An influenza-related death in a healthy Iowa child (0 to 17 years of age) has been reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health. IDPH has also been notified of several probable adult deaths related to influenza. CDC reported that as of January 4, ten influenza-related pediatric deaths have been reported nationally.

Officials say it’s not too late to get vaccinated. They say it’s especially important for children to be vaccinated this year, because this year’s most common influenza strain (H1N1) is hitting children particularly hard. All Iowans over 6 months of age should receive a flu vaccine this year and every year. While vaccination is the best defense against influenza, personal actions also help prevent the spread of illness. Remember the 3Cs:

Cover your coughs and sneezes

Clean your hands frequently

Contain germs by staying home when ill

The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. The flu comes on suddenly and symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days. Influenza may cause severe illness or even death.

(9-a.m. News)

A teenager from Atlantic on her way school was involved in a rollover accident this (Tuesday) morning, not far from her rural home. Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac ambulance were dispatched to the scene about 3-miles south of town near the intersection of 620th and Memphis Streets, at 7:25-a.m. Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westering told KJAN News the 16-year old female was ejected from her northbound vehicle after she lost control on  620^th, a gravel road. The vehicle rolled several times into a ditch coming to rest on its roof.

Chelsea Leeann Adams, of Atlantic, was found lying in a field near the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero she was driving. The teen was conscious and breathing, but complained of back pain. She was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac and later transported by ambulance the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Damage from the crash amounted to $3,500.

The accident remains under investigation.

The Iowa Legislature opened the 2014 session of the 85th General Assembly with the modest goals of approving a budget and pursuing legislation on issues like Internet access, bullying and veteran support. During a Monday night meeting of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein says one of the legislative priorities he wants board members to focus on is Allowable Growth, which is now called “Supplemental Aid.” The concern is that the legislature will not set the rate for Supplemental Aid this session for the 2015-2016 school year.

Amstein encouraged the Board to contact area legislators and stress how not having a Supplement Aid rate established puts the Board in a difficult position trying to establish a budget. Another concern pertains to “Operational Sharing.” Amstein said last year lawmakers added some positions to Operational Sharing with other school districts, which in the past, was in a “descending” type of funding agreement. The legislature last year approved O-S for 5-years at 100-percent funding, he says, but now it appears they overlooked the cost of that. Amstein says he hopes during this session they can get that “straightened out so that it can possibly be of benefit to the Atlantic and other districts it might partner with.

The third area of concern Amstein has is getting the State-mandated tests aligned with the Iowa Core. He says it doesn’t make any sense the state-mandated tests don’t align with the Iowa Core teachers are required to administer to students and having them master.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac ambulance have been dispatched to a rollover accident with an ejection that happened about 3-miles south of town. The accident happened at around 620th and Memphis Streets. It was reported at approximately 7:25-a.m. According to the Cass County Communications Center, a female subject was lying in a field near the crash scene, but she was conscious and breathing.

No other details are currently available.

Students in Mrs. Leiferman’s Middle School Language Arts class performed in a mock trial recently. The “Trial” was held in the Cass Courthouse as part of the students’ unit on “The Outsiders,” by S.E. Clinton. The trial, which was presided over by Judge and Attorney at Law J.C. VanGinkel, was based on actions which occurred in the book by Clinton, with the “witnesses”  based on characters from the book.

Atlantic Middle School students report to the School Board Mon. night on their Mock Trial experience.

Some of the students took on the role of police and crime scene investigators, while others served as part of the defense and prosecution. Additional students were selected as part of the “jury,” based on an application letter they had submitted.

In preparing for the trial, students were required to research the Iowa Code, and in conjunction with VanGinkel, worked with the prosecution and defense teams. The students say the mock trial was a great experience, a chance to see the legal system at work, and gave them an opportunity to problem solve, as well as think on their feet and utilize their speaking skills. Students on the jury discussed the case and used their listening and reasoning skills.