County Supervisors Expected To Approve County Disaster Declaration
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to meet today for their weekly meeting. However, instead of convening in the Courthouse Board Room, the county supervisors instead will gather in the lower level of the Courthouse Annex, in order to maintain adequate separation. The county governing board is expected to approve the county disaster declaration, as well as accept the resignation and appoint a new member to the Iowa Emergency Response Commission, local and regional emergency planning committee. The supervisors will approve the Plymouth County I-T contingency plan for epidemics. The county board will also review and approve a resolution for the temporary amendment to the policy manual in response to the disaster declaration. The supervisors are expected to approve the 2019 Business Property Tax credit applications. The county supervisors will hear from
surveyors Al Fagan and David Wilberding as they seek approval of minor subdivisions in Liberty and Fredonia townships. The county board of supervisors will hear a report from Plymouth County Assessor, Jill Renken, regarding the application process for Homestead tax credit applications.
County Engineer Tom Rohe will also meet with the supervisors to submit a permit request from Southern Sioux Rural Water Association. Rohe will also do a final plan and review for some culvert projects.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Implements Additional New Rules Due To The COVID-19 Coronavirus
(Le Mars) — As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues, Floyd Valley Healthcare has initiated even additional policies. Floyd Valley would like to remind you that you may receive the most up-to-date information by checking on idph.iowa. gov or call the Iowa Department of Public Health 24/7 at 211.
Floyd Valley Healthcare will be enacting additional measures to keep our patients and staff safe.
Floyd Valley Healthcare will be suspending all elective surgeries until further notice. We need to conserve resources including protective equipment like gowns and masks, inpatient beds and other supplies. Procedures are not cancelled altogether, our staff will be calling to reschedule patients in the near future.
We will not be accepting any visitors at this time. There will be a few exceptions: one significant other for an OB patient, one parent for a pediatric patient and immediate family of patients that are receiving end of life care. To discuss your particular situation, please contact Mindi Miller, Nursing Service Manager at 712.546.3440.
For those attending scheduled appointments at Floyd Valley Healthcare, we ask that adults attend appointments alone is they are able and only one adult attends with a pediatric patient. Please do not bring extra adults or children that are not being seen by a provider.
Floyd Valley Healthcare will be accepting donations of homemade masks in the near future. We are researching the proper design and material so that assure that we are adequately protecting our staff. We will release this information as soon as we can. We are taking donations of N95 masks, face mask, face shields, gloves and new or used goggles. Please drop these items off at the East Entrance.
In the meantime, you may still call please take these steps to protect yourself and your loved ones:
· Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care. Please call ahead prior to coming to FVH for emergent or urgent care.
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
· If you are sick, limit close contact with others as much as possible.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
· Practice social distancing by avoiding crowds and limiting physical contact, i.e., shaking hands or hugging.
Le Mars Community Schools To Offer Lunches To Children
(Le Mars) — Beginning Wednesday, March 25th, the Le Mars Community School District will begin offering free Grab ‘n Go meals for Le Mars children 18 years of age and younger.
Meals will be provided Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. each day at the following two pick-up locations:
Clark Elementary – 201 2nd Avenue NW, LeMars (south side loading dock)
LCS High School – 921 3rd Avenue SW, LeMars (west side loading dock – Door E)
The district is not able to provide other locations due to federal
guidelines.
Meals may be pre-ordered via the district website. Per USDA regulations, children must be present for the meals to be provided. If driving, please stay in the car and meals will be passed through to the driver based upon the number of children in the car.
These nutritionally balanced meals will be prepared in the
Le Mars Community Schools facilities by ServSafe Certified Food and Nutrition Services staff and offered to all children 18 years of age and younger regardless of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin. Children are not required to be enrolled at Le Mars Community Schools to be eligible for this service.
Dordt University Confirms Student Has COVID-19 Virus
(Sioux Center) — Dordt University of Sioux Center has learned that a current student has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus after returning home to Canada. The individual was on Dordt’s campus from Saturday, March 14th through Monday, March 16th having returned from PLIA, a spring service trip.
All who traveled with the student or came in contact with her upon her arrival back to campus have been informed of the student’s diagnosis.
Naig Talks About The Importance Of Agriculture During National Agriculture Day
(Le Mars) — Today (Tuesday) is National Agriculture Day, and if not for the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, would have been in Le Mars today to deliver the key-note address for the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Luncheon. That gathering
has of course been cancelled due to the coronavirus. Naig says it’s important that everyone thinks about the importance of agriculture, not just for today, but everyday.
Naig says Iowa ranks first in the nation with corn production, hogs, and with eggs. Iowa is either number one or number two with soybean production. The Iowa Agriculture Secretary says with our other commodities, the Hawkeye state is among the top ten agriculture producing states. Naig says Iowa’s economic
base is dependent upon agriculture.
Iowa’s Agriculture Secretary says the COVID-19 coronavirus is having a negative affect upon agricultural trade.
Naig says agricultural trade is important for Iowa farmers. He says recent trade agreements with Japan, Mexico, Canada, and China will eventually mean additional business and higher incomes for Iowa farmers. He says it is important to maintain relations with our trading partners.
Naig says each farmer feeds more than 165 people.
Reynolds Says More Aggressive Actions To Curtail Coronavirus Are Not Needed In Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says more aggressive orders to halt the movement of Iowans are not needed although the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Reynolds says the state now has 105 positive cases across 26 counties. She confirmed for the first time Monday that seven Iowans are hospitalized with the viral illness. Reynolds says positive cases are increasing in large part due to expanding testing ability and the number is likely to continue to grow. She says it’s not yet time to order Iowans to stay home but data is evaluated daily as such decisions are considered.
Journalist, Dean Borg Passes Away
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Broadcast journalist Dean Borg, who kept Iowans informed for decades as the host of the public affairs program “Iowa Press,” has died at age 81. Iowa PBS announced Monday that Borg died due to complications caused by pancreatic cancer. Borg appeared on “Iowa Press,”
every Friday evening, from its debut in 1971 until his retirement in January 2017. He kept working as a correspondent for Iowa Public Radio until his death. On “Iowa Press,” Borg was known for questioning state politicians, presidential candidates and other newsmakers. He interviewed every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama.
Winnebago Industries Stops Production
FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa-based recreational vehicle and boat manufacturer Winnebago Industries says it is ceasing production to protect workers from coronavirus exposure and adjust production as demand for the company’s products is rapidly changing. The company, which employees about
5,000 people, makes motor homes, travel trailers and boats under the Winnebago, Grand Design, Newmar and Chris-Craft brands. The Forest City, Iowa-based company has production facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Oregon, Minnesota and Florida. The company says remote retail support for dealers, along with technical care, warranty administration and parts fulfillment
activities, will continue. Production will stop this week and remain idle through April 12, The company will provide base pay and benefits for two weeks.
Cedar Rapids To Stop Public Transit System
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Cedar Rapids is stopping its transit service at the end of Tuesday to help halt the spread of COVID-19. City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said Monday plans are to resume service on April 13. He says the city has been regularly cleaning and sanitizing buses, but they are still confined spaces that fill with many people throughout the day. He says it’s
vital for the city to take the actions needed to protect the community. In Des Moines officials are cutting route frequency and service starting Thursday as ridership continues to drop.
