Iowa ranks in the middle of the pack on a new report detailing how successfully the states are waging war on cancer. The report from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network uses nine key benchmark areas where states play a critical role in reducing cancer incidence and death. Jen Schulte, the organization’s director of government relations, says each state gets either a red mark for falling short, a yellow mark for making some progress or a green mark for doing well.

“We have a split between red, yellow and green,” Schulte says. “We have four red, two yellow and three green. As a result Iowa, continues to look at policies that are in red. We hope to continue to work on the indoor tanning ban for minors and increasing our tobacco prevention funding.”

While the Centers for Disease Control recommends Iowa spend 30-million dollars a year on tobacco prevention efforts, Iowa only spends about 5-million. In the yellow category, Iowa is making some progress in areas like its cigarette tax rates and in Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation programs. Out of the nine benchmarks, Iowa only had three green ratings for areas where the state is doing well.

“One is pain policy, two is the increased access to Medicaid or our Iowa Health and Wellness plan that we passed in 2013 and then finally, our Smoke-free Air Act,” Schulte says. However, she notes that act — which bars smoking in workplaces and public places statewide — still contains the loophole allowing people to smoke on casino floors, something the group would like to see abolished.

On this year’s report, only three states meet six out of the nine benchmarks that were measured and no state met seven or more, so she says Iowa isn’t doing bad, comparatively. “I think we’re pretty level with a lot of the other states,” Schulte says. “Our bordering states, we’re very similar with the red categories but overall, I think we’re right in the middle.”

This is the 13th year for the report, called: “How Do You Measure Up? A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality.” See the full report for Iowa and any other state at the website of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: www.acscan.org

(Radio Iowa)

A conservative Christian organization that hosted 10 Republican presidential candidates last month at an event in Ames is turning a new lobbying effort toward Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Bob Vander Plaats, President and C-E-O of The Family Leader, says “To encourage Governor Branstad to defund Planned Parenthood and, if anything, he needs to launch an investigation of Planned Parenthood and be willing to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law when it’s proved that there’s wrongdoing.”

Vander Plaats ran against Branstad in 2010 in the Republican Primary and Vander Plaats points to a statement Branstad made during a primary debate. Branstad said five years ago that state taxpayer funding “for groups like Planned Parenthood” should end. Vander Plaats says “I think Governor Branstad should follow Governor Jindal’s lead in Louisiana, defund (Planned Parenthood) immediately, investigate and prosecute.”

No state or federal tax dollars are being spent on abortions performed at Planned Parenthood, but the organization does get government funding for reproductive health exams, sexually-transmitted disease tests and birth control for low-income patients. Renewed efforts to end taxpayer funding of those Planned Parenthood services comes after an anti-abortion group released undercover videos and has accused Planned Parenthood of profiting from the sale of fetal tissue. Planned Parenthood denies the charge.

The Family Leader has started an on-line petition drive, plus Vander Plaats and others are planning a rally at the statehouse on August 15th to protest those videos.
“We’re going to stand up for the sanctity of human life,” Vander Plaats says, “and hopefully we end the subsidies to such a dark organization.” A spokesman for Governor Branstad says the governor is “appalled” by the undercover videos and has directed officials in the Iowa Department of Public Health to ensure the state’s “Family Planning Block Grant…does not and will not ever fund abortions or operations related to abortion procedures.”

Planned Parenthood’s national president says the American people have “zero appetite” for political efforts to “deny health care, including birth control,” to millions of American women. According to the 2014 annual report from Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, nearly half of its patients were getting birth control. Abortion accounted for two percent of patient services.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) says funding appropriated by the Iowa Legislature to Department is available to assist qualifying families with costs associated with the death of a child. The program is administered statewide through Page County Public Health.

The Legislature approved $100,000 for the program in July, 2014 and applications may be retroactive to that date. Funds are available to help families with expenses including funeral, burial, cremation, cemetery costs, and grave marker costs. Funds are reimbursable to the family, funeral director, or monument retailer, at the discretion of the family.

Families must meet qualifications and complete an application for the funding. Qualifications include:

• Must be an unintended death of a child under the age of 18
• Must meet income requirements of 145 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Must comply with submission of the following documents:
  Copy of pay stubs or previous years taxes
  Copy of death Certificate

To request an application for funding assistance, please contact Angie Hakes at (712) 850-1212, extension 212 or Brandy Powers at (712) 850-1211, extension 211. You may also make a request by mail or fax at: Page County Public Health, 112 E. Main St, Clarinda, IA 51632. Fax number: (712) 542-5030.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the final roster of entertainment for this Saturday’s AtlanticFest. All-day live entertainment is brought to you by stage partner, A.M. Cohron & Son, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

The entertainment will begin at 11-a.m., featuring amazing performances by local favorites, including Salute Gymnastics, Villa Dance, and Dance Atlantic. The entertainment will stretch into the night with two great local bands, Glass House Prophet, and Dirt Road Divide featured in the AtlanticFest Beer Garden.

The Beer Garden will be open from 2 p.m. until 11:30 p.m., during AtlanticFest. As always, the Beer Garden is free to relax in, so you’re invited to come down and enjoy it.

AtlanticFest Schedule of Entertainment:
Salute Gymnastics 11 – 11: 45 am
Samantha Rose 11:50- 12:10 pm
Villa Dance 12:15 -1:00 pm
Randy Elwood 1:05 – 1:25 pm
Dance Atlantic 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Jessica Parkison 2:20 – 2:45 pm
Regan Watson 2:50 – 3:10 pm
Lynn Hansen 3:15 – 3:35 pm
Christy Anderson 3:40 – 4:00 pm
Sarah Selders 4:05- 4:25 pm
Glass House Prophet 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Dirt Road Divide 8:30 – 11:30 pm

Other entertainment sponsors include: Atlantic Municipal Utilities, Brown Electric, Partners Insurance Inc, Plastic Professionals, Salute Gymnastics, and Wells Fargo Bank. The Beer Garden is brought to you by: Audiological Services of Iowa, Klassic Farm Management, McCunn Specialty Firearms LLC, and Sunset Inn & Suites.

AtlanticFest 2015 is presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust. For more information  visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at (712)243-3017.

WHITTEMORE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating the shooting of a crop-dusting plane in northern Iowa. The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office says the plane owned by Steier AG Aviation was hit in a wing flap while spraying a field in Fairfield Township on Friday morning. The pilot landed safely at Steier’s landing strip in Whittemore. The pilot’s name hasn’t been released.

The Sheriff’s Office says rural Whittemore property belonging to a suspect in the shooting has been searched and items have been seized. No arrest has been reported.

A reminder from Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, nomination papers may be circulated now through Sept. 17th, for the Nov. 3rd City Elections in Cass County. Papers may be filed with the County Auditor’s Office beginning August 24th, and continuing through Sept. 17th.

The process for filing nomination petitions is as follows:

• Obtain an original nomination petition and candidate’s guide from the city clerk, county auditor or online from the Iowa Secretary of State ( www.sos.iowa.gov ).
• Obtain the nomination signatures of the required number of eligible electors of the city or ward, as the case may be (The candidate’s guide lists the number of signatures required. The number of signatures required is 10 for all positions except the Atlantic At Large council position for which a minimum of 16 signatures are required.).
• A person may sign nomination petitions for more than one candidate for the same office.
• Attach a notarized affidavit acknowledging the candidate’s eligibility.
• File the petition with the County Auditor prior to 5 p.m. on September 17, 2015.

Each candidate who successfully files a completed nomination petition is assured a place on the ballot. In Cass County, Iowa the following offices will appear on the ballots for the respective cities on November 3, 2015:

Anita…. Mayor (4 year term) – Incumbent: Tim Miller; Two At Large Council seats (4 year terms) – Incumbents: Jeff Bohnsack and Thomas Harris.

Atlantic… Council Ward 1 (4 year term) – Incumbent: Chris Jimerson; Council Ward 3 (4 year term) – Incumbent: Ashley K. Hayes; Council Ward 4 (4 year term) – Incumbent: Linda Hartkopf; Council Ward 5 (Vacancy in 4 year term ending January 2018) – Appointee: Richard Casady; Council At Large (4 year term) – Incumbent: Dana Halder; One Atlantic Parks & Recreation Board (6 year term – term begins November 16) – Incumbent: Stuart Dusenberry.

Cumberland…Mayor (2 year term) – Incumbent: Virginia Coughlin; Two At Large Council (4 year term) – Incumbents: Sandra Armstrong and Sandy Eversole; One At Large Council (Vacancy in 4 year term ending January 2018) – Appointee: Scott Becker.

Griswold…Mayor (2 year term) – Incumbent: Lee Wyman; Three At Large Council (4 year term) – Incumbents: Lisa Cook, Larry Mundorf and Ryan Askeland.

Lewis…Mayor (4 year term) – Incumbent: Don Cohrs; Three At Large Council (4 year term) – Incumbents: Duane Scott Anderson, Ryan Archibald and Bethany Nichols.

Marne…Mayor (2 year term) – Incumbent: Randall Baxter; Five At Large Council (2 year term) – Incumbents: Alan Cranston, Randy Fischer, Lori Holste, Randy Henningsen and Angela Redler.

Massena…Mayor (2 year term) – Incumbent: Linda Reineke; Three At Large Council (4 year term) – Incumbents: Adam McCunn, Micah Lee and Kevin McCunn.

Wiota…Mayor (2 year term) – Incumbent: J. Ford Lillard; Two At Large Council (4 year term) – Incumbents: Erik Johnson and Jon Schwarte.

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

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The 7:07-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The search continues for an assistant to Atlantic City Administrator John Lund. Lund told the City Council, Wednesday, applications for the position closed last Friday. He says there were 23 applicants, but two applicants were submitted late, so only 21 candidates remain to be scored. Interviews are expected to be conducted next week.

Lund said also a rezoning application has been filed for the 3rd and Birch Street area. The request is for the area to be reclassified as Residential [R-3] instead of Light Industrial, so people can receive loans needed to improve their properties. The move would make the area contiguous with other R-3 zones in the area. The Planning and Zoning Commission is considering the request, as well as the vacating of a “phantom” alley in the same area. The Council will hear their recommendation and that of interim City Attorney Dave Wiederstein, during a future meeting.

In other business, Mayor Dave Jones said since the Highway 6/7th Street reconstruction project in Atlantic is falling behind due to the weather, and the road likely won’t be opened for another 3-to 4-weeks, motorists will need to exercise caution when dropping kids off at, and picking them up from, school. , and be especially careful in the area of 10th and Olive and 10th and Plum Streets, where traffic flow is normally the heaviest, when school is in session.

School begins Aug. 24th. Jones says while there haven’t been any major problems right now, when school begins, parents and students should expect to leave early, be patient, and watch out for kids crossing the street, especially in the area of 10th and Olive, near the Washington Elementary School.

Security is always an important issue at Iowa’s 99 county courthouses and one aging building in far southwest Iowa is battling a persistent invader — bats. The attic of the Fremont County Courthouse in Sidney had a few holes and that’s all it took for the flying rodents to gain access and spread throughout the building, according to county supervisor’s chairman Randy Hickey. “There were a few in some of the offices,” Hickey says, laughing. “That scares the heck out of people, when you see a bat flying around.”

Hickey says the bats likely migrated from the former Sidney United Methodist Church nearby. “What happened is they’re tearing that church down north of us,” Hickey says. “Some of them got in. There were going in there and the custodian was going in, plugging holes. So, we’re trying to get it plugged off. There might have been some that got in there and if he (the custodian) plugged it off, they were flying around in there.” Hickey says it’s easy for the pointy-eared mammals to slip through courthouse’s spaces and holes.

“A bat’s just like a little mouse,” he said. “It can go in a little hole anywhere. He was up there, plugging all the holes he could plug up in the attic, making sure they couldn’t get in.” It’s not the first time the creatures have invaded the courthouse. “We’ve had a little bit of a problem in the years past with bats in there,” he said. “Their migration time is right now. We’re just watching it. We haven’t had any in there for a while, so, the custodian is watching it and making sure.”

The Fremont County Courthouse was built in 1889 and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

(Radio Iowa)