(Radio Iowa) -May is Stroke Awareness Month in Iowa, as people are urged to learn about the dangers of what’s now the state’s seventh-leading cause of death. Mark Mintun, a physician’s assistant at Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, says a stroke is essentially a brain attack. “Everybody understands, for the most part, what a heart attack is,” Mintun says, “so if you think about a stroke as a heart attack but in the brain, maybe that would be an easier way to look at it.”

Mintun says there are basically two types of stroke.  “There’s one that’s a caused by a clot, which is like what you have with a heart attack,” Mintun says. “There’s another less common form called a hemorrhagic stroke, which is when you rupture a small artery in your head, and you have a stroke because all the brain tissue surrounding that area can’t get fed because of the blood that has leaked out into the brain.”

There are a few key symptoms or warning signs that a person may have suffered a stroke, and one way to remember them all as with the word FAST. “Face, Arm, Speech and Time,” Mintun says. “Face, if you have facial droop. Arm, if you have one-sided weakness, like you can’t lift your arm or your arm’s not functioning properly. Speech, if you’re having trouble speaking. And then Time. Naturally, if that happens, if you see any of those symptoms, get to the emergency department right away because time is important.”

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 1,390 Iowans died of stroke in 2020.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa-based Hy-Vee grocery store chain has cut more workers. A company statement says 57 positions were eliminated across Hy-Vee’s corporate offices. They include employees from the I-T, engineering, equipment, real estate, and construction departments. All of the employees were offered retail positions at Hy-Vee and will be provided 30 days of pay and benefits.

The statement says they have now reduced their corporate office staff by more than 415 positions. The employees transferred to leadership positions in retail, took early retirement, or voluntarily left the company. The statement concludes by saying Hy-Vee is confident that these changes will help them be better prepared for the potential economic difficulties to come.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Thursday, of 30-year-old William Lewis, of Glenwood. Lewis was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A man currently in custody in connection with a stabbing incident Thursday, now faces additional charges in connection with a house fire the day before. According to Atlantic Police, as the result of an investigation into a fire at 106 Cedar Street, 30-year-old Anthony Rey Asay faces Class-B Felony charges of Arson/1st Degree and Attempted Murder, along with a charge of Assault Causing Bodily Injury (a Serious Misdemeanor). In Addition, Asay is charge with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness (Serious Misdemeanor), for an incident that occurred on April 30th.

With regard to the fire, authorities say the Cass County Communications Center received a report about the fire at 106 Cedar Street, at around 4:46-a.m. Wednesday. Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Atlantic Police responded to the call, and have continued to investigation the incident. Through the investigation into assaults reported on Thursday, May 5th, A-PD received information regarding the structure fire the day before.

Anthony Rey Asay (Cass County Jail photo)

As previously mentioned, late Thursday evening, Atlantic Police released information about a stabbing that had taken place earlier in the day, Thursday. According to Police Chief Devin Hogue, 30-year-old Anthony Rey Asay, of Atlantic, was arrested at around 2:43-p.m., on a Felony charge of Willful Injury causing Bodily Injury, along with charges that include Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) – 1st Offense, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts.

Chief Devin Hogue says the A-PD was notified by the Cass County Communications Center at around 2:32-p.m., about a stabbing that had occurred at 106 Cedar Street. During the investigation, police made contact with the victim, who was checked-out by Cass County EMS for injuries suffered in the assault. While the investigation was underway, police were also notified an assault had also occurred at around 11:00-a.m. Thursday. The investigations led Police to take Asay into custody at 1207 Birch Street, on the aforementioned charges. Hogue says Asay was uncooperative during his apprehension, and resisted arrest.

Atlantic Police were assisted in their investigation into the separate incidents by Atlantic Fire & Rescue, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa State Patrol. No other information is being released at this time. If you have information regard the incidents mentioned, call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department have released a report on arrests taking place from April 27th through May 5th. Beginning with the latest arrest:

• On Thursday (May 5), 38-year-old Stephen Foote, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He remains in the Cass County Jail.
• On Wednesday (May 4), 45-year-old Adam Vanderpool, of Surprise, AZ, was arrested in Atlantic for OWI/1s offense.
• On Monday (May 2), 36-year-old Eric Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Public Intoxication.
• And, on Sunday (May 1), there were two arrests in Atlantic:
  • 26-year-old Sequoia Harrison, of Atlantic, was arrested for Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Domestic Abuse Assault, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury. She remains held in the Cass County Jail.
  • 21-year-old Curclund Vanaernam, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

On April 30th, 32-year-old Vincent Vasquez, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Possession of Controlled Substance, Gathering where Controlled Substances are used, and Keeping a premises or vehicle for controlled substance. On April 28th, 18-year-old Ashtyn McCarthy, of Walnut, was cited into court for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting), and then released. And, 36-year-old David Theisen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While License is barred.

And, there were two arrests in Atlantic on April 27th:

• 48-year-old Dan Christensen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Consumption of Alcohol in a Public Place.
• 30-year-old Rebecca Klinghammer, of Griswold, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts , Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, and Driving While Barred. And, A-PD reports 30-year-old Nigel Newbury of Atlantic, was cited into court for Unlawful Passing of a School Bus.

(Lewis, Iowa) – If you have ever wondered how the pioneers made their own rope or dipped their own candles, and/or thought about trying your hand at spinning wool, then you should come to the Hitchcock Pioneer Skills Festival, going on this Saturday, May 7th, from 1-until 4-p.m., at the Hitchcock House, rain or shine! The house, which was used as a stop on the underground railroad for people escaping from slavery, is located six-miles south of Atlantic and 1.5-miles west of Lewis.

George B. Hitchcock House (2018 photo)

Sharon Guffey-Lewis, a retired Congregational minister, is Chairman of the Hitchcock House Board of Directors. She says the festivities will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. You will have an opportunity to visit the historic Hitchcock House and see many of the skills and crafts that people of the late 1800’s used in daily living.

She says they were excited to open their season for tours on May 1st.

The National Historic Landmark Hitchcock House, is a two-story home built in 1856. It features thick sandstone walls, window seats, native hard wood trim and a secret room that hid runaway slaves. The secret room is located in the basement where there is also a stone fireplace where the slaves could cook food and keep warm. It’s believed the famous John Brown preached around the fireplace.

Families are encouraged to come and share the day together as they might have in the 1800’s. There is a $5 fee/adult for a tour of the Hitchcock House. There are many other activities, special guests and musical attractions scheduled through this summer at the Hitchcock House. All those other activities, including those in the barn, are free of charge, with donations gladly accepted.

For more information, call 712-769-2323, or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeBHitchcockHouse

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Sheriff’s Officials in Pottawattamie County report a woman from Nebraska who was allegedly involved in a shots-fired incident in Sarpy County, NE., Thursday night, and fled from Omaha Police, was arrested in Council Bluffs after a short pursuit. Authorities say 35-year-old Veronika S. Garner, of Omaha, was driving a 2008 Jeep Cherokee when she was stopped near S. 8th Street and 5th Avenue, and taken into custody at around 10:30-p.m.

She faces charges in Pott. County that include Eluding and Interference with Official Acts. She was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $1,300 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall reports persons needing to conduct business with her office need to know that the Treasurer’s Office will close every week day for lunch, from 12:30-until 1:30-p.m., beginning Monday, May 9th, and until further notice. Please consider this when you need to take care of your driver’s license, tags, taxes and other matters.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill co-sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley would lay the groundwork for anti-trust lawsuits against members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries — or OPEC. “OPEC and partner countries like Russia being the biggest, they blatantly collude to control the oil supply,” Grassley says, “and that of course boosts prices, even in the United States.”

The bill would revoke the immunity countries in OPEC have had from lawsuits in the United States. The U.S. Attorney General could then sue Saudi Arabia and the other 12 countries that are OPEC members in federal court.  “To hold OPEC accountable for its anti-competitive behavior that artificially inflates oil prices,” Grassley says.

The bill is co-sponsored by a Republican senator from Utah and Democratic senators from Vermont and Minnesota. The bill cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday (Thursday). Federal anti-trust laws give courts authority to determine when American businesses have acted illegally, but it’s unclear how a U.S. court would be able to enforce a guilty verdict against a foreign country. The Reuters news service is reporting that the American Petroleum Institute opposes the bill — warning it could have unintended consequences and is unlikely to have much impact on OPEC operations.