(Bedford, Iowa) – Health officials in Missouri report a person infected by a suspected brain-eating amoeba found in a Taylor County (Iowa) Lake, has died. Officials believe a resident from Missouri likely picked up the deadly parasite while swimming at the Lake of Three Fires State Park. The death marks the first reported case of Iowa’s rare and deadly infection.

The beach at the Lake of Three Fires was closed as a precaution on July 7th, and remains closed as the state of Iowa awaits official test results to confirm the presence of the amoeba. The patient, who Missouri health officials declined to identify, was being treated for the infection in an intensive care unit before dying. The official said because cases like this are so rare, additional information about the patient would not be released.

According to health officials, the ameba in question is commonly found in warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, and ponds.  Since 1962, only 154 known cases have been identified in the United States.

People can take actions to reduce the risk of infection by limiting the amount of water going up the nose. These actions could include:

• Hold your nose shut, use nose clips, or keep your head above water when taking part in water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater.
• Avoid putting your head under the water in hot springs and other untreated thermal waters.
• Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high-water temperature.
• Avoid digging in, or stirring up, the sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas.
  (These recommendations are best practices but not based on scientific testing since the low numbers of infections make it difficult to show effectiveness.)

Those who experience the following symptoms after swimming in any warm body of water should contact their health care provider immediately as the disease progresses rapidly:

• Severe headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Seizures
• Altered mental status
• Hallucinations.

GRINNELL, Iowa — Traffic on Interstate 80 was shut down for hours Friday night after a tractor-trailer crashed and burst into flames. There were two people inside the vehicle, but no injuries were reported. KCCI reports the crash happened in the westbound lanes near Grinnell. The Iowa State Patrol says the semi hit a guard rail. Some motorists were reportedly stuck on the interstate for more than three-hours, while others were detoured around the crash site.

Guthrie County State Bank announces the addition of Tawnia Ganzer to the agriculture lending team. She brings more than 20 years of lending experience to an employee-owned, independent bank with deep roots in the agricultural and business industries in Guthrie County and the surrounding region. Tawnia joined the team in June and will have an office in the Guthrie Center location of GCSB while spending a large percentage of her time meeting farmers and customers in the field and on the farm.

“Adding Tawnia to our lending team bolsters our already deep bench of experienced lenders, especially in the ag category,” said Mike Underwood, president and chief executive officer of Guthrie County State Bank. “She has a unique knowledge of this region as well as existing relationships with most of the farm owners and families in the area. Tawnia is a great addition to GCSB, and we’re looking forward to our customers making connections with her.”

Tawnia Ganzer; Guthrie County State Bank ag lender

Tawnia previously served as a Farm Loan Officer for Farm Service Agency. She started in the Harlan office in 2000, then moved to the Guthrie Center office in 2016. During her tenure with the FSA, she sustained one of the largest direct loan portfolios in the state with almost zero delinquencies while using her knowledge and years of experience to train other lenders. Tawnia participated in a variety of FSA and Iowa State Extension programs including Annie’s Project and Career Days, and she completed Iowa State University Ag Credit School. In the community, she is active as Seely Bobcats 4-H Club leader, has been a Farm Safety Just 4 Kids Coordinator, and a church group leader. Tawnia is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor of science degree where she majored in animal science with a minor in ag business.

“It’s a perfect next career step for me to take on this new challenge with Guthrie County State Bank,” said Tawnia. “With my 22 years of experience, and the Bank’s already strong team and 90+ years in Guthrie County, we are prepared to assist farmers at every stage of the journey. I’m excited to experience GCSB’s commitment to our community as a team member and to connect farmers to the many solutions we can provide.”

Tawnia lives in rural Guthrie Center with her husband, Kent, and their four active school-aged children. They have a family cattle operation and can often be found cheering and volunteering to support their kids’ activities.

For more information about GCSB’s ag lending team, visit gcsbank.com

County Fairs in Audubon and Shelby County continue through this weekend in Audubon, and Harlan, respectively. Here’s the schedule of activities for Saturday (7/16)….

AUDUBON COUNTY FAIR:
7:30 AM-Noon Farmers’ Market
8:00 AM Clover Kids Poultry Show
4-H/FFA Poultry Show, Open Class
9:00 AM Baby Contest-Hoop
10:00 AM Big Wheels Races-Hoop
10:00 AM-3:00 PM Ima Clown – Hoop
10:00 AM 4-H/FFA Beef Show
Show Order:
Bottle Bucket Calves
Feeder Calves
Breeding Heifers
LUNCH BREAK
Cow/Calf Pairs
Pen of Three
Market Heifers
Market Steers
Showmanship
11:00 AM-9:00 PM Inflatable Attractions
11:00 AM Chris Short Puppet Personalities Show
11:30 AM Non-sanctioned Kids Pedal Pull
11:30 AM-1:00 PM Lego Logo – Agrihall
12:30 PM Chris Short Puppet Personalities Show
12:30 PM Clover Kids Stuffed Animal Show – Hoop
2:00 PM Chris Short Puppet Personalities Show
2:30 PM Clover Kids Bottle Bucket Calf
3:00 PM Clover Kids Sheep
4-H/FFA Sheep Show
5:30 PM Mutton Bustin’
7:00 PM IRCA Rodeo
9:00 PM Live Music-Outlaw Creek

SHELBY COUNTY FAIR:

8:00 am……………….Sheep, Goat and Rabbit Exhibitors Meetings
8:00 am……………….Open Class Saddle Horses and Ponies in place
8:30 am……………….Judge 4-H/FFA Sheep, Goats & Rabbits
8:30 am………………APPLE PIE MORNING – Senior Citizen Morning (Open Class Apple Pie Contest) – Tent
8:30 am………………Registration for Shelby County Baby Contest – $1 entry fee (Starts at 9:00a.m.)
9:00 am.-1:00 pm….Show & Shine Car Show
9:00 am.-4:00 pm….Antique Tractor/Machinery Show
9:30 am………………Horse Exhibitor Meeting (4-H and FFA)
10:00 am…………….Judge 4-H/FFA Horses (Open Class Horse/Pony Show to follow)
10:00-10:30 am……Strolling Act – Amazing Arthur
10:00 am-6:00 pm…Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
11:00 am…………….Bingo – Harlan Lion’s Club – Tent (following Apple Pie Morning)
10:30-11:30 am……Kids’ Contests
11:30 am……………Stuffed Animal Show – Show Ring
12:00 pm……………Pie/Muffin Auction – Show Ring
1:30 pm……………..Ag Olympics – Show Ring (following Pie/Muffin Auction)
2:00 pm……………..Pee Wee Cookie Decorating Contest
3:00 pm……………..4-H Presentations – Exhibit Building
3:00 pm……………..Bill Riley Registration (4:00 pm Bill Riley Show)
3:00-3:30 pm………Strolling Act – Amazing Arthur
3:30 pm……………..Harlan Community Band Performance – Tent
4:00 pm…………….Bill Riley Talent Search (register at 3:00 pm)
4:00 pm………….…Carnival
4:00 pm…………….Shelby County Fair’s Cook-Off Contest
4:00 pm-4:30 pm….Strolling Act – Amazing Arthur
5:00 pm……………..Registration for Mutton Busting
6:00 p.m……………Mutton Busting – Show Ring
6:30 pm……………GRANDSTAND: Auto Races
7:00 pm……………..Family Fun Night Games – Tent
4-H & Open Class Buildings open 10:00a.m-9:00p.m
Nishna Valley Model Railroad open 1:00 – 9:00p.m.

As thousands of people visit this year’s Walcott Truckers Jamboree near the Quad Cities, they can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Through today (Saturday), Healthy Trucking of America will work with the Scott County Health Department to offer free vaccines and boosters at the I-80 Truck Stop. Jon Slaughter, from Healthy Trucking, says truckers can ask questions, learn about COVID vaccines, and then get a shot.  “Because a trucker will stay on the road upwards of 11 hours a day and 14 days at a time,” Slaughter says. “Whenever they come home, they usually have three days off, and they’re doing what I call ‘honey-dos’ around the house and so it’s not convenient for them.”

He says truckers are particularly susceptible because 60-percent are morbidly obese. Their immune systems aren’t in good shape either, because truckers usually don’t have access to healthy food.  “You’ll hear a lot of them, if you go to our website, you’ll see testimonials from drivers and they’re talking about how much they want to protect their family and the public and they’re in and out of different towns,” Slaughter says. “They don’t want to be a part of something like a spreader event or something. So they’re very responsible. We just want to be where truckers are, so that they can get that vaccine.”

Other health information will also be available to truckers and everyone who visits the Healthy Trucking booth at the jamboree. The group will also offer free scans for diabetic retinopathy. The Walcott Truckers Jamboree runs through today (Saturday) at the I-80 Truck Stop. It’s free and attracts more than 40,000 people to enjoy: antique trucks, a Super Trucks Beauty Contest, an Iowa Pork Chop Cookout, a Trucker Olympics, exhibits, shopping and more.

(Mapleton, Iowa) – The 13-year-old male operator of an ATV from Mt. Sterling, KY, was critically injured Friday night, when the four-wheeler went out of control and rolled several times, ejecting the teen. The accident happened at around 8:30-p.m. on a private farm access road at18288 Redwood Avenue, near Mapleton, in Monona County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the unidentified juvenile was on a 2003 Honda TRX450E.

The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown from the scene by MercyOne Air Med, to the UNMC, in Omaha.

(Radio Iowa) – The new nationwide 9-8-8 mental health helpline goes live tomorrow (Saturday) as some questions remain about the sustainability of the plan. The idea is to give you an easy number to remember when you need immediate mental health support from a trained counselor or local crisis intervention services. Mental health advocates and law enforcement leaders have pushed for the number. Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson says it can take people directly to the source of help without having to go through law enforcement.

“It helps divert a significant portion of the people that otherwise might end up in the criminal justice system for no other reason than the fact that they are mentally ill,” Thompson says. But rolling out the service is proving to be complicated. The federal legislation left 9-8-8 up to states to implement with federal funding. But it also allows states to impose a new tax on phone lines to fund call centers and even crisis services. Many states, including Iowa, use this kind of tax to help fund 9-1-1 services, but Iowa has not introduced any legislation to fund 988.

Marissa Eyanson with the Iowa Department of Human Services says the state is relying on federal funding to see what real-time demand for it will look like after it launches. “We’re accounting for what we know today to be additional funding available from the federal level. But we’re also looking to detect what that means going forward. Because there’s an ongoing conversation at the federal level for how the effort will be supported. It is a nationwide effort, and it’s important,” Eyanson. Eyanson says it’s unlikely that D-H-S will have enough data available to review in time to come up with a legislative plan by the next session.

Organizations contracted by the state to set up the statewide 9-8-8 call centers have concerns about this — including Community C-E-O Sarah Nelson in Iowa City. “We’re building a massive infrastructure to do this and without knowing if there’s sustainable funding moving forward,” Nelson says. Emily Blomme at is C-E-O of Foundation 2 Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids. She says it’s been challenging to recruit the extra crisis counselors they need with the funding she has. “It’s really hard to say, Hi, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience, and I’m going to pay you 17 dollars an hour,” according to Bloome.

Both organizations currently run call centers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. But Blomme says estimates provided by the national lifeline projects calls to jump significantly under 9-8-8. And so far she’s hired less than half the additional staff she would like to have in place by the launch date. Eyanson of D-H-S says the agency has worked with Vibrant to review that estimate and provide its two contractors with enough funding for the first two years.

“What we’ve told them is that we think we’re sufficiently funded to start, but if their experience tells us otherwise, we will shift and that is a, that’s a promise that we’ll make real,” Eyanson says. If you need help you can 9-8-8 starting tomorrow (July 16th).

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(UPDATED) (Radio Iowa) – Nearly a dozen Iowa nursing homes have closed in the past seven months for financial reasons. Iowa Health Care Association president and C-E-O Brent Willet says like any industry, nursing homes face rising operating costs — but cannot raise daily and monthly rates because those are set by the government for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

“Medical supplies are up 35%. Certainly wage pressures are significantly higher than that. Long-term care facilities just don’t have the option that the rest of the economy does, which is either limiting our hours, (but) can’t shut down; we can’t raise our prices because those prices are controlled by the federal and the state government,” Willet says, “and so we are incurring ongoing and devastating financial losses which has unfortunately has begun to result in the closure of nursing homes.”

Willet says it means families and patients seeking long term care have fewer options. At least 45 percent of Iowa nursing homes are limiting or freezing admissions due to a lack of staff according to a recent survey by Willet’s organization.  “I was speaking with an administration the other day in the north central part of the state and I asked him: ‘Why are you still doing this?’ There’s an easier way to make a living,'” Willet says. “…He looked me in the eye and said: ‘I’m doing this because I don’t want my kids to see me as a quitter, because this is the hardest time I can imagine.'”

Willets made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

(Radio Iowa) – Local and state officials are investigating the events which led to the suicide of a man involved in a standoff in Le Mars.

Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says several shots were fired in a home in southeast LeMars at around 9:30-p.m., Thursday, just as officers knocked on the door to serve a search warrant. One of those shots went into a neighbor’s home and lodged in a bedroom headboard.

The officers backed-off and set up a security perimeter, and made several, failed attempts to contact the suspect. The incident came to a head at around three o’clock this (Friday) morning, when the emergency response team entered the residence and found the man — who was not identified — dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.