Iowa will be represented in a popular TV program that airs on Super Bowl Sunday. Puppy Bowl XI (eleven) will include six canines from Iowa. The program airs on Animal Planet before the Super Bowl on February 1 ((at 2 p.m. Iowa time)).

Iowa puppy “Blue”

The Iowa pups — Blue, Falcor, Kojak, Lorelai, Scarlet and Columbo — are all from the Heinz 57 Pet Rescue based in DeSoto. The dogs were sent to New York in October for the show’s taping. This marks the fourth year in a row that animals from the Heinz 57 Pet Rescue have taken part in the Puppy Bowl.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Health System Women’s Health Initiative is presenting a free community event, Stress Management Tools for Women. The event will be held January 22, 2015, from 5 – 7 pm in the CCMH Atrium. Sarah Herzberg, PhD, LMHC, will present the program at 5:45 pm. Dr. Herzberg is a therapist who has been practicing at Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center since 2007.

Stress Management Tools for Women will provide tools to help women identify and manage signs of stress, particularly those associated with raising children and caring for aging parents. “Women can experience a lot of stress associated with caring for their children or aging parents and in many cases both at the same time,” Dr. Herzberg noted. “Rather than just pushing through, it can be very helpful to recognize and acknowledge the stress, and there are specific techniques anyone can use to help manage the stress.”

In addition to Dr. Herzberg’s 30 minute program, there will be displays featuring a number of stress management tools that are available locally, such as relaxation and exercise. Local businesses will have staff on hand to share information about the services they offer that may assist in managing stress. Businesses participating in the event include a local yoga studio; Twila Garside, Pet Therapist; and three county fitness centers—The Wellness Center of Anita, Nishna Valley Family YMCA and 712 Fitness.

There is no pre-registration and no charge for this Women’s Health event. For more information contact the Cass County Memorial Hospital Public Relations Department at 712-243-7405.

(Press Release)

A man who suffered a diabetic episode and crashed his vehicle on a dead-end road was transported to the Montgomery County Hospital Friday morning. According to Red Oak Police, at around 9-a.m., officers received word that a vehicle was trying to pass through a fence in the 1600 block of north 5th Street. When they arrived, they found 60-year old Bryan Platt, of Red Oak, slumped over in his 2000 Dodge Dakota pickup.

Officials say Red Oak Rescue arrived and transported the man to the hospital. They say he was not injured when the pickup went out of control and hit a Dead End sign and a fence. Following the collision, and due to the medical episode, Platt continued to press on the accelerator, but the fence prevented the vehicle from moving forward.

Damage from the incident amounted to a little more than $2,700.

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a man who was fatally injured in an explosion at a fertilizer plant in southern Iowa. Creston Fire Chief Todd Jackson on Friday identified the man as 71-year-old Eldon Ray, of Creston. Jackson says Ray and two other people were injured Thursday morning when an overpressurized air pipe exploded at Green Valley Chemical.

Jackson says Ray died after leaving the scene in an ambulance, and the other two people were taken by private vehicle to Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, where they were evaluated and released. Jackson did not have their names.

Jackson says the explosion cause is being investigated. He says the blast didn’t cause a fire.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Transportation is paying dozens of Iowa farmers to leave rows of corn that can create snow barriers along highways. KCRG-TV reports the state agency has about 70 contracts with farmers. Agency transportation planner Cathy Cutler says farmers are asked to leave four to 10 rows adjacent to roads. The corn acts as a natural barrier, keeping the snow off highways.

Dean Williams, who farms near Vinton, participates in the program. He says his corn can cause up to 4 feet of snow to pile up in the stalks, keeping Highway 150 clearer. The farmers are paid a little more than they would earn from the corn, and they still can harvest the rows in the spring.

A residence southeast of Oakland was destroyed by fire early this (Friday) morning, but the family was able to escape without injury. According to reports, the blaze at 18333 450th Street, occurred at around 4-a.m. Residents were alerted to the situation when they heard popping and cracking noises.

Crews with the Oakland, Carson and Hancock Fire Departments responded to the scene and upon arrival discovered heavy smoke and flames coming from the basement and first floor areas.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

Firefighters from Minden, Underwood  and Neola responded to an outbuilding fire in rural Pottawattamie County, Thursday morning. The call came in at around 8:30-a.m. Upon arrival at the farm west of Minden, crews reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the structure. Crews battled windy and cold conditions for about an hour.

Photos from the Minden Fire & Rescue Dept.’s Facebook page.

Minden fire was assisted at the scene by crews from the Neola and Underwood Fire and Rescue Departments. There was no immediate word on what caused the blaze. No injuries were reported. Additional details are currently not available.

The Union County Sheriff’s office reports a heifer was shot sometime over the past couple of days in a rural part of the County. The incident was reported Thursday afternoon. The heifer, belonging to Randy Wuebker, was located in a field on Redwood Avenue. It was valued at $1,500. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

Two Creston residents were arrested Thursday for allegedly shoplifting items from the Creston Wal-Mart store. Creston Police says Loss Prevention officials at the store detained 33-year old Cynthia McIntosh and 33-year old Raymond Davis. An investigation determined the pair allegedly tried to take a stocking cap valued at slightly more than two-dollars. McIntosh and Davis were arrested for 5th Degree Theft. Both were later released from the Union County Jail and given a summons to appear in court.

NEW KENT, Va. (AP) – Two Iowa residents are charged with abduction with intent to defile in New Kent County. WTKR-TV reports that Aldair Hodza and Laura Sorensen of Clive, Iowa, were arrested Tuesday after a truck driver called the New Kent Sheriff’s Office reporting suspicious activity around an RV at a gas station. Police found a man and two females inside the RV.

According to court records, one of the females seemed afraid and malnourished. She was taken outside and questioned. She said she was being abused and held against her will, and she begged police not to let her go back in the RV. Hodza and Sorensen are scheduled to appear in New Kent County General District Court on Feb. 11.