(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County say there were two accidents late last week (In addition to the previously reported accident involving 16-year-old Colby Waltz, of Bagley). Authorities say at around 4:30-p.m. Friday, a two vehicle accident occurred in front of 610 McPherson Street, in Casey. An investigation revealed a 2012 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 45-year-old Amber M. Shearer, of Casey, was backing out of a parking spot. She failed to notice a legally parked 2014 Chevy Impala and backed into the car, causing $5,000 damage to the Impala. No injuries were reported. Shearer was cited for Failure to provide proof of financial liability (accident insurance), and for Unsafe backing on a Highway.

And, at around 4:42-p.m. Thursday, a 2008 Ford F250 super Duty pickup driven by 20-year-old Trenten Lee Custer, of Jefferson, was traveling east on Highway 141 in Guthrie County, when he tapped the brakes as he was approaching the intersection with Oak Avenue. The pickup went out of control and slid into the north ditch, near Oak Avenue. The vehicle struck the ditch, hit a culvert and flipped onto the driver’s side, causing $15,000 damage. There were no injuries reported, and no citations issued, as the road was covered by snow and blowing snow.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s tourism industry is urging the governor and state legislature to maintain state spending on programs that promote Iowa as a place to visit or live. Chelsea Lerud of Burlington is executive director of Iowa Travel Industry Partners or I-TIP. “We cannot rest on our past successes and I-TIP pledges to be a partner to the state,” she says, “showcasing all the wonderful things we are doing.”

Tourism-related spending by the state is at historic levels this year, according to Lerud. “Each of these programs have contributed to the growth of our state and it’s helped to attract and retain Iowans,” she says.

Lerud’s group is urging lawmakers to budget another nine MILLION dollars for state parks as well as one-and-a-half MILLION dollars for the state tourism office. Those are the spending levels in the current year. Lerud says there’s another one-and-a-half MILLION for tourism marketing and strategic planning by the Iowa Economic Development Authority in this year’s budget that her group would like to see continued next year, as well as another 10 MILLION dollars worth of grants for community attractions. According to a state report, there were about 65-thousand jobs in Iowa’s tourism industry last year and travelers spent more than six BILLION dollars while visiting Iowa in 2021.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s the season for stuffy noses, coughs and sneezes, but common colds may not seem so common with the flu, COVID-19 and R-S-V still rampant, and Iowans are reminded to take care with the meds they swallow. Dr. Wendy Mobley-Buckstein, a pharmacy professor at Drake University, says if you’re taking over-the-counter cold or flu drugs, take heed if you’re also popping acetaminophen. “If you’re taking both of those things, then you’re increasing your risk of liver damage which is the penultimate of things that can happen,” Mobley-Bukstein says. “The biggest thing that we want to avoid is making sure the people are not exceeding that 4,000 milligram daily dose of acetaminophen.”

Mobley-Bukstein is a spokeswoman for the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition. More than 600 pain relievers and multi-symptom cold and flu medicines contain acetaminophen. She says it’s safe and effective when used as directed, but there’s a limit to how much you can take in one day, so reading labels is important. “It’s a very safe drug,” she says. “The biggest thing is making sure with the flu, with COVID still running around, people are really reaching for things, just making sure when you’re reaching for acetaminophen that they’re also looking to make sure that they’re not overdoing it.”

Some studies show children get seven to ten colds per year, and meds that bring relief for a parent may not be appropriate for a third grader. Mobley-Bukstein says it’s a safe move to take only one medicine at a time that contains acetaminophen.  “When you buy an over-the-counter product, on the back of the package now it’s going to say ‘active ingredients’ and then looking to see what is the active ingredient,” Mobley-Bukstein says. “It’s going to tell you how many milligrams are contained in there. Also, knowing what dose you should take, infants versus kiddos versus adults.”

Research shows the odds of taking more than the FDA-recommended maximum dose of acetaminophen in one day increases 24-percent during cold and flu season. The coalition’s website is KnowYourDose.org, a clearinghouse of information designed to educate consumers about the safe use of acetaminophen.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests from over the past week.

• On December 16th, 2022, Deputies arrested 19-year-old Caleb Fulk, of Atlantic, on several Cass County warrants. Fulk was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
• On December 12th, 2022, 41-year-old Robert Rasmussen, of Anita, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense. Rasmussen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
• On December 11th, 2022, Cass County Deputies arrested 22-year-old Timothy Asmus, of Audubon, for Driving While Barred. Asmus was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
• On December 9th, 2022, 54-year-old Kenneth Klindt, of Griswold, was arrested in Cass County on a warrant for Theft 2nd Degree. Klindt was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond; and, 27-year-old Mikenda Ifraim, of Atlantic, was arrested Dec. 9th, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Ifraim was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, today (Monday), issued a report detailing numerous arrests that took place between December 1^st and December 13^th….

Amber Lynn Goodenberger, age 28, of Westphalia, was arrested December 13^th after an investigation into fraudulent charges on a credit card. Goodenberger was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Unauthorized use of a Credit Card.

Clayton Morris Scott Jr, age 31, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 59 on December 10th. Scott was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, and Possession of Controlled Substance.

Dylan Michael Jager, age 28, of Elk Horn, and Kaylena Marie Jager, age 29, of Atlantic, were both arrested following a call for service in the 1500 block of M56 on December 9th. Both were transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Trespass 1st Offense.

Serafin Sanchez Ramirez, age 32, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service for a vehicle in the ditch around F32 and Ironwood Road on December 9th. Sanchez Ramirez was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st, No Valid Driver’s License, and Failure to Maintain Control.

Michael John Tremayne, age 31, of Harlan, was arrested after a traffic stop on M47 on December 6th. Tremayne was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Revoked, Possession of Controlled Substance 3rd, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Keeping Premises of Vehicle for Controlled Substances.

Daniel Jacob Brown, age 27, of Walnut, was arrested after a traffic stop on Highway 173 on December 2nd. Brown was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Revoked.

Wade Alan Jensen, age 69, of Harlan, was arrested after a call for service at 450th Street and Maple Road on December 1st. Jensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st, and Failure to Maintain Control.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Public Library are happy to report the elevator at the library has been repaired, and can be used again. They thank patrons for their patience and understanding, as they waited for the replacement part to arrive. The library staff is still willing to bring requested items to the lower level or even to your car–just call, text, or e-mail to make arrangements.

A reminder also: The library will be closed Saturday through Monday, December 24-26 for Christmas and again on January 1-2 for New Year’s Day.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports two arrested from the past week. On Dec. 15th, 40-year-old Dustin Brian Benge, of Greenfield, was arrested in Orient, for Driving While License Denied or Revoked for OWI. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond. And, on Dec. 13th, 60-year-old Nicholas Dave Allen, of Des Moines, was arrested in Clarinda, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation/Failure to Appear. He was being held on a $2,000 cash-only bond.