An educational workshop taking place over the course of six-weeks beginning next Monday, July 8^th in Red Oak, is being offered to provide caregivers with tools necessary to take care of yourself, so you are better prepared to take good care of your loved one. Participants in the Powerful Tools for Caregivers program will learn how to: reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources. The six-week course was offered in Atlantic this past winter. Participants who missed their chance to attend at that time may be interested in attending an upcoming training being held in this area. 

Iowa State University Extension & Outreach is sponsoring Powerful Tools for Caregivers in Red Oak this July-August. Classes consist of six, 2-½ hour sessions held once a week. Two trained leaders, Charlotte (Kay) Myers, and Sandra McKinnon, extension family life specialist, conduct each class. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life. 

Sessions are scheduled every Monday for six weeks beginning on July 8. Classes will be held at the Montgomery County Extension Office in Red Oak from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  There is a $30.00 fee for the program. Participants receive a Caregiver Helpbook (a $30 value). To register, contact the Montgomery County Extension Office at 712-623-2592. More information is available at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery. 

The Cass County Extension office is also looking for local individuals interested in being trained to deliver this program regularly in the CassCounty and surrounding areas. A trainer stipend and expense reimbursement is available. For more information, please call 712-243-1132 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was treated for unknown injuries following an accident Friday afternoon on the south side of Corning. The accident involving vehicles driven by 52-year old Brian Hanson and 19-year old Cody Morris, took place at around 2:10-p.m. Friday, at the intersection of Highway 34 and Loomis Avenue.

Officials say Hanson was traveling west on Highway 34 when his 2000 Lexus hit the driver’s side door of Morris’ 2000 Pontiac Sunfire, as Morris was turning to travel east onto Highway 34 from Loomis Avenue. Morris was treated for his injuries, while Hanson was uninjured.

After many months of drought followed by Iowa’s wettest spring on record, the month of June wrapped up as one of the more “normal” months we’ve had in some time. State climatologist Harry Hillaker says the past month saw both temperatures and precipitation that were nearly dead on. Rainfall averaged about 5″ for the month and 5.02″ is normal for June, while temperatures were only about a half-degree cooler than normal. While the precipitation may have balanced out statewide as being near-average, Hillaker says the amount of rainfall some areas of Iowa received during the month was anything but common.

Northeastern parts of Iowa saw a lot of rain and flooding while one community in Allamakee County had almost 14″ of rain during June. That’s a far cry from many parts of southeast Iowa and far western Iowa, some areas of which only got 2″ of rain during the month, less than half the norm. Likewise, while temperatures averaged out to being essentially normal for June, the mercury was up and down all during the month.

June started off very cool with the first 10 days of the month all below-normal while much of the rest of the month was abnormally warm. Temperature extremes during the month ranged from 94-degrees in Sioux City on June 21st down to only 37-degrees on June 3rd in Elkader, one of the coldest June readings in Iowa in many years. As for the month ahead, Hillaker says Iowa could be in for near-normal temperatures and precipitation during July. High temperatures this week will be in the 70s and 80s. Last year at this time, highs soared in the 90s across the state in what was the beginning of one of the hottest Julys in Iowa history.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A man hospitalized after an alleged knife-wielding attack toward Waterloo police officers in May has been arrested in the case. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says 39-year-old Richard Anderson was taken into custody yesterday. He’s been charged with one felony count of interference with official acts while displaying a dangerous weapon.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City police wants to upgrade its fingerprinting system from an ink and card method to electronic scanning. The department is applying for federal grant money that would be used to buy a fingerprinting scanner. Police Chief Sam Hargadine says it will improve efficiency and accuracy.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Wisconsin man has pleaded guilty to creating fake bar codes to dupe retail stores in eastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin into charging him discount prices for hardware equipment. Jeremy Fishnick of Lancaster, Wis., pleaded guilty yesterday to wire fraud in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police are investigating a vehicle found sheared in half with no driver inside. Police say the wreck on a long stretch of roadway surrounded by trees was reported early Sunday morning. KCCI-TV reports that part of the car was found against a split power pole. Pieces of the car were scattered on the road.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a Red Oak teen was injured during a rollover accident early Sunday morning, near Essex. 18-year old Brenna Nicole Oakleaf, who was wearing her seat belt, suffered non-incapacitating injuries and was transported by Essex Rescue to the hospital in Red Oak. Officials say Oakleaf was traveling east on Page County Road J-20 at around 12:50-a.m., Sunday, when she fell asleep at the wheel of the Pontiac Grand Am she was driving. The car drifted onto the shoulder and entered the south ditch before Oakleaf woke up and over-corrected, sending the car into a sideways skid before it rolled nearly twice and came to rest on the passenger side.

In other news, the Page County Sheriff’s Office says two people were arrested on OWI charges over the weekend. Deputies, with the assistance of Clarinda Police, took 18-year old Christian Latham, of Clarinda into custody at around 11:50-p.m.  Friday. Latham was charges with Disorderly Conduct and OWI/1st offense charges. Latham was held over the weekend in the Page County Jail on $1,300 bond. And, at around 9-p.m. Saturday, 33-year old Jade Hagey, of Clarinda, was arrested after the motorcycle he was driving was pulled over for speeding on the Highway 2 bypass. Hagey was charged with OWI/1st offense and brought to the Page County Jail. He later posted a $1,000 bond and was released.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man has been sentenced to 50 to 70 years in prison for sexually assaulting two boys between 2004 and 2012. The Lincoln Journal Star reports Robert Schuster, who turns 33 on Tuesday, pleaded no contest to first-degree sexual assault. He was sentenced Monday. Authorities found seven other potential victims in addition to the boys Schuster is convicted of abusing.

And Schuster has been sentenced to 10-to-30 years in prison in Iowa for assaulting two boys during overnight trips to his apartment in Council Bluffs. He’ll serve that sentence at the same time as the Nebraska one. Lancaster County District Judge John Colborn says the long sentences reflect the seriousness of Schuster’s crimes and the need to protect the public.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Warmer and mostly drier weather is helping Iowa farmers near completion of corn and soybean planting and improving crop condition. The Department of Agriculture says 99 percent of the corn crop is in the ground as of Sunday and 96 percent of the crop has emerged, which is three weeks behind normal. Warm humid days helped corn improve. The good to excellent rating increased 3 percentage points with 57 percent of the crop now rated in those two categories and 29 percent is fair. Fourteen percent is poor or very poor.

Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop has been planted, about two weeks later than normal. Eighty-nine percent of the soybean crop has emerged, eight percentage points behind the five-year average. The condition of soybeans also improved slightly.

 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The chairman of Iowa’s leading health insurer says the company will not participate in the state’s new health exchange during 2014. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield CEO John Forsyth said Monday that the insurer will enter the online insurance marketplace in 2015. He said the decision to delay was not financially motivated, but based on concern that implementing the exchange would be bumpy in year one.  Sunday was the deadline for insurance carriers to file to be included in the Iowa exchange. 
 
Under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, all states must have a health exchange, with enrollment starting Oct. 1 and coverage on Jan. 1.  Iowa’s insurance commissioner is expected to soon release more information on the exchange participants.

A Malvern woman was injured last week, when the vehicle she was driving plowed into the wall of a Post Office in Malvern. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports June Malcom was attempting to park her 2005 Buick at around 9:35-a.m. Wednesday, when she stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake. He car hit the west wall of the Post Office. Malcom was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, by Malvern Rescue. There was no report on the extent of her injuries, or a dollar figure on the damage to the car and building.

Later that same day, Brooke Paulsen, of Malvern, was driving a 2002 Buick westbound on Keys Avenue, when she lost control of the vehicle prior to crossing a bridge. The car hit the south side of the bridge and came to rest on a gravel road. Paulsen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. No injuries were reported.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Glenwood man was arrested last week on assault and child endangerment charges. 33-year old Dwight Allen Leach was arrested Thursday evening on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault (no bond), Assault, Child Endangerment and Interference with Officials Acts. His bond on all charges except that which was related to domestic abuse, was set at $2,600.

Also arrested Thursday, was 52-year old Julie Ann Vore, of Council Bluffs. Vore was taken into custody at around 2:30-a.m., for Driving While Barred. Her bond was set at $2,000.

Last Wednesday night, 49-year old Marlin David McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Simple Assault. About an hour earlier, 24-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, also of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts. His bond was set at $600, while Marlin McDaniel’s bond was $300.