(Radio Iowa) – The 20th Annual Memorial March for Lost Children was today (Wednesday) in Sioux City. The march began as a protest against the number of Native American children placed in the foster care system in Woodbury County.
Native American advocate, Terry Medina, spoke as the march got underway.

“Today is a kind of a sacred kind of day it’s a reminder, a memorial to pray to go God that he blesses us with our children,” he says. Briar Cliff University hosted workshops Tuesday in Sioux City to reflect on the struggle of native communities with the child welfare system. Medina was part of the workshops and says they want to help people understand and heal from the past.

“Historical trauma is very, very much alive. For me, I try to, my message is, you know, we can’t change the past, but but we can learn from the past,” Medina says. Manape LaMere says they also work to examine the barriers that the Native community faces, both legally and socially. “We’re also talking about solutions. How do we, what could we do around here? We challenge one another to rise to the occasion somehow.,” LaMere says.

The march includes prayers along the way, and concludes with a dinner.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Cass Health officials are informing the public today that there has been a notable increase of influenza cases. According to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Elaine Berry, “Over the last three to four days, we have seen a substantial number of patients with upper respiratory illnesses and confirmed cases of influenza.”

Symptoms & Treatment

Influenza symptoms usually come on very quickly and may include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. “For an average, healthy person with no other risk factors, it’s usually best to treat your symptoms at home with over-the-counter medications. Most individuals don’t necessarily need to be seen by a provider for a typical case of influenza. Whether you have the flu or COVID, the advice would be the same – lots of rest, fluids, manage symptoms, and stay away from others. Be smart and keep an eye on your symptoms worsening,” said Dr. Berry.

There are multiple factors that come into play as to whether a patient should be seen by a medical provider for influenza. Dr. Berry said that people most at risk to develop complications from influenza include children under age 2, those over age 65, pregnant women, and people with multiple health conditions or suppressed immune systems.

If a person has any shortness of breath or breathing difficulty, they should seek medical care right away.

Testing & Appointments

Testing for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV are all available at Cass Health. “These illnesses all overlap in their symptoms. The good news is that it’s easy to test for COVID-19 at home and rule that out. If you have symptoms, and are unsure of what to do, our advice is to call and talk to your provider’s office. We can help you decide whether you may be able to just stay at home and isolate, or if it may be appropriate to do testing only, or if we’ll want you to come in and be evaluated prior to any testing,” said Dr. Berry.

Often patients who don’t feel that their symptoms warrant a visit to their provider’s office can arrange  outpatient testing only, without being seen.

·         Patients with a Cass Health primary care provider should call 712-243-2850 and ask to speak with their provider’s office.

·         Patients who have been to Cass Health in the last five years, but do not have a primary care provider, can call 712-243-2850 and ask about outpatient influenza or COVID testing.

·         Patients who have never been treated at Cass Health, or it has been longer than five years, will need to make an appointment at Atlantic Medical Center or see a provider in AMC Rapid Care for testing.

For questions about the cost of testing, patients are encouraged to call the Patient Financial Services team at 712-250-8041. This team can provide an estimate of your out-of-pocket cost prior to receiving any service or to discuss any financial assistance needs.

Prevent the Flu & Stop the Spread

Flu vaccine is available at Atlantic Medical Center and local pharmacies, and there is still time for it to be effective this year. Vaccination helps to protect not just those who are vaccinated, but also babies under 6 months of age and others who are medically unable to receive the vaccine. Flu vaccination is still the best way to prevent or reduce the severity of flu illness and serious complications.

Everyone should practice good health habits: wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; cover coughs and sneezes; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with your hands; and avoid close contact with people that are sick.

People with the flu or flu-like symptoms should not go to work, school, or other public places, including visiting hospitals and nursing homes. People with the flu are generally contagious one day prior to showing symptoms through the next 5-7 days. Isolating during this peak stage of the virus helps to stop its spread through the community.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University economist Peter Orazem says if there’s a railroad strike next month, it could affect the supply of a major source of fuel for power plants. “Coal if, of course, one of the things that we see rolling across Iowa in the wintertime and that’s one of the things they really worry about is whether or not we’ll be able to maintain supplies of energy,” Orazem says, “particularly if it’s a really bad winter.”

Just over a third of Iowa’s electricity (36%) comes from coal-fired power plants. Orazem says heating oil also moves by rail. Eight unions had ratified a five-year contract for workers on America’s freight rail system. However, in the past few days, unions representing about 60-thousand railroad workers have rejected the deal. A strike could happen as soon as December 5th, but some of the railroad worker unions have said they’d agree to continue contract talks rather than strike.

“How this plays out still remains to be seen, but congress could step in and mandate that the unions operate under the proposed settlement,” Orazem, “and that’s another possibility.” The last railroad strike in 1992 lasted two days before congress intervened. Railroad workers have been seeking higher pay, but getting additional, guaranteed time off has been a big priority. Orazem says railroads are dealing with the same workforce pinch as other industries.

“We’re still about 1% below where we ought to be in terms of total employment, so there’s about 3.8 million unfilled vacancies per month,” Orazem says, “Well that’s affecting, then, staffing and for the railroads it means that they’ve been much less able to give people time off on vacations and flexible time for family emergencies and so on.”

Orazen made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which will air Friday night on Iowa P-B-S. According to the Iowa D-O-T, 18 railroad companies shift freight through the state. A strike could have a major impact on the movement of grain from the 2022 harvest.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday afternoon, reported four recent arrests. On Sunday (11/20), deputies arrested 39-year-old Tawnya Larsen, of Audubon, for OWI 1st Offense. Larsen was later released on her own recognizance (ROR)

Last Saturday, 29-year-old Morgan Beauchamp, of Atlantic, for OWI 1st Offense. She was also ROR’d.

On Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 49-year-old Joshua Sparr, of Flint, MI, for Public Intoxication. Sparr was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release. Deputies also arrested 35-year-old Benny Pedersen, of Lake City, on Friday. He was wanted on warrants for Driving While Barred, Providing False ID to Law Enforcement and Interference with Official Acts. Pedersen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa is participating in a vaccine trial that’s testing out an R-S-V vaccine from Pfizer in people 60 or older. The hope is to find protection against the virus which has seen cases increase in the last several weeks. Doctor Patricia Winokur at the University of Iowa Health Care tells K-C-R-G T-V that two vaccines are being tested. “Pfizer and Glaxo both have R-S-V vaccines and both of them are signaling that the efficacy of the vaccine is strong enough that they’re going to go to F-D-A and ask for approval,” Winokur says. The latest numbers from the state show 938 positive R-S-V cases, that’s up from 810 the week prior. R-S-V can be dangerous, especially for young babies and the elderly.

Pfizer is also testing an RSV vaccine in pregnant women with a goal of having the antibodies pass along to newborns.  ”They’re seeing efficacy in the babies in that study so that’s one of the other really exciting things about this vaccine that I think will intrigue the F-D-A,” Winokur says. Winokur tells K-C-R-G T-V that everyone needs to be cognizant of the virus during the Thanksgiving holiday. ”Be really careful around those that are vulnerable — again especially really young babies and the frail or older adults,” she says.

Doctor Winokur said this time of year there is a lot of spread of respiratory illnesses.

(Radio Iowa) – Net sales for Deere and Company were up 40 percent in its last quarter. The company’s net income for its fiscal year was over seven-point-one BILLION dollars. C-E-O John May says Deere’s just-concluded fiscal year was unprecedented in several ways. “We started the year in a work stoppage at some of our largest U.S. factories, but we resolved that with a groundbreaking, industry-leading new contract,” May says. “Then supply and logistics hurdles created disruption. At times, deliveries were delayed as demand simply outstripped what the industry could supply.” May says from May through the end of October, Deere had a substantial increase in retail sales AND in production from its factories.

“As I look ahead to Fiscal Year 2023 and beyond, I truly believe our best years are ahead of us,” May says. May says the fundamentals in the farm economy are positive and that’s driving demand for tractors and other implements. North American combine orders were recently filled in two months. “In the near term, order books across our businesses are full into the third quarter,” May says, “and it’s important to note that not only do the order books continue to fill when we open them, but the velocity of orders has remained strong.”

May spoke this (Wednesday) morning during an online presentation to investors. Deere’s stock price has been climbing this year and it went higher this (Wednesday) morning after Deere’s financial report was released.

(Radio Iowa) – Dozens of farm animals are being rescued from a property in southeast Iowa. Tom Colvin is the C-E-O of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. “It’s an evolving situation quite frankly at this point,” Colvin says. Three dozen adult pigs were brought to Colvin’s facility in central Iowa last (Tuesday) night. Rescue teams are back at the property in Washington County today (Wednesday) and Colvin expects dozens more animals to be removed.

“Basically what we found upon arriving was that there were sheep, goats and pigs living in terrible conditions, along with dead animals,” Colvin says. “…The animals had no adequate food or water.” Colvin says while the Animal Rescue League is often associated with retrieving malnourished and mistreated dogs and cats, the organization is prepared for all animals.

“We take the name ‘Animal’ in our name literally,” Colvin says. “We have evertying you can imagine come to the Animal Rescue League, including farm animals. As I often say, we receive everything from hamsters to horses and everything in between.” The Animal Rescue League and the Iowa Farm Sanctuary in Oxford are handling the rescues. Some of the animals found alive at the property in Washington County are in critical condition, according to a statement from the Iowa Farm Sanctuary.

Colvin says beyond the lack of food and water, the animals did not have adequate shelter from winter temperatures.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Two people from Glenwood were arrested Tuesday. According to the Glenwood Police Department, 54-year-old Robert Kastl, and 54-year-old Stephanie Kastl, were taken into custody, each for Violating their respective “No Contact” Orders. They were being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a magistrate judge.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), voted to set December 7, 2022 at 9:15-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on a proposed Ordinance regulating the placement of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines on property located in the Unincorporated Areas of Adair County. The Ordinance will be published next week for citizens to review. The Board acknowledged receipt of the Post-Election Audit report. They also approved migrating Eagle Software to a separate server. Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg..

It’s not clear what the cost of migrating the software for the Auditor and Recorder will be at this time. Both Berg and Recorder Janelle Schneider said it is affecting the efficiency and accuracy of their offices.They will gather the appropriate information and report back to the Board. In other business, the Adair County Supervisors approved a Transfer resolution in the amount of $84,662.50.

And, they approved an Internal Advance Resolution in the amount of $33,534 to Midwest Partnership, and to Ahlers & Cooney, for the preparation of Bonds, in the amount of $54,744, for a total of $88,278. Adair/Guthrie County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber provided an update to the Board with regard to Perc and Water tests in Adair County. Speaking of which, Jotham strongley encourages homeowners who use well water, to have their source of water tested.

Jotham said each County that his department services is allotted $10,000 to make those tests happen. He said they hadn’t conducted many water tests this past quarter, but his department received a mini-grant that will enable them to conduct more tests. There will also be septic system grants available in the next few months, to help pay for the replacement of old septic systems (not the installation of new systems). The system must have been built by 1985, and not purchased after a certain date…but the rules on that may change by the time the grants are made available. (For more information, call 641-747-3972)

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented for the Board’s approval, 28-E (Cost sharing) Agreements with the following:

• The City of Greenfield – for a Project agreement for S. Townline Road; Salt/Sand purchases & Fuel purchases; Greenfield Municipal Utilities – Fuel purchases
• Nodaway Valley Schools – Fuel purchases; Adair County Sheriff’s Dept. – Fuel purchases, and, Adair County Conservation – Fuel purchases.

The Board approved those and other agreements, including an Engineering Services Agreement with Veenstra and Kimm, Inc., for S. Townline Road Improvements. A Longevity raise for Secondary Roads employee Dean Sickles was approved. And the Supervisors awarded a Bridge Project (IN 32 Washington Bridge): The $1.22-million contract was awarded to A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc., out of Atlantic.