While the Iowa influenza season typically starts in November and peaks in January or later, it can begin any time. According to the Shelby County County Public Health Department, the County has recently diagnosed its first case of influenza for this season.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Shelby County Public Health Department at Myrtue Medical Center urge everyone to get their annual flu vaccination as soon as possible. Calla Poldberg, Nurse Practitioner and Director of Public Health, says “Since it takes up to two weeks after vaccination for the body to have the full protection from the flu virus, being vaccinated now means you’ll be protected before the flu starts spreading.”

Poldberg says everyone over 6 months of age should receive the flu vaccine. While the flu shot and the nasal spray vaccine both protect against the flu, there is evidence the nasal spray vaccine works better than a regular flu shot especially in younger children. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends the nasal spray vaccine for all healthy children ages 2 through 8 years, when it is available. The FluMist (nasal spray) vaccine can be given to all healthy persons ages 2 through 49.

Persons at higher risk for complications of the flu need to be vaccinated, especially:
• Pregnant women
• Children, particularly those younger than 2 years of age
• Adults age 65 and older
• People who have certain medical conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, and lung diseases

To schedule your appointment for the flu vaccine, call Myrtue Medical Center at 712-755-5130 or Shelby County Public Health at 712-755-4422. For more information on the kinds of flu vaccine available this year, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm.

An Atlantic woman was cited for Failure to provide proof of Insurance and Failure to Yield, following a collision Tuesday afternoon at 6th and Walnut Streets. The accident happened at around 2:40-p.m.

According to police, a vehicle driven by Heather Arbuckle, of Atlantic, was traveling east on 6th street and stopped at the stop sign with Walnut. A vehicle driven by Linda Foegen, of Atlantic, was traveling south and approaching the intersection. Officials say Arbuckle failed to yield to the Foegen vehicle when she entered the intersection to make a left turn.

Arbuckle’s car was struck on the left front side. Damage from the accident amounted to $3,700. There were no injuries reported.

The Atlantic Police Department reports six people have been arrested on various charges. On Tuesday, 25-year old Joshua Dyer, and 28-year old Angela Tedford, both of Atlantic, were arrested for Child Endangerment. Both were cited for the offense and released.

On Monday, 22-year old Jonathan Traver, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd degree. On Saturday, 37-year old Rose Peters, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violating a No Contact Order. And on Friday, 31-year old Damon Clark, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Polk County warrant for Theft in the 4th degree. That same day, 29-year old Delaney Pace, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault.

All four individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest on Tuesday of an Audubon man on drug charges. 38-year old Darin David Jensen was charged with three felony counts of Possession of Controlled Substances/Methamphetamine, with the intent to deliver.

The charges are the result of an investigation into Jensen allegedly selling meth on three separate occasions. The investigation was conducted by the Audubon County Sheriff’s office. A search of Jensen’s home resulted in the recovery of additional drugs and drug paraphernalia. Jensen was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later posted a security bond before being released. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16th.

The incident remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County report an Elk Horn woman and her siblings escaped injury during a single-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon on Highway 173. 18-year old Jazzlyn Jade Schulte was traveling north on the highway at around 4-p.m., when she lost control of the 2004 Kia Sedona she was driving. The car entered the east ditch and sustained $1,500 damage. Officials say Schulte was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Police in Creston say two people reported recent break-in’s and/or thefts. On Tuesday, a resident on New York Avenue told police someone broke into her vehicle that was parked behind a building in the 500 block of west Adams Street. The incident happened sometime between Sept. 23rd and Oct. 7th. The loss was estimated at $300.

And on Monday, a woman from Red Wing, MN, reported that someone had broken into two properties belonging to her grandmother in Creston. The incidents in the 400 block of north Pine and north Walnut Streets happened sometime between Oct. 3rd and 6th. It’s not clear if anything was stolen. Damage to the properties was estimated at $40.