MINBURN—The city of Minburn has issued a precautionary bottled water advisory after the town lost pressure Monday following a water main break. Residents should use an alternate source of water for drinking until notified that the water is safe to drink.

Use bottled water for infants. Do not give the water to infants less than six months old or use it to make infant formula. The water may have levels of manganese above the health advisory level, which may affect their learning and behavior.

For older children and adults, the city and DNR recommend using bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food. Tap water can safely be used for bathing and similar uses. Do not boil the water as it may increase manganese levels.

Pregnant women and those with specific health concerns may want to check with their doctors.

The pressure loss affected the entire town. While repairing the first leak, contractors found another leak. As they complete repairs Tuesday, water lines will be disinfected and flushed. Then the city will collect four water samples, collecting another four samples the following day. When both sets of samples show no bacteria are present, the city will lift the drinking water advisory.

Contact City Councilman Joe Stuetelberg at 515-419-1183 or the Water Supply Operator, Mitch Johnson, at 515-669-1103 for more information.

(Radio Iowa) – There’s a promise of some relief for the 66-thousand Iowans who are now living with the most common cause of dementia. Lauren Livingston, communications director for the Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says there’s much optimism as the F-D-A on Monday approved a drug for treating the disease, which she calls “historic” and the beginning of a completely new future.

“The science and research that went into it and behind it and all the data that came from it really shows that this drug does help people, especially in the mild cognitive impairment and early stages of Alzheimer’s to slow the progression of the disease,” Livingston says. “It gives them back more time with their families, doing the things they love.” The drug aducanumab is being produced by Biogen and she says there’s an important distinction, it’s a treatment for Alzheimer’s and not a cure.

“There are several other drugs on the market that help with some of the symptoms of the disease but this is the first one that actually changes the disease and slows the progression,” Livingston says. “It doesn’t reverse the disease but it does slow down the progression so someone’s not advancing through that early, middle and late stages quite as fast.” This is billed as the first drug that slows Alzheimer’s disease, and she says the drug addresses the disease in a way that has never been done before, compared to currently approved drugs.

“It’s the first treatment that we’ve had in 20 years, so it’s a huge day,” Livingston says. “It’s going to lead to that second, third, fourth and ultimately, a cure. So, it’s really a step in the right direction. It’s going to invigorate more research into other treatments that are in the pipeline and I think we’re going to see more treatments coming out much sooner than another 20 years from now.” It is anticipated that the drug will be made widely available in the very near future.

“Biogen, the maker of the drug, has been ramping things up in expectation that hopefully it would be approved,” Livingston says. “We don’t know yet the cost or the process to get it but we really encourage anyone who is interested in trying to get access to the drug to talk to their health care provider.” Alzheimer’s is a progressive, degenerative and fatal brain disease. While 66,000 Iowans are now diagnosed with it, by 2025, that number is expected to grow to 74,000.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowan shown on video leading a crowd of rioters behind the U-S Senate on January 6th is asking to be released from prison as he awaits his trial. Forty-one-year-old Doug Jensen of Des Moines is pleading not guilty to charges related to his alleged involvement in the attack on the U-S Capitol, including entering a restricted building with a knife.

Jensen’s attorney says his client now feels duped by conspiracy theories and realizes his confrontation with a Capitol Police officer was — in a word – “silly.”

The lawyer says Jensen now believes he was misled by then-President Trump and fed a “pack of lies” on social media. A judge has set Jensen’s bond hearing for June 24th and Jensen’s attorney plans to play parts of a two-hour interview with Jensen in court and have Jensen’s wife testify .

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet in a regular session beginning 9-a.m. Wednesday, at the courthouse Courtroom in Greenfield. On their agenda, is County Attorney Melissa Larson, who will lead more discussion on Solar Panels. The Board last month, passed a Solar Panel/Solar Farm Ordinance, that includes a cap of 400 total acres of utility-scale solar energy development in the county. The ordinance covers setbacks from occupied residences and non-participating parcels, along with road right-of-ways and limits on placement near a public airport.

In other business, the Board will act on approving: Sheriff Training Expenses, and, Homestead and Military Disallowances. The will receive an update on COVID-19 and an American Rescue Plan Act Award Contract. County Engineer Nick Kauffman will present an award Resolution to be signed for the G-61 County Line Grading (a joint Cass-Adair County project), and he’ll have a report on his departmental activities and maintenance matters.

The public will be allowed to attend the meeting, but attendance will be limited to 21 people, to allow for social distancing. Those who wish to listen and/or speak, but who cannot attend in-person, may call-in just before the meeting starts, so names can be obtained for the public record. Call 605-313-6157, and use access code 526272# when prompted.

(Radio Iowa) – The outgoing leader of Democrats in the Iowa House says he isn’t backing away from politics and is likely to run for re-election in 2022. Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City has been House Minority Leader for three years and House Democrats meet Monday to select his successor. “I’m stepping down but not stepping back in any measure. I’ve got a lot of fight left in me and I’m going to continue to find ways to serve,” Prichard says. “…I care too much about my home state.”

Prichard will serve out the remainder of his current term and, at this point, is planning on seeking reelection to the House. Prichard isn’t ruling out a run for another office, but has made no moves in that direction. Prichard briefly ran for governor in 2017. “I’ve been down that road years ago…but I was asked this question a few months ago (and) you don’t rule things out,” Prichard said. “…I view myself as a public servant and try to offer or work in ways that I can be most useful.”

Todd Prichard – Official portrait.

Prichard says it’s time for the state to tackle big issues, like water quality, and address the core issues that are driving an increase in gun violence in places like his hometown of Davenport. Prichard issued a written statement last week to announce he was stepping aside as a House floor leader. Today (Tuesday), during an online news conference organized by the Iowa Capitol Press Association, Prichard answered questions about his decision.”After three years and trying to juggle a career in the Army Reserve and my small businesses and my commitment to my family, it’s time to kind of step back and…take my professional life out of overdrive so I can focus on a few other things,” he said.

Forty-one Democrats are serving in the Iowa House and Prichard says there are good leaders among them who can carry House Democrats forward, but he’s not publicly endorsing a successor.

Officials with Guthrie County ISU Extension & Outreach say they are excited to launch their first annual “Wild Things in Guthrie County,” tourism event! The self-paced, family friends event will run from June 10, 2021 to July 8, 2021. You can pick up or print off a flyer to follow along by:

• Visiting the GC ISU Extension website at https://bit.ly/3uKOjzN
• Stop by the Guthrie County Extension Office
• Stop by a Guthrie County library

There are five attractions in Guthrie County that are being highlighted this year. The flyer provides you the coordinates to each location and it’s up to you to look up the coordinates and go on an adventure to find that attraction. At each location there is a QR code that will link back to a short YouTube video that discusses some of the history of that place. We hope to continue this event each summer over the upcoming years to continue to highlight all the amazing amenities that Guthrie County has to offer.

When you are visiting each site, be sure to snap a picture to be entered in a drawing for a prize. Post it on Facebook, tag Guthrie County Extension, and #GuthrieCountyWildThings. If you post entries at all five locations, you’ll receive 5 extra entries. All entries are DUE by July 8th, 2021. The best part about this event is that you get to have FUN with your family and friends at each location and enjoy the great attractions Guthrie County has to offer!

The event is hosted by the Guthrie County ISU Extension & Outreach office. If you have any questions regarding the event, please call 641.747.2276.

(Atlantic) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday morning, and heard a request from rural Atlantic resident Glen Nelson, to pave Great River Road (635^th Street), which runs just east of the KJAN Studios. The road runs north to Dunbar Road, which is near the Nishna Valley Trails, trail head. Supervisor Steve Green said there have been discussions held about paving the road for trail use over the years, but it always came with a hefty price tag.

He said it also didn’t meet the requirements and specifications for a bike trail. And, there were other routes that were looked at. There have also been issues with right-of-way easements. Green said Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning has looked at acquiring a “Rails to Trails” grant, but the organization didn’t want to shell out the money required for the project.

Ideas are still being batted around, but to-date, there’s been no firm action that would allow such a project to proceed. Supervisor Mark O’Brien said there’s definitely a lot of interest, but no one wants to fork over the money.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved permits to sell cigarettes, tobacco, alternative nicotine or vapor products, for three area businesses (as previously mentioned), and they approved the abatement of taxes on parcels owned by: the Iowa DOT (a sliver of land in a ditch near Massena); The City of Massena (104 Spruce), and three parcels owned by the City of Wiota (as previously mentioned).

The Board heard from Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, who reported the Iowa Alert System WENS (Wireless Emergency Notification System) is being retired and replaced with a similar system for notifying residents of severe weather, civil emergencies and other special announcements. Once the new system comes on-line in July, persons currently registered through Cass County’s Alert Program will have to re-register in order to continue receiving those announcements.

Additional details are expected to be released soon. Kennon said also, they’re using COVID Relief Funds to paint a wall in the Supervisor’s Board Room, and will install a 70-inch flat screen TV, which can be used for multi-media presentations and video conferencing purposes. The TV will be installed where the cabinet-style white board/bulletin board was, on the wall.