More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Cass County Public Health and Cass County Health System are teaming up to provide free breast health appointments for women on Tuesday, October 11^th from 5 to 8 p.m. Karla Akers, Care for Yourself Coordinator at Public Health, says “We want to make sure that all women in Cass County are receiving these routine exams. These appointments are free for all women regardless of age, income, or insurance.”

The free exams will be held on Tuesday, October 11^th from 5 to 8 pm. at the Atlantic Medical Center. The breast health exam will include pulse, blood pressure, height, weight, and a clinical breast exam performed by Dr. Vanessa Cook. Karla Akers says “Based on the clinical breast exam, some women will also be able to receive their mammogram the same evening.”

The mammogram fees will be submitted through each woman’s insurance (if insured), but if paying for mammograms or additional follow-up exams are of concern, Public Health has resources to help. Akers says also, they have “Partnered with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help women in our area pay for their mammograms or additional diagnostic exams,” so “Don’t let the cost of these exams be a barrier – because we can help.”

Appointments for the free breast health exam can be made by calling 712-243-7443.

Cass County Public Health will be offering four special clinics for people to receive their annual flu vaccination. The clinics are planned for:

• Griswold Medical Center: Monday, October 10 from 5-7 pm
• Atlantic Medical Center: Monday, October 17 from 4-8 pm
• Anita Medical Center: Monday, October 24 from 5-7 pm
• Massena Medical Center: Monday, October 24 from 5-7 pm

In addition to the flu clinics, residents can receive their flu vaccine during the Atlantic Medical Center Immunization Room’s normal business hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 to 11 am, and 1:30 to 4 pm. They are also open on Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 11. No appointments are needed – walk-ins are always welcome.

There are four strains, or types, of the flu that typically hit the Midwest during flu season — two types of Influenza A and two types of Influenza B. Atlantic Medical Center will have the Quadrivalent vaccine which protects against all four strains, to provide the greatest protection. They will also be offering the High Dose flu vaccine for people 65 years of age and older.

For the 2016 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CD) has determined that the Flumist (flu nasal spray) is not as effective as the flu shot and therefore should not be give this year. Cass County Public Health and Atlantic Medical Center are following the CDC guidance by only providing flu shots this year; no flu mist will be available. Because injections can be more stressful for some children than receiving flu mist, Cass County Public Health will not be providing flu vaccines in area schools this year. Parents are urged to utilize the evening vaccination clinic times above to ensure their children are protected from influenza this season.

The two best ways to protect yourself, and those around you, from influenza are to get vaccinated and to practice good hand washing. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also those around you who may be too young (under 6 months) or have a medical condition that prevents them from being vaccinated.

Vaccine does vary by age group, with different doses for different patient groups of different ages. The Atlantic Medical Center has the correct doses available for all age groups. The seasonal flu (influenza) is a serious disease caused by the influenza virus. Some common symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, shaking chills, body aches, and extreme weakness. The influenza disease may last for a couple of weeks.

For more information, please contact the Immunization Room at 712-250-8122.

(In an update to our story last night) A collision between a car and a pickup truck  Wednesday night southwest of Lyman resulted in two Cass County men being transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. According to Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Johnson, 23-year old Tyler Scott Mikkelsen, of Atlantic, and 26-year old Marcus Moore, of Griswold, suffered minor injuries during the crash that happened on 620th Street, just north of Victoria Road.

Johnson says 18-year old Graham Francis Howell, of Griswold, was driving a 2003 Volvo southbound on 620^th Street and cresting a hill, when his car collided with a 1992 GMC pickup driven by Mikkelsen, who was attempting to turn left in a private driveway off of northbound 620th. The impact happened at around 7:35-p.m, just south of the private drive.

Marcus Moore, a passenger in Mikkelsen’s pickup, was trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed by mechanical means. He was transported by ground ambulance to CCMH, while Mikkelsen was taken to the hospital by private vehicle. Johnson says Howell was not hurt in the crash. No citations were issued.

Griswold Fire and Rescue, Grant 1st Responders and Medivac Ambulance assisted Sheriff’s Deputies at the scene.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:49 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents will review whether Iowa State University President Steven Leath and other employees have been following policies that bar the use of equipment and official travel for personal gain. The board says its “compliance review” will look at whether policies at Iowa State, University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa are clear and have been followed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Warehouses, distribution and grocery stores are overflowing with some food staples, such as milk, eggs and frozen fruits and vegetables. It’s the result of increased production and decreased exports. Take dairy, for example. With the most milk ever produced in the U.S. _ about 24.65 billion gallons _ that means there are record amounts of butter and cheese. The glut of food means lower prices for consumers.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for brutally beating a black man in what prosecutors called a racially targeted attack. Chief U.S. District Judge Linda R. Reade on Wednesday sentenced 40-year-old Randy Metcalf to 10 years and ordered him to pay about $1,800 in restitution. Metcalf was arrested after a Jan. 12, 2015, assault on a black man at the Northside Bar in Dubuque in which he stomped on the man’s head as he lay on the floor.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport police have identified two people whose bodies were found in a house. Police were called to the home about 4:45 a.m. Wednesday for a reported shooting. Police tell the Quad-City Times that the bodies of 58-year-old Kevin Freese and 57-year-old Donna Freese were found in the home. Scott County property records list them as the owners of the home.

Griswold Fire, Griswold Rescue and Grant 1st Responders, along with Medivac Ambulance, were called to the scene of a two-vehicle accident southwest of Lyman, Wednesday night. According to dispatch reports, the accident occurred at around 7:38-p.m. near 70797 620th Street, or about a mile west of Highway 71 and just north of Victoria Road.

Two people were injured. One was out of the vehicle, the other was trapped because the vehicles’ door wouldn’t open. One of the victims was also complaining of back pain.

No other details are currently available.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Thayer woman has reported to authorities  the theft of her husband’s .22-caliber Sig Sauer handgun. The weapon was stolen from 1735 Four Mile Creek Drive, sometime between September 30th and October 2nd. The gun is black with a purple frame, and valued at $350.

And, a Creston resident reported to the Sheriff’s Office Wednesday, that sometime overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, someone got in to his building at 2068 Pole Road, and took tools valued at $300. They also knocked over a tank of bull semen, destroying it when it fell to the floor. The estimated value of the semen is $10,000.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak woman on Wednesday for Theft.  At 1:12pm officers arrested 33-year-old Michell Lee Szymarek of Red Oak for Theft 5th Degree.  She was arrested on North 3rd Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held.