatric patients.

All of our other providers will only work from Atlantic Medical Center and Massena Medical Center. Massena Medical Center will operate as usual until further notice. All patients with respiratory illnesses are being cared for in an isolated area of Atlantic Medical Center by a limited number of providers dedicated to that work space.

Although Rapid Care has temporarily been suspended, same-day care is readily available at the Atlantic Medical Center from Monday through Saturday. At this time hours remain the same: 7 am – 7 pm Monday through Thursday, 8 am – 5 pm Friday and 8 am – 12pm on Saturday. Calling ahead for all appointments is encouraged. Anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms/fevers/cough should call 712-243-2850 before coming to Atlantic Medical Center.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports the first positive case of COVID-19 in Taylor County. The patient is an adult (age18-to-40) who is recovering at home. Due to medical privacy and Iowa laws, no other information was released.

As reported Thursday, Montgomery County’s first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed by the Iowa Department of Public Health. The Montgomery County Public Health Agency has completed an investigation with the patient and will continue to track and monitor the patient’s status over the next several days. The individual is a middle-age female (41-60 years) and is self-isolating at home.

No other information is being released on the patient. For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the Iowa Coronavirus webpage at https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/

The Cass County Food Policy Council has revamped a Facebook page to provide up-to-date information on Cass County food pantries. The page, Cass County Iowa Local Food, Farmers Markets, and Food Access, also provides information on farmers markets, and other local food opportunities. Cass County Supervisor Steve Green says “During this time, it’s really important that people in the county are aware of resources available because we don’t
want anyone going hungry.”

Cass County is home to four food pantries: the Atlantic Food Pantry, the Anita Food Pantry, the Lord’s Cupboard (in Griswold), and Cumberland Care & Share Pantry. As our pantries have faced COVID-19, they have adjusted their services, and are likely to continue doing so. For example, the Atlantic pantry is not requiring referrals during COVID-19.

Green says “It’s great that we are getting up-to-date information out to people online, but we also need people to check in on each other—particularly elderly neighbors—to make sure they know how to access food through the pantries.” For more information, follow Cass County Iowa Local Food, Farmers Markets, and Food Access on Facebook or contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at 712-249-5870 or by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu.

Cass County Food Pantry Information:
Please note: Pantries are asking Cass County residents to only use the pantry in their home community (For example, if someone is from Atlantic, they are asked to use the Atlantic pantry, not use the Cumberland, Anita, or Griswold pantries). This will help pantries to be able serve everyone better in this difficult time.

Food Delivery: If you need food delivered to your home because you are quarantined due to COVID-19, please call your pantry at least two days in advance of the pantry’s open hours. See below for phone numbers.

Anita Food Pantry: (serves Anita, Massena, Cumberland, Wiota, and Bridgewater.)
Phone: (712) 762-3645; Address: 208 Chestnut St, Anita, IA 50020
Hours: 1st & 3rd Saturday, 9:00am – 11:00am

Distribution: Items will be carried to cars. People are asked to follow signs and not get out of cars. The pantry will function like a drive through.

Donations: make checks to “Anita Food Pantry” (mail to: PO Box 96, Anita, IA 50020)

Cumberland Care & Share Pantry: (serves Cumberland, Massena, Bridgewater)
Phone: (712) 774-5818; Address: 317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843
Hours: 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 4:00pm- 5:30pm

Donations: make checks to “Cumberland Care & Share” (mail to: 317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843)

Lord’s Cupboard of Griswold (serves Griswold School District)
Phone: (712) 778-4178; Address: 100 Cass St., Griswold, IA 51535
Hours: 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 11:00am – 2:00pm

Donations: make checks out to “The Lord’s Cupboard” (mail to 55546 Wichita Rd. Griswold, IA 51535)

Atlantic Food Pantry: (serves Atlantic)
Phone for Atlantic pantry delivery requests: (712) 249-3026 (Stacey Weis)
Phone for other pantry questions: (712) 243-5019 (9-11 AM Mondays and Thursdays)
Address: 19 W. 4th St., Atlantic, IA 50022
Hours: Thursdays, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (or until line ends- please show up at 1:00)

Food Referrals will not be needed, and clients may come to the pantry as needed during this epidemic time.

Distribution: The pantry’s usual choice options and individual face-to-face interviews will be discontinued at this time. Food will be distributed in an “express” fashion with sacks pre-prepared inside the pantry to limit wait time and reduce traffic inside the pantry building. Distribution to clients will occur outside the front door of the pantry. Only pantry volunteers will be allowed inside the pantry.

Donations: make checks to “Atlantic Food Pantry” (mail to: 19 W 4th Street. Atlantic, IA 50022). Someone will be at the pantry to accept money or food donations Monday and Thursday mornings from 9-11 AM.

The pantry is currently giving out certain foods, so they are asking that food donations focus on the following items: Soup (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, chicken noodle, tomato), Ramen noodles (chicken, beef), Hamburger Helper, canned beef ravioli, instant sides (packages)- pasta and sauce or potatoes, cereal (in boxes), corn muffin mix, bread, crackers (saltines), canned fruit (peaches, pears, applesauce, cocktail), canned tuna,
macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables (corn, green beans, peas), peanut butter (18 oz. creamy), quick oats, “complete pancake and waffle mix (no milk needed), syrup, bar soap, toilet paper.

(Radio Iowa) — A few other states have announced hotels and convention centers are being converted into triage centers to deal with COVID-19 patients — and a top public health administrator in Iowa says discussions are underway here to determine how to manage patient flow. Sarah Reistter is deputy director of the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Reisetter says patients from rural counties with complex health conditions are routinely transferred to hospitals in some of the state’s larger metros and that’s likely to be the case with COVID-19 patients.

Governor Kim Reynolds says she is meeting regularly with the leaders of the state’s major hospitals as well as with representatives of the Iowa Hospital Association. Reynolds says each has a “surge capacity plan.”

Governor Reynolds and the public health department’s deputy spoke over the noon-hour during a news conference broadcast on Radio Iowa stations.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa college professor accused of murder in the gagging death of her husband has been released from jail because of concerns about the coronavirus. Dallas County Judge Michael Jacobsen had earlier refused to lower the $5 million bond set for Gowun Park, but the Des Moines Register reports that he agreed to reduce it to $285,000.

She posted the bond and was released Thursday. Park’s lawyers argued her bond should be lowered because the coronavirus pandemic risked her health and a ban on in-person visits hindered their ability to coordinate her defense. Park was an assistant professor of economics at Simpson College.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said today (Friday), there are 56 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 235 positive cases. There have been a total of 3,740 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.  The IDPH said also, two Iowans with COVID-19 passed away Thursday night, one elderly adult (81+ years) from Poweshiek County and one older adult (61-80 years) from Allamakee County. This brings the total COVID-19 deaths in Iowa to three.

According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 56 individuals include:

Benton County,  1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Black Hawk County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
Butler County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Cedar County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Cerro Gordo County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Clinton County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Dallas County,  1 adult (18-40 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
Dickinson County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Dubuque County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
Hardin County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Harrison County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years)
Henry County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Iowa County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Johnson County, 2 adults (18-40 years),  5 middle-age (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
Linn County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 7 older adults (61-80 years)
Mahaska County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Monona County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Marshall County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Montgomery County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Muscatine County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
Page County, 1 older (61-80 years)
Polk County,  1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
Tama County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Washington County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
Webster County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Winneshiek County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Woodbury County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Wright County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)

A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in Iowa is provided by IDPH and can be found here. In addition, a public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431. The state of Iowa has started sharing the number of negative tests conducted at outside labs, and is providing additional information on the conditions of those infected with COVID-19.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — District conventions for the Iowa Republican Party won’t be convening as usual, but voting will be conducted by mail as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The party said Friday that the State Central Committee has decided to mail paper ballots to all district delegates. A party spokesman says the paper ballots will allow the party to conduct conventions and proceed with important party business, including electing delegates to the state and national convention.

District standing committees are meeting via Zoom on Saturday to outline how the paper ballot process will work. Iowans can can go online for updates.

A traffic stop Thursday evening in Walnut, resulted in a pursuit and the arrest of two people. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputy Jeremy Harker tried to stop a 2008 Dodge Charger with Arizona license plates, at around 5:40-p.m. in the 46000 block of Highway 83. The vehicle refused to stop. It was later located parked behind the Embers Cafe in Avoca. The driver, 27-year old Patrick Allen Eggerling, of Council Bluffs, was located and arrested for Eluding and Reckless Driving. He was subsequently charged with Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. His bond was set at $2,000. A passenger in the car, 23-year old Sarina Marie Duvall, of Phoenix, AZ., was arrested for Fraud in the 1st Degree, after she was found to be in Possession of several counterfeit $100 bills. Bond for Duvall was set at $5,000.

And, 32-year old Jeffrey Lee Wiebold, of Council Bluffs, an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was presented with a warrant Thursday, for Violation of Probation. Wiebold was returned to the custody of Corrections staff.

(Radio Iowa) — Volunteers across Iowa are making face shields with 3-D printers to restock health care providers and first responders who are short on personal protective equipment. Earlier this week, Eric Engelmann of Cedar Rapids used social media to ask for help making the plastic shields and the response was immediate. Engelmann says hundreds of Iowans donated supplies and used dozens of 3-D printers to make parts. In a Facebook video, Engelmann shows off models already being delivered to first responders for feedback.

“This one is the one we’ve had most of the people printing,” Engelmann says. “This one’s pretty straightforward. It’s really just a visor with some foam in there to make it a little more comfortable with an elastic strap. And then it just sort of pops on.”  The team is gearing up to make thousands of face shields for the COVID-19 response. More information on how to help is available at: https://newbo.co/PPE/

(Reporting by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)