COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Leaders in Council Bluffs say developers are showing interest in a large, long-vacant brick building. Mayor Matt Walsh tells the Daily Nonpareil that plans are in the works to renovate the building located at South Sixth Street and 10th Avenue, which was part of a two-building operation by the International Harvester Company years ago.

City Community Planning Department Director Don Gross says officials have talked about the project “in a conceptual way” and that details haven’t been worked out. Neither Walsh nor Gross would reveal who is interested in revamping the building.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz will be touring Iowa this month, with stops in the KJAN listening area beginning Mon., Oct. 12th. The junior U.S. Senator from Texas will be in Rockwell City, Sac City and Sioux City, on Oct. 12th.

And he’ll make stops in Glenwood, Sidney, Clarinda, Atlantic and Council Bluffs on Friday, Oct. 23rd.

Locally, Cruz will hold meet and greet events Oct. 23rd:

9:30-a.m. at the Gathering Place, in Glenwood (110 S. Vine St.)
11:30-a.m. at Penn Drug Company, in Sidney (714 Illinois St.)
1:30-p.m. at the Garrison Coffee House, in Clarinda (106 N. 16th St.)
4:00-p.m. at the Sweet Joy Shoppe, in Atlantic (315 Chestnut St.)
6:30-p.m. at Bayliss Park Hall, in Council Bluffs (530 First Ave.)

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)

It’s not often we hear about methamphetamine lab busts in Iowa any more, but crimes and other problems associated with meth addiction continue to raise concerns. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will chair a field hearing of the U-S Senate Judiciary Committee in central Iowa next week to discuss the ongoing battle with meth. Grassley says Iowa law enforcement and drug treatment officials tell him the problem is still “severe.”

Grassley says, “While some state and federal laws have helped to limit meth production in our state, Mexican drug cartels are apparently stepping in to eliminate the gains we’ve made in the fight against meth.” In recent years, state and federal legislation has restricted the ability to buy key ingredients used in making meth, like allergy medications that contain pseudoephedrine. Still, drug lords south of the border are managing to smuggle in larger and larger quantities of the ready-to-use drug.

“The hearing is designed to learn about current trends concerning meth use and distribution in Iowa,” Grassley says. “Another purpose of it is to bring awareness to the issue, and another purpose, to find out if there are ways the federal government can help address the problem beyond what we’re already doing.” Iowans who want to offer input at the hearing but who can’t attend will still have options.

“I intend to hear from witnesses on the front lines in the battle against meth abuse,” Grassley says, “in addition, to help us gain full understanding of the problem, Iowans can submit written testimony for the hearing record.” The hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday, October 13th, at 10 A-M in the main auditorium of the State Historical Building in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening at the Parks and Rec Building at Sunnyside Park (1200 Sunnyside Lane). During the session, which begins at 5:15, the Board will discuss, but take no action, on a 5-year plan for the Parks and Rec Department.

Every year during September and October, first grade students from the Atlantic, Griswold, and CAM school districts visit the hospital and clinics to learn more about healthcare careers, as well as what it’s like to be a patient. With the assistance of the Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the first graders are taken on a tour that highlights areas such as the Atlantic Medical Center, Emergency Department, cafeteria, laboratory, and the nursery.

During the tour, the students also participate in a mock tonsillectomy. Jena Waters, R.N. and Quality Specialist, guides them through the steps of preparing for surgery and recovery. She shows the students x-rays, and explains what kinds of medical equipment they might see as a patient. During the mock tonsillectomy, the kids get involved by playing different roles including admissions clerk, doctor, nurse, patient, parents, or lab technician.

First-graders from CAM North participated in a play that walks the students through a mock tonsillectomy. (Photo courtesy CCMH)

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say an Atlantic man, 35-year old Harold James Shoemaker,was arrested Monday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Shoemaker was wanted on a Union County warrant for failure to appear in court on a child support matter. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $2000 bond.

The Harlan Police Department reports the arrest on Saturday, of 18-year old Brett Keane, of Panama. Keane was taken into custody following a traffic stop and brought to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibited acts penalties, possession of an open container by person under legal age, and was cited for insufficient number of headlamps. A passenger in the vehicle, 17-year old Lucas Keiner, of Westphalia, was referred to juvenile court for minor in possession of alcohol.

That same day (Oct. 3rd), Harlan Police were dispatched to an attempted break-in, in the 1700 block of Lincoln Avenue. As a result of the investigation, 23-year old Zane Hytrek, and 18-year old Shaun McCarthy, both of Avoca, were arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail, where McCarthy was charged with possession of a controlled substance and prohibited acts penalties. Hytrek was charged with possession of a controlled substance and open container, passenger.

Also on Oct. 3rd, Police Officers in Harlan were called investigate an incident where a juvenile, Logan Klaassen, of Harlan, had been bitten by a dog causing injury. As a result of the investigation, 57-year old Mark Rasmussen, of Harlan, was cited for allowing a dog to run at large.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, are expected to act on the appointment of an Assistant County Attorney. The move follows the sudden resignation in August, of former Assistant County Attorney Jamie Arnold, who also served as Attorney for the City of Atlantic.

In other business, the Board will receive the initial bargaining proposal from AFSCME Union Local #1414 (Representing the Sheriff’s Deputies and Jailors), and present the County’s proposal, for Fiscal Year 2017-through 2019.

The Board of Supervisor’s meeting begins at 8:30-a.m., in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Halloween kicks off the beginning of the fall and winter holidays, but treats and cheer aren’t the only things being spread this time of year. It’s also the start of flu season, and UnityPoint at Home and Cass County Public Health are offering six community flu clinics beginning Monday, October 19 and continuing through Thursday, October 29.

Flu vaccines are designed to protect against the main flu viruses that research suggests will be the most common during this season. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. The 2015-2016 influenza vaccine is quadravalent, meaning it covers four types of strains; H1N1, H2N3, and two types of Influenza B.

Groups at a higher risk for flu complications include the elderly and people with health conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. Those in the high risk group are encouraged to get vaccinated early.

Flu shots will be billed for those presenting Medicare Part B and Medicaid documentation. No other insurance companies will be billed. The cost is $30 for the Fluzone shot or $40 for the FluMist vaccine, which is a nasal spray. Officials note that there is a limited supply of the high-dose flu vaccination, which is $35. Payment is accepted in cash or check. All children present with a parent or guardian may receive the vaccination. No physician’s order is required. For more information, call UnityPoint at Home at 712-243-7551.

The schedule for the community flu clinics are:

Monday, October 19, 9 a.m. – noon

Anita Health and Wellness Center – 900 Victory Park Road, Anita

Tuesday, October 20, 2:30 – 5 p.m.

Rex Pharmacy – 507 Chestnut Street, Atlantic

Monday, October 26, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

First United Methodist Church of Atlantic – 800 Poplar Street, Atlantic

Wednesday, October 28, 9 – 11 a.m.

Massena Medical Center – 92 Main Street, Massena

Wednesday, October 28, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Griswold Medical Center – 1109 Morningside Drive, Griswold

Thursday, October 29, 3 – 5 p.m.

UnityPoint at Home – 1408 E. 10th Street, Atlantic