ATLANTIC – Effective February 1, 2012, the Special Care Unit (SCU) at Cass County Memorial Hospital has been moved to the Medical Surgical wing.  Specifically, patient rooms 125, 126, 127 and 128, have been equipped to provide the higher level of SCU care for inpatients.  At the same time, the name of the unit has been changed to Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

These changes have been made in anticipation of the completion of the new addition at the hospital, where all inpatient units (Medical Surgical, Obstetrics and Intensive Care) will be on the second floor with closer coordination of staff between the areas.  The name change is simply to better reflect the level of care provided.  “We want to begin working on some of the staff coordination and processes before we move to our new addition, so everything goes as smoothly as possible at that time,” explained Linda Hemminger, Assistant Administrator of Clinical Services.  “Intensive Care is a more accurate reflection of the care we provide, so this seemed like a good time to make that change, too.”

All of the equipment, monitors and other patient care items from the SCU have been relocated to the four ICU rooms, so patients will receive the same level of care and staff attention they have always received.  A permanent move to the new addition inpatient area is anticipated late this summer.

The Iowa DOT says a multiple vehicle crash is blocking U.S. 30 east of Missouri Valley, in Harrison County. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route to reach their destination.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Court of Appeals has ruled a Council Bluffs police officer’s late night search of a bicyclist was illegal and marijuana found during the search should be suppressed. The court overturned Keith Sorick’s drug possession conviction Wednesday, saying the officer had no reason to search Sorick after pulling him over in 2010 for not having lights on his bicycle at night, which is required by city code. After talking with Sorick, the officer patted him down and found the marijuana.

The officer testified at trial that he searched the 28-year-old Sorick because it dark and people in the neighborhood were known to have weapons. The court ruled that wasn’t enough to search Sorick, who was fined $315.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Senate panel has approved a measure allowing the state’s two greyhound tracks to stop holding races, but it’s still not a sure bet the measure will clear the Senate. The bill approved today (Wednesday) would allow Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs and Mystique Casino in Dubuque to pay the state a combined $70 million over seven years to end a requirement to run dog races.
 
 The measure’s supporters say the industry is dying out across the nation and costing casinos millions to prop up. Others say ending the requirements would cost hundreds of jobs, including track workers and people who breed and train the dogs.  A similar measure discussed last year did not reach the Senate floor, and lawmakers say they’re unsure of this measure’s prospects this year.

Police in Red Oak are looking for a man who reportedly broke into a woman’s home early this (Wednesday) morning, and assaulted her before taking off with an undetermined amount of money. Red Oak Police say they received a call at around 12:23-a.m. about the incident which took place in the 300 block of East Elm Street. When officers arrived, they found 27-year-old Tasha Renee Smith, of Red Oak, suffering from cuts, bruises and abrasions. Smith was taken by Red Oak Rescue to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Authorities say an investigation determined that a white man in his late 20’s or early 30’s assaulted the woman after she answered the door, and he forced his way in. He also ransacked a bedroom in the home before leaving with some money.  Police said the suspect was about 5- feet 8- inches tall, with a heavy build and very short hair. He was last seen wearing a gray zip-up type hoodie, black pants and brown work-type boots.

The incident remains under investigation. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s K-9 unit and Red Oak Fire and Rescue assisted Red Oak Police at the scene.

Sheriff’s officials say no injuries were reported following a rollover accident this (Wednesday) morning, near Elliott. Authorities say a 1999 Ford F-150 pickup operated by 16-year old James LeRoy Bourn, of Red Oak, was traveling north on J Avenuem about one-quarter of a mile south of Highway 48, when he looked down, looked back up, and saw the vehicle was about to enter the west ditch.

Bourn overcorrected, and lost control of the pickup, which entered the ditch and flipped end-over-end before landing on its top. The accident happened just after 8-a.m.  The vehicle sustained $4,000 damage. No charges were filed in connection with the crash.

While three southwest Iowa counties (Mills, Montgomery & Pottawattamie) have instituted a burn ban, or plan to do so, Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNeese said there are no immediate plans to call for a burn ban in Cass County. McNeese said Cass County Emergency Management Director Mike Kennon has consulted with the district fire chiefs, and has determined there is no need to call for a ban on burning right now. McNeese said that doesn’t mean residents in the county shouldn’t take the necessary precautions before conducting any open burning. He says if the fires start to get out of hand or if there are a rash of uncontrolled burns, then a ban might be put into effect, but that’s not something they want to do right now. McNeese asks residents to use common sense and contact their district fire chief or department ahead of time, so crews know where to respond if the need arises.

The Iowa Fire Marshals Office has granted a request by Mills County Emergency Management, for the issuance of a burn ban. The ban on opening burning takes effect at 10-a.m Thursday, Feb. 2nd, and will remain in place until further notice.