During September and October, the footsteps and giggles of students could be heard up and down the halls of Cass County Health System. 186 first grade students from the Atlantic, Griswold, and CAM school districts visited the hospital and clinics to learn more about healthcare.

First-grader Lauren Comes pretends to get ready for a tonsillectomy under the direction of Jena Waters, R.N.(Photo submitted)

Britney Weirich, Human Resources Office and Wellness Assistant for Cass County Health System, organizes the field trips, which have been a tradition for decades. “The students love seeing the hospital in action,” says Weirich. “We want them to feel assured that we are here to take care of them, and we hope to reduce their anxiety about hospitals by giving them a fun, positive experience with our caring staff.”

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. The classes visit one at a time, which also allows the kids a chance to stop by and see family members who work at CCHS.

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.

No tonsillectomy—real or mock—would be complete without a cold treat. The kids all enjoy a little ice cream, and take home a bag of goodies including a band-aid, pencil, hospital-themed coloring book, medical gloves, bar of soap, and a surgical cap. “During the tour and skit, the students are learning that we’re here to help them, but they’re also being exposed to a number of healthcare careers, which could inspire them to pursue an education in healthcare,” says Weirich. “We’re very thankful for our Auxiliary’s help, and that the schools make this a priority each year.”

(Press Release)

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers is issuing a reminder to residents of his community, with regard to the City’s Snow Ordinance. Brothers says “With the chance of accumulating snowfall to occur in Clarinda later this weekend the Clarinda Police Department would like to remind the citizens of Clarinda about the emergency snow ordinance.”

He says “The ordinance states that; no person shall park any motor vehicle or other apparatus upon any street of the city that will obstruct the removal of snow when there has been an accumulation of two (2) inches or more. Any vehicle left parked on any street in violation of this ordinance may be impounded, and the registered owner of the vehicle will be subject to a $15.00 parking fine, and payment of all applicable towing and storage fees in order for the vehicle to be released.”

The National Weather Service is predicting a 90-percent chance of snow Saturday afternoon in the Clarinda area, and a 60-percent chance Saturday night.

Representatives of non-profit agencies and organizations in Shelby County have received more than $33,200 in grants from the Shelby County Community Foundation. SCCF Chair Gene Gross, said with his most recent round of grants, the Shelby County Community Foundation has distributed nearly $1.4 million in grants and scholarships over the last 14 years.

Recipients of the grants include:
City of Defiance – $2500 – for use at the Defiance Walking Park
City of Elk Horn – $2000 – to renovate or retrofit the old fire station to convert into Fitness
Center
City of Harlan – $2000 – Fire Department Heavy Rescue unit
Concerned, Inc – $2000 – Purchase and install surveillance equipment and access control
For main facility doors
Country Care Center Corp. – $1500 – Add 2 automatic door opening systems to front and rear
Entrances
Danish Mill Corporation – $2500 – Site prep, foundation-laying, lighting, fencing to move
And restore historic scale model of a Danish Village
Friends of Harlan City Parks – $6,010 – Replace unsafe playground equipment that was
Removed from Jaycees Swimming Pool Park
Harlan Little League – $5000 – Construct concrete walkways between fields, build new
Backstops and renovate restrooms
Irwin Fire Department – $800 – IV fluids warmer for ambulance
People for Earling – $2000 – Two new signs with lighting and landscaping
Shelby County Community Outreach – $2000 – refrigerator and small kitchen appliances
For use at fundraisers
Shelby County Conservation Board – $1500 – provide a boat dock
Shelby County Historical Society – $2500 – Funding to create a storage and preservation
Facility by remodeling a portion of the current building
West Central Community Action – $900 – freezer for food pantry

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A prosecutor has amended charges against a Sioux City couple for the death of their 2-month-old son. The Sioux City Journal reports that 27-year-old Michael Williams and 24-year-old Rebekah Williams-McCarthy now are both charged with child endangerment resulting in the death of a child, child endangerment resulting in bodily injury of a child and three counts of neglect of a dependent person. The baby, Leonard Williams, was taken to an emergency room on April 29. An autopsy showed that he died of malnutrition and dehydration.

His father originally was charged only with neglect and had pleaded not guilty. The charge of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury is new for Rebekah Williams-McCarthy. She, too, has pleaded not guilty.