BOYDEN—Monday morning, DNR investigators traced a blue-colored sheen in a northwest Iowa creek running through Boyden, to the local coop. About 10 a.m. Jan. 14, someone reported an oily sheen on the creek, saying it extended downstream into the West Branch of the Floyd River.

DNR staff traced the sheen to a tanker truck at the Farmers Co-op Society. The coop manager estimates about 1,100 gallons of white mineral oil has leaked from the tank sometime over the last two weeks. The oil has traveled about 6 miles downstream. DNR staff have seen no dead fish in the water.

The coop will scrape up contaminated soil, and place booms and absorbent pads across the river about 5 miles southwest of town to collect as much remaining oil as possible. DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action and monitor the cleanup.

Des Moines—Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II (R-Greenfield) was sworn into the 88th General Assembly at the Iowa Capitol to represent House District 20 today (Monday). The district was previously represented by Clel Baudler (R-Greenfield) and includes the counties of Adair, Guthrie, and portions of Dallas and Cass.

Representative Ray “Bubba” Sorensen signs his officials papers after taking the oath of office.

Sorensen was also named the Vice Chair of Appropriations and is a part of the Veterans Affairs, Commerce and State Government committees. In a statement, Sorensen said “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to represent my neighbors and friends across HD 20 here at the capitol. We are ready to get to work in the best interest of our great state,” said Sorensen.

Sorensen is a life-long resident of Adair County in which he operates his business, Sorensen Studios, along with his wife Maria. They are the parents of two children, Independence and Michael. Maria Sorensen will be joining her husband at the Capitol working as his legislative clerk. “Maria and I are really excited to work together in this beautiful and historic building,” Sorensen said.

Atlantic Rising will be hosting the 2nd Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser on Saturday, February 2nd at The Venue. The organization started the event to fundraiser for the Christmas Box program. Ashley Hayes, Atlantic Rising Treasurer, says “Last year’s event was very successful the first year out. We had 13 teams register and were able to raise over $2,000 for the program. We hope to match or exceed that again this year.”

The event will include eight rounds of ten questions each. Categories range from math to music to Saturday Night Live and everything in between. There is a prize awarded to the winning team. Teams are also encouraged to create team themes to add to the fun of the evening. A prize is awarded to the best team theme and is chosen by the staff at The Venue. As an added fundraiser boost, a 50/50 raffle will be going on all night and mulligans can be purchased in a pack of three for $10, one pack per team.

Atlantic Rising is also partnering with Olsen’s BP – Godfather’s Express again to provide a pizza deal. Large single topping pizzas can be ordered for $10 and large supreme pizzas for $12. Pizzas can be ordered upon registration and will be waiting for you at your tables. Also, there will be freshly popped popcorn and a water/coffee station available all night. Cash bar open for all other beverage needs.

For more information on Trivia Night or to register a team, contact Ashley Hayes at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature convened the 2019 session today (Monday), with Republicans continuing to hold a majority of seats in the House and Senate. Leaders say property tax reform, privatized Medicaid funding, the method of choosing judges, and training more people for today’s workforce are among issues they’ll consider. The session may be defined by how willing Republican leaders are to push policies strongly supported by their conservative base.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says GOP lawmakers would pursue a “pro-growth agenda” for businesses, schools and communities. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds will release her priorities in a Condition of the State address on Tuesday. Further limits on abortion and expansion of gun rights also are likely issues, along with required budget bills.

ATLANTIC – Officials at Cass County Health System report that while the flu season has begun in Cass County, numbers of confirmed cases are still low. Danielle Staiert, Nurse Manager at Atlantic Medical Center, says “We have begun our official flu protocol, which means that we care for patients in a slightly different manner. Our goal is to care for influenza patients, while also making sure to protect other patients from the influenza virus. It’s difficult to do because influenza is very contagious, but with flu protocols put in place, and help from the public, we can all play a part in keeping influenza numbers low.”

If patients think they have come down with influenza, CCHS is asking patients to call the Atlantic Medical Center to talk to the Resource Nurse. A number of factors come into play as to whether or not a patient should be seen by a medical provider. Dr. Todd Bean, Chief Medical Officer, says “For an average, healthy adult with no other risk factors, it’s usually best to stay home. But if it’s less than 48 hours since the onset of symptoms, anti-viral medications may help shorten the duration of the flu.”

If patients are directed to come in for a flu test, or to be seen by a provider, CCHS asks that patients wear a mask upon entering the facility. Dr. Bean said also, “We have free masks at every entrance, and it is critical that our influenza patients wear the mask inside of CCHS. I know that people can feel self-conscious about wearing a mask, but that mask is what helps keep our most vulnerable patients safe. As a healthcare facility, we have lots of patients in the building who are most at risk for flu complications. Newborns, elderly, patients going through chemo – they are all here.”

Patients here for influenza testing will be seated separately from other patients, and will be escorted into a designated exam room for testing. Results will be given over the phone, so that patients can return home as soon as possible. According to Dr. Bean, “Containing the virus is a really key part in keeping our community healthy. With influenza, you’re generally contagious from one day prior to showing symptoms, through the next 5-7 days. So staying home, isolating yourself from others, helps put an end to the virus spreading further.”

During flu season, CCHS officials also remind the public to not visit patients in the hospital if you are not feeling well or have any cold or flu symptoms. If patients have concerns about influenza, or think they have influenza, they should call 712-243-2850. If a person has influenza symptoms and any shortness of breath or breathing difficulty, they should seek medical care right away.

Authorities in Council Bluffs report last week’s victim of an apartment fire has been identified. The Iowa State Medical Examiners Office has ruled in its preliminary report, that 59-year old Charles Ruckman, of Council Bluffs, died from smoke inhalation. On Jan. 8th, Fire crews responded to an apartment fire at 221 N 30th Street. Ruckman’s body was found after the flames were extinguished and a search of the apartment was conducted.

The Atlantic Business and Professional Women (BPW) are offering four scholarships this year. Applications for two, $1,000 BPW Scholarship, one $500 Collen Scholarship, and a $1,000 Bev Mendenhall Scholarship, must be submitted by April 1st. Applications for one of several $1,000 BPW Iowa Scholarships, must be postmarked by March 23rd. More details:

• Two $1,000 scholarships are available to a resident of Cass County, Iowa, giving financial aid to a man or woman needing education to either re-enter the work force, gain additional education for a career, meet educational requirements for employment, or to continue education interrupted for family or other reasons. (application deadline April 1)
• A $500 Collen scholarship is available to a female resident of Cass, Shelby or Audubon County, in Iowa, who is pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Computer Systems Management, Chemistry or Engineering. The student may be of any age and attend school full- or part-time. (application deadline April 1)
• The $1,000 Bev Mendenhall nursing scholarship, is available to a female resident of Cass County, Iowa, who wants to re-enter the work force, gain additional education for a career, meet educational requirements for employment, or to continue education interrupted for family or other reasons. (application deadline April 1)
• BPW Iowa is awarding several $1,000 scholarships to a man or woman, who is a resident of Iowa. The applicant must be a non-traditional student who: Is a US Citizen; has been out of the work force and wants or needs to go back to work, but needs additional education; Has completed high school five or more years ago, and now wants to start or resume their college education, and, Demonstrates financial need, scholastic ability, leadership skills, and career goals. (Application must be submitted by March 23rd).

Contact Kellie Jimerson, BPW Scholarship chairman at 712-254-0482, or email kjimerson@careinitiatives.org for an application.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A plan to give Iowa residents expansive gun rights has been derailed after the state’s elections office forgot to notify the public of the constitutional amendment approved by lawmakers last year. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate tells the Des Moines Register that a “bureaucratic oversight” resulted in his office’s failure to publish notice of the amendment in newspapers before last fall’s elections as required. The error means that amendment supporters likely must start over and that the earliest it could appear on ballots for a statewide referendum is 2022, instead of 2020. The amendment sponsor, Rep. Matt Windschitl, calls it a “monumental setback.”

The plan would amend the Iowa Constitution to declare that the “right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Critics say the plan would block gun safety laws. The error was first reported by the Bleeding Heartland blog.

ROME, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are searching for a missing snowmobiler in southeast Iowa. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office learned just before 2 a.m. Monday that 25-year-old Spencer Adam, of Richland, was missing. His snowmobile was found about an hour later west of Mount Pleasant, just south of the village of Rome.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly session beginning 9-a.m. Tuesday in their Boardroom at the Adair County Courthouse. On their agenda for discussion and/or action, is:

• Emergency Management Commission appointments
• The Revocation of VA Director appointment
• A budget work session
• 2018 W2 wages
• A longevity increase
• and a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw down.

The Adair County Supervisors will also receive a report and FY2020 Budget request from the County Environmental Health Dept.