MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Employees at the Iowa Veterans Home have been disciplined more than 20 times for personal protective equipment lapses that potentially exposed residents and staff to coronavirus.Commandant Timon Oujiri says the strict approach to requiring masks and other equipment when interacting with residents and colleagues has helped keep coronavirus largely out of the state’s biggest nursing home. He says 25 employees and seven residents have tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic and all have recovered.

Oujiri says he considers that a major success, noting that the Marshalltown home has 456 residents and 900 employees. Nineteen employees have been suspended or reprimanded for potentially exposing residents or staff, and two others were fired during their probationary periods.

(Radio Iowa) — A federal judge has ordered the Dakota Access oil pipeline that runs through Iowa to shut down until an environmental review is completed. The pipeline carries oil from North Dakota to Illinois. It runs 350 miles through 18 Iowa counties, entering the state in northwest Iowa’s Lyon County and exits from Lee County in the southeast. Oil began pumping through the pipeline more than three years ago. The company that runs the pipeline is seeking permits to double its capacity.

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s lawsuit asks the court to throw out the federal permit for the pipeline. In 2016, the Sierra Club and more than a dozen Iowans who owned land along the pipeline’s route unsuccessfully sued in state court to try to block operation of the pipeline.

(Corrects earlier post with regard to O’Neall’s residence) A man and woman from Adair County were arrested on felony warrants June 29th at the Union County Sheriff’s Office on Sexual Abuse and other charges. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports 20-year old Joel William Blazek, of Greenfield, was arrested by Adair County Deputies, and 21-year old Tommie Lynne O’Neall, of Fontanelle, was arrested by Stuart Police. Each face felony charges that include: Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree (involving a person 12-to 13 years of age); Lascivious Acts with a Child/Solication, and Child Endangerment without injury. In addition, O’Neall faces two felony counts of Supplying Alcohol to a person under legal age.  Blazek was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $32,000 cash only bond. O’Neall’s cash only bond was set at $35,000. Additional details concerning their arrests was not immediately available.

In other activity, 25-year old Zachary Trenton Holder, of Greenfield, was arrested June 30th on Adair County warrants for Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, Theft in the 2nd Degree, and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. His cash-only bond was set at $2,000. And, on July 3rd, 41-year old Mark Anthony McFarland, of Redfield, was arrested by Stuart Police for OWI/2nd offense. McFarland was later released on his Own Recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) — The bear that captured attention as it wandered through eastern Iowa last month attracted more crowds in Missouri. Almost 150,000 people have joined the Facebook group “Keeping Bruno Safe” which has been chronicling the adventures of a black bear that left Wisconsin and ended up in Missouri. After becoming trapped by 10 foot high fences close to I-70 near Wentzville; the exhausted and dehydrated Bruno was tranquilized and taken to a safer, undisclosed location.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s four Catholic bishops are asking President Trump to cancel the July 17th execution of an Iowan found guilty of killing five people, including two children. Dustin Honken, who was originally from Britt, was convicted in 2004 of murdering a family in a rural area outside of Mason City in 1993. Authorities say Honken was a meth king pin at the time and the man he murdered was another drug dealer who had become an informant. Honken shot the man, his wife and two children in the head.

The state’s four Catholic bishops are asking President Trump to commute Honken’s sentence to life in prison.  The bishops say they believe capitol punishment perpetuates a cycle of violence and contributes to a growing disrespect for the sacredness of all human life.

July 7, 2020 (DES MOINES) – The City Atlantic was recently awarded $100,000 from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), for a SHIFT ATL building rehabilitation project.  The local, matching share of the $321,000 project cost is $221,000. IEDA officials report in all, $2.6 million in Community Catalyst Building Remediation grants have been awarded to 26 Iowa communities. The Community Catalyst program was initiated in 2018 by IEDA to help create fundamental, positive change in Iowa’s downtown areas. The grants, amounting to $100,000 per community, assist with the redevelopment, remediation or rehabilitation of buildings to stimulate economic growth and reinvestment.

Elsewhere in western/southwest Iowa, the following have received $100,000 IEDA grants:

• The City of Carson, for their project at 105 Broadway Street ($145,250 match; $245,250 total project cost)
• The City of Creston received $100k toward the $421,134 cost of the Hot Air Brewing Company project ($321,134 local match)
• The City of Guthrie Center‘s grant will be directed to the $300,000 cost of the Williams Building rehab (Local match $200,000)
• The City of Mapleton will use the IEDA grant toward their 322 Main Street Rehab project cost of $155,000 ($55,000 local match)
• and the City of Stanton will rehabilitate the 317 Broad Building, for a total cost of $245,500 (Local match $145,500).

IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority director Debi Durham says “Revitalization of statewide communities is particularly critical as we recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. The Community Catalyst program is not only about investing in our infrastructure, but it inspires further development and future growth for years to come.” The Community Catalyst Building Remediation program is funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature. This is the third year these grants are being made available via the IEDA and continued funding is based on annual availability.

Last fall, Iowa cities approved through a pre-application process were invited to apply. IEDA received a total of 73 applications. Scoring criteria was based on project impact, appropriateness, funding/partnerships and incorporation of sustainability/smart growth principles. Per program rules, at least 40% of the grants were awarded to cities with populations of less than 1,500. The grants will support local improvement projects such as façade upgrades, building rehabilitations and renovations. Cities are required to provide financial and/or in-kind resources to supplement these projects.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – July 7, 2020 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 office reports a project to replace a reinforced concrete box culvert on U.S. 59 south of Denison in Crawford County requires closing the roadway to traffic beginning on Thursday morning, July 16, until November 2020, weather permitting. During this closure, motorists will be directed around the work zone using U.S. 30, Crawford County Road E-59, and U.S. 59. Midwest Contracting, LLC is the prime contractor of this $805,159 project.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(8-a.m. News 7/7)