Fareway Company Donates To Le Mars Chamber Of Commerce
(Le Mars) — Fareway Stores, Inc. recently announced a donation to the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce. The donation provided for $1,000 in gift cards to the Le Mars Chamber. The cards will be distributed to local small business and their employees.
Fareway President and CEO Reynolds W. Cramer says “Local chambers have the pulse in each community and how best to serve its small business members during this time of need.” He continued to say, “We hope this relief reduces some of the stress our community business partners are facing.”
Many local small businesses have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. Le Mars local retailers and restaurants have had to close their doors because of the pandemic and this assistance will provide some relief.
Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Main Street Manager Mary Reynolds says, “Our deepest thanks to Fareway for providing the gift cards which will be distributed to some of our local retailers, restaurants and employees who are most in need.”
Chamber Encourages Local Businesses To Participate In “Shop Where I Live” On-line Program
(Le Mars) — Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, many local businesses were forced to close, but now they are being encouraged to look at opportunities to conduct business through on-line efforts. The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Northwest Iowa Development to
assist businesses getting started at offering their goods and services through an on-line platform. The program is entitled: “Shop Where I Live” and Neal Adler, the executive director with the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce explains the purpose of the program.
Adler says more and more purchases are being made on-line, and this program is designed to better assist businesses wanting to expand their commerce opportunities.
The chamber executive says a webinar will be featured to better assist people on the suggested way to present their goods and services on-line.
Adler reminds businesses the project encompasses four northwest Iowa counties, along with Le Mars, so up to 400 businesses may be featured on the marketplace website. The fee is waived for members of the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce and only $35 for non-members. For additional information,
businesses can contact the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce offices.
Public Health Officials Explain Restrictions For Restaurants To Re-Open
(Des Moines) — On Monday, Governor Reynolds had announced opening businesses in 77 of Iowa counties. Yesterday, during her daily briefing, Reynolds, along with officials from the Iowa Department of Public Health, offered some additional clarification about which businesses can open, and the requirements they must follow. Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter spelled out the guidelines for restaurants must
follow for re-opening.
Reisetter says the measures are in place to protect employees at the opening restaurants, as well as the customers. She says restaurants will need to focus on a ritual of deep cleaning on a frequent basis.
The public health official offered additional provisions that employees of restaurants must follow.
Reisetter also gave some advice for Iowa’s many farmer’s markets, their vendors, and customers.
Reisetter had some suggestions for other businesses that intend to open on May 1st.
President Trump Orders Meat Processing Plants To Remain Open
(Washington, DC) — President Donald Trump has ordered meat-processing plants to remain open as the nation confronts growing food-supply disruptions from the coronavirus outbreak. The president is using the National Defense Act to deem meat processing plants critical infrastructure to keep them open.
Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst had previously joined the governor and state ag secretary in urging federal officials to take some action after several plants shut down in Iowa. Grassley says some grocery stores are already running short of pork products, and shortages loom.
Grassley says there’s perhaps a two-week supply of pork in storage. Iowa provides one-third of the nation’s pork supply.
Iowa Tax Revenue In Falling Due To Coronavirus Pandemic
(Des Moines, IA) — The coronavirus pandemic is having a major impact on Iowa’s tax revenue. The Legislative Services Agency reports the state collected 307 million dollars less in taxes between March 19th and April 24th, when compared to the same period last year. That’s a 48 percent decline. Governor Kim Reynolds has said her staff will start working this week on a revised budget to submit to the Legislature based on the impact of the virus. Iowa was in a good financial position when the pandemic started, with a budget surplus and strong cash reserves. Some of the drop in collections is due to the Iowa Department of Revenue extending the due date for income taxes to the end of July.
State Opens Temporary Testing Site For Nursing Home Workers
(Des Moines, IA) — The state of Iowa has opened a temporary testing site to check nursing home staff that work in facilities in Muscatine and Louisa counties. Tests at the site are by appointment only and are supported by the long-term care testing strike teams initiative the state is implementing. The
governor announced Tuesday that there are now confirmed coronavirus outbreaks at 23 Iowa nursing homes. An outbreak is declared after three residents of the long-term care facility test positive for COVID-19.
Authorities ID Body Found In Missouri River
(Mondamin, IA) — A body found in the Missouri River west of Mondamin last week has been identified. The State Medical Examiner used dental records and tattoo markings to identify 57-year-old Jeffrey Lynn Wallis of Mondamin. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office says Wallis’ family filed a missing person’s report on April 18th. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says final autopsy results are still pending as they wait for toxicology exam results.
Iowa Ride Is Cancelled
(Des Moines) — The first edition of “Iowa’s Ride” has been canceled due to safety concerns over COVID-19.
Iowa’s Ride was scheduled to start July 12th in Dubuque, with stops in Monticello, Vinton, Eldora, Clarion, Emmetsburg, Sheldon and Rock Rapids during the week-long event. The ride’s director says it would not be safe or feasible to have the ride this year due to health risks. People who signed up for the ride may request a refund of their registration through May 15th. Iowa’s Ride was launched by the former director of the Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. RAGBRAI has already canceled this year’s event because of the pandemic.
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