WASHINGTON –  U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $8.4 million grant to the city of Council Bluffs, to make flood control infrastructure improvements needed to protect businesses and make the region resilient to future natural disasters. The EDA grant, which will be located near a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone, will be matched with more than $2 million in local investment and is expected to create 95 jobs.

Dana Gartske, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, says “This investment will provide improvements to the city of Council Bluffs’ levee system to include the addition of robust seepage and stability beams. The upgrades to the flood risk reduction system will ensure prior and future economic investments in the city will remain effective and contribute to overall economic growth in the nearby region and Opportunity Zone.”

The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs. The funding will catalyze private investment in a nearby Opportunity Zone.

Opportunity Zones are spurring economic development in economically-distressed communities nationwide. The project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019.

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh, today (Tuesday) said “As cases of COVID-19 rise locally, Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All continues to offer food delivery to Cass County residents in need of the service during COVID-19. Those who register for the program will receive a week’s worth of food delivered to their home weekly. The program is designed to
help area residents who may not be able to afford food while quarantining.”

Once registered for food, households will receive a weekly food delivery until participants notify the program that they are no longer in need of the assistance, or grant funding runs out. The
weekly service is available to people in Cass County in need of food delivery during COVID-19. To register for the program, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or call Cass County Public Health at 712-243-7443.

While the program continues, the Cass County Local Food Policy Council is recruiting volunteers to assist with food packaging and delivery. Volunteers are needed Monday from 10:30-noon
and 1:30 – 4:30. Volunteers must be able to lift grocery bags repeatedly and climb on and off a bus multiple times an hour. Volunteers must be committed to adhering to safety practices recommended by Public Health including maintaining a six-foot distance from others, wearing a mask at all times, and frequently washing hands or using hand sanitizer. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870.

For more information, follow @CassCountyLocalFood on Facebook or contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at 712-249-5870 or by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu.

The Iowa DNR reports a Precautionary Boil Advisory has been issued for the City of Adel. The advisory is due to a power loss at the water treatment plant that resulted in use of the emergency connection with Xenia Rural Water and a subsequent water main break on a four inch line close to the elevated storage tower. Once the repair is made, the system will flush and samples will be collected for bacterial samples. The duration of the advisory is unknown at this time.

Residents in those areas should boil water as a precaution. Bring all water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food to a boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using. Or, use bottled water. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Tap water can be used for bathing and similar purposes.

A woman arrested August 3^rd in Page County on a warrant for Failure to Appear, was arrested again yesterday (Aug. 10^th), on another warrant for the same offense. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year old Destiny Estalin Louise Graham was arrested at her residence, in Coin. Graham was transported to the Page County Jail on a $300 bond pending further court appearances.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a woman killed after the bicycle she was riding was hit by a car in Waterloo earlier this week. The Courier reports that 18-year-old Nicole Kulaszewski, of Waterloo, died Sunday at an Iowa City hospital, hours after the crash. Investigators say Kulaszewski was heading home on the bike from a friend’s house around 2 a.m. Sunday. Police say she was traveling against traffic in the eastbound lanes of Broadway Street when a car driven by a 26-year-old Waterloo woman hit her.

The driver pulled over and called 911. She told police she didn’t see Kulaszewski before she hit her.

DES MOINES – A living legend from Osceola, a nonprofit group from Postville and the City of Malvern were honored with the 2020 Governor’s Arts Award during the virtual 2020 Iowa Arts Summit on Friday. The Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, presented the awards on behalf of Gov. Kim Reynolds to Mary Ellen Kimball of Osceola; Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development, in partnership with the Byways of Iowa Foundation; and the City of Malvern. The awards recognize and honor individuals, organizations and communities that have had a significant impact on the vitality of the arts in Iowa.

2020 Governor’s Arts Award – Community Award
Recipient: City of Malvern
Over the last few years, Malvern has evolved into a rural arts and cultural destination in southwest Iowa where tourists can experience Zack Jones’ ever-evolving Project Art Church; creative businesses, including an art gallery and paintings and pottery studio; and a new mural and outdoor art. The community also attracts tourists who gather on Saturday nights for live music at the Malvern Concert Series and Market.  According to the Malvern Area Betterment Association, “with three fun places to eat, including art in each location, visitors feel connected to Malvern and its people.”

The awards were presented during the virtual 2020 Iowa Arts Summit Friday, when more than 250 state and national arts professionals, community leaders and advocates gathered online to network, learn and celebrate the arts in Iowa. The summit was presented by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

(Radio Iowa) – Sixteen counties are now being declared disaster areas by Governor Kim Reynolds and she expects more will be added to the list soon as damage estimates are finalized from Monday’s massive storm. Some corn fields were leveled by the powerful straight-line winds of the rare derecho storm system, some reports had gusts at 111 miles an hour. Combined, MidAmerican and Alliant Energy report well over 400-thousand customers still without power, while multiple smaller utilities report tens of thousands more remain without electricity.

The Montgomery County Board of Health today, issued a statement addressing the health concerns of Montgomery County citizens. Montgomery County Public Health Administrator Samantha Beeson says “Based on known evidence of how COVID-19 spreads among mass gatherings of people, the Board believes that the harmful health impact on Montgomery County residents attending large events and gatherings could be substantial.” Beeson said the Board’s position on large gatherings is as follows:

• Large events and mass gatherings in Montgomery County are discouraged until the threat of COVID-19 spread has diminished;
• Events where a large portion of attendees travel from outside the local area are also discouraged;
• Large events and mass gatherings with primary attendance being largely from the local area should adequately provide protective measures to reduce the COVID-19 spread.

The Board of Health and Montgomery County Public Health say they are willing to work with any entity to plan a safe event. Following CDC guidance, the following is a minimum list of protective measures recommended to promote healthy behaviors and prevent spread:

• Encouraging ill persons to stay home;
• Have adequate space for social distancing/modified layouts;
• Incorporate Hygienic practices recommended by the CDC for large events;
• Encourage face mask use when social distancing is not possible;
• Adequate cleaning and sanitizing of frequently touched surfaces; and
• Increased messages/signage/announcements reminding people to utilize healthy practices to prevent spread

The Montgomery County Board of Health says it “is greatly concerned about how mass gatherings will affect the citizens, businesses and schools of Montgomery County should an outbreak occur related to an event.” Still, their recommendation is to decrease the size of mass gatherings and events, to decrease the health impact on the community.