The Council Bluffs Police Department reports an eight-year old male from Council Bluffs who was struck by an SUV Wednesday evening, died from his injuries at a hospital. The boy’s name was not released. The accident happened at around 6:25-p.m. at the intersection of Franklin and Carson Avenues. Authorities say the child was struck by a blue Honda Pilot. The driver of the vehicle, who was later identified as 36-year old Troy Allen Pokorny, of Council Bluffs, initially fled the scene but was located a short distance away.

Officials with the City of Stanton report a Stanton Community Foundation (SCF) has been established to benefit the community’s economic vitality by identifying, developing, and then funding projects which will grow and sustain our community. Jenna Ramsey, Stanton Community Development Director, say funds from the SCF can be both long range and very short range – as needs become available.

Anyone can leave a financial gift and a lasting legacy, and potentially receive tax benefits by contributing to the fund, Ramsey says. “SCF establishes a manner for residents, alumni, former residents, really anyone to contribute and leave a lasting legacy that will benefit the community of Stanton for years to come,” she said.

Ramsey said the Stanton Community Foundation has its tax ID and have applied to the IRS for recognition as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity. A contribution to the Stanton Community Foundation is a way you can make a difference today, tomorrow and long into the future. There are already some short-term needs in the community stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Ramsey – which contributed to the timing of the SCF announcement.

She said “Large or small, your contribution or pledge will have a lasting impact on the community of Stanton. Stanton Community Foundation currently is accepting only cash donations but may expand to other possibilities in the future.” And, while donations are accepted for projects at any time, there are two key projects going on now which were crucial for the timing of the foundation announcement. The first is the COVID-19 Relief Fund now set up through the foundation.

Ramsey said “Approximately $1,343 was raised for those severely affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic. More is needed. These funds will go to the Stanton Covenant Church and Mamrelund Lutheran Church food pantries as well as begin a fund for people to apply for help during this time.”

The other project now underway is the Stanton Downtown Façade Renovation. “The City of Stanton received a personal donation of $20,000 last December to kick off this massive project. Fundraising efforts will continue throughout 2020,” according to Ramsey.

Donations to Stanton Community Foundation may be dropped off or mailed to Great Western Bank at 401 Broad Avenue, Stanton, Iowa 51573. For more information, contact Jenna Ramsey at (712) 829-7340 or jramsey@fmtcnet.com.

The City Council in Atlantic held an electronically conducted meeting Wednesday evening, and heard from SWIPCO Community Development Director Alexsis Fleener. She spoke about a recent Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that was awarded in the amount of $493,997 for water system improvements. The grant, combined with a $603,773 AMU local match, will pay for a water main project that crosses under the Nishnabotna River near the Wastewater Treatment Plan, and will act as a looped system to serve Marne residents and for other, future purposes and/or development. The City Council approved the CDBG Subrecipient agreement for the AMU grant, with the City acting as the fiscal agent. AMU and SWIPCO will act as the grant administrator.

Fleener also spoke about a Community Catalyst Grant application SHIFT ATL is applying for, with regard to their housing project. In other business, the Council reviewed bids for the Atlantic Animal Shelter expansion project. The project was estimated to cost $151,620. The Animal Control Center has a Gift Funds Balance of $149,419.27. The bids received by the City came in well over the available funds. Snyder and Associates worked with the lowest bidder [United Construction], to try and reduce the project cost by $15,000, but at $165,300, the bid still exceed the resources available. It was agreed by all concerned, including Atlantic Control Officer Kris Erickson, that the Council should reject all bids and delay the project until this fall, or until the economy improves and resources are available. A motion to that effect was passed 7-0.

The Council also approved, by a vote of 6-to 1 (With Gerald Brink in opposition), an Engineering Agreement (for planning and design) with Snyder & Associates for the W. 22nd Street (7th to Palm) Reconstruction Project. The agreement will make the project “Shovel ready,” assuming another trillion-dollar federal stimulus package is approved this Fall, as many expect. If not, the plans will simply be shelved for better economic times. Regardless, when the funds do become available within the next five-years, the engineering aspect will have already been taken care of, and the process to solicit bids can begin. The Council suggested a bike path be figured in to the project, if possible.

In other business, the Council also passed a Resolution approving the transfer of funds for 3rd Quarter LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) receipts for the Fiscal Year 2019-20. This is a routine transfer of money between the City’s 94 separate funds, and are said to be a “Critical component of making the City’s budget work effectively. In addition, it reconciles accurate cost-accounting with the desire to create transparency on what is being spent in each of the line items in each fund.

The final order of business, was for the Council to approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing parking zones on East 12th Street, from Olive Street to the west (a dead-end street just east of the Heritage House). The area has been a source of complaints from home owners about people parking on both sides of the narrow street, and a safety concern of fire and law enforcement. The ordinance designates the north side of the street as a “No parking” area.

Prior to adjournment, Mayor Dave Jones officially announced the City of Atlantic Fireworks will be held July 3rd, in the AMU well fields next to the Atlantic Sports Complex (across from KJAN). In the event rain is forecast, or other events (Including a COVID-19 restriction on public gathering) force a delay, the make-up date will be Sept. 4th (The Friday preceding Labor Day). The celebration is being paid for by the Atlantic Rotary and Community Promotion Commission.

(Radio Iowa) — The state’s largest hospital is now drastically limiting visitors in an effort to lower the risk of spreading coronavirus. As of today (Wednesday), the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City is suspending visitors for most adult patients. U-I-H-C Chief Medical Officer Theresa Brennan says there are a few cases where those strict rules will be relaxed, but not many.

“There are predetermined exceptions to this, for women who are in labor with an impending delivery and for patients who come to our emergency room,” Brennan says. “Pediatric patients will be allowed one visitor per day and that must be a parent or a legal guardian.” Exceptions will also be made for patients in critical care and those facing end of life decisions, but even those patients will be allowed just one visitor. Brennan says it was a tough call.

“This was a difficult decision and we have discussed it at length,” she says, “and we know that it’s the right thing to do to protect our patients, our visitors and our staff.” Hospital officials say they will help patients use technology to stay in touch with their loved ones, providing devices and language interpretation for those who need it.

(Reporting by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Dept. of Public Health, this (Wednesday) afternoon, said four new positive cases for COVID-19 have been reported in the county. The total number of cases now stands at 18, with 11 people having recovered from the virus.

The four new cases involve three men and one woman between the ages of 41-and 80. All four individuals reside in Council Bluffs, and all four have pre-existing conditions. None of the new cases had contact with an existing COVID-19 case. Testing occurred between April 12th and 14th. Two of the patients are hospitalized, two are self-isolating at home.

Pott. County Public Health is conducting a contact trace investigation, and is in touch with the Iowa Dept. of Public Health.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s asking federal agencies and business leaders for help preventing coronavirus outbreaks at Iowa food processing plants and responding to two that have already infected scores of workers. Reynolds said that she was calling the leaders of 18 major meat packing and food plants to assess how the pandemic is affecting their workplaces and how the state can help.

She says she also has a call scheduled with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and is inquiring with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control “to see if they can provide some assistance at our packing plants as well.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Four teenagers linked to a large fight that ended in a shooting at a Cedar Rapids park have been charged with violating Iowa’s social distancing rules. The Cedar Rapids Police Department said Wednesday that three adult teens and one juvenile were cited for violating the state’s temporary ban on social gatherings larger than 10.

Gov. Kim Reynolds imposed the ban March 17 to stop the spread of the coronavirus. They’re charged with a simple misdemeanor for failing to follow a public health order. Such crimes usually involve a fine of up to $625.