DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating what appear to be human bones found on a property in northern Des Moines. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that the remains were found Tuesday morning by children playing in a dirt pile near a home.

A medical examiner and Polk County detectives were called around 10:30 a.m. to investigate. Detectives say the bones appear to be old. No other details have been released in the case.

(Glenwood) – In conformity with [today’s/Tuesday’s proclamation by Governor Kim Reynolds] Mills County Public Health, in conjunction with Mills County Emergency Management, would like to notify Mills County residents that the dining rooms of all area restaurants are directed to be closed. Restaurants offering to-go orders, drive thru service, and/or delivery services may still remain open for those purposes.

When residents wish to use and support our local restaurants during this period, we would encourage individuals to call ahead with their orders and limit their time in the restaurant. If you see more than ten (10) total individuals in the restaurant, please patiently wait for someone to leave before going in.

The six (6) foot social distance rule must be followed at all times in all circumstances.

DES MOINES – Today (March 17), Governor Kim Reynolds signed SF 2408, legislation that creates emergency measures and supplemental appropriations for key government services to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“Every Iowan has a role to play in limiting and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. These measures will fund core services and also give schools the flexibility to keep their students safe.” said Gov. Reynolds. “I appreciate lawmakers working together on legislation that funds key government services and additional emergency measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.”

SF 2408 Supplemental appropriations and emergency measurers

• Supplemental appropriations for Medicaid ($88.98 million)
• Supplemental appropriations other health programs ($1.8 million)
• Supplemental appropriations for state hygienic lab ($525,000).
• Limits some standing appropriations (non-public school transportation, instructional support, AEA funding).
• Requires DOM and the LSA to review FY 2020 appropriations and to make appropriations for the first two months of FY 2021.
• Transfers: Includes exemptions from transfer rules. EEF: Makes emergency appropriations from the EEF of up to 10% to the DOM for purposes approved by the Governor, through August 31. Includes various repeal dates. Schools: Authorizes the Governor to waive school instructional time requirements for schools that close due to the COVID-19 virus.

SF 2408 can be viewed here.

Governor Kim Reynolds held a press conference yesterday to provide an update to the state of Iowa on current 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) mitigation efforts. That press conference can be viewed in its entirety, here.

Montgomery County has joined in the expanding list of area counties to report that their offices are closed to the public, until further notice. The change went into effect at Noon today (March 17, 2020).

Montgomery County offices will remain open for phone calls, email business and by appointment only. Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman said “This decision did not come lightly and we are making every effort to lead by example in an effort to combat the COVID-19 virus and public health concerns.”

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors recommend suspending all public gatherings of 10 people or more at this time. The decision to keep all Montgomery County offices closed will be evaluated on a daily basis and our decisions will be based on current public health trends as well as guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health and Center for Disease Control (CDC).

In the meantime, some county services can be accessed online rather than coming to the courthouse. Many drivers license functions, tax payments, fine payments, etc. are quickly handled either online or by mail. Citizens are strongly encouraged to utilize these avenues rather than public exposure whenever possible. If you’re unsure if you can complete these services by mail or online, please contact the corresponding office (Listed below) by phone:

Assessor’s Office: 712-623-4171; General Assistance: 712-623-3848
Auditor’s Office/Board of Supervisors: 712-623-5127 Veteran’s Affairs: 712-623-3180
Treasurer’s Office: 712-623-3292 Option #2; Public Health: 712-623-4893
Driver’s License: 712-623-3292 Option #1; Conservation: 712-623-4753
Recorder’s Office: 712-623-4363; Secondary Roads: 712-623-5197
Clerk of Court: 712-623-4986; Mental Health: 712-623-6541
Law Enforcement Center: 712-623-5107. EMERGENCY DIAL 9-1-1
Emergency Management: 712-623-3749
County Attorney: 712-623-3011

For questions, concerns or to file papers for the June 2 Primary Election and/or November 3 General Election, please call the Auditor’s office at 623-5127, and the Auditor’s office will provide direction to you in order to receive the paperwork for the March 20 and March 25 deadline. You may also download an absentee request form from the Montgomery County website or from the Iowa Secretary of State website.

(U-S Cellular Press Release) – Recent studies have found that coronaviruses can possibly last on surfaces, such as metal, glass or plastic, for two hours and up to nine days. Therefore, U.S. Cellular encourages people to take precautionary measures and regularly clean your devices.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that people clean all “high touch” surfaces, such as phones and tablets, every day. Apple, Samsung and Google have tips online on how to properly clean their devices.

U.S. Cellular recommends wiping devices frequently with a soft, slightly damp lint-free cloth. The company also encourages people not to share their phone with other people and keep it out of restrooms.

While these tips take on a higher importance now, they can be used year-round to help keep your devices clean and germ-free.

Corning – Adams County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Becky Bissell is encouraging those wishing to vote in the June 2 Primary Election to vote absentee by mail due to the recent concerns with coronavirus and COVID-19.

“I am respectfully asking our voters to vote absentee by mail for the June Primary Election after meeting with public health officials, other county auditors around Iowa and with staff from the Secretary of State’s office,” Bissell said. “We are making this push for the safety of our voters and polling location workers.”

Bissell said polling locations will be open for voting on June 2, however she anticipates many will be combined creating fewer polling locations than normal for a Primary Election. “We aren’t sure what this situation will be when Election Day gets here,” Bissell explained. “We hope all of our precinct election officials will be able to work that day, but we just don’t know at this point so we will reduce the number of polling locations that we will need to staff.” Bissell said it has not yet been determined which polling locations will be combined. She said that will be announced soon.

Absentee ballots must be requested in writing. Forms are available on the Adams County Web site at https://www.adamscountyia.com/departments/adams-county-auditor/election-information/. Absentee ballot requests may also be obtained by calling the Adams County Auditor’s Office and requesting one be sent. The Adams County Auditor’s Office phone number is 641-322-3340. Requests may be submitted now. Absentee requests to vote by mail must be received in the Auditor’s Office by 5 p.m. May 22.

Voters are reminded that for the Primary Election they must choose a political party on the request form in order to receive the correct ballot. Absentee voters are also reminded they will need to provide a personal identification number (PIN) when voting absentee either in person or by mail. That PIN will most likely be your Iowa driver’s license number or your Iowa non-operator’s ID number. If a voter does not have either of those, the voter should have been sent a PIN from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.

Please remember that the Auditor’s Office is always available to answer your questions and concerns by phone during regular business hours of 8:30-4:30, Monday through Friday, at 641-322-3340. For more information about the 2020 Primary Election follow Adams County Facebook posts and the Adams County website at https://www.adamscountyia.com/.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports Curt Behrends has filed his nomination papers as a candidate for the Soil & Water Conservation District. She said also, that the filing deadline for the General Election is THIS Friday March 20, 2020.

Karns says “We still have a couple positions were we have no person that has filed yet.”

Officials with the Harlan Police Department said today (Tuesday), “In keeping with recommendations from Health care professionals, the Harlan Police Department is implementing new procedures.  If you need to make a police report, please call the PD at 712-755-5151 instead of coming into the office.  If you have an emergency, you still need to call 911.” Officials say “Currently, we are not locking the office, but ask for your consideration to call us, rather than making a personal appearance.  We will continue to have 24/7 police coverage for the citizens of Harlan.”

(Radio Iowa) — The head of the Iowa Restaurant Association says today’s (Tuesday) proclamation by the governor could force the permanent closure of hundreds of Iowa eateries and put 80-thousand Iowans out of work. Association president and C-E-O Jessica Dunker says she understands why this Public Health Disaster Emergency is being declared to slow the spread of coronavirus, but it will cause a “tremendous disruption” in the industry. Dunker says, “If we do not receive significant aid from the state and from the federal government — and I don’t mean in the form of tax credits or loans, but actual aid packages — we are on the brink of potential collapse in large swaths of our industry.”

Governor Kim Reynolds’ order temporarily closes all bars and restaurants, except for drive-up, delivery or carry-out, but Dunker says for many establishments, it’ll mean closing their doors for good. “We are, in good times, an industry that has net profits in the range of 5%,” Dunker says. “That means, for the average Iowa restaurant, that is $100 a day of net profit when times are good. When we face significant disruption like this, we can’t last very long.”

The West Des Moines-based association covers 63-hundred restaurants and bars in Iowa, which employ 155-thousand people. It’s the second-largest private-sector employer in Iowa. Dunker says this order, closing restaurants and bars through at least March 31st, threatens to be disastrous. “You could potentially look at complete closure permanently for as many as 2,500 to 3,000 of those establishments,” Dunker says. “We’re also expecting that in the next week or week-and-a-half, we’ll see approximately 80,000 from our industry move onto the unemployment rolls in the state.”

She’s appealing to all Iowans to call their favorite restaurants directly and make plans to pick up a meal, or it’s entirely possible the place won’t be open by April.