The Page County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday, charged 35-year old Travis Robert Mayer, of Essex, with 23 counts of Violation of a protection order. Mayer allegedly violated the protection order after he was served March 13, 2020 in the Page County Jail, where he is being held on a charge Of Domestic Abuse Assault.

The charges stem from an investigation between the Page County Jail and Page County Sheriff’s Office.

A traffic stop Monday in Clarinda resulted in the arrest of a woman on a drug charge. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year old Jodee Jean James, of Clarinda, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana).

James was transported to the Page County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have issued a Disaster Declaration due to the current COVID-19 pandemic event. Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says “A Disaster Declaration does not mean any increase in risk to residents of Cass County. What the Declaration does is open the door for the County to access possible Mutual Aid, Regional, State and Federal resources should the County exhaust all of its resources.”

CASS COUNTY DISASTER DECLARATION

• WHEREAS confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State of Iowa are posing a serious threat to the public health and safety of the residents of Cass County, Iowa; and
• WHEREAS community spread of COVID-19 has occurred in the State of Iowa; and
• WHEREAS the CDC has recommended that people should not congregate in gatherings of over ten people to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19; and
• WHEREAS the Hon. Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency in the State of Iowa and has recommended that all school districts within the State of Iowa close for a period of four weeks to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the State; and
• WHEREAS the Cass County Board of Supervisors has restricted public access to all county offices with those services available by appointment only; and

NOW, THEREFORE the Cass County Board of Supervisors hereby declare a State of Emergency in Cass County, Iowa, authorized under Iowa Code and will execute the expenditure of emergency funds from all available sources, the invoking of Mutual Aid agreements , and applying to the State of Iowa for assistance in response to this disaster.

(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Senate is preparing to vote on a three-phase plan to address the problems created by the coronavirus pandemic. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says one of the items being discussed is a plan by the U-S Treasury to send a one-thousand dollar direct payment to everyone. “We are looking at that in phase three, so that will be direct support to Americans,” Ernst says.

Ernst in her weekly conference call with reporters was asked if she supports the plan. “There will be a number of discussions surrounding that, “Ernst says. “What we do know is we need to find the most effective and efficient way to deliver immediate relief to our families in Iowa. And it is something I will consider. I can’t say whether I will support that right now — but it is something for our discussion in phase three.”

Ernst says they are also considering help for non-profit groups. “There are a number of those groups that do have mortgages, they do have leases that need to be covered. So, what I would recommend to all of our great Iowa folks who want to continue with their charitable giving — is to go ahead and give to those organizations — as they would with any type of gathering or fundraiser.”

The airline industry has been hard hit as well with the cancellation of flights. “Travel is very important, we do use the airline industry as a way to maintain a mobile society. So, we will look at that and have some pretty heavy discussions with the airline industry and where we go with their particular asks,” Ernst says. “But in my mind, it always needs to be our American workers, our families, those small businesses that are very important to Iowa, they need to come first.”

Senator Ernst says the U-S economy has taken a big hit — but she says the silver lining in the whole thing is the economy was doing very well before the virus struck. She says that gives hope that things can turn back around. “This is a pandemic. This is going to be a very tough time. And I hope that we are all wrong and that we bounce right back and this virus goes away,” according to Ernst. “But, what we can do is do the best we can to stop the spread. And if we can stop the spread we can do the best that we can get our economy right back on track.”

The recovery plans being discussed could spend as much as one TRILLION dollars.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Employees at Iowa’s public universities may get an additional 80 hours of paid sick leave under an emergency measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Board of Regents President Mike Richards used his new emergency powers to authorize the universities and special schools to provide the extra leave.

He also waived limits on employees’ ability to use accrued sick leave to care for family members and to provide child care for their dependents. In addition, he relaxed limits on an employee’s ability to donate or receive vacation time to be used as sick leave.

Police in Glenwood report three arrests took place Sunday. 36-year old Joshua Martens, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. He pled guilty to the offense and was released.

37-year old Jared Newman, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Disorderly Conduct. He was sentenced to serve time, with a release date of April 14th.

And, 20-year old Brodie Crockett, of Malvern, was arrested Sunday, for OWI/1st offense. He posted the required $1,000 bond, and was released.

Red Oak – Businesses and organizations are urged to donate personal protective equipment, or PPE, by contacting your local public health agency and the county emergency management agency. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging Iowa businesses and organizations to donate extra personal protective equipment to assist health care providers, healthcare facilities and first responders who are actively responding to COVID-19.

Ken Sharp, division director of Acute Disease Prevention, Emergency Response and Environmental Health “This is an unprecedented public health disaster and stocks of personal protective equipment for health care providers and first responders are being used rapidly. Any organizations that have extra PPE supplies that aren’t immediately needed should consider donating them to help those on the front lines of this disease.”

Any type of health care PPE will be welcomed, especially rubber gloves, gowns, eye protection and masks. Montgomery County Public Health and Montgomery County Emergency Management officials are working to address needs locally and beyond.

Brian Hamman, Montgomery County Emergency Management Director, says “This is a worldwide pandemic, any and all donated supplies are extremely welcomed and will be distributed to our local health care facilities and local first responders to continue to respond to the active COVID-19 threat.”

To donate PPE, please contact Montgomery County Public Health or Montgomery County Emergency Management.

Beginning Thursday, March 19, the Cass County Health System (CCHS) in Atlantic, will be implementing additional screening measures to protect the health of all patients and staff. All patients, visitors and vendors must enter through either the Main Entrance or the Emergency Department Entrance. Patients will be met by staff who will take their temperature (forehead) and ask a few questions about their recent travel and health.

Patients who are determined to be at increased risk for COVID-19 will be asked to wear a mask and directed to Suite C, which will be utilized only for COVID-19 patients. OB and other providers normally located in Suite C have been relocated to other suites.

Also beginning Thursday, March 19, Atlantic Medical Center hours will be 7 am – 7 pm Monday through Friday. The clinic will be open Saturday mornings for acute illnesses only (no wellness appointments) from 8 am – noon. Weekend care for patients needing to be screened for COVID-19 will be available from 10 am – 6 pm Saturdays and Sundays.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Food banks and pantries across the U.S. are scrambling to meet an expected surge in demand as the coronavirus causes many people to at least temporarily lose their jobs. This is happening even as older volunteers have been told to stay home. Also, calls for social distancing are complicating efforts to package and distribute food.

Pantries are shifting from letting people select items to giving them a sack filled with food to limit interaction and lessen the chance of passing along the virus. Officials say it makes them less efficient, but they don’t have better options.