COVID-19 Numbers Continues To Climb
(Des Moines, IA) — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iowa grows to six-thousand-843 after 467 additional positive tests. State health officials are also reporting 12 more coronavirus deaths – the most in a single day. A total of 148 Iowans have died of COVID-19 complications. Three-hundred-23
patients are currently hospitalized and 24-hundred are no longer in isolation. More than one-thousand people have tested negative in the state.
The numbers are expected to continue to rise as COVID-19 testing ramps up.
Reynolds Encourages Iowans To Take The Assessment Test
(Des Moines) — Governor Kim Reynolds is urging all Iowans to take the assessment test for the COVID-19 virus. Reynolds says since last week when the “TestIowa.com” was launched test sites have been established in Des Moines and Waterloo, and within the next few days, other tests sites will get started across the state, including Woodbury County. Reynolds reviews the
assessment tests statistics for Iowa.
The governor says 2,428 people have recovered after having been diagnosed with the coronavirus for a recovery rate of 35 percent. Reynolds says assessment tests plays a critical role in measuring the spread and mitigation of the COVID-19 virus.
Reynolds reiterated her position about the importance of assessment testing.
The Iowa governor says since “TestIowa.com” was started last week, already, 442,000 people have visited the website.
Reynolds says next week test sites will open in Woodbury (Sioux City) and Scott counties (Davenport).
Local Resident Leaves $6 Million Estate To Local Entities
(Le Mars) — A long-time resident of Le Mars recently had his estate donate more than $6 million dollars to local entities including All Saints Parish Catholic Church, Floyd Valley Healthcare, Gehlen Catholic School and the Le Mars Public Library. Another benefactor was the Divine Word College of
Epworth. Dennis Groetken passed away in August of 2019, and
according to Craig Bauerly who served as the attorney that supervised the estate, 40 percent, or $2.5 million dollars was donated to All Saints Parish Catholic Church of Le Mars. The other local entities, consisting of Floyd Valley Healthcare, Gehlen Catholic School, and the Le Mars Public Library each received $950,000 or 15 percent of the estate. Bauerly says the Divine
Word College also received a gift of $950,000.
Father Bruce Lawler with the All Saints Parish Catholic Churches says the gift was a surprise.
The catholic priest says the local parish will utilize the estate donation as part of an endowment program.
Father Lawler also serves as the president of Gehlen Catholic Schools, another benefactor from the Groetken (Gret-ken) estate. He says the more than nine-hundred thousand dollars given to Gehlen will be used in a similar manner as the parish.
Lawler says one of the surprises with the gifts is that Dennis Groetken lived a simple life, and very few people within Le Mars realized he had acquired such financial means. Floyd Valley Healthcare was another listed benefactor in the Groetken estate, Amy Harnack is the Foundation Manager for the local hospital and says the gift was a surprise and greatly appreciated.
Harnack says the estate did not specify how the funds are to be utilized. She says Floyd Valley officials have decided to place the funds in an account for a future project, yet to be determined. Would Floyd Valley assign naming rights to the future project to Dennis Groetken because of the gift.
The Floyd Valley healthcare foundation manager says the donated $950,000 is not the largest gift received by the hospital, but never-the-less it is significant.
The other local entity to receive funding through the estate was the Le Mars Public Library.
Pork Producers In A Bad Situation Due To COVID-19 Virus
(Des Moines) — Pork producers are finding themselves in a bad situation. Estimates show local pork producers may be losing up to $40 to $50 dollars per head as a result of the COVID-19 virus and its impact upon the meat processing industry workforce. Pat McGonegle serves as the Executive Director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association and says pork producers are currently experiencing tough times, both economically and emotionally.
McGonegle says he is proud of how producers have adapted to the stressful times.
The pork producer executive says producers are pleased that President Trump recently declared the meat processing industry as an essential business within the United States.
Despite the current stressful times, McGonegle says many pork producers have contributed hundreds of thousands pounds of pork to various food banks and food pantries across the state.
As to whether or not consumers may encounter a short-term shortage of pork products available at their local grocery store or restaurant, because of the COVID-19 virus, the pork official says he sees some disruptions with the distribution within the food chain.
McGonegle says because of the disruptions due to the COVID-19 virus, consumers may not find bacon at their grocery store, or perhaps they won’t have a pork tenderloin sandwich at their favorite restaurant.
Iowa Latino Leaders Criticize President’s Order Opening Meat Processing Plants
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Latino leaders are harshly criticizing President Trump’s executive order opening meat processing plants. A spokesperson for the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa says, “The blood of Latinos and immigrants will be spilled on the meat Americans will be eating.”
Joe Henry says the workers are afraid of contracting COVID-19, but they don’t know what to do. He compared the order to forcing those workers to “go into a gas chamber.” The president took the step to reopen the nation’s food supply chain. LULAC is calling for a “Meatless May” – where people would quit eating corporate beef, poultry and pork – as a form of protest.
Suspension Of Legislative Session Continued To May 15th
(Des Moines, IA) — The suspension of the current legislative session has been continued until at least May 15th. The Iowa Legislative Council made the decision during a teleconference meeting. Some lawmakers are questioning the criteria used to evaluate whether it’s safe to return to the Iowa Capitol. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says he and House Speaker Pat
Grassley are talking with Governor Reynolds and state health officials to make sure it is safe to do so.
Iowa State Patrol Identifies 7 Minors Involved In Fatal Dallas County Crash
(Jamaica, IA) — The Iowa State Patrol has identified the seven minors who were involved in a fatal crash Tuesday in Dallas County. Investigators report five-year-old Claire Brown and eight-year-old Lindsay Brown were killed in the crash that happened at about 10:35 a-m in Jamaica. Sixteen-year-old Michael Crane lost control while driving a minivan and hit the
entrance to a field. Five-year-old Carter West, seven-year-old Eli Brown and 11-year-old Katelyn Brown suffered injuries ranging from serious to life-threatening.
SE Iowa Woman Charged With Murder In Man’s Death
(New Sharon, IA) — Authorities in Mahaska County have charged a 69-year-old New Sharon woman with murder for allegedly killing a man Wednesday.
Carole Ann Davis is in custody. Deputies were called to a location in a rural area about a homicide just before 10:00 a-m. The body of an adult male was found shortly after noon. His name hasn’t been released. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny will conduct an autopsy.
