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Four out of five senior citizens in Iowa are taking medications, but a study finds many of them don’t understand how the drugs may affect their abilities, especially to drive. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club is launching a website that allows you to input whatever meds you’re taking to learn about their impact. “RoadwiseRX provides details on the common side effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications,” White says. “The free online tool generates personalized feedback on how medications or herbal supplements and foods, and their interactions with each other, can impact safety behind the wheel.”
Even if you’ve taken a drug for some time, White says you may not be aware of how it may affect your senses, particularly if multiple meds are involved. “Our research shows that more than 80-percent of drivers age 65 and older regularly take medications, yet only half have talked to a medical professional about the possible safety issues and side effects related to driving,” White says. “With this tool, we hope they’ll use it, input the information, print the results and share it with their doctor.”
Certain antidepressants have been shown to increase crash risk by up to 41-percent. Ingredients like diphenhydramine, found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, can have the same effect on driving as being above the legal limit for blood-alcohol levels. “In most states, including Nebraska and Iowa, a motorist can be charged for driving under the influence of drugs, which includes prescription and over-the-counter medications,” White says. “For that reason, it’s important to know and understand the side effects of any medications being consumed before you operate a motor vehicle.”
It’s estimated that by 2020, just eight years from now, nearly one in six people will be 65 or older — and most of them will still be licensed to drive.
(Radio Iowa)
This is National Farm Safety Week as experts look to try and cut down on the over 300 farm-related deaths that happen each year.Iowa State University extension safety specialist Charles Schwab, farming ranks as one of the most hazardous occupations. “The agricultural industry, as a whole, has a much higher death rate than any other industry, and higher than the whole average, nine times higher, than all the other industries combined. So it’s a huge number of fatalities that we deal with in our population,” Schwab says.
Tractor roll overs account for the most farm deaths, and Schwab says they can be prevented if tractors have roll over protection or ROPS. “The phrase in Iowa which is very viable is we haven’t had a fatality from a roll-over with a tractor with ROPs and all of them have been with tractors without ROPs, and so a good life insurance policy is get the ROPs on the tractor,” according to Schwab. La Vonne Galles is the coordinator for Agri-Safe of Plymouth County, a division of the Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Galles says many times farm accidents occur because of fatigue, so she tells farmers to “take a break” from the busy harvest season.
“The main thing is just be careful, to think before we do anything, and try not to be, you know, so tired. I guess if we can take rest breaks and we can go at a pace that is conducive for good, safe, conduct, then that’s what I think we should be doing,” Galles says. She is worried the summer drought may present a new hazard on the farm in the form of aflatoxin mold in grain. “Yeah, its a respiratory issue of course and so that dust or mold that gets into our respiratory track. If we can avoid that by just using a mask, you know I think that is really important,” Galles says. “Think of that first before we enter into those grain bins, or even any close area that has the grain.” Galles warns that combines, grain trucks, wagons, and grain bins can often times be a playground for children, and she reminds farmers to always know the whereabouts of their children before moving equipment.
(Radio Iowa)
The owner of a bed and breakfast business in Atlantic is set to meet with City officials today at 10-a.m., to request more time to meet an October 1stdeadline to complete repairs on the exterior of his business, which is on the National Register of Historic places.
S.F. Martin House property owner Roger Steffens faces fines if he doesn’t complete work on his property by Oct. 1st. (Ric Hanson-photo)
Roger Steffens, owner of the S.F. Martin House at 5th and Poplar Streets, told the Council Wednesday evening, he has taken, and continues to take, steps to complete the restoration of the structure in a historically correct manner, but rushing to complete them by the October 1st deadline would result in a less than aesthetically pleasing appearance. Steffens said he wants 2-more years to complete the job. The building has been an eye sore in Atlantic, especially on the east side, for nearly 15-years, while the inside is pristine. Steffens said he received a letter from City officials saying he would be fined $250 every month after October 1st, if the work is not completed according to City Code, by the deadline.
Steffens said also, he received a letter from the City saying work must be completed on one specific side of the structure. City Administrator Doug Harris acknowledged the City sent Steffens a letter in May, saying work needed to be done on the west side of the building, but sent a corrected letter on April 30th to say it was the east side that needed the most attention immediately. Steffens said he only received two letters from the City, one in May the other in August. Harris produced a copy of the letter sent in April, but Steffens claims he never received it. Steffens said he will need more time to “Do the work the right way,” and that he’s already spent “Tens of thousands of dollars” on the on-going project, but he’s not willing to do the job hap-hazardly.
Atlantic City Councilman Shawn Shouse says it’s not the type of work being done that is the problem, it is all about the amount of time it is taking to get it done. Shouse said by Steffens’ own admission, he is taking too long. He says that’s what the council feels, as well. Steffens thinks he’s being singled-out by the City, but Shouse said that’s not the case. Shouse said the City has sent out notices to other property owner’s who are not in compliance with the Code.
Cass County: Corn $7.41, Beans $16.46
Adair County: Corn $7.38, Beans $16.49
Adams County: Corn $7.38, Beans $16.45
Audubon County: Corn $7.40, Beans $16.48
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $7.44, Beans $16.46
Guthrie County: Corn $7.43, Beans $16.50
Montgomery County: Corn $7.43, Beans $16.48
Shelby County: Corn $7.44, Beans $16.46
Oats $3.68 (always the same in all counties)
The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, adopted a revised Ordinance pertaining to Private Wells. The new ordinance says “No person shall install a private drinking or non-drinking water well within city limits, unless a determination has been made by the City Administrator that it is a “closed-loop system,” or that the well is located greater than 1,000-feet from where an area of contamination exists. The Iowa DNR has identified the City’s old street garage site at 211 Commerce, and sites at 1408 East 7th, and 100 West 2nd Street, as contaminated sites, under Iowa law.
The Council also set 5:30-p.m. October 3rd, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, as the time, date and place for a public hearing on the disposal of certain real estate at 400 Hickory Street. City Street Department Superintendent Derald Andersen provided the Council with an update on departmental activities and progress during the meeting.
Andersen said the street crews are still doing some asphalt patching, and will try to seal coat some of the roads next week. He says some of the roads haven’t been seal coated in nearly 10-years. City Administrator Doug Harris and Andersen agreed, that over one-third of the 55-miles worth of roads in the City have been repaired over the past 10-years or so, and the work continues, as part of the City’s Capital Improvements Plan. Andersen said also, it’s about that time of year to prepare the City’s Christmas lights for display.
He says crews will begin the process of preparing for the Grand Lighting ceremony that takes place in December, on October 1st. Three men in bucket trucks will spend 27 days decorating the trees on Chestnut Street, weather permitting. That includes all the garlands and other decorations. In other news from the Council meeting, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones set Wednesday, October 31st from 5:30-to 7:30-p.m., as the date and times for Halloween Trick or Treating in Atlantic.
JAMES WESLEY SWISHER, 51, of Harlan, died Tue., Sept. 18th, at his home. A Memorial service for JAMES SWISHER will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Sept. 25th, at the Central Church of Christ in Griswold. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.
There is no public visitation.
Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery at Lewis.
JAMES SWISHER is survived by:
His mother – Sharon Attanasio, of Shelby.
His father – Jim (Ann) Swisher, of Wasilla, AK.
His sons – Brandon and Brent, of Avoca, and Brock (Jessica) Swisher, of Omaha.
His sister – Julie (Randy) Pauley, of Pompano Beach, FL.
His half brothers – Eric (Mary) Swisher, of Wasilla, AK, & Darren Swisher, of Indianapolis, IN.
and 4 grandchildren.
VIOLA SCHWARTZ, 98, of Atlantic, died Tue., Sept. 18th, at the Heritage House in Atlantic. Private family services for VIOLA SCHWARTZ will be held at a later date. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic is assisting the family with the arrangements.
There is no visitation.
Memorials may be directed to the Heritage House Good Samaritan Fund, or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic.
VIOLA SCHWARTZ is survived by:
Her children – Gene (Ellen) Schwartz, of Pinetown, NC; Paul (Christel) Schwartz, of Brentwood, CA; Gerald (Jane) Schwartz, of Greensboro, GA; and Marlene (Bob) Schwartz, of Blue Springs, MO.
Her brother – Arnold P. Petersen, of Elk Horn.
11 grandchildren & 18 great-grandchildren.
LEOLA AND KIRK TIMMERMAN, of Carroll, have died. Graveside services for LEOLA and KIRK TIMMERMAN will be held Sept. 29th at 11-a.m., in the Manning Cemetery. The Ohde-Twit Funeral Home in Carroll has the arrangements.
Friends may visit with the family at the Presbyterian Church in Manning, after the graveside service. A lunch will be served at the church.
LEOLA and KIRK TIMMERMAN are survived by:
Leola’s sister and Kirk’s aunt: Pat Lueth, of Corona Del Mar, CA.
Nieces and nephews.