(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board of Directors will meet 5:15-p.m. Monday, July 18th, in the City Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Here’s a look at their agenda:

Action Items/New Business
1. Bull Creek Update
2. Sunnyside Splash Pad
3. Schildberg Bank
4. Harl Holt Park
5. Soccer Complex Expansion
6. Sunnyside Pool Staffing
Discussion Items/Old Business
1.
Director’s Report–
1. Sunnyside Block Party
2. Kids Art in the Park
3. Adult Art in the Park
4. National Parks and Recreation Month

Next Regular Meeting Date: August 15, 2022 at 5:15 pm at City Hall Council Chambers

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County will hold a Special Meeting at 1:30-p.m. on Monday, July 18th. On their agenda is an interview for the Montgomery County Auditor/Commissioner of Elections position that was made vacant by the resignation in June, of Auditor Stephanie Burke, who resigned at end of last month to accept the school business official/board secretary’s position with the Stanton School District.

It’s expected the interview will be in a closed session after the agenda is approved. Once the Board resume’s in an open session, they will discuss the Auditor’s position and take possible action on making an appointment, or the Board may choose to wait until the November General Election.  If a person is appointed, they must run in November to fill the remainder of Burke’s term, which expires with the 2024 general elections.

Some have suggested Montgomery County Treasurer Jackie Porter and the auditor’s office’s staff handling duties on an interim basis until the November election. Monday’s Montgomery County Board of Supervisor’s meeting takes place in the Supervisor’s Meeting Room, at the Courthouse in Red Oak.

(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.