Thousands of Iowans who get relief from allergies through allergy shots at a clinic could face a dramatic price increase or a loss of that service entirely through proposed federal regulations. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the U-S Department of Health and Human Services is considering new restrictions which could force allergy clinics to significantly scale back the service or close.

“We need to remember the history of allergy shots, having been safely administered in the United States for over 100 years,” Grassley says. “There’s numerous studies that have found that these shots are effective and safe.” Under the proposed regulations, allergy clinics would be barred from preparing allergy shots in-house. Clinics would have to order the extracts from a limited number of labs authorized to prepare them, causing higher prices, longer wait times and a run on dwindling supplies. Coincidentally, it’s allergy season now and Grassley says he’s hearing from worried Iowa allergists.

“Besides a few physicians, we’ve also heard from the Iowa Allergy and Asthma Society, very concerned about the proposed guidelines that their members and patients won’t be properly treated,” Grassley says. “The proposal would drastically reduce access to allergy shots for patients who need them.” More than two-point-six million Americans get allergy shots every year. Grassley says he and several other senators are composing a letter to H-H-S Secretary Sylvia Burwell, asking her to reconsider or reject the proposed regulations.

“If she doesn’t reconsider it, then there are other appropriate actions we can take,” Grassley says. “Probably the easiest would be to put an amendment on an appropriations bill for HHS overriding or amend the legislation, putting in a separate bill.” Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, affects as many as one in every three Iowans and accounts for more than 22-million health care visits a year nationwide. Direct costs for treatments across the country were estimated at $11.2 billion in 2005, while indirect costs include an estimated 6-million lost work days a year.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Sioux City construction office reports the permanent closure of the southbound Interstate 29 off-ramp to Nebraska Street (exit 147B) in Sioux City, is scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday, May 23, weather permitting.

Motorists should use the Hamilton Boulevard off-ramp (exit 149) or the Floyd Boulevard off-ramp (exit 147) to access Nebraska Street.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Adair County was cited following a non-injury accident that took place over the weekend. Authorities report 58-year old Charles Hurd, of Fontanelle, was cited for Driving Under Suspension and Operating a vehicle without registration. The citation was issued after pickups driven by Hurd, and 17-year old Maggie Mason, of Lorimor, sideswiped each other as they met at the crest of a hill in Union County.

The accident happened at around 4-p.m. Saturday, as Hurd was traveling south on Yellow Rose Avenue and Mason was traveling north. Both vehicles were traveling with their drivers’ sides in the middle of the road. Damage from the accident amounted to $10,000.

Warmer weather and timely rains mean tick-borne disease season is underway in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans to protect themselves against tick bites. Ticks can carry the organisms that cause diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis.

The best way to prevent tick bites is to avoid wooded and grassy areas, where ticks are usually found. If you do spend time in these areas:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long, light-colored pants tucked into socks or boots.
• Stay on trails when walking or hiking, and avoid high grass.
• Use insect repellants that contain DEET. Read and follow the label directions for application. DEET is not recommended for use on children under 2 months of age. For more information on DEET, visit http://wiki.idph.iowa.gov/Portals/3/userfiles/5/Files/DEET%20Fact%20sheet.pdf.
• Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks. Ticks tend to prefer the back of the knee, armpit, scalp, groin, and back of the neck.

If you discover a tick on your body, remove it right away. Folk remedies, such as burning the tick with a match or covering it with petroleum jelly or nail polish, are not effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following instructions for removing a tick:

• Carefully grasp the tick by using tweezers to grip the tick by its mouthparts which are close to the skin. Do not squeeze the tick’s body.
• Pull steadily directly away from your skin. Because removing the tick’s body is your main goal, don’t worry if its mouthparts break off in the process.
• Clean the wound and disinfect the site of the bite.

The most common tick-borne disease is Lyme disease; 319 cases of Lyme disease were reported to IDPH in 2015. Not everyone who gets Lyme disease will have the same symptoms, but the best and earliest sign of infection is a rash that may appear within a few days to a month, usually at the site of the tick bite. The rash will first look like a small, red bump, then expand until it begins to look like a bull’s eye, with a red center and a red ring surrounding a clear area. It is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately if you develop this type of rash or develop flu-like symptoms within a month of having a tick bite or being in an area where ticks are present.

For more information on Lyme disease, visit http://idph.iowa.gov/cade/disease-information/lyme-disease.

Area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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•  cups cooked rice
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 tablespoon chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup salad dressing
• 4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup carrots, shredded
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 cup shredded Velveeta cheese

Mix all ingredients.  Put in a 9″ x 13″ pan.  Refrigerate overnight.  Top with buttered cracker crumbs  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

(Kelly Eick)

(Corrected background information for Elwood)

The Griswold School District will have a new Athletic Director for the 2016-17 School Year. The School Board, Monday evening approved a contract for Katie Elwood. Elwood had previously served the Griswold District as a teacher from 2005-06 before going to work for the Stanton School District, where she serves as a Social Studies Teacher. In addition to being named Griswold’s A-D, Elwood will serve as the District’s Middle School/High School Principal, beginning July 1^st, for the 2016-17 School Year.

Katie Elwood (Stanton School District website photo)

Elwood is a graduate of the Tri-Center High School. She received her bachelors degree in secondary education and coaching endorsement at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she also played college basketball for the Huskers.

Creston Police say a pawn shop owner reported Monday, that someone had stolen a single-stack, .380-caliber compact pistol. The weapon was taken sometime during the afternoon of May 13th or Saturday morning, May 14th, from the Quik Pawn store at 101 W. Taylor Street, in Creston. The gun was valued at $550.

Creston Police said also, 52-year old David White, of Creston, was arrested Monday on a charge of Public Intoxication – 3rd or subsequent offense. White was being held in the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Last week, the Griswold School Board unanimously approved a Superintendent Sharing Agreement with the Lenox School District, contingent upon the details being hashed out. Monday, the Lenox School Board followed suit. The vote was 5-to nothing.

Talks will now continue on refining the terms and definitions of a contract for Lenox Superintendent David Henrichs.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors, Monday, reluctantly accepted the resignation of Parks Director Roger Herring. Board President Stuart Dusenberry even tried to (tongue-in-cheek) skip over the part of the agenda mentioning Herring’s resignation. Herring thanked the Board for its support over the past 5-years, and said he would love to be available as a consultant, if needed.

Asst. Parks Director Seth Staashelm (Left) & Parks Director Roger Herring (right).

Herring said because he’s retiring, though, and because he has benefits coming at the end of his retirement, it brings into question whether he would still receive those benefits if he were to work part-time. It would also require the City Council’s approval. The bottom line is, according to Herring, that he cannot work for the City for at least 30-days following his last day of full-time employment, which is June 30^th.

He said regardless of what his status is, he wants to “stay connected” and continue to serve the City, especially with regard to seeing projects that are on the table, through. Herring says he’ll be available to support current Parks Director Seth Staashelm, but not interfere with the way he runs the department. He said also, he’s willing to volunteer, but not “totally give away my time.”

Herring said that’s because he wants to spend time with his wife and family, watch his grandchildren grow-up and doing some fishing and golfing, but he still wants to do something that “Helps make a difference in Atlantic.” Board Chair Stuart Dusenberry thanked Roger Herring for his years of service to the community, prior to the Board officially accepting Herring’s letter of resignation.