(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Donor Network is celebrating several records set in the last year. Spokesman Tony Hakes says the numbers for 2018 show a lot of good things. “We had the most number of organ donors we’ve ever had in our twenty-five year history at 74. We also had the most organs transplanted in our history at 248,” Hakes says. “Those are really great, that means 248 lives were saved. That means that 74 families had a little bit of a bright spot in what was a very dark time for them — losing their loved one.”  He says they also set a mark for people who are signed up to donate. “Seventy-three percent of adults are now registered in Iowa. Which is the highest it’s ever been. It’s good for number nine in the country percentage wise,” according to Hakes.

The national average for people signed up to donate is 54 percent. There are now one-point-eight million Iowans registered to donate. Hakes says the record 248 people shows the importance of signing up. “Of course we get these records because of our donor families, because people are saying yes. They’re realizing that the loss of a loved one doesn’t have to be a complete loss. That they can go on and save other lives and really have that legacy,” Hakes says.  Hakes says the success of the North Liberty-based organization is also due to the relationship they’ve formed with the Iowa Department of Transportation, Department of Public Health, the Iowa Association of County Medical Examiners, the Iowa Hospital Association, and the Iowa E-M-S Association. He says they have all helped in the successful effort to raise awareness, that begins the education and awareness program early. “We have a program for driver’s ed, so we start talking to kids at 14 and 15 years old about how they can register and the importance of registering,” Hakes explains. “We also have a wonderful volunteer program. We have over 100 volunteers that are actively taking out message, talking to people, setting up events, reaching out to their local newspapers, radio stadions, those things to help promote donation.”

He says they’ve worked to cut out the misconceptions people may have about organ donation. “We really stress not letting people rule themselves out because of age or medical history. We tell everyone to register regardless of your age, regardless of you medical history. Because, we’ve had donors over 100 every year — we’ve had donors in their 80s,” Hakes says.  While they’ve set a lot of records, Hakes says they want to keep building on that success this year. He says getting everyone to register would be the top goal, but he says they realize they will eventually hit a ceiling.

Hakes says they will continue working with their many partners to continue to maintain the momentum for the next few years. “The easiest thing is to just register,” Hakes says, “so when you go to your driver’s license station to get your license or get it renewed, just mark ‘yes’ and now it’s actually a heart that appears on your drive’s license, so make sure you get that heart place on your license. And also, make sure your family understands and knows your wishes. Have that conversation now — if something were to happen — this is what I want done.”

To find out more about organ donation, go the Iowa Donor Network website at: www.iadn.org.

(Radio Iowa) — Forest City-based Winnebago Industries is unveiling three new motorhomes for people in wheelchairs and with limited mobility. Winnebago vice president for specialty vehicles Ashis Bhattacharya says the company has been modifying RVs through special orders for decades, but there’s enough demand to start a standard line of accessible vehicles.  “There are close to four-million people in wheelchairs and there are another 11-and-a-half million people with some mobility impairment, like they would use a walker or crutches or something like that,” Bhattacharya says. “We feel that this is a market that could be better served with a set of standard products, so we’ve decided to launch this platform.”

Bhattacharya says the company wanted to make sure it was offering the right products for those who have limited mobility. “We want to raise it and give it more visibility and tell anyone who is in a wheelchair that you can be part of the RV lifestyle as well,” he says. “You can have adventures, and whether you’re going to the Grand Canyon or just going to your neighborhood library, Winnebago has an offering for you which will help you get the freedom and the mobility that you’re looking for.”  Bhattacharya says the wheelchair lifts are robustly constructed with accessibility and safety in mind.  “They have a capacity of 800 pounds,” he says. “They are flush with the wall of the RV so they don’t protrude out and we’ve put a safety rolling shutter in front of them so that the wheelchair lift doesn’t expose the interior of the RV to the elements and there’s no security issue as well.”

Bhattacharya says the company has gotten input from customers on the design of the interior of the vehicles to make things more accessible, such as larger passageways and moving controls down to a typical wheelchair level. “The beds, for example, are electric beds, where the top half of the bed can actually move up and down because sometimes people need to rest in specific positions,” he says. “We’ve provided tables with overhangs where a wheelchair can go right up to the table, so whether you are sharing a meal with family and friends or working on your computer, you’re able to be at the table with everyone else.”

The new models made their debut at the 2019 Florida RV Supershow in Tampa last week and should be available for dealers to sell later this year.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DETROIT (AP) — A major winter storm that blanketed much of the Midwest with snow earlier in the weekend is barreling toward New England, where it is expected to wreak transportation havoc from slick and clogged roads to hundreds of cancelled airline flights. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings or advisories for part or all of at least 15 states stretching from southeast Missouri to the northern tip of Maine.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Snow has mostly moved out of Iowa, leaving residents to deal with high winds and bitter cold. The National Weather Service shows most of Iowa received 1 to 6 inches of snow from the time the storm moved in Friday overnight to Saturday morning. The northeastern corner of the state saw higher amounts, with an area near the town of Cresco close to the Minnesota border getting 13 inches.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City manufacturing plant is closing and roughly forty jobs will be eliminated. The Sioux City Journal reports that Prince Hydraulics employees were told Friday that the Sioux City plant would close and the work will move to other locations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Court of Appeals has elected Judge Gayle Nelson Vogel, of Spirit Lake, as the court’s chief judge. Vogel has served on the court since 1996 and is the ninth chief judge since the state legislature established the Iowa Court of Appeals in 1976. She replaces Chief Judge David Danilson, who recently retired.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City manufacturing plant is closing and roughly forty jobs will be eliminated. The Sioux City Journal reports that Prince Hydraulics employees were told Friday that the Sioux City plant would close and the work will move to other locations. Shannon Stucker with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said the union was surprised by the news. Most workers at the plant were represented by the union. Prince Manufacturing has other facilities in Hartington, Nebraska, Brookings, South Dakota, and Yankton, South Dakota.

At least four area school districts will hold their Board of Education meetings Monday evening. Kicking things off at 5:30-p.m., is the Griswold School Board meeting at the Middle/School High School Building in Griswold. Among the old business items on their agenda is an update (if available) from KPE architects/Estes Construction, with regard to the district’s facilities, and discussion on 2019-20 Budget Adjustments. New business includes approval of change orders (new construction), and action on numerous board policies.

The Exira/EHK School Board meeting begins at 6-p.m. in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. Action items on their agenda include: Setting the date/time for the 2019-20 Calendar hearing; a review of policies, and approval of new hires, transfers and resignations.

The CAM School Board meeting gets underway at 6:30-p.m. Monday, in the High School Media Center, and includes action on: A retirement incentive; bid for approval re: Smoke Detetectors & Heat Sensors at the CAM Middle School; an Engineering services agreement with Donald K. Staley P.E.; CAM North fundraisers, and administrative/personnel matters.

And, the Audubon School Board will meet at 7-p.m. Monday, in the High School Board room. They’re set to act on: Setting the dates & times for Public Hearings on a possible sale of school land and the 2019-20 School Calendar; an Increase in an extended contract for the Activity Director position, and approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Coon-Rapids Bayard. The Audubon School Board will also discuss possible calendar options for 2019-20, among other items.