Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

A Massena woman was arrested Saturday on a warrant out of Missouri associated with a 2006 Driving While Intoxicated charge. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 61-year old Jeannette T. Schroeder was being held at the jail in Atlantic until she’s extradited to Nodaway County, MO., where her bond was set at $5,000.

The Sheriff’s Office says also, the 54-year old Anne Allen Toombs,  of Atlantic,  turned herself in to the Cass County Jail last week, to be fingerprinted on a District Court charge of Theft 2^nd Degree. Toombs was booked into the jail and then released.

 And, the Atlantic Police Department on Monday, reported 37-year old Christopher Claussen, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Claussen was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Cass County Conservation Board says a “Geocaching 101” class will be held at the Cold Springs Park Campground Shelter, on Saturday May 26th, beginning at 7 PM. Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game.

Geocashing

Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online.

The CCCB invites you to Spend Memorial Day learning about a newer technology (GPS) to help you EXPLORE nature. Time will be spent on “caching” with the Global Positioning System units, which will be available for the class or can bring your own. You’re asked to pre-register by calling 712-769-2372. When you call, be sure to mention whether or not you will be providing your own GPS unit.

The free event is open to the public, and you do not have to be a camper to attend. For more information about Geocaching, go to http://www.iowageocachers.org/ or http://www.geocaching.com/

Strong storms bringing heavy rain and winds gusting up to 70-miles per hour raced through western Iowa Sunday morning, causing injuries to a family of three camping in a tent at Lake Manawa State Park. The injuries occurred when a tree fell on the tent at around 5-a.m., Sunday. Elsewhere, there were reports of flooding, hail and downed power lines. The warnings began in our area just before 6-a.m.

According to the National Weather Service at 6:10-a.m., nickel-sized hail was reported by a trained storm spotter in Audubon County, 4-miles west of the Audubon Airport. A few minutes later, the hail was the size of quarters in the same area, and in the City of Audubon itself. A cooperative weather service observer in Audubon also reported 2.67-inches of rain had fallen by 8-a.m., causing flash flooding to occur 4-miles west/southwest of the Audubon Airport, with water covering the County Highway N-14 bridge over the Indian Creek. One-half mile of road was also under water. Another spotter reported 4.5-inches of rain west of the airport.

Meanwhile, in Cass County, law enforcement reported a squad car was rocked by estimated 60-mile per hour winds, just before 6:30-a.m., Sunday, about 4-miles southwest of the Atlantic Airport. Dime-sized hail was also reported. Thunderstorm wind damage was reported in Atlantic at around 6:30-a.m., with some shingles blown off roofs, and 12-to 14-inch diameter trees being snapped.

As the storms moved into Adair County, wind gusts of up to 65-miles per hour were reported 6-miles west/southwest of Greenfield just after 7-a.m. Those same type of winds were observed six-miles north of Greenfield at 7-a.m., causing 12-inch diameter tree limbs to bend at an estimated 10-degree angle.

The storms continued into Central Iowa, where 71-miles per hour winds were recorded near Dallas Center at around 8:30-a.m. Two power poles were snapped-off at the base near Nevada, at around 8:50-a.m., by fierce winds.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says six Iowa universities and colleges will be home to centers that will promote teaching science, technology, engineering and math to students no matter where they live. Branstad says lack of equal opportunity for such programs to all students is hurting the state’s ability to retain and attract businesses needing highly skilled workers. He says test scores show Iowa students have fallen behind in math and science education.
 
The centers called STEM hubs will be located at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, Southwestern Community College in Creston, and Drake University. The University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College work together to form the sixth. Funding for the offices is included in an education budget bill pending in the Legislature.

 The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) says testing performed by the State Hygienic Laboratory indicates more than 150 case of pertussis (whooping cough) have been reported so far in 2012 including 2 in Pottawattamie County, and one each in Adair and Montgomery Counties, from January 1st through May 3rd. Statewide, that’s a 121 percent increase over the number of cases reported at this time in 2011. Officials say the actual number of cases is probably much higher though, because most adults with pertussis are not diagnosed or reported. And, while children ages 5 to 14 years make up the bulk of reported cases, officials say it’s important to note that adults are considered the primary ‘spreaders’ of the disease. 

IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says “Children receive pertussis vaccine series beginning at 2 months of age, and are recommended to get a booster dose of pertussis vaccine at 11 or 12 years of age. Most adults haven’t had a pertussis vaccination since childhood so they probably have no immunity left to pertussis. When they get the disease, their symptoms are milder and are often mistaken for a lingering cough, but they still spread the disease to others.”  Therefore, according to Quinlisk,  it’s especially important that adults who are around children receive pertussis-containing vaccine because they can spread the disease to infants and young children who are too young to be fully immunized. In infants, pertussis can be severe and even deadly. Adults can receive the Tdap shot (the adult “tetanus booster” that also contains pertussis vaccine). 

The most common symptoms of pertussis in children are fits of coughing sometimes followed by vomiting or a ‘whooping’ sound as air is inhaled. Adults also cough, but usually the cough is not as severe, and the “whoop” is not heard. This is why many adults do not realize they have pertussis. While taking antibiotics will treat the infection and prevent an individual from spreading the disease any further, the cough may continue for weeks while the irritated airways completely heal

A Corning couple was arrested Sunday night on Domestic Abuse charges. According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, Heather and Scott Cornish were taken into custody at around 9:20-p.m., after a 9-1-1 call was received by the Adams County Dispatch Center, with regard to a fight in progress between a husband and wife. Upon officers’ arrival, both parties were taken into custody.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department says a Clarinda man was arrested Friday on a felony charge for the Threat of Terrorism, and an Aggravated Misdemeanor charge of Harrassment in the 1st Degree. The arrest of 30-year old Kurtis Hillerbrand stems from contact he allegedly made to the Miltner Insurance Agency in Corning, threatening to “blow up” their office building. Hillerbrand was being held in the Adams County Jail.

(9-a.m. News)

w/ Ric Hanson

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May is Older Americans Month, a perfect opportunity to show your appreciation for older adults in your community. On Tuesday, May 8th, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Southwest 8 Senior Services will host Lunch in the Park at Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs. Lunch will feature pizza, sandwich wraps, desserts, drinks and other food items. A portion of the proceeds will go to support Southwest 8 and the work it does for area seniors. 

A quilt raffle will be held, titled “Quilt-a-Quarter.” Tickets for the raffle cost $5 for one or $10 for three. A drawing will be held every quarter (every three months) for a quilt valued at up to $500. There will also be a special surprise at noon, featuring local seniors.  In addition, Southwest 8 will have informational booths for anybody looking for more information for themselves or aging loved ones.  

The theme for Older Americans Month 2012—Never Too Old to Play!—puts a spotlight on the important role older adults play in sharing their experience, wisdom, and understanding, and passing on that knowledge to other generations in a variety of significant ways. This year’s celebrations will recognize the value that older adults continue to bring to our communities through spirited participation in social and faith groups, service organizations, and other activities. Southwest 8 Senior Services is joining in the national celebration of Older Americans Month 2012 with activities and events to promote intergenerational engagement and recreation. We invite you to join in the fun! To find out how you can support Older Americans Month 2012 and take part in intergenerational play, contact Autumn Eberly at 712-328-2540 extension 12 or at aeberly@southwest8.org.