Government

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 125 additional positive cases for a total of 1,270 positive cases. There have been an additional 882 negative tests for a total of 13,703 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.  According to IDPH, an additional 2 deaths were also reported.

As of today, 4/9/20 there are 12 cases of COVID-19 in Benton County. The Benton County Health Department continues to work closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and other state and local partners to respond to this ongoing pandemic. “When cases of COVID-19 first began being reported in Iowa, they were related to travel outside the state,” said Benton County Public Health Director Katie Cox “Now, however, there is widespread community transmission.

ABENTEE VOTING IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION UPDATE WITH COVID-19 UPDATE Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced that his office will be doing a state wide mailing to every active registered voter that will include absentee ballot request forms and a postage paid return envelope to the Benton County Auditor’s Office for the June 2 Primary Election.

CARES Benefits ExplainedThe COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on all of our daily lives. Hopefully, this will soon pass, but in the meantime, there are resources available to help employees and businesses. I am sharing this information with all of you in the hope that it will help. The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office does not oversee or administer these programs.

On March 23, Governor Kim Reynolds announced a new Iowa Small Business Relief Program to support the state's small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offered small business relief grants, administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. It also offered businesses a tax deferral of sales and/or withholding taxes due and waiver of penalty and interest, administered by the Iowa Department of Revenue.

One of the questions we consistently hear is whether a stay-at-home or a shelter-in-place order should be implemented. Many point out that Iowa is one of a few states that hasn’t issued a similar order to combat the spread of COVID-19. The reality is, Iowa is already doing a number of those things, and in some instances implementing more closures, than states with a shelter-in-place order.

Click to view.The Vinton City Council meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. To watch the meeting or listen connect to Zoom at the link below or call any of the numbers below.To listen on Zoom, click https://zoom.us/s/585762173Or call:1-646-558-86561-312-626-67991-301-715-85921-346-248-77991–669-900-91281-253-215-8782Attached here is the packet of information so that you can follow along.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation declaring Thursday, April 9th as a “Day of Prayer” in Iowa, urging Iowans to “unite in prayer” in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, inviting Iowans to participate in the 59th Annual Iowa Prayer Breakfast, which is offered entirely online this year.  “The power of prayer and faith in God is something that has guided so many of us in good times and bad,” said Gov.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 97 additional positive cases for a total of 1,145 positive cases. There have been an additional 1,151 negative tests for a total of 12,821 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.  According to IDPH, an additional death was also reported: Linn County, 1 elderly adult (81+)According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 97 individuals include:Allamakee County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)Benton County, 1 child (0-17 years)Black Hawk County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 3 middle-age adults (41-60 years)Cedar County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)Clinton County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)Crawford County, 1 adult (18-40 years)Harrison County, 1 adult (18-40 years)Henry County, 2 adults (18-40 years)Johnson County, 10 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adult (61-80 years)Linn County, 1 child (0-17 years), 4 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years), 2 elderly adults (81+)Louisa County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 5 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)Marshall County, 1 adult (18-40 years)Muscatine County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 5 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)Polk County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 4 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)Pottawattamie County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)Scott County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 7 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)Tama County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)Warren County, 1 elderly adult (81+)Washington County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)Webster County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)Woodbury County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)Worth County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in Iowa is provided by IDPH and can be found here.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at approximately 10:50 p.m., Vinton Police officers and Benton County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 614 E. 10th Street in Vinton for a 911 report of a stabbing. Officers found an adult male with multiple minor lacerations that he sustained when his wife allegedly attacked him with a steak knife during an argument.