The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce presented two women with awards for being Citizens of the Year, Friday. The awards were handed to Barb Onnen and Jann Reining during the Shelby County Chamber’s Awards banquet. Dawn Cundiff, Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber, told the audience both women brought a great deal of tourism and pride to Shelby County. Onnen and Reining received grant money from the Hotel/Motel Tax and created the barn quilt brochures, which highlight barn quilts throughout the county.

In the other big award of the evening, Myrtue Medical Center received the Business of the Year. Cundiff said the hospital has contributed to the quality of life and is also a great enticement for families, singles and kids. Myrtue has certainly been busy with renovations and the addition of the Wellness Center a few years ago has incorporated to the economy of the county.

Other awards presented during the event held Friday, include:
Business with Best Curb Appeal – Town and Country Credit Union
Business with Best Customer Service – Camblin Plumbing & Hearing
Business Mentor of the Year – JoAnn Boltinghouse Boltinghouse Enterprises

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

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Winter isn’t officially over until Wednesday, but allergy season has already arrived in Iowa as the trees are starting to pollinate. Dr. Jill Poole, an allergist in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says allergy sufferers are beginning to feel the effects. Dr. Poole says, “This is the time of year when the trees start and so this is the exact time for them to get their allergy medications out of the cabinet and start their nose sprays and antihistamines to try to fend off the allergy symptoms before they get behind the eight ball.”

Spring arrives on Wednesday. While everyone’s body is affected a little differently, Poole says tree pollen hits many people in similar ways.
“Sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy nose, itchy, watery eyes are the main symptoms that can be experienced now,” she says. Known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, allergies are reactions of the body’s immune system to a normally harmless substance. Poole says you’ll know it if you have a tree pollen allergy. “If you’re having the classic symptoms of the itchy nose, the sneezing, the itchy, watery eyes that start in March and get real bad in April, that’s really indicative of allergies and you can start taking over-the-counter medications,” she says. “If those don’t hold you or work well for you, that’s the time to get allergy tested.”

Between 20 and 40-percent of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies. Poole offers a few tips on how to lessen the uncomfortable effects of allergies. “Tree pollen is pretty hardy and once it gets in the home, it can be a longer-lasting pollen,” she says. “By closing the windows, that will keep the pollen from being in your bedroom where you’re sleeping and spending a lot of the time. After you’ve been outside, changing your clothes or washing your hands and face can be helpful.”

She also recommends over-the-counter nasal-sinus irrigations and over-the-counter antihistamines that are the non-sedating. Learn more about allergies at the website of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: www.aaaai.org

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities in Montgomery County report the arrest Saturday evening of an Elliott man. 58-year old Kenny Clyde Bowers was arrested at around 5:30-p.m., following an investigation into a Simple Assault. Bowers was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and later released on bond.

COUNTIES: CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-
453 AM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP BY MIDDAY
AND CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON. THIS MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES…ESPECIALLY ON NORTH/SOUTH RUNNING ROADWAYS.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

A Public Hearing will be held Monday evening in Elk Horn, with regard to the Calendar Start Date for the Elk Horn-Kimballton School District’s 2013-2014 school year. The meeting takes place as part of the regularly scheduled meeting of the EHK School Board, beginning at 7-p.m. in the Family and Consumer Science Room at the High School.

In other business, the Board will discuss and act on staff resignations and/or retirements, including: Middle School Math teacher & Coach Warren Watson; Family Consumer Science teacher Nancy Watson; High School Business, Phys Ed Instructor & Coach Cindy Steffens, and, Prom Director Amelia Teegerstrom. Superintendent Dean Schnoes will provide an update on the Exira-EHK reorganization process, and, under New Business, the EHK School Board will review and discuss a report on facility protective measures, from a Phil Pitzen, with the U-S Department of Homeland Security.

They will also discuss and take action on: Publishing the 2013-2014 budget; Setting the budget hearing date and time for April 8th at 4-p.m.; Approval of the 2013-2014 school calendar and changes to the calendar and other administrative matters.

Public hearings will be held this (Monday) evening in the CAM High School Media Center, with regard to the CAM School District’s Early Start Date and 2013-2014 Budget. The hearings begin soon after the start of the CAM School Board’s meeting, which gets underway at 7-p.m. Following the separate hearings on each matter, the Board will act on a resolution approving an early start date, and the 2013-2014 budget.

In other business, the CAM School Board will discuss and/or possibly take action on: the 2011-2012 audit report; open enrollment applications; revisions to various Board policies; a budget guarantee Resolution; and matters pertaining to – the Football scoreboard, equipment breakdown insurance, and any resignations.

The meeting will conclude with a closed session to discuss negotiations for the 2013-2014 school year.

Two public hearings are slated to take place during a meeting Monday evening of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education. When the meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., the first hearing will cover the 2013-2014 budget , followed at 5:45, by a hearing on a waiver for the Early Start Calendar for the coming school year.

During the Griswold School Board’s regular session after the hearings, they will discuss and take action on various board policies and receive information about current projects. They’re also slated to act on approving: the budget; a waiver for the Early Start Calendar; the 2013 list of graduates; fees for Driver’s Ed; a mowing bid and concrete work, along with the boiler and heating for the Middle School; and, renovation of the restroom and locker room.

Prior to adjournment, the Board will act on approving the 2013-2014 calendar year Certified Contracts. The meeting will take place in the Central Office Board Room, at the Griswold Middle School/High School building.