Officials with the Cass County Health System say the next session of “Healthy U” is scheduled for noon on Thursday, July 27th at Cass County Health System. Presenting will be CCMH Laboratory Director Mitch Whiley, who says “A hospital lab is a behind-the-scenes area, but the information that we are able to provide is critical to our providers and patients.”

The presentation will cover background information about the lab, including services offered and staff. Mitch will also present a general overview about routine lab tests and results.

Mitch Whiley, MLS (ASCP)

Whiley says “We really want all of our patients to have information about their overall health including things like their cholesterol, blood sugar, and organ function. But understanding your results and reading the reports can be confusing. We will go over the reports and [MW1] provide a brief explanation on our most common lab tests, however, we always encourage patients to talk with their providers directly about what their personal results mean.”

Healthy U is a free educational lunch series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as lunch is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.

Police and animal welfare officials across the state are reporting an uptick in calls about dogs being left in hot vehicles. Josh Colvin, with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says dogs should just be left at home when temperatures rise to the level they’re at this week. “I know we keep harping on this throughout the summer months, but this is going to be a hot spell and we just have to remind people,” Colvin said. “We’re talking heat indexes of 110…a spell like this, it’s probably best for dogs to be in the air conditioning and keep them safe.”

In Des Moines on Wednesday, police and ARL staff were called four times to shopping center parking lots to rescue dogs that were left alone in cars. Temperatures in the capital city climbed into the upper 90s.  “Luckily, we found the owners and we weren’t having to impound those animals,” Colvin said. “We had to talk it through with the owners, you can’t do this because it could be tragic.” All four dogs survived.    

It takes a very short period of time for a dog to suffer heat stress or even stroke on days such as this – when temperatures across Iowa are in the 90s to around 100. “We always advocate for us to be with our pets. They’re part of our family, we get that. But, as being part of the family, people just have to realize when it’s too hot, it’s too hot. A very short time in a vehicle, just running into a store, could be tragic for your dog,” Colvin said.

“We just can’t emphasize that enough. You know, short-nosed dogs…just taking them for a walk in this weather could be tragic. They could be in distress very quickly.” Three dogs died of heat exposure after they were found locked in a vehicle on July 10th outside of a dog show in Ottumwa.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 25-year-old man suspected of killing an Omaha man last September. The body of 30-year-old Ernesto Saavedra was discovered Sept. 7 behind a building in northeast Omaha. Authorities haven’t said how he died.

Police say the suspect, Marquez Sanders, was taken to Omaha on Wednesday from the Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he’d been in custody. Nebraska court records say Sanders is charged with second-degree murder.

Griswold Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance crews were called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident early this (Thursday) afternoon just across the Cass/Pottawattamie County line, at 490th and Highway 6. The call went out at around 12:15-p.m. According to reports, a vehicle went out of control and entered the north ditch. The female driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, was transported by ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. No other details are currently available.

(Photo credit Tamara Wiley)

DES MOINES, Iowa – (July 20, 2017) – As temperatures rise, so can energy use. As a result of this week’s hot weather, MidAmerican Energy is issuing a peak alert and encouraging customers to conserve energy today and Friday. Peak alerts are issued when temperatures hit the mid to high 90s and electricity use is expected to be at or near maximum levels.

MidAmerican Energy has sufficient generating capacity to handle extreme summer temperatures, plus a reserve margin. However, during a peak alert, customers are asked to take simple steps to lower their electricity usage, which can help reduce demand and save money on their electric bills. To follow are five ways people can reduce their energy usage:

1. Wait till sundown: Limit clothes drying, baking and other heat-producing work with appliances to the morning hours or after 7 p.m.

2. Dial up: Setting your thermostat a few degrees higher can make a big difference – reducing electrical usage 3 to 5 percent for each degree. A setting of 78 degrees will keep you comfortable when it is more than 90 degrees outside. If you are not at home during the day, close the house and turn off the air conditioner.

3. Use fans: Fans use less energy than air conditioners and can boost the comfort from an air conditioner, increasing its efficiency. Use ceiling and portable fans to better circulate cool air throughout your home. Reverse the normal direction of ceiling fans to pull cool air up from the floor. Ventilate your attic with a thermostatically controlled fan.

4. Trim foliage outside: Keep your air conditioner unit clear of grass, weeds and shrubs. This will keep your air conditioner unit from working too hard.

5. Block sun: Close drapes, particularly those on west and south windows, to shut out direct sunlight.

MidAmerican Energy also reminds customers to be safe during times of extreme heat and provide support to elderly neighbors, family members and friends who do not have an air conditioner. Customers without an air conditioner can also visit a public place such as a mall or library to find relief.

For more energy-saving tips, visit www.midamericanenergy.com.

The Harlan Police Department reports a man from Morrison, IA, was arrested Sunday following a scuffle with a Peace Officer. 39-year old James R. McIntyre was taken into custody following the incident that took place in the Myrtue Memorial Hospital Emergency room.  McIntyre was charged with assault on a peace officer and disorderly conduct.

On Tuesday (7/18), 24-year old Mitchel D. Cook, of Carter Lake, was arrested following a traffic stop at 12th & Chatburn in Harlan.  Cook was cited for driving while barred and transported to the Shelby County Sheriff’s office.

And, on July 12th, 31-year old Megan E. Owen, of Harlan, was charged with Theft in the fifth degree after it was determined she had allegedly stolen pain meds from a locker at work.

Harlan Police said also, two, property damage accidents took place July 16th. No injuries were reported.

New wind power projects are still appearing across the region as Iowa utilities boost the amount of electricity they get from renewable sources. Opposition to those projects is also growing. Lucas Nelsen, a policy program associate with the Center for Rural Affairs, says there are reasons for those objections.

“We’re seeing more opponents but that’s also because we’re seeing more wind development,” Nelsen says. “As wind continues to get cheaper, as it gets easier to build more efficient turbines and as the technologies become more efficient, we’re going to see wind in more places than we used to which means people that have never dealt with wind energy are going to experience it more often.”

Nelsen says people who oppose wind projects have to be careful that they don’t choke off all new development. “The bigger issue is making sure the siting and the zoning are compatible with development and the desires of residents,” Nelsen says. “It’s a weird balance we have to strike. We have to be careful we’re not making zoning so strict that we can’t develop any wind energy anywhere. It’s a really valuable source of development for rural communities.”

Nelsen says developers who seek to build large wind farms could also do a better job at the front end. “Go in early. Talk to the community. Make sure you’ve answered their questions and that you know what their concerns are,” Nelsen says. “When you know what their concerns are, you can begin trying to figure out, how can we address these? What are the solutions we can identify?”

Nelsen says wind power projects can bring tax revenue, new families and new business to rural areas.

(Radio Iowa)