While Shelby County is currently not included in a ban on open burning, Emergency Management Officials have set the County’s Fire Danger Index “High” category.  Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says conditions are deteriorating, and the environment is conducive to the rapid spread of fire of any type.

Burning of any kind is restricted unless approval is received from your local Fire Chief.  Controlled burns which are not reported will result in Fire Department being dispatched, and Fires extinguished if determined to be unsafe.  Please call 712-755-2124 with questions.

The Iowa Fire Marshal’s office said today another southwest Iowa County has been included in a ban on open burning. The latest addition is Taylor County. The ban went into effect at 2-p.m. today (Tuesday). Taylor County joins the neighboring Counties, of Page and Montgomery Counties in the ban. Also covered under the ban on open burning is Fremont, Mills, Pottawattamie, Cass, and Audubon Counties.

Currently 58 out of Iowa’s 99 Counties are under a burn ban, which prohibits open burning during extended periods of elevated fire danger due to wide spread amounts of dry natural vegetation compounded by contributing weather conditions and/or outdoor activities.

During the extremely dry conditions, citizens are reminded to:

1. Not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles.
2. Avoid the use of fireworks and celebration items that produce flames or sparks.
3. Discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban.

Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick,  metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited. Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. For more information on burn bans and the law contact the State Fire Marshal Office at 515-725-6145 or go to www.dps.state.ia.us.

A Harlan Community School teacher is taking a leave of absence to pursue the NFL. Dan Hoch, who was recently hired by the School District for High School Social Studies, requested the leave of absence after being contacted for a tryout with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The leave of absence is until September 1st, 2012. Hoch spoke with High School Principal John Connell and said he has about a 10 percent chance of making the team.During the school board meeting Monday, the board approved the leave of absence and placed Brian James as the substitute teacher for Hoch. The leave of absence had to be approved by the union, administration and board.

In other business, the school board approved the AEA School based Interventionist Contract. The contract is for a $29,750 grant from the AEA and is matched by the school district for the Interventionist. Superintendent Justin Wagner spoke with the board about the Iowa Association School Board Membership. Wagner said the administration agreed to stay with the IASB as they continue to provide much needed updates in an ever changing educational landscape. The membership costs $4,653.

In the final act of board approval, the school board approved the handbooks for the 2012-2013 school year. Normally this is an easy item on the agenda, however with the implement of the new 1 to 1 earlier this year, the handbooks had several policy changes. Lisa Swanson, technology director for the Harlan Community School District, gave a report on the new Mobile Computing Handbook. The handbook was written largely due to the new 1 to 1 so all the policies, procedures and agreements could be in place for students, parents and the district. Students and parents will need to sign an accountability agreement in order for their student to receive their laptop.

The handbook is rather long with several policies focusing on lost or stolen equipment, website usage and more. The Harlan Community School District is uploading a video for parents and students to watch for mobile computing. The first chance parents have of watching the video is August 3rd. The entire Mobile Computing Handbook will be given to parents and students before the school year starts.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A two-vehicle, non-injury accident Monday morning about four-miles northwest of Clarinda may have been caused in-part, by sun glare, tall corn and an overgrowth of grass or weeds. The Page County Sheriff’s Department says vehicles driven by 32-year old Joshua Bolton, of Clarinda, and 30-year old Patsy Orr, of Villisca, collided at the intersection of M Avenue and 180th Street, at around 8-a.m., Monday.

Sheriff Lyle Palmer said Bolton was traveling south on M Avenue in a Ford pickup, while Orr was traveling east on 180th Street in a Chevy Monte Carlo. Bolton told authorities that as the vehicles approached the intersection at the same time, he couldn’t see Orr’s car, because of overgrowth in a ditch, and a field of corn. Orr told deputies she couldn’t see Bolton either, because of glare caused by the rising sun, and the field of corn. Neither driver was cited after their vehicles collided, causing a total of $3,500 damage.

Continued excessive heat across Iowa not only raises concerns about heat-related illnesses, it also makes food-borne illnesses, like salmonella, more likely due to improper food handling. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans that hot weather makes it even more important to ensure food is properly transported, cooked and stored.

IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says especially during warm weather, food safety begins at the grocery store. “When shopping, buy cold foods like meat, poultry and dairy products last, right before checkout. Plan to drive directly home from the grocery store so the food doesn’t sit in a hot car any longer than necessary. You may also want to take a cooler with ice or insulated grocery bags to transport perishables home – especially if your drive home is more than half an hour.” Once home, place cold foods like meat, poultry and dairy products in the refrigerator right away.

A good rule to remember for food safety is to keep cold food cold and hot food hot. Whether in your car or on the picnic table, illness-causing bacteria can grow in many foods within two hours and during the summer heat, that time is cut down to within one hour. When planning on eating outdoors, keep meat and poultry refrigerated until ready to use. If using a marinade, marinate the food in the refrigerator, not on the counter or outside. When cooking on the grill, cook the meat thoroughly –  then keep it hot until served, either by moving it to the side of the grill rack, or in an oven set at around 200 degrees. Keep cold food cold when outdoors by nesting the serving dishes in bowls of ice, or by keeping the food in a cooler until ready to eat.

No matter what the weather, it’s always important to wash your hands before and after handling food. In addition, always keep your kitchen, dishes and utensils clean, and always use one plate for raw foods and another for cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination. For more information on hot weather food safety, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Barbecue_Food_Safety/index.asp.