The U-S Drug Enforcement Agency is working with state and local officials to conduct the “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day” this Saturday. The acting director of the Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy, Dale Woolery, says it’s not uncommon for people to have old prescription drugs collecting dust in their medicine cabinets. “We don’t all necessarily use every pill that gets prescribed and especially with prescription pain killers. They work great when you need them, but at some point you may not need them anymore. And if you’ve got some sitting around, it’s time to get rid of them, now is a good opportunity to get rid of them,” Woolery says.

He says there will be approximately 100 sites around the state set up to take the unused medicine and safely get rid of it.  The take back day is part of the spring cleaning mindset, and you should check for expired or unused medications, now is the time to get rid of them in an environmentally friendly way. Woolery says some people might throw expired prescription drugs in the garbage, or flush them down the toilet — but doing that can allow those drugs to cause environmental problems. And he says clearing out old drugs ensures they aren’t misused. “We know that in Iowa, like the rest of the nation, we have a growing problem with prescription drug abuse that leads to some addiction, and tragically, ultimately can lead to an overdose death. And the major source for those prescription drugs that are abused, unfortunately happens to be the medicine cabinet,” according to Woolery.

This is the fourth federal take back day. Over the last two years, more than 10-thousand (10,000) pounds of unused or unwanted or expired medicines have been disposed of by Iowans so far,” Woolery says. Most sites will be open from 10 a-m. until two p-m on Saturday. To find a collection site near you, go to: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov and look for the take back link.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the drop-off sites for disposal of your prescription medications:

Audubon – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church,326 Leroy Street  (Sponsored by the Audubon Police Dept.)

Carter Lake City Hall – 950 Locust Street. (Carter Lake P.D. sponsored)

Council Bluffs – Walgreens, 535 East Broadway (Council Bluffs P.D.)

Glenwood – Glenwood Police Dept., 209 Sharp St.

Guthrie Center – Dowd Drug, 307 State St., (Guthrie Co. Sheriff’s Dept. sponsored)

Manning – Manning Pharmacy, 317 Main St. (Manning P.D.)

Winterset – Farmer & Merchants Motor Bank, 722 N. John Wayne Dr. (Winterset P.D.)

Note: More sites are added to the list daily, so check the DEA’s website mentioned above for the latest listings.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa & Ric Hanson/KJAN)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Google has announced it will make a $300 million investment to build another data center in Council Bluffs. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company announced at a news conference Tuesday that the center will bring about 50 new jobs to the city. Officials say construction will begin immediately. Google’s existing $600 million data center opened in 2009. Last week the Iowa Economic Development Authority board approved more than $9 million in tax credits to help Google select the Iowa site.

An accident at 2nd and Locust in Atlantic Monday afternoon caused $8,500 damage, but there were no injuries. According to the Atlantic Police Department, vehicles driven by Dylan Christensen and Phillip Hetrick, both of Atlantic, collided at around 1:35-p.m., as Christensen was headed eastbound on 2nd Street, and Hetrick was traveling west. Officials say when Christensen attempted to make a left turn onto Locust, his vehicle struck Hetricks’ vehicle on the driver’s side door. Christensen was cited for Failure to Yield upon making a left turn.

The Audubon City Council Tuesday night passed an ordinance dealing with Nuisance Lighting. City Clerk Lora Hansen told KJAN News the measure passed on the first and final consideration. The ordinance entitled “Light Pollution” – pertains to “Obstrusive and objectionable elements of outdoor lighting, including uplight, glare, light trespass and excessive light levels.”

The ordinance, which defines the level of those elements which can be considered obtrusive, was created after the City received complaints about a residence that has what amounts to outdoor floodlights, or security lighting. Hanson said neighbors had complained it was “Like daylight in their house 24-hours a day.”

In other business, the Audubon City Council: discussed matters pertaining to the Landfill Commission; Extended the deadline for a resident to make repairs to an unsafe structure, until July 15th; and, passed a resolution setting the wage for the Public Works Director at $37,500 per year.

The Adair and Cass County Boards of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly sessions Wednesday, in Greenfield and Atlantic, respectively. Both boards have relatively light agendas. In addition to regular business and reports, the Adair County Board will hold discussion with Sheriff Brad Newton pertaining to the old Jail/Sheriff’s Office, now that the new Public Safety building is up and running, and, discuss with Custodian Rich Wallace, matters pertaining to Candy Machines.

In Atlantic, the Cass County Supervisors will hear a report from the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA), on their efforts to gather customers for a rural water project in the southwest part of Cass County.

Both meetings begin at 9-a.m.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says he’ll attend an announcement by Google in Council Bluffs.  Branstad didn’t offer details about the announcement planned for noon today (Tuesday), but the Iowa Economic Development Authority board last week approved more than $9 million in tax credits for the Mountain View, Calif.-based company.  Officials have said Google is considering making a $300 million investment in Council Bluffs, where it already operates a data center.

w/ Ric Hanson

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