IMOGENE, Iowa (AP) – A southwest Iowa church has celebrated its 100th birthday with an event that drew hundreds of people. Des Moines television station KCCI-TV reports that about 700 people attended a dinner gathering Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Imogene. The church is one of the oldest in southwest Iowa.

The town has shrunk to less than half the size it was 100 years ago, and many church members come from surrounding counties. Margaret Laughlin, the parish’s secretary and historian, says the church altar traces its history back to the founding pastor, Edmond Hayes.

Two people were arrested over the weekend on drug charges, in Creston. Authorities say 21-year old Tyler Kimball, of Creston, was arrested Sunday afternoon on a warrant out of Minnesota, for a Controlled Substance Crime in the 5th Degree. Kimball was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing. And, early Saturday morning, 31-year old Jaime Torres, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense. He was later released on $1,000 bond.

Also on Saturday, 26-year old Blake Gunter, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Violating his Probation on a original charge of 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse. Gunter was later released on $1,000 bond.

Last Friday, 45-year old Randy Wagaman, of College Springs, was arrested in Creston on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court on a Contempt Hearing. Wagaman was being held in the Union County Jail while serving a 25-day sentence.

Firefighters from six northwest Iowa communities were called to Ireton about 9 last night (Sunday) to fight a fire in a feed mill and grain elevator. Ireton Fire Chief Rich Steckelberg says he believes the fire at the Deluxe Feed Incorporated may have started in the electrical room. Smoke could be seen billowing from the structure. An aerial truck provided by the Sioux Center Fire Department, was used to spray water on the four-story high feed mill, and firefighters were seen dismantling the metal walls to have better access to the fire.

Firefighters were not only battling the blaze, but also the heat and humidity. Several firefighters were suffering from heat exhaustion and were seen taking frequent breaks. Ireton Ambulance and Sioux Center Ambulance crew members were checking the firefighters’ vital signs. Several Ireton townspeople not only were watching the fire, but assisted the firefighters by providing bottled water to drink and wet towels which was placed on the firefighters’ heads.

Steckelberg said the state fire marshal will arrive on Monday to help with the investigation. Firefighters were at the scene the entire night. There were no injuries reported. Damage estimates due to the fire may run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa – July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, and while arthritis is most often associated with older adults, children can also be affected. Corrine Grace, community engagement director in Iowa and Nebraska for the Arthritis Foundation, says early diagnosis and treatment are key, and one thing to watch for is what one may first believe to be so-called growing pains.

“We now know that symptoms of joint pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue are early signals of an inflammatory rheumatic disease and that requires medical treatment,” she points out. Juvenile arthritis is not a disease itself, but an umbrella term used to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that can develop in people under age 18.

Nationwide, about 300,000 children are affected, including 2,800 in Iowa. No known cause has been pinpointed for most forms of juvenile arthritis, but Grace says research points toward a genetic predisposition. “There has been a lot of work done in terms of genetics, trying to determine what are those genetic markers that might be causing juvenile arthritis, but there’s also research that suggests that environmental factors can play a role,” she states.

(Iowa News Service)