Officials with Mills County Public Health, Tuesday, say there is one additional, positive case of COVID-19 confirmed in the County. The case concerns a person 41-to 60-years of age, who contracted the virus through community spread.

The latest cases brings to 59 the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mills County. As of Tuesday, 34 had recovered from the virus, and 2,323 residents have been tested, for a positivity rate of 2.6%.

Mills County Public Health says “Given the current uncertainty and the rise in transmission of COVID-19 in Mills County, we are encouraging everyone to wear a cloth face mask cover when they are in public.” Officials say “By doing so, you will help contain the spread of COVID-19.”

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, approved an application from Voluntary Annexation from Agriland FS Inc. in Griswold, a building for which is located in part on County and City land. The resolution places the land within the City limits. City officials in Griswold is also expected to approve the annexation.

The Board also approved an “IDOT Agreement for County Bridge Federal-Aid SWAP Funding for a bridge on Boston Road, one-mile east of Olive Street. The project is valued at $600,000.  There were bids for three stream grade Stabilization & bank protection projects that have been reviewed by the County Engineer, who has recommend the Board accept the low bid. In this case, the Board accepted a low bid of $211,015 from Murphy Heavy Contracting for the project.

Board Secretary Dale Sunderman reports also, Griswold city council member Julianne Adams asked the Board to assist with the city’s request that a cell tower, proposed to be built just outside the city limits, be erected on a site located at a greater distance from a city residential area.  The city is not opposed to the tower, just the proposed location, and has proposed alternate sites within city limits.

The Cass County zoning commission turned down the request to erect the tower at this location.  However, the cell company states, and the County attorney confirmed, that Iowa law permits the company to erect the tower on an eligible site of its preference.  The building permit has not been issued.  The board and city will continue to investigate what options may be available.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office has ordered a sharp reduction in coronavirus testing at a site in Dubuque, where infections have been rising. The Test Iowa site in Dubuque will be allowed to offer only 100 tests per day, starting Tuesday. The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald reported the site had been testing between 400 and 550 people per day. The site will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

Reynolds’ spokesman, Pat Garrett, said the tests were limited to ensure consistency and high quality performance at all Test Iowa sites. Dubuque County has seen daily coronavirus cases more than quadruple since June.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City’s mayor is ordering people to wear masks in public to stop the spread of the coronavirus, defying Gov. Kim Reynolds’ claim that cities cannot mandate face coverings. Iowa has been one of the only states that does not have any enforceable local or state mask mandates.

The Republican governor has said that she believes cities and counties can require masks only if she grants that authority, which she’s refused to do. But Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague on Tuesday cited authority granted to cities in the state constitution and a law that gives mayors the power to govern by proclamation when an “emergency or public danger exists.”

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors met Monday evening and heard from Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen, who told them the final stages of the City of Atlantic’s “Walkability” maps are being finalized. Rasmussen said the maps will show the locations of various forms of entertainment, shopping areas, as well as restaurants and other points of interest.

Walkability Map for the City of Atlantic.

He mentioned too, that they are looking to place a larger map outside of the Parks and Rec Building at Sunnyside Park; another large map at Schildberg Recreation Area (along with some brochures), and other map locations at City Park and at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rasmussen told the Board also, that the big dock at the Schildberg Recreation Area is ready to be placed back in the water soon, and that the dock will be extended out about another 12 feet. You may recall, that flooding in March of 2019 ripped the cement mooring posts for the dock that held it place. Following the flood event, the dock was found on the shoreline.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests. On Sunday, 34-year old Jordyn Dell Lavola Swanson, of Exira, was arrested on charges of Public Intoxication, and Disorderly Conduct. Swanson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance. And, 43-year old Jason Richard Tasto, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Tasto was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

Last Friday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 33-year old  Justin Allen Knutsen, of Atlantic, on a charge of Interference with Official Acts. Knutsen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released the following day.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the amount of money that would be in another coronavirus stimulus bill is one issue being debated — but she says liability protection is the biggest sticking point for her. “Bottom line, if we do expect our schools to open, our colleges and universities to resume, our churches to protect them, our businesses — all of that — we know that we do have to have liability protections in place,” Ernst says.

Democrats are looking at a package of some three TRILLION dollars, while Republicans are talking about a one TRILLION dollar package. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says they need to look at what has happened with the funds they’ve previously approved.  “We’ve already spent three trillion dollars through the CARES ACT, or we’ve allocated it. What we’ve found is that there is a trillion dollars designated for certain programs through the CARES ACT. And so, we really do need to take that into account as we move forward, and not just pile more money into these programs,” according to Ernst.

She says they want the money to go where it will do the most good. “We are trying to gauge that and make sure that we are very laser focused on supporting COVID-19 recovery efforts,” Ernst says, “You know, this is not a grand give away. We won’t support that.” Ernst says she is introducing a bill that would help essential workers by giving them a tax break. “Under my proposal, federal income taxes would be suspended for essential workers up to an annual income cap set at the highest level of pay for an enlisted person in the United States armed forces,” Ernst says. “Additionally, the bill would provide a suspension of federal payroll taxes for essential workers who earn up to 50-thousand dollars annually.”

Ernst says the essential workers are putting the interests of their fellow Americans ahead of their own and they should be rewarded for their selfless service.