A 9-1-1 dispatcher with Pottawattamie County Communications received a Life Saving Award, Thursday, for her role in saving the life of a man suffering from cardiac issues.

Pott Co. Communications Operator Elizabeth Cleveland (Center) (Photo from the Pott. Co. Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)

Operator Elizabeth Cleveland answered a 911 line during the early morning hours of October 16th. A frantic female caller said her dad was having trouble breathing. While rescue was being dispatched, Cleveland spent 9 minutes on the phone keeping the caller calm and giving her instructions for CPR, until help could arrive.

Cleveland also repeated instructions when the caller’s mother took over compressions, giving positive reinforcement and counting with her. She remained on the line giving instructions until she could hear a Deputy on scene using an Automated External Defibrillator. Lewis Township Rescue transported the patient to Jennie Edmundson Hospital at around 12:30-a.m. A diagnosis revealed the patient had suffered from a neurological event which lead to cardiopulmonary arrest. He was discharged from the hospital a few days later.

The award was presented in conjunction with National Telecommunications Week.

Firefighters in Harlan responded to the scene of a structure fire late Thursday night. The blaze at 1622 Willow Street was reported shortly after 11-pm.  Occupants of the house said that a woman was laying on the couch when she saw an orange glow in the vicinity of the kitchen.

When she got up to investigate, she saw that the glow was coming from the garage area and opened the door. Flames then erupted into the rest of the home. The couple and their baby escaped the home with only the female’s hand being burned from the hot door.

The Harlan Fire Department was on the scene for about 2 ½ hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The occupants of the home mentioned that they did not have smoke detectors in the residence. Harlan Fire Chief, Roger Bissen, reminds anyone that does not have a smoke detector in their home to call the Harlan Fire Department. The department has detectors available free of charge.

(KNOD)

(In an update to our story earlier this morning) A man from Audubon County has died from injuries he suffered during a grain bin accident Thursday afternoon. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 62-year old Gary Glen Fancher, of Audubon, died at the scene of the accident in northern Audubon County. Fancher had entered the bin to break the corn loose from above, while unloading the bin.

Authorities say they received a 911 call just before 1-p.m. about a person being trapped in the grain bin. Audubon Fire and Rescue requested assistance from the Exira, Harlan and Atlantic Fire Departments. After extensive extrication efforts, Fancher was removed from the grain bin and pronounced dead.

Audubon Police also assisted the Sheriff’s Department at the scene.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Wednesday of a local man, on drug charges. 52-year old John Fraissinet, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Marijuana. His bond was set at $2000.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report the arrest Thursday evening, of a Lorimor man. 52-year old Clayton A. Allison was taken into custody just before 8-p.m. at the Lorimor City Park, on a Union County warrant for violation of a no contact orprotective order. Allison was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

Dog owners in Iowa are warned to be on the lookout for signs of C-I-V, or canine influenza virus. Outbreaks are reported in the Midwest, including in the neighboring states of Illinois and Wisconsin. Dr. Beth Streeter, a veterinarian with the Iowa Veterinary Referral Center in Des Moines, says the so-called dog flu is a concern, but there are -no- outbreaks in Iowa as yet and very few reported cases statewide.

“It’s something to be aware of and to watch pets for,” Dr. Streeter says. “It’s a little bit early to get too worried about it, other than in a proactive fashion, meaning, watching their pets for any signs of influenza and for veterinarians, being aware of the potential precautions to take with any pets exhibiting signs of influenza.”

Iowans who own dogs are advised to be vigilant for signs of illness in their pets. “A lot of people, with they hear flu, think of the (gastro intestinal) flu, and that’s actually not what’s most commonly seen,” Streeter says. “This is a respiratory virus so you’re looking for signs of cough, nasal discharge, fever and just generally not feeling well.”

More than a thousand dog flu cases are reported in four states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. Much like with the human version of the flu, C-I-V can worsen if left untreated and become life-threatening. “There are reports of dogs in Chicago succumbing to the illness and it can be quite serious in some pets,” Streeter says. “It’s also very contagious so we have to be very careful, if dogs do have signs of the flu, to keep them isolated and make sure they’re not exposing other pets.”

She says there is a vaccine for C-I-V but there are reports of complications with it. Also, this strain of dog flu may not have been included in the vaccine’s cocktail, so dogs that are vaccinated may still not be protected. Streeter suggests dog owners avoid contact with other pets they don’t know if they’re traveling in states where there are outbreaks, while limiting visits to dog parks and boarding facilities.

(Radio Iowa)