The Iowa Health Department Tuesday confirmed 13 cases of West Nile virus in the state and they say they’re investigating several more. Deputy State Epidemiologist, Ann Garvey, says the dry weather in August helped reduce mosquito populations but the disease carrying pests are still active. Garvey says most people don’t know they have the virus, but it can be dangerous to some. “About one in 150 will go on to have more serious symptoms like a very high fever, severe headache, encephalitis, meningitis more life threatening complications. People over the age of 50 , immune compromised individuals are the greatest risk for developing those more severe symptoms and illness.

Garvey says the 13 cases are typical for this time of year. She urges everyone to continue taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites. “Some of the best things you can do are wearing DEET or another insect repellent — make sure you are following the labels carefully — and that’s especially important in the peak mosquito hours during dusk and dawn,” Garvey explains. Changes in the weather also help. “And now that the temperatures are a bit cooler it’s a little easier for us to wear those long sleeves and pants — those will also help cut down on our mosquito bite exposures,” Garvey says.

Garvey says in most cases West Nile presents no symptoms; about 20 percent of the time people can develop mild, flu like symptoms. In extreme cases, especially in the elderly, the disease can be fatal. There have been no deaths reported in Iowa this year. There were 31 human cases reported in 2012, but no deaths. There were nine human cases of West Nile reported in 2011 with two deaths.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports Massena Mayor Pro-Tem Linda Reineke won a Special Election held Tuesday to fill the position of Mayor Until the end of 2013. Since no candidates had filed nomination papers for the election, all names on the ballots were write-ins. There were a total of 49 ballots cast.

Sunderman says Linda Reineke received 41 votes; Jackson Bissell 5; Dean Downer 1; Jesse Stoner 1 and Kevin McCunn 1 vote. Another vote to fill the position of Mayor full-time (a 2-year term) will be held during the November 5th City elections. The person who is elected will serve the term beginning January 1st, 2014.

A porta-potty that fell off of a flat bed truck caused about $1,000 damage in Page County, Monday morning. Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a  pickup was pulling a trailer carrying the Port-a-potty owned by RJ’s Portables in Corning, westbound on Highway 2 at around 9:10-a.m. Monday, when the poorly strapped down portable restroom slipped off the trailer, slide down the highway and into the driver’s side  rear wheel cover, of an eastbound, dump-truck style semi.The accident happened about three-miles east of Shenandoah.

The semi, driven by 59-year old Duanne Heins, of Glenwood, sustained about $200 damage. The pickup, driven by 62-year old David Bennett, of Corning, was not damaged, but the porta-potty sustained about $600 damage. Bennett was cited for spilling his load onto the highway.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports the deadline is looming for persons interested in running for the November 5th City Elections. The deadline to file nomination papers in the office of your local city clerk is 5-p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19th.

In Cass County, these offices will appear on the ballots for the respective cities on November 5th:

Anita – 3 At Large Council seats (4-year terms). The incumbents are Jamey Herzberg, Duane Murphy and Dennis Zimmerman.

Atlantic – Mayor (4-year term). The incumbent is Dave Jones; Council Wards 2 and 5 (4-year terms). The incumbents are Kathy Somers and Shaun Shouse, respectively. Council At Large (4-year term). Incumbent – Steve Livengood. And, there are two seats on the Parks and Recreation Board in Atlantic (6-year term beginning Nov. 16th). Incumbents include Sandi Landsness and Charles Hanson.

Cumberland – Mayor (2-year term). Incumbent Virginia Coughlin; Three At Large Council seats (4-year terms each). Your incumbents are Gary Cooper, David Meyer and Doug Neiner.

Griswold – Two At Large Council seats (4-year terms). The incumbents are Julianne Adams and Jared Wyman.

Lewis – Two At Large Council seats (4-year terms). The incumbents are Marilyn Mundorf and Matt Klein.

Marne – Mayor (2-year term). The incumbent is Randall Baxter; Five At Large Council seats are available. The incumbents include Alan Cranston, Dennis Preister, Lanny Kite, Randy Henningsen, and Angela Redler.

Massena – Mayor (2-year term).  A temporary Mayor will be elected today (9/17), with the term expiring December 31st. The person elected on Nov. 5th will take over the office on Jan. 1st, 2014; Two At Large Council seats (4-year term). The incumbents are Shirley Eshelman and Bobby McKnight.

Wiota – Mayor (2-year term). The incumbent is Ford Lillard; Three At Large Council seats. The incumbents are Kathryn Havens, Deanna Spry and Dennis Andersen.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – If it seems that giant lottery jackpots have people lining up at convenience stores more frequently, just wait.  Most of the attention has been on Powerball since its rules were changed a couple years ago to boost payoffs. On Wednesday, Powerball’s estimated $400 million jackpot will be the nation’s fifth-largest ever. Organizers of the country’s other big lottery, Mega Millions, are now also planning changes to increase jackpots.

Mega Millions, which is sold in 43 states, plans to boost the initial jackpot to $15 million. It also will lessen the odds of winning jackpots and make other changes that will result in faster growing prizes to grab the public’s attention. Iowa Lottery chief executive officer Terry Rich says the purpose is to “turn up the excitement level” and increase sales.

Police in Harlan report the arrest on Saturday of 40-year old Curtis Baldwin. Baldwin, who is from Harlan, was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance, after authorities were called to the Casey’s General Store with regard to a separate incident.

The H-PD says also, four people were charged Sunday, following a traffic stop. 22-year old Colby Oberembt, of Adel, 23-year old Amber Anderson, of Brayton, 21-year old Taimon Wehr, and 21-year old Brittany Dahir, both of Harlan, were all cited for Open Container as passengers in the vehicle. Charges are pending against the driver of the vehicle, who ran from the scene.

In other new, Police in Harlan say 24-year old Kyle Tearnery, of Tennant, was arrested Sept. 12th on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault, after officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Court Street.  A female victim of the assault was treated for minor injuries at Myrtue Medical Center. Tearney posted a $1,000 bond and was ordered to appear in court at a later date for his preliminary hearing.

And, 47-year old Michelle Farrow, of Harlan, was arrested September 11th, on an active Shelby County warrant for Failure to Appear on original charges of Interference with Official Acts and Disorderly Conduct. Farrow was transported to the Shelby County Jail. She has since plead not guilty to the charges, and is scheduled to appear in courtfor her trial, on October 8th.

Officials with Harlan Municipal Utilities report progress continues in efforts to change the City’s regular streetlights to LED-style lights. HMU says crews in the electrical department are working to retrofit legacy high pressure sodium streetlights to LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. Approximately one-third of 192 streetlights have been converted. LED’s are known for their low power consumption and longer life expectancy than regular, flourescent lights.

The remainder of the lights are expected to be changed by July 1st, 2014. The estimated cost for equipment during the 2013-2014 fiscal year is $83,500. Once the install work is complete, the LED lights will save the utility company $82,000 per year in energy costs.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A bridge in Shelby County will see improvements made starting in the next few days. In a Supervisors meeting this (Tuesday) morning, Shelby County Engineer Dan Ahart appeared before the board to discuss soil borings on the Douglas bridge, or as he called it the “Hollywood bridge,” located in section 33 1400th Street in Douglas Township. Ahart explained the bridge south of Kirkman on the Nishnabotna River will be closed during the day to drill holes for the soil borings beginning this week.

Certified Testing out of Sioux City is the contractor for the work. Ahart says the process is a simple procedure. As he said there will be four borings conducted, one at each abutment and two on the bridge where the new piers will be. Closure signs will be up near the bridge and the crews will drop them in-place during the evening.

The Supervisors approved the work which will cost $5,800. The money will come out of the farm to market funding. Following the motion and approval, Ahart said the same bridge will go out for bids in late fall or early winter of 2014 and construction would start in 2015.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will meet Wednesday in their Board Room at the Courthouse in Greenfield, beginning at 9-a.m. On the agenda, are updates on the Manure Management Plan (MMP) and reports from the County Auditor and Engineer.

In her report, Auditor Mindy Schaefer will discuss computer server bids, the credit card policy, and an abatement of taxes Resolution. And, County Engineer Nick Kauffman will discuss a 6-month step increase, the annual DOT report, as well as the materials bid for the W-21 Jefferson Bridge project.

The Board will also hear from Home Care representative Stephanie Claussen, with regard to an Emergency Preparedness Grant contract.

The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education elected new officers during their meeting Monday evening. Superintendent Dana Kunze says Doug Lembke was elected President, while Scott Peterson was named Vice President. The newly re-elected board then went to work on the issues before them on their agenda. Kunze said that included moving ahead with the boiler replacement project at the Middle School/High School Building.

He says the next step is to have the design phase handled for the installation of a hot water boiler instead of the current, steam boiler. The same system will also help to control cooling during the summer, because of reheating valves that bring air up to temperature before it enters classroom and other spaces.

Kunze said the Board tabled action on the locker room and restroom remodeling projects until there are more solid numbers on how much the boiler system will cost. And, the board decided to hold-off on having structural spraying conducted on the track, but four-foot high galvanized fencing will be installed around the track.

The Board also approved a lease agreement with Massena Telephone for the construction of a cell phone tower on school grounds, but were unable to make a decision on snow removal bids because of a lack of interested bidders. He joked that if the Board doesn’t get any bids soon, they’ll need everyone to bring a scoop shovel with them to school.

In other business, the Griswold School Board received an update on the A-Y-P, or Annual Yearly Progress report, from Counselor Nancy Potter. She indicated the District’s ACT scores had trended upward over the last 5-years, and they’ve been some of the highest scores the district has had. He says that means the district is headed in the right direction when it comes to education.