(Radio Iowa) – Renters and homeowners who can’t make monthly payments because of the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for assistance through the Iowa Finance Authority. Renters who qualify may receive up to 32-hundred dollars over a four month period. Iowans earning less than 80 percent of the median income for their county may be eligible, but the payments are NOT available to people getting the temporary federal six-hundred dollar bonus along with unemployment benefits.

Finance Authority director Debi Durham says people who don’t qualify will be referred to Iowa Legal Aid.

Applications are being taken at IowaHousingRecovery.com. The moratorium on evictions and foreclosures ended this week.

Officials with the Red Oak Child Development Center report that as the community begins to reclaim 2020, those involved with the ROCDC are excited to be moving forward and gearing up for the opening of the new childcare center in August. Laura Kloewer, ROCDC Board Vice-Chair, says “According to Child Care Resource and Referral, on average 1 in 2 children in Iowa go without access to affordable, quality childcare. As of 2019, Montgomery County had 1,186 children under the age of 9 and only 504 available spaces in existing licensed childcare facilities. The goal of the Red Oak Child Development Center is to be an additional facility in our community that provides quality, education-based childcare in a safe and nurturing environment.”

ROCDC classrom

ROCDC Reception area (Photos submitted)

Montgomery County Child Development Association (MCCDA) is a board governed 501c3, nonprofit corporation. The first project of this organization is to open the Red Oak Child Development Center (ROCDC). MCCDA began in fall 2018 as a small group of volunteers and has evolved into a large coalition of individuals all working together to realize the dream of opening the Red Oak Child Development Center.

Kloewer says “Some big milestones and accomplishments necessary for opening have been reached recently; including the completion of construction inside the old Washington School building – now referred to as the Red Oak Early Childhood Center (ROECC). This building is still owned by the Red Oak Community School District (ROCSD) and will continue to house their 4-year-old preschool program. ROCDC will be renting space in the ROECC building.” She said also, “We are so grateful for the partnership with the Red Oak Community School District, however we are not officially affiliated with the school district.

ROCDC will provide all day care for children aged 6 weeks to 4 years, and after-school and summer programming for children up to 12 years of age. ROCDC plans to use two unique and
comprehensive curriculum programs: Creative Curriculum, a research-based curriculum that utilizes exploration and discovery; and Second Step, a program rooted in social-emotional
learning that encourages and supports students. With indoor construction finished, ROCDC is excited to begin moving in and furnishing their rooms. They will be renting four rooms in the ROECC building. These rooms will be used as an infant room, a pre-toddler/transitional room, and two toddler rooms. Each room will feature newly renovated flooring, emergency exits, and bathrooms designed for toddlers.

Another feature of the new building renovation is the main entryway. Originally, visitor access to the building was through the southwest entryway. Now, the only entrance has been moved to the southeast side so that the employee in charge of allowing visitors into the building will be able to immediately see who is entering and ensure that the facility is safe and secure at all times. The Red Oak Early Childcare Center will be sharing both the indoor gymnasium and media center with the ROCDC. Besides the indoor renovations, work is also being done to the outdoor area for a play space that is accommodating for all ages. Although they are currently working on landscaping for the outdoor space, ROCDC Director Jacque Howell is excited for some new additions to the playground, especially for the installation of a Nature Explore playground setting. The addition of the Nature Explore playground, officials say, will add an exciting and stimulating age-appropriate learning space for all students.

In addition to moving in, hiring the remainder of the staff is one of the next big steps. Applications for teachers and support staff will be opening soon. For more information, check out the Red Oak Child Development Center Facebook page, or email questions to director@redoakcdc.org.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports the following COVID-19 statistics from across the State, to date:

• 146, 288 Iowans had been tested for the virus
• 18,791 tested positive for COVID-19
• 127,070 have tested negative
• 10,640 have recovered
• 520 have died.
• 376 people were being treated for the virus in a hospital
• 117 patients were in an ICU
• 38 had been admitted over the past 24-hours
• 78 patients were on ventilators.
• The number of LTC facility outbreaks is up one at 38; 1,529 LTC patients/staff have tested positive; 670 have recovered, and 243 have died.

In western/southwest Iowa, the latest RMCC data show 9 hospitalized, 9 in an ICU, 2 were admitted to a hospital, and 5 people were on ventilators.  Here are the latest County COVID-19 numbers from the IDPH COVID-19 dashboard (# of cases/# of persons recovered):

• Cass County – 11/9 (377 tested, 354 negative, 12 tests pending)
• Adair – 9/5 (203 have been tested as of 5/29)
• Adams – 7/3
• Audubon – 12/8
• Guthrie – 48/29
• Montgomery – 6/5
• Pottawattamie – 235/152
• Shelby – 34/30.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday), approved a 28-E (cost sharing) agreement with the Cass County Memorial Hospital, the City of Atlantic and the County, with regard to sharing the cost of ambulance services. Auditor Dale Sunderman…

Supervisor Mark O’Brien says it’s a much broader system than what is in-place currently.

The Board also approved vacating a portion of an untraveled county roadway, not affecting the nearby, traveled portion, in a portion of Cass Township, near Lewis.

The Supervisors discussed a complaint received with regard to a number of abandoned, junked or inoperable vehicles near Massena, some of which are on the Iowa DOT right-of-way. The vehicles are located just outside the Massena City Limits, on the south side of Highway 92. Supervisor Frank Waters said there are nine vehicles, five of which are on the State Right-of-way, some of which are under the County’s jurisdiction.

Waters suggested the State (DOT) handle the matter. Board Chair Steve Baier said they could talk with the property owner about moving the vehicle, but that wouldn’t solve the problem in its entirety.

The Board tabled the matter until they could further check the County’s Ordinance with regard to junk/abandoned vehicles, and any action the City of Massena may take in the interim. In other action, they approved the Secondary Roads Employee Bargaining Unit Agreement for FY2021, which basically calls for a 50-cents per hour wage increase for each employee.  The Supervisors also approved the employment of Susan Page as an additional jailer.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Friday press conference on COVID-19 in Iowa. We’ll have live audio on KJAN as well with the presser set to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports the following COVID-19 statistics from across the State, to date:

• 146, 288 Iowans had been tested for the virus
• 18,791 tested positive for COVID-19
• 127,070 have tested negative
• 10,640 have recovered
• 520 have died.
• 376 people were being treated for the virus in a hospital
• 117 patients were in an ICU
• 38 had been admitted over the past 24-hours
• 78 patients were on ventilators.
• The number of LTC facility outbreaks is up one at 38; 1,529 LTC patients/staff have tested positive; 670 have recovered, and 243 have died.

In western/southwest Iowa, the latest RMCC data show 9 hospitalized, 9 in an ICU, 2 were admitted to a hospital, and 5 people were on ventilators.  Here are the latest County COVID-19 numbers from the IDPH COVID-19 dashboard (# of cases/# of persons recovered):

• Cass County – 11/9 (377 tested, 354 negative, 12 tests pending)
• Adair – 9/5 (203 have been tested as of 5/29)
• Adams – 7/3
• Audubon – 12/8
• Guthrie – 48/29
• Montgomery – 6/5
• Pottawattamie – 235/152
• Shelby – 34/30.