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Health officials continue search for Iowans who may’ve been exposed to measles

News

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Nearly 100 people have been tested in connection with a measles case that state health officials are treating as a “public health emergency.” Most of the people were passengers on a flight from Chicago to Des Moines on May 11. A child, who later tested positive for the measles, was on the American Airlines plane (flight 3965). Iowa Department of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says measles is easily spread and can cause serious illness.

“It can cause permanent damage, such as brain damage. Even with good medical care…it can still cause people to die,” Quinlisk said. “So, we take this disease very seriously and want to make sure we stop anybody from getting the measles if we can.”

Iowans who were on the flight or visited Mercy Central Pediatric Clinic or Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines on May 14 may’ve been exposed to the measles. The symptoms include fever, cough, red/pink eyes, runny nose and a rash. Quinlisk says people who suspect they have the measles should NOT go directly to the E-R or their doctor’s office.

“What you need to do is call your health care provider ahead of time…and they will arrange for you to be seen in a way that is safe for the health care provider and you’re not spreading it to other patients,” Quinlisk said.

Iowans who are not sure if they’ve received two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines should contact their health care provider. Quinlisk says people who are vaccinated have a 99-percent chance of never getting the measles – even if they’re exposed to the disease. Those older than their mid-50s and know that they had measles as a child do not need to be vaccinated.

(Radio Iowa)

ROZELLE MADISON (6-2-2011)

Obituaries

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

ROZELLE MADISON, 90, of Audubon, died Sat., May 28th, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon. Funeral services for ROZELLE MADISON will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., June 2nd, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family will be present 6-p.m. Wed., June 1st.

Burial will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon.

Rozelle Madison is survived by:

Her children – Jerry (Sandi) Lauritsen, & Rich (Jan) Lauritsen, all of Audubon; Judy Hill, of Exira; Patty Lauritsten, of Kimballton; Cheryl (Jerry) Wahlert, of Exira; Sally (Roger) Williams, of Spirit Lake; Mary (Delbert) Christensen, of Audubon; and Kent (Teresa) Lauritsen, of Lockbourne, OH.

Her step-children – Mark and Linda Madison, of Adair; Stephen Madison, of Dubuque, IA; Paul and Sara Madison, of CO; Rita and Bruce Pfannkuch, of Harlan.

Her sisters – Elaine Rasmussen, of Exira, & Wanda Rose, of Omaha, NE.

37 grandchildren  10-step grandchildren & 45 great grandchildren

Randolph mayor fights post office closing

News

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

RANDOLPH, Iowa (AP) — The mayor of Randolph isn’t sitting back and quietly accepting a possible proposal to close the town’s post office.

Mayor Vance Trively says he’s demanding financial information about the post office and has put postal officials on notice that he will fight a possible closing of the Randolph post office in the southwest Iowa town of about 170.

The Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs says Trively also has talked with state and federal lawmakers.

Mail volume has dropped 20 percent in the past four years and the U.S. Postal Service plans to close or consolidate 2,200 post offices across the country. Among the other proposed post office closures, are those located in Earling, Gray, Kimballton, Elk Horn, Marne, Grant, Modale, Tabor, New Market, Sharpsburg, and Braddyville.

Randolph’s residents say closing their post office is not a solution, suggesting instead a cut in bureaucracy.

Trively suggests a 10 percent across-the-board pay cut.

NW Iowans on the Missouri River need help sandbagging

News

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

SLOAN, Iowa (AP) — Residents of a riverside subdivision near the northwest Iowa city of Sloan are calling for help filling sandbags.

Sioux City television station KTIV reports that the work at River Woods subdivision is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock. Volunteers are asked to bring along shovels and gloves.

Sloan and other Iowa towns along the Missouri River have been preparing for more flooding. Water has already spilled over the banks in several low-lying areas along the river in Nebraska and Iowa.

In Omaha, Neb., the city installed flood gates Sunday to keep rising water from seeping into downtown.

The Army Corps of Engineers warns that the high water level and flooding issues will likely worsen over the next month as releases from upstream reservoirs reach historic levels.

LAWRENCE VORRATH (later date)

Obituaries

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LAWRENCE VORRATH, 98, of Greenfield, died Mon., May 30th, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle.  Memorial services for LAWRENCE VORRATH will be held at a later date.  Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

LAWRENCE VORRATH is survived by:

His wife – Lucille Vorrath, of Greenfield.

His son – Gary (Columbine) of Greenfield.

His daughter – Marlete (Maurice) Thompson, of Highland Village, TX.

7 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Pawlenty to make stops in western Iowa this week

News

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Tim Pawlenty, R-MN Presidential candidate

Republican Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty will be making the rounds in western Iowa this week. The two-term former Governor of Minnesota will be in Sioux Center, LeMars and Sioux City on Tuesday, and in Council Bluffs, on Wednesday.

His first stop a “Coffee with Governor Pawlenty,” will be 8:30-a.m. Tuesday, at Casey’s Bakery in Sioux Center. Later that afternoon, he’ll visit the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Shop in Lemars, beginning at 2:30-p.m. And, at 7-p.m. Tuesday, Pawlenty will appear at the Sioux City Library.

On Wednesday, “T-Paw,” as he’s called on his website, will stop at Tish’s Restaurant in Council Bluffs, for a Town Hall meeting that begins at 9:30-a.m. Pawlenty kicked-off his campaign last week in Des Moines, with the announcement he intended to run for President in 2012.

Pawlenty told the crowd at the state capital the country is “in big trouble” and it will take a “new and better president” to fix things. He said that means phasing out federal subsidies for ethanol. That statement prompted a response from the ethanol industry: go to the heart of oil country and give a speech there about ending petroleum subsidies.

For more on Pawlenty’s positions on the issues, surf to www.timpawlenty.com.

ALICE A. CHRISTIANSEN (6-1-2011)

Obituaries

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

ALICE A. CHRISTIANSEN, 93, of Audubon, died Sat., May 26th, at the Friendship Home in Audubon. Funeral services for ALICE CHRISTIANSEN will be held 2-p.m. Wed., June 1st, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Visitation is open at the funeral home, where the family will be present 6:30-p.m. Tue., May 31st.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery at Audubon.

ALICE CHRISTIANSEN is survived by:

Her children: Jeannette (Rev. Darrel) Gerrietts, of Waverly; Ken (Dianne) Christiansen, of Atlantic; & Dr. Keith (Rosalee) Christiansen, of Blair, NE.

Her sister – Irene Starrett, of Audubon.

10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, other relatives & friends.

MELVIN L. JORGENSEN (6-1-2011)

Obituaries

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MELVIN L. JORGENSEN, 82, of Audubon, died Sun., May 29th, at the Friendship Home in Audubon. Funeral services for MELVIN JORGENSEN will be held 10-a.m. Wed., June 1st, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

A family visitation will be at 6-p.m. Tue. (May 31st) at Our Saviour’s Church.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

MELVIN JORGENSEN is survived by:

His children –

Donna (Dave) Pauley, of Lincoln, NE;  & Dean (Laurie) Jorgensen, of Broomfield, CO.

His brothers – Harvey Jorgensen, of Springfield, MO; Ralph (Barb) Jorgensen, of Kimballton; Roy (Lila) Jorgensen, of Audubon.

His sister – Correne (Gary) Schmidt, of Sheldon.

4 grand chidlren,  6 great grandchildren, his in-laws, other relatives & friends.

Pickup totaled in rollover accident

News

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

No injuries were reported following a rollover accident Sunday night, about five-miles south of Red Oak. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, 45-year old David Lee McClain, of Essex, was charged with OWI 1st offense, after he wrecked the 1999 Dodge Ram pickup he owned and was operating.

Officials say McLain was traveling south on Highway 48, just south of 260th Street at around 9:35-p.m. Sunday, when for “reasons unknown,” the vehicle crossed the center line into the northbound lane of travel. McLain attempted to steer back into his lane, but in doing so overcorrected, causing the pickup to enter a ditch on the east side of Highway 48.

In the ditch, the truck rolled an estimated three-to four-times before coming to rest on the driver’s side in a farm field. The vehicle, valued at $10,0000, was a total loss. McClain was arrested and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $1,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted in its investigation by Red Oak Police. Red Oak Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene of the accident.

Cass Co. Board of Supervisors to meet Tuesday

News

May 30th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing, Tuesday, on an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011 County Budget. The hearing, which takes place a few minutes after the meeting is called to order at 9-a.m., will be followed by action on adopting the FY 2011 County Budget Amendment, and amending the expenditure appropriations.

In other business, the Supervisors, Tuesday, will resume discussion on funding for the northwest sewer and water extension project, and act on approving or disapproving a 457 deferred compensation plan, for County employees.