Health officials say this year’s flu vaccine isn’t fully protecting against the season’s most prevalent flu viruses. Doctor Patty Quinlisk, medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, says the vaccine was created for the expected three strains of flu virus, but one strain is showing signs of drifting into different characteristics.

“We have three strains of flu going around in Iowa,” Quinlisk says. “Against two of the strains, the vaccine is a good match, and against half of that third strain, the vaccine is a good match. It’s just against about half of that third strain, we don’t think the vaccine is going to be as effective as we would have hoped.” Quinlisk says high risk groups, including very young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with lowered immunities, should immediately consult a physician at first signs of flu.

“Because they can put you on anti-viral medications and the sooner you start those medications, the better you’re going to be,” she says. The best defense, Quinlisk adds, is getting vaccinated. The flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. She says influenza and pneumonia are among the top ten causes of death in Iowa every year.

(Radio Iowa)

With Ric Hanson.

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A man from Union County was arrested Wednesday on a warrant out of Taylor County. Creston Police say 35-year old Thomas Johnston, of Creston, was arrested on a warrant for Theft in the 4th degree. Johnston was later released after posting a $1,000 bond.

Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner issued a statement to KJAN News clarifying the amount he is being paid as a special prosecutor for the City of Atlantic, in cases dealing with criminal matters.

Earlier, we said that during Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, City Attorney Dave Wiederstein mentioned with regard to the hiring of a City Attorney, if the General/Civil and Criminal retainers are included together in the contract, he recommended continuing the $15,000 annual salary currently paid to the County Attorney, for Criminal Prosecutions, above and beyond what is proposed in the General Retainer. Currently, the Cass County Attorney handles Criminal Prosecution cases for the City, while serving as a paid, Assistant City Attorney.

To clarify, Wiederstein said he is being paid $15,000 as City Attorney, and he recommended the new City Attorney, whomever that may be, be paid the same amount, and that they handle criminal matters as well.

Dan Feistner said he has been paid the same amount ($300.00/month or $3,600.00/yr) ever since the City of Atlantic appointed him as the special prosecutor for their criminal matters. Feistner said he bills the City of Atlantic twice per year, once in June and once in December, for his attorney fees and for office expenses.

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An investigation into an earlier incident resulted in the arrest of a man on drug charges this (Friday) morning. Red Oak Police say 29-year old Aaron Lucas Allen, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 400 block of Highland Avenue at around 1-a.m., on charges that include Possession of Meth with the intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Allen was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $100,000 cash bond.

A free Holiday Concert will take place in Atlantic this Sunday evening (Dec. 7th). The concert is being presented by Bonnesen’s Five and Ten Store, and will be held at First United Methodist Church, starting at 3:00 p.m. New to the Holiday Concert this year is an interactive format, including all types of music, solos, duets, instrumentals and an encore choir.

The local lineup of talent includes: Paige Anstey, Atlantic High School, national fine arts finalist 2 years in a row; Kevin Ferguson, reading “Twas the Night before Christmas,”; Haley Glenn, Atlantic High School, 2014 State Honor Choir, national fine arts finalist 2 years in a row; BJ and Krysta Hart, soloists and duets; Lee and Kelly Havemeier, Atlantic Youth Pastor’s and Music Ministers; Caleb Kelly, high school accomplished musician, national competition for public speaking, violin soloist and singer; Sheryl Sunderman and Carolyn Delay, directing youth bell choir.

The Angel of Christmas award, sponsored by the Cass County Health System, will be presented by Todd Hudspeth, Chief Executive Officer, during the concert. The Angels of Christmas is a tradition in Atlantic recognizing and thanking area residents who symbolize the true meaning of the season. Angels exemplify the true holiday spirit all year long—putting others first, spreading generosity and sharing the holiday spirit with everyone they meet.

For more information, call the Atlantic Area Chamber at 712-243-3017.

Officials at the state agency which hands out unemployment benefits to laid-off workers say they’ve detected a new kind of fraud that’s resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars from the state unemployment trust fund. Iowa Workforce Development Director Teresa Wahlert says perpetrators set up fake companies and then “lay off” fake employees who collect unemployment. Wahlert calls it a whole new field for fraud investigation. “One of our new strategies is not only to pursue fraudulent claims against the trust fund, but also to pursue fictitious companies,” Wahlert says.

A new fraud detection system is helping to detect the fake companies before they can collect any benefits, according to Wahlert.  “So far, between August and November of this year, we’ve found 13 fictitious employers,” Wahlert says. In one day alone, eight phony companies registered with the state using the same IP address. Wahlert says the new system has helped prevent half a million dollars ($500,000) in fraudulent unemployment claims.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak, Thursday evening, arrested a Council Bluffs man wanted on a warrant out of Missouri. Authorities say 49-year old Jacob Cook, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 6:30-p.m., after Red Oak Police responded to a reported verbal altercation. Cook was wanted on a valid Nodaway County Missouri warrant for Parole Violation. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held without bond, while awaiting extradition to Missouri.

And, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Villisca was arrested Thursday night. 20-year old Holly Ann Nutting was arrested at around 7:30-p.m., on a charge of Domestic Assault. Nutting was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, and held without bond.

Iowa law enforcement officials are advocating for renewal of a federally funded program for new moms. The Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program connects nurses and mentors with new mothers who live in poverty. Joshua Spaulding, Deputy Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, says the programming makes a big difference. “Mothers who have gone through a home visiting program, they are less likely to have committed a crime,” Spaulding said at a press conference Thursday, at the Des Moines Police station.

“Similarly situated mothers who did not have a home visitor are three times more likely to have gone to prison.” Over the last four years, Iowa has received 24-million-dollars ($24 million) from the program. Several Iowa programs share the funding, including Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa. Nurse Jennifer Boeding said mentoring models positive behavior for at-risk mothers.  “Another important aspect of nurse family partnership is building a trusting relationship with their children. We start this discussion during pregnancy, using a parallel process, we are invited into their homes and we build trust with these women, who in turn learn to build trust with their child,” Boeding said.

Polk County Sheriff Bill McCarthy, Des Moines Police Chief Doug Harvey and Polk County Attorney John Sarcone also took part in the press conference. More than two dozen Iowa law enforcement leaders are among the more than 1,000 sheriffs, police chiefs and prosecutors who’ve signed a letter urging Congress to renew the federal program.

(Radio Iowa)