Cases of severe respiratory illnesses associated with vaping continue to be reported in Iowa and across the U.S.   The Iowa Dept. of Public Health says nationwide, there are now 805 reported cases and 12 deaths associated with the outbreak. In Iowa, there have been 23 cases and no deaths. Most cases continue to report vaping THC products; however, an exact cause is still unclear. IDPH continues to work with clinical and public health partners at the local, state and national levels to investigate cases. Youth should especially be discouraged from using vaping or e-cigarette products of any kind, as the long term effects of these products are not yet clear.

Anyone who has been vaping or using e-cigarette products and is having trouble breathing should seek medical care. Healthcare providers should ask patients about the use of vaping and e-cigarette products and report suspected cases of severe respiratory illness associated with these products to IDPH at 1-800-362-2736 (State Patrol after-hours: 515-323-4360).
For more information, visit idph.iowa.gov/ehi/lung-disease-vaping.

(Radio Iowa) — The impact of closing Charles City’s chicken manufacturing plant, called Simply Essentials, forced Floyd County’s unemployment rate to jump. Area Development Corporation director Tim Fox says the numbers from Iowa Workforce Development are troubling. “Our unemployment rate is now the third-highest in Iowa,” Fox says. “Clinton is at 4%, Wapello is at 4%, we’re at 3.9% and that was up from 2.8% the previous month. Of those people discharged from Simply Essentials, presumably 100 of them filed for unemployment.”

The company is owned by California-based Pittman Family Farms, which closed the plant in August, eliminating 513 jobs. Fox says they’re looking for potential buyers and the search has moved overseas.  “We’re looking for high-margin commodities to come out of this plant,” Fox says. “We cannot have market-rate poultry because the site isn’t big enough and it lacks economies of scale. We’re trying to target niche markets, especially in Asia.”

Other places like Mexico and Europe are suitable candidates for organic chicken production. According to Fox, the facility could be sold by the end of the year, but he says the willingness of the owners is a sticking point. “There needs to be a commitment to spend some marketing dollars on behalf of the owner,” Fox says. “That’s really where we’re at and it’s not an incredible amount of money to do a decent marketing blitz.” Fox says several factors are contributing to a slow resurgence of interest in the plant.  “One of the misconceptions of this Simply Essentials plant is that they weren’t paying very well,” Fox says. “Actually, they were paying in a range that would equate to nearly 100% of the average county wage for Floyd County.”

He says 80-percent of the workers at the plant worked more than 40 hours a week.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a deputy dispatched at around 12:50-a.m. today (Monday) to a residence in Oakland, arrested 56-year old Jay Dee Hicks, of Oakland. Hicks was taken into custody for Assault with intent to commit Sexual Abuse. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and held on a $2,000 bond. His alleged victim, a 43-year old female, was not injured.

Sunday evening, 46-year old Naomi Roberts, of Denver, Colorado, was arrested following a dispatch broadcast about an eastbound stolen vehicle at the I-80/680 split. Once the vehicle was stopped, Roberts was taken into custody for Theft in the 2nd Degree (Motor vehicle) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $5,300 altogether. Early Sunday morning, 28-year old Derek Carl Mullen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop for failure to display rear license plates. Mullen was taken into custody for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. His bond was set at $2,000.

Late Saturday night, Pottawattamie County Deputies responding to a noise complaint in Walnut, arrested 37-year old Eric Michael Mertz for Disorderly Conduct by epithet or gesture, and Interference with Official Acts. A traffic stop on I-80 Saturday night in Council Bluffs, resulted in the arrest of 27-year old Trevor James Brickson, and 27-year old Brandi Jade Coronado. Both were wanted on Holds for other law enforcement agencies.

Saturday evening, 30-year old Brandon Russ was arrested following a traffic stop in the Crescent area. Russ was taken into custody for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. A little before 3-a.m. Saturday, 25-year old Carl Rowe was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop in Oakland, after his vehicle took off from a stop sign, sped-up abruptly and carelessly, while squealing its tires and fishtailing. And, 38-year old Colin J. Kingsley was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a report of a possibly intoxicated driver.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A November trial has been scheduled for a Polk County man charged after authorities removed nearly 200 cats from his property, which also contained nearly 200 cat carcasses. Polk County court records say 66-year-old Dennis Carlson has pleaded not guilty to animal neglect causing death or serious injury. The records say he rejected a plea deal last week, and his trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 20.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says 186 cats and 194 carcasses were found at the property, which sits a little more than a mile southeast of Madrid. Rescuers had to wear respirators and protective suits because of the garbage, cat feces, urine and carcasses inside the buildings.