Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday, that First Whitney Bank & Trust has matched the $10,000 donation to the Atlantic Small Business Relief Fund. As previously mentioned, the fund will be used to provide grants to local small businesses currently suffering economic hardship due to COVID-19. The funds are not intended to replace a loss of actual or anticipated revenue, but to provide businesses with funds to keep them viable during this public health crisis.

Applications will be available beginning Monday, May 11th at 9 AM on www.atlanticiowa.com and will close Friday, May 15th at 12 PM. Grants will range between $500 – $2,500. To apply, businesses must have a 50022 zip-code. Atlantic Chamber of Commerce membership for participation is not required, though preference will be given to current members and/or businesses that have not received State and/or Federal funds previously. Applications will be reviewed by a committee and awarded pending availability of funds.

To help as many businesses as possible, if you are interested in donating to the fund, contact the Chamber at 712-243-3017, email chamber@atlanticiowa.com or mail donations to 102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022.

DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency.  The proclamation permits dental services to resume in compliance with guidelines adopted by the Iowa Dental Board, permits some additional businesses and establishments to reopen throughout Iowa in a limited fashion with appropriate public health measures in place, and provides additional regulatory relief to assist Iowans affected by this disaster.

The full proclamation is online in its entirety and substantive information can be found below:

REOPENING OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES (Statewide) – effective at 5:00 a.m. on May 8, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2020:

A.   Campgrounds: Any public or private campground may reopen, provided that the campground implements reasonable measures under the circumstances of each campground to ensure social distancing, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

B. Drive-in movie theaters: The closure of theaters where motion pictures are shown shall not apply to a drive-in movie theater. A drive-in movie theater may reopen, but only to the extent that the theater ensures that all cars are parked at least six feet apart and takes other reasonable measures under the circumstances of each theater to ensure social distancing of employees and patrons, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with Guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

C.   Tanning facilities: A tanning facility, as defined by Iowa Code § 136D.2(5), may reopen, but only to the extent that the facility takes other reasonable measures under the circumstances of each theater to ensure social distancing of employees and patrons, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with Guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

D.   Medical spas: Medical spas, as defined in Iowa Admin Code § 653-13.8(1), may reopen to provide medical aesthetic services, but only if the medical spa complies with the requirements for performing outpatient procedures that utilize PPE in section 10, paragraph A, of the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued or April 27, 2020.

CLARIFICATION REGARDING SOCIAL AND FRATERNAL CLUBS

(All counties except Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Henry, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Washington, or Woodbury County) Effective at 5:00 a.m. on May 8, and until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2020:

A.  All social and fraternal clubs, including but not limited to American Legion or VFW posts, Elks Clubs, country clubs, and golf course clubhouses shall be closed, except that a golf course clubhouse may also be open to the minimal extent necessary to facilitate use of the golf course provided appropriate social distancing practices are implemented and any such social or fraternal club may reopen to serve food and beverages on its premises, but only to the extent that it complies with the following requirements:

(1)  Capacity limited: The club must limit the number of customers present at indoor or outdoor spaces to 50% of its normal operating capacity to ensure adequate spacing of groups.

(2)  Groups limited: The club must ensure that no group of customers seated together in the restaurant is larger than six people.

(3)  Social distancing: The club must ensure at least six feet of physical distance between each group or individual dining alone.

(4)  Self-service prohibited:  The club must not have any self-service of food or beverages, including buffets or salad bars.

(5)  Social distancing, hygiene, and public health measures: The club shall also implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each restaurant to ensure social distancing of employees and customers, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the Iowa Department of Public Health.

(6)  Food Service Required: If the club serves alcoholic beverages and the service of food is merely incidental to the consumption of beverages and is limited to the service of ice, snack foods and the reheating of commercially prepared foods such as frozen pizza, pre-packaged sandwiches, or other prepackaged, ready-to-serve products, the club shall continue to be closed to the public except that to the extent permitted by applicable law as modified by the suspensions in this Proclamation, and in accordance with any recommendations of the Iowa Department of Public Health, food and beverages may be sold if such food or beverages are promptly taken from the premises, such as on a carry-out or drive-through basis, or if the food or beverage is delivered to customers off the premises.

This section shall apply only to businesses and establishments located in an Iowa county other than Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Henry, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Washington, or Woodbury counties.

REOPENING OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES (Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Henry, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Washington, and Woodbury counties) Effective at 5:00 a.m. on May 8, and until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2020:

A.   Fitness centers: All fitness centers, health clubs, health spas, gyms, aquatic centers shall continue to be closed, except that such a facility may open on an appointment basis, provided that the facility permits only a single patron at one time and takes reasonable measures under the circumstances of each facility to ensure social distancing of employees and patrons, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with Guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

B. Malls: An enclosed mall may reopen, but only to the extent that it complies with the following requirements:

(1)  Capacity limited: The mall must limit the number of customers present to 50% of its maximum legal occupancy capacity.

1. Common seating areas: All common seating areas, such as food courts, shall remain closed. Restaurants in food courts may operate on a carry-out basis.

2. Play areas: Any play area or playground must remain closed.

3. Social distancing, hygiene, and public health measures: The mall shall also implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each mall to ensure social distancing of employees and customers, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

C.   Other retail establishments:  A retail establishments that was previously ordered to be closed under section 5, paragraph I, of the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on April 27, 2020, may reopen, but only to the extent that it limits the number of customers present to 50% of its maximum legal occupancy capacity and implements reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure social distancing of employees and customers, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

This section shall apply only to businesses and establishments located in Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Henry, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Washington, and Woodbury counties.

SUSPENSION OF ALCOHOL LICENSE EXPIRATION

SECTION FIVE.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 123.34(1) and Iowa Admin. Code rule 185-4.26, to the extent class “A”, class “B”, class “C”, and special class “C” liquor licenses and class “B” beer permits and class “C” wine permits expire one year from the date of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked. Suspension of these provisions shall extend through the duration of this Proclamation and any future extension of this suspension. I hereby direct the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to provide guidance to licensees and permittees regarding the effect of these suspensions.

SCHOOL START DATE FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL CALENDAR

SECTION SIX.  Pursuant to Iowa Code §§ 29C.6(6) and 135.144(3), in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health, and at the request of Iowa Association of School Boards on behalf of numerous local governmental bodies, I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 279.10(1), to the extent that it prohibits a school district or accredited nonpublic school from beginning its school calendar before August 23, 2020, but only if the school district adopts a calendar as a part of its Return to Learn Plan submitted to the Iowa Department of Education that ensures that any instructional time scheduled before August 23, 2020, is in excess of the minimum instructional time of one hundred eighty days or one thousand eighty hours. This suspension applies only to the 2020-2021 school calendar as a result of the school closures ordered during this public health disaster emergency.

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

SECTION SEVEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Administrative Code rule 281-31.3(3)(a), requiring face-to-face contact between children receiving competent private instruction from privately retained licensed practitioners and those practitioners.

SECTION EIGHT.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code sections 299A.3 and 299A.4, and Iowa Administrative Code rules 281-31.8 and 281-31.9, which require an annual assessment of children receiving competent private instruction and setting deadlines for reporting of assessment results.

SECTION NINE.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Administrative Code rule 281-31.4(3)(a), requiring face-to-face contact between children receiving competent private instruction from home school assistance program teachers and those teachers.

SECTION TEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code section 299A.1(2)(b) and Iowa Administrative Code rules 281-31.1(2)(b) and 281-31.11, governing the provision of independent private instruction.

INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS REQUIREMENTS

SECTION ELEVEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Administrative Code rule 281-36.15(2), the scholarship rule for interscholastic athletics.  When school resumes and athletic competitions resume, all student athletes will be deemed to be academically eligible.

SECTION TWELVE.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Administrative Code rule 281-36.15(3) and (4), the transfer rule for interscholastic athletics, to the extent that these subrules require a certain number of school days of ineligibility.  Any day that a school is closed pursuant to a proclamation of the Governor shall be counted toward the days required by Iowa Administrative Code rule 281-36.15(3) and (4).

EXTENSION OF TAX LEVY RESOLUTION FILING DEADLINE

SECTION THIRTEEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), and at the request of the City of Windsor Heights, I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 76.2(1)(b) to the extent a county or a city is required to file with its county auditor a resolution prior to April 15 in order for the annual levy to begin with the tax levy for collection commencing July 1 of that fiscal year, to the extent the resolution is filed prior to May 27.

VETERANS STAFF CERTIFICATION TRAINING

SECTION FOURTEEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), and at the request on behalf of a county commission of veteran affairs, I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 35B.6(1)(c) and Iowa Admin. Code rules 801-7.2(2) and 801-7.2(3)(c), to the extent an executive director or administrator is required to complete a course of certification training within one year of employment.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE RELIEF

SECTION FIFTEEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 544A.8 and Iowa Admin. Code rule 193B-2.3 establishing examination deadlines as a condition of initial licensure for architects. I hereby direct the Architectural Examining Board to provide additional guidance to applicants for initial licensure regarding the effect of these suspensions.

SECTION SIXTEEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code §§ 543B.15(7) and 543B.15(8), establishing certain deadlines to complete education requirements prior to examination for initial licensure for real estate salespersons and real estate brokers. I hereby direct the Real Estate Commission to provide additional guidance to applicants for initial licensure regarding the effect of these suspensions.

SECTION SEVENTEEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code §§ 536.11(2), 536A.14(1), and 537.2304 (2), and Iowa Admin. Code rules 187-15.12, 187-16.2(1), 187-17.12, 187-19.7, requiring a licensee to file annual reports.

SECTION EIGHTEEN.  Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code §§ 533A.2(7), 533D.3(7), 535B.4(2)(b), 535D.4, 536.30, 536A.32, and 543E.20(5) and Iowa Admin. Code rules 187-15.3(2), 187-16.3(2), 187-17.3(2), 187-18.2(2), 187-19.2(5), 187-20.3(2), and 187-25.2(3), which require the completion of background checks for initial applicants as a condition of obtaining professional licensure. Suspension of these provisions shall extend through the duration of this Proclamation and any future extension of this suspension. I hereby direct all regulatory agencies governed by these provisions to, upon the expiration of this Disaster Emergency, conduct background checks for those applicants and take any necessary action resulting from completion of those checks, up to and including revocation of licensure.

IMPLEMENTATION AND INTERPRETATION

SECTION NINETEEN.  The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Iowa Department of Transportation, and other participating state agencies continue to be directed to monitor the operation and implementation of this proclamation to assure the public’s health and safety.

SECTION TWENTY.  In conjunction with the Department of Public Health pursuant to Iowa Code §§ 29C.18 and 135.35, all peace officers of the state continue to be called upon to assist in the enforcement of the provisions of this Proclamation.

SECTION TWENTY-ONE.  Nothing contained in this declaration shall be construed as an exemption from any other portion of the Iowa Code or Iowa Administrative Code not specifically identified in this proclamation.

SECTION TWENTY-TWO.  The provisions of this proclamation shall be effective immediately, unless otherwise noted. This proclamation shall not be construed to otherwise modify the proclamation of April 27, 2020. This state of public health disaster emergency shall continue to expire on May 27, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by me.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators in Iowa have arrested a former long-haul trucker suspected of killing two women in Wyoming and a third in Tennessee in the early 1990s. Police arrested

Clark Perry Baldwin (IA DPS photo)

58-year-old Clark Perry Baldwin on Wednesday at his home in Waterloo, Iowa, on warrants from Tennessee and Wyoming charging him in the three killings. He’s being held in the Black Hawk County jail pending extradition proceedings.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation says in a news release that “advances in technology” linked Baldwin to the crimes. He’s charged in the 1992 killings of two unidentified women in Wyoming and the 1991 slaying in Tennessee of a pregnant woman, Pamela McCall, and her fetus.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Sioux City Journal) — A 27-year-old Nebraska man who shot at an Iowa state trooper after a traffic stop has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Anthony Wells, of Omaha, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to five counts connected to the confrontation in December in Sioux City, Iowa. As part of his plea, an attempted murder charge was dropped.

Prosecutors said Walls was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. He fled on foot as the trooper was trying to arrest him for a domestic assault warrant. As he was being pursued, Walls fired twice at the trooper, who was not hit and did not return fire.

(Radio Iowa) — Concerns are rising in Iowa the COVID-19 pandemic is allowing child abuse to go unreported while making it more challenging for people trying to get out of abusive households. Mary Ingham is executive director of Crisis Intervention Services, which serves 15 north-central Iowa counties. She says more people are reaching out through email and texts because they’re unable to get away from an abusive family member.

Ingham says, “Two months ago, most people could find a time that they could be alone, when their partner is gone or maybe they’re running errands, and people just aren’t moving like that anymore.” Ingham says Iowans should regularly check in with friends and family members to make sure they’re safe. They can contact victim services programs to find support and safe housing.

Since the pandemic forced schools to close, child abuse reports have fallen, but advocates fear it could mean some abuse is being overlooked. Amanda Goodman, executive director of the Family and Children’s Council of Black Hawk County, says she’s concerned numbers are down because many people who make reports are school employees. Goodman says, “I’ve encouraged all the teachers and administrators to reach out to families once a week not only talk to the parents, but ask the child and give them that safe place.”

Much like Ingham, Goodman encourages everyone to keep in contact with their neighbors and report any suspicious activity to authorities. A report from the state ombudsman’s office in April found child abuse reports to the Department of Human Services fell more than 16-percent from February to March — when schools across the state closed.

(Reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) — Only one Iowa hospital is treating COVID-19 patients with a newly-approved drug that’s hoped to help in the healing process. Remdesivir (rem-DESS-ah-veer) isn’t a cure or a prevention vaccine, but researchers say it can help some patients recover from coronavirus more quickly, perhaps cutting as much as four days off their recovery.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has been using the intravenous antiviral drug in clinical trials since late March. About two-dozen patients with severe symptoms were treated with remdesivir at the Iowa City hospital. One patient died, though UIHC officials say it was a severe case and don’t attribute the death to the drug.

After gaining FDA approval last week, production is being ramped up and more Iowa hospitals should have the drug — soon.