After weeks of low influenza levels in Iowa, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports statewide surveillance indicates flu activity is increasing. The flu season typically peaks in February and can last as late as May.  IDPH Deputy Epidemiologist, Dr. Ann Garvey says “If you have flu symptoms, help out your family, friends and co-workers by staying home to avoid spreading the virus. It’s also important to remember to cover your coughs and sneezes and clean your hands frequently to help yourself and others stay healthy.” IDPH recommends all Iowans age 6 months and older receive the flu vaccine. Getting vaccinated now will offer protection throughout the flu season, and will also help keep those traveling over Spring Break healthy as they visit areas where flu levels may be higher.

The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses and is among the top 10 causes of death in Iowa. It spreads easily from person to person and can cause mild to severe illness. The flu comes on suddenly and symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days. Influenza may cause severe illness or complications in people such as the very young or very old, or those who have underlying health conditions.

Contact your health care provider or local health department to find out where the vaccine is available in your community. More information about influenza can be found at www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/Influenza.aspx.

w/ Ric Hanson

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More details have been released concerning a bridge replacement project in Cass County KJAN reported on, last week. Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) say a public information meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21st, to discuss the proposed bridge replacement on Iowa 92, west of Massena. The bridge is located over a small stream one-mile west of Iowa Highway 148. The public is invited to attend the meeting anytime between 5- and 6:30-p.m., at the Massena City Hall, located at 100 Main Street. The meeting will be conducted in an open forum format. Iowa DOT staff will be present to informally discuss the proposed improvement, but no formal presentation will be made.  

During construction, traffic on Iowa Highway 92 would be detoured, using Cass County roads N-28 and G-43, and Iowa 148. For general information regarding the proposed improvements or public meeting, contact Don Stevens, assistant district engineer, Iowa DOT District 4 Office, 2210 E. Seventh St., Atlantic, Iowa  50022, telephone 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368, e-mail donald.stevens@dot.iowa.gov. 

Visit the Iowa DOT’s project-related public involvement event website at www.iowadot.gov/pim for information about scheduled public meetings and hearings, and opportunities to offer input to the Iowa DOT during the development of certain projects.

While the prize for Saturday’s Powerball jackpot has risen to $310-million after none of the winning numbers were drawn Wednesday, someone in the Omaha area won’t have to spend an extra couple of dollars to vie for the prize…they’ve already won $1-million. Officials with the Nebraska Lottery say a lucky lottery player walked into an Omaha convenience store and purchased a Powerball ticket that matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number itself. The ticket was sold at the Kwik Shop at 7525 Cass St. The winning numbers were 17, 28, 38, 39, 51, and the Powerball was 33.

It’s the first automatic million-dollar winning ticket in Nebraska since Powerball was changed last month. The person holding the winning ticket has 180 days to claim their prize.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Buffalo Bill re-enactor will be speaking at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, Iowa, as part of the museum’s second Saturday guided tours program.  Darrel Palser, of Council Bluffs, will be speaking at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Omaha railroad’s history museum.
 
“Buffalo Bill” Cody supplied bison meat to the Union Pacific eastern division track crew during the 19th century. Darrel has been sharing the history of Buffalo Bill with the Council Bluffs community for years. Guided tours of the museum are offered every second Saturday and cover a wide range of topics. Always free, the tour talks expand on topics and themes already presented in the Museum.

The Harlan Police Department reports an Omaha man was arrested Tuesday, on drug charges. 20-year old Brian Sheehan was taken into custody following a traffic stop, on charges that included: Possession of a Controlled Substance; Possession with the Intent to Deliver; and, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. Sheehan made his initial appearance in court Wednesday, and was released on $10,000 bond. His preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 23rd.

And, 31-year old Erica Lacey, of Harlan, was charged Monday with Theft in the 5th Degree, following an investigation by Harlan Police, into a complaint a clutch purse containing $60 cash and a gift card, were missing from a resident’s room at the Elm Crest Retirement Home. No other information on the charge was available through the Iowa Courts On-line system.

Authorities in Harlan report also, 25-year old Devin Stahl, of Harlan, was cited January 28th, for carrying concealed weapons. Officials say a Harlan Police Officer conducting a traffic stop found two double-edged knives allegedly concealed on Stahl’s ankle. The knives were seized, and a complaint filed with the clerk of court.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Several residents of rural Adair County received unwelcome visits Thursday night from a band of traveling door-to-door vacuum sales persons. According to one resident who lives in the northern part of the county, a van with two men inside pulled up at around 8:15-p.m. Thursday, and tried to sell them Kirby vacuums. One of the salesmen (whom the resident described as a “seedy looking character”), asked to use the residents’ phone to call a number in Nebraska, and when the resident saw the vehicle drive away, they noticed it had Nebraska plates. 

The rural resident called the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, who confirmed they had received a number of calls from concerned citizens about Kirby salesmen making their pitches well into the late evening hours. In the past, the practices of some of Kirby’s independent distributors have been subject to criticism. Many of the complaints involve older customers who, once they let the salespersons in, are subject to lengthy, high-pressure sales pitches.The resident KJAN News spoke with in Adair County last night, said the salesmen wanted credit card numbers and other personal information very soon after they started to make their pitch, but the resident denied them the information.

Anyone receiving these types of visits should call your local law enforcement authorities, to verify if the company has a permit to sell in your area, and to report the salesman’s license plate number to law enforcement, so they can speak with those individuals about their late night sales practices.

A few weeks ago, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office warned residents about a phone scam taking place in the area. Now Cass County authorities are saying the same thing. As we’ve warned you time and time again, these phone scams target mainly the  elderly, and they involve calls from someone claiming to be a persons grandchild. The supposed grandchild always says they are in trouble with the law, and need money wired to them right away.

Another age-old phone scam involves the caller saying you’ve won a prize, but in order to receive it, you need to wire a certain amount of money to persons out of state. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says if you receive the “grandchild in trouble”  type of calls, make certain you are sure of the caller’s identity. Before wiring money to someone who seems like they are a relative, hang up the phone and attempt to call that relative or other relatives on your own, to be sure of the situation. You can also call the law enforcement agency where the alleged “grandchild” was being held, to confirm their status.

If you receive a prize-winning-type call, keep in mind that winning a VALID prize will not require you to pay anything to anyone. Most importantly…do not give out any personal information to persons who may call you, such as social security number, bank account number, credit of debit card information. Following this simple rule, can help prevent identity theft, a loss of your hard earned money, and a bad credit rating resulting from stolen financial information.

Authorities in southwest Iowa say a rural Clarinda man was arrested recently on charges he impersonated a public official, on more than one occasion. 20-year old Ryan Joel Kaleb Christie, of Clarinda faces three-counts of Impersonating a Public Official, an aggravated misdemeanor, after an investigation was conducted into traffic stops he allegedly made on Highway 2, on January 22^nd and 29^th. 

Taylor County Sheriff’s officials say a joint investigation into Christie’s alleged activities was conducted with the assistance of the Bedford Police Department, Iowa DNR, the State Patrol and Page County Sheriff’s Office. During the investigation, authorities looked into reports a young man – later identified as Christie — had made traffic stops on Highway 2 during the early morning hours of January 22nd and 29th. Witnesses said the man claimed to be with the Sheriff’s Office or the Fire Department.

Christie was being held in the Taylor County Jail on $50,000 bond.