(Des Moines, IA) The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces today (Friday) the first influenza-related deaths confirmed as occurring during the 2022-23 influenza season: both elderly people (81 years and over) from northern Iowa with underlying conditions. The current flu season began on October 3, 2022.

Influenza strains, along with other respiratory viruses are circulating the state. The most recent HHS flu report shows the virus at a moderately high level of activity in the state. Iowa hospitals are reporting high patient admission rates. Iowans can help reduce the burden on hospitals and health care providers by taking a few simple precautions.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and our family from severe illness, hospitalization and death. Iowans should also follow simple practices to keep themselves and their family members healthy during respiratory virus season.

Practical Tips to Stay Healthy:

• Get vaccinated for the flu and COVID-19.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Clean high touch surfaces in your home frequently with household disinfectants.
• Practice hand hygiene frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or hand sanitizer.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or if a tissue is not available, cover them with upper shirt sleeve, not a hand.
• Avoid social gatherings if you or your children are ill.
• Keep children home from daycare or school who have fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, or sore throat, and until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medications that reduce fever.

If you or a loved one is sick and needs medical care contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider. Your provider can offer advice on whether your child needs to be evaluated in person, tested for COVID-19 or flu, and the best location for care. Iowans should not visit Emergency Department for cold and flu symptoms, sore throats, ear infections, minor burns or injuries, sprains and strains, rash or other skin irritations.

Additional Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination information:

• Vaccinate your children ages 6 months and older against influenza as soon as possible.
• Vaccinate your children ages 6 months and older against COVID-19; children 5 and older who had their primary series more than 2 months ago should receive an updated COVID-19 booster as soon as possible.

Iowans with questions about vaccines should speak to their health care provider. Find a vaccine provider here: or https://www.vaccines.gov/.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – It’s not just kids who have Christmas wish lists. This holiday season West Central Community Action in Atlantic has put together a Countdown to Christmas Wish List. West Central Community Action serves all of Cass County and works with all three Cass County school districts. West Central facilitates a variety of services, primarily for lower income people, including Head Start early education, Childcare Resource and Referral, the Family Development and Self Sufficiency program, and Low-income Energy Assistance Program (which helps with heating and utilities costs). Besides programs, the West Central Community Action location in Atlantic offers a clothing closet and a toiletries pantry.

Their Wish List for 2022 focuses on stocking the clothing closet and toiletries pantry for winter. Healthy Cass County encourages those looking for opportunities to give locally this holiday
season to donate items on West Central’s Christmas Wish List—whether that’s just a few items, a whole lot of one item, or an item for each day in December. West Central welcomes donations at their location in downtown Atlantic (304 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022) during open hours (Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM).

Those looking to donate after collecting items throughout December are encouraged to donate on December 27 after 9:00 AM. West Central also appreciates cash and check donations and gift cards to area businesses selling toiletry items. Questions can be directed to West Central Community Action at 712-243-5421. West Central Community Action in Atlantic’s Countdown to Christmas Wish List:

December 1 – Snow Fun – Waterproof gloves or mittens
December 2 – Cozy Feet – A pair of warm socks or winter boots
December 3 – A roll of toilet paper
December 4 – Dish soap
December 5 – Hand soap
December 6 – Deodorant
December 7 – Laundry detergent
December 8 – Another roll of toilet paper!
December 9 – All-purpose household cleaner
December 10 – Paper towels
December 11 – Deodorant
December 12 – Another roll of toilet paper!
December 13 – Toothpaste
December 14 – Box of feminine hygiene products
December 15 – Deodorant
December 16 – Dish soap
December 17 – All-purpose household cleaner
December 18 – Body lotion
December 19 – Box of feminine hygiene products
December 20 – Deodorant
December 21 – Another roll of toilet paper!
December 22 – Keep those feet cozy – another pair of warm socks or snow boots
December 23 – Snow Fun – Another pair of gloves or snow pants for kids (high need)
December 24 – More laundry detergent!

For information on community wellness events or resources, follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty. Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more
information. Healthy Cass County welcomes participants from across Cass County.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN) – Summertime may be high season for daytime parades in Iowa, but with sunsets trending earlier and earlier — communities around the state are hosting nighttime parades to celebrate this winter holiday season. There were parades Thursday night in Creston, Decorah and Mount Pleasant. On Saturday, Atlantic and Oskaloosa are having Lighted Christmas Parades.

In Atlantic, the annual Lighted Parade, sponsored by McDermott & Son Roofing, will fill the downtown corridor with holiday cheer this Saturday, starting at 6 PM. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “The Fireworks and Lighted Parade is a holiday tradition that Atlantic families look forward to every year. It’s always fun to see how creative people get with their lighted displays.”

Each float will have a holiday theme, lighting and music. Awards will be given for: Best Overall, Best Holiday Spirit and Twinkle Twinkle award. Winners will be notified before the parade. Fireworks, sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son, kick off the Christmas magic over the Rock Island Depot, starting at 6 PM. You can also enjoy the Festival of Trees taking place now through Sunday at the Catholic Parish Center, in Atlantic. For more information, see our story on the kjan.com News page, or visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

Amy Brainard, director of Oskaloosa Main Street, says this weekend marks the 35th year for Oskaloosa’s parade. “We have over 60 entries. All of our entries will be lighted and a dozen of those are actually new,” she says. “They’ve never been in the parade before, so it’s really exciting to see the parade growing.” It’s not just the floats that will be illuminated on Saturday night. Three-hundred-thousand (300,000) L-E-D bulbs have been strung around the city square in Oskaloosa and images will appear on the buildings. “Downtown becomes Oskaloosa’s Christmas canvas,” she says, “so they use the buildings to paint with lights.”

Lighted parades are also being held Saturday in Bondurant, Coon Rapids, DeWitt and Janesville.

DES MOINES– Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced her appointment of Elizabeth Batey as a district associate judge in Judicial Election District 2A.  Batey, of Greene, Iowa, currently serves as a magistrate for Butler County and practices law with the Vickers Law Office in Greene, Iowa. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her law degree from the Drake University Law School with high honors. 

Batey fills a vacancy created by the addition of four new district associate judge positions authorized by the legislature in this year’s session. Judicial Election District 2A includes Bremer, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago and Worth counties. 

(Marne, Iowa) – The Marne Community Club will host the annual Santa Visit and pot luck supper, Saturday, December 10th, at the Marne Community Center. Supper starts at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Just bring a pot luck dish to share. Santa will arrive at around 6:30 p.m. He’ll be visiting with all the kids and handing out bags full of goodies.