With spring set to officially arrive later this week, many people across the state are in the mood to do some cleaning, and with a few simple tips, the process doesn’t need to be so daunting. According to professional organizer Amelia Hatcher, for most people, it’s not realistic to maintain a home in perfect order each day, but they can focus on clearing out the clutter.

“Clutter is anything that causes frustration, anxiety or chaos in your life,” as she defined it. “It completely drains you of your energy. It could be the pile of paper on your desk. It could be the pile of laundry. It could be your dumping ground like your kitchen table, and it just completely causes stress.” “Amelia the Clutter Queen” also recommends only cleaning and organizing one area at a time, so as not to become overwhelmed.

Hatcher was drawn into the clutter-fighting line about five years ago when she began helping family and friends. She said that for other caregivers, getting rid of the clutter not only helps get rid of chaos, but also helps improve safety of mobility.

“I’ve had several situations where people have fallen, broken a hip, and it’s actually not safe in the home,” she recalled. “So it’s my goal to go in and change things around to where the home is more accessible to things like walkers, possibly a wheelchair.”

Hatcher said that, among other points to look at, old medications should be properly disposed of, and no-longer-needed documents with personal information should be shredded to protect against identity theft.

More information is at AmeliaTheClutterQueen.com/a>.

(Iowa News Service)

Two people were hurt during separate accidents over the weekend. The Iowa State Patrol reports 42-year old Scott Hipp, of Rutherfordton, NC, was injured when the semi he was a passenger in swerved to avoid a vehicle parked in the right lane of Interstate 29 northbound Sunday morning, in Fremont County. The crash occurred at around 2:50-a.m.  Officials say the intoxicated driver of the parked vehicle left the vehicle unattended, with no lights on, on the traveled portion of the roadway at the 22.35-mile marker. The driver of the other vehicle was not identified.

The semi, driven by 41-year old Rodney Bristol, of Shelby, NC, hit the parked vehicle and then overturned. Hipp, who was in the sleeper portion of the cab, was transported by Tabor Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The other accident happened Saturday morning. The Patrol says 45-year old William Kohnekamp, of Defiance, was transported to the Crawford County Hospital by Crawford County Ambulance, after the 2008 Ford F-150 pickup he was driving went out of control on southbound Highway 59, south of Denison, at around 11:25-a.m.

The pickup entered the east ditch and rolled over. Kohnekamp, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle, which came to rest on the northound lane of Highway 59. The Patrol says alcohol likely played a role in the crash.

The manager of the Iowa Gambling Treatment and Prevention Program says only a small percentage of Iowans who have a gambling disorder are getting the help they need. Eric Preuss  provided a report to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission on the program’s progress in 2013. “About 678 Iowans received services for problem gambling and we had a little over 4,000 calls for assistance through our 1-800-BETS-OFF Helpline,” Preuss said.

The program’s 1-800-BETS-OFF website was launched three years ago and receives around 14,000 visits annually. Preuss said relatively few people, around 18,000 Iowans, are described as problem gamblers. “Although point-six percent (0.6%) of Iowans have a gambling disorder, approximately 13.1 percent of Iowans are at risk of developing a gambling disorder,” Preuss said.

In addition, a problem gambler’s activities can impact a lot of family members and friends. “Although the percentage of Iowans with a gambling disorder is low, our behaviors and attitudes studies have indicated that more than one in five adult Iowans say they’ve been negatively affected by gambling behavior by someone that they know,” Preuss said.

This week is designated as National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. An American Gaming Association report estimates two-point-one billion dollars ($2.1 billion) is spent on illegal gambling in the U.S. in the month of March, when many people are betting on the outcome of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

(Radio Iowa)