Officials with the Atlantic Medical Center report the AMC is offering influenza vaccines Monday through Friday, 8:30 – 11:00 am and 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm, and Saturdays 8:30 – 11:00 am.   No appointment is needed.  It takes about two weeks for influenza vaccine to provide full protection.  Officials say with the holidays coming up, it’s a good idea to get an influenza vaccine by early November to provide protection during the holiday gatherings with larger groups, where influenza is easily spread.

In order to prevent getting the flu,  experts suggest you get the vaccine, and  practice good hand washing.  Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also those around you who may be too young (under 6 months) or have a medical condition that prevents them from being vaccinated.

There are four strains, or types, of the flu that typically hit the midwest during flu season —  two types of Influenza A and two types of Influenza B.  The flu vaccine that has been available in the years past will still be available this year. This year there is also a vaccine that has all four strains (types) of the flu virus in it (two A strains and two B strains), to provide even greater protection against influenza. Atlantic Medical Center will have both types of vaccine available.

Patients can also receive Pneumonia, Tetanus with whooping cough (Tdap), and Shingles vaccines when they come in for an influenza vaccine. For more information, contact the Atlantic Medical Center Immunization Nurses at 712-243-2850.

No injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday evening, in Atlantic. According to the Police Department, vehicles driven by Cole Holaday, of Marne, and Brett Imhoff, of Atlantic, collided at the intersection of 7th and Chestnut Streets at around 7:50-p.m. The accident happened as Holaday was turning  south onto Chestnut from westbound 7th Street. In doing so, he failed to yield to Imhoff’s eastbound vehicle.

Holaday was subsequently cited for Failure to Yield prior to making a left-hand turn. Damage from the accident amounted to $3,500.

A public hearing was held Wednesday morning in Greenfield, with regard to a Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Amendment. Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer told KJAN News following discussion, during which the Board of Supervisors heard no comments or objections, the Board voted to approve the amendment, which Schaefer says is strictly for the Secondary Roads Department. It will allow the department to finish using already bonded for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) money, and the spending of the bond proceeds in a timely fashion, as required.

The Board also heard one of three presentations with regard to a possible Geographic Information System (GIS). The system integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. Schaefer says the board will hear two more presentations during their meeting next week, and on October 16th, they will make a decision on whether or not to pursue GIS and how to pay for it.

And, the Adair County Supervisors heard from Larry Burger, with Speer Financial Services, with regard to General Obligation (G.O.) and TIF Bonds. Schaefer said the Board will move ahead with the process of acquiring a TIF Bond, and hold a public hearing no later than December 1st, so it can be certified as debt. The approximately $5-million TIF Bond will be used for additional road projects in the Urban Renewal Area that was approved earlier this year. Schaefer said the Bond would be paid-off within five-to seven years.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City official says it’s treating four people for neuroinvasive disease stemming from a West Nile virus infection.  The virus is carried by mosquitoes and infects the brain and spinal cord. It can cause brain damage, paralysis and death.

Bertha Ayi is medical director of Global Infectious Disease Services at Mercy, and she told the Sioux City Journal that Mercy has seen six patients from Sioux City between the ages of 40 and 80 test positive for the virus this year. One patient died.

The Iowa Public Health Department says 26 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Iowa so far this year. Ayi is urging the people to protect themselves by wearing insect repellent outdoors and avoiding mosquito-infested areas though November.