The Iowa Senate has passed legislation that would give Iowa businesses preference over out-of-state firms for some state government contracts. Senator Liz Mathis, a Democrat from Robbins, says it’s about “standing up” for Iowa’s business community. “You ask Iowa business owners what they want and they’ll tell you that they support this bill,” Mathis says.

If the bill becomes law, it would only apply to state government contracts worth less than half a million dollars. If an out-of-state business submits the lowest bid, an Iowa business could still get the contract under certain conditions. The bid would have to be less than five percent higher and the Iowa business would have to agree to get paid the lower price submitted on the out-of-state-company’s bid. Nineteen Republicans in the Iowa Senate voted against the bill.

Senator Mark Chelgren, a Republican from Ottumwa, says this isn’t “fair trade.” “Fundamentally it is wrong to elevate Iowa companies above those of competing states,” Chelgren said. Senator David Johnson, a Republican from Ocheyedan, agreed. “This bill is nothing more than a first step towards protectionism,” Johnson said. Senator Mathis responded, saying Iowa companies expect Iowa legislators to act in the best interest of Iowans. “They don’t expect that you’re going to legislate for Minnesota, or you’re going to legislate for Wisconsin or protect Illinois,” Mathis said. “They want you to protect Iowans.”

The bill would not give preferential treatment to bids Iowa companies submit for road and bridge construction. It would not apply to architectural firms submitting design proposals for government construction projects either.

(Radio Iowa)

A World Heath Organization study estimates more than one-billion teenagers and young adults will suffer hearing loss because they’re using ear buds to listen to loud music for long periods of time. Dr. Michi Diller, an audiologist in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says hearing loss is a serious issue that shouldn’t be ignored.  “Sixteen percent of 12-to-19-year-olds have documented threshholds that are elevated due to the exposure to these loud sounds,” Dr. Diller says. “We’re definitely seeing more teens with hearing loss but we also are trying to focus on educating our patients about the importance of noise protection and preventing noise-induced hearing loss.”

That ringing in the ears after a loud concert, being around gunfire, chainsaws or loud farm equipment may go away but there could be permanent damage that will show up later in life. It’s a wake-up call for some teens to learn that once their hearing is gone, it’s gone for good and there is no miracle cure to restore it. “We’re not anywhere close to regrowing hair cells, which is what the structures are in your inner ear that are damaged due to noise exposure,” Diller says. “We’re not at the point at which people can say, ‘Yeah, I can listen to louder music because I’ll be able to take a pill later on and regrow those hair cells.’ We certainly want to just work on prevention.”

The only quick fix, she says, is a hearing aid. There are safe levels that don’t harm delicate ears. You can listen safely at 85 decibels for about 8 hours with no damage.  “Eighty-five decibels is equivalent to the volume of busy city traffic,” Diller says. “If you go up to 100 decibels, which is similar to the sound of a tractor, you can safely be around that sound for about 15 minutes.”

Diller, who got her B-A and her Doctor of Audiology degrees at the University of Iowa, is an audiologist at Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha.

(Radio Iowa)

The staff at Cass County Health System welcomed Edward Fisher, M.D., to the team on Tuesday, March 10, 2015.  Officials say Dr. Fisher is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over 25 years of experience. He will be caring for patients at CCHS and Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. he says he chose to join CCHS and MMC because of the type of practice he would be able to have here.

Dr. Fisher and staff

In a press release, Fisher said “I chose to move to southwest Iowa because the hospitals have state-of-the-art facilities and employ the quality professionals I need to provide quality orthopedic care in a hometown setting, which I find much more satisfying than working in a big city.”

Dr. Fisher will provide full orthopedic services at both hospitals, conducting clinics and performing surgeries at least two days each week in Atlantic and Harlan. His practice will encompass a wide variety of orthopedic care and surgeries for patients of all ages, including:
• Joint replacement (hip and knee)
• Carpal Tunnel
• Sports medicine
• Arthroscopies (knee and shoulder)
• Rotator cuff
• Fracture and dislocation procedures

Fisher completed medical school and his orthopedic internship and residency training at the University of California, Irvine. After practicing in California for seven years he moved to Russellville, Alabama where he practiced for 15 years. He has been working in Clarksdale Mississippi since 2009.

No serious injuries were reported in Union County Tuesday morning, after the brakes failed on one of two trailers full grain, causing the tractor pulling them to go out of control and roll into a ditch. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 62-year old Steven Gregory Wilson, of Afton, was driving a 1997 John Deere 8200 tractor pulling two grain carts loaded with corn. The tractor and carts were going down hill on 190th Street at around 9:30-a.m. Tuesday, when the brakes on a cart failed, causing both trailers to pick up speed and swerve back and forth.

The weight of the grain caused the tractor to enter the north ditch along with both trailers, which overturned and dumped most of total 900 bushels of corn onto the ground. Wilson complained of possible injuries, but refused treatment or transport to the hospital. Damage from the crash amounted to $50,000.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a man from Hastings was arrested Tuesday on a trio of charges. 21-year old Rocky Runyon was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Child Endangerment and driving under
Suspension. His bond was set at $3,300.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), held a hearing on a proposed Ordinance to re-adopt the Cass County Code, the second reading of which was held during their meeting last week. Following the hearing, the Board move to re-adopt the Code. They also conducted a hearing on the proposed FY 2016 Cass County Budget, which was subsequently adopted, as well.

In other business, the Supervisors adopted the Secondary Roads Dept. FY2016 Budget, and acted on a recommendation from the County Compensation Board with regard to salaries for elected officers. Auditor Dale Sunderman reported the Compensation Board recommended a salary of $60,000 for the County Attorney, and $40,00 for the Assistant County Attorney, as well as 4-percent increase in salary for the Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer, Sheriff and Supervisors, along with a $1,000 increase for the Board of Supervisors Chairman.

The Supervisors, however, reduced the amounts by 25-percent for all but the County Attorney and Assistant County Attorney, and approved a 3-percent increase for the elected officers. The Auditor, Treasurer and Recorder will each receive a salary of $54,854, the Sheriff $70,491 and the Supervisors $28,632, with the Board Chair receiving a total of $29,632.

The Board also agreed to accept a bid from Oden Enterprises in Wahoo, NE., for sheet piling and piling for two bridges (#247 and an extra bridge to be installed after July 1st), in the amount of $52, 576.48. They also accepted a bid from Murphy Heavy Contracting Corporation in Anita, for the bridge #247 construction project, in the amount of $98,650.

And, the Board heard a request from Dave Chase with the Nishna Valley Trails Association, for $50,000 to go toward the development of Troublesome Creek Connector Trail in Cass County. They took no action on the request at their meeting. Earlier, the City of Atlantic took under consideration of a similar request for funds for the connector portion of the trail. On a related note, Supervisor Duane McFadden announced the Atlantic Lions Club will hold a pancake supper April 16th, with funds from your free-will donation being used toward the Connector Trail project.

With Ric Hanson.

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(In an update to our earlier report) Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report a Nebraska man was injured during an explosion Tuesday morning at OSI in Oakland. Sheriff Jeff Danker says just before 11-a.m., the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 21876 Highway 59 to assist Oakland Rescue with an industrial accident.

Upon arrival the Deputy and First Responders from Oakland found that 24-year old Dalton Anderson of rural Ashland NE., had been performing maintenance on a generator when some type of explosion occurred.

Anderson told authorities that he was splashed with “hot liquid” that had come from the generator burning his face and chest.  The man was transported to CHI Mercy in Council Bluffs for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Police in Creston arrested two people early this (Wednesday) morning. 24-year old Kendall Lee Ross, of Creston, was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) at around 3:10-a.m. on a charge of OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And at around 1:45-a.m., 31-year old Daniel Floyd Edwards, of Orient, was arrested at the Union County LEC for Driving While Suspended. He was later released on $300 bond.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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